My Hardest Marathon yet…
NOT a Lessons Learned Saga….
I want to document the most challenging marathon I have run yet. That is not to say I won't run anything more difficult than this, but you'll see what I mean. It was like a typical Indian movie where everything is stacked against you, and you must overcome all the obstacles and challenges in a Herculean effort.
It all started in Mar 2023 when I didn't get into the NYC Marathon. Having run it in 2022, I wanted to repeat the experience and improve my time. However, I didn't make the lottery and, on impulse, decided to sign up for the San Francisco Marathon. Having seen the downtown with its steep inclines, anyone in their right mind would refrain from making such a mistake. What can I say? I was feeling down. Now that I was signed up, I started training for it. Having taken a new role at work, I spent way more time working, and on top of that, travel just wrecked my plans to train well. With dogged determination, I kept pushing through, week after week, with whatever time I could find to train to the best of my abilities.
Jul 9th was my longest run for ~20 miles which I did on the actual course. Everything was good so far. On Thursday, Jul 13th (10 days before the race) came the easy run for 6 miles. I had to start at 5 am as I had an early morning meeting and didn't stretch as usual. After returning, I bent to pick up my dog's toy and heard a crack and pop… went my left hip. There was a shooting pain, and I couldn't even move. After much trouble and help from my husband, I could get seated. I had either sprained a muscle or cracked something. After icing it and taking painkillers, I saw an Orthopedic surgeon who assured me nothing was broken and it was an inflammation issue. He advised me to rest and take Ibuprofen and only do a short run the following Thursday and see how it goes.
Fast forward a week later, the pain had reduced but not completely gone. I tried a 2-mile run on Thursday, Jul 20th, and felt okay. After training for so long and completing my 20-mile run, I didn't want to give up and start from scratch again. When pushed to a corner, you do amazing things and realize you have more determination and perseverance than you know.
On race day, I showed up ready to walk if necessary but committed to giving it my all. I didn't want to think that I didn't persevere.
The race started at 5.15 am with a sea breeze on Embarcadero. The energy was very contagious. I started with a jog. The hip was nagging a bit but nothing too painful. After 5 miles, I felt great. The elevations from sea level to Golden Gate Bridge were brutal, so I took it easy and walked quite a bit not to stress my hip. Once on top of the Golden gate bridge, the cool breeze from the ocean provided much-needed relief from the heat, rejuvenating my spirits and revitalizing my determination. It was a powerful reminder that sometimes unexpected elements can become our greatest allies in adversity.
Once halfway through the bridge, I reached the course section where runners ahead of me by a few miles were already returning from the other end of the Golden Gate Bridge. Observing their focused yet happy expressions, knowing they had completed a challenging section of the course, filled me with confidence. The camaraderie among runners created an uplifting atmosphere, providing a strength that we gained from sharing our journeys and supporting one another. The course also had two half-marathon groups joining us at different points, and these fresh runners gave us all a boost of energy.
After mile 20, I kept thinking of my posture and re-evaluating the hip. At this point, the hip was a non-issue; the quads were hurting. But that's not uncommon at this point of a marathon. After much up and down, the marathon finished, and I got my Medal. Let me say it's a beauty, and I worked hard for it.
Some will say it was foolish of me to push through, and some may say it was the epitome of determination. This article could have gone either way; a story of triumph after challenges or a tale of caution to stay within a limit. I'm glad it's the former and not the latter.
Completing the SF Marathon has been an incredibly humbling and rewarding experience. The course's unique challenges, including the awe-inspiring run on the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, pushed my physical boundaries like never before. This marathon has left an indelible mark on my journey as a runner and a person. I will always be grateful for this experience.
