Skagit Flats Marathon

The race started so beautifully, who knew what would await me?

I was ready. My training leading up to this race went perfectly. I only missed one run, and that was a 16 miler at the beginning of the cycle due to flu. I ran a test race in early August ; a half marathon where my only goal was to put in a good effort the second half. I PR’d that race without much effort. I was feeling good, well rested and well fueled when I took my place at the start line. I started out easy, constantly checking my pace, because it seemed too easy. My watch kept me honest. I would find myself wandering toward 8:30 minute miles, but would catch it early enough to dial it back again. As a result, my miles splits were coming in at 8:58 – 9:02. Perfect. My plan was to run 9 minute miles the first 20 miles, then hammer it in for the last 6.

It was already too warm when we hit the first aid station around mile 1.5. Unfortunately only 2 volunteers were manning the station and couldn’t keep up with the demand of over 600 runners. I passed that station without getting any water. I knew it was a mistake at the time, but figured I would drink well at the next station, two miles down the road. This station was prepared and I got my water. Another two miles, more water, some gel and I was right where I wanted to be. My legs were fresh, my heart rate low but I was starting to really sweat. When I passed mile 8 I realized I hadn’t taken electrolytes yet, so I popped one at the next water stop. By this time I was drenched in sweat. The roads were getting hot and the course offered no shade. My eyes were burning from the amount of salt dripping down my face. Still I was feeling good and my pace was a steady 9:00 minutes per mile. I hit the turn around point in 1:58. As I started the second half of the race I started to feel slightly qu. My head was gently throbbing and I experienced the most demanding thirst. Where is the aid station? My mouth felt like cotton and the aid station was still a mile away. I needed water badly… when I finally hit the aid station (around mile 15) I stopped and chugged 4 cups of water. I expected my stomach to start sloshing after so much water, but it went down amazingly well. I picked up my pace again and my head started to really pound. I slowed down to walk a moment. I was dizzy once I slowed down. I went through my vital check list: heart rate- good, feet- fine, muscles-pleasantly tired, stomach- settled and no sloshing. Then I noticed it – I wasn’t sweating. Me, Miss Sweat Princess, the one blessed with a super efficient cooling system that allows me to run in blistering heat, wasn’t sweating at all. This was bad. I knew if I had any hope of crossing the finish line I had to quit racing. No BQ, no PR for me today. I made a pact with myself that very moment: walk it in and save the legs for another day. pick up a slow jog if I start sweating again, drop out entirely if I kept feeling dizzy or the headache gets worse. I also knew I had to focus on getting the system functioning again. I started working on replacing my electrolytes and getting plenty of liquids down. I would alternate walking with a slow, shuffling jog every ¼ mile or so. By mile 20 I was feeling significantly better and my mile 24 I broke a sweat again. I cautiously jogged the remaining 2.2 miles to the finish line. I quit looking at my watch after I started walking, so was expecting the finish line clock to read 5+ hours. I was amazed to finish in 4:30 minutes. All that practice walking over the summer must have paid off. I walked around for a bit, drank some more water and hit the showers. As I was packing up my race gear I noticed my clothes were coated in a fine dusting of salt. More than the typical sweat rings I usually get. After the shower I started feeling much better. I started reviewing the race and noticed that even though I had gotten so severely dehydrated, I never got leg cramps. Weird.