It's a race you've lost, not a relative. Nobody's dead.
--Sybil Gordon (in Chariots of Fire, after Abrahams loses to Liddle and sulks about it)
Official results aren't yet in on the California International Marathon site, but according to the Garmin the bad news is:
4:06:38.
I'll have a doozy of a race report for you soon. It features a start line that looked like a refugee camp (if refugees wear trash bags), 26 miles of headwind (I think we had .2 or so where it was more like a sidewind), my first-ever mid-marathon port-a-john stop at Mile 17, 3 1/2 hours of jungle-like rain (nice sun after that, though) and the first race where I had absolutely no desire to hang out at the finish line.
The best parts of the experience were the post-race shower and hanging out with Tricia (now a marathon finisher!!).
I'll close by saying....I'm sorry the BQ by 40 story's last marathon was this one. A lot of you were rooting for me, I know, and I feel like I've let you down. Honestly, I gave it all I had. I can see it's an excellent course on a good day. But today wasn't a good day. Some days, Mom says, are like that.
I respect the heck out of you and that 4:06:38 because that was a tough run! You knew it but you went out there and literally "weathered the storm." You should be proud of yourself because you accomplished something huge today. You are not a quitter and I know that this race has made you stronger and more determined to get that BQ! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThat is a bummer, but congrats on finishing it! I think this means you need to post on here when you do get that BQ qualifying time, though!
ReplyDeleteBummer not to make the goal but monster kudos for enduring the sufferfest! Of the 4 people I knew going, 2 backed out. That is a rough day.
ReplyDeletei'm proud, not let down!!!! you did the best you could under ridiculous conditions. give yourself a few days to be upset and then move on. your BQ is waiting ;)
ReplyDeleteSorry it didn't happen for you today but certainly a time to be proud of in those conditions. You most definitely did not let anybody down and I look forward to reading when you do get your BQ. Best of luck to you and I wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy 40th Birthday!
ReplyDeleteJill C.
You let no one down! I am so bummed and feel like I let YOU down! I was out there screaming in my "GO RUNNERS!" hefty bag and didn't see you :( So glad you've survived though and look forward to reading the dirty details!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about the title, that's why they make erasers and white-out! Unless the Mayans are right, Boston will still be there. You finished and gave it your all. I am so proud to have been on the journey with you!
ReplyDeleteHugs my friend! I am sorry it was such hard conditions. I know how much it sucks to train and set a big goal and to have the weather suck (BOSTON). You did the best you could in the conditions you had, and that is something to be proud of.
ReplyDeleteI'm very disappointed that even though you faced a torrential downpour and a ferocious headwind, you still beat me by seven minutes. What the heck! You can't control the weather (at least I don't think you can, can you?) I think you should start a new blog: BQB41. I'll follow it.
ReplyDeleteOh I forgot to add that my URL is nottooslowforboston.blogspot.com. "Not too slow for Boston," Really? I missed qualifying by 58 minutes. It's the Internet. Nobody tells the truth.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about the crappy weather. It hurts to train so hard for something and know you are within reach of the goal, but conditions make it impossible. And this is a far bigger "something" than anything athletic I've trained for.
ReplyDeleteYou were right to run conservatively though, and save yourself for a better day down the road. Maybe even soon it sounds like?
Hope you've been able to eat, rest, and feel okay about the experience. I'm sure you are stronger because of it, even though you wish it didn't turn out the way. Rest up, and I hope you get the perfect 50-40*, overcast, and slight tailwind for your next 26.2!
way to go on a tough day! I know you had unmet expectations....but you can only take what the day gives you......you'll get it next time! :>)
ReplyDeleteI thought of you many times today. I'm sorry the conditions were so awful! I know that no matter what you gave it your all! Hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear it. It really was bad luck, since it cleared up later. That was a huge crock. I thought of you this morning at 7, standing there in your trash bag. You will still BQ another day! Don't let it get you down and DON'T worry about us; we are not let down at all!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely didn't let me down! I'm really impressed that you actually ran in that. It was pouring this morning, so I hung out in bed and I only had 4 miles to do. I've loved getting to know you through our blogs and following your BQ by 40 story. Thanks for putting it all out there!
ReplyDeleteyou are a rock star for toughing this one out! 4 hours is still a great time--I know its not what you wanted but you should still be proud of yourself! I'm proud of you!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that YOU are disappointed and that conditions were SO ridiculously against you. I'm SO impressed and proud of you for going anyway, for running in those conditions. I think there's something absolutely heroic about setting out when you are almost certain that you won't reach the goal you've been working towards.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can only imagine how good that shower felt! :)
What a crazy experience- I hate rain and wind, I honestly don't know what I would have done in your situation. I'm so impressed you plowed through and did it. You are seriously tough! What unfortunate timing for that weather... is there a calculator for wind and rain? I bet it would say you nailed that bq!
