Finally, success, ok granted things have typically been going pretty well but finally a successful marathon, also granted, only my second one but still I was starting to think I would be relegated to dying a horrible death every time I tried to run fast for two hours or more. Generally speaking this has been my unfortunate fate every time I've tried it. But no more, well at least today anyway, I was able to break through that barrier and felt great at 20 miles and finished up a strong marathon on a brutal (by road marathon standards) course. I was starting to have doubts at about 6 miles in when it felt like the pace was way too fast but I didn't feel like running in no-mans land as the last elite dude in the void between our small group and the rest of the field. So on I pushed, trying to stay with the group to block the wind while staying as relaxed as I could hoping I wasn't running to my death. The group I ran with was an interesting mix, the only other American in the elite section, a Moroccan, an Algerian (I think), a Columbian and a Kenyan. The Columbian pushed the pace the whole time and actually ran a great race to end up second (we were definitely not top 10 at this point). He dropped us about half way, the group broke up about then as well, and I think I heard 66:25 going through the half which made my freak out just a bit. That was 1-1:30 faster than I wanted to be and made it certain in my mind I was about to have a very painful last 6 miles because I was already starting to get that feeling of reduced muscle function and range of motion. So yeah, I was a bit nervous. Made the decision to chill (I told myself, "just chill" ) and let John (the American) and the Kenyan (all that was left of the group at this point) to go a bit and back off and run my own pace for a bit. They didn't get far but it was probably a good idea until we hit the wind going uphill from mile 15-19. Then it was a bad idea. How was I supposed to know? Oh well. At 19 miles we hit an aid station, I had a Hammer Gel, then I started feeling great. Things were starting to work again. We were cresting the top of the hill and I caught those two pretty quickly and started moving well at this point. I'm thinking to myself then, Sweet. Maybe I'll make it and finish up well. I had to make it to 22 then it was all downhill from there. So I pushed hard those three miles and made it to 22 tired but still moving well. The last 4 were a nice gradual downhill where I caught a couple more dying Kenyans. Ended up running a 2:15:30 for 6th. Pretty happy about that. It's a solid time on a tough course with good competition. A little bitter sweet too since last year I would have been 2nd and brought home $15,000 worth of bacon. Still ended up with a little dough, just not 15 grand. Oh well. Next time.
Finished the day off with a pint of Guinness, Shepard's Pie, and some Ben and Jerry's.
I'm going to be interested to see how the legs feel tomorrow after the 10hrs of travel home.
POLL:
Was it a good idea to fly home the same day as the race?
A. Yes, of course, because now I get to spend Sunday with the wife and kid
B. What was I thinking?
C. If I were you, I would rather have my fingernails ripped out.
D. All of the above.