Sara Wittmeyer’s Blog

Outside the arena a few minutes before the start. That is definitely a nervous smile!

This post has taken me a long time to write, because I’ve been searching for just the right words. How do you describe the complete euphoria, the fatigue, the sense of accomplishment, and the storm of other emotions you experience during and after a marathon? I will say simply my marathon was the most incredible experience- second only to becoming an aunt.

At least three times during the race I broke out in tears when I realized, “I am doing it!” After all these years and after my crazy foot surgery I was finally doing it! During the marathon, I wore a simple diamond heart necklace that my grandmother had given me. She suffered a stroke a few years ago, but continues to show so much determination to live… she’s my inspiration and grasping onto that necklace during my run gave me so much strength.

The race start was 6:15. It was 71 degrees and I think the humidity was about 75%. I got up at 2:30 for the run, and immediately began drinking water and eating. I drank a cup of coffee, ate a bagel, a protein/carb Powerbar, ½ banana, and a handful of cereal. I typically don’t shower before morning runs, but I thought it would help wake me up. Given the heat at the race start, I was glad I did; the wet hair helped keep me a little cooler. When Ryan Hall fired the gun, I could see the crowd ahead of me begin to move. I was about four corrals back so I had to control my pre-race jitters and follow the crowd flow to the start line. I began with the 4:15 pace group. I felt good as together we crossed the start line with about 5minutes and 30 seconds already on the clock.

Right after the start we made a quick right across the MacArthur Causeway to get to South Beach. I sprinted after my pacer up the on-ramp onto the bridge. My ipod was blasting “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” but I couldn’t hear it over the sounds of thousands of pairs of feet, cheering, and shouting between runners. You know what it’s like some days when you just don’t feel like running? You try, because you have a training plan to follow, but for whatever reason, it’s just not clicking? That’s how I felt by mile 2. We were crossing over the beautiful Biscayne Bay, and I tried to will myself to just enjoy the scenery, but instead the only thing in my mind was “What are you doing? You are never going to make it!” The pacer would speed up and I’d weave in and out of runners to catch up…then he’d slow down and I’d start looking back over my shoulder trying to find him. This went on for five miles, until finally I realized I didn’t have to stay with the pacer. I wish I would have thought of this sooner, because after I left my pacer, I had the time of my life. Now it was just me. I could run at a steady pace the way I had trained. I could listen to my music, enjoy the amazing scenery, and take in the crowd. I remember smiling to myself as I made the corner leaving South Beach, “Here we are!” I thought.

Those first five miles were the hardest part of the marathon for me. I won’t lie and say the rest was easy, but from then on I just broke the distance down into segments and started counting down the miles.

I popped a gel at mile 6. The night before I wrote on my bib each mile where I should eat a gel. When I was running, though I didn’t even remember to look down at my bib. It’s crazy the things a marathon does to your mind! I continued eating gels every three- four miles during the race through mile 18. I’d eat the gel when I saw the water station approaching- that way when I made it to the water station I could just take a sip, swish it in my mouth, take a drink, and keep moving without ever having to stop running. I took some Gatorade about four times always getting a cup of water, pouring in a little Gatorade and then drinking it that way. I then grabbed a cup of water to rinse my mouth. I developed a system that really seemed to work for me, and I don’t think it slowed me down much.

At mile 10.5 there was a huge cheering section! You ran through a tunnel of cheering supporters that extended probably a couple blocks. My friend John was there. He gave me a bottle of water and some Jelly Belly Energy Beans. I popped those and kept running. At about mile 12.5 the half marathoners were corralled into separate lanes, but we continued to run together. “No turning back now,” I thought. As the half-marathoners approached their finish line, we made a right turn and headed in the direction of Coconut Grove. I wasn’t tired – only 13.1 to go. About a block after the separation, one gentleman in front of me turned around and started a slow jog back toward the half finish. I was sad for him, knowing he could probably do the miles, it was just his mind now telling him otherwise. A few spectators lined the course, and I thought to myself, “They are probably thinking I look like Hell and will never finish the full. If that girl’s smart she’ll turn around and stick to the half.” Onward! …and across a drawbridge with a grated surface. My foot complained so I slowed down to nearly a walk and gingerly crossed the surface.

