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…..

4:00 AM Sunday June 3rd. Race day of the 10th Annual “Rock-n-Roll Marathon.” Race day of the 1st Annual Tom and David “___(TBD)____” I spring to a start with the only noticeable soreness coming from my trigger finger (result of an intense arcade game dual of “Police Trainer 2000″ the night before). After downing my pre-race routine bagel, banana (salted of course), and Gatorade, we were off to the race in search of coffee along the way.

-Race to the Race-

After finding some coffee at 7-11 and laughing at the clerk and his uncanny resemblance to the curly hair guy in 40 Year Old Virgin (and his, I kid you not, Aqua Man t-shirt) we were on the 5 heading south and I commented on the unnatural amount of traffic for 5:00 AM on a Sunday……Traffic all going to run a marathon duh. Several miles from our intended exit traffic began to backup in the exit lanes. We tried to out smart them by going to the next exit which was all backup also. Long story short, its 6:00 AM, we still haven’t parked and the race starts at 6:30 AM. “No worries!” I say. Tom apprehensively listens all to experienced with my typical optimism. We park at 6:10 and truck it over the bus which hauls us across town to the start. We fight our way past 22 corrals to ours, #7 arriving at 6:27, perfect timing. No worries!

-The beginning of the beginning-

Standing packed in the starting corrals with 21,000 other people feeling the anticipation, nerves, and excitement coursing through was powerful. 21,000 strangers who shared the same goal, having all been through similar experiences in dedication and training to meet the goal, not strangers, but a like-comfort and mutual respect shared.

The start of a marathon is not firing of gun fast moving, elbow throwing, if you fall you might be trampled to death, type of start as I expected. We started at walk aware of the heels in front you and as the start line near the walk enhanced to a slow jog, anticipation growing with each changing gear, the cameras start going off, you cross a sensor pad and before you realize the adventure begins.

Mile: 0 Time: 0

Crossing through the start gate with sensors fully overloaded, the euphoria is strong…floating……I snap out of it, Tom and I high five. “We’re doing it!” Feeling good and keeping pace off to a great start.

Mile 0.5 Time: 4:25

Razor blade pain in my right knee……my ever abundant optimism momentarily dips. This would be a long race in this kind of pain. Optimism kicks back in, it’s probably just loosening up from taking it easy this week. That thought carried me through to mile six. An enjoyable stretch which went through downtown San Diego right past my jobsite, acting as tour guide to Tom point out buildings and favorite spots….like Hooters. Tom becoming apparently bored with the tour narration began chatting up an attractive brunette from Long Island. They talked of training, race times, and where she was from. Tom shot me grin apparently feeling good about his progress (did he think he was going to get a number in the middle of race??) continues talking with her. She asked him “Are you in college, or beyond?” Tom confidently answered “Oh, I’m beyond, but wish I was back in college” figuring he covered all the bases, till she answered “Oh…..I’m in high school” The conversation suddenly went quiet as I was laughing my ass off behind him!!

Mile 7 Time 1:10

By this time the rationalization that my knee is just warming up has lost plausibility and I’ve succumb to the fact that I’m just going to have to deal with the pain straight on. I coined my running style as a modified-hobble-run because as the race progressed it modified from a run to a hobble. We came upon a water station with rest rooms in which Tom was eyeing a few miles back, so I encouraged him to use these ones….truthfully my knee was screaming and I wanted to see if stopping for bit helped at all. Streching out the knee I noticed the medical station giving out Tylenol…..I made a bee line for it and asked for as many as they would give me….I got two and a mark on my number so I couldn’t get more. It was time to go, no more messing around. My theory of rest=improved kneewas quickly squashed as I attempted to move into a slow jog and the pain was much worse than before. Lesson learned though, stopping is bad, must keep moving. The other great thing about that stop was its location at the base of the only big hill on the course, so we up we started modified run hobbling – We actually cruised steadily up the hill actually passing many people reduced to walking. This was also the stretch of free-for-all taking a piss along side the road….and not by the guys….

Mile 12 Time 2:05

After conquering the hill both up and down (more painful down) I realized my new motivation was the spectators cheering along side the road, they didn’t come to see people walk, so I put on a smile charged past the groups of spectators, but was really struggling with the in-between motivation (spectator) areas. By this time I could tell Tom was itching to ditch me, we were falling behind our pace and he was feeling strong. He finally got up the gumption to tell he was heading on without me to see what he could do, despite knowing it was coming I was pissed, not so much at Tom but at my knee…. I really wanted to finish this together. I mustered one last charge picking up the pace not wanting to be left behind and even entacted the old endorphin release trick having Tom punch me a few times, it worked….for about a minute. I relented sending Tom on his way without me….

To be continued …

Thoughts prior to running my first marathon….

Thursday I had an MRI of my knee looking for anything wrong or injured in there. Apprehensively I went to the doctor yesterday for the diagnosis. I was hoping for a clear “No, your knee is screwed, don’t run.” or “Your knee is fine, run.” Nothing in-between and up for interpretation. I’ve been getting pressure all week of don’t run from co-workers, friends, and family. I was planning to run unless I got a clear no from the doctor. I needed to run this marathon…With my official registration in January a new lifestyle was ignited and completion of this marathon signifies and symbolizes….something, that was getting way too deep….Anyway, I really wanted to complete this marathon, if anything to check it off the list of things to do this life.

The results……

First words out of the doctors mouth, “You have an amazing knee!”, we were off to a good start. He proceed to tell me that I have one of the best structured knees he has ever seen and that the pain must be from over-training, or lack thereof in doing those insane races, “A normal person would have blown there knee out”. “You’ll be fine for the marathon, it may hurt like hell, but your knee can take it, and then start training it properly after the race.”

So here I sit on Saturday afternoon waiting for Tom (my friend I convinced into running this with me) to arrive from Palm Springs so we can go register. Not nervous, but eager to complete it. My adventures leading up to this have me feeling prepared. I know what pain is and that I can handle it, I know what it feels like to hit the wall and climb over it, and I know that I push myself past my limits and end up in the hospital if I’m not careful. (I need to write about that yet) I’m excited to post the results, thoughts, and experiences from the race, regardless it has been a great journey to this point.