M.O.R.E.: My Marathon Memories

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

My Marathon Memories

There are many things that I remember from Sunday's Marathon! I hope I can get it all down before my aging memory fades. Most of all I remember the joy I felt to finish something my friends and I had worked so hard for in these past few months. Here are some of the highlights:

waiting in line for half and hour to use the porta potty before the start (good thing it was delayed)
running past the farm with the huge turkey in the yard
seeing all the men pull over and pee (no porta potty wait, but go behind a bush!)
turning around to talk to my friends and tripping over the curb
noticing that rolling hills, basically means "hilly"
being AMAZED at mile 5, 10, 15, and 25 that my knee did not hurt!
wondering how that guy was going to run in that blow-up Santa suit the whole time
really appreciating how many people were out cheering for us (Team Santa Clarita)
wishing I looked like the Barbie Marathon Girl
knowing at mile 18 that I was going to be able to finish!
being really happy that at mile 18 on I could still keep up a good pace (no matter that it was on the downhill)
being totally comfortable with walking up the big hill at mile 23
being annoyed at the awkward slant of the street toward the end of the race
wishing they had more electrolytes at the water stations
wishing there were more potties at the start of the race
hitting the wall with a mile and a half to go
being so annoyed when everyone kept saying we were almost done and it was all downhill from there (it wasn't all downhill, and I have a Garmin, I know how far it still is)
wanting to stop and walk the last half mile
running a few yards with son #3 which gave me the energy to finish
being so happy to be done, and feeling my knee pain kick in
being so proud of my son
being so incredibly proud of myself and my friends

I know I told my friends that a marathon was like giving birth, but I also think it is alot like life. You get up some days and it is just lousy, and you hurt, but you still get up again the next day and try again, and sometimes you get to have a moment that lets you know that it is all worth the effort! Hopefully there are many moments for us and all our loved ones! Enjoy the pictures.

4 comments:

marathon mom said...: Sorry Patty, but that first picture was just hideous of me and I had to delete it. In fact, you were the only one that looked good in it.

A few corrections need to be noted about your marathon memories (I know you were tired):

1: The guys peeing outside didn't even bother going behind a bush, just on them.

2: The marathon barbie wasn't really a "marathon" barbie, just a barbie because she was part of a relay.

3: You forgot your favorite memory of all, the college boys handing out water in their speedos.

I think it was the most fun I have ever had while simultaneously being in pain. One valuable thing I learned from the experience was how to keep the seat covers from falling down the porta potty. I also learned which GU is good, but I hope I don't have to eat another one for a long time.; December 8, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Patty said...: I meant that the guys should have gone behind a bush, I was shocked to see all of them just lined up on the side of the road doing their "business". I liked that picture because we were all bundled up and we looked so excited, maybe you just had to pee really bad! How could I forget the guys in speedos, I guess they didn't leave that much of an impression. I was pretty nauseous for the rest of the day Sunday from the combination of too much GU and Advil! It was really fun, and I can't believe the weather held off just for us.; December 8, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Patty said...: Oh, and sadly, I would not look like Barbie Runner, even if I only ran the Relay and not the whole thing. In fact the thing that stinks the most is that with all the running we do, it doesn't seem to pay off with a terrific body, I would at least like some nice hair to show for it!; December 8, 2009 at 8:18 PM
marathon mom said...: All of our pictures are up from the marathon at :

http://www.brightroom.com/view_event.asp?EVENTID=55842

Just put in our bib numbers to see the pics.

Marathon mom #429
Patty: #1418
C: #1439

There's a few good ones, but I didn't see any of all three of us.; December 8, 2009 at 8:23 PM

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Favorite Trails

South Fork 3.1: Start from dirt parking lot on Magic Mtn Pkway and run to the loop at Wiley Bridge and return the same way.

Tesoro 3.25: Start in Albertson parking lot and take sidewalk/trail until it ends and then enter the water tower road to the top two towers where the ends. Return the same way.

Chesebrough 3.25/4.60: From Chesebrough Park, N. to Copperhill, So. on Bike Trail, turn around at Decoro, back up trail to power lines to bridge at park. Turn around at Heritage will give you 4.6 miles.

Chesebrough 3.5: Chesebrough Park down to McBean, south to Northpark Dr., the paseo trailhead. Take the paseo to Helmers and back. Very hilly.

Bridgeport 4.0: Fairly flat, run toward Lowes and under Bouquet bridge to RiverPark community until you reach the closed gates and return. For a hilly run, go north into Helmers and run up the paseo switchbacks into Northpark where the paseo ends and return the same way.

Chesebrough 4.0: N. to Copperhill to west side of river trail, run S. on Bike Trail past Decoro bridge, across Decoro to the east side of river trail, up back to power lines trail, back to park.

Chesebrough 4.0: From park down power line trail to Heritage Park and back same way.

Bridgeport 4.0: From School, cross McBean via bridge or street and head into industrial center on Ave. Scott Bridge and enter bike trail going south toward the train bridge. Turn around at train bridge and return same way or cross the bridge and head toward Peet's after crossing train bridge and back onto the Lowes Trail.

Heritage 4.0: From park, run up bike trail to Decoro, over McBean Bridge into Helmers, and into Bridgeport through lake trail back to park. Can be done in reverse. Moderately hilly.

Chesebrough 4.25: Chesebrough north to Copperhill, left to Albertson side of bike trail. Run south on trail to Decoro and cross over bridge and head north all the way to Copperhill on east side of river trail and back to the park the same way as started.

Cheese/Decoro/Helmers 4.25: From the park, down dirt trail to bike path, south to Decoro. Leave bike path at Decoro and cross paseo bridge at McBean. Stay on paseo up hill towards Helmers. Run up water tower trail once then continue on to switchbacks and paseos back to park.

Heritage/Bridgeport 3.3: Heritage Park south to McBean Bridge @ Panera. Cross and head toward Lowes bike trail and head east toward Bridgeport Park. Halfway mark is at park bathroom, head back by entering trail along the lake and back onto the bridge.

Lowes 4.25: Lowe's parking lot to McBean, cross the bridge and to South Fork. At Valencia Bridge, enter trail behind Hart Baseball diamonds. Continue on trail to Bouquet and across the bridge on the east side and back under the bridge again towards Lowes.

Peet's & Decoro 5.2: Peet's Coffee to train bridge path; to Decoro and across bridge; back down McBean side of bike trail back to Peete's.

Peet's & Wiley 6.0: Start at Peet's Coffee and head east toward South Fork trail and past the Wiley Bridge. Keep running another 200 yards to where the trail forks left and right. Turn back same way.

Peet's & Copperhill 6.0: From Peet's to bike trail heading north to Copperhill and back.

Albertson 7.0: From the Albertson parking lot on Copperhill, enter the westside bike trail and head south until the train bridge. Return the same way.

Peet's 8.5: Run to Copperhill on east side of river trail and return via train bridge on other side.

Lowes 10: Start in the Lowes parking lot. Enter the bike trail heading west. At McBean, cross the bridge and head east toward SouthFork trail. Continue on trail until you come to the Wiley bridge and head back the same way.

McBean 14: This route can be done from anywhere along the trail route. Starting from McDonald's across the post office, run to the end of the South Fork trail and return the same way, cross the McBean bridge and run on the Lowes trail until you hit Bridgeport Elementary and then cross Newhall Ranch via the bridge or street and run back towards McBean. Continue north on McBean until you hit Copperhill. At Copperhill, cross McBean and enter San Francisquito bike trail and run south on the trail until you are back at McDonalds.