 posted May-14-2007 06:14 PM
   
First, a big thanks to Fortunate One for giving me inspiration for a couple of miles by reading me the messages to me from other Boomers.Donna and I left straight from my job at Jet Fuel Cafe after working 16 hours and 60 hours in the past 4 days. We arrived in Ames at 1:30am and I was asleep at 1:45am. We got up at 5:00am for the 6:00am start. It was around 60 at the start and near 80 at the finish. Not much wind at first, but it was windy an hour or so into the run. There was a lot of tree cover, so it really helped with the wind and later the heat. The heat bothers me at 60, so the trees were a welcome from the start. There are 5 loops for the marathon and 6 loops for the 50k. There is a northern loop of 2+ miles and a southern loop of 3+ miles. You start by running the southern loop first. A couple of runners thought they were 5.5 mile loops, but the loops are probably closer to 5.25 miles. There are three aid stations. One at the start, one the the turnaround of the northern and southern loops. Donna is at the northern turn-around. With only 19 miles of training since February 10th I knew it would be one of my poorer times although it is a flat course. I ran on the old course in 2004 with a time of 4:35 and second overall. It was one loop then and went out on gravel roads for about half the distance. Ran with my friend, Steve Boone, the first loop and we passed each other several times. Steve ran a 4:40 at Brookings, SD, the day before. My first loop was a bit fast at 50:24. The second loop was not too bad, but I was surprised to be under an hour still with a 57:26. It was the final 2 miles of this loop that FO ran with me. A very pleasant surprise. With a couple of miles left in the third loop my feet started to hurt and I felt like it was going to really test my endurance to complete this one. My time for this loop was an 1:03. Better than I had expected. About a quarter of an mile or so into this loop FO took the picture of me that he posted. I was getting tired at this point. At the aid station of the southern turnaround there is no one there. There are several cups of fluids on the table, but they will be gone, when I come by next time. I pick up a bottle of Propel from Donna. Last year this was my slowest loop, so it did not discourage me to get quite a bit slower here. I did this one in 1:19. Although my feet are hurting me I did not feel as bad as I did in the fourth loop. As seeing Steve in this lap with only a little over a mile to complete the marathon, he asked, "Why are you doing the 50k today." My answer was, "Stupidity." To that he gave me a high five. I was not far behind him as he finished the marathon. As I finish the fifth loop at 1:15 and feeling good that I was on one last loop. If I was not running this with a challenge in mind, I would of done the smart thing and stopped at the marathon distance, and still feel reasonally good. Instead, off to see if can beat the heat and 5+ more miles. With less than a mile into this loop I feel terrible, my legs are very sore. Another mile and I hit an area that is an gradual uphill into the wind. This course has no challenging hills, but this one is challenging to me right now. After that it is about half a mile or a little less into the wind and no shade, but at least it is flat.
Now I am on my way back on the south loop. I feel sick to my stomach and I see a small area surrounded by trees that looks like a great place to take a nap. It sure was inviting for a few seconds, but then my focus was back on my challenge. I started heaving but nothing comes up. Boy, do I ever feel miserable. As I start on the northern loop and only a little over two miles to go, I feel sore and very tired. I think about Donna being at the last turnaround as a volunteer. Now with only a little over a mile left Donna runs to me with a smile and something to drink. I also get some fruit and encouragement before running downhill with the wind to my back. At this point my running is very slow and painful, but I was not going to let my sweetheart see me walking. It is over a quarter of a mile before I am into shade and out of Donna's sight. I am now sore all over and all I want to do is lay down and sleep. I try to run on the ground as much as possible to give my feet some relief. Seeing the finish line was a great feeling. I ran as fast as I could, which was not fast at all. I went into the shade to wait for Donna and get some water. A friends are there and we stay there for about 45 minutes and see a couple of other friends finish. When I got home at 6:15pm, I took a shower and fell asleep around 6:30pm. I slept until 5:00am to get ready fjor work. I now feel like a hundred year old man. I only had to work 9 hours today. Next is the Casper Marathon in Casper, WY, on June 3rd and the day before Donna's Birthday. I should be able to get some training in as early as next week. I am finally getting some help this Thursday.
TomD
IP: Logged |
get some rest, you deserve it. I am so glad that Fortunate One was there to share us with you. Great job as always!
