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VCM rookie perspective

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Author	Topic: VCM rookie perspective
Caddisfli Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 03:41 PM This was my first marathon. It was a great time with family and good friends who are great people. I am happy with having completed my first marathon but overall yesterday was not my day. I was aiming for a 3:45. I did some numbers on the way home. I think the hills at 8 and 15 took their toll (maybe the downs more than the ups). As of mile 16 at the top of the last big hill I was on track at 2: 18 (8:39 average pace and a 3:46 projected finish) and feeling fine with the worst of the course behind me. In mile 17 my quads and hips began to lock up. My pace slowly decayed until by mile 20 I was reduced to a shuffling run where the best I could do was try to turn my little shuffle over quicker but I could not get any knee lift. At mile 20 I was at a projected 3:52 finish and crashing fast and the skies opened up and poured rain. End product 4: 05.26. But I am still pleased to have finished my first marathon 17 months after starting this crazy past time you all call running. Now for the social end of the report. We got up Vermont on Friday afternoon and checked into the hotel. We grabbed a quick dinner then went for a swim with the kids, well the kids swam and I read a book on the deck. At 8 each night our hotel puts out milk and warm cookies so we went down to have some and ran into my old business partner from the bike shop Bill. He was up here to run as well. We sat for a while, ate cookies, relived old times and talked about the race. It was a nice coincidence. The next morning we hit the expo and the kids had a blast. They called it freebie day and told everyone they went trick or treating at the tables. needless to say they made out with a ton of freebies. After that we went downtown to scope out the course a bit. We were back at the hotel by 11:00 for an afternoon of nothing but naps and reading. One of the real high points of the weekend was Saturday night when I was lucky enough to go to dinner with Boomers. I am so pleased to have met the WRFB and PDR, Rose and her DH Ralph, and SkipAZ. We were also joined by the PBJ clan who I have met before and always enjoy. Let me tell you folks you could travel far and wide and not find a group of more sincerely good people. Rose brought candy for the kids and was great to sit next to. It was like meeting an old friend. As highly as Rose speaks about Ralph he is more. I really enjoyed talking to him about science and teaching and our children. he also had some great insights into running and racing. The Beers are an incredible couple. They are thoughtful and fun and always looking for the next great adventure together. Soulmates through and through and eager to share the fun. On top of it Lou brews one hell of a fine ESB ale. I am sorry I only had a taste due to it being the night before the race. It was great to meet Skip who as one very fast runner has great humility and was full of encouragement for this rookie runner. And what can you say about PBJ a funny family man who is all about a good time and somehow still manages to be one of the fastest people I know once he is on the race course. I was doubly lucky to hook up with Lou and Harriet after the race. It really made for a nice way to end my weekend. They were kind enough to let me shower at their hotel and we had fun wandering around looking for a restaurant that had less than an hour wait. I feel very lucky to have started running, finished my first marathon 17 months later, and picked up such a great group of people that I am fortunate to consider friends. Thanks to all of you who have supported me along the way. Your advice, support, example and inspiration have helped me more than I can say! To all my online coaches out there who I have relied on (you know who you are) I have learned a ton from this first training cycle and race. I am looking forward to putting that learning to use the next time. cheers to all of you, cfli (sorry Illene, no pictures of my feet) IP: Logged
TMWIP Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 03:46 PM Congrats to you Cfli the marathoner!!! That is a great accomplishment in 17 months!!! Sorry the last several miles were difficult and rainy. But you finished your first marathon and got to hang out with other Boomers! What a great weekend. So, it sounds like there will be others . . . will you do the full at Hartford? IP: Logged
WillRunForBeer Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 03:57 PM It was great to meet you and your family, cfli! It was a tough race but you have your first behind you now. Relax and enjoy the glow -- then start planning for the fall IP: Logged
tallrunner Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 03:57 PM Caddisfli Congratulations on running your first marathon. They are never easy and you pulled thru on this one. Keep it up it will get better (most of the time). Congrats on the race and the boomer reunion. Way to go Tall IP: Logged
Fortunate One Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 04:05 PM Congratulations, marathoner. An apt description, which I first heard as I stood in pain after my first, is that a marathon is a beast that doesn't like to be tamed. The important thing is that you finished with the desire to do a "next" one. You'll have time to think, listen, plan, etc. to tame this beast. Now, just take the time to enjoy your tremendous accomplishment and recover. WTG, Cfli! ------------------ Fortunate--a volleyballer with a running problem Profile [This message has been edited by Fortunate One (edited May-28-2007).] IP: Logged
choover Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 04:06 PM Cfli, Sounds to me like you have a lot of positives to focus on. You finished the race, met some great Boomers, reunited with others, and spent some nice time with the family. From what others have said the hills were draining and the H & H didn't help. Sincere congratulations! ------------------ choover IP: Logged
Dark Horse Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 04:07 PM C-fli, Fine job in your first marathon, even if your time wasn't what you wished. I'm impressed by how you, among others here, successfully juggle a demanding professional career with a lovely family and solid running. Running at our time of life is mostly about having new experiences and enjoying friends. You are a winner in that respect, too. Dark Horse ------------------ I'm a dark horse, running on a dark race course IP: Logged
