Two good friends and I flew out to Phoenix this past Saturday. Ryan ran the full marathon (26.2 miles), while Bambi and I set our sights more reasonably on finishing the half-marathon (13.1). We stayed at a friend's house and carbo-loaded by making chicken alfredo with Texas Toast (and some chocolate chip cookies for dessert). For the second morning in a row, we were all up before the sun (the previous day, we had an early flight) and out of the house before 5 AM. In the darkness, we drove to the finish area at the ASU Sun Dome where shuttles would then take us to the start area. It was a COLD morning (in the low 40s), and the shuttle had us to the start area by 6 AM. Ryan's race started at 7:30 AM, while Bambi and I started our race at 8:30 AM. To stay warm, we wandered the start area where we found a lovely cactus in the middle of a grassy park...
No coffee, cold temperatures, and an early start make anything seem amusing, but a heater worked even better than our funny bones to keep us warm.
We remained beneath the glow of the heater and swaying to the beat of the cover band until it was time for Ryan to head to his start corral. Bambi and I dropped him off at his corral, wished him luck, then headed to the start line to capture the action. While we waited, we saw the elite racers, without an ounce of body fat or an expression of humor on their faces, warm up. And then, the gun was shot and the marathon started:
After we thought Ryan had passed on down the course, Bambi and I headed over to the half-marathon start, where I met my good old friend Erik in corral #14. I've known Erik since my undergraduate days, and I hadn't seen him since he moved from DC to Chicago. I'm guesstimating it had been 5 years since I last saw him!! The half-marathon started as a wave start, meaning the race staff walked each corral group up to the start line to space out the runners by about 1-2 minutes between corrals. This gives runners considerably more space along the course than with a standing start, especially when, like this race, there are over 20,000 runners!! If you look closely at the horizon line in the photo below, you can see the balloon arch that marks the start line for the half-marathon. With the wave start, Erik and I crossed the start line about 20-30 minutes after the race clock started!
The race was awesome! Erik and I ran the whole way together, and the course was lined with spectators, cheer squads, and bands. I loved looking around the course because I had never been to Phoenix before, and it was all new to me. It was a beautiful day for running and I felt great the whole way. Well, the whole way until about mile 10-11. For some reason, this is where I start to hurt and really NEED to see the next mile marker to know that I am getting closer to the finish! The finish FINALLY came into view, which is such an awesome boost. I get chills every time and it just pushes me that much more. I find energy that I just didn't know I had left. Erik and I crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 20 minutes, and 57 seconds. That's a personal best for me in the half-marathon distance and I was really happy with how it all went.
After stretching, and grabbing some snacks (best popsicles EVER!), Erik met up with his Chicago contingent, and Bambi and I went to wait for Ryan in the meet-up area on the University's track infield, as he completed the last of his 26.2 miles. It felt good to soak up some rays on REAL grass, while drinking a beer, and enjoying the festive atmosphere. It was a nice change up from local races for me, as I usually go, run, then go home, without staying for the after race events.
Ryan completed his marathon with the look of an exhausted man. You never know how your first full is going to treat you, and Ryan's was brutal as his legs refused to consistently cooperate during the last half of the run. He muscled through, though, and he can now say he is a marathon finisher. That is something that only 2% of the population can say!!
In the end, we all finished happy with our times and happy with the race. Phoenix is one helluva a well-organized race, and I would happily participate again. It was a great weekend, and I would to get back out to Arizona, so I could see more of it. I still haven't seen the Grand Canyon!! Guess that is all the more motivation to keep running, and go back for another personal best next year...
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