I can't believe I haven't posted my race re-cap, but better a month late then never.
I went into the ING Marathon, obviously hoping to do better than my first two attempts, but I kept my goals very tempered. I didn't know how the hills would hurt me, and I also learned my lesson (Disney) on what kind of effect the heat has on my performance. With the Sunday morning forecast reading just like the day of the Disney marathon, I knew it was going to be a hot one. So I planned on taking it very easy, heck just finishing this thing running would probably get me a PR. So my goal was to run 9 min. miles giving me a 3:55 finish or a 7 min PR. Modest, but an improvement non-the-less.
The race start was a mass of humanity. My sister Wendy and I had gotten up at around 3:30 to take care of our GI business and eat a little something, then we met with Misty to drive to the Start. We got there really early, so we parked in the deck and bumped into Misty's friends (which ended up being really helpful...more on that later). We then wandered to the athlete village as a group of five. After checking our bags we found some port-ta-potties then to the start. The crowds were huge. There were no corrals or even groups for half vs. full marathons, so everyone just packed in like cattle. It ended up being pretty nice that we could all stay together and chat; it kept the butterflies away. Once the race started I kept near Wendy until about 40 feet after the finish line, then we each went our own way.
The first few miles, like any marathon, were crowded. I dogged a few people and looked for running lanes, but my pace seemed fine (I actually did an 8:30 the first mile). The first few miles were downhill, but boy were they hot. By mile 3 I was covered with sweat and it was still early. Soon we left the city and crossed over into the neighborhoods and I could feel a huge temperature drop. The half marathoners also split off from us, so the crowd thinned out too. I was feeling pretty good and my pace was staying between 8:40 and 9 min.
At around the 10K mark I heard a lot of rumbling about there not being any water. I had my amphipod belt filled wit Endurance, so I didn't plan to take any water yet but it still worried me. At about this time I bumped into Patrick, one of Misty's friends that we met at the start. I was surprised that we ended up meeting up and I didn't know how long we would run together, but for the time being I loved the distraction. Patrick and I talked and it was so easy to get lost in the conversation that the miles just flew by. I was a little concerned that we were running faster than my plan (a bunch of miles in the 8:30's), but I felt good and I figured it was just the distraction that made me faster.
The neighborhoods were great. People sat on their driveways and cheered and little kids handed out water and ice. I was starting to get worried about water because the rest of the runners were really complaining. So I passed by a kid who handed me a glass and it was sooo cold. I commented that it was the best, coldest water I had had and I herd moans from the rest of the runners saying, " I should have grabbed one from him." Thank God for the kids because the water stops were all out of Poweraid. I was so worried that when I did get a water I started filling up a few of my now empty Amphipod bottles.
At mile 15 we hit a pretty good downhill and cranked out an 8:18...that worried me. I knew that the coarse was very tough near the end and I didn't want to burn out. I mentioned this to Patrick and I think he took heed and we both slowed a bit. He was in need of a bathroom break but could never find a good opportunity. The hills loomed large and he didn't want to stop at the bottom of one. I felt bad, but I knew if he stopped, I would leave him...I'm not one who can start up again very easily. At around mile 18 Patrick and I split apart to pass a few runners and while we were on opposite sides of the road I thought I heard him yelp. As I looked around to try to find him I heard him yell, "Good luck Chris." I don't know what happened, but I did hear that he finished about 10 min. behind me, so it couldn't have been too bad.
After I left Patrick I hit the worst part of the course, Freedom Parkway. Before this we had been running through tree lined neighborhoods and parks. Suddenly we were thrust into an uphill freeway with no relief from the heat. The two miles on Freedom Parkway were the worst in the race. Up until now, I had been talking to Patrick enjoying the scenery and the miles just melted away. Suddenly I was alone, in the heat with the only view of people running back down the hill I was going up...lucky bastards. It was horrible, and as hard as I tried I couldn't see the turn around. Finally I was on the downhill and I filled up every water bottle I could for fear of the heat. I was also popping salt tablets, something I forgot to bring for Disney. All in all, it was a rough patch, but I survived and I knew from Sheryl's phone call that she and Ainsley would be at mile 24, I figured I could make it that far.
I found myself in the proverbial zone now. But not that great mystical zone where everything goes right and you feel no pain. My zone was more like a blur. I was feeling the heat and I felt like I was slowing down, but really my pace was right on target. The crowds were really thick now, but I felt like that seen in every sports movie where the cheers just fade away and you hear the breathing of the runner. Finally I was about to make the turn into Piedmont park so I tried to call Sheryl to let her know I was coming. I didn't get through, but I guess she got my message because they were ready. Seeing her and Ains gave me quite a boost but I bet they couldn't tell because all I wanted was the Amphipod bottle filled with Endurance that they brought. Then I didn't want to stop, and every bottle I was going to give her back had something in it. So I finally found an empty and just threw it over my shoulder hoping she would pick it up.
(you can see me struggling to find an empty bottle <---in this picture)
After seeing them I had some new confidence and some extra energy that I thought I could use to improve my time. Unfortunately at this point the course turned sadistic. I knew there was going to be some uphill's near the end but this was inhumane. I saw a lot of people walking those last two miles, and trust me I felt for them. I had been there and the hills were so bad I was sure I was going back. I kept seeing a turn up ahead and thinking, "well it must level out or go downhill after that," only to make the turn and see the uphill again. Everytime I turned the corner and saw another hill I almost decided to walk. I had been feeling an impending cramp and I knew if I stopped I would have to walk to the finish.
Finally I heard someone run right up next to me and yell, "Chris." It was Misty and it just hearing her helped me so much. She barley said anything and I know I didn't say a word, but she ran alongside me and I even picked up my pace a little. Finally she said, "there it is...your there" and peeled away. Then I saw Wen and I barley waved. I crossed the finish line 3:54:26. Right on target.
After that we met up with Sheryl in the car (she didn't even have to park) and I sat on the floorboard of the car to keep my legs from cramping. Ainsley scooted to the far end of her car seat away from, "stinky, wet daddy." But I was feeling great after we got home and showered. Then we were off to Cheeseburger in Paradise for beer, burgers and a surprising number of fellow runner had the same idea. Later that day, Misty came over for Pizza and we all told our war stories again.
