Tomorrow's the day: My first-ever marathon!

[greatsavebygerber]

After completing 222 training runs that covered 1,153.8 miles since May 2005, I'm ready for my first-ever marathon ... at age 45!! ;D ;D

www.runlongbeach.com

I'll be away all day tomorrow because:

* my 26.2-mile race starts at 6:15 a.m. SHARP,
* it'll take me at least six hours to complete it, and
* I'll be so shot after completing 26.2 miles that I'll be hitting the hay right after I get back home!

If y'all would be nice enough to give me a silent cheer tomorrow morning, I'd love that dearly! ;D

Jan/GSBG

[Catherine-erific!]

*claps* Yay!! Best of luck! I hope you do very very well ;D

[Ms. Ward...srsly...no joke]

yay jan!!!! we'll be cheering for you!!!

[greatsavebygerber]

Thanks so much, Cath and Rach! You rock! ;D

Jan/GSBG

[Ms. Ward...srsly...no joke]

well?

[Ells]

Let's GO JAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Melindaaaaaa [26]]

*Still holding paper sign saying YAY JAN*

[greatsavebygerber]

Thanks so much for your cheering, Mel and Rach! ;D ;D

Here I am, sitting at my computer a mere 25 hours and five minutes after completing my first-ever marathon. My legs are pretty sore and fairly, but I expected to feel that way anyway. For the next three days, I'll take brisk 30-minute walks along the bike trail along the beach; I'll resume running this Thursday with a two-mile jaunt.

Remember when I mentioned completing the marathon in boldface letters? I emphasized that word because getting it done was my main and only goal yesterday. Since I'd had only 2 1/2 hours of sleep the night before and felt rather nauseated for the first hour of the run (don't ask how, but I kept myself from puking someplace off the course), I knew I wouldn't be at my best. But, hey, I FINISHED!!

To see this 45-year-old first-time marathoner's stats:

1) Go to www.runlongbeach.com.
2) Click the red box marked "2006 Results" located in the middle of the page.
3) On the page marked "2006 Race Results," click the phrase "Race Results" in small blue letters in the middle of the page.
4) On the page marked "2006 Long Beach International City Bank Marathon," locate the the blue box on the upper-left-hand side of the screen that has "To Find a Runner."
5) Type the number 480 in the white box (field) marked "Bib."

To see how I fared in relation to the rest of the 2,053 marathoners:

1) Go to www.runlongbeach.com.
2) Click the red box marked "2006 Results" located in the middle of the page.
3) On the page marked "2006 Race Results," click the phrase "Race Results" in small blue letters in the middle of the page.
4) In the light-gray box in the left-center part of the page, you'll find the phrase "Marathon" in black letters. Locate a light gray box marked "All," in blue letters to the right of "Marathon," and click it.
5) On the field marked "2006 Long Beach International City Bank Marathon," click the phrase "1501-2000" in small blue lettering.
6) Scroll down to runner #1995. That's me! (I finished 1,995th in a field of 2,053 marathoners, and 758th among all 797 female marathoners.)

When I crossed the finish line and got my medal, I pulled a Brindy: I raised my arms as as high as I could, hollered "Woooo!" and began bawling. Yes, friends, that is what it feels like to finish your first marathon -- even if you do it seven hours and two minutes (or more) after you start, as I did.

Jan/GSBG

[Ms. Ward...srsly...no joke]

the links dont work

[Ells]

No photo?

[greatsavebygerber]

FYI, here's the complete coverage of on the LB Marathon, courtesy of the Long Beach Press-Telegram: www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_4498553.

That's why I'm more than happy to re-post my new directions, which I finished only about two minutes ago. (Mr. GSBG and I stepped out for about an hour; he went on a 20-minute run, while I had a leisurely 30-minute walk -- something to keep my muscles from stiffening up too badly after my 26.2-mile haul yesterday.)

greatsavebygerber said:

Thanks so much for your cheering, Mel and Rach! ;D ;D

Here I am, sitting at my computer a mere 25 hours and five minutes after completing my first-ever marathon. My legs are pretty sore and fairly, but I expected to feel that way anyway. For the next three days, I'll take brisk 30-minute walks along the bike trail along the beach; I'll resume running this Thursday with a two-mile jaunt.

Remember when I mentioned completing the marathon in boldface letters? I emphasized that word because getting it done was my main and only goal yesterday. Since I'd had only 2 1/2 hours of sleep the night before and felt rather nauseated for the first hour of the run (don't ask how, but I kept myself from puking someplace off the course), I knew I wouldn't be at my best. But, hey, I FINISHED!!

To see this 45-year-old first-time marathoner's stats:

1) Go to www.runlongbeach.com.
2) Click the red box marked "2006 Results" located in the middle of the page.
3) On the page marked "2006 Race Results," click the phrase "Race Results" in small blue letters in the middle of the page.
4) On the page marked "2006 Long Beach International City Bank Marathon", locate the the blue box on the upper-left-hand side of the screen that has "To Find a Runner."
5) Type the number 480 in the white box (field) marked "Bib."

To see how I fared in relation to the rest of the 2,053 marathoners:

1) Go to www.runlongbeach.com.
2) Click the red box marked "2006 Results" located in the middle of the page.
3) On the page marked "2006 Race Results," click the phrase "Race Results" in small blue letters, in the middle of the page.
4) In the light-gray box in the left-center part of the page, you'll find the phrase "Marathon" in black letters. Locate a light gray box marked "All," in blue letters to the right of "Marathon," and click it.
5) On the field marked "2006 Long Beach International City Bank Marathon," click the phrase "1501-2000" in small blue lettering.
6) Scroll down to runner #1995. That's me! (I finished 1,995th in a field of 2,053 marathoners, and 758th among all 797 female marathoners.)

When I crossed the finish line and got my medal, I pulled a Brindy: I raised my arms as as high as I could, hollered "Woooo!" and began bawling. Yes, friends, that is what it feels like to finish your first marathon -- even if you do it seven hours and two minutes (or more) after you start, as I did.

No photos yet, Ellie: Mr. G took our roll of APS film (we don't yet have a digital camera) to the developer's at noon today. Furthermore, the photography company working as a partner of the organizers of the LB Marathon -- the one that stationed photogs throughout the marathon and half-marathon courses -- is just starting processing the individual photos. Since there were more than 18,000 participants in the marathon, half marathon, 5K run, kids' one-mile race, wheelchair marathon, and bike marathon, it's going to be some time before my photos are ready.

Jan/GSBG

[Ells]

Wow.

[Khabi Fan]

Congrats on finishing the marathon, Jan! I'm going to have enough trouble walking around the mountains while on vacation this weekend <G>

Like I said, you're an inspiration to a lot of us!

[greatsavebygerber]

Thanks, WH! As I told now fewer than 40 people cheering for us marathoners along the route: "If I can do this, anyone can!"

Mr. GSBG'll get the pics tomorrow. Because I was having such brutal PMS bloating and was d**ned sick to my stomach, I know I'm gonna look like a beached whale in all of them!

Jan/GSBG

[greatsavebygerber]

Well, Mr. GSBG came back home about 20 minutes ago with the pictures! Here they are.

At 6:16 a.m., Mile 0.009 of the marathon, along Shoreline Drive ...


... seven hours later, at 1:16 p.m., Mile 26, at the intersection of Ocean and Shoreline ...


... and at 1:21 p.m., after crossing the 26.2-mile mark/finish line, getting my medal, getting the timing chip removed from my shoe, and bawling with joy! ;D ;D


Jan/GSBG