every marathon is a journey. an adventure of the highest of highs, lowest of lows, and everything in between.  there are many reasons why i love long-distance running but the one word that describes it best is ‘perseverance’.  the tenacity and effort it takes to achieve something so physically tough, mixed with the sheer bliss at the end; no greater feeling.  

a few months ago i ran my first official race, tulsa’s route 66 marathon in 3hrs 50min.  the next day i registered for the half in cowtown, but switched it to another full two months later.  there’s something about the distance i crave and there was juuuust enough time in the training block.  with the help of my coach (@lauranorrisrunning) we ramped up the weekly long runs and workouts to prepare for the end of february.  contrary to training for tulsa, i was shooting for a faster time in hopes to qualify for boston.  as some of you may know, in order to run in the boston marathon, one must qualify with a certain time per age group.  my required time is a minimum of 3:35, and by January i was determined to meet this goal sometime within 2024.  think it, say it, do it- right?

sunday, february 25th at 7am i set out to reach that 3:35 for my second marathon.  maybe a stretch but i had a game plan:  warmup the first 2 miles with the 3:35 pacer, then creep up to the 8:00 pacer for the rest (give or take).  there was a lot more strategy involved to adjust along the course, but that was the baseline of what needed to happen.  expectedly, the first couple of miles was a breeze (nothing like coming out of taper week).  miles 2-8 were fresh.  held a sub 8:00, staying comfortably in the 7:40’s-7:50’s.  the largest hill was mile 9-10 and man, it really was killer!  took a good several minutes to recover from that elevated exertion, noise and overstimulation but i knew i had conquered the ‘worst part’ everyone talked about.  we split from the half marathoners somewhere around mile 10 which always makes me think ‘buckle up, sister lets go’!   collectively, the first half (1:45) was strong and controlled with an 8:00/mile average pace.  that was exactly where i hoped to be midway, however, there was still a lot of work to do.

the second half to me is sorta like ‘second gear’… pumping out a little extra energy and letting loose a bit more- but not TOO much.  the heat and humidity picked up.  the rolling hills kept coming when i thought they were supposed to be over.  the wind was fierce with gusts up to 25-30mph.  my mental strength was declining.  the two 8oz bottles on my belt were filled with sports hydration (nuun) which i’d alternate sips for drinking and splashes for body cooling, savoring every drop.  the fluid stations were vital by mile 15 bc i was down to one bottle after tossing the empty one and missing a trash can.  miles 15-18 mainly focused on my music (song after song) to tune out distractions, staying calm and gaining speed with any slight break in the wind.

mile 20.  on one hand i was thrilled to finally be here, but i couldn’t quite wrap my head around another 6.2.  my last two gels were for miles 21 and 24 but it seemed like it wasn’t going to be enough due to the rising humidity.  took the 21 mile gel when i got there, but started feeling myself slowing down.  mile 22-23 was the second worst mile a few reasons.  it was literally getting HOT.  the course merged into a curvy sidewalk along a strip of busy restaurant patios.  guests were cheery and loud while the full sun was extremely bright to the point i would close my eyes for few seconds at a time.  crowd support normally helps me but i kinda wanted everyone to disappear.  this was the part i needed to run a little harder, aka that last stretch to the finish.  suddenly, a voice from behind yells

‘hey girl, you aint done yet!’

it was travis, the smiley 3:35 pacer.  realness set in as he caught me for the first time since mile 2.  he had a very likable presence but i wasn’t in the mood because frankly, 20 miles later, he wasn’t the person i wanted to see.  this meant ‘no more slack’.  there was nothing to shave off from here and i had no other choice other than to stick with him and the few others close by.  there were three total (all men) in a tight cluster, strong and talkative wearing tops that read ‘pacer’ or ‘coach’ on their backs.  after hanging with them for about 5 minutes, i fell back a few more feet, and it wasn’t long until they were 30 feet ahead.  my muscles were noticeably achy and tired.  meanwhile, a tall (at least 6 ft) attractive woman worked her way ahead of me catching up to the pacers.  imaginatively, she woke up this morning, cute as could be, and decided instead of going to brunch with the girls, she would just run a marathon for the hell of it. i digress… my confidence was plummeting seeing these beautifully talented runners fly by.  were they ahead of pace allowing me some cushion, or right on track as i lost grip? i wondered.  my watch had given me hope as i aimed for target pace (8:12 or less) it read 8:07.  i was fine; i had this.  however, in hindsight, i learned you lose some time from over-running ‘official’ marathon mileage within the race (wide corners, hills, etc).  rookie mistake.

at mile 23 travis turns back and shouts with enthusiasm

‘alright, yall give me three more miles!’

three more sounded like ten more, but ok trav.  becoming increasingly thirsty, i reached for the end of the sports drink and realized it was… empty. the never-ending sidewalk finally turned back into a street but of course, more hills.  more heat and wind.

