At 7:30 am I met up with my brother Phillip and my friend Bobby and we headed toward the starting line. At 7:45 I was standing by the CLIF 3:50:00 pace group, and the pre race "Pump Up" started. The Star Spangled Banner was sung, the F-15 flew over downtown, and the confetti was everywhere. WE WERE OFF!
The first 2 miles were very congested and it took some time for it to thin out. At mile 4 I knew I did not have a 3:50:00 marathon in me, but I figured I had a 4:15:00 in the tank. Miles 4-half went as planned. I reached the half in 2:01:52 I was in good shape. (Or so I thought)
Between the Half and mile 2o the steady 25mph head winds (35mph gusts) and a seized left calf muscle left me finishing 7 miles in 1:28:00. (12:34) pace. I ended up running a half mile and the calf would lock up and I would walk for 30 sec. and run another half mile. Brutal.
Miles 20-24 went pretty much the same (but with more frequent walk breaks.) 14:15 min/mile.
The calf was in pain now.
Miles 24-26.2 I ran (if you want to call it running) 2.2 miles at a 11:21 pace.
I saw Phillip and Bobby with .75 left and they ran with me along the sidewalk. I saw mom with a 1/2 mile left and Mary Ruth and Eyrleigh right before the finish. I finished my first Marathon through wind and pain in 4:53:02. The 1st half in 2:01:52 and the last in 2:50:10.
I am not done with the Marathon. I will run it again soon, but I will wait until January 1 to decide. I will learn from from this. No more speculation for now.
2 comments:
Well done!! You learned from it! Sounds like my first marathon at Rocket City. It started with the calves and left foot, and ended up with alternating above the knee and below the knee seizures in both legs! LOL... Good news is, it does get better!!
In any case, you are a marathoner
You fought through and finished! Congratulations! The biggest improvement always comes between the first and second marathon.
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