Hot in Cleveland: Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Recap

Sooooo. . . I've spent my time training in the coldest of cold temperatures this winter and spring. Zero degrees? PSSSHHHH.  Who knew that Cleveland would smack me in the face with 80+ degrees on race day???? But. . . I've gotten ahead of myself.

I worked the Expo on Saturday morning for a little bit, but things were slow, so I was allowed to go pick up my packet and browse the expo. So many fun things to do! I got a free blood pressure check and facial screening (Scary! Peeps, wear a hat when you run outside), and I bought socks, Bondi Bands, and a 50K car magnet (in honor of Forget the PR). I also took a pic, of course:

What bib number are you? Do you have any ID? NO???? NO BIB FOR YOU!!!

I'm official!

This is EXACTLY how I look when I win a marathon wearing Birkenstocks.

I met Marta for a pre-race dinner, took a two-mile walk with the kids, and then went to bed early.

The next morning was a 4:00 wake-up.  I had already laid out my clothes and gear,  so it was a matter of drinking my coffee and eating my bagel and fretting about finding a parking space. FYI: There is no need to fret about parking spaces, but I do it every year. This year I pulled right into a lot just feet away from the finish area. Easy peasy.

This is EXACTLY how I look when I am fretting about  parking. Notice that I am ALREADY SWEATING.

I met up for starting line promo pics:

2019 Ambassadors

This year the photographer didn't pick me to stand in front of everyone else. I am less special this year, I guess.

Marta and I took pictures with everyone we could find:

Women of Cleveland: Melissa, Pam (nice tongue), Stephanie, Katie, Melissa, Me, of course.

Marta and I walk to the start.

Marta found Jeffery and Nikki, who brought Rico Suave to cheer us on!

Corral Shenanigans: Here we go!

Normally, the first 13 miles of a marathon are pretty chillax for me because I don't push myself too hard. It's a time to warm up, talk, take the beer miles when/if you can, high five little kids. This year was different. Even after mile 2 I felt like I was on the struggle bus, and that bus was not where I wanted to be. It was so hot and humid; I was already finding it difficult to breathe and find a good pace.

There were definitely some great moments--like the Bishop, for instance:

I was hoping to get a picture with this dude! He made my day!

We took a beer mile, and it was very refreshing in the heat. I don't regret that at all.

Lots of bridges. So cool.
Photo credit: Marta Pacur

This is EXACTLY how I look when I am pretending I am not on the struggle bus.
Photo Credit: Marta Pacur

I love the Cleveland Marathon course. It has all kinds of neighborhoods and scenery: Downtown, The Flats (both East and West banks), Tremont, Ohio City (Hello, Speedo guy again this year!), Clifton, Edgewater, Battery Park, Gordon Square. Everything is so interesting, and the course really highlights what makes Cleveland special. I love running the out-and-back stretch to Rocky River and back to Edgewater because I can look for my fast friends to inspire me on the way down. I saw Ryan (3:05 pacer!), Steve (3:45 pacer!), Eric,  and Pam. When we were around Mile 14, we saw Luke, who was looking super strong, even in the incredible heat and humidity. He gave us hugs and high fives, and yelled, "Who made me sign up for this?" Marta and I both pointed to each other and shrugged.

The wheels really came off around mile 17. I was really, really hot. I wasn't sweating, and my heart was beating too fast. I was worried that I was getting heat stroke. I started walking a bit during almost every mile. I didn't want to fuel after mile 15 because I was feeling nauseous, but I knew I needed the fuel. I also felt like I was drinking too much water, so I started swishing and spitting at the aid stations and dumping water over my head instead of swallowing it. God bless the people who sprayed us with hoses because they probably saved me.  God bless Marta, too, because she stuck with me even though I told her to go ahead because I was definitely not going to make a good finish time.

Seriously, Peeps, it was really difficult out there. One mile out from the finish, I couldn't even get excited enough to run it in until Lee came by us just before the bridge. She gave a great pep talk and really helped me buck up. "There is serious carnage out there," she told us. "Even the elites have dropped the idea of a PR today, so you are badasses for being out here. Now, you are allowed to walk up the hill to that bridge because you are trail runners, but then you are going to run it in to the finish. Get going!" I managed to run and finish, and I fell apart as soon as I stopped my Garmin.

Marta doesn't know it, but I was crying and hyperventilating here.

This is EXACTLY how I look when I fall apart after I stop my Garmin.

I'm a mess. Luke is fine; Pam and Steve are fine.
Photo Credit: Marta Pacur

I drank some chocolate milk, but I couldn't handle more sugar, so I drank a beer, and it actually made me feel better. Then I was able to interact a bit more.

Ambassadors Finish! Eric, Pam, Me
Photo Credit: Steve McGowan

Marta, Me, Pam, Eric, Luke
Photo Credit: Steve McGowan

Me, Luke, Marta
Photo Credit: Eric Geyer

This race was no joke, Peeps. I have never walked so much in a road race in my entire life. Today I feel like a long train ran me over. 

I am grateful that I was able to finish, and I am grateful to my friends who supported me in this journey.

I have more to say about the race, specifically about the people who couldn't finish, and more specifically about Taylor Ceepo, who collapsed and died a mile from the finish line. I will honor Taylor with a separate post, but I wanted to acknowledge that this day was marked by tragedy. My heart goes out to Taylor's family and friends.

Lastly (for this post), I want to thank all the volunteers who helped out in this race. You gave me water, Powerade, and HoneyStinger gels, you sprayed me with the hose, you smiled and cheered and awarded me a sweet medal. Thank you for giving so generously of your time and spirit. Thank you to the Staph family and all the organizers who put all of this together. Thank you to my fellow Ambassadors who are more than social media friends to me; they are my family.

And thank YOU, Peeps. 

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Run Happy, Peeps!