By this time, my clothes were all stuck to me. I am shocked but somehow I avoided serious chafing. As we gathered to start the marathon the air was thick with the smell of Glide. Clearly everyone had generously applied it. In my training runs I still had problems with chafing despite liberally applying Glide – the important thing is though, it didn’t fail me in the marathon.

We continued through a couple neighborhoods with very little spectator support. When someone was out in their yard, I took off my headphones as I approached them and thanked them for coming out. Every time they thanked me for running! HAHA. A couple people sprayed us with water hoses and some made their own water available. At least one person had cups of beer sitting out on a table in his yard.

As we approached Coconut Grove, I expected to hit the wall at any moment. I can’t believe it, but this mythical wall I worried about for months never got in my way. I walked through the first water stop in Coconut Grove, drank my water and picked up my pace again. I think it’s my stubbornness, but I never felt like I’d run out of gas and had to stop. Coconut Grove was fun. There were people out at the little cafes and plus, I knew I only had a 10K to go! The next two miles were less than exciting as we took the same route back to downtown Miami. There was no one to cheer you on, and I learned quickly spectator support is really important. To avoid the increasing temptation to walk, I looked down at my feet and focused on each step… one foot in front of the other…one foot in front of the other. When I looked at other runners around me or people slowing down to walk, it only increased my desire to walk. When I was in my own world, I was fine. I did pat a couple people on the back as I started to go around them, and I’d say things like, “You can do this!” “You’re almost there!” “You’re looking good!” People would smile, and I felt good hoping I was helping others achieve something that was as important to them as it was to me.

It was reassuring when I realized at about mile 21 that I could walk the rest of it and still finish under five hours. That was my original goal time when I started training so I was thrilled to know I was going to finish under that time. To my surprise my breathing wasn’t heavy and I hadn’t experienced any side stitches. The bottoms of my feet by this point were burning and my legs were feeling really heavy though.

At mile 22 we turned the corner to head across Rickenbacker Causeway. “WOW!” I exclaimed as I climbed the overpass and got my first glimpse of the view. It was amazing. The water was beautiful and it extended in every direction. At that point I cried again- I was so happy.  I was having a good time and really taking in the sights and even the smell of the salty water. After passing through the toll booths, I began running in the right lane of the bridge; the other lanes were open to vehicle traffic. I’m fortunate this was near the end of the race because this leg of the course spelled trouble for my foot. The right lane of the bridge sloped to let water drain along the side. This slope put my foot on a slight angle and thus all the pressure was hitting on the side where my pin is, in my fifth metatarsal. Every step felt like a hammer hitting the side of my foot. I’m sure I was grimacing in pain as I approached some spectators dressed as parrots. They were very excited, screaming, “Looking Good!” “Way to go, Sara,” they shouted, “only 4 more miles!” I rolled my eyes and shouted something inappropriate back. I was in pain, and my good mood had vanished. Four miles seemed more like forty. Still, I thought, there was no reason for me to be rude. There were more parrots immediately ahead. As if repenting for my sins, I smiled at them and even took one of their orange leis and wore it all the way to the finish line.

I guess, I gave it away there…. Of course I finished! At mile 26 I got a burst of energy and took off flying. I sprinted the last 2 tenths. I don’t think I was quite in my right mind at this point. My head was just swirling, and I was crying. I leapt across the finish line and looked back. “Now what?” “Yikes, I’m done. Where do I go? What do I do?” I had been running for so long that I think I was just really confused. A volunteer with a big smile handed me a bottle of water. I asked seriously, “Where do I go to get my people?” She directed me and I began to shuffle forward, weaving a bit, and trying to resist the urge to sit on the grass. We were roped off from the crowd as we moved through a tunnel. Another volunteer stepped in front of me and asked if I was ok. “Yeah,” I said, “but can I have another one of those waters?” She handed it to me but I had to hand it back and ask her to open it for me. My hands were shaking. She smiled, patted me on the shoulder and gave it back to me. I resisted the urge to hug her because I was so sweaty, but she seemed so kind- sort of like my mother.

A few yards later I got my medal. Then photographers took our pictures. I looked like a raccoon from crying!  Eventually I met John. My stomach was in bad shape. I couldn’t eat anything, and all I wanted to do was go to the hotel. Back in the room, I couldn’t stop crying. I had done it! I had run a marathon! It was everything I thought it would be and so much more. It’s unbelievable what an endurance event like that can do to your mind. You have so much time to think about what you’re doing and why; it’s a great time for reflection.

