Rehoboth Runparty #8

I said my good lucks and stepped out of the house by myself. In years past, I waited for the group to head to the start, but it was getting a little too close for my liking. Superstitiously, I worried for a moment if this would have any impact on my race. But there weren't too many expectations going in so I quickly pushed the thought aside. 

The last time I raced Rehoboth, it was the first race I did after Javelina. I remember feeling extremely sick the morning of the race, later realizing that the nerves of stepping on the start line created actual physical pain. This year, I was able to drink a cup of coffee, eat a muffin, and a small bite of a Snickers bar (more race superstitions) without issue. 

I almost immediately regretted wearing arm warmers walking to the start line because I knew I'd be pulling them down shortly after starting (spoiler alert, it was mile 3). The weather has usually been in the 30s in years past and I could definitely tell it was at least 10-15 degrees warmer. Which is not to say it wasn't chilly, but my preferred racing weather is being able to wear gloves the whole time!

I left my headphones around my neck while I stood in start corral, soaking in the moments of waiting for the race to start. It's a strange mix of feeling both excited and terrified in the final countdown, like climbing into the rollercoaster and feeling the bar being locked across your lap.

The 3:25 full marathon pacer and 1:40 half marathon pacer were nearby and I wanted to at least keep them in my sight. When the gun went off, I managed to position myself behind the 3:25 pace group within the first few minutes and tried to settle in as much as possible. My legs felt pretty good from the start and I was comfortable, enjoying the first few miles of the new course.

There was a bit of a squeeze on the boardwalk, but it was fun to run past all the spectators who had congregated along the side after seeing their runners off at the start. After the boardwalk, we linked back up with the old course, albeit with a little more distance under our belts.

I tried to stay within a few runners of the pacers, often running directly behind or to the left of them. There were people chatting around me, but I was content with just listening to music and putting in the work. I did have to fumble once with my phone to restart the playlist and there was a brief worry that I would have to do without my jams. 

It's funny (interesting? weird?) that I loathe running without music during a marathon, but perfectly content to do without it during longer races. Sorrynotsorry that I'm the runner listening to music and wearing carbon-plated shoes. I'll take all the advantages I can get!

I took a strawberry kiwi GU around the same time I saw a few of the half marathoners coming back towards us. It was nice to know we were inching towards the marathon turn-off. The clumps of runners grew bigger and bigger and soon thereafter, we turned right and it got much quieter. I always enjoy the section going out through Gordon Pond State Park. My legs are fresh and there is something just incredibly peaceful and beautiful about running through this section. 

The 3:25 pack continued to jostle a bit for placement within the group and I noticed there was a bit more surging and pulling back than I prefer. I wasn't checking my splits, just hoping to run by feel and see where the day took me. But things didn't feel steady within the pack and I was ready to push on if needed. 

In the next few miles, it just organically happened as I had a stretch that I felt like I was keeping the same pace and they were falling back. I took a pineapple GU near mile 8 and was happy my stomach was cooperating for the time being. Over miles 8 through 12ish, I was feeling great. I was remembering to thank the traffic volunteers, smiling at the spectators, and just in a really good spot. 

As I popped out onto the highway section, I heard my Aunt Mary yelling! I was expecting to look for her near the turnaround and was excited that I was not only seeing her once, but that I'd be able to wave once I came back. It definitely put me in a very happy headspace for the next couple of miles. Once I saw her again, I knew I was almost near the halfway point. 

I’d been thirsty since the beginning (blame it on the long day of travel Friday) and I took a few extra seconds to make sure I got all the water in my mouth near mile 12. It sat in my stomach a bit so I waited a few minutes before I took another gel, cola this time. The pace groups behind me were passing in the opposite direction along the other side and I began to scan the crowds for Angie. Luckily, we both spotted each other and were in a spot to high five!

With the course change this year, I was happy that we wouldn't have to run up the hill near the lighthouse. However, unfortunately, we did have to run up the stupid road near the Post and it took me a couple of minutes to find a groove again. I very, very slowly started to close the gap on a girl ahead of me and once I was within about 10 seconds of her, I stayed just behind her on the trail section. 

The race was beginning to wear on me and I fought off the feeling to slow down. I kept repeating to myself sit with the pain, sit with the pain, sit with the pain. I was acknowledging it was there, but I was trying to be okay with it. 

My stomach had started to turn with the culmination of miles and for me at least, the temperature. I took a toasted marshmallow GU around mile 16 and it took me far longer to get down than the first 3. I knew the calories would help me feel better in the final miles so I was kind of glad I was nowhere near a trash can. I just slurped it every few minutes and eventually got through it.

Once we hit the road section again, I started to look forward to the extra burst of energy I’d get by going through town. It’s always a bit mean to run by the finish line near mile 19, but I know I only have about an hour’s worth of work to go before I get back to celebrate. 

This year, we ran through a little park before popping back out onto the familiar road. I took my final pineapple GU and much like the prior one, had to spend a few minutes trying to get it down. By this point in the race, I was warm and dumping water over my head to cool off. There were people still in gloves and long sleeves, but I was hot!

As I hit the Junction and Breakwater Trail, I checked my watch to see how much time was on the clock. I hadn’t been passed by the 3:25 group yet, but I felt like maybe I wasn’t running quite as fast as when I broke away. Doing a few quick calculations, I figured I would be coming in around 3:24:XX assuming my pace stayed around 7:45-8:00. I was working for every step, but happy that even if I hit a rough patch at the end, it would still be a solid day for me. I was so in the zone that I barely saw Paul who was head back to the finish in his own race. 

There is a section on the trail where a group hangs tons of countries’ flags across the course and there are tons of spectators (for this sized race) and music playing. It’s always a pick-me-up with only a few miles to go. I started craning my neck for the flags as I made the turns on the trail and felt relieved when I saw them finally. It was shortly after that section that we made the last little loop to head back to the finish line. 

I was excited to come back a different way in the final couple of miles and run on a new-to-me section of trail. There were a few half marathon walkers to dodge, but people overall were very respectful of the narrower space. It shot us out onto a sidewalk and I lost my bearings for a moment until we came back to where it intersected with the outbound portion of the course.

The course was slightly different in the final mile. Though I had been hitting the mile markers pretty perfectly all day, which is super odd in a marathon, I was looking for the visual cues that I had grown used to. Another runner who I’d been playing leapfrog with half the race told me I was looking strong as I came by with a half mile to go. 

A girl started to pass me, but then sat only a few steps ahead of me as we came around to the final turn of the finish chute area. I was content to let her go at first, but then I felt ready to give it what I had for the last couple of minutes. I may have misjudged my “sprinting” ability in the final 0.2 miles, but I brought it home as hard as I could. The crowd seemed muffled as I went by as though I was tuning everything else out. And then there was the sweet relief of stepping over the mat and allowing myself to come to a stop. 

Ahhhhh.

For once in a very long time, I didn’t have the urge to puke after this race. I wandered slowly with my space blank and collected my medal. Gwen and John were waiting nearby, showered and happy about their respective races. We talked for a few minutes and then I grabbed a carton of chocolate milk, taking a chance that my good stomach would stay good. Everything seemed to feel okay as I walked back to the house and though I was still dehydrated, I actually felt not completely destroyed. Just mildly. 

Once I took a shower and changed into dry clothes, it was time for the actual reason I go to Rehoboth Beach every December - the post-race party!