"Sue from Bloomfield's First Marathon"

[Jane]

I am posting this photo with Sue's permission.  I took this photo of her after the race on Sunday.  Doesn't she look great??  You would never know that she just ran 42.2K!!  She doesn't even look like she broke a sweat!! 



Sue, you are amazing!!  From a spectator two years ago, to running the FULL this year!  What an amazing journey!  You should definitely be proud of yourself.  I know that we are!! 

[Sandy]

You are beautiful!!!

[Derek]

WTG Sue finishing your first full marathon.   How was it? and how did you feel afterwards? Hopefuly you felt better then I did after I finish the toad. my legs took a beating after.   Derek.         

[Lisa C]

Congratulations Sue!  You do look very good for someone who just finished a marathon.  I'd almost think it was the beginning of the race.  Great job!!

[Cathy]

Sue you are fantastic.  What an amazing accomplishment.  You should be so proud of yourself.  I am so glad that I was there to be able to give you big hugs.    My eyes are still welling up with tears just thinking about it.  You looked awesome at the finish.  You would certainly never know that you had just ran a marathon.

Congratulations.

[Robyn]

Congratulations to everyone who did the half and full marathon this weekend.  You are all so inspirational.  Some of you looked pretty beat up by the time you got to my water station, but I had every confidence that you'd ran a good race.  For those of you who completed their "first" this weekend, you'll never forget the feeling you had when you crossed the finish line.  It's quite the accomplishment, so don't you forget it.

[The Moose]

Awesome.  I remember the feeling.  The joy, the disbelief that I could accomplish such a feat, the pain, the elation.  Welcome to the realm of the immortal.  You have proven to yourself, and to the world that there is nothing you can't accomplish.

When's your next one?

Mike

[Jane]

Sue mumbled something about 30K at ATB and a 25K trail run looking for Toads next year......  I don't THINK she was delirious! You weren't were you, Sue??  You seemed pretty coherent to me!

[Sue]

Thanks Everyone and no Jane I wasn't delerious, I am thinking seriously about ATB and the Toad(I really enjoyed all the food reports,oops I mean race reports from the Toad).  It looks like a blast!  I would love to help out next year like you guys have at PEC as well.  I wrote a great race report on Tuesday and because I took so long got booted off and lost it. I will try to get it done today(work very busy this week).
I was so thrilled to finish, I still can't get the smile off my face!
Sue(Bloomfield)

[ShoppinShannon]

You are an incredible woman Sue!  You even took a moment to give me a big hug at 32K  ! 
I saw you finish too, I was way back in the crowd.  Very emotional indeed! 

[Sue]

