Conservation Marathon - Bass Pro
• Everything went to perfectly! It was such an incredible, amazing experience. And though I felt nervous (I seriously thought I might throw up when we parked. I had just forced myself to eat a bagel + I got really hot in the car), I felt confident. I knew, without a doubt, I was going to run the whole thing.
• Tim drove me there. Megan and Luke came in a separate car. We parked and walked across to bass pro. I went to the bathroom first (and saw a penguin!!). I asked about the start line and then Megan and I warmed up. We ran half a mile (i was wearing pajama pants and a jacket). But I knew i wouldn't want either because I felt warm during the warmup. So i took off my pants and my jacket before I went to the start. I was afraid I would get stuck in the back or packed in, but the start wasn't fenced so I just slipped in near the front. And there was lots of room to run!
• I wore my frog shorts, Grey Nike bra, black tank top, and my black merino wool long sleeve. I had my gloves, bentonvill junk headband, ear warmers, and my socks + mizuno shoes. It was the perfect choice. I was never cold and I was never hot. Literally perfect.
• We started and turned right, and then went straight into a neighborhood. Were were not even a mile in and this guy in a truck waiting to go was yelling and laughing "youre almost there!!" So he had to have known we were so far from almost there.
• There was a huge crowd of runners. Most were the half. I was concerned id started with the wrong group even though I knew the half and full started and ran together for the first 10 or 11 miles.
• We ran to downtown Springfield and it was just so gorgeous. The crowd was amazing. It was seriously maybe the best day of my life so far. It felt incredible and I kept thinking about how much I was enjoying it, about how amazing it was. I trained so hard and this was a dream of mine for so long and I did it. I ran a marathon. And I ran it GOOD. I felt great and steady the WHOLE race. My only goal was to run the whole time (unless I needed to stop to pee). And I did. Walking was never even an idea. I dont know if its because I trained well and felt so great or if because I just knew I was going to run the whole time, but walking was never even in the realm of possibility.
• The sun was starting to rise and downtown looked so neat. Megan and luke were at mile 3 &4. They had signs and sticks with MY FACE ON THEM. It took a moment to register and then I yelled "is that my face??" People thought that was funny. I told them I should wear the cowbell so they could hear me coming. They ran alongside me for a bit. Megan offered me her Alani but I told her I probably didnt want it if it was in her backpack while running.
• They were then at miles 5 and 6. Luke was holding a sign that said "bork bork"
• My knee didnt hurt but felt funny so I was concerned a little bit, but I knew it would be fine. I just knew this race was going to be everything I wanted it to be. I asked them to grab some ibuprofen just in case. The first 11 miles went by SO fast. I couldn't believe I was already almost halfway through. I made myself slow down.
• I had to pee starting at mile 5 or 6. But all the portal potties had lines. So at mile 9, after I passed another one with a long line, I knew the next one I had to stop regardless because it was to the point where I was concerned I was going to pee my pants with every step.
• Miracously, the next porta potty at mile 10/11ish, had no line. But a guy ran in right ahead of me. And the other one was taken so I had to wait what felt like an eternity *it was barely 4 minutes*. Then I immediately got back to running.
• At miles like 12 or so? Maybe after halfway, I passed my vest to megan who took it, filled it, and then sprinted to give it back so I didnt have to stop (she was seriously AMAZING help). Then I Started talking to the girl beside me. We ran together and chatted until around mile 18 or 19 when I passed off the vest again to megan to refill and slowed my pace so she could catch up. But that was okay because I really wanted to soak in the race. I enjoyed running with her, but I wanted to really soak everything in and not talk more so it worked out well. I think she wanted to go back to her music too. There was a stretch of the road where there was no one but it was always so nice. I dont know, I genuinely enjoyed every step of my marathon.
• And suddenly, I was at mile 20. And then I was further than I've ever ran. Miles 21 and 22 felt longer than the others but never in a bad way. It was like I was just trying to really be in the presence of every step and acknowledge what an amazing thing i was doing. I was so calm and just slowly going home. Suddenly I was almost at 24 and Megan was running beside me again. Ruth, Tim, and Luke were all there cheering too. I almost got hit by a car and I yelled at him but I was too focused to care, my only concern was not stopping. There was a great aid station that was circus themed. They had a ringmaster in the whole get up directing us around the corner, they built a cage and put a stuffed gorilla in it, there was two "strong men" with giant weights, two giant circus signs. It was my favorite one.
• At mile 24 or 25, my bicep audibly popped and sent a shock of nerve pain into all five of my fingers. It kind of hurts today, up into my shoulder so not sure what that was. Its okay though. Just was really weird. I think my tendon shifted over a bone funny or something.
• And then before I knew it, I was at mile 26. The runner that I slowly caught up to and passed had her dad at the corner, telling her it was about four more corners. She said "im really hurting" but she kept going. She caught up to me at the finish line and said "let's go, cmon" so I picked it up with her and then just... flew. I sprinted it in and I felt so strong. I hit a 4:38/mile pace at the end and over finish line. I got my beautiful, amazing medal, and then waited for her to give her a high five and congratulate her. Her name was Lauran. The girl I ran with for roughly 6 or 8 miles was named Macey.
• I hit all the Mario mushrooms i saw except for one because I didnt want to lunge in front of Macey.
• My favorite signs from Megan "Amanda let me know if you want me to call you an uber.... worst parade ever"
• I also really liked "all toenails go to heaven"
Ill upload more photos separately