predawnrunner Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 04:19 PM Congratulations again, Cfli! We feel privileged to have shared in the excitement of your first. Each one is a different experience, and it's encouraging that you're already thinking of "next" time. However, if you feel anything like I do today, your nearer term focus is just getting over that post-marathon shuffle. I find that lots of ESB is useful in the first 48 hours. Also - I just want to say that Mrs. CFli and your daughters are utterly charming, and so obviously proud of you. I'm not sure there are too many little kids who would be so cheerful at the end of a long event like this. But there they were, standing around in the pouring cold rain, with huge smiles on their faces for daddy at the finish. That even cheered me up! ------------------ Predawnrunner, aka mrs W.R.F. Beer IP: Logged
SherieRanier Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 04:30 PM Great job, especially for your 1st marathon. Now that it's in the cooker and done, you can feel satisified and proud to call yourself a marathoner! Keep up the good running. Isn't it fun to meet Boomers as well? I know the experience has made my running races that much more enjoyable. Sherie IP: Logged
perchcreek Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 04:34 PM Congratulations Marathoner!! You tackled a challenging course, felt the pain that a marathon throws at you and survived ! You passed the "Marathon Hazing" and are hereby dubbed "Marathoner" Great time even if it was a bit slower than your target. First marathons are all about finishing anyways. Cheers Cfli!! perch IP: Logged
Ileneforward Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 07:10 PM Great job Caddisfli! You write a great report and you ran a determined first marathon. Maybe this course and this weather was the wrong combination, but getting to meet and spend time with the best of the boomers must be weighed in the positive. It is incredible that you only started running 17 months ago. You are so amazing. [This message has been edited by Ileneforward (edited May-28-2007).] IP: Logged
hollys4874 Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 07:37 PM Caddisfli � Congratulations on your first marathon! You did it! Well done! Beautiful family you have there, too. Rest up now, you deserve it! ------------------ Holly IP: Logged
vista129 Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 08:25 PM Congratulations !! That is great to have successfully completed your first marathon. I would agree that the help in this forum is incredible in a variety of ways....not only technical but also psychological. It really is neat. Looking forward to seeing how you move forward in your running career. Thanks for sharing this RR. ------------------ vista129 IP: Logged
spankee Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 08:25 PM A warm and wonderful RR and a great first marathon. We have all felt the slow decay at the end of marathon, fighting off total exhaustion with each step. It is what seperates the marathon from events of lesser length and what places you in that 1 in 1,000 people in this world who have gotten to the end of one. Enjoy the glory of it as you recover . ------------------ The longest journey starts with a single step IP: Logged
Labduck Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 08:42 PM Congratulations to you Cfli, you've accomplished something that very few people have done (myself included). You're now a marathoner! Other than not reaching your 3:45 goal, it sounds like you had a great weekend. Great job! ------------------ Labduck IP: Logged
Canfit Cool Runner	posted May-28-2007 09:42 PM Cfli ..."you are a marathoner!". Congratulations! 4:05 is a great time for a first marathon. Just enjoy the memories! You've accomplished something very few people ever do! PJ IP: Logged
mcsolar99 Cool Runner	posted May-29-2007 03:26 AM congrats cfli; you've taken the marathon fast track for sure! enjoy some well-deserved easy fun time before the bug bites you again. IP: Logged
bigapplepie Cool Runner	posted May-29-2007 06:12 AM Congratulations cfli! IP: Logged
runningindc Cool Runner	posted May-29-2007 08:07 AM Congratulations on completing your first marathon. And you got to hang with fun boomers too! Your time was great and your expereince will stay with you forever. WTG and thanks for sharing the experience. ------------------ Running in wellness Liz Lizs Profile IP: Logged
tnally Cool Runner	posted May-29-2007 08:18 AM Howard, Congratulations on finishing your 1st marathon! I know that you are a fine runner and will beat your goal time easily. glad you had such a fun weekend with family and Boomer frens. Tom IP: Logged
tomwhite Cool Runner	posted May-29-2007 08:23 AM ...........great racing//...........and, yes, it is like a Large Extended Family...... ................glad you got your Marathon,,,,,,,,,,,worry about the Fine Tuning later.........good race......... IP: Logged
rochrunner Cool Runner	posted May-29-2007 08:24 AM Great job, cfli! Your only important goal for a first marathon should be to finish, so your race was a complete success. Hey, you beat my first marathon time by over an hour. And meeting all those other Boomers was just frosting on the cake. Now that you're a veteran marathoner, all you have to do is pick your next target and go for it. ------------------ - Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner IP: Logged
hally Moderator of Boomers and Beyond	posted May-29-2007 08:25 AM wooohoooo H, got one under the belt and had a fantastic visit with a greta bunch of Boomers and family. You can't guarantee weather but with a group like that you were definitely guaranteed a good time. OH, and not too shabby for a first marathon. What's next? Barb IP: Logged
SueT48 Cool Runner	posted May-29-2007 08:28 AM Congratulations, cfli! You'll get that 3:45 next time! Good race and race report. Thanks for sharing! ------------------ Sue IP: Logged
FlyingFinn Cool Runner	posted May-29-2007 08:30 AM Congratulations, Caddisfli, on finishing your first crazy thing called a marathon just 17 months after starting this crazy thing called running! You're already talking about next time...are you crazy or what? Great job! You have a beautiful family. IP: Logged

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