I DID IT!

So very sorry that I didn't post anything yesterday. I was extremely tired and just hung out with my family.

So, do you want to know my experience? It was horrible, exhausting, and dreadful, I wanted to quit yet it was magical, exciting, transforming and very uplifting. It was a bag full of mixed emotions. You are happy because you are liberated and doing something incredible, however you are super sore and hating this self-imposed torture! When you are on your last mile, all you can think is that you are NEVER doing this again, however once you get to the finish line and feel invincible you immediately start making plans for your next race. You realize the mistakes that you made and want to improve your time and everything. Well, for me this experience seemed like a heart-attack on a pair of shoes.

I woke up super excited and motivated and immediately drank some orange juice and ate like 4 clementines. I sipped water throughout the morning so I wouldn't be so fatigued. My mom dropped me off at the starting line around 5:45. I ate two coco-lara bars and a banana while I also continued to sip some water. After I saw that there was one hour left for the race, I decided to use the bathroom. It was a good thing that I went "before I had to go" because the wait time was 45 min so I REALLY REALLY had to use the restroom once I got to the front of the line.

I made small talk with some of the other marathoners. It was my first marathon and I was running it solo, it seemed like everyone else was already in a group. I tried to recite a positive affirmation to keep my focus. I wanted to finish so badly. That was my main goal. My nerves were starting to race once I found out the three division start times had past, we were next. I took off my sweater and abandon it at the Dodger's Stadium. Because there was so many people huddled together, I was able to keep warm. The start bell/gun went off at 7:35 but I didn't cross the start line till about

7:45 (remember there are 25,000 people participating in the race). I was quiet excited because I just saw a sea of bright colors (green was the official shirt's color). I was excited, I tried to keep my pace and I felt wonderful. It was cool to run with other people, doing what I love with other strangers. I kept thinking that this time, no one was going to be able to interfere with my running. It was amazing to be cheered on.

(Side note) Men are disgusting! We weren’t even one mile in and they all lined up on a wall to relieve themselves. Seriously, there are port-a-potties located everywhere! I kept running, I was keeping an average pace and thankfully my hip wasn't bothering me at the time being. "I got this," I kept repeating to myself. I was in charge of my body, of my race. Nothing was going to interfere. THEN I saw the thing that would bring me to my death. It as a monstrous hill. Ok, I can run this I told myself. I agreed that I was able to run slower and then just go a little faster on the downhill part. I did just that, miraculously I was doing pretty good time wise. By mile 7-8 my hip began to act up. It felt like I had displaced something. My left hip seemed to go to the left while my body was

going to the right. It fought me at every movement, I wanted to cry but I just let out a breath and remembered my sister. If that little monster was able to run around the house while wearing a cast, then I can run this marathon.  

I continued. Finally I reached 13 miles. I was half-way done. Time-wise, it wasn't so bad either, 2:15:33 (I’m not sure about the seconds aha) I thought if I kept up the pace I would finish it in 4 hrs. and 30 mins which was my goal. Mentally, I was feeling good about myself, physically I was drained. I didn't feel like I had any more energy or strength left in me. I was surely going on my will/mental power from here on out. I wanted to quit. As I passed the medical booth, I wanted to stop and tell them that my hip felt dislocated or something. However, I told myself to wait till the next one and see how I felt then. Another thing that kept me in the race was knowing that my mom and sisters were at the end watching, my friends knew I was running, the fact that I wanted to wear the marathon shirt, and my own pride. I must admit, my pride is what kept me in the most. I feel that I would disappoint myself so much and I would feel like a failure if I didn't complete it.

So I somehow convinced myself to stay in the race. I was forced to take some stops. Pedestrians would huddle up and just cross the street in front of you. Stretching is a must; your calves will thank you. Also, the lines to get your ankles sprayed for icy-hot are super long near the end of the line. You must remember, your nerves are a high, and you are drinking water throughout the race, and if you were properly hydrated you probably made a few bathroom trips throughout the race.

It was one of the hardest things I ever done in my life. A marathon is not about physical power, it’s about being mentally capable to overcome everything. I wanted to give up after each mile. I wanted to stop at each medical center. However, I was able to mentally convince myself that I would be ok, that I would make it in the end. I had to finish the race because people were depending on me. When I saw I had reached mile 24. I knew I had come a long way already. That was the longest that I had ever run in my entire life. I was so close to finishing; there was no way I was going to stop now. If I thought that mile 18-24 felt long.

The last mile, mile 25 felt eternal. I knew my mom was going to be there, I tried to look for her in the crowd. I don't know if it's because you’re physically and mentally exhausted, but I kept hallucinating. I felt like I kept seeing my mom and neighbor in separate locations. As I approached the finish line, I thought I missed them. But about 200 meters before, I hear someone call my name. IT WAS MY DAD!!! I love my mom to death and my sisters. However, I knew and expected them to be there. But my dad isn't very emotional and he doesn't go to these types of events, so when I saw him I got excited and I got some newfound energy. Me, being stupid and all started running in the opposite direction, towards my family. They screamed at me to turn around and finish the race. I did just that, I started sprinting. I finished and I didn't know if I wanted to cry, scream, or just collapse. But the feeling of accomplishment is one of the best things that anyone can experience.

While running the marathon, I told myself that I would never ever torture myself through a marathon again. However, once you finish, you feel invincible and you can't wait to try it again next year. I met my family and they all congratulated me. Telling me they were so proud of me and that it was a major task that I just finished. It was epic. I even encouraged my mom and sisters to do a 5 k. It’s amazing.  

Now I can't wait to start training for next year, I already made a very quick mental plan of how I am going to do things differently. lol