Jennifer West, a friend in our Watertown Area Running Club, ran her first marathon yesterday in Brookings. It was really pretty good weather for this, but humid. Many of us from the run club came to Brookings to both cheer her on, and run with her. Sarah, Megan, Leeann, and I ran the marathon relay so we could help push Jenn from start to finish. The joy on her face made everything all worthwhile afterwards. Until you have done one, you have no idea how much it takes to get ready for one of these, and then also the day of. It is a grueling test of both physical and mental stamina. Let me show you how the morning played out.
For those of us who went, even if we did not run, were there cheering for her, and helping her get ready. All of us helped with her preparation the months leading up to this day to help her keep up with her long runs. Many others of us who ran with her in preparation, could not all be there in Brookings. But, WARC–Watertown Area Running Club–sticks together, and offer help in anyway we can.
We are just yacking prior to getting ready for the start. Jenn and the rest of the McElroy’s came down and were cheering from start to finish! Jenn was driving everywhere along the course! Their two girls, Kate and Grace, were whooping it up good, shaking the cowbells, and screaming “good job Jenn!”
Jenn was all smiles before getting ready to enter the start area. Everybody had to wear a mask as they entered, and the runners all had to start with the mask until things spaced out with the runners. They had capped the field of entries significantly this year due to COVID.
Megan started out the first leg with her, 4 miles to the first exchange site. She picked up another section of the marathon later on as well. It was a little chilly to start with, but did not take long to warm up.
Then Sarah took over at mile 4, and ran with her until mile 12. She had the longest segment with her. I have to laugh at this one, as Megan kind of high fived her for the exchange, and Sarah turns around, and Jenn is going, and “sprints” to catch up to her. “Wait for me!”
Leeann took over at mile 12 to mile 17, and then Megan came back in until mile 20. They were on a steady pace, but mile 20 is when the marathon really starts getting tough…not only physically, but mentally.
I then ran with her from mile 20 to the finish, another 6.2 miles, to complete 26.2 miles. Here we are coming down the final 100 meters and she is picking it up to the finish line! They called out her name over the loud speaker, and announced this was her first marathon! Nothing can describe that feeling when you cross the finish line. Joy…exhaustion…relief! Her time was 4 hours and 25 minutes!
Here is Greg, and his girlfriend Laura. He also ran the marathon, not his first, but his best one, beating his last time by over 15 minutes. He came in at 3 hours 17 minutes. And also in this picture is Owen McElroy, and his girls, Kate and Grace, who win the award for loudest cheerleaders!!!
Post race picture with Jenn and her husband Randy, who followed her in the vehicle throughout the race. The person running the marathon puts in a lot of work, and time, but the spouse does a lot of extra things as well to help keep everything else going at home while you are training. It is very time consuming. You cannot train for a marathon without a very supportive spouse. So we have all happily told Randy we will do the same for him when he runs a marathon! (We don’t have to worry too much on this one, but…never say never!)
Jill made some signs for the day. This one says it all. We are WARC strong. Jenn accomplished her goal of completing a marathon, but the group/team was there through the training, and the race. That is what we do! It may not always work out that many of us can be there for the actual day, but we sure try our best to help out along the way. Most of us have all done one, and we know the commitment it takes to do this, and we are more than willing to help. Come join us sometime. You don’t have to run a marathon to be a part of it. You just need to like to run. The rest is up to you! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of New Streak: #532
