My Marathon Race Report

Well it’s over, it’s in the books, it’s done I can check it off the list. I have run a marathon! Wow it’s still hard to believe, maybe it will sink I don’t know. In a way it was kind of anticlimactic. I guess what I’m saying is the journey is truly the destination. So all the training and weight and stuff leading up to it was the destination. Ok enough of the deep thinking stuff, now about the race. We got up at 5 to get ready; it was cold in the low 20s. I had laid everything out so all I had to do was pretty much get dressed. I went down to crank our car so it would be warmed up when we left and my cousin was up and she toasted me some bread, so that was my prerace meal two pieces of toast and a water. We were able to park a couple of blocks from the finish line (that was a big plus, it’s kind of hard to walk after running a marathon, so it was good to be that close when it was over). We went in and looked at where the finish line was. Then we walked and found the starting line and since it was so cold we decided to keep walking around until the start so we walked around on Beale street some then it was time to line up. I was in coral number 10 for those hoping for around a 10:30 pace. As I stood there waiting it was hard to believe it was really happening, I had dreamed about and worked hard to get to it now it was about to happen. I took my first gu about 30 minutes from the start. As they keep moving us closer and closer to the starting line as the other corals would go off the excitement keep building and building. I think it was good I had ran the half and the 10Ks because it did help me control my emotions and not go out to fast. The first few miles I felt like I could run forever, I guess it was the excitement and the taper as I was well rested. One thing that surprised me though there wasn’t nearly the conversations that that I heard when I ran the half in Florence, I really thought there would be more. I did hear a couple lawyers talking about some cases they were working on and a few were talking football. I can’t really remember what miles these were on, but earlier in the race there was a band under a bridge life structure that was playing the what I call the hey song that they play at hockey games, that was fun to run by with that playing. There was what I think was a homeless guy that somehow got in the middle of the race and was walking towards all of us and cussing because we were in his way, that was interesting. All this was before the half way point. Oh yea there was one time when the smell of pumpkins was real strong, everyone was saying do you smell pumpkins? Thought was funny. Saw one runner that couldn’t make it to the next port potty so he was peeing in the bushes! Back over twenty years ago while I was stationed in Arkansas me and buddy went to Memphis and got a tattoo, we actually ran by the house where I got it, I had forgot about it and there was a band playing and I looked over at them and they were in front of the house that was a tattoo pallor and I recognized it. I thought that was cool. Some other memories are giving high fives to folks along the way, kind of made you feel like you were one of those athletes you see on TV. A lot of signs folks had held up gave you motivation. There was guy around mile 24 was yelling out reasons you should stay strong, like you trained for this, this why you got up early and ran, you’re a special kind of person to be able to do this, now suck it up and finish strong. His words helped! There was a guy close to the end that had a little too much to drink and he was high fiving everyone saying we don’t need New York we got Memphis. These are some of the memories from the race, now on how the run went. Like I started to say the first few miles I felt great. I did good holding back on my pace and keep about a 10:30 all the way till about mile 15 then I got in the 11s for a few 19 to 24 was in the 12s then 24 was a 13:13 and 25 a 13:10 and 26 was a 12:26 I could smell the finish line then. The last .2 was a 2:37, that was the longest .2 ever. I felt real good till about mile 14 then my ankle started to hurt it was getting real stiff. When I stopped and walked at the water stations it hurt real bad, I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about stopping, but then I thought I have came this for and I’m not stopping 10 miles short of the finish so I pressed on. I did the water breaks for the first 15 miles every three miles then I dropped done to 2 miles between 16 and 20 then for the last 6 miles I stopped every mile and walked while I drank for the last 6 except I didn’t stop at 25 because I didn’t know if I would be able to start again. I ate a gu every45 minutes till about 3:45 minutes in then I had one every 30 minutes. I know I’ve been jumping from topic to topic with this recount, but I’ve been putting it down here just as it comes to my mind. At a little past mile 24 I was hurting pretty bad, but I realized I was going to do this I was going to make it, shortly I would be saying I had ran a Marathon! I started to fill up with emotion and I clinched my fist and tightened everything up and was fixing to yell yes and I almost caught a cramp in my left calf. I mean I came as close I you could to getting one without getting it. I told myself then OK no emotions no jumping for joy, no shouting, no acting crazy when I finish, just finish. So I ran the last 2 miles praying not to cramp! It was so neat going into the stadium where we finished they called out your name over the pa and folks were cheering for you, it was a neat moment. Right after I crossed the finish line I heard Jenny and Summer call out my name, it was an emotional time to see them to see the smiles on their faces. I got my medal then made an attempt at the stairs to get up off the field. It was funny there were two elderly ladies helping us up the first couple of steps and man that was the longest flight; well at least it seemed like the longest flight of steps I’d ever been up. I could see and sense the pride in Jenny and Summer’s faces for me as I got to them. We hugged and took a few pictures then I went to the are where we could get some free food and drinks. It was tough walking everything was real tight and hurting. I walked by the beer booth and a lady said hey you look like you could really use a beer I said no thanks and keep walking. The walk to the car was only a couple of blocks, but it seem like miles. We made it to the car and headed back to my cousin’s house to watch the Florida Bama game I got me a long shower before the game then relaxed watching it. Proud Bama won, after the game we were watching the post game and mark Ingram was running around everywhere celebrating and I talked to the TV and said you better be careful celebrating Mark you’ll catch a cramp, the TV went to a commercial and when it came back it showed Mark on a stage with other players and then all of a sudden he had a funny look on his face then he just dropped, he had caught a cramp! We all had a good laugh about that! After the game we headed home the ride wasn’t too bad I wasn’t nearly as sore as I thought I would be. The clock on the finish line showed 5:19:04, but my actual time was 5:01:47 they did a wave start so I actually started almost 20 minutes after the first wave. I did this I did it today not tomorrow I have ran a Marathon and I did it 369 days after I decided to start this journey.