‘will i make it?’ i asked myself.  finally, mile 24.  i could now take my last UCAN gel but oh how i wanted a DRINK.  the last water station popped up and when i reached it i took two flimsy paper cups from a teenaged volunteer- one for a splash, one to drink.  mile 25 was an uphill blur and at one point my body almost came to a stop.  slowed down for a second and thought about walking… but quickly pushed back into a jog, an 8:21 ‘jog’ to be exact.  the crowd was thickening which indicated the end was near.

mile marker 26 was in sight as my mind was turning to mush.  my friends voices were calling out my name and i spotted cindy’s face in a sea of spectators packed tightly against the fence.  a few seconds later a text from cindy scrolled across my watch

‘go go go!!!’

my cousin jan was loudly chanting my name

‘KATY! KATY! KATY!’

i somehow slowly raised my left hand in attempt to waive as i crossed 26, but it wasn’t a waive at all.  the last .2 miles felt like a crawl (slipping into the 9:00’s) but i had made it.  the announcer called my name as i bounced over the finish.  my legs were like literal spaghetti noodles trying to hold me up and walk a straight line to the buckets of water. chugged 32oz in roughly 20 seconds.  i spotted travis who had obviously beat me, then inched my way over to mom at the gate.

clocked in at 3:36:03.  disbelief two ways.  1) i was shocked over this PR, shaving 14 minutes from a few months ago! 3:30’s in general felt unattainable last summer and I DID IT!  2) 1min 3sec from a BQ.  how did i get so close, but not get it!!!!???  too close.  not sure how to describe that foggy moment, but definitely robbed of the initial post-race high.  impossible to shake the fact i was ONE minute from a victory and goal so early in the year.  i mean, i always knew it was ambitious endeavor, but i thought i did everything right! 

made it back to the hotel at 11:20 and had a late check out at noon.  sore and stiff, i showered, got dressed and crawled back onto the hotel bed where i had slept only 4 hours.  the bed was much softer and cozier than i recalled.  shut my eyes and carefully began to relax as if my body was a giant house and i walked room after room turning off the lights.  i could feel the tension lessening as i slowly sank into a cloud of memory foam.  i wanted it to all be a dream and start over– i would hug every corner tighter, savor more fluid, avoid almost stopping (twice), strive to stay up with travis, and finish one minute and three seconds faster.  the texts would pour in from friends and family congratulating me on the BQ, the happy tears, the margarita i had been planning to consume after.

as i drifted off, mom and jan were patiently waiting in the lobby for me to gather my things and come down.  20 dreamy minutes later, a housekeeper knocked on the door softly and woke me up… ‘housekeeping.’

so i hobbled down the car and we drove to velvet taco.

during lunch, we talked and decompressed.  finally, i was able to come to my senses and really think about my finish time… WOW!  how crazy to have run 3:36, let alone on that wild ass course.  i reflected on the countless obstacles and struggles i unexpectedly encountered, yet still fought til the very last second.  one hell of a milestone in my running.  amazing really.  last month i told a friend if i got a 3:40 in cowtown i’d be stoked.  and just like that, i was giddy knowing my BQ is coming.  finished off some delicious tacos, the celebratory marg, and we drove back to oklahoma. 

i’ve read something recently (wish i remembered where!)

‘the training is the marathon, the race is the celebration’.

that couldn’t be more true.  there are many days of training filled with blood, sweat and tears, months of continuous work.  4:45am wake up calls, 50 mile weeks, threshold intervals, strength workouts, long runs every. single. weekend.  then you’re here.  you don’t choose the weather, wind, and course challenges- you suck it up and do your best.  what a humbling experience to be one minute from a BQ when you want it so damn badly.  so, i sit with all the emotions from a crazy beautiful race, one i’ll never forget.  allowing myself to yearn for more while simultaneously counting this run and PR a WIN.  adding to the list of reasons why i love this sport- i am always better for doing it. zero regret. on the the next!