Race Day: It took me a few minutes to find the start line after I was dropped off at 5am. I may or may not have followed a couple of runners into a hotel because I thought they were going to the starting line, but I eventually made it to where I needed to be. Most of the time I do not warm up or stretch before starting a race. I figured the walk/jog to the starting line is sufficient enough.

When I arrived to the starting line, I could tell there were many more half marathon runners than full marathon runners. (There were 6818 half marathoners and 1551 full marathoners.) The full marathon started at 5:30am, whereas the half marathon began at 6:15am. As I made my way to the starting line, many of the half marathoners were deboarding the bus. Many of the marathoners were already lined up at the starting line. Since I knew it was going to be a slow race, I made my way to the back of the pack and found the 5:30 pacers.

I'm not exactly sure what I was thinking as I lined up with the 5:30 pacers... hopeful? delirious? insane? I ran a 6 hour marathon at the California International Marathon in 2017 and to do so I ran intervals of walk two minutes, run one minute. I thought the 5:30 pacers would maybe do intervals as well, but I was mistaken. Within the first few miles, I fell back behind the 5:30 pacers.

Off and on throughout the race, I texted my mom and husband to update them on my progress. At first, I had told them that I would finish at 11:30am (six hours from the start). At about mile 18, I informed them that I would be finishing closer to noon based upon my pace. I was so happy to see the two of them and my baby at the finish line when I finally finished!

This marathon was the first race in which I had serious thoughts on calling it quits. I was in a lot of pain due to a giant blister on the bottom of my right foot and several blisters forming on my heels (not to mention that nearly every muscle in my body was screaming at me). What made me continue forward was the fear of letting people down. I am not a quitter and didn't want others to think of me as such. Also, I have never dropped out of a race before and did not want to start now. I was physically able to continue, so step by step I continued on to the finish line.

The second half of a marathon is always hardest for me. You would think that I'd be happy that I am over halfway finished, but that is usually not the case. The excitement of starting the race has diminished and the reality that I still have 10+ miles to go hits me.

The OC Marathon was especially difficult in the second half. The half marathon runners had already split from the group and the course no longer had scenic views. Instead, the second half of the marathon course takes runners through neighborhoods and a river trail.

The race website states, "Marathoners continue into the heart of Orange County, Costa Mesa, passing by the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, around South Coast Plaza, and through the campus of Segerstrom High School. One more mile in Santa Ana before turning onto the Santa Ana River Trail for 1.5 miles before exiting at Gisler foot-bridge. Also new this year, runners will go through beautiful Mesa Verde neighborhoods and then the "Bird Streets", providing you with that much-needed support on the home stretch towards the OC Fair & Event Center."

At first, I didn't want to feel proud of my finish. It was so slow. BUT you know what? I AM proud. I completed a marathon, my 17th, just five months after delivering my baby. No matter how slow, I moved 26.2 miles. When I first finished my mom asked, "Are you glad you did the marathon?"

I replied, "Ask me in a couple of days." I wasn't ready yet to be glad I had completed the marathon. I was in too much pain. By Wednesday, however, I was running again and ready to sign up for my next race.

Overall, I'd recommend the OC Marathon.

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