Marathon Finisher: Raleigh, NC (COO)
Yet Not a Marathon Runner
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): I crossed the finish line and I am a Marathon Finisher. My performance on the course was rather pathetic and I just barely crossed the finish line before the 6-hour course cutoff. (5hrs 55min) Simply put: I’m not pleased with myself.
WHERE THE HELL ARE MY SHOES! I was startled awake at 1:45am from yet another bad dream, this time I somehow managed to get all the way to the race and forgot my running shoes! It was 1:45am and I was in the midst of the time-shift and was very disoriented. Was it 1:45am DST or had the clock already gone back an hour? My alarm was set for 4:30, so would I get another 2.5hrs of sleep or 3.5hrs of sleep? I shut my eyes in confusion, only to be woken up by another bad dream, this time I somehow broke my leg in the first 3 miles of the race and was forced to DNF. A nightmare for sure.
I woke up before the alarm sounded and made my way downstairs for a cup of coffee and then head out the door. I made a second effort to ensure I had my running shoes in the Jeep before departing! Maybe all those bad dreams were a premonition of bad things to come, but one of those wouldn’t be running barefoot.
Like a kung-fu kick to the cranium, I step outside and get smacked in the face with heat and humidity. I’m not sure if anthropogenic-global warming is real, but I can see how it is believable with a morning like this. The Jeep tells me it’s 70F and the water buildup on the windshield tells me the humidity is above 60%. This is going to be a tough race. I’m glad I brought my hydration vest, or did I? A quick double check in the seat next to me, I got it.
With road closures taking place throughout downtown Raleigh I was stressed about the parking situation. I get downtown early and find a spot just 1-block from the finish line. Not too bad. Even better a carload of my friends parked across the street and another just 1 block down. It would be a good start to the race.
I soon realize that as I’m putting my running shoes on and doing the final adjustments to my gear, I’m already sweating at 6:20am by doing basically nothing. This is going to be rough. I square away my gear, make sure I have my running shoes on and my friends and I make our way to the starting line for some pictures, and pre-race piss breaks and meet up with other friends.
At the starting corrals we meet up with more friends and give each other a lot of encouragement. My running club had over a dozen runners at this race doing all of the distances 5K, 10K, Half and Full. In each distance we had runners who were making a first-time appearance at each distance.
In our entire club there were only four of us completing the Marathon. Carlos, Jon, Katelyn and myself. Jon and Carlos are far superior runners to myself and have completed this course in years past. They informed me that this course was “hilly” and difficult. More on that later!
Just before the start I ran into Tina who was doing the 10K with a friend but didn’t get a picture, and I in the crowd of thousands more it was hard to find everyone else. However just before the start I found Jon and Kristin.
After finding as many Clayton Area Runners I could find, I finally made my way to my place in the starting corrals and that’s where I ran into Kristin and Katelyn where Kristin was running her first 10K and Katelyn was running her first Marathon.
The Race
THERE WILL BE HILLS! I was told so many times leading up to this Marathon and there I stood at the start, looking uphill towards the starting line. Even the start was uphill! Regardless, I decided to do my best to keep my pace and enjoy the run.
At just 5K in, I’m already sweating pretty bad and drinking more water than expected. I’m going to have to change up my water plan, taking some cups from the water points. The pace the first 5K is crazy because it’s 3 miles of weaving in and out of traffic and trying to find your pacing group. At some point up ahead is the 10K turn around and hopefully I see some of my 10K friends as they are heading back. I move to the center of the road but alas, I don’t see anyone I recognize. I feel good for the 4 miles and my pace is evening out to just over 10min/mile.
I start to see Half Marathon runners on the way back so again I start looking for friends. I see Howard making his way to the finish and I stop and clap as he makes his way by. Undoubtedly he’s a strong runner than and sets a great standard, especially being 4 years older than me. There’s hope still! Great race Howard.
Along the course, when we were still running with the half-marathon group, there was a sharp right turn followed by a long uphill climb. I made a decision that I would run this entire hill and pass as many people as possible! It was tough! My heart rate spiked up to 190bpm and I was pretty gassed. A mistake that would haunt me later.
The race continues and I’m drinking water like crazy. I’m keeping my nutrition plan in place and eating a non-caffeinated GU at mile 5 along with some of my NUUN enhanced water. I complete my first 10K in 1:04:16 at a pace of 10’21”/mile. I’m not upset at this because in those first 10K, I’m certain I’ve already climbed 8 or 9 hills. It’s been a challenging 10K!
Somewhere down the line around mile 8 the course splits again with the Marathon hanging a left onto the Capital Area Greenway system and the Half Marathon going right for a turn around and a finish. At this intersection was a Drum Circle (band? Quartet? Line?), whatever you call them, there were about a dozen drums with some nonstop rhythmic beating. It was cool for a minute, but I was glad to get passed them.
Hitting the greenway simply means more hills. Up to this point I’m not certain I’ve ran an entire mile that was flat. This is tough! So many hills. At the 10-mile mark I’m really looking forward to seeing my friend Dave who is volunteering on the course right near mile 13 1/2. I’ve gone through a lot of water and half of my GU’s. It’s been tough! I’m starting to feel the effects of the hills on my legs and hip flexors. Nothing hurts, but I’m getting uncomfortable.
