It was a little after 2 in the morning, and I was on one of the bus shuttling runners to the start of the race. The night before had been rough, because I had no idea how much sleep I had gotten, only knowing it hadn’t been much, but at least the morning was going smoothly. I knew I was going to arrive at the start of the race with plenty of time before the race started.
One potential setback off the board.
I was actually on a trolley, the air was cool, but not cold, and I think it may have helped me out in waking up a bit. We got dropped off a little ways from the start of the race around 2:30.
Great…so now just need to kill time until the race gets going….
…at 5.
Sitting around until the start wasn’t so bad at first. I got to settle in, and although it wasn’t sleep, my body at least got to rest up a little more as a sat around. After 4, I started to get into my routine of stretching and warming up for the race, and all that time allowed me to double this routine to really feel nice and loose, which was ideal as I would be running over 6 miles more than I ever had before.
As it got closer to 5, I found the section where people running my pace were supposed to gather. When I’d first registered for this run, the longest distance I’d run to that point was 3.5 miles. I’d run a good pace, but because this race was going to be over 20 miles longer than that, I’d selected a 6 hour pace. My goal was to actually run close to 4 miles, something that seemed doable now that I’d completed the training program for the marathon. I felt breezing past people would be a constant ego boost that would fuel my adrenaline through the race.
My section was toward the back so those that had registered with a faster expected pace would be closer to the starting line. The thing was, even all the way back here, we were still all packed tight. It’s one thing to hear this is the fourth biggest marathon in the country. It’s another to stand in it.
It finally hit 5 am. I was ready to go…
Somebody somewhere far up ahead who I couldn’t see was speaking on a microphone. Okay, sure, someone usually says a few words before the start of these things. Let’s go….
And now they’re playing the National Anthem. Okay, this is a sporting event. Alright, let’s g–
There’s a fireworks show to commence the start of the marathon happening shortly. I mean, they didn’t skimp on the show. Is having all this smoke in the air really good for all these runner? Alright, let’s…
The race started. Allegedly. We’re not moving.
Five minutes have gone by. Still not moving.
Ten minutes have gone by. I’m bouncing on my feet to keep loose.
Fifteen minutes. We’ve been moving up a little. I’m pretty sure that’s the starting line. Why is this taking so long?
Okay seriously. The race officials said everyone needs to have crossed the starting line for their time to count. I’m actually getting nervous.
Twenty minutes. Oh you’ve got to be kidding me. Okay, I see why its taken so long. When people are approaching the starting line, they’re slowing down, even stopping, to get their phones out and take a selfie. I get this is a big challenge, maybe a lot of people’s first marathon–
–but really?! A selfie crossing the starting line? Is this why you entered a marathon? Is this the most important thing you wanted to accomplish? The most important thing you wanted to capture with a selfie, the start of the run?
I’m trying to hit the starting line with some pace and can’t because the people in front of me are taking a picture of the start. I just want to barrel through them. I wanted to start this race ten minutes ago.
As I’m coming up on the start, I sent my workout on my watch. I do a little hop skip as I cross the start.
I’m finally doing this.