Of course I’ll have much more to say about Miami that I’ll incorporate into future posts, but I should end here before this post gets anymore unwieldy.

I’ll close with just a couple things I learned in this, my first marathon. (1) Pacers can help you get started but don’t be afraid to leave them if it’s not working. (2) Training on the treadmill made me more prepared for the stuffy Miami air, but training on a treadmill doesn’t prepare you for the shear willpower you need to power through the last few miles. The belt on a treadmill keeps moving unless you make a point to stop it. Your legs will stop as soon as you decide to stop. (3) I’m reluctant to say this, but I think runners looking for advice may find some good in it… I can’t emphasize enough the importance of emptying your stomach before the race. I didn’t and suffered through the entire thing. It really slowed me down and kept me for enjoying any of the post-race festivities. (4) Look up and enjoy it. A marathoner advised me to do that and I think it was better than any advice I’ve gotten from Hal Higdon…and I don’t say that lightly. (5) Set a goal immediately. My foot is still a bit sore from the beating it took, but overall I feel really good. I’m easing back in to it, and my plan is to start training Tuesday for “Go! St. Louis.” I can’t wait!

I’m in Miami for the marathon. I’m trying to do everything by the book for this race. Since it’s my first, I am relying on the advice of others (namely Hal Higdon) to guide me through the training, tapering, and last couple days before the marathon.

This morning I woke up, went for a short walk on the beach, then tried to eat a carb and protein rich meal: egg white omelet and toast. From there we took a short trip to South Beach before heading to the expo.

The ING expo was the first marathon expo I’ve attended. I was in nervous wreck before going in. Had it not been for my friend John, who is traveling with me, I’m not sure I would have gone inside. I thought I would find being around other runners exciting, but mostly I feel intimidated and out of place. Anyway, we got inside and it was a bit overwhelming. Lots of vendors and information booths. I got my number – #4352. The prices at all the vendors are much better than at running stores or sporting goods places. Plus I felt like the quality was better as was the variety. I was tempted to get some shorts with pockets for my gels, but opted to stick to what I have just because it’s what I’ve trained with. I did stock up on gels, chews, and Powerbars at a great price! John and I separated so he could wait in line to get my Publix gift bag while I browsed some of the booths. The Publix booth had a wheel you could spin for prizes – John ended up winning the grand prize! When he and I met up he was grinning for ear to ear carrying his loot- a big bag full of things including a massager, training log, noise makers, etc. After all of this, I had really calmed down a lot and was just trying to take everything in and enjoy the expo. I bought a shirt to commemorate the race and then John and I headed out. Everything I’ve read says not to spend a lot time walking around the expo. It’s tempting to stay for the guest speakers and shop at all the booths but I’m trying not to be on my feet a lot. The whole time we were at the expo, I didn’t hear anyone say they were running the full marathon. I don’t know what the numbers look like this year, but last year 80% of the runners did the half marathon.

We went to Publix before coming back to the hotel. I wanted to get the food I needed to replicate the meal I ate before my last long run. We loaded up on bagels, bananas, apples, bread, and cereal. I’ve been trying to eat even when I’m not hungry so I have enough stores when I start the race. Dinner tonight was pasta, salmon, and bread. Now, it’s off to sleep – somehow at 7:50 I feel worn out. It’s good though, because every training plan I’ve read says the most important night to get a good night’s sleep is actually two nights before the marathon.

Tomorrow I have a two mile run and will probably drive most of the course.

My marathon has consumed me. With such a short time to go all the details are swirling through my head. Of course, the biggest concern is if I will be able to finish under my goal time. I have no doubt I will finish, but since I have never done a race before I don’t know if I’ve trained hard enough, long enough, or under the right conditions. I don’t want to hit the wall and be forced to walk.

Today I did a lot of reading about Hal Higdon’s plan in an attempt to ease my worries. What I found were really mixed reviews. A number of runners praised Higdon for the high number of pace runs followed by long runs. Others called Higdon’s plan simplistic, saying it was basically the same thing each week except with a few additional miles. My biggest concern with Higdon since the beginning has been what seems like a relatively few number of miles. I’m probably only averaging about eight miles more a week than I was when I wasn’t training. I have increased my daily mileage on a number of occasions because I just felt like I had a lot more in me. Because of the increased pressure I’m feeling now as the marathon looms around the corner, I’ve decided to step up my mileage for the next week and a half. According to Higdon, my week is supposed to go like this: Monday: Cross Train, Tuesday: 5 miles, Wednesday: 8 miles, Thursday: 5 miles, Friday: REST, Saturday: 8 mile PR, Sunday: 20 miles. Instead, I plan to do 18 tomorrow, 8 Wednesday, 8 Thursday, rest Friday, 8 Saturday, and 21 Sunday.