The Day Before

Well we left around 2 today headed for Memphis. We were hoping to leave earlier, but I had to go in and work this morning, I wasn’t suppose to but got called in. I have been so nervous this week, not really sure why I know I have trained for it, but I just can’t help but be scared, maybe it’s being scared out of respect for it, I’m not really sure. We got to the expo around 4:30. I don’t know in my mind I had it pictured to be larger, It was good a lot of stuff, I just wished I’d had some money to spend. Anyway I got may race packet and the shirt is real nice. We left the expo and went to my cousin’s house. She invited us to stay with her, which was a blessing as we had waited too long to look for a motel and couldn’t find one. After we talked awhile we went to Olive Garden for me to get “Carb’d Up”, I ate a good bit of pasta and some bread sticks. We are back at the house now and I’ve got everything laid and ready to get up at 5 in the morning. It’s hard to really believe that it is here in the morning I will be running my marathon! Through this whole thing I’ve been saying today not tomorrow, well now it actually is tomorrow, tomorrow is the marathon. Well I’m going to go and try and get some sleep.

Where Do I start? One Year Later

Where do I start?
Wow one year ago today I had decided to get serious about this weight loss and attempt to someday run a marathon. I ate my “last supper” see the picture on the right of this blog. I started mentally preparing myself for this on the 30th of November 08 and actually started eating right and exercising on the 1st of December. I never imagined I would be where I’m at today. In 5 days I will be running my first Marathon and I lost 109 pounds since this time last year. I have gained a few back with the training; I haven’t weighed myself because I’ve tried to eat right and with the long runs and more frequent runs I had to eat more to keep my energey up. I’m not worried about the few pounds now. After my recovery from he marathon I’ll weigh and see where I’m at an work on getting ride of those few extra pounds I’ve gained. Not sure what my next goal will be as far as running goes. I’m going to start looking at what marathons are coming up close by next year and maybe do some halves. There is one half in Birmingham in February I may try and do it, just not sure yet.
Now about my long run yesterday, It was OK, wasn’t as easy as I had expected my legs were stiff and heavy, they did loosen up some and felt good at times, just not overall what I had expected and I had some many little twinges here an there. This kind of had me worried last night and I couldn’t sleep thinking about it, you know what If I’m not ready for this etc. I woke up this morning with a different attitude and I’m actually starting to get excited about it, I told Summer this is like Super Bowl week for me. Well I’m going to run for now, only two 5 mile runs this week tomorrow and Thursday…..today not tomorrow!

One week from today!

Wow it is just one week from today and I’ll be running my first marathon. If you had told me that this time last year I would not have believed you as I hadn’t even started my journey yet. I was on the taper this week, the runs went well, my legs have been heavy and lots of little pains that haven’t been there before, but it seems like when I get on the last mile of each run everything loosens up and I start feeling good. Tomorrow is a 12 mile run, looking forward to it to see how my legs feel after 5 or so. I’ve got so many emotions running through me now. I want to think about it being next week then I start literally getting scared and I try to not think about it. Wednesday I ran into a friend who runs while I was doing my four miles and we ran a couple mile together and we talked a bit, he has done several marathons so it was good talking to him he gave me some good tips and most of it was stuff I had ran through my mind all ready, but it was good to have him talk about it and remind me about them. It was stuff like it was OK to walk during the water stations as it’s important to stay hydrated, taking the gu etc. Well I’m going to run for now I wanted to put some of these emotions down, but I guess I’m still not ready to do it yet….doing this today not tomorrow!