Ok here goes the race report, I'll try to keep it short.    I woke up at 5am when my alarm went off,but I really had been awake off and on all night.  I had got a great sleep Friday night though so I wasn't too concerned and I actually felt great. The weather outside was not so delightful at 5, it was pouring rain!  I went outside and was pleased that the temperature was good and no wind.  I hate wind( unless it's at my back pushing me along). I also had my first glass of water.  I had all my clothes ready, racing bib attached(Sandy would be proud).  I got dressed. I had decided pretty much the night before on long sleeve shirt and shorts.  This is always a dilemma for me and from what I had heard at the pasta dinner the night before I'm not the only one.  I had my usual pre-race breaky,toast and peanut butter,1 coffee and and another glass of water.  I was off to Wellington at about 6:45 and parked my car at my friends house and walked to the start line.  It was still fairly dark when I got there and only a couple of volunteers getting things set up but within about 10 minutes more volunteers and a bus with some more early start people showed up.  I was pretty happy to see Erin,Mark and Trina from our training group.   We wished each other well and waited for the gun to go off.  There were only about 12to 15 of us at the early start,which was fine as I think this calmed my nerves a little.  We were off at 7:30 without a hitch.  I tried to go out really slow rememerbering what Sandy had said about getting caught up with the crowd and going out too fast.  Well there was no crowd so it was pretty easy to go out slow.
I head towards Bloomfield, walking through the water stations and about an hour in I start taking gel every other water station as well as a electrolyte cap.  In Bloomfield I see my friends Darlene(her first relay) and Donna at the first relay exchange,Danielle from our running group and my famliy and neighbours at the end of my street.  This got me really excited and I speeded up a bit.  Just outside of Bloomfield I can hear a truck coming and I can hear other runners and walkers saying the lead runners are coming.  We get out of their way and watch them go.  It was awsome to see them, they just flew by us.  I have to say it felt a little uncomfortable(weird) to be out there with them.  I head towards to Sandbanks seeing people I know along the way working the water stations or being spectators.  My son's girlfriends whole family worked one of the stations and gave me the biggest cheer on the way by.  I get to the half start at 2:50(3min faster than my half I did last year).  Just outside the Sandbanks more friends, Vallie and Paul.  I was just so happy to be out there I hugged everyone I knew on my way by.  My family and friends have been so supportive and I have felt that I have neglected them a little with all the training I had been doing. I made sure to thank them and the volunteers on my way by.  At 32k I see Shannon(hugged her too, I was so happy to see her) and I think Ryann was there as well.  This is when I started feel my back starting to hurt(I've had some back issues) and my hips and knees start to ache and I realize I might have slow up a little to be able to finish.  I almost missed seeing Robyn(she probably doesn't know this but she's my hero) at 34k she was picking up cups. County Rd 11 just seemed to never end and I just want to get to the hill.  I knew my husband and son were going to try to get to the bottom of the hill.  Finally I see the hill at about 39k.  My husband and son are there with snacks and water( like I could eat a thing at this point,it's the thought that countsI guess).  Terry is telling me I'm doing good and that I'm about 5 hours in and he is telling that I can walk the hill, that it's ok to do that as other people were.  I say no and start to run it with him.  About halfway I decide to walk, worrying that I might not have enough to finish if I run the whole hill.  I get to the top and start to run again and get some water and gel at the next water station.  I get onto Lake St. and just before the corner my friends from work are waiting, of course I stop to hug them and thank them for waiting for me.  Down the Mainstreet, my legs are getting so heavy and I really want to walk but I tell myself you can't do that.  My son's girlfriends family are on the Mainstreet as well as my weight trainer and I'm starting to realize that I am going to finish,not with the greatest time but at this ponit I don't really care.  I stop to hug them all.  Next corner before the finish is my best friend and her husband,and Marie is crying and telling me how proud she is of me.  Of course I hug her and start to cry as well.  At this point I can see the finish and try not to look at it as it looks still so far away.  I finally get there where my friend Nancy hands me flowers,that I grab so quickly because all I can think about is crossing that mat.  I get across and I see Shannon and Cathy.  I think it's Cathy that puts my medal on and I remember being so happy that she's the one to put it on.  Then I see Sandy,Andrea,Jane,Heather,Petra,Patti and Joanne and of course hug them all and thank them.  I could not of completed this huge goal had it not been for the expert training and encouragement from Sandy and Andrea or the great advice and support from girls I get the privlege to run with on occasion from Trenton. You guys are great!  My time was 5:35(wonder what it would have been without all the hugging,but I have to tell you I wouldn't change a thing). I didn"t turn music on untill the last leg just before town. I enjoyed listening to other runners and spectators,it was wonderful. I honestly didn't realize that this was a no-no in a race.  I'm so sorry to write such a long report!  I wanted to tell Derrick that I feel pretty good this week.  Monday I actually went out for a light run to loosen up(1/2hour),Tuesday I had some trouble doing stairs as my quads and calves were pretty sore. My left heel is really sore as the week has gone on. Sandy gave me some stretches to do and said no running for 2 weeks.  Oh my, that's going to be hard to do!  Congrats to you Derrick on your accomplishment as well, I am very excited for you.
Thanks Again Everyone
Sue

[Jane]

Oh, Sue, that was such a good report!  You made me cry too!!  I am so glad that you enjoyed your marathon experience.  Don't worry about your time -- the hugs were definitely an important part of it.  A couple of years from now, the hugs are what you will remember more than the hours/minutes/seconds it took you to finish it!

[Petra]

That was a wonderful report, Sue.  And of course it made me cry all over again.
Congratulations on having such a great run.  It was so wonderful and exciting seeing you come over the finish line.  And you looked awesome.

[The Moose]

That was a fantastic report.  I ran every step with you, felt every pain, was overwhelmed with the emotion of your first finish.  My legs actually started to get sore.  Let me ask, did the tops of your feet get sore as well?  That was the worst thing I remember from my first.

"There's no crying in baseball" - Tom Hanks - A League of their Own

I think that translates to running as well ladies. 

"Macho" Mike

[Sue]

"Thanks Macho-Mike"!  I love that line in that movie!  I swear I can hear him saying it as I type!  There are somethings that just can't be helped!
Mike, I have had no pain at the top of my feet, just the side and bottom of my left heel. Some swelling there as well.  Legs feel great today though.  I'm hoping its heals up quick, really anxious to get back out there.  I'll try a walk tomorrow.
Thanks Again,Mike
Sue