Rock and Roll Arizona Marathon - Recap

This was a fun course, with a good friend of mine. We started the run and headed out, things seemed to be going well minus some slight cramping. My firend Norm and I, met a very nice runner Courtney. We all paced out about the same, had same goal times so we ran together, sometimes one would run further ahead than the other but through 12 miles I was pacing around 12 minute miles, which is about where I wanted to be timewise. The one thing I didn't take into account for was: potholes. I tripped on a pothole around mile 15 and tried to keep running. I was able to get to the medic tent at mile 16. They stopped me and wouldn't give me medical clearance to continue. I was frustrated, angry, disapointed. My post to Twitter and Facebook was this: "Devestated at the medical tent with either bad calf pull or a torn muscle" as the ice and asprin started to take effect I realized I could walk and jog lightly on it. if I ran hard I could feel it but it didn't seem to be as bad. The medics told me they would have to wait for 7 people to need the shuttle in order for it to come get me or i could walk up to the next shuttle point and wait there. I decided the latter. As I started to walk I realized, it will probably take me as long to get to the shuttle as it will to get to the finish on my own. Stubbornness, determination and the thought of all my donors crossed my mind. So I decided to run. Then walk then run. I kept thinking that I was not going to stop. I traveled 2000 plus miles I wasn't going to let a little (a lot at the time) pian stop me here.

As I ran by my coaches from Team in Training they ran me in the last 3 miles. I have to say, and I say this to myself after each marathon, I don't know where I'd be without the continunal training and positive words my coaches provide. They are all fantastic and are such great people. We in New York are very lucky to have the coaches we do. It really makes me excited to plan for my next event knowing I'm in such good hands.

I have some video that I will post up here and will give you more once I've finished. Including my annual tweets from the marathon. I do want to thank all my friends, family and online supporters. I was overwheled when I saw I had 77 new facebook notifications and roughly 25 new mentions on Twitter. You guys rock, and kept me going during a very difficult run, but one of my most rewarding runs.

Happy Running!