Every Woman’s Marathon Race Recap
Marathon number nine had more ups and downs than a rollercoaster, but it’s a weekend I’ll never forget. Last year I ran the inaugural Every Woman’s Marathon, and I was honored when Kemps invited me back for year two—this time in Scottsdale, AZ.
When I saw the forecast calling for rain (in the desert?!), I was surprised but honestly relieved. The days before the race were in the upper 80s, and heat is not my friend when running. Give me cool weather any day, so mid-60s and cloudy and even rain felt like the dream scenario.
I woke up at 4:00am after a not-so-great night of sleep. Like many runners, I never sleep well before a marathon. I forced myself to start eating my bagel right away—fueling that early is always a challenge for me. I also sipped on Salty Carbs for hydration and an electrolyte boost as I got ready
I believe in the motto “Feel Good, Run Fast,” so I went all in on race vibes with bubble braids from the expo thanks to Team Milk. I added my favorite addition to race day, glitter! I have never seen so much glitter as I did on the start line for this race and I loved it!
I took the later shuttle at 5:45am because I hate standing around before a race. On the bust I continued to sip on my Salty Carbs and had my pre-race snack, Noogs Chews. Traffic was so backed up that several of us ended up hopping off about a mile away and jogging to the start. They delayed the race because so many runners were stuck in traffic.
The night before, I made the necessary decision to let go of my PR goal. Even though I had the strongest 20 mile run of my life, the training cycle had its ups and downs, and I could feel the pressure piling on. I wanted to enjoy the day. My plan was to start around 9:15 to 9:30 pace and negative split the second half.
I had about ten minutes from reaching the start to actually starting. Shoutout to the women behind me who helped stuff gels into the back pockets of my Gridlock Bandit crop. Before I knew it the race had started.
From the first mile, I noticed how warm I felt and how sweaty I already was. Still, the miles clicked off right on plan. Gu Liquid gel at mile 3, SiS Beta Electrolyte at 7.5, another SiS Beta and a quick bathroom stop at mile 10. I kept waiting for the downhill section I thought was coming but never felt it.
At mile 13, I felt really good and naturally picked up the pace. I worried it was too soon, but I also knew it was time for another gel. This is where everything changed.
I took a sip of the gel and immediately threw up. It came out of nowhere. I was not nauseous, nothing hurt, and I was completely caught off guard. I tried again and threw up again. I decided to stop forcing it and told myself I would see Shane at mile 14.
From that point on, I walked through every single aid station.
When I saw Shane, he handed me my handheld with Salty Carbs. I told him I had thrown up but before he could respond I was already past him. Had he had said it was ok to stop, I would have.
At the next aid station, I grabbed electrolytes and water and tried to sip again but threw up. Miles 14 through 17 were a mix of getting sick and trying to figure out what was going on.
At mile 17 I knew I had to take another gel or I’m not sure if I would finish the race. Unfortunately, I got sick again. I threw up a right in front of a cop car that I had thought was empty. Nope. Cop was sitting right in there. I said I’m so sorry you had to see that. He was cool and told me don’t worry, do what you need to do.
The sun came out, I was hot, I could not keep anything down, and I truly questioned whether I would finish. Somehow, on the out and back uphill section around mile 18, I felt strong. I do not know where it came from, but I was proud of myself for pushing through.
At mile 21 I knew I needed another gel. I stopped and walked while I slowly took the gel in. I got sick once, but was able to keep most of the gel down. This ended up being the last time I got sick on the course.
Then came the canal section. It had no shade, it was the hottest part of the race, and it was the longest stretch without water. I had given my handheld back to Shane at mile 22 which turned out to be a huge mistake. I was close to asking spectators for water because I was so thirsty.
I saw Shane at mile 24 and grabbed salt pills and water.
I have never felt so low in the final miles of a marathon. Normally I can kick it in, but my body had nothing left. Not being able to take in my planned fuel and losing what I did manage to get down took a toll. Despite no kick, I smiled the whole last mile. Despite so many doubts, I finished the race.
The course was not what I expected. I thought the early rollers would lead into a long downhill stretch to mile 17, but I never felt the downhill. The mile around 18 was expected, it was about three quarters of a mile up, then a steep down, then you turn around and up and down again. I did not mind it too much because the views were beautiful. I ended up feeling really strong at this point.
A major highlight was the cheering sections at every mile. DJs, music, a Mariachi band, and endless energy. The support was incredible.
When I look back on my Every Woman’s Marathon race, I feel proud. It was not the time I hoped for when I started training, but I did not give up on myself. Even when stopping felt easier and I was looking for the out from Shane, I kept moving forward. I fought for this finish, and that is what I will remember most.
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Hi, I'm Amy aka the Running Dietitian. An expert in all things running and nutrition.
