Lucky, I finally finished the blog!!!
I am finally ready to write about my experiences at the 2009 "Spirit of Columbus" marathon last Sunday. Like I mentioned on my Face Book page, my time was 17 minutes over what my goal. While the majority of this falls on me and my lack of running my "long runs" during training, part of the problem falls on race logistics as well.
"Pre-Race Gitters" I woke up at 5:15am, got dressed and sat down on the toilet int he bathroom to eat my English muffin with peanut butter. I only ended up eating 1/2 of the muffin before I left to head to the shuttle area. I was a little shaky, but I attributed it to nerves and lack of sleep. I walked about 2 blocks to the shuttle pick up and caught the first shuttle to the starting line. The race was scheduled to start at 7:30am. Once we arrived at the starting point, I found a piece of grass and laid down to stretch out my back. Last year, back pain at mile 7 led to a horrific last 4 miles for both time and pain. I found the 2:30 pace group and hung out with them. I was hoping to finish a little faster than that, but it would be nice to actually pace with someone.
"Ready Set Go, wait how far have we run?" The race started on time and we headed out. There was a decent sized group running together. Our pace leader "Coy" was great, he told jokes and led us in a cadence every mile. He also kept us loose and relaxed. We were plugging along and noticed there were no signs for mile markers. A lady in the group was wearing her Garmin GPS so we had an idea of how far we had run.
"Water water everywhere - but none for you." We reached the first aid station and there was no one there. There were coolers and sleeves of cups, but nobody handing water out. My thought was, "OK, its early enough in the race I'll be OK missing a station." At the next station there were volunteers, but no water. The aid station at mile 4 actually hag "Heed" (an energy drink) but no water. Now we are getting to mile 5 with no water and again no water or volunteers. At mile 6 they were handing out power gels. I grabbed one and opened it, knowing that there would be water to wash it down. Nope, still no water. Finally at mile 7 we found real, plain, water. We walked through the station then picked the pace back up again. I was beginning to feel the effects of my scant breakfast and lack of water.
"Grinding to a Walk." I continued to keep with the pace group until about mile 8. I felt a tinge in my ankle as we changed surfaces. That is when my pace started to fall. At mile 9 I walked for about a 1/4 mile as the pace group ran off into the sun. I finished out he last part of nine at a gingerly jog. I walked through the water station at 10 and pushed about another 1/2 mile and then my body stopped. I was out of breath and a little light headed. My feet were only moving because of the momentum of my body and my sinuses were clogged up. From this point at alternated walking and running for the next 3 miles.
"Round 13 and headed for Home." As I came around the bend at mile 13 I saw Laurel and the kids. Like last year, the kids met me on the road and we finished the race together. I mustered up the strength to run the finish.
"I did this for What?!?" I crossed the finish line with the kids and headed to the reception area. I was not the last person on the course by any stretch, but I got 1 of the last medals. They also ran out of the race shirts and technical hats. So, on top of no water, bathrooms, etc. along the race course. They ran out of finisher's medals, shirts, hats, etc.
I am not sure whether to give this race another year - you know they say,"Three times a charm." But, I finished it and it is yet another step towards Wright Patterson in September.
I took the week after t he race off to recover. I ran last Saturday with Michaela (my oldest daughter). She is training for her first 5K at Wright Patterson in September. We did 2.6 miles and averaged a 10:05 pace. I ran my speed work today and averaged a 4:44 for 1/2 mile on my splits.
Talk at everyone soon!
In Him,
Romans 8:31