ReplyDeleteoh man, I just saw the fb photo of ankle-deep water... meant in the nicest possible way I can't wait to read all about it... still you did 4 hr marathon, that ain't no small feat!
ReplyDeleteyou are my hero for sucking it up and getting out there. I'm VERY proud of you!
ReplyDeleteOh friend... You did not let anyone down... You did something brave. Running 26.2 miles is hard any day. In those conditions it is beyond hard. You are strong and it sucks that after all the work it is Mother Nature who ruined the day. You have to know you have it in you after this one.
ReplyDeleteI commented yesterday from my phone and see that didn't work (as if) so here goes again. You let no one down. Truly its a miracle sometimes that anyone has a good marathon. There are just so many variables that need to align. Mom Nature was unkind. You did the best you could. Who knows why some goals come quickly while others take their time? 4:06 under those conditions is stellar, although I know not what you wanted. Your BQ will be that much sweeter when and I say WHEN it comes. Big hugs and congrats T!
ReplyDeleteAww...sorry you had a tough day out there, Terzah. I know you have the ability to get that time--yesterday just wasn't it. One of my friends keeps reminding me that the conditions really did take a lot out of us. You're going to have your day.
ReplyDeleteRest up now and take a mental break as well. Sorry we didn't connect, but like you said, the finish line wasn't really a place to hang out in soggy clothes!
If it's any consolation my suckfest in Boston resulted in a 4:25. Considering I was training for sub-3:45, that was pretty disheartening. Just remember that you aren't alone in this. And the forecast for Tucson this weekend, which I'm running due to the NYC fiasco, is now for very HOT conditions. This is not over for you...Running marathons is tough stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt was a hard day, mentally, physically and emotionally. I'm impressed with everyone who finished. Congratulations, regardless of the BQ, you earned this race.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that you had such a tough race - without all the bad weather I bet you could have gotten like 30 minutes faster or so. And you didn't let anyone down, you ran the best race you could run given the conditions. I live in the south bay of the bay area, and on Sunday morning I was woken up by the storm, the wind and rain just sounded insane outside my window. It seriously sounded like a freight train was outside my window - sort of like what a hurricane would sound like if the bay area ever got a hurricane. I was guessing the wind was around 35-50 mph, and the rain was hard. Just awful luck - seemed like the bay area gets like 1 storm a year that strong, and it just so happened to happen during CIM. It was the loudest storm I could remember in recent memory going back a couple years. So props to you for finishing, no matter the time.
ReplyDeleteI bet you will get that BQ on your next marathon.
Well, crap.
ReplyDeleteWhat can you do? Mother Nature wins every time, yk? I know that you will BQ. It's not an "if," it's a "when?" Keep at it. Great job on staying tough and getting another marathon under your belt. It only makes you stronger. And you didn't let anyone down!
I'm on the other side of the mountains from Sacramento. I could hardly sleep on Saturday night because of the strong winds and rain we had. You and all the runners running CIM yesterday were in my thoughts. You ran an awesome race for those conditions! I know your goals are much different than mine (I'd like to break the 5 hr mark), and I know you must be disappointed, but you ran a great race and showed the weather who's boss. If you ran a 4:06 race in that, I have no doubt you can reach your goal on a more ideal day. You will get that BQ some day... I just know it! :)
ReplyDeleteI saw some pictures of the crazy weather at this race and my heart went out to you long before this post went up. Honestly, based on those pictures, you time is nothing short of amazing. I know it's not what you wanted, but it's impressive nonetheless!
ReplyDeleteit was a brutal day and the fact that you finished is SUCH a major accomplishment!! you will have your day...you were ready. what happened was TOTALLY outside your control. hugs, friend!!
ReplyDeleteNow you can't stop blogging! :) Sorry you had a bad race, but those were some insane weather conditions!
ReplyDeleteDisappointment sucks, that's for sure. You gave it your all, and that's amazing.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so now I've had time to read FB and your blog post and know more than the email you sent. I am not, nor will I EVER, be disappointed in you and you didn't let me down - or anyone else. This journey is yours and yes, I was rooting for you because I know how much it meant to you, but please do not worry about what letting anyone down. I am super proud of you for giving it your all and doing the best you could with such miserable conditions! You are my hero!!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
You conquered the marathon on a really crappy day. Congrats for that. I'm sorry about how it all went down though, sometimes mother nature really likes to mess with our heads :(
ReplyDeleteThanks, Holly! Wind 1, me 0--but no one beats the wind right?
ReplyDelete