It's not quite what you think. PB in this case stands for personal best and the jam is more specifically the very important Gramma Stevenson's blueberry jam that I ate not only before every run while training over the last four months but again this morning - who knew that in a couple of hours it would help me achieve my personal best at the Saint John's (Half) Marathon by the Sea.
A 7am start...
didn't deter the best cheering squad I could ask for from showing up at the crack of dawn.
After a hug from Paige to calm my nerves ...
some help from Dad with a few pre-race details...
and one last touch for good luck...
we were off to the races.
As I started out, the words from Queen Bee were ringing in my head to keep my pace under control and not to get caught up in the excitement. As difficult as it was to let people pass me, I trusted her words that I would catch up to them on the second half after they started to burn out, which is exactly what happened.
At mile 5, I received a much-needed morale booster when I ran past Mom, Dad, Brad, Mary and Paige coming down Union Street. After tossing my gloves and taking in their encouragement, I had more energy than I could have ever imagined.
The last two miles were the hardest. The entire course was filled with steep hills, long elevations and quick drops but thanks to Lisa showing up beside me (in spirit anyway) reminding me to "keep my head up, shoulders back, long strides, don't forget to breathe," I managed to conquer them all. That is until the last hill at Mile 11. It was a biggie, but after a brief slow down I picked it up again. Looking down at my watch, I knew I was in the last mile.
Miley Cyrus' "the climb" came on my ipod and my eyes started to well up. I had dreamed of this for an entire year; the thought of having my family waiting for me at the finish line overwhelmed my senses. Even though I couldn't see or hear them, I could feel them waiting for me, anxiously watching each runner appear at the top of the hill, checking the time clock, looking back to the hill.
Starting the last mile, I passed a young girl who had given up the chase. On my way by I tugged on her shirt and said to her "come on...you've got this." She smiled and started to run again. A few minutes later, I too fell to the same fate. With only a 1/4 mile left, I had to slow to a walk but after just a few seconds, that same girl came up behind me, tugged me on the shirt and said "we're almost home." Cresting the last hill together we ran side by side to the finish line, bonded by a shared determination to finish. Seeing the crowd gathered at the bottom and hearing the cheers welcoming us home I opened up my gait, and gave 'er.
Finally after 13.1 miles, arriving 18 minutes faster than my previous (and first) half maraton in Halifax this past May...
I was rewarded with the best possible prize...hugs from Mom, Dad, Brad, Mary and Paige.
During the post-run celebrations I felt someone take my hand. Expecting to see Mary or Mom, I turned with a smile. To my surprise it was the young girl with whom I ran the last 1/4 mile. "Thanks," she said to me. "I would never have finished like that if it weren't for you." Thanking her too for paying it forward to me when I needed it, we shared a very brief but special moment.
Reflecting on it all now, I know that my performance that day won't be of which legends are made or stories inspired. It will go unnoted in the history of great marathon runs, but this day was a great day for me.
On this day, I ran stronger and faster than I ever have and I know without a doubt that it was because of three things...the support of my family, the support of my running mentors and a little bit of mom and dad's blueberry jam.
A 7am start...
didn't deter the best cheering squad I could ask for from showing up at the crack of dawn.
After a hug from Paige to calm my nerves ...
some help from Dad with a few pre-race details...
and one last touch for good luck...
we were off to the races.
As I started out, the words from Queen Bee were ringing in my head to keep my pace under control and not to get caught up in the excitement. As difficult as it was to let people pass me, I trusted her words that I would catch up to them on the second half after they started to burn out, which is exactly what happened.
At mile 5, I received a much-needed morale booster when I ran past Mom, Dad, Brad, Mary and Paige coming down Union Street. After tossing my gloves and taking in their encouragement, I had more energy than I could have ever imagined.
The last two miles were the hardest. The entire course was filled with steep hills, long elevations and quick drops but thanks to Lisa showing up beside me (in spirit anyway) reminding me to "keep my head up, shoulders back, long strides, don't forget to breathe," I managed to conquer them all. That is until the last hill at Mile 11. It was a biggie, but after a brief slow down I picked it up again. Looking down at my watch, I knew I was in the last mile.
Miley Cyrus' "the climb" came on my ipod and my eyes started to well up. I had dreamed of this for an entire year; the thought of having my family waiting for me at the finish line overwhelmed my senses. Even though I couldn't see or hear them, I could feel them waiting for me, anxiously watching each runner appear at the top of the hill, checking the time clock, looking back to the hill.
Starting the last mile, I passed a young girl who had given up the chase. On my way by I tugged on her shirt and said to her "come on...you've got this." She smiled and started to run again. A few minutes later, I too fell to the same fate. With only a 1/4 mile left, I had to slow to a walk but after just a few seconds, that same girl came up behind me, tugged me on the shirt and said "we're almost home." Cresting the last hill together we ran side by side to the finish line, bonded by a shared determination to finish. Seeing the crowd gathered at the bottom and hearing the cheers welcoming us home I opened up my gait, and gave 'er.
Finally after 13.1 miles, arriving 18 minutes faster than my previous (and first) half maraton in Halifax this past May...
I was rewarded with the best possible prize...hugs from Mom, Dad, Brad, Mary and Paige.
During the post-run celebrations I felt someone take my hand. Expecting to see Mary or Mom, I turned with a smile. To my surprise it was the young girl with whom I ran the last 1/4 mile. "Thanks," she said to me. "I would never have finished like that if it weren't for you." Thanking her too for paying it forward to me when I needed it, we shared a very brief but special moment.
Reflecting on it all now, I know that my performance that day won't be of which legends are made or stories inspired. It will go unnoted in the history of great marathon runs, but this day was a great day for me.
On this day, I ran stronger and faster than I ever have and I know without a doubt that it was because of three things...the support of my family, the support of my running mentors and a little bit of mom and dad's blueberry jam.
