My First Marathon (x2)

So...it finally happened...I have a running injury more serious than a busted (or lost) toenail. Last weekend during the Riverbank Run 25K in Grand Rapids, MI I managed to get a stress fracture in one of the metatarsal bones of my left foot. I finished the race and didn't notice anything until the drive to Mom & Dad's. I knew something wasn't right and went to the podiatrist on Monday since I planned on running Geist this weekend. I was hoping I was being overly cautious, but no...it's broken. So I am out of running for 4-6 weeks. The podiatrist will take more x-rays in 2 more weeks. I can still ride and swim so I have been doing that. It is really fine since I needed to start getting more miles in for TourdeCure and RAGBRAI. It was a bummer to be sidelined for Geist, but it was also a pretty warm day, so maybe I am ok with the medical deferral to next year ;). It was fun to be there when some of the faster runners came in, though. This week I did get my ...

I am probably certifiable. But I am convincing myself am not crazy by saying I can always drop down to the half if my training doesn't go well...see, I just signed up to do the full marathon at Monumental in 2012 - avenging my 2009 DNF. Ever since I recovered from the San Diego full I have been thinking that I should do maybe one more...finish the Monumental. I want to do this. I don't want to drop to the half. I will train for it and try to make it happen. But I need to be able to drop 40 minutes off my San Diego time to finish in Monumental's time limit. It will take a serious effort. And much of the training is while it is still warm outside. This will stay under My First Marathon (x2) since it is the redux of my first marathon (attempt).

I have been thinking about what I might do differently if I were to attempt a marathon again...and maybe what I did right... Things to do differently: * more than one 20 mile training run * train to run it, walk if necessary * Body Glide more surface area than I think is needed * higher SPF sunscreen * sunscreen before clothes (clothes creep up) * don't plan to do a half marathon the next weekend * plan to rest for a few days (minimum) after * don't have a cortisone injection in foot two days after * continue intentional hydration for several days after the race * wear a full hat not just a visor (sunburned scalp isn't fun) Things I think I did right: * choose a race location with consistently good weather * choose a race with a time limit that is achievable for where I am in terms of speed * not trying to do more than 20 miles in training * not going out too fast/holding back in the beginning * training to eat/knowing what I could eat while moving * choose a relatively fla...

Now we know how this blog ends. I finished a marathon. It took 7 hours, 9 minutes, 25 seconds...and hours of training, gallons of fluids, and a heap of support from friends and family. Race morning was a bit unnerving. I left the house at 3:57 AM and got to the exit before the airport parking lot (which was a shuttle lot to the race start) at 4:17 AM...and then it took until 5:22 AM to get the 1/2 mile into the airport lot and get a parking spot. Then I joined the shuttle line hoping that I would get on once still since shuttle service theoretically ended at 5:30 AM. Made it to Balboa Park, found the gear check and then headed to a Porta Potty line. Race started and I was still in line, but they use a wave start and I was assigned to corral 32 so I wasn't worried. I got in my corral (actually I decided to drop back a few) in plenty of time. It was nearly an hour after the elites started that we got our gun. It was really really hard not to take off running at half marathon ...

So today was supposed to be an easy two mile run... Started out good except I forget how hilly my brother's neighborhood really is. Found my first turn just fine. Then I went too far on a hilly street called Wandering...at Rambling I decided I had gone too far and needed to turn. Took a cut through the block on a mid-block trail and kept going. The that street ended so I went over another block. Then I was well past two miles and couldn't find the school I was going to cut through to get back. Stopped at a 7-11 for directions and the guy buying a newspaper told me how to get to the school and I took off on Mountain View. Glad I was going downhill. At the bottom of the street there was a staircase down to another street, not the school. Kept going and I ran into Rancho Santa Fe Road and hoped I was turning the right way. When I got back it was 5.06miles after I started but felt good. Cool and cloudy early morning. So the two turned into five and there were hills, but it...

Today was the expo for the San Diego Rock &Roll marathon, which I will run/walk on Sunday. Stood in line for more than an hour but I was the fifth one in the doors. Got my race packet and shirt and swag bag then headed into the merchandise area. Bought a half-zip pullover (mens -as usual). Then I was into the traditional booth area. Talked to some people, avoided some overly aggressive people, and bought some stuff like my favorite socks that are usually buy two get one free at expos. People keep asking if I am "ready" and I am not sure what the answer is. I have been training for months, but I don't know that I would necessarily call it "ready" since I know I have tried and failed at this before. But I also know that I have a lot more experience this time and the is no reason why I shouldn't be able to do this. I just need to think happy thoughts and keep my head in the game during the race. It is starting to feel "real" though - like ...

Today was the last "long run" of taper - 8 miles. I decided that I would do two miles before the club run started and then do six with the club so that I didn't feel like I was way behind everyone else (or more behind than usual). I went out a little before 8:30 and headed south on the Monon from Broad Ripple. It was cool and humid, but not raining and not windy. Cloud cover was pretty thick. Had a good two mile warmup, averaging about 12:30. Got back to the deck in Broad Ripple and the guys had put out the cooler of water and cups so I grabbed a sip. When the club left at 9:00 I took off running again and decided to see how long I could keep it up. I haven't done very well on longer runs with running the whole way and a lot of the marathon training has been walking (purposefully). Two guys from the club (one who is coming back from a back injury sustained in a race last year) were behind me. I decided I wanted to stay ahead of them. They caught me at one po...