My Better Me than You Log

[BamaDave]

Have fun limping between classes tomorrow, Jim!! Looking forward to your report!

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

LOL, Dave. I was pleasantly surprised I was able to make to the bathroom from my bedroom after waking up this morning. My quads are killing me and I'm sore in places I've never been after a run like my upper back and arms. I guess I was really using them as motive power near the end yesterday.

[GG300]

Congratulations on finishing and I am glad you got a great sense of accomplishmnet from your effort. I am sure that even though your finish was not as good as you had hoped for it was stiil above par. Look forward to reading the full report.

[UpNorth]

Congratulations!

I know you're all waiting breathlessly to hear how my first marathon went, right? Right.

...as a matter of fact, yes I have. Looking forward to a full report.

[jruck37]

Congrats on finishing, Jim! I'm looking forward to that report.

[K-Court]

Congrats from me too, Jim. Just completing something like this is a HUGE positive in my books. Good going. Can't wait to read your report.

[BamaDave]

Yep, here we are, waiting to read your report. Waiting and waiting and waiting.... and waiting some more!! :p

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

Originally Posted by BamaDave

Yep, here we are, waiting to read your report. Waiting and waiting and waiting.... and waiting some more!! :p

Sorry, guys! I found that I actually had a lot to say.

What follows is incredibly long and heart felt. As you'll see, if you choose to read the entire report, this race meant a lot to me. If you don't have the time nor inclination to read it all, you can scroll down to the end to get the vital stats.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

Grand Rapids Marathon Race Report
29OCT06

Introduction

Just as a prelude to this race report, running this marathon was the culmination of a nearly year-long process. Running a marathon is something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. I think it began a long time ago when I was still smoking and would force myself to go running even though it hurt so badly. A masochist? Maybe. It was one of those things people like to say they can check off their life’s to-do list. For me those include hiking in the Himalayas and skydiving. The thing is, I didn’t want to just complete a marathon. I wanted to actually compete in one. Not that I had any illusions that I would vie for a placement (though I did have momentary hopes of qualifying for Boston on my first attempt), but I wanted to do more than show up and collect a finisher’s medal.

Last year I decided that the time to take this journey was at hand. Certain life circumstances had given me the time and motivation to train. I laid out what I figured was a good plan to work up the distances through a series of races. I raced a 15K in March, my first half-marathon in April, a 10-miler in April as well, and a 25K in May. I now felt like I had the base mileage under me to begin a marathon training plan. I spent the summer working to build my speed up somewhat and ran some shorter races.

In late July, I began a 14 week training plan to ready myself. I worked my way up to nearly 60 miles of running a week. Along the way, to keep training exciting and to periodically test my fitness level, I ran a few more races, including another ten-miler and half-marathon. In each I shattered personal records, so I knew my training was paying off and this allowed me to go into this past Sunday with high hopes.

Sunday October 29, 2006

After agonizing over a week on what to wear and obsessing over the weather (including the incredibly strong winds the day before) I finally settled on what my strategy for the race would be. Most people who have run a marathon tell you that you should just go out and enjoy the race your first time out and leave time goals for another race. Well, this is just not my style. Like I said, I didn’t want to just run it, I wanted to do the best I could. I settled on a goal of 3:30:00. I knew this was a perfectly admirable time to run a marathon in and even though certain online race time predictors pointed towards a much faster time, I figured that this time was something I could shoot for and still not feel like I sandbagged the event. Little did I know there is no sandbagging a marathon, no matter what your results are.

I had made plans to have my daughter at the race, but unfortunately those fell through at the last minute. So, after my typical morning rituals of oatmeal, coffee, and other stuff, Asia and I made our way to my friend Sheila’s house. Asia would stay there with her cousins and Sheila’s husband. Sheila was running the race as well, so at 7 AM we made our way down to the YMCA in downtown Grand Rapids. We met up with a couple friends at about 7:20 and visited for awhile while we debated on what to wear and strategies. Sheila’s friend Keith, who is a veteran of over 100 marathon and ultra-marathons, repeated something that I been told to me a half a hundred times- don’t go out too fast. Not me! I would never do something like that. I know better. At about 7:40 we made our way to the port-o-potties and then shortly before 8:00 wished each other luck with hugs and handshakes and headed to our respective starting areas.

