My First Marathon

Yesterday I woke up around 4:00am as a normal Joe runner, by the afternoon I became a marathon runner!


I ran the full 26.2 distance in 4:55:23. I could not be happier about finishing the race and my time! I woke up around 4:00am and ate a small breakfast of a plain toasted bagel with peanut butter and a muscle milk shake. I didn’t want to eat a lot before the race, I usually don’t eat before my runs but I didn’t want to run out for fuel during my run. I left home around 5:20 to make sure that I had enough time to find parking and not feel rush lining up in the coral. When I found my parking spot it was funny, all you can see was a sea of runners heading for the starting line. The atmosphere was very exciting. When I found the starting line everyone was hanging around talking about running, taking pictures and some were even dancing around. At 6:45 the pace group leaders started lining up at the starting line. I found my group that I was going to run with, the 4:45 pace group. Steve was our leader and that’s all I know about him, there was a sign on the back of his shirt 4:45 Steve. My running buddy Zorka found me in line and gave me so final good lucks and you got this cheer. Everyone around me had the same look on their faces, the look of excitement and fright. Everyone got really quite and the National anthem started. The race was about to begin! Being toward the middle of the pack you couldn’t really hear what was going on up front. Then there was a loud horn sound and every one took one step forward and stopped. It’s kind of weird to hear the starting horn then have to slowly walk up to the starting line to begin running. Almost 6 minutes later I crossed the starting line. I wanted to bolt forward and start running like crazy. In all my reading and training I was always told not to start out to fast. I was about ten feet behind the pace leader and felt that if I just stayed behind him I wouldn’t have to worry about going too fast. The next three miles were so surreal. I was trying my hardest to soak it all in, I am running a Marathon! Everyone around you cheering all the runners, the sound of cow bells everywhere. I got to run in the streets of downtown Cleveland not having to worry about anything except all the sweatshirts, hats and other clothes that the runners were throwing everywhere. The first three miles I ran in 10:37, 10:54 and 10:44. It didn’t even feel like I ran three miles already. I wanted to make sure that I was well hydrated and fueled for the full distance so I made it a point to drink at every water station and have a GU every three miles. I was wearing a 4:45 pace bracelet to help remind me when to have a GU and keep me on pace. I started to feel like I had to relieve myself soon, however I didn’t want to lose my pace group so I just thought I would hold it for while.

The next three mile I ran a 10:46, 10:49 and 10:55. I felt that I could run ahead a little bit from the pace group, hoping I could get that bathroom break in and not lose any time. I think it was around mile 6-7 my wonderful support group showed up. My wife Lyn, my three children Taylor, Jacob , Makenna, My sister Barb, her Husband Doug and her four children Nick, Matt, Andrew and Rebecka. They were all wear very cool Blue tie dyed shirts that said RUN! BRIAN! RUN! 26.2. That was the coolest thing to see, it helped me keep pushing! I got to see them again around mile 8-9. I knew that one of the hardest parts for the race for me was coming up and I was really good to see them one last time before the half way point. Miles 7 -11 I ran in 10:33, 10:49, 10:34, 10:23 and 11:06. Miles 10.5 to 12ish were a slow long uphill over a bridge back into the city. It felt like it would never end. Final over the top we start to flatten out. I ran the next to mile at 10:43 and 10:26. At mile 13 the half marathon runners split off and ran to their finish line. I felt joy and sorrow, joy because I was half way do and sorrow because I was only half done. Right after the 13.5 mile mark I final got to go to the bathroom. When I was done I noticed that the pace group was right in front of me so that worked out good.

Miles 13-17 I think was pretty hard, there really wasn’t that many people out there cheering and I always feel a little down around here on my long runs. I had to dig deep to keep going, I knew though up a head I would see my family again. I think that around mile 17 I got to see them again which was really good, I needed a push again. Miles 14-19 I ran at 10:27, 11:29, 11:00, 11:24, 12:14 and 10:54.

I ran mile 20 in 11:37. It felt like a life time went by on that mile. Damn that was long. Coming up to mile 21 I got to see my support group one last time before the finish. It was a small uphill to I decided to walk a little and talk with them. When I got to the top I remember my sister yelling great job your at mile 21. I was dumb founded, this is the farthest I have ever run so far and every step forward from now on is a new experience. As I was turning the corner to run the last 5.2 miles I started to feel very proud of me on how far I have come in my running journey. Everyone says the marathon begins at mile 20, and they are right! The emotions that I felt were almost overwhelming, you could see it in other runners that they felt the same way. Along the last mile a lot of people looked to others for motivation to keep going. I talked to a few runners and we each new that it was almost over. Our little pack would trade places back and forth telling each other it’s only a 5k away or almost there keep pushing! Miles 21-25 I ran in 11:17, 12:11, 11:48, 13:20 and 11:36.

