Okay, so my 2006 Country Music Marathon experience does not rank anywhere near the top of my running memories. I finished an abysmal 4:49. That's an 11-minute pace. My 1st marathon was a very positive experience. My second was not. Maybe it's a balance thing.
So, here's how I remember it:
- pre-run: gotta pee really bad, but the lines are insane! I'll stop somewhere on the course.
- mile 1: running nice and easy. great weather. lots of people
- mile 2: see Mende, Livie and Scott. That was a great boost!
- mile 3: running with "Blue Man". that was fun. Stop to pee at the Blakemore/Belmont intersection. Almost run over a little girl coming out of the port-a-john
- mile 4: start running with a guy with "4:00" on his shirt. I overhear someone ask him: are you the 4-hour pace setter? He responds affirmitively. I think "great!, i can run with this guy and meet my goal". Feeling really strong and confident.
- mile 5: this guy is running a bit fast, but hey -- he *is* the 4:00 pace setter. he must know what he's doing.
- mile 6: back up Belmont and the "long incline". Feeling abnormally strong.
- mile 7: Take a GU and wash it down with water.
- mile 8: Music Row. big crowds, lots of support.
- mile 9: See Mende, Livie and Scott again. What a huge boost! Wow, i'm feeling great. I glance at my watch and realize i'm cruising at a 8:17 pace!!!!
- mile 10: legs twitching a bit. I start to wonder if this guy is really the 4-hr pace setter.
- mile 11: begin to think that running so fast early-on was not such a good idea. I slow to a 9-minute pace and watch the supposed 4-hour guy disappear in the distance. This pace feels good.
- mile 12: running up the hill toward Metro Center. Slow the pace just a bit to get up the hill. Crowd thins out,...starting to feel like a "long run" now.
- mile 13.1: cross the mat at 1:55, which was my 2005 CMM 1/2 time. Wow - must be doing something right! All I have to do is run the 2nd half in 2 hrs -- no problem.
- mile 14: Greenway in Metro Center. Jeez, the clouds parted and it got hot! Where's the water? I start to slow a bit more.
- mile 15: still no water? I start to wonder if this is going to hurt me later on
- mile 16: finally, a water stop. but no GU? legs are *really* starting to get tired
- mile 17: the hill up to the interstate was not fun. Calves and Quads want to cramp up, so I take a queue from other runners and I walked for about 2-3 minutes.
- mile 18: legs are cramping bad, but i run through it. suddenly, my muscles knot-up from my knees to my hips and i (quite UN-gracefully) plop on the side of the road. A spectator about 5 ft away watches me and doesn't know what to say. I sit for about a minute to rub out the cramp. Get up, walk a while, start running again. Here come the cramps again...I get some ice at a medic station and apply to my quads as I walk.
- mile 19: see the gang again. First face I see is Mende's and it has never looked sweeter. I wish I was looking stronger. I know that I'm really paying the price for running too fast earlier. I tell Mende I love her, she gives me a kiss and I'm feeling better already. Scott gives me a word of encouragement and I'm off and running again.
- mile 20: holy crap my legs have never felt this bad before. What's happening? Mentally, i am really struggling.
- mile 21: get more ice. This has stopped being fun.
- mile 22: Shelby Park. the 4-hour mark ticks by on my watch. Oh well... I'm averaging a 15-minute run/walk pace now.
- mile 23: gotta sit for a minute. lots of people are walking now. where the heck am i going to finish?
- mile 24: the Hash Harriers are giving out beer. looks tempting, but i'd probably puke. lots of pain, mental anguish, frustration...just put 1 foot in front of the other.
- mile 25: downhill from here. 1.2 miles to go. A support guy on a bike is really helpful to me. Mind over matter -- try to stay relaxed and focus on the goal (just run), not the pain.
- mile 26: i can see the finish shute. My trot turns into a run (albeit a hobbled, slow one)
- final 0.2: pain is unbearable, but i'm running over that mat, dammit! i know the pain on my face is obvious, and the crowd support is fantastic. I finish and start to hobble.
Immediately after i crossed the finish line, i felt as though i didn't deserve the medal. Sure, i finished - but so what? I horribly miscalculated everything about this run. Not enough fluids, ran too fast, diet before the run was stupid, not enough rest, training was lacking, etc... I have so many things to think about. But right now, i just want to pass out. I skip the photos, the beer tent, the fruit. I grab a water and a muffin and make my way to the family reunion area. They seemed relieved to see that I wasn't hurt. I was happy to hug Mende and hear their words of encouragement. I decided I'd be positive right now and analyze the negative aspects some other time.
Running a marathon is no joke. It takes some serious dedication and commitment. It's a challenge on both a physical and mental level. I've learned that if I'm not sufficiently prepared, I will not be able to simply poke it out with acceptable results.
So, now I'm determined to redeem myself. Next on the hit-parade: the Marine Corps Marathon this fall. I'll train properly, i'll get my head around it, and I'll finish strong.
