Columbus -- My Dark Journey (Read 939 times)

Preamble:

Returning to Columbus for my 2nd Marathon, actually this was 3rd attempt as DNF @ Columbus in 2008 after tearing cartilidge in knee around mile 6 and knee locking up around mile 11.  That was the conclusion to a hard headed plan trying to run marathon with little training (in retrospect) and knowing the knee was injured in the last two LRs coming into the race. 

2009 was to be My Redemption in Columbus. 

I had successfully completed my first marathon in May 2009 in cleveland in a respectful 4:10:08, which still looking back on little training.  I had high hopes for Columbus 09 as had trained twice as much then the spring as well as smashed all PRs from 5k through half over the past 5 months.

The Goal was 3:45

Race Week:

Normally have the family with me at the big out of town races, but the past week my youngest son came down with strep throat and then when over that came down with a bad cough ,my older son came down with a respitory infection.  Being a parent its kind of hard not to be around your sick kids and was just praying for the best.  Started to feel something coming on and tried to stay in isolation friday night and rest.

With kids sick and weather supposed to be cold, we decided best for family to stay home.  So I head down to Columbus by myself Saturday afternoon.  Hit the Expo (which is not good by the way ... no freebees and terrible tishirts), run into some of my friends from running club.

Plans were to meet some RAers for dinner (Holly S; Breger1, etc) from masters group as we were all running and shooting for 3:45, which for them were BQ attempts.  Checking into the hotel at 4:00PM, I was pretty whooped so sent message that would have to miss dinner as just wanted to rest and did not want to get anyone sick.

Hungout at hotel and good pretty goods night "rest", No deep sleep but was sleeping off/on from 9:00AM to 5:30AM. 

Race Day:

Wanted to still meet up with the RA gang at Breger1s hotel @ 6:45AM, so headed out at 6:30AM and stopped at the start (I was only like 1/2 block from start area) to drop my gear bag after last year knew would be a zoo at the gear drop...My bag was the 2nd on the truck.  Walked the Block over to Hyatt and got there about 6:35 and never was able to find the RAers and with the crowds getting more packed in hotel it just got harder to move through people.  Hung out at the Hyatt until 7:15 and then hit bathroom 1 last time and headed back to start.

Was about 7:22, which is plenty of time but you know you tend to panic a bit.  Hit the start area from the front and could not find easy way into the corral, finally spotted an opening around the 3:30 group.  Plan was to start behind the 3:40 group but it was packed liked sardines, so started out a little in front as had a little space were i was.

Few minutes chatting with runners and about race time.  Garmin is working well.  Expecting a Speach and/or National Anthem or at least Runners get ready .... Nothing ... just the gun.  But you know being back a bit you have more than enough time to shuffle forward before your actual start.

Race Details:

Post Race:

Crossing the finish in a bit of a daze,grab a blanket which I have nevre used before ,get my medal , get corralled a bit forward ... were the hell is the water?  Ohh they have a hat station OK and a fairly nice running hat (if you have a really small head).  Were the hell is the water?  Finally the Herd channels down an alley ... finally water.

From miles 10 - 14 I was actually starving (before my Hamstring took my mind off my tummy), after water proceeded down the alley of food and felt like a biggest loser contestent on a temptation were they have to eat as much as they can within 2 minutes.  Gatoraid , bagels (hard as rock and cold) but start cookie mostering these as were heard forward, donuts (hmmm), milk, chips, cant remember after that as I was like i just ate like 1000 calories in 2 minutes ... hmmm.

Overall finished  4:01:11 :  1961 / 4076  overall and 237 / 387

I feel for ya, buddy--that darn hamstring!!

But look at it this way, even with the hamstring issues, you pulled out a 9 minute PR. Most people have to be completely healthy to be able to manage that. You'll get that 3:45 (and then some) soon!! 

You've had a great training and racing year, which will only help you as you look ahead to the future.

Thanks guys .... Actually thinking things over the last 24 hrs and actually writing this has helped my outlook.  Trying to look at the whole picture and progress of 2009.

Its just that outstanding goal of sub 4:00 ... Have gone from not ever wanting to run a marathon again to this morining after seeing Trents msg on Indy marathon ... "Heck I could run that in three weeks"  but won't jump into anything to hasty and may still stick with the short distance races , well I guess half marathons are not that short, but seem to fit me better.

Driving back from Marathon actually ran into one of my running club members at a rest stop.  actually kind of funny recognizing people 1.5 hrs away walking across the parking lot with the "marathon walk".  Anyways he was planning his first at 3:45 and after talking to him before figured he was stretching, he ran with 3:40 group through mile 20 and then finished 4:17 (which had to be a monster crash) but he was still happy to get his first 

If he could be happy, why can't I? 

Robert – how on earth do you remember what happened every mile?  It’s always somewhat of a blur to me...

I agree that the expo was kind of disappointing (where were all the free samples and what’s with no gear bag, not even a plastic drawstring?), and the gear bag drop before the race was a mess.  I didn’t realize that it would be such a nightmare to get to it, and ended up getting my bag checked with only moments to spare, and had to squeeze into the crowd at the very back, thereby assuring me of miles of weaving in and out. 

Tough day for you (even tougher than, well, the usual friggin’ tough that marathons already are), but you got a very nice PR, and a carrot to lead you into doing another one of these ridiculous events in the spring....

I’m sorry that we didn’t get to meet up this time.  Hopefully there will be another race where we cross paths.

Sorry you didn't get the 345 ... I predict a redemption race -- and I really I liked your final post. 

BTW -- A 40-ft hook shot in full stride -- not too shabby!

Congrats on the PR!

Might I suggest -- Dec 13th ... big elevation drop ... southwest flys there ... just saying

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