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”