Saturday, May 21, 2011

My Marathon Experience...

Today was the Ogden Marathon. It has been a goal of mine to run this for a long time. I began training in November just to give myself lots of time to prepare. I was amazed each time I reached a new mileage record- from 7 miles to 20. These last six months have been spent running and running.... and running. It has really been like a second job. After running three 20 mile runs, I was feeling ready to take it all on. I had a time in mind that I wanted to reach and was pretty confident I could do it. I was nervous/excited all week knowing that I would finish this goal that I had worked so hard for. As I write this post I realize this is not the report I was wanting to give. I would love to brag about my time and say how awesome it felt to finish, but today did not go the way I expected AT ALL, but I guess that's life. So here is my experience....

Here I am so excited to get my number and tag with my name on it:)
Of course, I had to take a picture of one of the training schedules I followed.
These lovely ladies have become my dearest friends especially since we spent every Saturday morning together trekking along to get our miles in.
So nervous this morning as I got ready, but so excited to wear my cute running skirt.
All ready to go load the bus at 4:30 a.m. and ready to get this day started. If I had known how it would all turn out today I'm not sure my smile would have been so big. So probably good that I didn't.
Here I was at the mile 13- halfway! I was feeling pretty good here and was making great time. My time at the halfway point was about 1:55, which I was pretty proud of.

I knew at this point I just needed make it over the next big hill that overlooks Pineview Dam and then I would hit the canyon and finally have a downhill break. But that's when my day changed a bit. As I was going up the hill, I started to not feel so good. I remembered when I ran this hill last year it was hard but nothing I couldn't push through. But this time I couldn't push through the pain I was experiencing. I decided to try walking a bit and told my friend to go ahead of me.
That's when the dizziness hit. I dumped water on myself and did anything I could think of to feel better. I wasn't sure if I was hitting that "wall" that you hear so much about. I couldn't imagine that I was since I was only at mile 17. I soon realized I was going back and forth on the path and running into people because I was so dizzy. My friend behind me caught up with me and tried to encourage me to keep going. My running had drastically slowed down to pretty much walking.
I told her I didn't feel good and I was just trying to make it to the next aid station when my body just couldn't take anymore and that's when I collapsed. It is all kind of a blur to me because I was in and out of consciousness while throwing up with lots of medics around me. I felt like I had given up and tried to convince them to let me just finish, but I couldn't even sit up so I was obviously not going anywhere. I even remember saying "But I have to finish because I have such a cute running outfit!" I was so devastated that I couldn't finish and my dear friend stayed with me the whole time and gave up her own goal as well. I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. So I did make it down the canyon, just in a bit more flamboyant way:)
They found that my blood sugar was at a 38 and my body was going into shock because of it. They said 60 is the lowest it should go so mine was dangerously low and it was surprising I had made it to mile 17. I also was very very dehydrated. I also learned that I unknowingly had been dealing with a little stomach bug this week that I had chalked up to just being nervous with anticipation. So the stomach problems caused even more dehydration and mix that with low blood sugar... and voila you have me lying on the side of the road.
I have been pretty disappointed that I wasn't able to finish today. This was definitely a curve ball I didn't see coming. So maybe one day I can post my finishing time and say how good it felt to cross that finish line. Unfortunately it just wasn't going to be today. But I am still very proud of all my hard work anyways! I am also grateful to be feeling much better since leaving the hospital earlier today.

15 comments:

Ben and Camille said...

wow what a big fat bummer!! but AMAAAAZING to me that you even made it 17 miles! i did the 5k and was pooped:) just keep telling yourself you were starting out with a half-marathon and you did AWESOME! next time!! i'm glad you're feeling better--that's scary!!

Merrilee said...

Jenny shared your blog with me. I'm so sorry that happened to you! You really deserved to finish after you put in all the hard work! I can only imagine how disappointing that must be. I'm sure you can do it another time, it's just frustrating it couldn't happen yesterday! I hope you are feeling better!

amy g said...

Arrienne, I can't believe that! You never know what you body is going to do on race day. It's so hard not to feel bad when you worked so hard for 6 months and not cross that finish line. Sometimes training is more impressive than actually finishing the marathon! Don't feel like all your hard work didn't pay off, you are a rockstar! I trained for my first triathlon for 5 months and the weather was terrible the day of so they cancelled it after the open water swim and I was so bummed! I still tell people that I did a triathlon and consider myself a triathlete :)! So don't worry girl, you'll get 'em next time and you're a marathon runner in my eyes!!

Steph and Brady said...

Oh my goodness Arrienne! I am so sorry to hear this! I am so glad that you are okay! You looked so excited when I saw you on Friday! That is crazy how it all happened. I am still amazed that you were able to get all ready and prepare like that. I am sure you will get to finish one sometime soon. Hope you get feeling all better!

Kathryn Buxton said...

Man that's no fun! I'm am glad you are okay, but I've got to say 17 miles is amazing! 20 miles runs are amazing! You should certainly be proud, although I know it can be disappointing to not finish something you worked so hard on. If it makes you feel any better, I passed out this weekend too and I was getting my haircut, ha ha. At least you were running 17 miles, apparently I can't even stand right! :) Feel better soon!

Kylee said...

How scary! I am so glad that you are alright! Stomach bugs always pick the worst timing - I want to squash it for you!! You should register for another marathon this summer since you are in shape for it - stomach bug wouldn't dare strike twice :)

Sarah said...

That sucks. It's super discouraging to have a bad day on race day. You've got to do another one or you'll forever kick yourself. I've had a few of these and they are super crappy. You are amazing, and arent those skirts the best?

Kami @ Sweet Charli... said...

Okay you did so great! Honestly, 1:55 at the half way mark? that's awesome! Just think, if you finished the marathon you would have gotten an awesome time. Let's just say 1:55 times two - 3:50?? See...you do have a finishing time!! I am so sorry that happened to you. But I know you will make it through the next~

It was fun seeing you!

Kami @ Sweet Charli... said...

ps: your outfit was WAY cute!

hilary said...

Wow!! That has got to be frustrating! I am so so impressed with your training & dedication though! And 1:55 at mile 13?! That's so good! I want to do a half marathon when we come home in June & I'm pretty sure there is no way I could finish in 1:55! So sorry to hear that happened, but so glad you're ok! & love your running skirt, too! I'm all about having a cute workout outfit. :)

Mitzi said...

That stinks! I'm pretty sure 17 miles is an unimaginable distance for me to even think about so, I'm super proud of ya!

Jared and Ashley said...

Your story made me cry!! I'm so sorry! I'm glad you got to run the Provo Marathon. I can't wait to hear more about that one! I'm sure it went a lot better!

Erin said...

way to finish the first 17 my blood sugar has dropped that low while in the hospital and I was totally out of it I can't imagine running with it that low...you will be able to finish in a very cute outfit next year!

johny said...

How scary! I am so glad that you are alright! Stomach bugs always pick the worst timing - I want to squash it for you!! You should register for another marathon this summer since you are in shape for it - stomach bug wouldn't dare strike twice

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Marc and Allison said...

fArrienne, it was so great to run into you guys! This is my blog, I don''t post very much, I just store fun food and craft blogs.