Our marathon was in September and it was BEAUTIFUL! We ran down a canyon in Monte Cristo for about 20 of the miles and then the last 6.2 were on the flat roads of Huntsville!
We took a bus up the canyon and the higher we got the colder it was!! EVERYTHING was covered in ice and frost it wasn't very motivating to get out of the bus and run 26.2 miles!! :/
But we got out and all huddled together trying to stay warm for the hour we had to wait before the race began! The view from the top of the canyon was incredible, especially with all of the leaves changing and the sun rising over the mountains.
After we all went to the bathroom and got all our gear ready we walked over to the starting point to wait for the gun shot. Looking around at all of the people, I was surprised to see so many different kinda of people, talk, shirt, skinny, fat, people wearing kilts, people wearing close to nothing! It is so bizarre to me but really ANYONE can do a marathon!
The race began and Elias and his brothers took off like lightning! My mother and sister inlaw and I found our pace and began down the canyon, I remember at this point I couldn't feel my feet and it was the strangest sensation! As we were running the sun was getting higher and higher in the sky and it was starting to warm up. On the sides of the road there were lots of gloves, hats and sweatshirts that people had discarded!
As time went on I separated from the family members I was running with and just found my own pace if felt so incredible passing mile marker after marker with ease! (Thank you months of training) one of my favorite memories was when I was running on my own around a bend that had stunning trees on both sides with colorful leaves falling over me, I know it sounds cheesy but it was like time slowed down for a moment :)
As the miles went on it was beginning to get harder, around mile 16 my right leg behind my knee was starting to get tight (from an injury I had received during my half marathon just a few weeks before) I starting slowing down and came upon a lady that I had talked to around mile 6! I'm so glad I can upon her because she definitely helped motivate and pace me! We talked for awhile about how it was both of our first marathon, and also talked about how we had both taught dance! We ran for awhile until she began to slow down a bit, I said good bye and sped up! (Although I did see her a few more times through the race). Around mile 20 my mother in law caught up to me (and at this point my right leg was screaming at me) she helped motivate me for a few miles but I had her go along with out me!
I was limp/walk/running for awhile and since I'm sure I looked like an idiot some good Samaritans gave me ibuprofen which helped persist till the end!
When I rounded the corner to the final stretch I started crying when I saw my husband (who had finished like an hour ahead of me) and the rest of my family! I was so happy to be done and so proud that I was finishing! After my failed high five to my brother in law and trying to smile at my father in laws camera I crossed the finish line and dizzily received my metal!
After the race we all had a victory meal at Five Guys and I specifically remember after getting out of the car we were walking up to the restaurant and my brother in law says "we look like the walking dead" which was so true! All of us limping and walking way stiff, with messy hair and drained faces! And what was even better was walking in to five guys with the restaurant so quiet and everyone staring at us!
THINGS I LEARNED in no particular order
1. My husband and all of my in laws are amazing athletes
2. I need to take more pictures next time
3. No matter how much you eat after your race you are still STARVING
4. The last six miles are extremely mentally and physically challenging
5. Definitely trusts the guys at the running store when they say you need a full size bigger of shoe then you normally wear 
My toe nail is only half way grown back and the marathon was 5 months ago!
6. I would do a marathon again
7. I need to train at a faster pace
8. I need to train downhill more!
9. My brother in law Austin is a trooper, he decided to do the race the night before and with no training still finished!
10. Fall is the best time to do a marathon because it is GORGEOUS!!
I recommend to anyone to do a marathon it is an amazing experience :) and really anyone can do it, it just takes a good attitude and some time to train :$
-Stef
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