26.2 is HARRRDDDD!!!!!
I can officially now say
that. I can also officially now say that, unbelievably, I am a marathoner. It
has been a long time since I have been proud of a personal accomplishment but I
am indeed quite proud and happy about this.
But first . . the race.
We arrived in Richmond
after a beautiful drive down, of all places I-95. The Maryland
and Virginia foliage was a couple weeks behind
Pennsylvania
and quite peaked on our way here. The weather was perfect and remained perfect
throughout the weekend. We drove to the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sport Complex and to
the expo. I picked up my bib and packet from the Runner’s World Challenge booth
where I met Jen Van Allen (who is now probably one of my favorite people ever)
and several other contributors to RW. I arrogantly believed I could make a 3:30
in my first marathon and hit the Customer Service desk to move my Corral from 2
to 1. That was easy enough. Then I did some shopping including picking up a signed
copy of “My Life on the Run” from Bart Yasso and spending a few minutes talking
to him.
Then it was on to the
Omni Hotel for check-in. I was surprised how far the hotel was from the expo.
At 4:00pm, the RW Challengers got a two hour strategy session/entertainment
from the RW crew including some stories from Bart about Comrades. Certainly
something I am even more in amazement of now. After the strategy session, a
bunch of RW Challengers headed off for our pre-race dinner at a local eatery.
Race day dawned cool and
beautiful. 36 degrees. A little too cool to stand around outside but this is
where the RW Challenge REALLY paid dividends. They had rented the National
Theatre right by the start. (Literally.) We had warmth, food, coffee, and
bathrooms! It was awesome. We sat and ate, and talked and saw the
half-marathoners off. Then we got a picture of the first-time marathoners
(including me). Gotta see if I can get a copy of that. After another pep talk
from Jen and Bart we all headed for the corrals. I shuffled my way, confidently,
to corral 1 and the 3:30 pace group. I hooked up with a couple guys I would run
most of the first half with just by dumb luck.
At the start I was
supremely confident and excited. I KNEW I could do 3:30. Our pacer did a great
job for the first 6 miles staying in the range of 7:57 to 8:02. Perfect. 10K
split was 50 minutes. I had not had a chance (due to my own stupidity) to
fool with the regular powerade they had on the course. All of my long runs had
been done with Gels & water so that is what my fueling plan was. I took one
gel to consume at mile 7 and then there were gels on the course at mile 14, and
21. Beginning mile 7, our pacer started getting a bit fast. 7:31. Hmmm. Mile 8,
low 7:40s. Okay maybe my pace just seemed fast because I’d play catch-up after
the water stop. But the paces remained 20-30 seconds fast through my 14. (Revised:
After checking splits the pacer was pretty darn close to perfect. Must have
just been me).
But at mile 14 disaster
started. I don’t know how, but I MISSED the gels. I expected them to be on or
near the tables. Later I learned they were being handed out before the water
stops (a hundred feet or so). In the chaos of the water stop I had missed them.
That can’t be good.
On we went. Mile 16 was
the famous Lee bridge that is supposed to be the beginning of the Wall for
most. It isn’t steep (actually completely flat) but is supposed to be windy. It
was not all that bad though I did note the name of the last road we passed
before heading on to the bridge was “Stonewall
Avenue”. Throughout the course, there were members
of “The Marathon Training Team”. They were simply there to help out the
runners. I was planning on grabbing Powerade at mile 18 but at 17 I was already
beginning to feel the lack of fuel. This was bad. Effectively, I was 17 miles
in on one gel and water. Thankfully, one of the Training Team members had gels
and I grabbed one. . . but it was too late. The wheels were coming off. Between
getting behind in electrolytes and fuel I started getting a bit light-headed and
crampy and had to walk a good portion of mile 18. This part of the course is
the most desolate. A few people were out but not like the warmer confines of
the city or the scenic beauty of the river. It was demoralizing to say the
least to know I had been reduced to a walk and for the first time EVER as a
runner was having to deal with cramps. Thoughts of just quitting were rampant.
I had hit the wall and the wall had fallen on top of me.
Then I saw mile 19. And
I got another gel from another training team member. I started running again a
little at a time. Starting mile 20 there were aid stations every mile. At each
one I grabbed water and powerade and more gels. I stopped once or twice to
stretch.
The walk breaks became
shorter. I didn’t like them but it was either that or don’t finish. And I WAS
GOING to finish. The 3:45 group passed. But I saw several other runners from
the 3:30 pace group floundering as well. By mile 23 I was beginning to feel
like the fueling was catching up. I was pumping in water & powerade and
gels at each opportunity. Part way through mile 23 I began running for good
again. I knew I really only had to make 25.7 and then it was a LONG downhill. I
realized I could still break 4 hours and, you know, that isn’t that bad. At
mile 24 I knew I’d be fine. That last 2.2 HURT. But the cramps were at bay, I
was passing people again and cruising along around 8:45. Then I crested the
hill on Cary St.
and saw the finish line and the long lines of cheering fans and Bart Yasso
jumping around like a madman just across the line. What a feeling! I crossed
the line in 3:53:14. I was a very happy person as I was handed my
finishers medal.
Then it was off to the
Omni for our special RW Challenge post-race reception with massage, food, etc.
In the lobby there was a RW Challenge volunteer by the RW Challenge flag. She
said, just go up to the second floor and pointed toward the steps. I said
“We’ll take the elevator”. I no sooner hit the massage table then my calves
locked up painfully tight. But Elaine kneaded them out and I enjoyed great
food, and the fellowship of the marathon.
Later, after a shower,
we all enjoyed an after party at the Bank and Vault right around the corner
from the hotel courtesy of Saucony. I can say if you get a chance to do a RW Challenge
event DO IT! I am so glad I did for my first marathon. I’ll do one again if
given the chance.
But for now, it is
lessons learned about fueling, and the doule-edged sword that is pace groups.
Finally I just want to thank EVERYONE on the Runners World Masters forum and RW
Challenge forum for your encouragement and support over the last year+ as I
learned about running, and distance running. I could not have accomplished a
marathon otherwise.
Addendum
The Omni had a Starbucks
in the lobby. That was the only place to get coffee. Sunday morning, the day
after the race, I went down at 6:30 to get coffee. It turns out they don’t open
until 7:00 on Sunday. When I got to the door, Bart Yasso was standing there
looking in also wishing they were open. So having a half-hour we sat down in
the lobby and fired up our laptops. For 30 minutes I sat surfing the web and
talking running with Bart Yasso! How cool is that? Someone made the joke later
that he’ll probably tell his kids about sitting and talking with me. But I
think he might! You would think that after all the races he has done and
runners he has met that they would all blend together but he seems to remember
them all. What a great guy! (And Bart, I’m not saying that just ‘cuz you bought
the coffee when Starbucks opened)!
