2012 Fall Season Conclusion: Pensacola Marathon
2012 NYC & Pensacola Marathon Medals
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Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble.
Benjamin Franklin
~
To start with the obvious, this training and racing cycle was full of unprecedented and unpredictable events. A hurricane swept in the week before the NYC Marathon and wreaked havoc on the five boroughs. The race was on! The race was off! Never before had the New York City Marathon been canceled. Yet it was. So, I quickly searched for another racing opportunity and found my chance in Pensacola, Florida.
There’s so much good and so much heartbreak wrapped up in this race. Yet, I can’t say there are regrets. Disappointment, sure. Growth, yes. It’s hard to lament an experience that while denying me one thing, generously bestowed much more.
I spent months visualizing a race in which there’d be 45,o00 runners and millions of spectators. That energy, I’d hoped, would help me to the finish. I looked forward to seeing friends and family along the New York City Marathon course. Jess and I planned to pace each other to a 3:35 finish. After the cancelation, I decided to try a different direction. The Pensacola Marathon, with its 535 finishers, would be the perfect environment for self-focus on the course. It would provide a chance to rely solely on myself to get through the race. I could have space to regroup, settle in, and push for my Boston Qualifying goal.
Pensacola Bib for NYCMers
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It was wonderful to see how graciously the Pensacola race organizers welcomed displaced New York City Marathoners. They expanded the race field and discounted our entry fees. We received special red bibs (full runners had white; half runners had yellow) that said “New York Marathoner” on them. With my race bib in hand, I was set to prepare for race day.
Marathon morning was beautiful. I awoke well-rested and calm. The temperature was in the low 60s, with the sun just rising and a cool breeze from the water. There were no race-related nerves: it was simply time to execute the last 26.2 miles. I stood quietly picturing what was to unfold. I had no doubt about my ability – this is what I trained for. With 17 weeks of training behind me, and my 3:35 pace tattoo, I was ready.
Due to its size, the Pensacola Marathon had no start corrals. I tucked myself in behind the front runners knowing I’d get room to ease into my pace from the beginning. My biggest challenges would be to not get lured in by the half marathoners’ paces, and to not go out too fast.
I couldn’t have been happier with how I started the race. My first mile was about 10 seconds slower than my goal pace of 8:12 minutes/mile. After, I consistently began hitting a range between 8:04-8:10 minutes/mile. As I chatted with runners along the course, I was confident and in control of my run. I was having a great time enjoying the few enthusiastic spectators who cheered us on. After the turmoil surrounding the New York City Marathon, I felt grateful to finally be running.
Before Mile 6
The course itself was a bit cumbersome with many turns to navigate around the neighborhood. The scenic start along the water veered in around 4.5 miles to less beautiful views. We wove through residential sections and industrial buildings. We passed an airport twice on a serpentine road that made hell for cutting tangents. For the first half, the course was completely closed. Around mile 15, we came out onto a partially closed course, running mostly in a wide shoulder. However, the police did a fantastic job of giving runners priority over vehicles.
At mile 15 I finally refueled (thanks to Generation UCAN) and tossed my Spibelt. I was running unburdened, still barreling along at pace. I began mentally preparing for an upcoming incline around mile 17 – a small bridge a bit steeper than Cat Hill. I took that on without much problem and completely forgot another incline followed about a mile later. That one seemed to slow me down more.
Around mile 20 is when something happened. There wasn’t one defining moment – no twisted footfall, no landing on debris – but my right foot began to hurt. I kept pacing, trying to assess the situation. The foot pain increased the more I ran and this is when the race began to unravel. Still running, I slowed down, hoping my earlier pace would sufficiently buffer the last miles. At that time, a sub-3:40 finish was still within reach. That was the case for the next few miles. But the pain kept increasing, and I knew something was seriously wrong. A quick walk break provided a little relief, but the pain intensified each time I began running.
I finished the final 4 miles by run-walking and trying to manage the discomfort. Both 3:35 and 3:40 slipped away. I ran across the finish line and gathered my medal. It was emotionally difficult to start the race feeling strong and finish it feeling broken.
The medics at the finish line were amazing people. They took great care of me and gave me the names of local facilities to be x-rayed. An urgent care facility confirmed a stress fracture on my right 5th metatarsal. I left wearing a splint and on crutches.
I can’t say I’d ever imagined this conclusion. But running marathons is no easy business. Unfortunately, injury has its role to play. Just seems this happened to be my time to have that experience. After the chaos leading up to the Pensacola Marathon, the dramatic ending somehow seems befitting the whole ordeal.
There was no Boston Qualifier this time; but I earned a five-minute PR by finishing in 3:48:39. My race stats are:
- Overall Place: 68/535
- Gender Place: 19/212
- Age Group Place: 5/47
Garmin Stats
Now that some days have passed, I can attest that more good came from this experience than disappointment. I’ll have another go at my Boston Qualifier as soon as I’m properly healed. This race proved the ability and physical conditioning are there as long as my body cooperates. When it mattered, I sought my own path and gave myself a second chance. I’ve learned I’m fiercely protective of my goals and I’m even more protective of the longevity of my running career.
I look forward to giving my body a chance to strengthen and heal. For I truly believe in this down time is a moment to learn something about myself. A hurricane, a canceled race, a destination marathon, and injury couldn’t stop me from trying my hardest. I’m already looking toward spring. Then, that BQ goal will be mine!
In urgent care
Finish Line
LV runs NYC 
oof. this had to be a really tough post to write. after following your rock solid training, the disappointment of NYCM being cancelled…. you are such a strong woman to have finished that race when so many would have crumbled.actually, so many people DID crumble. but not you! i love the fact that you are smiling in each one of your pictures. while racing, post race, even at the doctors office! thank you for being such an inspiring woman. i look forward to seeing where you go from here! ❤
Thanks so much, Courtney! It was hard to write & I think it shows – it sounds so disjointed to me. Especially because I think my emotions around it still change day-by-day. I really appreciate all your amazing support – your comment totally made me smile when I needed it most 🙂 I suppose we are all bound to have an experience like this at some point, this was just my time. I’ll take something from it, and am looking forward to feeling better. xo
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You are such an inspiration Lora! Although it may be hard to see through all the bumps along the way — your positivity shines through in this post. It is so well written. I feel your heart ache and I also celebrate in your achievement! I love that the Pensacola marathon provided NY marathon runners a special color bib!! I look forward to reading many more of your adventures and I know you will soon qualify for Boston!! Now– time to heal that metatarsal girly!! xoxo
Thanks so much, Gina! I really appreciate the support and kind thoughts. I’m doing my best to make something positive come from this situation, and perhaps it’s one of those things that happens for some obscure reason. I can’t change what’s happened, but I can certainly be proactive about where I go from here 🙂 xo
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im sorry to hear about your injury! 😦 How did you get the 2012 medal though!?
Oh, thanks – was healed in time to train for a spring marathon, so all worked out well enough 🙂 Entrants were allowed to pick the medal up at NYRR headquarters after the race’s cancellation.
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That the demon limelight of celebrity ostensibly didn’t kill this one — that the flame merely died out on its own — makes it almost sadder.