Final Preparations
This week the main focus was on carb loading and a few short runs. I ate so much pasta and bananas.
We left for Kenosha Friday evening. Remembering my food poisoning experience at an Italian restaurant during training, I opted to eat a bowl of spaghetti made at home, before we left. I wasn't interested in taking any chances there.
We checked in at Super Fancy Hotel in downtown Kenosha. My marathon registration came with a 50% discount for the room, making it almost reasonable, plus it was just a ten minute walk from the start line. After settling in we took a walk to the start line and enjoyed watching the water break against the rocks on Lake Michigan. Less enjoyable was the breeze cutting through my jacket like a knife.
We turned in for the night at 10:00. I was exhausted, but that didn't stop me from waking up every 30 minutes due to Gary's snoring, the heater kicking on, or various other reasons.
The Start
I was awake by 5am, but laid in bed for another hour. Gary pestered me to get up so I finally did at 5:50. I ate my breakfast (cashews and cherries, carefully selected after weeks of trying different things during training) and shortly after we walked over to the start line.
At 6:30 there was already a huge crowd of people gathered. There was a long line of people picking up their race shirt and number, which only got longer as we approached race time at 7:00. Remembering the wind last night, I'd prepared by wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants.
At 6:50 anyone planning to take longer than six hours to run the marathon was allowed to start early. It was actually happening. I watched the first wave of runners pass, then I gave Gary my sweatpants and headed over to the start line for the 7:00 start. My goal time was 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours. I had no idea if it was attainable, but I knew I could at least make it to 20 miles in about 3.5 to 4 hours, then worst case I'd walk the last six.
Everyone was packed in the starting line, not unlike race horses at the starting gate (by the way, I missed watching the Kentucky Derby to run this race). I lined myself up by the 4:30 pacers. Time was frozen and flying by at once. My mind was preoccupied with embarrassingly cliche thoughts, like "this is the moment I've been preparing for for four months," and wondering what was wrong with all the people already in shorts and t-shirts. A short ten minutes later, we started shuffling forward through the start line.
The Race
It started out easy. Having run distance races, I knew what to expect for at least the first half. I paced myself well, and tried to take in the scenes of early morning downtown.
There's a mantra runners are taught: nothing different on race day. I had practiced my breakfast, my clothing, my shoes, and my fueling for months. Anything you change on race day is a risk of completely upsetting your race: the free mystery running gel at the water stop that gives you intestinal distress. The new pair of shoes that gives you a blister. Don't do anything different than in your training.
The 4:30 pace group passed me. What do I have to lose? I'll stick with them as long as I can, I decided. This was the first and only thing I did differently on race day. I've never run with a pace group before, and wasn't sure how long I would be able to keep up. Running a 4:30 marathon means you average a 10:22 minute mile. In order to allow time for water stops, I overheard the pacer saying she was aiming to run a 10:00 mile. There was no way I was going to be able to run 26 10-minute miles. But the pacers were cheery and I enjoyed listening to their conversation with some other runners, so I stuck near them.
Sidebar: Things Seen During the Race
A person dressed in an inflatable dinosaur costume with a sign: "You'll be dino-sore tomorrow!"
A woman and small child who brought their pet bunny outside to cheer us on. Adorable. Best sight of the race.
A table in someone's lawn with snacks and beers for the runners. Sketchy, but it's the thought that counts.
What appeared to be a group of Indian men sitting outside an Irish sports pub who were more excited about the race than anyone else. The pub was located within the last mile or two of the race (a double loop course). Even after watching 1000+ runners go past twice, they were still jumping and clapping, telling us "Use the downhill!"
Yard signs cheering on specific runners as well as cheering on the whole field.
A lady sitting in a lawn chair and blanket at the end of her driveway. (Pacer: "Thank you for coming out!" Another runner: "She's probably thinking, 'well I can't get out of my driveway anyway!'")
Back to the Race
After leaving downtown, we ran through a neighborhood that turned into a gravel road. People were surprisingly annoyed by the gravel road, even though it was pretty dry (just a few damp spots, not even muddy) and smooth. We reached the turnaround point and started heading north. After several miles we passed the start line again and ran through another part of downtown. I was excited to see my parents not far from the start line. We ran through a park along the lake, and turned around again. The pacers sent their half-marathon group out to finish the race strong.
