Mile 17 split: 7:34 marathon time: 2:11:15
My inner monologue: Oh mile 17. How I hated you last year. Why it was just upon these very streets that I experienced my weakest moments. Calf pain, dragging my fat ass across the bridge, only to smell the reek of Mission Bay and my race. It was a sad time last year, but my how I have grown. So miserable, so lonely, so little confidence. What a year it has been though. (I continue pinpointing random low moments within the last year). I am grateful for my time right now, Thank you, God. You were there with me always, helping me grow and learn, and suffer. Keep me strong, help me to get through this….
… this is where I saw Alicia last year. In my sad state. Thank goodness that isn’t me anymore. Those pictures were so horrible.
Mile 18 split: 7:42 marathon time: 2:18:58
From the sidelines (I found out afterwards that they were yelling this at runners behind me):
“You are losing to a drunk girl!”
Mile 19 split: 7:34 marathon time: 2:26:32
A few paces down the PB/Crown Point stretch is none other than my very own Lil B, his friend Millie, and an ex teammate Steve. I ran by in excitement, ready to high five everyone (“high Five”) and shout “record time, guys! Record time!” Steve joined me for a few paces, but that was short lived as I had been holding some pee in for approximately 19 miles. I took a 20 second timeout at the port-o-potty, but not without debating whether to keep my time running or not… of course, I stopped it since I wanted to get my “true running time.” Turns out I not only had the race of my life, but also the pee of my life too; 20 seconds (I figured that out from the discrepancy between my chip time and watch time).