Journey to My FIRST Marathon

Everyone remembers their first marathon like it was yesterday. That’s because a marathon is so much more than just a race…it’s a journey. A journey filled with blood, sweat, tears, and prayers…a journey that will challenge you to heights you never though possible…a journey that will change you on the inside…and a story you will tell for the rest of your life…

Here is my journey:

In October of 2009, I set off for (what I thought) would be a small weight loss journey. Little did I know, life as I knew it would change…for the better…

I had decided I would start walking/jogging after work just to shed a few pounds. (Races and marathons never even crossed my mind.) I just wanted to get my body moving in an effort to be healthier. My first day, I could only run a few blocks (very common for most people). No big deal. The next night, I decided to run the same amount of blocks and add a few blocks of walking. I continued to add some walking/running each day. In a few weeks, I was able to run a half mile without stopping. Not long after that, a full mile without stopping. My running shoes and the sunsets over head were what I looked forward to everyday because I was improving myself every day. It was the only time of day I was guaranteed to find peace. Just me, my ipod, and the pavement. It was the time I could clear my head, de-stress from a long day, and just enjoy my surroundings. It was in those moments every day that I began learning so much about myself.

I continued increasing my mileage because it was giving me purpose in life. Pretty soon, I was running 2 miles without stopping. I saw that Susan G. Komen was hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness 5k in San Diego in November. I signed up for it, not knowing if I’d be able to run the whole thing, but walking is always an option so I knew I wanted to check out what a 5k was like!

My family drove 9 hours to come support me (so sweet!!) I showed up and was extremely intimidated. Tens of thousands of people all in pink tutus, headbands, shirts, and scarves for breast cancer awareness while stretching in groups and warming up. Music was blaring on the loud speakers with announcers pumping up the crowd. There was so much to see, I was on sensory overload! However, when I looked around, the main thing I noticed was smiles and laughter. Everyone was there to have fun, raise money for charity, and make new friends. There was such a positive energy everywhere you looked.

The race started and to be honest, it was a blur. I remember being in pain at mile 2.5, but pushing myself to continue running through the entire 3.2 miles! I was exhausted and hurting, but there was no way I was going to walk knowing that this 5k was for breast cancer. However, what really struck me was the “racing vibe”. People dressed in pink for breast cancer awareness, thousands of spectators cheering, motivational signs, dozens of charities celebrating the money they had raised, and nothing but encouragement for myself and other runners. That day, I realized this was a community I wanted to be a part of. This was what life was all about. Encouraging others, helping the community through fundraising, and spreading joy while participating in a physical challenge. That day, I decided some day I would run a marathon.

I figured maybe I would do it in 3 years or so…never in a million years did I think that 4 months later, I’d be crossing the finish line of my first marathon…in hail, rain and 65 mph winds…

The next day, I created a sub-par training schedule for myself. I had no idea what I was doing, but I tracked my mileage and safely added on mileage each week. By January 2011, just 2 months later, I was running 16 miles on Sunday for my long runs. A family friend of ours that runs marathons called me as he heard I was now running quite a bit. He encouraged me to sign up for the LA Marathon that was on March 20th (day before my birthday). I assured him there was no way I could ever run 26 miles that soon. He continued calling and assured me I could run it based on the mileage I was already doing. After numerous conversations, he convinced me and I reluctantly signed up for the 2011 LA Marathon. Here goes nothing…

I had no idea what I was doing, but he helped me modify my training schedule and follow a plan to be ready for race day. I followed it to a T. After work, my runs were what gave me life. I had a job that I hated so my runs are where I could let go and just be me. I picked a song that motivated me (“More” by Usher) and I made sure to play it to start every training run on the right foot. It made me run faster every time. I started reading marathon books, researched everything I could about marathon training, lifted weights at the gym, and cross-trained in the ocean. I was so focused and determined. GAME ON.

The day before race day, I remember going to the LA Marathon expo where I learned about awesome running-specific products, met inspirational people, and got loads of free swag. I left with over $500 of free clothing, gift cards, gear, food, etc. This wasn’t so bad…in fact, this was awesome!! I could get used to this!! Oh wait…I still had to run 26.2 miles the next day. Nerves started overwhelming my body. I can’t do this. What am I even doing? I wasn’t a runner.

I started doubting myself and my training. My whole family had driven 7 hours to LA and 12 of my friends would be driving 2 hours to be there for my race the next day…and I may let them all down…

What’s the worst that can happen? I walk some of it…no big deal…that’s expected. I was planning on walk/running the entire thing anyways. Worst case scenario? I’m taken off the course due to injury or time. I’ve got to at least try. Oh wait…the weather forecast for tomorrow? Pouring rain, 65 mph winds, and hail? WAIT, WHAT!!??

Is the race still happening? Can we even run? Is that even safe? Why today!? …Needless to say, I literally didn’t sleep for even a minute all night.

I was up at 3am getting my gear on, and my mom was going to drive me to the race. The LA Marathon is a destination marathon so it starts at Dodger Stadium and ends at the Santa Monica Beach Pier. We left the hotel 2 hours before the race started. Plenty of time (or so I thought)! I wanted to be there early!

