So I'm kicking back in a hotel room in Green Bay, Wisconsin, nearly seven hours after I completed my first marathon. How was it?
Scary, exciting, exhilarating, and absolutely brutal.
I was so nervous when I got up this morning, it was difficult to eat breakfast. I took my instant oatmeal and peanut butter from home (because you don't do anything different on race day than you did on your long runs) down to the continental breakfast room. The place was packed with runners already dressed for racing and wolfing down bagels, cereal, fruit, and such. That's when it hit me: all those guys looked like they belong in a marathon.
What the heck was I doing there?
I ate and went back to the room to get dressed. Even as I was applying multiple layers of Body Glide and pulling on my clothes, I wondered why I thought I could do this. We got on the bus for Lambeau, I checked my gear bag, and wandered into the starting corrals.
What the heck was I doing there?
Like a fool, I went out a little faster in my first mile than I intended to, and struggled a bit into the first 9 miles. At the 9-mile mark I had to get in line for the porta potty. I've never made a potty stop during a run. Ever.
This was after I'd turned in my slowest 10k ever and before I hit my slowest half marathon ever. But what was weird was, after hitting 15 miles in 2:55, I started feeling stronger. By the time I got to 18, I was feeling really good. I got through 20 strong, even though my left Achilles tendon barked at me.
But right after 23, somebody came along and stole all my energy. My calves got tight and I could barely move. It took me over 42 minutes to get through the last 3 miles. But there was the lap around Lambeau Field--as tired as I was, I refused to stop. At least until I got back to the players' tunnel again. Once I was in the bowels of the stadium, I found a wall to lean on and stretch my calves.
Then it was on to the finish line. I heard the announcer call my name and looked at my watch as I went over the final timing mat. 5:09.
I was completely drained by that point. I truly had nothing left. I had covered 26.2 miles and was still standing. And I still didn't know what the heck I was doing there.
That may take some time to figure out.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
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8 comments:
Congratulations Barry, great time. You may have had self doubts, but the rest of us knew you would do just fine! Hope you are enjoying some fried chicken and hot dogs...
Great job Barry
Now next time when I train a little smarter, run a few more miles, run with more people, get a little stronger, or maybe one marathon is enough.
Jack
I was only 5 minutes faster on my first marathon (5:04):)
Just remember, it is almost fair time!
Congratulations! You are now a part of the small percentage who can say that they actually ran a marathon.
Holly D.
Barry,
What an accomplishment. You did awesome! Did you cry ?:)
Now you have time to regroup ... to start training a new group of potential runners that start off with Abe's, run with the Frosty Toes, then the Half Wits and on to become marathoners.
Brats and beer were the post-race treats, Anne! Nobody was offering fried chicken or hot dogs. Bummer.
Jack, I've already been thinking about how I could have trained better and smarter. Not that I have any intention of trying this stunt again . . . LOL!
They told us in Green Bay that only 1 percent of the population completes a marathon, Holly. So we really are rare birds.
And yeah, I cried for 26.2 miles. But that's a topic for another post . . . .
THANKS EVERYBODY!!!!
Barry, I had tears in my eyes reading your post!!!! Oh Barry~~~ I am so proud of you!!! You are such a wonderful influence!!! Big hugs to you Barrython!!!
Okay, I it was me who posted the crying comment. It's how I felt after Chicago but it was more because only half of us were able to finish. It's not as much fun if you know everyone can't enjoy it.
Barry, I am so proud of you. You kept me running to train for my first half. And I may be a slacker now but I can never quit. Too many inspirational people that I would miss.
Congratulations on your first marathon and never forget that feeling of accomplishment !!!
Marie
Congratulations Barry! I'm proud of you. What an awesome accomplishment!
Maybe someday I'll be brave enough (or dumb enough depending on how you look at it) to run a full marathon. Right now, I'm sticking to the half marathons and shorter runs.
Good job!
Hillary
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