all heart, all fargo.

Here it is folks.

Last Thursday afternoon, Nic and I packed up the car, loaded up the pup and began our first of two legs up to Fargo, ND.

Nic, being the ever-so-wonderful husband that he is, pretty much did everything in his play book to keep me sane and calm. He packed my iPod, Garmin, chargers, and pretty much everything that I would need to make it through my third marathon.

He did this while I ran two slow miles to reassure myself that, yes, I could still run after taking a long 4 day break.

He actually probably did a little happy dance while I was out - I get b-i-t-c-h-y on the days that I don't run. Who's with me on that one?! #taperingsucks

We stayed with my mom on Thursday night and almost had her convinced to make the trek to ND with us. Alas, she had to pick up her husband from the airport before we got back.

Friday morning I ran a quick-ish 5K to stretch out the legs before our 2nd leg of the trip. Hey - they still work!

We pulled into Fargo/Moorhead around Noon and met up with our friends, Laura and Josh, at their house. Fun fact - this is the third year in a row that we have made the trip to visit them. I foresee this being an annual tradition.

After a quick discussion about our lunch options (and me flatly stating my criteria for wherever we eat), we headed out to Doolittles Woodfire Grill to grab some food. I tore apart the menu, made a few changes to a dish that caught my eye and ended up with a plate of pasta with veggies in a spicy red sauce.

Timing could not have been more perfect; as we were paying our bill preparing to head off to the expo, I got a call from the four other people from Washington that were running as well. They had just gotten there and would wait for me to show up so we can snag a group photo.



We thought it was kind of neat that all of us were heading 9+ hours north to run the Fargo Marathon. So neat in fact, that our local radio station interviewed us! I guess it helps that I sleep with their program director. ;)



{bummer - I was hoping to share the link with you in case you wanted to hear them. oh well.}





Lunch - check.
Expo - check.

After the expo we toured the new office space for Frozen Music Studios that my friend Laura just moved into a few weeks ago, and then parted ways to do a little shopping.

Boy - Scheels
Girls - Eco Chic Boutique (please go here if you are ever in Fargo - super cute!), Target, grocery store

Dinner was chicken and/or chickpea tacos (just like last year!).

Dessert consisted of jelly beans.



Seriously.

You see, one of the strategies that I had for the race was to carry 12 jelly beans with me during the marathon and beginning at mile 20, eat one every half mile to help keep me focused on something rather than, omg I still have 6 miles left. #whatwasithinking

After I selected the ones that had the least chance of making me vomit mid stride, we all took chances eating a few - praying that we wouldn't be the poor soul to eat a caramel corn flavor.



Nic and Josh then spent a solid hour mapping out and coming up with a strategy for spectating. Seriously you guys, they even went and drove part of the course to see if there was a bridge to cross. I told you - my husband is wonderful. He puts a lot more thought into the day of the marathon than I do.





I was off to bed relatively early. Had a few nightmares - but none consisted of me being late to the start, so that automatically makes it a good nights sleep.

I was out of bed at 4:25AM - a full 5 minutes before my alarm was set to go off, and by 4:30 I had my bowl of oatmeal cooking away on the stove. The coffee was already brewing and I was catching up on a few blogs online - couldn't have been more relaxed.

I did check the forecast first thing and did a little {quiet} happy dance when I saw that the rain that was expected was going to hold off until 11:00 or so.

The coffee and oatmeal were consumed. The coffee worked its magic (you know what I mean). And we were out the door headed to the start by 6:15ish.

15 minutes late.

There was a detour.

I got a little bitchy.

Nic held his tongue.

And got me to the start by 6:24.





I dashed inside the Fargo Dome for a quick trip to the restroom (thank you coffee!) and then got to the start to search for my fellow demon runners. {how appropriate were the shirts - it could have been the end of the world you know!} 


Our town's high school mascot is the demons - just in case you were curious




Porta potty.  (seriously coffee - you done good!)


With about ten minutes to spare before the start time, I spotted Jeri! We planned to at least start the race together and hoped to cross the finish line together less than 4 hours later.







Rockin' national anthem.

Gun.

GO!

I was incredibly calm as we waited for the start and during the first mile of the race. I knew I had worked hard and was confident that I could run a 9 minute pace and finish under 4 hours. However, there is always that nagging thought in the back of my mind trying to bring me down.

