December 4, 2011 – Dallas Texas. The skies were angry that day my friend. Like an old man trying to return soup at a deli.
My Marathon day officially started at 4am after a fitful night of rest. I think I maybe got two hours of sleep.
When I got out of bed I made some oatmeal with fruit for breakfast at my brother in law Sergio’s house. Mental note – Mexican’s that like to cook are most likely to have very sharp knives. I began my day with a nice sliced open finger.
I left for the race at about 7am. A few blocks away from where Sergio and Sue were going to drop me off I realized I had forgotten a ribbon they give you that has a computer chip in it that tracks you to keep your official time and also to prevent cheating. Panic set in when I had thoughts of 1) not being allowed to run the race 2) if I was allowed to run maybe not being reward a finishers medal.
I came to grips with this dilemma (although it bugged me throughout the race) when I realized I had forgotten my earphones. Sue fished out a set from her purse. They were cheap and crappy sounding but I was glad to have them.
The start of the race for me was about 8:34 am. The weather was cold but the rain had pretty much just been an occasional sprinkle.
The first couple of miles were pretty slow with congestion. I couldn’t believe how many people had already stopped running and were just walking. I had to dart between a lot of people.
Then at maybe mile 3, the rain came… and it rained and rained and rained.
At mile 8 one ear phone stopped working. At mile 10 the other one quit. Sixteen more miles, no music just me and my thoughts (all two of them).
At mile 16 I said to someone, “10 more miles – no problem”. I was still feeling pretty good at this point.
A little before mile 17 my shoe sensor that measures my distance stopped working.
MILE 18!!! It’s amazing how you can go from feeling good to “OH MY GOD I CANT RUN ANOTHER STEP” in a flash. That happened at mile 18.
Miles 19 through 25 was probably 60% jogging 40% walking.
At mile 25 I was determined to run the remainder of the race. I gathered strength to run in honor of lost loved ones. I gathered strength to run from my brother Marc who dug down deep when he had to and finish a 70 mile bike race he completed recently. I gathered strength from my wife Susy whose has encouraged me to get out there and run during my training when I just wanted to veg on the couch. I ran this last 1.2 mile in hopes of a new beginning. Finally saying goodbye (not forgetting, never forgetting) the past and embracing the future.
These 26.2 miles may be behind me now but here’s to the next 26.2 and the next and the next. Now is not the time to quit – after all it’s a new beginning.
You can do a lot in a lifetime
If you don't burn out too fast
You can make the most of the distance
First you need endurance
First you've got to last... Neal Peart
