Worst Race EVER!!!

SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!  I ran another marathon on a day with record-setting high temps?!?!?!  How is this possible?  Within a year, I ran two races in way above average temperatures.  Stuff like this makes me want to leave all this behind.  What is the point of all those miles?  Running in a blizzard?  Running in ten inches of snow?  20-miler Sundays?  Why?  If it all it takes is one day with wretched weather to erase all that training, why even go for another one?

That is how I felt Sunday after getting my first DNF at the St. Louis marathon.

The day set up almost exactly like Chicago, but I was determined not to let it get to me.  I had a pacing plan and felt strong and steady for the first miles.  And then--just like Chicago--the heat hit me like a ton of bricks!  

At the aid station at mile eight, I tried to take a GU.  Weird thing was that I couldn't swallow it.  I spit it out, forced down a cup of water, and kept going.  A little further into mile eight, I--without warning--threw up while running.  Sorry to be gross, but it just came out.  I got a little worried, but hoped whatever was going on was over and kept going.  

It wasn't over.  Soon after the surprise vomit, I stopped and threw up a watery GU mess.  I kept going and contemplated turning with the half-marathon runners.  Silly me, I thought that would be quitting, and kept going.

At mile eleven, a runner asked if I was alright.  I said yes, but obviously was not.  He ran to a park ranger car and I saw him point at me.  The ranger then turn on her lights and motioned me over.  At this point I was dizzy, nauseas, headachy, and had stopped sweating.  Needless-to-say, I went to the car.  

The ranger pumped up the air, forced me to drink water, and asked me a lot of questions while I cried, waiting for the medic to arrive.  After being in the car for a bit, I started sweating again and felt a bit better--Physically.

Mentally, I felt like a failure.  How could I drop out?  That is just not something I do.  Sure Chicago sucked, but at least I hung in there and finished.  At this point, I swore off marathoning.  Screw it!  What a waste!!!

I didn't want to blog or talk about it...

A few days have passed since the "race,"  and I have decided not to swear of running.  I am going to try to take the lessons here and move on--just not to Boston.  I don't know the lessons yet, but I know I am not supposed to quit. 

This weekend is the Oz Marathon in Olathe, KS--one of the two options I chose from for my spring race (looks I messed up that one).  The temps are expected to be in the low 50's...damn.

Wise or not, I have decided to run the half in Olathe this weekend.  I just want to finish.  I don't care about a PR--I just need to go enjoy a race.

Have you ever had a horrible race experience a couple times in a row?  How did you bounce back?