Mile 1 - 8:57 {just a wee bit fast}

Jeri and I chatted just a little, but were focused on running the tangents and staying on pace.

Mile 2 - 8:57 {consistency - just how I like to start a race!)

Around this point I noticed I was altering my natural stride to try to stay close to a 9 minute mile pace. One of the best pieces of advice that my friend, Nancy, shared with me before the race was to not change my stride.

So as I heard Jeri state that our pace was a little fast, I knew I had to pull away just a bit in order to run comfortably. I was sure she was just a few paces behind me.

I saw Nic, Laura and Josh quite a few times during the first half of the race and made sure to give Nic a few good shots of me looking happy running just in case the second half fell to pieces.



I checked my mile pace religiously and was excited/scared/hesitant to see myself running a tad faster than my planned 9 minute pace. I tried to slow down a few times and often exclaimed out loud (to no one but myself) that I was running too fast and should slow down.

No dice.

My legs found a rhythm that they were happy with and I was obliged to just keep running.

And that is what I did.

I ran through every water stop. Up every hill (muwahahaa). Through every gu station. Around all the corners. I ran literally every step.

This was one of my strategies - just keep running. I carried a hand held water bottle filled with a water/gatorade mix and Nic biked with a refill for me when I needed it.

As mile 16 beeped on my Garmin, I remember saying to a woman running beside me, just an easy mid-week 10 miler left. 

10 miles - heck yes. I can run 10 miles. Easy-peasy.

I spotted my cheering crew around mile 19.

Oh mile 19.  I was flying high at mile 19.

Mile 19 (okay, so maybe it was 18 or 20...I really don't remember. Doesn't matter). I was stoked. I was well ahead of my pace and knew I was going to break the four hour mark and absolutely crush my previous PR.

I was all smiles.



As I threw Nic my water bottle to be refilled, I let him know that I was about 3 minutes faster than my pace and that I was going to break 4.






Laura was really happy to be up before 7:30AM. And to use a bike that she hadn't ridden in 4+ years. Yeah - I totally owe her.


After the marathon he told me that he had never seen me so happy during a run. Each and every time I ran by he said I looked too happy.

I was.



But.

Always a but, right?

I hadn't reached mile 20 yet. Mile 20 = The Wall. I hit the wall hard in my two previous marathons, so I knew it was only a matter of time.

Mile 21 - tired, but feeling good. Time to turn on the tunes.

Mile 22 - hey, I've run this road before.

Mile 23 - MORE COWBELL! There is the cowbell dude again. There are like a gazillion bands on the course - but that cowbell dude, he is my favorite.

Mile 24 - 2.2 miles left! just.keep.running.

Mile 25 - getting.so.close.

Mile 26 - entering the Fargo Dome.

Mile 26.2 - finish line. sob. so emotional.

I did it. Holy cow, I cannot believe I just did it.

Best day of my life.

3:52:28
3:52:28
3:52:28

{Mental math - holy crap I just beat my previous PR by about 24 minutes.}

Sob.

I don't think I have ever been so happy that I have cried. I guess I didn't actually cry because there were no tears - but maybe that is just because I had no more water in my body.

I was herded through the medal line and tried hard to fight my way up to the food tables.

No vegan eating for me here.

Yes - I will take that chocolate milk (will you open it for me please, I am weak.)

Nutter butter cookies? Cookie dough? Chocolate chip cookies? Pizza? Two of each if you don't mind!

With food in tow, I headed to meet Nic at our designated meeting point.

When I locked eyes on him I started sobbing again.



His face was neutral and I tried to unload all of my goodies into his arms so I could sit in the middle of the floor.



He asked me what my time was.

I showed him my watch.

He still hasn't said congratulations.

Finally he asks what my time was. Dummy - your watch has switched over to the clock.

I tell him and he breathes a sigh of relief.  He didn't know if I was sobbing because I was happy or pissed.

We finally get up and head out. There was a hot shower, food and beer waiting for me.

Time to celebrate.



all heart, all fargo. I couldn't have come up with a better statement.





One of the coolest things - I ran exactly 26.2 miles according to my Garmin. Really - that is cool! #onlyarunnerwouldgetexcited

{crickets}

Anyone make it through that random recap?

Anyone?