I realize this may be overdoing it, but since this is all new to me I feel like I’m just going to experiment a bit to see what works.

One other thought: “New Year’s Resolutioners.” I’m genuinely pleased to see so many new faces at the gym. Since January first, the local rec center in town where I train has been busting at the seams. It’s inspiring to see people of all sizes, shapes, and athletic ability pledging to become healthy in the new year.

The one drawback is I’ve had to rearrange my running schedule to accommodate the large crowds. I have problems running on the indoor track because of the pin in my foot. When I turn corners and when I have to stop suddenly (for example if there is a walker in front of me who I can’t quickly pass) the pin sends a sharp pain through my foot, up my ankle and into my leg. It’s enough to sometimes make me lose my balance. In addition, the pain lingers for awhile, making it nearly impossible to get in a long run after this happens. For this reason, I try to do most of my runs on the treadmill. Because of the crowds though, I’ve had trouble getting access to equipment. Since I anchor in the mornings my work day is supposed to end by three. My goal until training is over is to be out of work by three and at the gym by 3:30. I am hoping this way I can get in my runs before the large crowds arrive around 6.

….And to all of you who made fitness a part of your New Year’s resolution, KUDOS to you and best of luck!

Suffering through an injury, even if it’s not severe enough to sideline you can be extremely frustrating because you know its preventing you from running at your full potential. My latest thing is blisters. My big toes have blisters on the sides that rub against my shoes. My other toes have blisters on the tips and in between.

I’ve tried Vaseline, blister patches, band-aids, double socks, new shoes, larger shoes, and finally, I think I’ve realized the problem. A couple weeks ago, the blisters were causing me so much grief that I went to the shoe store in town and asked for advice. The folks at Tryathletics are very knowledgeable and seemed to think a larger shoe would fix my problem.

I did a 12 mile run that day and the blisters were worse than ever. The run however, gave a me a lot of time to think about the problem and what could be causing it. All of the sudden it was obvious – I’ve been wearing gym shoes with inserts and a carbon plate since breaking my foot. All of this extra stuff in my shoe is not allowing enough room for my foot. It’s tight in every area except in the front basket. This is allowing my toes to move around creating friction and blisters.

The thing is, I think it’s ultimately just something I’m going to deal with… at least until the marathon is over. After the marathon, I plan to visit my doctor and discuss options – including removing the pin.

In the meantime, I‘m going to soak my feet, do a couple home surgeries, and pray I don‘t lose anymore toenails. I have a feeling one of my goals this summer will be how to hide my unsightly feet from critical eyes and those with weak stomachs.

In one month, I will be celebrating after completing my first marathon. I have envisioned this moment hundreds of times while training. Nothing gets you through the last few miles of a long run, like visualizing yourself coming down the homestretch and lunging across the finish line. I imagine myself smiling with a sense of satisfaction. 

Schedule of each day’s mileage

Mentally I began preparing for the race at the beginning of March 2009. After receiving my foot diagnosis, I remember crying to my doctor and explaining that I was a runner. Fixing my foot so I could walk again was not enough. I needed to run. After hearing my case, Dr. T asked, “You do marathons?” I had to say no because although I had trained for them something had always gotten in the way of my actually following through to the finish line. Faced with the reality that maybe my time had passed, I pledged if the surgery was successful (the surgery success rate is about 95%), I would tackle the 26.2 monster that had always alluded me. 

Fast forward to September. It was time to pick a marathon and time to start training. Two factors determined my course selection: it had to be prior to Feb 9 (the anniversary of the day I broke my foot) and it needed to be near a beach. Miami was the perfect fit. 

I adopted Hal Higdon’s plan, which now dictates my life. I made a large board with each days miles so I would be held accountable. I call the board Valerie because of the magazine cut out of Valerie Bertinelli prominently placed at the end of week 6. (pictured)