I hit the halfway point just before arriving to Dave’s turn. I finish my first 13.1 (half) in 2:27:21 at a pace of 11’15”/mile. I’m not upset at this pace given the heat, humidity and the hills I’ve been climbing, over and over again. I finally see Dave and stop for a brief moment to talk. I admit that I’m uncomfortable and it’s a tough course. After some words of encouragement, I’m off again and now looking forward to the Clayton Area Runners water stop at mile 14.5.
My next stop is the Clayton Area Runners water stop and I asked some of the volunteers to bring a Banana if they could and they pulled through! This portion of the course is an out-and-back so I will cross their path at mile 14.5 and again at 16.6. On the way out I stop, get some water and eat a banana. I can feel the effects of dehydration and nutrition failure. I need this potassium in me. I eat the banana and take off.
Since mile 8, there has been ZERO porta-potties on the trail or the check points. My body temperature is at a point I’m about to piss myself and would rather not run another 12 miles with piss on my shorts. I’d pull off the trail, but I’m still in the mix of runners and wearing a red shirt. I figure I’ll just wait to the turn around.
Arriving at the turn around there were some great volunteers cheering us on. I continued passed the turn around with them yelling “Hey, the turn around is here! Hey runner, you might want to go back!”. I’m glad they cared so much, but at the moment all I needed was a tree that would provide semi-privacy.
After supplying mother nature with the requisite deposit of bodily fluids, of which was dark yellow and smelled like ham-slice (an MRE reference. IYKYK), I head back to the course and continue my trek back to the water point with CAR.
After arriving I text my wife that I’ve made it 16.6 miles, leaving me just less than 10-miles left to the finish. The team refills my water bottles and offers another banana and then I’m off. I’m really grateful for this club and the Volunteers. It was great to see friendly faces at this point of the race. At this point I’ve been walking all the uphills and running as best I could the downhills and flat portions. It’s been a struggle!!
After mile 16 things got a little fuzzy. It was just a myriad of hills, up and down, up and down. Steep inclines and steep descents. At this point I think I’m walking 60% of the time. I make it to mile 20 in 4:12:10 with a pace of 12’38”.
I saw Jon run past, heading towards the finish. He looked sweaty but strong. I was hoping he would finish in under 4:30:00, this is a tough race and he’s looking for redemption. I hope he gets it.
A little while later Carlos passes me by on the way to the finish. He looks downright miserable and uncomfortable. I don’t ever recall seeing him in this state. It’s almost hard to believe or fathom, yet he was still running and moving forward. Later he admitted to me he walked the last 6 miles. This was not a good race for him either, but he finished and that’s what matters!
I’ve now gone beyond my longest run. In Hawaii three weeks ago I did a 20-miler with a pace of 11’16”. I’m doing much slower now. My legs are sore and hurting and I’m now walking 90% of the time but doing my best to keep my walking pace as close to 15min/mile as possible. Everything hurts! As I’m walking I’m doing the math and I realize I might not make the 6-hour course cutoff. I really do not want to DNF (Did Not Finish).
Beyond the threshold! At mile 21 I’m now beyond any mileage I did for training leading up to this race. I’m walking 99% of the time and when I do run, it hurts. Most of my running is happening in 0.25mi spurts at best and almost entirely downhill. I send a text to my team to spread the word, I will be finishing close to the 6hr mark. I’m pretty fucking embarrassed to send that text. Rather ashamed of myself. How did I let myself get so close to DNF. Pitiful.
I drive on, knowing I’m not going to quit. There’s only way way this will end. I’m going to cross the finish line. At mile 22 1/2 I start getting cramps. First my side, then my calves, thighs and hamstrings. Every step fucking hurts and I’m doing what I can do not change my form in fear of causing more damage. At mile 23, I convince myself and anyone I come near that we are only a 5K away from the finish and it’s possible. I’m not sure if I’m telling them to gas them up, or give myself some small glimmer of hope to cross the finish line on my own two feet. To be clear. I’m walking 99.9% of the time. Everything hurts. Every step. Running seems damn near impossible. I shouldn’t have ran up that hill in the beginning or any of them. Idiot!
As I’m making the final approach I’m emotionally torn and mentally abusing myself. This was a pathetic outing at my first Marathon. How could I be so close to a DNF?!? I had a good training cycle for 14 weeks. I was prepared, but not ready for this. I was not ready for the heat, humidity and hills. The Triple-H destroyed me.
With 2.5 miles left I’m moving forward with hope and fear. Hope that I see my friend Anthony on the sidelines, cheering me on. He’s an incredible runner, a good person and has become a close friend of mine within CAR. I would have loved to see him on the last couple of miles. However, with a friend like Anthony, I’m also running in fear because he’s the guy that will come out on the course and somehow convince me to run the last 2-miles! Something I’m not sure I’m physically capable of at this point! I don’t want to disappoint my friend by being a failure at running so I’m also hoping I don’t see him. When it was all done and said, I never did see Anthony and that’s ok. He wasn’t avoiding me and when it takes 6 hours, people have lives and other responsibilities. I’ll see him again next week and I’m grateful for his friendship.
