Atlanta Marathon: Atlanta, Georgia, February 25, 2024 – Marathon #43
This was my first race in six weeks, and I was definitely ready to get out of Kansas City for the weekend. I ran the 5k this morning and the full marathon tomorrow, then I’ll be hopping a flight back home to Kansas City.
I’ll say this: Atlanta is busy. The weather looks perfect for running, which I’m always grateful for. As always, I’m shaking off the pre-race nerves, which always seem to hit me as if I’m competing for gold. In my mind, though, every race does feel like a competition for gold!
I placed in the top 6% of participants in the 5k with a time of 26:23, and 6th in my age division—not too bad.
Now that I’ve had a few hours to reflect on the race, here’s what I’ve realized: it had been six weeks since my last marathon, which is a long stretch for me. This time, I wasn’t as disciplined as usual. I ran most days, but not the distances I typically do. I also missed a few weekly massages, which I didn’t think would be a big deal—but I definitely felt the difference.
This marathon was very hilly. I train on hills, so I usually don’t let them get in my head, but this race was especially challenging. It was also a loop course, which meant double the hills. That’s enough to make you want to cry when you realize you have to go through it twice. I don’t typically enjoy looped courses, but at least we saw a few different things on the second loop. The toughest part, though, was running through the finish area at the half marathon point and seeing so many people finishing while I still had to keep going.
It’s all about mindset. After the half marathon, the crowd support tends to dwindle, and fewer people are out there cheering you on. You really have to dig deep and find your own motivation.
A funny moment: Some people in the crowd gave me a nickname during the race. They called me “Green” because of my outfit or “Braids” because of my hairstyle, which made me laugh. Another funny moment happened when the first-place marathon runner was sneaking up on me as I entered the second loop. Some people thought I was competing to win, so they were screaming at me that I was going the wrong way! I, along with the top runner and the motorcycle cop, got confused and had to stop. Once I figured out what had happened, I got back on track, but it was a bit funny and confusing at the time. Then, around mile 15, I realized I almost got lapped in the marathon, which made me want to cry. (Haha.)
My time wasn’t my best, but it was decent. I ended up meeting a young man around mile 20 who was struggling. It was his first marathon, so I walked a few miles with him to help him through that mental hurdle. I’ll always do that—help someone so they won’t quit or give up.
At the end of the day, I finished my 44th state with a smile and healthy, which is always my goal.
Next week, I’ll be off to Massachusetts for state #45.