OK - I am going to write this up a third time and hopefully save it this time!
Well, I finished the Ogden marathon and it was a very cool experience. As an aging beginner, I had no idea how this would go. Most of the insight for my training came from Jeff (jtshad) and reading runner experiences on the fastrunning blogs. My original goal was to finish in 3:40, so I was pleased with a 3:32.
The day before the marathon was typical for us (though it would be a very unpleasant day for wiser people who have no children and avoid their relatives). Between work issues and a very sick teenager we were quite late getting on the road, I was not sure we could even go. My wife was still undecided about leaving a sick kid as we drove away. Apparently, she made the right decision because as soon as parental oversight was gone my kid made a miraculous, though temporary, recovery and went out with friends that evening.
We arrived at the expo shortly before it ended and then went on to our hotel in Layton. My aunt, who is in her 70’s, joined us for a late dinner at Chili’s and headed home sometime after 11:00. I lose track of time here, but my aunt got lost trying to get to the freeway (a couple of blocks away) and drove all over Layton and Ogden before ending up back at Chili’s in a total state of melt-down. The waitress called us at the hotel for help and I found myself leading her to the freeway at midnight. After getting a call that she made it home, I actually went to bed around 1AM with a spinning head. When the alarm went off at 3:45, I was not a particularly motivated runner.
I met up with Jeff at the busses and met several of the talented runners in the blue team jackets before the start. The morning was in the 40’s with light breezes- very nice for running. I started at the 8:00 pace sign and had the following times:
1) 8:34 Very hard to get around slower runners, but I wanted a slow start.
2) 7:55 Still passing a lot of slower folks. Maybe I should have gone to the 7:00 pace line.
3) 7:40 Finally started breaking out of the crowd. My stomach, which had been bothering me for days, started to feel wrong.
4) 7:44
5) 8:22 I began to get cramps and made a quick stop at a porta john.
6) 7:39 Now a little behind my pace (In a fit of optimism, I had made a 3:29 paceband), I picked it up just a bit.
7) 7:39
8) 7:51 Back on pace and enjoying the scenery.
9) 7:59
10) 8:07
11) 8:00 I believe this is where the bonehead towing a boat plowed right up the lane we were all running in forcing everyone out of his way. The other lane was open and clear. I guess he didn’t notice us.
12) 8:03 Started chatting with a fellow that was running his 55th marathon. He explained that in all those marathons, there had only been a few times he did not “hit the wall.” He also noted that if he made it past mile 20 before this situation occurred; the end result was much better. If he had realized what a simple and gullible mind he was dealing with, I am sure he would not have given out this tidbit. But of course, I begin to obsess over hitting the wall and wondering what mile it will get me.
13) 8:06 The cramping, which had never gone away, gets worse.
14) 12:03 OK this is it! I got to the starting point for the half marathon and dove into one of the porta johns. I was in there way too long which drove me crazy. At least the live music was nice - too bad I could only hear them. Was that Marshall Tucker?
15) 8:27 Moving kind of slow and then headed up the hill. Passed the 55 marathon man but just said good luck and moved on. No wall yet buddy.
16) 7:59 Actually feeling better now, I started recognizing runners that I passed earlier – the girls in the sisters shirts, the guy with a balloon and a guy doing a walk/run technique that seemed to work really well. I checked the pace band and noted that I was 6 minutes behind.
17) 7:59
18) 7:40 At about 18.5 miles, I realized that I felt pretty good, was not drastically tired and had not hit any walls. Decided to try making up a couple of the lost minutes on the downhill through this nice canyon.
19) 7:33
20) 7:56
21) 7:53
22) 7:31
23) 6:52 This part is steep and pretty. I was surprised to go sub 7. Stopped taking water.
24) 7:37 Went on to the river walk and began to dodge walkers. Starting to feel tired.
25) 7:59 Began to really feel the miles and general fatigue and wondered why I was doing this.
26) 7:44 At a little before mile 26, I was beat and desperately looking down the road for the finish banner but could not see it. Oh yeah – marathons are 26.2 miles. This was not a happy revelation.
.2) Time unknown I Finally could see the banner and forced myself on. I was rejuvenated when I saw Jeff (Clydesdale running) and Maria cheering me on and started searching the crowd for my wife. Ironically, my family was standing right next to the finish line, but must have been distracted for a moment and missed my arrival. By the time we found each other they thought I had been hauled to the hospital.
As soon as I sat down in the park, my legs turned to stone. This proved to be a problem when I had to live up to an earlier promise to run with my 8 yr old in the kids k race. Trying to keep my son in sight, I soon realized I was running like Jerry Lewis in a bad movie. I gave up and walked.
It is now several days later and my legs feel fine. I am emphasizing the good parts over the painful ones and feel some frustration that I could have qualified for Boston if I had finished 90 seconds sooner. I think I might have to run another one. | 