(Almost) last Marathoner Shares Story from the Austin marathon

This is a very inspirational article I found on my friend's blog. It is from austin360.com.

Lara Newcomer wasn’t the first across the finish line of the Austin Marathon last weekend. She wasn’t the 100th or the 1,000th or even the 4,000th.She was one of the last people to officially cross the finish line, and she did it with the help of her husband, other people in the race and a whole lot of folks who saw her go by and reached out to offer encouragement. It took her 7 hours and 20 minutes. Here is her story. Thanks for sharing, Lara. And congratulations!

“Last Sunday’s marathon wasn’t my first, but it was certainly my hardest. About a month ago I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, which makes walking very painful at times. I stopped training and started treatments to try to let things heal up a little, but was still struggling with it. Then a week before the marathon I came down with the flu. I spent Monday and Tuesday in bed coughing and wheezing, with my fever hovering between 100 and 103.


My parents tried to talk me out of doing the marathon. But, I’ve been doing the Distance Challenge, a series of six races that started in October and totals almost 100 miles. The Austin Marathon was the last race in the challenge and if I didn’t do it, I wouldn’t get any credit for the Distance Challenge at all. So, I decided to give the marathon my best shot.


I knew when I got up Sunday morning that I wasn’t 100%, but I thought I had enough in me to do the marathon. I met up with my training partner, Shae, and two of her friends at the starting line. It all started pretty well —- I thought it was a good omen that there was a guy playing the cowbell on the Congress Avenue Bridge. It only took about three miles before I realized that my body was not going to let me keep up with the pace Shae and her friends were setting. Shae realized this and sent her friends on ahead. We slowed down a little, but I could tell that the pace was still just too fast for my poor recovering body.

By mile 8, I had decided to send Shae on ahead. I really thought I was done. I had texted Adam, my husband, that my body just couldn’t keep the pace and that I was going to quit. Shae said she’d stay with me until mile 10 because that’s where our husbands were. At mile 10, she went on ahead, but I decided that I had nothing to lose. So, I told Adam that I was just going to keep walking until I couldn’t walk anymore.

A lovely woman named Marissa had overheard me talking to Shae and to Adam and she was walking about my pace (very slow) and decided to walk with me — we decided that we would help and encourage each other. I don’t know her last name or where she’s from, but she walked with me from mile 10 until mile 23 and was a great encouragement.

By mile 13 my feet were killing me. Each step was painful and my knees were beginning to hurt because of the way I was compensating for the pain in my feet. A woman I don’t even know looked at me and told me she could tell by my face that I was dehydrated. And then my dear friend Edgar rode up on his bike. He just happened to be riding first aid and gave me a bottle of water with electrolytes and some of his wife’s “magic” pierogies. Thank God for Edgar and the water and pierogies! It was like someone flipped a switch and I suddenly had more energy and I was pretty confident that I was going to make it.

By mile 17 I wasn’t so confident anymore….the police car and official race vehicles had been right behind us since mile 15…..I knew I was the very end of the line. Everything below my hips was hurting and I really thought that something was going to seize up and I just wouldn’t be able to walk anymore. But, Edgar showed up again at mile 17 with more water and pierogies and my switch flipped again and I kept on walking.


At mile 20, I thought— heck, 6 more miles?! That’s just a 10K — I can do that in my sleep! My pace picked up a little and I really felt confident. Marissa was starting to slow down and I did all I could to encourage her.

Mile 23 nearly did me in. At that point a motorcycle policeman rode up next to us and told us that we needed to pick up the pace and catch up with the ladies in front of us or we’d have to move out of the street and on to the sidewalk and would probably not get credit for the race.

Well, I nearly quit right then —- I knew my body didn’t have enough left to catch up to those women. Marissa tried to encourage me, and she found some sort of inner reserve and powered right past those women in front of us. I picked up my pace, but I couldn’t breathe and my body felt so weak. I just wanted to sit down on the curb and give up.

Adam had met me at several different spots on the course to encourage me and see how I was doing and if I needed anything. He showed up again just past mile 23. I was ready to quit, but he hopped out of the truck and started walking with me. He just wouldn’t let me stop.


Then Edgar showed up on his bike again. And there we went —- Edgar on my left, and Adam on my right (in his blue jeans and work boots). Every time I wanted to quit (which was pretty often), they talked me out of it. Edgar coached me through the hills and helped me catch a breath when I was having trouble. Every time Adam saw spectators he shouted, “You know what we have here? A marathon finisher!!! We’ve got a finisher here!!” or “You know what I see? I see a woman who looked inside for some quit but couldn’t find any!!”


There was a police woman at 23rd and Guadalupe who reminded me that pain is just weakness leaving the body. And another police woman at 20th and Guadalupe who shooed pedestrians out of the crosswalk so I didn’t have to break my stride (slow as it was). The motorcycle officers on MLK began cheering with Adam as I made my way down the hill. And then I had less than a mile to go. My body wanted to quit so badly, but I was so close.

