Thoughts on the Run

05:20:55 – 26.2 miles

I was truly excited to step up to the starting line of this race. I knew the course and was confident I would reach the finish line. What I wasn’t thrilled about was my lack of training. However, you can only do so much with the time presented in front of you.

On the way to the starting line, I had a nice conversation with a 50 year old man named Jose. This was his 2nd marathon and as he put it: “I’m running this marathon as a gift to myself.” It’s an interesting gift to give yourself, but it’s also one that a large majority of the population could never imagine receiving (or wanting).

At the starting line I noticed another runner reading from a Bible. I think that’s when it hit me the accomplishment at hand. Many of us are always striving to be better and improve, but we also need to take the time to look at what we have done.

Once again I didn’t listen to music for a large part of the run. I turned the music on at mile 12 when I hit the first hill. I try to read into the songs that are randomly played because really, I don’t have a lot else to do.

At mile 18 I was on track to get my ideal time. My goal of coming in close to 4 hours. Then I was proven wrong.

Last year I bonked around mile 14. I was determined to make it past that and I did … to mile 17.5. Really not bad considering my longest run in the training was only 16 miles.

At mile 20 the damnedest thing happened. I was running along and my foot slid off the pavement and into the dirt. The problem was that my calf did not follow. I literally felt my calf muscle twist to the side of my leg! This locked up my right leg and made it pretty difficult to bend at the knee. I stopped to try and reposition the muscle (really???) and give it a short stretch. Off I hobbled along with 6.2 miles to go!

People talk about a wall when you run. You may think that’s just when you get tired or feel sick. As I learned last year, it’s the point where you body is yelling at you to stop moving and lay down. Last year this happened around mile 19. This year, it was mile 22. The great thing is that I know this passes, but unfortunately, I’m not patient enough. Eventually pushed through it.

Recovery went well … although I didn’t have time to really think about stretching, but I ate plenty to replace the calories and sugar. Made it home and was out the door with the kids to the store, then to make a cheesecake with them, back to the store, then made sloppy joes for dinner with them, and got the kids to bed. Then enjoyed wine and strawberry cheesecake with my wife 🙂

And that’s why I run.