Marathon Me

The Snickers Marathon would turn out to be a great day for most of us. Shelley, Scott, Vance, Marilyn and I had flown into Atlanta and were going to be meeting Allegra in Albany for the marathon. We had opted to save a little money by flying into Atlanta and then renting a car, several hours later it would be proven once again that Allegra is better than us at math. While we got stuck in traffic for several hours, almost doubling the length of the drive, Allegra was able to relax in the hotel. Thus in the battle of opportunity cost of relaxing versus being in traffic Allegra won hands down.

Many moons later we finally get into Albany and hit the expo and get our packets. We meet Allegra for a nice dinner of Chinese food and all head back to our separate hotels. We wake up and head over to the race start. Since Paul Williams and Nancy Dasso aren’t with us, we did *not* arrive 3 hours before the start. We got there about 30 minutes before, (Scott and I were pushing for an even later arrival, but since it was going to be Vance’s first marathon and he had his sights set on Boston, we acquiesced and got there “early”).

Before the race started I saw Kelly Williamson from Austin and predicted to myself that she would run away with the women’s title (which she did by over 24 minutes). I was hoping to run with her for the first 5-6 miles and then see how I felt. I would to try and hit a 1:27-1:28 first half and then hang on. The course is fairly easy with only a few minor rolling hills and the weather was almost perfect.

There were a few Africans lining up in the front who were all going after the prize money. A couple of them say they plan on running 2:24-2:27. Then someone else says he plans on running sub 2:20 and all of their faces just fall. It is good to know that even if you can run a 2:24 you may still lose by a mile depending on who shows up, and that it isn’t just us.

The gun goes off and the Africans bolt out of the gate as do I (but more like a warthog than a gazelle). I like to run the first mile pretty quick to avoid the crowds and get into rhythm. The first couple miles go as planned and I am able to stay with Kelly.

0-1 6:19
1-2 6:43
2-3 6:29
3-4 6:34

Now normally at mile 4 I would take a Power Gel. But the most recent Marathon and Beyond had an article by Richard Benyo saying that you shouldn’t eat any carbs an hour before the race and don’t take any gels or Gatorade for the first 10 miles, as this (supposedly) is better for your blood sugar and you will run better. So I decided to abandon the strategy that had seen me through over 85 marathons and give this a shot.

4-5 6:30
5-6 6:47

So far so good, my times are about where I want them, but I feel like I could use a Gel, but not sure if I am just being a baby missing his woobie, or not.

6-7 6:42
7-8 6:41

I normally would have taken a second gel by now, and I feel my calves tightening up. Up until this point I had been running with someone who was planning on a 2:55. I decide my legs are breaking down and I need to let him go. I keep him in sight for another mile or two but then I don’t see him ever again.

8-9 6:37
9-10 6:43

About half a mile into mile 10 my calf locks up. It looks like a slab of beef, and while this is extremely interesting (or it would be if it wasn’t my leg), it hurts like a son-of-a-bitch. It feels like someone shot me in the leg with a paint ball gun. I have never cramped in my legs and so this is a new event for me. I decide that I will blame Richard Benyo for this and that I will now consume mass quantities of gel. I take 3 gels in about 2 minutes (which would turn out to not be the best idea, but I figured I needed the electrolytes bad).

I stop and try to stretch and it loosens up enough to move. I do a weird shuffle/walk/shuffle/wince/shuffle thing for the next half mile. I cross mile 11 much slower than I was hoping for but much faster than I thought I would be once my calf locked.

10-11 8:04

I am not sure I should be running on my leg as it feels fairly injured. But I have two things driving me forward:

1) I’ve already booked airfare, hotels, etc, for states #48, #49, #50 and I have family coming to #50. So if I don’t finish Georgia that all goes out the window. I resolve that I will run/shuffle for as long as I can and worst case I will crawl to the finish.
2) My father-in-law is running his first marathon and trying to break four hours so he can punch his ticket to Boston. I know without a doubt he is going to break 4 hours, but that the last 6 miles will be harder than he is expecting, but that he will man-up and get ‘er done. So I quickly calculate that if I can run under 9:00/M miles I should be able to get in by 4 hours and see his finish.

11-12 7:20
12-13 7:30
13-14 7:23

I am able to run faster than I thought, but I just can’t push off any harder. My leg has gone numb so it doesn’t hurt as much anymore, so I decide to push it a little.

14-15 7:17

Okay that did hurt a little. I take another gel and slow down a little.

15-16 7:46

I’m starting to feel the effects of the big Gel bomb I took after mile 11. I see my good friend the porta-potty and duck inside.

16-17 10:40

Back on the course nicely rested I am able to run with minimal pain. I am glad Nancy isn’t around to tell me not to be doing this. I figure my body has made me a deal, that it will stop bitching until after the race, and then it will take it’s revenge. As long as I can finish I am okay with this deal.

17-18 7:15
18-19 7:15
19-20 7:23

The miles start to click off, this course is really great. I have a feeling that Vance will be going to Boston and I think Allegra has a great shot at a PR. The marathon Gods were smiling on everyone except me, so I’m happy to take the bullet and distract them.

20-21 7:23
21-22 7:33
22-23 7:38

I start wondering if I can qualify for Boston today, but don’t think I’ve got the juice to break 3:10. Then it dawns on me, that for Boston 2010, I will be older, and I only will need a 3:15:59. So I decide not to push it too much as I know I can sneak under 3:16.

23-24 7:59
24-25 7:30

The gels attack one last time, and then we are on our way.

25-26 8:25
.2 1:26
=========
3:11:58

I finish and head straight to the medical tent and get a huge bag of ice and tape it to my leg. I wait in the massage line and able to get my massage and get back to the finish in time to see Vance clock a 3:59:32. I am very proud of him for qualifying for Boston and breaking 4 hours in his first marathon. But he has definitely earned it. He put in many 50-60 mile weeks and did the hill and speed workout needed. It goes to show you that if you work hard and train for hard goals you can reach them.

To my chagrin, I missed Allegra’s finish. It turns out that while I was rehabbing so was busy crushing his PR by 5 minutes and comes in a 3:46:04, putting Boston firmly in her sights as well. I feel that Allegra will be joining Vance next year in Bean town.

I try to stretch, ice, and walk out my leg. I go to check the results and when I come back to the table Scott has also shocked the world and broken a 6 year old PR with a 4:13:32. He doesn’t even look like he ran.

Afterwards we all go shower and then head out for dinner. I am not allowed to sit on the PR side of the table as it is already full with Vance, Scott and Allegra. I join my non-running wife and mother-in-law on the banished side.

This was a great race, but I don’t recommend not eating or geling those first 10 miles. If you need Georgia this is a great race to do. Oh yeah, last but not least, FREE beer at the finish!

We went back to Atlanta and met some friends for dinner and good time was had by all.

My leg has turned an ugly red and I clearly have done something to it. I don’t run for 4-5 days then try a mile and can’t do it, so take another 4-5 days off and try again. I’m able to make 2 miles, but decide I need some massage and more rest. It finally started feeling a little better in the week leading up to the Knoxville marathon, but that’s another story.

Two bonus pictures:

and, just for good measure:

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Tags: Marathons, Race Reports //