The Good, the Bad, the Ugly and the Ridiculous - BMO Vancouver Marathon Edition

The Good:

I've had enough time to reflect now to realize there was some good in that race:

• As many of you have reminded me, I finished a marathon!  Nothing too shabby about that.
• It was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day! 
• I had LOTS of support along the course.  How awesome is it that my aunt and uncle came all the way from Toronto for the race?!
• Lots of crowd support for most of the course

• The volunteers were plentiful and wonderful.  It was not their fault that they ran out of everything though I'm sure they took lots of flack for it.
• After using plastic cups last year at a race that advertises being water bottle free, compostable paper cups were used this year (at the stations where they were still available when I went through).
• Running a race with 7 others from my running group meant there were a lot of familiar faces on the course for extra encouragement
• I recovered well, and was out for a run by Wednesday, feeling strong.
• Despite the pain in my hip and stomach issues for most of the race, I was able to tune this out for sections of the course, especially the final couple of kilometers where I finished strong.
• Aside from the hip and stomach issues, the battle in the last 10K was more of a mental one than a physical one.  I was mentally exhausted, but my legs were actually feeling pretty good.
• I got some great photos

 The Bad:

• Course organization:  They ran out of water cups.
• Course organization, part 2:  They ran out of Gu at the two stations where the half and the full passed through, but had TONS at the later stations where only the full went through.
• My stomach issues and a lack of honey buckets along the route.
• My hip (which miraculously feels FINE now)
• Thinking I was at the final turnaround before I was ACTUALLY at the final turn around was a big mental hump.
• I shutdown when I realized I wasn't going to make 4:30. 
• My time.  I'm still disappointed.

The Ugly:

• I got a sunburn! 
• Not all of my photos were good:

Sleeping while running?

Is that a smile or a grimace?

The Ridiculous:

• The woman who was "running" near me at the beginning of the race.  She was also dancing and occasionally galloping and sprinting along the course, all while continuously and passionately yelling, "Praise Jesus!  Praise Him, Hallelujah!" and, "Lord take the pain away!  Blessed Lord, take away the pain!  Praise the Lord!"  I lost track of her after she stopped for a toilet stop around km 8, I wonder if she kept that energy going through the whole race?!
• The guy (within the first 100 runners at the start) in a purple fleecy Care Bear blanket outfit, complete with skirt and tank top.  Wonder if he lost a bet or if he's a good dad to a creative little one?
• This guy:

Overall, I don't think I'll run this event again.  I was disappointed at the half last year too by the poor organization for gear drop-off, signage, and finding the snacks at the end of the race (though this was better this year).  I will be writing the race organizers with my feedback (again).