We cross the start line again, and the first half of the race was done. It had gone by quickly. The racing crowd thinned out considerably; most people had been participating in the half marathon. I'd been hanging back from the 4:30 pacers, but now I caught up to them.
After awhile, we gathered a few more people in our pace group. A young woman who was on her 83rd (!!) marathon, a "maniac" who was trying to run a marathon in every state (apparently there's a whole group of these people, and after running enough races they can apply for an official maniac t-shirt or hat), and two other first-time marathon runners. The group slowly disbanded as people sped up or, more frequently, slowed down. I stuck with the pacer.
We ran through the southern half of the loop and back past the start line. On the way I saw Gary and my parents again. By now I was around mile 20 and I was starting to feel the first real signs of fatigue. I'd had a few twinges of soreness around mile 12, and then again around miles 16-18, but nothing that I couldn't ignore. Eventually the soreness from those miles went away.
Now at mile 20, the soreness was back and not going away. My feet were beginning to hurt and my legs were sore. I think I missed a gel pack at some point because I ended the race with an extra. It was getting harder and harder to keep up with the pacer. We went through a water stop around mile 22 or 23 and I watched her trot steadily away. I slowed down and focused on moving forward.
The last three miles felt as long as the first 23. I kept looking for the northern turnaround, and each time I thought I saw it, it was a trick. It was actually a turn, not a turnaround. Finally I passed the turnaround, for real. On the way back I saw many of the runners who'd briefly joined our pace group. We waved at each other and offered encouragement.
I suppose I experienced "the wall" between miles 23-26. My mile times below certainly reflect the struggle. I tried walking around mile 24 or 25, but it seemed to take longer and wasn't any easier, just as I'd learned in training. Time and distance were frozen. It was like a Kurt Vonnegut novel. Trapped in the amber of this moment...
The Finish
Finally, I turned a corner and saw the 26 mile sign. The end was truly, almost in sight (hidden by another couple turns!). Gary and my parents were waiting by the finish line and cheering. I felt better than in my first half marathon where there was nothing at all left. I didn't have much left now either, but I had enough to pass the guy in front of me (like two tortoises racing towards a lettuce leaf) and ran through the finish line and to the medal table. I grabbed my medal, a bottle of water, and my free beer.
After that, Gary decided we needed to get ice cream from the ice cream shop across from the hotel. I don't like ice cream, but I can tolerate a little sherbet. I finished the whole cup of sherbet. Later at dinner I ate three large tacos.
My Mile Times
Mile | Time |
1 | 12:13 (I started the FitBit about a minute before crossing the start line) |
2 | 10:08 |
3 | 10:00 |
4 | 10:14 |
5 | 9:56 |
6 | 10:14 |
7 | 10:03 |
8 | 9:58 |
9 | 9:54 |
10 | 10:10 |
11 | 10:00 |
12 | 10:05 |
13 | 9:49 |
14 | 10:11 |
15 | 10:01 |
16 | 10:13 |
17 | 10:19 |
18 | 10:00 |
19 | 10:29 |
20 | 10:14 |
21 | 10:13 |
22 | 10:04 |
23 | 10:27 |
24 | 10:49 |
25 | 13:10 |
26 | 13:04 |
26.2 | 12:11 |
Average | 10:32 (based on official chip time) |
FAQ's
Q: How did it go?
A: Great! It was awesome. The last 3 miles felt as long as the first 23 so I suppose that means I hit "the wall," but I'm glad I did it.
Q: Were you sore after?
A: Not too much. A bit stiff, but what was worse was the sunburn on my face and the absolute tiredness. I slept for probably 20 hours between Saturday and Sunday!
Q: Are you going to do it again?
A: Not for awhile! I'm not totally ruling it out, but it was a lot of time and effort. The half marathon is a lot easier to train for, and I plan to do one in October.
Week 18 Plan
Total: 36.2 miles
Sunday: 3 miles
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 5 miles
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 2 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 26.2 miles
Week 18 Results
Total: 36.04 miles
Sunday: 3.0 miles
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 4.8 miles
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 1.92 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 26.32* miles
*A marathon is 26.2 miles measured along the tangents. This means that if you go wide on the turns, you end up running a little extra distance.
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