Then, we hit the dreaded “race traffic”. Wait, what!? Why is there traffic at 5am on a weekend!? There must be an accident! No? This is NORMAL!? Oh no!! I was not aware of this so called race traffic so early in the morning on a Saturday. We sat on the freeway for 1.5 hours. No joke. 30 minutes before the race started (at 6:30a), other runners started getting out of their cars on the freeway to run all the way to the race start, which was still 3 miles off the freeway exit (all straight uphill). No way was i going to do that.

7am came upon us…my first marathon was starting and I wasn’t even there…I was sitting in a car on the freeway with thousands of other cars. Would they even let me run if I show up late? Will the race starting line be closed? I don’t get to hear the announcements. I didn’t stretch yet. I have to go to the restroom. Butterflies are overtaking my stomach. Oh, and then rain clouds start forming overhead. This is a nightmare.

A police officer finally came to the freeway exit and started waving cars through. My mom drove me up to the runner drop off area (across the stadium parking lot from where the start line was). Forget pictures, bathroom, hugs goodbye, good luck wishes, cheering, playing my marathon song etc. I just needed to get to the starting line. Talk about stress. I was doubting my abilities to run it, worried about the rain, unsure of gear check and how I’d meet up with my family after, and now I’m late, didn’t stretch and can’t go to the restroom. Super!

I ran across the Dodger stadium parking lot to the start line, where the later waves were still awaiting their start. Phew! I joined one of the last waves. It was exciting…people jumping, news stations everywhere, photographers snapping like crazy, music blaring, people cheering, the announcer getting everyone pumped up. Let’s do this!!

I crossed that starting line with such a big smile on my face and yet so much fear in my heart. I looked around at other runners…no one seemed stress. They looked like they were ready to have fun. I embraced it, calmed myself down, and began.

1 mile in…the rain starts. Oh dear. This is just perfect. Haha! Then the wind came with the rain. Now that I’m soaking wet from head to toe, nothing like a little wind to really make you freezing!

It ended up raining the entire race, with 65 mph winds and hail!! Yes, HAIL!! This was insane. Who does this!?

I do. I do this. I can do this. People don’t do this for a reason. It’s not easy. It’s hard. You’re doing this Lisa. You’re badass and you’re doing this!

It was cold. I was drenched head to toe, but I was doing this. I played “More” by Usher on repeat and just kept taking one step at a time. At mile 21, I had to go to the restroom so bad. (Note to self and everyone running a marathon: ALWAYS go to the restroom before the race) I didn’t want to stop…not because of my running time, but because I was freezing and my clothes were stuck to me from the pouring rain so I just wanted to keep moving. I was worried that after stopping at a porta potty, I wouldn’t be able to get moving again!

I kept going. At mile 24, I remember looking up at the sky as rain dropped into my eyes and tears came over me. I thanked God for getting me to this point as that was the moment I realized I was going to finish this race. I was going to finish a MARATHON!! Then the finish line came into sight… Palm trees swaying sideways from the wind, umbrellas flying around loose in the sky, hail pounding my bare arms, and yet I was sprinting to the finish!!

It was a surreal feeling. I finished the race at 4:21 (didn’t stop running the entire race) and as I crossed the finish line, I burst into tears. It was the best feeling I’ve ever had in my entire life. Life seemed to stop for a moment. It was a blur. Immediately, I was wrapped in a foil blanket (mylar) and rushed into a hotel to get checked for hypothermia with every other runner. They had to check each of us given how cold it was, etc. They released me quickly when I felt fine. I was on such a runner’s high, I could have lost my arm and not even realized it. I was given water, food, etc and then walked toward the spectator family section. I remember being quarantined with the other runners in a tall fenced area about a mile long. As I exited the gate, there were thousands of people cheering in the pouring rain. The spectators had made a tunnel for the runners to walk through. I was smiling ear to ear in pouring rain and was getting patted on the back, people saying congratulations, everyone just getting pummeled by the rain and yet still supporting the runners. It was overwhelming. Then my friend, Ashley, who was standing along the tunnel yelled LISA!! I looked up and burst into tears again!! She hugged me so tight as I cried uncontrollably. Strangers were patting me on the back and telling me congratulations. It was unreal.

I then saw all of my family and the rest of my friends. It meant so much to me that they all drove so far, fought parking, and stood in the pouring rain to support me.

My life was forever changed that day. I went from zero to running a full marathon in 5 months, but running that marathon taught me that I could do anything I set my mind to in life.

Running became a way of life after that…a reminder that I can achieve greatness. Since then, I quit the job I hated, gained a positive self image of myself, got several incredible new job opportunities, raised thousands of dollars for charities, reached a healthy body/mindset, went on a nutrient-dense diet, got a rockin’ bod, made amazing new life-long friends, was inspired in more ways than I can count, motivated others to achieve greatness, and finished over 100 races to date…all “consequences” of lacing up my tennis shoes that day in October 2009… =)

My life was never the same. <3

P.S. I’d love to hear your first marathon stories!! I find that everyone is passionate about their first race and has such amazing stories to tell! We all know every marathon runner can literally talk FOREVER about racing. I look forward to hearing yours! =)