When there were 200 meters left, a race official with a walkie talkie approached me — I was sure he was going to tell me that I was too late, they’d already closed the race. But, he held out his hand and said, “Lara, I’m the race organizer and it’s my honor to escort you across the finish line.” I burst into tears — and Adam did, too.

I turned the corner on to Congress Avenue and Adam shouted again, “Do you know what I see?

I see a woman who looked inside for some quit and couldn’t find any!” And the DPS trooper standing there looked at me and said, “That’s the kind of determination we need. You should be on the force!” Adam clapped his hands, looked at me and said, “I am more proud of you than I have been in the 18 years I’ve known you. I’ve seen you do some remarkable things, but I have never seen anyone with such determination, will power and grit. You made a conscious decision all day long to keep at this and you never gave up.”

I cried, he cried … and stepped away from me, for the first time since mile 23 … so that I could have the finish line to myself. I felt like a celebrity — there were photographers and race officials and people cheering. Once I crossed the finish line, the race organizer put the medal around my neck and we had a photo op (guess there are some advantages to being last) and the workers started tearing down the finish line.

I want to thank the police officers who spent all day sitting at intersections to keep my slow butt safe. And a special thank you to those who were so encouraging to me. I also want to thank the families who stayed out in their front yards for hours to cheer on even the slowest marathoners (especially those at Rutgers Avenue and those on Avenue H). Fellow marathoners Marissa and Walt were incredible inspirations to me — I wish I knew how to contact them and thank them. And I just can’t thank Edgar and Adam enough — without them, I’m fairly certain that I’d have just sat down on the curb at 24th and Guadalupe and given up.


It took me 7 hours and 20 minutes to complete the marathon. I was the last “official” finisher. But, I did it — I conquered my weakness and my doubt and I accomplished my goal. It was an epic journey — and one I’m glad is over — but I will never forget the feeling of confidence from finishing what I set out to do.”

February 21 ,2009

Time: 6:00AM
Duration: ~??
Location: long run up north

Sport: Running
Workout: Soulbuster #1 - 16 miles of hills plus 4 miles at MGP (marathon goal pace)
Distance: 12.6 Miles
Weather: Good
People: Team Rogue

I still wasn't feeling 100%. I was at about 70%. I feel like I am on the verge of getting sick. The achyness, sore throat, sniffles, etc. I was planning on canceling the run but I had made plans with Andrea. So I sucked it up and went. By mile 2.5 I was ready to turn around. But Andrea said that maybe we would feel better after a few more miles. We kept going till we got to the next waterstop. I thought "Hey this isn't so bad." Then as soon as we hit Mt. Bonnell I was ready to call it a day. But we were so close to finishing. So we just kept going, hill after hill after hill. I swear every street name had the word mountain or hill or valley in it. Let me say it was the longest 12ish miles of my entire life. I didn't say good bye to anyone just hoped in my car and headed home to shower and sleep. I didn't want to be talked into doing any additional miles. Taking Sunday and Monday off to recover from whatever I have.

Thanks Andrea for the great company and talks. I really enjoyed. I wouldn't have made it near that far if it wasn't for you.

February 19,2009

Time: 5:30AM
Duration: ~1:10:00
Location: LAB/Enfield Loop and AHS track

Sport: Running
Workout: 3 mile w/p, 4 miles at tempo, 4 X 200m at 5k pace w/200m recovery, 3 mile c/d
Distance: 9.75 miles
Weather: Awesome
People: Team Rogue

I was just flat out tired. From working long hours at the office, to the marathon less than a week ago, running 10 on Tuesday, and whatever is going on with my stomach. And to top it off I am also having pain in my tibia where my stress fracture was back in October. It just wasn't my day. I tried to shorten the workout but only managed to cut off 1 mile. I pushed as hard as I could but my legs wouldn't move. I ran the cool-down with Roger who is also kind of taking it easy because of his injury.

February 17,2009

Time: 5:30AM
Duration: ~1:20:00
Location: South Austin Ramble

Sport: Running
Workout: Easy 10 miles
Distance: 10 Miles
Weather: Awesome
People: Team Rogue

I wasn't sure how my legs were going to feel after having run a marathon less than 48 hours ago. They were pretty tight at the beginning but on the way back they felt much much better. Sadie and I took it back nice and easy. We had some good girl talk and it was nice getting to chat with her one on one. I didn't think I was going to make the whole 10 miles, but I did and it felt great and having her a company made the miles fly by.

