I’m talking about the marathon of course! Prior to going along with my friend’s plan to run the New Jersey Long Branch Marathon, I had never been to the Jersey Shore.

Jersey Shore Marathon

The pictures always look gorgeous on-line and hey, they’re trying to sell entry fees so I get it, but I never enter a race for the scenery. Why? Because there’s no ‘scenery’ as beautiful as a finish line when you’re running 26.2 miles! There could be (and there were!) beaches for miles but the only sight you want to see is a giant clock with your goal time on it, and a line marked “FINISH” beneath it.

We didn’t choose this marathon for the view either, my friend chose it because our other friend’s sister lives close by and we stayed at her house. That, and it was the best we could do for a spring marathon, that wasn’t Boston. It was obviously very well thought out.

Dirty Detail #1 – The night before the race we had a big pasta dinner and then settled in to watch the previously recorded Bruce Jenner interview. What else would we do in Jersey? If you know me at all, you know I would never in 10 billion years watch that but, I have to say, it softened my heart just a tad for him and, dare I say it was motivating to see all the pictures and video clips from when he won the Olympic decathlon! He was ripped!

BruceJennerOlympics

 

Dirty Detail #2 – I hate Bruce Springsteen. There, I said it. I know 20% of my readers will probably never come back because of that but, like Bruce Jenner, I cannot live a lie any longer. What does this have to do with the marathon? It was touted over and over again that we would be running though The Boss’ old ‘hood and by The Stone Pony where he started his career so many years ago. I know it’s almost unpatriotic to hate Bruce, but I do. I can’t explain it. Does it help that I absolutely love another Jersey rocker? Jon Bon Jovi will always hold a special place in my eighth grade heart, and I would rather dedicate my 2nd place age group win to him. #YoureWelcomeJon

The feeling is mutual buddy!

The feeling is mutual buddy!

Dirty Detail #3 – I suck at running tangents. For you non-running geeks, this means running a race the way it’s measured so you don’t end up running extra tenths of a mile by the end. Makes sense right? Well, I was off the mile markers from the start and, by those last awful 5 miles, I was off by almost .25! It was torture to hear my watch beep out a mile and not even be able to see a mile marker! In the end, my watch read 26.52 miles. That is a quarter mile over and probably cost me a couple minutes on my time. That is precious time I will never get back!

Source: runladylike.com

Source: runladylike.com Jesica has an excellent post on how to do this correctly! Clearly I need to read it again.

Screen Shot 2015-04-29 at 11.15.05 AM

 

Dirty Detail #4 – I don’t enjoy talking to other runners during a race. Most of the time it’s because I can’t breathe but, during the marathon, that wasn’t the case. I’ve had people ask me what my goal is or my pace, and it just rubs me the wrong way. MYOB! My goals and pace are things I don’t say out loud in a race, but secretly whisper to myself as I edge closer to them.

Around mile 19, I heard my first “You’re almost there,” from a spectator on her porch. Yep. Mile 19. The following exchange took place because the woman running near me heard it too, and basically snorted:

Me: …says the woman who has never run a marathon…

Her: Seriously! She’s probably never run any race! Just shut up if you don’t know what to say.

Wow! Ok. I thought that was a tad bit of an overreaction. I sped up so she wouldn’t bite me and I kept my mouth shut the rest of the way. #ToughCrowdInJersey

AlmostThere

Dirty Detail #5 – There were drones at the race. I’m hoping guessing they were taking pictures of us as they flew overhead at the start and around mile 10. I have yet to see any of those pictures but… A fellow runner suggested they were making Amazon deliveries. I wish they would have dropped me some fresh legs! #PrimeBaby

Dirty Detail #6 – By far the BEST sign I saw at the race was one person holding this:

GO HARD UNCLE DAN!

And the person next to them holding this:

THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID!

I laughed out loud.

MarathonSignSheSaid

Apparently this is a thing at races!? It was new to me and hilarious!

I’m still relishing in my recovery week by eating, drinking, getting pedicures and swimming. Since my feet and right quad are a little banged up, I’m going to put off and running on land until next week…maybe…

Time for you to spill your dirty details!

Do you love The Boss? Bon Jovi?

Do you talk to other runners during races?

%d bloggers like this: