The Road to PBP (and other stuff)

-Digging Deep-

Mile 12.5 Time 2:??

As I watched Tom quickly disappear into the crowd ahead of me, the asphalt became harder, razor blades sharper, and the up coming distance feeling much longer. I hadn’t realized my dependence on Tom running ahead of me for the last 12 miles, a spot to continually run to… which was gone. The next two miles were the absolute hardest of the entire marathon. Pain was creeping into everything – feet, shoulders, neck, thighs….taking some concentration off the knee pain, but overall diminishing my physical and mental drive. I struggled forward with a myriad of negative and random thoughts in my head. -”What is the time limit when the bus picks up the stragglers, like when they pick up horse shit at the end of a parade….” I was likening myself to horse shit….not a good thing with 13.1 miles to go.

Mile 13.5 Time 2:??

A large noisy crowd of spectators ahead reminded me of a previous motivator. I picked it up and forced a smile concentrating on each passing face. Faces full of motivation and anticipation, eyes eagerly searching for a familiar face. The occasional spectator would pick you out of the crowd, locking eyes and individually encouraging you…..I liked those people. One lady in specific locked eyes with me quite always out, as I neared she stuck out her hand, giving me a bag of M&M’s….I liked her….. momentarily contemplated stopping this race and asking her to marry me, such a kind gesture of giving me M & M’s she must be nice person and we could live happily ever after (note: the pain was really affecting me at this point, and obviously skewing my thoughts) I soon shook out of it realizing she could also be my Grandmother…..

Mile 14.5 Time 2:??

There I was a little over halfway done comparing myself to shit and oogling over grandma’s….finally my brain was starting to kick in because I now realized all this and started to formulate a plan to finish. First I identified that this was my wall, and realizing that keyed a chain reaction of improvement. I’d hit the wall before and made it over. I started to climb the wall with a series of run to a specific point ahead and then walk a little, and repeat. With the little victories piling up the pain began to release it’s chokehold on my body and stayed concentrated on my knee, which I was almost getting accustomed to. I came upon a group of cheerleaders, high school of course, and couldn’t help but think back to Tom’s previous high schooler experience and laugh out loud, catching an odd look from a couple of people. Ahead I notice someone with the same shirt as Tom…and shorts….and one of a kind hat.

-Reunion-

Mile 16 Time ?:??

Sure enough it was Tom performing a modified-hobble-walk which made mine look downright outstanding. He’d pushed too hard (apparently my previous pace wasn’t that bad…) We walked for a bit and wanting to keep my routine up I picked out a goal for us to run to, and the routine worked. After a couple cycles his knee was feeling better and off he ran. Our reunion was short lived, but fun, and I was prepared and looking forward to conquering the race alone.

-The Zone-

Mile ?? Time ?:??

The rest of the race I barely remember, only able to recall a few snapshots and moments. I was in the zone, fully consumed with focus on the next point of achievement. Some things I do remember:

– A guy was yelling like crazy for number 7136 to “Keep it up 7136!”, “You’re rockin 7136″, “Go 7136 Go”, I turned around wondering who this #7136 was…a handicapped person, “Great I’m getting passed by another cripple”, I couldn’t figure out who #7136 was, but man they were getting some great encouragement….this got me to thinking what my number was, I looked down, and you guessed it 7136!! I turned around laughing giving him two thumbs up and the horns…..

– I got a high five from a little girl who was so excited watching the passing runners. That little high five gave me the biggest boost of the whole run, I couldn’t stop smiling and after awhile realized I wasn’t consumed by the goal and was just running, well modified-hobble-running. It wore off after a bit, but was a great break.

– My delight with water stations was unbelievable. I’d decided that no matter at what point in my cycle (walk/run), I would walk through the water stations. I started to notice how the excited the volunteers were to hand out pass out water and accelerade, and how the people in the back always got less business, so I made it a point to always take two or three glasses from the people at the end.

Mile 24 Time ?:??

Seriously this can’t be mile 24 I thought myself, but pretty damn excited that it was. I decided I would keep with my routine through to the end, still in shock that the end was near and the realization that I was going finish this. I started reflecting on everything that it took to get here, and all the memories made, but it was quickly overshadowed as my mind became consumed with the finish. I reached my next cycle change from run to walk, which had been roughly 3/4 mile modified-hobble-run and 1/4 mile modified-hobble-walk depending on the landmarks. When I reached the point, my legs didn’t automatically drop to the painful transition from hobble-run to hobble-walk, but keep going, providing an intense out of body sensation, both painless and mysteriously leaving me no choice but to follow along watching. Passing the 25 mile mark and rounding into the Marine base which housed the finish, my mind focused on the finish and running all the way there myself, not as a spectator, but doing it with all the pain that I’d befriended the last 25 miles. I fought back control of my body and felt the satisfying razor blade pain return. Rounding the final corner, I locked eyes with a very old lady, who shrilled “YOU CAN DO IT!!!” I gushed, “Thank YOU!!, I WILL!!” catching sight of the finish, and bleacher lined spectator full alley, I was going to give them a show. Putting my head down, exploding forward with everything I had, my left leg lead the charge and right leg wind milling wildly trying to keep up. I could hear the crowds growing intensity and encouragement with the identification of my hard fought final push. The finish line only a few modified-hobble-run steps away, the only thought on my mind was whether I should cross the finish line (where a finish line photo is taken) with the same jaw clenched look of determination I had maintained for the last 26.2 miles, or should I throw my hands in the air and smile. I don’t remember what the verdict was, because crossing the finish line was so emotionally overpowering. I did it.

Mile 26.2 Time 5:20

Post Race Thoughts To Follow…..