I squeezed into the crowd as the RD announced the 2 minute to go I asked a few people around me about their goal and knew I was in the right section. (Kind of too late if I wasn’t.) I was a little confused because the 3:29 pace setter didn’t have his sign raised. At the 1 minute to go signal, the announcer asked who was running their first. I raised my hand and got quite a few “good lucks” from the runners around me. I was very nervous and excited knowing that in just a few hours I would be one of them- a marathoner.

The Race (or as it could also be called: The Tale of Two Races)

Part I

After a countdown from ten, the horn sounded. We were off like a herd of turtles. It took me a minute or so to reach the line and then after we squeezed through he starting area it loosened up as everyone spread out across the street. As soon as I was running I could tell how good I felt. There definitely is something to that taper thing and resting.

Mile 1 – 7:33
Mile 2 – 7:38
Mile 3 – 7:42
Mile 4 – 7:30
Mile 5 – 7:34

I knew that I ran the first mile too fast. I tried to reel it in for the second, though without much success. Mile 3, I was stuck behind the slow (insert sarcastic tone- you’ll realize why later) 3:29 group and was finally able to break free once we got off of a narrow bike path. Mile 4, I settled into a nice groove and entered the only slightly hilly section of the entire course.

Mile 6 – 7:32
Mile 7 – 7:31
Mile 8 – 7:32
Mile 9 – 7:33
Mile 10 – 7:46

Looking back, I can’t believe how even these splits are, especially because by now the wind that I had been fearing since the day before, was beginning to pick up. During mile 10, with the wind coming off the river as we ran along it, I had a guy drafting right off my side. I mean, he was totally invading my personal space. I got more and more irritated with him, and after about 5 minutes or so I asked if it was my turn. I answered, “But, I’m just a skinny little guy.” And he was. And at the moment, I felt like throwing his skinny butt in the river. He switched sides with me, but a couple minutes later, we came upon an aid station and were separated.

Mile 11 – 7:39
Mile 12 – 7:30
Mile 13 – 7:31
Mile 13.1 (halfway) – 1:39:40
Mile 14 – 7:32
Mile 15 – 7:46
Mile 16 – 7:46

Miles 11 through 15 were a lot of fun. They were probably the most enjoyable part of the race for me. They included a turnaround point, so I was able to see the leaders as they blew by me already miles ahead, and I also got to see Sheila and Keith after I hit the turnaround. And as a fun little side note, I also got to see my ex-girlfriend.

However, things started to take a turn during either 15 or 16, I don’t recall exactly. As I was chugging along feeling like I could continue to rip off 7:30s all day long, I suddenly felt two stabbing pains deep in my left quad, right above my knee. “Hmm,” I thought, “I’ve never felt that before. Maybe it’ll go away if I back off a little.”

End of Race Number One

Part II

So, with that slight pain in my leg I backed it off some and entered the worst part of the actual course itself. It was an out-and-back section tacked on to get the miles in. It was a flat wide open industrial are with little crowd support at all. Not that much of the rest of the course had much support either, but this area it was needed and actually seemed quite accessible to spectators.

Mile 17 – 8:06
Mile 18 – 8:15
Mile 19 – 8:37

For this section, I not only backed it off some because of my leg and the simple fact I was running into an easily 20-25 mph headwind for the most of it. It sucked more than I can explain. Why is it a headwind takes more out of you than a tailwind gives back?

After finally completing that brutal section, I was back into more wind-protected are agin as I ran through the woods on what I’m sure is a lovely country road. I put it that way because it is now that I realize that the pain I felt in my left leg was the beginnings of a cramp and that now those cramps are coming more regularly and strongly. They are also spreading to my other quad by now. There is no way I was paying attention to scenery.

Somehow I hobble along until the aid station between mile 21 and 22. There I take my first walking break while I drink my water and take my last Gu. I continue running and begin to have to take walk breaks off and on throughout. Sometime during mile 24 I stop for quite awhile and try to stretch and massage out the cramps that have me in absolute agony. I am not afraid to admit that between the emotion of running the race and the pain I was in, I was on the verge of tears.