Austin Marathon 2009 - February 15, 2009

Time: 7:00AM
Duration: ~4:45:00 minutes
Location: Austin

Sport: Running
Workout: Marathon
Distance: 26.2 Miles
Weather: Nice, but got really hot toward the end
People: Only 4,000 other people


Before the Race - My originally plan was to have Tim take to to the race but since he was up late the night before I just let him sleep and drove myself. I was worried that I was running late, but luckily I found a pretty good parking place and headed to the start line. I didn't see anyone I knew so I just gathered my stuff together and went to the bathroom a couple of times. Something was making my tummy feel upset. Didn't know if it was something I ate or more. I checked in my bag then lined myself up with the 4:30 pace group. I figured this would be a good start that for the 1st part of the hills.

During the race - I tried to pace myself for the 1st several miles but could never get into a rhythm so I just did what my body told me without pushing too much. I saw my dad at mile 3 and handed off my jacket. I was so happy to see him. I was finally able to get into a groove by mile 6. The miles started off clicking pretty fast. Before I knew it I was to mile 13. Then that is when my tummy took a turn for the worst. I tried to ignore it but by the time I hit 15 I couldn't. Matt was nice enough to join me a mile 15 and run a few miles with me. He lifted my spirits and kept my mind off my stomach. But things just got worse. I had to make a pit stop around mile 17. I was in the bathroom for about 10 minutes but after was feeling alittle better. Saw my dad again and waved a big wave and smiled. Matt then left me around mile 18.5. We said our good-byes and I was off again. I figured if I got to mile 20, then I was going to make it. The miles then started coming slower and slower. I was ready to be done. I did start to pick it up again after I hit mile 22. My energy was just zapped. I had nothing left in me. Saw dad 1 one time and he looked alittle concerned but I wasn't going to let this race beat me. I was more determined than ever to kick it's butt. I put on my game face and got going. Mile 25, I saw my husband. He ran with me for alittle bit and said keep going, you are almost there. And that is what I did. I was determined not to let anyone pass me past mile 23 and I didn't.

I wasn't happy with my time, but minus the potty breaks and helping a poor girl throwing up on the side of the road at mile 21 added up to about 15 plus minutes so I am okay with my time. I am happy I just survived and made it to the finish line with a smile on my face. Also by the end of the race my garmin said 26.52 miles.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

This was at my desk on Friday when I got to work. The beautiful roses are from Mom and Dad. The Tiff's Treats, which are my favorite are from my husband. He has finally learned that a full tummy equals a happy Stephanie!! Tim this year is lucky to get out of Valentine's Day. Since I am racing the marathon tomorrow, that means I can't really do much this weekend expect relax and save my engery for Sunday. This also includes my usually carb loading meal, so no going out to eat. Looks like we are just going to stay home and cook tonight. Having an early dinner and maybe watch a movie that way I get get to bed before 9pm.

Austin Marathon 2009!!

This weekend I am planning on running the Austin Marathon. I am not "racing" it. I was originally planning on running a 4:15 or so but after having a bad week mentally and physically that has changed to 4:30. I just don't think my body is up to anything faster and I am not going to risk injuring myself. My friend Matt is going to meet me around mile 15 so that should be lots of fun to run with with him. I also have alot of running buddies running as well, so hopefully I will see them out on the course. I am just out there to have fun and enjoy it. My co-coach, Korrie, for the Texas Round Up is pacing the 5:00 group. I told her that as much as I like her, I better not see her. And if I do see her, she better drag me to the finish line. Now off to pick up my packet and head home to get some rest.

Happy 30th Birthday Vanessa!!

Can't wait to celebrate with you tonight!! Happy Birthday!!

Love,

Tim and Steph

Picture.. Vanessa, Me, and my sister, Judi

February 11, 2009

Time: 6:45PM
Duration: ~60 minutes
Location: Gold's Gym

Sport: Weight Training
Workout: Body Pump
Distance: N/A
Weather: N/A
People: Vanessa

I decided to take my cousin to my favorite class in the entire world. I love this class but I also love my instructor even better. I hadn't been in awhile so I have a feeling I am going to be sore the next few days. I hope she had a great time and decides to come back to that class.

February 7,2009

Time: 6:15AM
Duration: ~?
Location: A-R-T

Sport: Running
Workout: Long Easy 14 Miles
Distance: 13 Miles
Weather: Good - but windy
People: Dee

Dee and I decided to do a flat easy run instead of the hilly one that we were assigned. She is racing Austin next weekend and I am doing Austin as my long run. I am alittle nervous. This is my 1st long run since I got injured. We both wanted to save our legs for next weekend. On Friday we brain-stormed which route we wanted to run then I suggested just start at ART, that way we could some of our water stops that were set out for us, see our fellow Team Rogue members, and it wasn't likely we would get lost. We know that area pretty well. We had some good girl talk and I was very glad we made that choice to run that route. The 14 miles went by pretty quickly but that wind is going to be a killer. Hopefully it won't be windy for the marathon.