The alarm goes off at 4:45am, and I am instantly awake. I'm not really a morning person, but for this occasion, a marathon, everything about it allows me to awaken as if I do it daily. The anxiety of getting there on time, the pressure of mentally staying strong, being sure to eat right and fuel for the run, will I make a PR, or will something happen to throw off my time? A spew of thoughts flooded my mind the moment I awakened.
Luckily, it was perfect San Francisco weather. My Marathon partner, Val and I made our way down the ten or so blocks from our hotel to the Embarcadero, the start of the San Francisco Marathon. Runners of all ages and sizes funneled into the start line area. As soon as we snaked our way through the dense crowd and into our corral, the race was on. I turned and asked her casually, "Hey, you want to run a Marathon today?" Val smiled as we began our pace and flowed along with the sea of people around us. It was her first Marathon, and my seventh.
Along the barnacled wharf, the smell of sea air was strong in the early morning. By just mile 4, the San Francisco Marathon had already proven it's character, with its nautical backdrop and vintage brownstones lining the water's edge. The pretty homes painted sunflower yellow and sky blue stood in pride looking over the bay. As we turned the corner, a light fog hovered above the tips of the Golden Gate Bridge. There she was, the big allure of this monumental marathon.
The city is known for it's steep hills. Our first one emerged as the gateway to the coveted venture across the bridge. With our mountain girl attitude, and elevation-trained lungs our feet swiftly ascended us to the south entry of the Golden Gate.
Magnificently beautiful, it's presence was strong, and rugged. Burnt red metal reaching upwards into the clouds. The northbound lane had been closed for our running pleasure, while car travelers passed over the bridge on the other side. It felt surreal to be running amongst thousands, crossing an iconic staple of Americana. I reminded myself to absorb the moment, look around, and appreciate the tiniest of details. I just kept thinking, "This is so cool."
After recording twenty or so seconds of footage, I carefully worked on returning the Flip camera back into my zippered pouch while I ran. Well, apparently not careful enough. In the very next second, I found myself slamming into the cold surface of the blacktop pavement of the bridge. Spread eagle or yard sale as they say, my body flailed on to the ground as the camera let loose from my fingertips in the opposite direction. I hear, as if it's all happening in slow motion, Valerie scream! I couldn't make out what words were coming from her yell, but the emotion behind the scream left an impression that my ego should be more damaged than my body. Two ghostly figures, a male on each side, picked me up and one handed me my camera. Without even saying thank you, or missing a stride, I sprung back into forward motion. I was in shock. I hadn't even anticipated the fall as I was going down. I just hit the pavement with a stiff realization. There I was, that girl- the one that you tell your friends about later saying, "Oh damn, there was this girl that ate sh*t on the bridge." Yep, that was me. Embarrassing! And it hurt too.
With road burn on both palms and an instant blood blister, a scraped up elbow, a bruised hip, and a skinned and slightly bleeding right knee, I asked Val, "Am I bleeding? Does my knee look okay?" She gave me the quick once over from both sides as we continued running across the bridge. My knee was swollen and already a deep purple bruise was forming. She kept asking, "Are you okay?" And I thought, "Well not completely, but it doesn't change anything. What am I going to do, quit the marathon over a 'lil fall?"
We crossed over, looped around and continued the marathon journey back across the massive bridge. I kept laughing to myself. I couldn't believe I had just done what I had done. I felt ridiculous, but at the same time, I was still running, and for that I felt very thankful. I remember making the decision that I would run this marathon with a swollen knee. I figured my body would be hurting by the end anyhow, so I might as well just include the pain as the overall experience.
After exiting the bridge it was a continuous elevation climb into the Golden Gate Park. Half Marathoners seem to surround us as the first half finished and the second half started. It was an impressively organized dance that seemed to be going down without a hitch. Val and I put our ear bugs in and shot off through mile thirteen with a renewed energy. With music blasting in my ears, I visually took in the sights. Rose gardens, serene lakes and manicured flower beds surrounded our sojourn through the city park.
Val began to pick up her pace. She must of had a really kick'in song playing. Although part of me wanted to keep up with her twenty year old body, I also felt quite content maintaining my chosen speed of 9:45 minute miles. Slowly I watched her disappear into the distance as she blended into the crowd.
I started to get bored around mile nineteen. My legs kept moving, but my mind was out of momentum. I felt like stopping and having a slurpee at the neighborhood Seven Eleven. But just then, I heard a by-stander shout, "Think good thoughts!" That was all I needed, a reminder of my own foundational principles; I am the director of my mind-body connection. I had been struggling up until that point. It seemed as though a negative thought like, "Oh my knees are aching", or, "Ugh, I just want to be done" kept creeping back in, so I literally forced myself to choose positive thoughts and create the experience that I wanted to have. I decided to just smile, and doing so shifted the negativities from my mind, and sprouted wings from my feet.
With shoulders square, and core engaged I continued the journey with my MBFC girls on my mind. I thought about how I often read their struggles with weight, and how they are so willing to share and learn, and actively drum up courage. I thought about my moment of struggle, and how I would not walk, and would not stop. I knew I must run in their honor.
The people along the marathon route were as eclectic as the city itself. At mile twenty-two I was offered beer from a group of costume-clad by-standers, and at mile twenty-four the dare to shoot a swig of bourbon came from a group of cheering on-lookers. The kind only San Francisco could birth. Up the cement hills, over the bridge, through the park, and skipping east and south through the course neighborhoods; the entry money I had paid was well worth the sightseeing tour of the city on foot. It was awesome.
Mile twenty five was as usual, the longest mile. But it was also the glory mile. I focused on relishing in my accomplishment, keeping my smile erect, and giving thanks for an opportunity to experience life, and a job well done.
As I came down the stretch to the finish line, crowds lined the barricades with signs, smiles and pumping fists. I spotted my family-husband, three kids and two nieces with smiles as wide as Treasure Island. A kiss for each was worth the forty extra seconds on the clock. I feel its important for my kids to know that I don't just take care of them, I also take care of myself, and running is one way I do that.
Running Marathons has been my mentor, my friend, my handbook to personal development. On this day, I thank the San Francisco Marathon for not just handing it over easy, but for offering up a challenge. Marathon number seven will forever symbolize to me: When you fall down, you get back up and continue. I pointed at my blood blistered hand as I crossed the finish to commemorate that message to myself visually. With self esteem at an all-time high, and a true feeling of accomplishment in my spirit, I floated across the finish line with the thought, "My journey is my own. It's up to me what thoughts I choose, what steps I desire to take, and whether or not I choose to find courage when I need it."
I finished 26.2 miles at an average pace of 9:49 per mile, and an overall time of 4:17:03. It may not be the fastest, but its MY fastest, and that's the best I've got. It felt good to know that I showed up to my life.
Written by De'Anna Nunez, Contributing Editor for Active.com and Founder of the National weight loss program, The Mind Body Fit Club. http://www.mindbodyfitclub.com/
