Flying Pig Marathon 2016 – Running4Liz (A Guest Blog Post)

Today I received a race report from a good friend about her experience with the Flying Pig Marathon.  Ginger, and the amazing women who ran with her, dedicated their run to Liz Lothrop; a young Cincinnati area woman who recently lost her fight with glioblastoma, a form of very aggressive cancer that begins in the brain (you can see media coverage of Liz's story here).  I asked Ginger's permission to reproduce her race report on this blog, to share with a wider community.  Congratulations to Ginger and all who ran with her.

Flying Pig Marathon 2016 – Running4Liz

Running for Elizabeth Grace Lothrop

by Ginger

By October 2015 I had decided that I wanted to do the Flying Pig Half Marathon with my friends.  Then by mid-November on a somewhat impulsive thought I decided I think I’ll run the full marathon.  So I quickly registered (Nov. 13) before I changed my mind.  During the registration process there was a field to complete to customize your bib.  Oh cool!  I started to enter ‘Ging’ and then backed it out and replaced it with ‘Running4Liz’.  It was then when I knew that I was running this marathon for Liz.  I hit submit to complete the registration and felt that slight moment of panic… Oh my gosh I just signed up for a marathon!

On a few early solo training runs I processed… what does it mean to me to be Running4Liz?  I decided that I would attempt to share Liz’s story with my friends and through social media to generate support for Liz and her family.  I knew my outreach wasn’t that big but I hoped that support even on a small scale would be something.  So my plan was set in place.  I decided to periodically post on Facebook Liz’s GoFundMe page during the course of training from January 2016 through May 2016.

Training

I started my training early since I had not run in over 4 months due to recovering from planter’s fasciitis.  I had a slight concern as to what the mileage would do to my heel but knew I’d give it my best attempt.  I also started early because I knew that the holiday’s make it tough to get training in as well as winter weather.  What I didn’t anticipate was getting sick that took over 5 weeks to get better.  As well as my beloved Bella being diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma and requiring major surgery and chemo treatments.  I had high hopes that we could extend Bella’s life only to making a very hard decision on February 14th.  Rest in peace sweet Bella.   Despite what seemed like a struggle to train, in the end I was comfortable with the training I was able to complete and even managed two 20 milers.  I was able to approach the event knowing I would finish.

A family Affair

The week leading into the event my sister tells me… Brittany and I are registered for the half marathon!  Woohoo!  I was so excited knowing that I got to be part of their first half marathon experience and excited to share something with them that I enjoy doing.  My niece was determined to run 13.1 miles for Liz.  Knowing they had not trained I provided interval strategies and race motivation.  I was determined to help give them the best race experience.

The Flying Pig

Early morning wake-up call by 4AM.  Quick shower, bagel & peanut butter and coffee drink.  We were all nervous about the weather because of the previous day’s cool temperatures and rain.  The original forecast had suggested rain for the race so I think we all anticipated to be running in the rain & cooler temps.  Selena and I made an early morning decision to go with tank tops (thankfully).  And we all remembered to put on sunscreen just in case (thankfully).

We met up with my Cindy and Brittany in the lobby.  As always the lobby is a buzz of runners that morning.  It’s a boost of adrenaline just being around all the runners anxiously waiting to go to the start line area.  We took a moment to take a group photo.  Diane surprised us with Running for Liz signs! I wanted to make sure we captured a photo of us wearing the signs.

We made the quick walk down to the corrals.  It was a light drizzle that turned into sprinkles.  The temps were not that cold so no throw away was needed.  We all decided to start in Corral G (coincidently stands for Grace) even though a few of us had different corral placements.  The National Anthem was sung and very nicely done I might add.  And the race begins!  It felt like it took a while for corral G to begin but once it started moving we quickly reached the start line and we all begin running.

Nice easy pace out of the gate!  I’m thankful.  It felt warm and humid (learned later it was 100% humidity).  I see Cindy and Britt hanging together.  Diane, Selena and I are hanging together.  And Bernie is on her quest to finish back to back half marathons.  We got this!

Courtesy of an unknown runner

Selena, Diane and I initiate our strategy of running to each mile marker followed by a one minute walk break and repeat.  The first mile happened at the base of the first bridge over to the Kentucky side.  It’s perfect timing to walk a small hill.  I’ll take it because I know there are many more hills to come.  When we were on the Kentucky side for some reason I decided to look up (I’m the runner that watches the pavement).  I see a rainbow across the sky.  So cool!  I mentioned it to Selena and Diane.  Not sure if they heard me but seeing the rainbow made me smile.  By the time we’re approaching the bridge to go back to Ohio I acknowledged a few facts:

• I’m drenched from the humidity by mile 3
• My heel is bothering me a little
• My right knee is bothering me a little

This is way too early to be worrying about any pain.  I focused on my form to make sure my stride and landings were good.  By mile 5 I no longer noticed any issues other than it was getting warm (notice I just say ‘warm’).  Glad I’m not feeling any issues with my heel or knee because I know we’re quickly approaching the never ending long stretch of hill climbing and more hills.  Around mile 6.5 just as you start to ascend (yes it’s like mountain climbing) into the hills, there’s a guy in pink camouflage pants very enthusiastically cheering on the runners.  What a really cool way to pump up the crowd before the hills!