At around one mile out I do see Dave! The man who has done over 100+ training miles with me, given me insights into running, racing and fitness. I’m really happy to see him on this last mile. I’m embarrassed because I’m walking, and not just walking but my left knee is giving out every now and then. My body is breaking down and I appear weak. I hate it. But in good Dave form, he gives nothing but encouragement and is positive.
He informs me that in the last 0.75 mile, I’m going to need to run at some point to beat the 6-hour course cut off and a DNF. His mind is clearly operating at a higher level than mine, I grunt and agree and we someone manage a short distance run here and there until we get to the last turn.
Just before the last turn and the finish line he tells me he’s going to pull off to the sidewalk. That didn’t make sense in my mind. He ought to finish with me, he did all these training runs with me, volunteered and has finished the course. It’d be an honor to have him in my finish line photo. But alas, as a good sport he’s not wearing a bib and doesn’t want to cause a issue with the race director. He peels off and I finished the race on a slight jog. Everything fucking hurts.
At the finish line I see Howard who took my finish line photos and Jon was cheering me on. Later I see Carlos and his wife Fely, who also had kind words of encouragement. I laid down to gather myself and get weight off my feet and legs. Everything hurt.
In my mind, “Running” is any pace above a 15min/mile. It’s absolutely possible to walk a 15min/mile and paces above that will require some sort of jog, shuffle or run. So in my mind any pace faster than 15min/mile is considered a “run”.
With that said, my overall pace was 13’26”, which means by those metrics I was “running”. But that simply isn’t the truth. I walked a very good portion of the course, so while I am a Marathon Finisher, I also acknowledge the fact that I am not a Marathon Runner.
I need to acknowledge some people who has really helped me over the last 14 weeks.
Dave: Been running with me all summer and providing invaluable insights, tips and information. I can only hope to be running like him in 20yrs. It’s incredible.
Robert: I’ll crunch the numbers at some point, but I’m certain he’s been on at least 60% or more of my training runs with me. Never one to back down on a long run and always willing to push a little more when the going gets tough!
Jon and Carlos: The other two runners who I knew were doing the Marathon. They are undoubtedly better runners than me. Jon ran my 18-miler long run with me and made it look easy. He’s always improving and it’s motivational to witness. Carlos runs with me on the track, during the week and on my weekend long runs. When we weren’t running together we passed each other on the long runs.
Daniela, Becca, Amy and the Morning Track Crew: The Run Before The Sun Track training I feel was really beneficial. These ladies would show up and put in the work and never a complaint was heard. I appreciate their friendship and putting in miles with me!
Clayton Area Runners: There are so many to name, I dare not try as I would most likely miss someone. A HUGE thank you to everyone who has run with me on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening runs with Clayton Area Runners. Ya’ll are incredible people and at every run I’ve enjoyed running just a bit more, not because of the running but because of the people. The Volunteers at the water point on the Marathon were great and I’m thankful for Paula for leading that up and for every Volunteer who gave their time. Thank you!
My wife Elizabeth and Children: Training for a marathon takes time. Many evening runs and long weekend runs. I’m extremely grateful to my wife Elizabeth for having the patience for all this training time. Right there at the end though I think she had enough, and it’s now time to spend more quality time at home instead of on the trail. My kids were great, knowing that I was preparing for this Marathon since August and they never gave me any flak. I’m appreciative of that!
My Gear Breakdown:
Shoes: Brooks GHOST 14’s. I had two pair I rotated during training.
Socks: Balega - Hidden Comfort
Shorts: UNK: I picked them up at Ross. Over 14 weeks I rotated through 8 pairs of shorts of different brands and picked the most comfortable for the race.
Shirt: Team RWB Nike Dri-Fit
Hat: Basic Running hat with CAR logo
Sunglasses: UNK - picked them up at a gas station (Sheetz)
Hydration Vest: OSPREY DURO 6
Chub-Rub Prevention: Gold Bon - Friction Defense w/Aloe. (The best I’ve ever used)
Watch: COROS PACE 2
Headphones: SHOKZ - OPEN RUN
Phone/Music: iPhone 14
Gels: GU brand - Salted Caramel & Strawberry Banana
Electrolytes: NUUN
Lessons Learned:
I will never run another Marathon with a bodyweight over 200. I ran this one at 220lbs and that was a mistake. Goal Marathon Weight is 175lbs.
Be Prepared and Ready for the course. A better study of the course to facilitate better training. HILLS killed me.
Figure out a better music playlist.
Marathon Training will take me 20 weeks instead of the 14 I did this time.
Take an ICE-BATH after the finish.
Thank you for following along with my Journey to the MARATHON! I hope you were entertained and gleaned some insights into the process of preparing for a race. This blog will continue and change a little. Keep an eye out for an update to the changing format and topics at hand.
Until the next Marathon. Run Happy and Run with friends. Running with friends is always better!