The last mile I realized that I am going to make it, I am going to run the full 26.2 mile today. On the last turn you could see flashing lights around ½ mile away. This is where I wanted to be, this is where I am going to be. I heard a runner yell out three more stop light and we are there! Then I saw it, the finish line! The sounds of cheering from the crowds of people were getting louder and louder. People were reaching out to high five you and to congratulate you. This is where I almost broke down and started to cry, my breathing became very troubled and I had to reach in really deep to keep it together. Then I started to run over the chip timers, end is here. I did it. Passing over the finish line I started to walk forward and a nice older women was there standing with a finisher’s metal, as she started to put it on me I could barely get out thank you. Walking forward out of the finisher area I almost felt kind of lost, I didn’t know what was going on. Someone gave me water and said congratulations. Then I heard “DAD” I looked around and saw my support group walking up from the finish line. There really are no words to explain the feelings I had running my first marathon, all I can say is “thank you”

Two More Days

This afternoon I and daughter Makenna went to the Rite Aid health and fitness expo to pick up my race bib and goody bag. When driving down to the expo I started to get some small pre-race jitters. I know that I didn't forget how to run or anything I just hope that I'll be able to run the full 26.2 miles. I hope that all the training was enough. My longest run to date is 20 miles and there is 6.2 mile more. For the last couple of weeks I have been having some adductor muscle discomfort when running. I have been taking it easy when running and doing some stretching. Last week I went to see my doctor to make sure if I keep on running I won't really hurt myself. She said that I just strained the muscle and rest and ice would be the best. I gave her the look of aahhhh no I am running this. So she gave me a prescription for an anti inflammatory and set me up with physical therapy. She said even thou your race is a week away maybe they could help work out the strained muscles. I have been running still and the pain us just a small dull now. Yesterday I went to see the therapist for an evaluation. I told him my story and he understood what I was going through. He said that he can't work miracles but he'll try to loosen up the muscles. After about 20 minutes of the weirdest positions a man ever put me in I was all stretched out. Then he gave me a large ice bag and left me be for awhile. When he returned he brought me a stretching routine and set me up for 6 more appointments. He said he didn't want to work the muscles to deep because it would be sore and I would be yelling at him later. I do feel better today. I have been doing the stretching and resting so I hope I am good to go.

I don't plan on winning, or beating any records. I do want to finish. I am planning on running with the 4:45 pace group, if I feeling good towards the end I'll speed up or even if I am killing myself I'll slow down. Even if I run the first half and have to walk the rest I don't mind. I just want to start at the starting line and finish at the finish line. The course is open for 8 hours so I have a lot of time. I just have to remember that my 26.2 miles is celebration of all the hard work that I have done over the last year.

I am going to break the 26.2 miles into five 5.25 mile groups in my head. I know that I can easily run 5 miles. I have done it hundreds of times, what’s five more?

Anyways I will finish my first marathon tomorrow and hopefully post some pictures for ya.

Workout updates from my phone.

The big twenty mile run is done and I am in tapper mode! I still don't
believe that I ran that far. To recap the run, I started the run about
7:30 am and planned a out and back route. This time out I brought
along some fuel for the run. A couple of gu's, clif power bar and
filled up my camel pack with gatorade. The first five miles were
really good, felt fast and easy. The next five to the half was a
little harder, I think that it was mainly do to me over heating from
the windbreaker I was wearing. When I hit the ten mile mark I shredded
the jacket and fueled up on the clif bar. I was totally drenched in
sweat from wearing the jacket, but after taking it off I felt really
cold. Miles 10-15 kind of felt numb, like they didn't even happen. I
always dread mile 16 not sure why and of course when mile 16 hit so
did the aches. I started to add short walks in about every 1/2 mile.
When I hit mile 18 I started to feel alot better so I ran 19. The last
mile was really hard but I felt really good about it. When I hit 20
I new that the marathon is totally do-able. I went straight into the
ice bath when I got home. I think I soaked for about 20 minutes.
That evening I felt real good muscle wise, some thing stomach wise
didn't feel right. I continued to feel that way for the next couple of
days. From what I read and gathered I was dehydrated. Even thou I
drank almost 60 oz of fluids during my run I stopped hydrating after
my run. They say you should continue hydrating even after your runs.
Not sure if that was the cause but all I know is that I felt like crap
for the next few days.
Monday was across training day so I road my bike for about 1/2 hour.
Tuesday was a rest day. Starting my tapper now my recovery run was
suppost to be 5 miles. Still feeling alittle off I ended up only
running 4 miles. Thursdays mid-week long run of 8 miles did not go so
well. I headed out in the morning and when I hit about 2 miles I
started to have pain in my upper left leg toward my inner thigh. I
started to walk a little and it went away. When I stared up running
again the pain came right back. I did this for about 1/2 mile before I
desided to turn back and walk home. It started to hurt even more, even
walking. So I had to call home and Ask my wife to pick me up. When I
got home and sat down the pain started to go away. This is the first
time ever that I didn't finish a run. It was really hard to do that. I
felt that I needed to stop and find out what was going on. The rest of
the day it didn't really hurt, but it was sore. I also desided not to
run on Friday. Friday morning I did get to finally break in that new
bike. I road about 20 miles and it was awesome. That afternoon I
bought a foam roller to help stretch out those leg muscles. Saturday
was a rest day.
Sundays long run was a 12 mile run. I didn't run at all since my
failed mid-week long run. I met my running buddy to run the half
marathon course that were running in June. This course is not so easy.
The first 5 miles is almost all downhill. Miles 5-7 is rolling hills.
Around mile 8-9 there is a huge uphill!!! 9-13 is pretty flat. It's
the hills that will kill ya on this course. I ran the first few miles
feeling that the pain would show up right away. Thankfully it never
did. When we got to the hills I was givin the go if you can and don't
worry about me call. I really don't like leaving someone behind when
running but I had to prove something to myself. I wanted to make sure
that I wasn't broken. So I pulled ahead a little and didn't stop until
I was at top of all the hills. I did start to feel a little ache but
it never really hit like it did on the mid-week run. I did start to
walk a little after mile 10 and kicked it in to finish up the 12
miles. Over all it was a good run not the fastest run I have ran but
mentally if was the best.