24 Nov 09 - Catch Up

Sunday
Friday

Wednesday

Well here’s a catch up of the past few days. Wednesday’s run went a lot better I felt good and my legs felt a lot stronger. I did 8 miles at a time of 1:17:17 for an over all pace of 9:40, so I was pleased with that. The rest of my week was crazy, I spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on the road averaging over 7 hours traveling. I had to carry some inmates to prison on Wednesday and then Thursday My wife's brother graduated form the police academy so we went to his graduation. Then on Friday night I went to a high school football game with Summer. The tough part about that day was I went into work that morning at 4 so I had to get up at 3. I go off at 9, I went home and tried to take a nap, but couldn’t sleep so I got up and did some house work then at around noon I went to do my run. I had a very good run and a crazy one at that, I was worried about it, because I had been up so early, but it was a good run. There was this guy running when I started that was about a ¼ to half ahead of me and of course I took off to try and catch him, so I started a way to fast pace, just when I was about to pass him he stopped and started walking. There was so much traffic as I’m us to running early in the morning now, so I guess with all the folks around that got my adrenaline pumping also, then there the busses that came for the band and football players to go to the game and folks everywhere for that so I just kept running at a faster than normal pace. When it was all said and done I had ran my 7 miles in 1:04:17 for a 9:15 pace. It was a good strong run and I felt good after it. I was suppose to have ran 7 on Saturday, but I didn’t I was so tired I had like 5 hours sleep in the last 58 hours so I was extremely tired and I went home and went to bed after I got off work Saturday morning. Sunday’s run was 15 miles, the weather was perfect to run and I had a real good run. Kind of the norm with the legs being heavy the first few miles then for into a rhythm and felt real good between 4 and 11, started to get a little tired then, but nothing major and I finished strong doing the last mile right at my 10:00 per mile goal pace with an over all time of 2:39:00 for an overall average pace of 10:36. I bought me a belt with a pouch to put my gu in for the marathon and ran with it Sunday, it worked fine and I’m glad of that. This morning I just had to run 5, I did a nice easy five miles. Felt a little stiff and heavy, but as the run went on I got to feeling better. It’s hard for me to believe that the marathon is not this weekend, but the next. I have so many emotions going through me right now it’s crazy. I’ll save that for another post. Doing this today not tomorrow.

Weird Run 17 Nov 09

This morning’s run was weird. My legs were real heavy and I felt real tired. The first mile I was right on the 10 minute pace. By mile three I felt like I was having to work so hard just to run not to mention maintaining the 10 minute pace and it actually dropped of 20 some odd seconds. On mile 4 I had all kinds of excuses running through my head on why I should stop and not do the full 8, but instead of making excuses I pushed through and on mile 7 I started to fell a lot better and on mile 8 I did it at a 9:16 pace. I guess I was just tired from the 22 miles on Sunday. In a way I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s run to see how it goes and hopefully I will feel “fresher”. It’s starting to sink in that I have less than 3 weeks till I run the marathon, it’s also starting to get scary…….but I’m doing this today and not tomorrow!

The rest of the week and 22 miles!

Well I’ll try and update what has went on since Thursday. Friday I did 6 miles, I forgot my watch so not exactly sure on my time, it was right at 1 hour. I enjoy those runs though where I’m not worried about hitting a certain pace, just run you know and enjoy it, so that’s what Friday was a nice easy enjoyable run. Saturday’s run was good. My legs felt heavy at the start, but on the last mile everything was clicking I felt good, I hit that steady pace and felt like I could run forever. I needed that because I was nervous about Sunday’s run of 22 miles as it was/is my longest to date. After my run Saturday and how good I felt my confidence was growing for Sunday. I went to Tupelo with Summer after my run on Saturday to get some GU; I had messed up and ran out. After we got back I went over to mom and dad’s to watch the football games with dad (Roll Tide!). I got home and had just laid down around 10 and got a call and had to go into work, I got home around midnight (almost had to stay later, but thank you to the deputy who carried the guy who got in the fight to the hospital for me). So 4:45 AM came pretty early yesterday. I was still nervous about the run. I had the route planned out in my mind so as I lay in the bed the night before I had tried to run it thorough my head and get myself mentally prepared for it. I got up and ate me a couple of pieces of toast and then got everything ready. Summer has written this saying (“So don't be afraid to make mistakes, to stumble and fall, because most of the time the greatest rewards come from doing the things that scare you the most. Maybe you'll get everything you wish for. Maybe you'll get more than you ever could have imagined. Who knows where life will take you? The road is long and in the end, the journey is the destination." ) on the mirror in our bathroom. As I was getting ready to leave I read it and it reminded me that it’s not about just doing the 22 miles, but what I see along the way. The run started out OK. I don’t know why but the first few miles always seem sluggish and I have to get through all the little aches and pains. I had a few interesting events, at about mile 3 I had 3 dogs come out one looked like a chow, the other a bulldog and the last a Rottweiler. They never chased me, but just followed me for awhile I’ll have to admit I was scared and did do a little, well a lot of praying. I came back through where they were at around mile 5 and they were gone so that was good. I didn’t want to risk running in to them again so I altered my route so I wouldn’t have to come back through the area where they were at. At around mile 12 I started feeling tired and I thought man I wish this wouldn’t be so hard, but then I thought you know if it was easy it really wouldn’t have the value it does by accomplishing it if just anybody could do it. That kind of gave me some motivation. As I was running my altered route through my mind I decided to do the last mile or as close as I could make it to the last mile on the trail where I ran my first mile on this journey without stopping back in February. I was very tired when I got to it, but I did it and it was neat to bring up those memories of that first mile without stopping it gave me motivation to not stop. Then the last half mile was where I did my hill work. I tried to remember those days and how I pushed through and that is what I did to finish. I was very tight after it and was a little sore today, but not too bad. My time was 3:57:15 for a overall pace of 10:48. Well tomorrow I start the taper; I’m getting so close to doing this! Doing it today not tomorrow!