Mile 20 – 9:07
Mile 21 – 8:56
Mile 22 – 9:10
Mile 23 – 9:44
Mile 24 – 11:11

I am now back in town running through streets sparsely lined with people. They were cheering but had a strange look of concern on their faces as I ran by. Right around the 26 mile marker we turned onto the final homestretch and right into the jaws of that wind. I actually thought of all those training runs last winter and spring I ran complaining the whole time about the wind. “I guess this is why I did those runs,” I said to no one in particular.

Mile 25 – 9:56
Mile 26 – 9:46
Mile 26.2 – 1:55

I had no idea my time when I crossed the line, I didn’t know until a few minutes later when I checked my watch. I do recall hearing my name and crossing the line. I was met at the line by the race director (who, by the way is one of the nicest guys and best RD I’ve come across). He shook my hand; I had a medal draped over me and a space blanket wrapped around me. I walked to the chip clippers and then proceed to begin crying. I say I’m not embarrassed by it, but still I made my way to a POP to finish my blubbering. After that, I stumbled around, seriously considering going to the medical tent. I then realized that if I was going to wait for my friends to finish, I was going to need to go to my car and get my jacket. The crazy wind was making the space blankets pretty much useless.

I went through the food tent grabbing some Gatorade and a banana and a piece of string cheese and went to the car. Unfortunately, during this time, Sheila came in and I missed it. By the time I did get back, I just caught Keith finishing. We all just happened to meet up all of a sudden. We made our way to the beer tent, had a beer, and compared notes. Neither Sheila nor Keith was feeling as crappy as I was. I was beginning to feel better after the beer, but we all were getting very cold. We passed taking showers at the Y and decided to head directly to TGIFriday’s for a celebratory beer and some food. I was so hungry.

We stayed for a while, acknowledging everyone else that came in with a medal on. It was so cool to now be part of this group known as marathoners and look in there eyes and know what they went through to earn that medal around their neck and knowing they knew what you had to do to earn yours.

Wrap-up, Thanks, and Stats for Number Geeks (like me)

Running this marathon was all I thought it would be and more. It was one of the most difficult, painful, mentally draining, and, therefore, one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life. I want to thank everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, and offered advice along this journey. I’m not sure what’s next, but this will not be my last marathon.

Final time:
3:36:37 (8:16 avg pace)

Male 30-34 age group: 14/46

Overall: 166/734

[K-Court]

Jim, I'll leave it to Dave and km and the other running guys to comment on your stats, but being 14 of 46 in your age group and 166 of 734 overall seems pretty respectable to this guy. I'm really proud of you for what you accomplished. You put in the time and effort and reaped the reward. That's an inspirational achievement. Plain and simple. I look forward to hearing of future successes from you, bud. Nice.

[BamaDave]

That's a great report, Jim!! That really took an amazing amount of guts and perseverance to push through that quad pain. You have to know that a lot of people would have thrown in the towel rather than deal with that. Unfortunately, that's the thing about marathons and why it's a good idea not to get too hung up on a particular time goal - you just never know what's going to happen on a run of that length!! You really gutted this one out, and it's an amazing accomplishment. But I do have to say not to expect every marathon to be that miserable!! Your quads just dealt you a bad card for this particular race (not to mention the wind). Your next one, you may just cruise on through holding that pace that was so steady for 15-16! It's been great fun following your training and excellent progress - you should be very proud!

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

Thanks, Rob, Dave!!

I've been perusing hundreds of photos that were taken by some freelance photographers on Sunday and found one of me.

The official course photos aren't out yet, but here is one of me while I was still feeling good between 8 and 9:

[jruck37]

Awesome job, Jim. There is nothing more gratifying than fighting through pain to accomplish your goals. You should be proud of your amazing accomplishment.

[UpNorth]

Wow Jim! I'm speechless. What a remarkable effort and fantastic time. I'm taking your story and filing it away for motivation for myself on Sunday. Congratulations and thanks for sharing!

[BamaDave]

Obviously you should have gone with the shorts and the short sleeves. Dangit, that's why your legs cramped up!!!

[GG300]

Jim that is quite the impressive run. Only a few minutes off your goal with walking and massage stops. It's great that with all that pain you still enjoyed yourself. You definetly deserve the satisfaction that you took away from this effort considering not only the race but all the hours of intense training you persevered. "We were off like a herd of turtles" cracked me up.