My First Marathon: A Recap.

My First Marathon:  A Recap

        Sunday I completed the Austin Marathon.  This was my first marathon ever, and longest continuous run.  A year ago I set the goal for myself and the completion of the race represents some of the sweet, sweet fruit.  While finishing the race was great, to be honest, for me, this is not just some item to check off my bucket list, but, the beginning of something completely new that I can't quite put into words at the moment.
     
      So below, I'll post a brief recap of the race, later this week I'll post a second blog highlighting  my journey to get to the race.



The Gun Goes Off:  Miles 1-3:

     13,000 people embark simultaneously.  It's a roar of voices, shoes, breaths, cameras.  I feel like I'm floating on air.  I feel fast even though I'm running uphill.  I know from the course map the first 3 miles are straight uphill and the first 12 are more or less a steady climb.  I'm passing people left and right, running comfortably.  I blast through the first aid station at the 5k mark.  My breathing feels good and I settle in with the pacers for the 3:20 group.  I have to pee (must've been the pre-race coffee), but opt to stop at the 10k aid station to whiz.


Rhythm:  Miles 4-6:

   All's clear.  I hit my rhythm and am running comfortably.  Generally, I don't start to warm-up until mile 4 or 5, and the race was no exception.  I have no idea what my pace is, which per my training, I do not use a watch much in an attempt to hone my intuition to know when to push, when to settle and when to slow down.  I hold my pace.  Mile 5 had a couple of nice downhills, so I let my legs hang loose and ride the wave.  I hit the 10k aid station at 49 minutes, five minutes slower than my PR at the 10k.  This is supposedly a good pace, right?  I pee, refill my water bottle, then I get back on the course.


It's Going to be a Long Day:  Miles 7-10:

       Between miles 7 and 8 I take my first energy gel.  I know from training that I'll reach my caloric threshold and burn out all my glycogen at about the 2 hour mark.  I took 3 gels with me, planning to take 1 every hour, and supplement with other offers at the aid stations.  Around mile 9, after a steep climb, I began to feel the first signs of being winded.  I still feel comfortable and confident, but the idea of 17 more miles of this does not seem welcoming.  I also feel some poo-poo a brewing.  I decide to see if I can make it to the halfway mark before I bust a dookie.  At mile 10, I catch my time on the big clock.  1:22.  Just over 8 minutes a mile.  Not bad on account of the hills and the pee break.  I'm pleased with myself and try to ride the high.  I know the low is coming.  I do have 16 more miles after all...

Push it Reeeaaallll Good:  Miles 11-13:

      Whatever "the zone" is, this was pretty much the only portion of the race I was in it.  I don't remember running these three miles, other than getting to the aid station at the halfway mark and having to spray mud, only to have to wait in line behind two dudes from Team A & M.  (I wonder if they knew the marathon was in Austin?...they were aggies after all.)  I poop.  It feels good.  I refill my water bottle, slug some gatorade from one of the volunteers and get on out the gate.  I'm sitting pretty at 1:44.


I Don't Know What's a Good Idea Anymore:  Miles 14-17:

     Mile 13 was okay.  Just okay.  As soon as I hit mile 14, the bottom dropped out.  My wind was gone, my entire body felt weak, and on top of that I was pissed, because I've run at least this far several times over the last year and never felt this bad.  I guy running beside me offers some encouragement.  "Hey, what's your goal."  "Just to make it to the finish in less than 4 hours,"  I tell him.  "You'll make that for sure."  I pull ahead a bit, but I know I can't hold this pace for very much longer.  Time to regroup and rethink my strategy.  I turn my watch on to run/walk mode.  I run for 5 minutes and walk for a minute, and repeat the cycle until I feel more coherent...at least, that was the plan...


Ouch:  Miles 17-20:

         Why am I doing this again exactly?  Oh look a dog.  Is that fat guy really holding pace better than me?  A beer would me nice right now, yes 74 beers.  I eat my last energy gel and pretend it's a beer.  "Monk.  Is that the Monk-man?"  I hear one of the spectators say.  "Wait, Harry?"  "Yeah.  You've got this, Matt.  Regroup and go finish."  Harry gives me a hug and pushes me in the right direction.  I make it in to the next aid station in better spirits.  I pee.  I slug some gatorade.  I douse myself with ice water.  I can't get "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" out of my head.  


What Wall?  Miles 21-23:

      Once I hit mile 21 I begin to get out of the funk.  My mind is clear.  From everything I've read, this is where most people hit "the wall", I don't feel much of a wall, other than just being really tired of running.  But, I have less than a 10k left.  I can run a 10k in my sleep.  Yes, sleep would be good.  I know I'm going to finish.  I could care less about my time.  I hold my pace good for about 10 minutes and then both of my legs spasm.  Hamstrings, quads, calvess, the whole enchilada.  I hobble into the last aid station and instruct the volunteers to pour cold water on my legs.  It helps.  I run for a couple of minutes.  I walk for a couple of minutes.  My lungs feel fine, but I've completely lost control of my legs.  Whatever.  I'm going to finish even if I have to crawl across the line.


Finish Strong:  Miles 24-26.2:

      At this point everyone can smell the finish.  I feel myself being fed by the energy of the growing crowd and all of my fellow runners/psychopaths.  We are running through the UT campus and hundreds of students/alumuni are having a great time watching us slog through to the end.  I think I smell beer.  Mmmmm.....beer.....there's a hill, whatever.  I don't remember if I crawled up it, ran up it, walked up it, maybe I levitated over it.  I made it to the top and to the last turn.  With 400 meters left, I broke out into a full sprint.  Just like all the speed days I did 400 meter repeaters.  Just like high school athletics, we ran a 400 after every workout.  They even had a sign that said, 400 meters left.  I sprint and I know God has a sense of humor.  I cross the line at 3:57 unofficially (my chip/official time a couple of minutes faster.)

     There's nothing quite like hitting the finish line while the entire city cheers you on.  Your body is trashed.  Your mind is gone.  There's nothing left but your heart.  And as good as it felt to finish, the journey itself, what happened to me during the training and life before the race begun is the greatest reward.


        The moral of the story is....if you've ever wondered whether or not you should run a marathon, the answer is a positive YES!


          Stay tuned for part II coming later this week.


          Cheers you all, and big up to all my fellow runners who made it to the finish.