Garmin Marathon
April 26, 2014
This was a last minute marathon...well, OK, a last month or so marathon. I was looking at my training schedule for my 50k on May 10th, and realized that I had a 26 mile run planned for the day, but knowing that I was running a trail marathon the week before, I probably wasn't going to do that many miles in a training run, so, I signed up for a race!
After the last weeks race, I had serious doubts about doing it. I didn't want to over train and injure myself before my 50k, and even the night before I was still questioning it, especially because the forecast was for 80 and partly sunny, not my ideal running conditions. Yet, when I went to bed I set my alarm for 4:15 am. I guess I had decided to run this thing.
Of course, I woke about at 4:00, because I never allow the alarm to wake me up. Not sure why. Took the dogs out to do their business, relaxed until I had to do my business, got lubed up and dressed, made me my bagel with cream cheese and at about 5:30 I headed out the door to Garmin headquarters in Olathe, KS for my 4th marathon.
I arrived at about 6:00, an hour before the scheduled start time, because that is what I do! I took care of my business again (I always go twice on race days, no clue why), and hung out in the parking lot of Garmin and watched the sunrise. At this point, it was about 50 degrees out, with just a few clouds in the sky. I liked the temp, but the no clouds thing bothered me. I knew this race was exposed to the sky the entire way, and running in the sun for 5 hours did not appeal to me at all. I texted my friend Mark that my prayers for a cloudy day were not answered. He responded that God must not like me. I responded it is the gay thing. He doesn't like us gays. We LOL'ed.
At 7:00 am we were off. Well, the elites were off, it took us a few minutes to actually cross the start line. I decided to start towards the back, because this was a training run afterall, and I didn't want to kill myself, so I crossed the starting line with the 4:50 pacer. I stayed with them for about minute, and then fell into a pace that I liked, knowing that I would probably see them later as they passed me at the end when I started doing my run/walk pattern. Before I knew it I was running with the 4:30 pace group. I figured I would hang with this group for at least the first 10 miles before I got tired from running constantly and start walking some.
About mile 2 or 3, we all started noticing that to the southwest were some VERY dark clouds moving our way. We tried to ignore them for a bit, but once we starting hearing thunder and then seeing the lightening, we could ignore them no longer. Now, I realized I had prayed for clouds, but I guess I wasn't specific in that I wanted JUST clouds, not the storm kind of clouds. It was because of us gays. I was being punished. Around mile 5 or so, it hit us. Thunder, lightening, sheets of rain blowing in the wind. I loved it! It was raw and brutal, and lasted for about 30 minutes. After it stopped raining, the clouds stuck around and kept it nice and cool for us.
About mile 10 I am cruising along, and I realized that I am still feeling really good and I am still hanging with my 4:30 group. Huh. Didn't expect that! See, I don't run constantly. I run trails because it gives me an excuse to walk every once in a while. I like that. A lot. I was getting some soreness, but nothing serious, so I stuck with the group, and in the back of my mind I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could PR this day! My current PR was 4:57 at the Twin Cities marathon in 2011. The first one I ran.
Mile 12, I am still doing good. I have been drinking, eating a bite of my tortilla with nutella every once in a while. Things were going good. Mile 14 I took two ibuprofen to help with some of the minor pain, and the inevitable headache I would get. I was still feeling OK.
Mile 16. Jeff meet wall, wall meet Jeff. EVERY race I have ever run, mile 16 is where I hit my wall. It never fails. So at this point, I grab my headphones, and start to walk a bit. Then, I walk some more. Now up to this point I was averaging 10 minute miles, that took a nosedive at mile 16. Mile 17 and 18 were 12 minute miles. At this point I have accepted the fact that my PR was probably not going to happen. I accepted that. I was just out for the miles anyway! At this point we are doing an out and back section of the run, so I am seeing the pacers ahead of me pass me in the other direction, on their way to the finish line. I see the 4:30 pacer go by. I wave internally to my former group. The problem with out and back sections is that is seems like the turnaround point is for ever elusive. It never happens. At mile 18.5, it finally happens. Mile 19 and 20 were 13 minute miles.
Mile 21. Jeff meet second wind. Second wind meet Jeff. I suddenly realized that I was running more than walking. It was crazy. I have no idea where that came from, but I was going to take complete advantage of it! I was back up to 11 minute miles. Woohoo! About mile 22 I started to think that I might be able to get my PR again. I decided that I would continue running/walking as fast as possible, because when that 4:50 pace group passed me, I was going to latch on to them and hang on as much as possible. OK. The plan was set. Just have to stay as far ahead of them as I can. I would sneak looks back every once in a while, seeing if they were within sight yet. OH NO! There he is! It is 23.5 miles done. But wait, that doesn't make sense. He can't be catching me yet, because I started with them, and if my calculations are correct, they are ahead of schedule. He passes me. I am ticked off that he is leaving me behind, so I pick up the pace and catch him and ask if he is on pace. He replies that he is not, he is actually about 1 minute ahead of pace! Thank God! OK. I am still in this.
I calculate that if I can keep him in sight in front of me, I will be good. After about a mile hemoves out of sight. I turn around, and there is the other pacer for the 4:50 group. OK. Stay ahead of her until mile 25. I can do this! I. CAN. DO. THIS. I would like to say that at this point, I am hurting in places that haven't hurt before. Runners, you know what I am talking about. You are moving along and suddenly a sharp pain hits you, and your first thought is, Well, that is new! The second thought is, it will pass if I ignore it. And it does.
I hit mile 25. I turn, and there she is 50 feet behind me. I shout back to her that she needs to slow down! She actually agrees. Huh. She catches up and says she is just a tad fast, and since no one else is with her any longer, she pretty much just keeps me going, making sure I finish, especially after I told her that I started with her. She was happy to finish with at least one person she started with. There were a few moments when I didn't think I could stick with her, and she sensed that, so she slowed down a bit for me. I really thought I was going to puke as I crossed the finish line. Her name was Sheena, and she got me to the end in 4:50:51. A new PR for me. I was very happy and very surprised. It was unexpected but awesome all at the same time.
I was given my HUGE medal and a turkey sandwich from Tyson who were out there grilling them up for us, and a bottle of water. They had yogurt and bananas as well, but dairy after a race like that never appeals to me, and I think I have become allergic to bananas, so I passed on those.
I think I am ready for my 50k in two weeks. The main thing I learned is that I HAVE to get more 20 mile runs in, and 10 mile runs during the week. I need to get past the 16 mile wall thing. Guess I will be doing more double loops out at WyCo. That get me trained up for my fall races!
 |
| The huge medal and the awesome shirt. The colors are hard to see in this pic, but the shirt is a dark blue with dark gold. My favorite shirt of any race I have gotten. And did I mention the medal has glitter on it!!! |
