Keeping myself sane!!!

With the horrific tragedy earlier this week at the Boston Marathon, I felt some additional inspiration for my participation in this year’s Salt Lake City Marathon.  There was no doubt it would be a special event and a multitude of emotions would be emanating from the participants.  This held true, more than I had imagined.

I pulled my “Boston 2010” long sleeve tech shirt and windbreaker jacket out to be worn for the race, and then attached the yellow and blue ribbons which had been distributed at the packet pick up, to my bib number.  All the other usual pre race preparations were made, and Melissa and I headed out the door for the drive to Liberty Park.  I parked down a side street, bid her farewell, and briskly walked over to catch a bus that would take runners to the Trax Light Rail Station.

Upon arriving to the station, a representative for the Altra Shoe Company flagged runners down the platform for free yellow Tech shirts, with the message “Keep Running” on one side, and “Run for Boston, 4.15.13” on the other side.  It was a sincere and generous gesture on their part, and many runners slipped them on and could be seen throughout the race showing their support to Boston.  We all waited in the drizzling rain on the platform for our train.

The ride to the start line was crammed as usual, with runners filling every inch of available space.  What was not in the ordinary was a bomb squad coming aboard with their K-9’s in the next to last stop, to conduct a search, in assurance for everyone’s safety.   I’m certain that a majority of runners appreciated this precaution, and easily overlooked the minor inconvenience.

Alongside the starting area were some tents for runners to temporarily seek refuge from the wet conditions, keep warm, and pass the time.  One was set up with some tables where volunteers handed out wrist bands, one that said “I run for Boston,” and another that said “Boston Run Now 4.15.13.”  I grabbed one of each, and headed to a curb to shed a couple layers.  Another runner approached me and claimed he had met me at a previous ultra running event (One of which I had never run!)  I went along with it and struck up some casual conversation.  Shortly thereafter; a radio reporter (Cannot remember from which station) approached us and asked if we’d be interested in an interview.  We both nodded in agreement.  It was an honor to voice my thoughts on the race and the impact of the recent events in Boston.  I observed a runner being interview by Richard Piatt from KSL Channel 5. I couldn’t help but notice the runner’s single prosthetic leg.  It drew a close parallel to the many victims in Boston whom had lost limbs from the horrific bombing.  A sign of hope of moving forward was truly evident.  

In the final moments to the start, the race director called for a moment of silence and gave a few thoughts of the recent events. He then followed it up with the playing of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”  It has been used as an anthem song to Bostonians at Red Sox events.  Runners headed on to the course with the song fading behind us in the distance.

The first couple of miles were about finding a good rhythm, while avoiding being sucked into a pace beyond my overall goal.  I also had to ease into the race, as my bodily systems are a little slow in warming up and the perceived effort/actual effort correlation can be difficult to judge.  The rainy conditions appeared to be in my favor, and I knew the temperature would be just right.

Somewhere between miles 3 and 4, I found myself running with the 3:05 pace group, being led by a guy from Boulder Colorado.  It was relatively small, but lively with around 6-7 runners.   I decided to latch on and see how their speed felt.  If my respiration soared, I would fall back and work into my own groove.  My last Salt Lake City Marathon in 2011, yielded me with a finish time of 3:13:50, and I really didn’t know what my current level of fitness, and the day’s variables would bring.  I found the first 6 miles slightly challenging, as I was a little sluggish, and had some doubt on my energy reserves.  A majority of the course from miles 4-17 are on streets I run regularly in my weekly training, and mile 15 is only about a half mile from my house.  It was nice running in familiar territory.

I briefly chatted with an individual named Pete Peterson around mile 9, that I had made acquaintance with over the years in other running events.  He is one of the very few to be on the Salt Lake City Marathon 10 year alumni.  It turned out that he was using this race as a speed session of sorts prior to a 100 mile race out on the salt flats the following weekend.

I fell back from the 3:05 group, but had them in my sights and kind of yo-yoed until an aid station just before mile 14.  At this point, I watched the pacer’s balloon disappear into one of the port-o-potties.  I pulled into one myself, as I had maintained a little more than adequate hydration.  When I continued on, the pacer was nowhere to be seen.  About a half mile down the course, he pulled up alongside me.  I tried to strike up a little conversation, but found that he was not the talkative person he had been a few miles earlier.  He just wanted to maintain an even effort, and make up for a 30 second deficit.  I stayed with the pacer until mile 19, which had now become a pacing group of 2.

In an out and back section between 19 and 20, I could see the 3:05 pacer, and 3:10 pacer were a mere few seconds apart.  I really started to wonder if this guy from Colorado was struggling in his pacing duties.  My legs, respiration, and energy levels were still feeling fresh, so I made the choice to give the final miles the best push I had in me.  I saw my sister at mile 20, which became great moral support and a quick dose of energy.  A spectator then yelled out:  “You’re in 20^th place!” 

The final 10k was relatively uneventful, other than catching up with some half marathoners around mile 24, where the courses converged. It was a good feeling to pass runners that were tackling half the overall distance.  I had noticed early in the race that my Garmin was reading a slightly higher distance than the course markers, and that distance discrepancy grew as the race wore on.  By the time I hit mile 25, I was getting a reading of about .25 more.  I had to make sure that I maintained my speed, or even a little more, to see a finish of sub 3:05.

I hit the south end of Liberty Park, and was pleased to see Melissa waiting there and cheering me on.  After a quick right, then left, the finish line was straight ahead.  I made for a final sprint and crossed the line.  My final time was 3:04:10.  I had shaved off 9:40, but cannot make a direct comparison as the course had some significant changes from last time.  The race was a ton of fun, went beyond my expectations, and was a great way to roll in my 50th marathon.  It was a positive gauge to where my current level of fitness resides, and a nod to some potential pr’s in some races this year. 

Melissa and I stayed at the finish line for just over the next hour to watch other runners come through.  We mainly had the curiosity of seeing how the event would commemorate the clock time of 4:09:43, which is when the first bomb went off at the Boston Marathon.  It ended up being a moment of silence, which was surreal at the finish line of a marathon, the playing of “Sweet Caroline,” and a group of runners strategically finishing the race at that time, all wearing Boston Marathon clothing.

It is tragic that the acts of a few can create sadness and despair in the hearts of many, and in a matter of seconds.  It is however, reassuring that communities of people can come together, celebrate common bonds, find strength, and see that we will continue to live to run and run to live!