 posted Oct-22-2007 08:45 AM
   
10,000 persons - race sold out.
1100 half and marathon walkers.
3500 Half Marathoners finishers
3600 Marathon finishersDoes that indicate approximately 2000 didn't start or finish? Lining up - There was a 4 hour sign which I lined up next to. About 10 feet in front of that sign was the 4:15 pace group. Another 50 feet in front of that group was the Clif Bar 4 hour pace group leader. I pray before all the major runs. Last year, I cramped up badly and hit the wall at 23. My prayer is simple, may I avoid cramping this year, and may the run give God the glory. And the marathon begins... By mile 4, I was a full 1 minute under 4 hour pace. I can not see the 4 hour pace group. I begin running with 3 other 4 hour hopefuls, and we are wondering why the 4 hour pace group is so far ahead of us. By mile 7, I could see the 4 hour pace group, I am now 1 minute 5 seconds under goal time. But there are 2 new problems, I'm now catching the marathon and half marathon walkers who started an hour before the marathoners. Also, the Columbus marathon breaks off the half and full marathons at one point and then they merge back together. This results in half marathoners who are nearly a mile slower then marathoners merging with slightly faster runners. What we now have is mass congestion. There's also a problem at the water stops - they can't pass out the water as fast at the runners are coming. I run outside a water table and grab an empty cup - stop - and search for a glass of water. At mile 10, 1:30:32, still a minute under 4 hour pace, and I am at least 30 seconds behind the 4 hour pace group. At the 13.1 mark, I am 1 minute 18 seconds under 4 hours, and the 4 hour group is pulling away. Fortunately, the half marathoners are about to split off to finish - the congested conditions are about to end. Mile 15 - 2 minutes under 4 hours, and the 4 hour pace group is still pulling away. I'm now getting frustrated and wondering what the heck is wrong with that clif bar pace leader. I realize this is negative energy, and I determine to let it go. Hills on mile 17-19. I tackled the hill on 17 and decline on 18 right at 4 hour pace. On mile 19, my left hamstring, which I have been battling all year, was in agony, I end mile 19 a minute under 4 hour pace. My goal of the 4 hour marathon is now gone. I hit mile 20 and it should be my last GU. I don't know if it's the heat, but my stomach is upset. If I take this GU, I'm going to throw up. In fact, I was way under hydrated the whole race. The gatorade was too sweet, and the water tasted odd. It's now in the low 70's. I'm sweating profusely and I wring out my headband. Another runner comes by and offers me a bottle of water to drench my head. A bystander yells out "run your own race". I give thanks for these two persons. The first who offers water to cool me down, and the second to remind me that this marathon aint about me finishing in 4 hours, but about finishing the run and giving thanks to God. The last 6 miles were very slow. I would walk for 60 seconds, then jog for 5 minutes. And that's how I was able to finish the race. Without cramping and avoiding the wall. A 4:22, I guess I should be disappointed, but I'm not. Maybe a little. Anyhow, after mile 19, it became about finishing and not about 4 hours. Crossing the finish line, I gave thanks to God. It is only because of His grace that I woke that morning, that my heart can beat, that my lungs can draw in air. He answered yes to my prayer to avoid cramping. I take away a couple things from this run. I've lost 70 pounds through running, but need to lose another 15. I also need to train at distances that exceed 20 miles. I've held the 4 hour pace through 20 on several occassions, but need to train longer. And now I'm dialing it down for awhile to rest the left hamstring. A couple days off, then low milage for a couple weeks. ------------------
Dennis' Profile
IP: Logged |