Amazingly, the hill climb didn’t seem all that bad this time.  Maybe it’s because we’re pacing ourselves nicely to go the distance.  Maybe it’s because I’m with friends.  Maybe 3rd time’s a charm for running these hills!  However, it was also around this time I started to feel hotspots on my feet.  Not just one foot but both.  We all know what this means.  I decided to keep this little secret to myself for now.  It’s like if I don’t verbally state it then I really don’t have blisters, right?  Silly runner’s logic!  Finally by around mile 9 we complete our hill climb and quickly approach the split off from the half marathoners.  Go half marathoners!  This split is a really neat part of the course for me.  There’s a view of a church and in the years past of doing the half the church is like hearing the choir sing in my head of celebration.  This time I shared that memory with Selena and Diane.

After we split it’s a nice long downhill.  Generally I’d love this but I’m also really starting to feel the hot spots on my feet.  I finally admit that I’m running with blisters.  Oh well.  Push it out of my mind now that I’ve stated it.  I also received a phone call during this time.  I let it go to voicemail but my anxiety started to kick in.  My mom had hip replacement surgery on Thursday but I felt like she was ok but then what if?  And Steve’s mom had not been feeling well so I started to worry about that.  I decided I’d listen to the voicemail during the next walk break because the What Ifs were taking over my brain.  Fortunately it was a butt dial from my other sister.  I felt relieved.  But it wasn’t long after that I felt potential GI issues.  Uh oh.  Ok maybe it’ll go away.  Again, if I don’t admit it… it’s not an issue, right?  If it were only that simple.  We passed one set of porta potty’s around mile 10 or so and I opted to see if I’d feel better.  That was a mistake.  I had to wait what felt like forever until I saw the little blue buildings again.  Told Selena and Diane… I MUST STOP!... there was a line but it didn’t matter.  I told the girls to continue on if they wanted to.  But they waited.  I love these girls!  And I felt so much better… until… The Heat!  It was roughly around mile 15 when I acknowledge that I must start dumping water on myself at each water stop.  The heat was getting to me but I know how to manage this.  So I did.  It was also around mile 15 that Selena and I lost Diane as she was a little bit ahead of us.  Bummers but Go Diane!  At this point we’re still running to each mile marker and each water stop.  Our pace was still holding steady until about mile 17 and I then started to slow down.  By mile 19, it was just horrible.  It was hot and I was no longer mentally in the game.  Several times Selena asked how I was doing and just about all I could say was… It’s HOT!  By mile 20 I was just done.  Fried bacon!  I’m hoping the sunscreen is working because my skin feels hot.
Had I not still have Selena with me; I probably would have just walked it in.  She proposed for us to drop to interval of 4/1s.  So we did.  This new strategy kind of helps.  Sort of.  I’m still struggling.  Mentally not wanting to do this anymore.  At some point I look up ahead of me and I see Liz’s sign on Selena’s back.  I instantly tear up for a moment… Liz you’re such an inspiration, this 26.2 is for you!...  and checked my head back into the game.  By mile 23, I’m mentally back to finishing this.  It’s still hot!  It’s still tough.  We drop to 3/1s and that helps.  Finally around mile 24 we get ICE!  OMG ICE!  ICE ICE ICE!  YES PLEASE!  The mileage is still tough (when is it not at mile 24?) but we’re still sticking with 3/1s and we carry this strategy all the way to the finish line.  As we approach the FINISH SWINE I feel elated!  I’ve been happy to finish races before but this was different.  It was a feeling of joy!  Arms up in the air!  WOOHOO!  OINK OINK!  I hear my name!  Yes the announcers called our names out but I also hear someone yelling my name!  I’m looking around but I don’t see anyone.  I hear ‘Look up’… and I do… but I don’t see anyone.  But I know… they were there!  Cindy and Britt must have stayed for the finish.

Running a marathon is more than just about crossing the finish line.  It’s all the training runs that you share with friends.  It’s the chance to run a race with my sister, niece and friends.  Pre-race dinners and sharing laughs.  Random memories from the race that will stick with you beyond the race itself.  Post-race sweaty hugs.  And despite the challenges I personally had, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  Training and running a marathon is a journey to take in, cherish and to enjoy!

Another side note – The Flying Pig Half Marathon winner, Amy Robillard, dedicated this race to Liz!