Notes
Race Day: Short version - That did not go according to plan.
Well the day started off well. Got up early and grabbed a bite to eat. Then headed down to the race. Got there about 1 hour early so I could stretch a little and hit the washroom before the race started. The line for the washrooms was a mile long. Watching the line move, I didn't bother but i don't think the line would have made it by the time the race started. Met my brother Steelie before the race, We were runnign this together as our first marathon. We were doing it while we were both 40. The race started off ok. My brother and I ran into our cousins that were there to race as well. We ran the first km with them then headed off on our own. By the time we arrived at the first water station, i knew I wasn't feeling right. My HR was way above where it should have been for that slow of a pace. I tried to hang on, but I could never get it to recover. When walking and almost stopping if came down to where it normally sits for a long run. The walking breaks got longer as the running became less frequent. Finally around 27 km, I had to make the first of the big decisions. I realized I could no longer run at all without the pains hurting to much and the HR really high. We walked about another 5km. I could feel that Steelie was good to still go, but true to being a good brother, he stayed with me as we planned since we were running this together. While walking I kept looking at my watch, watching the gap to the cut off get closer. As long as we maintained a 10 min/km pace we could finish by the cutoff. AS we kept walking my pace grew slower and slower until I had to make the ultimate call. At the 32 km sponge station, I knew my day was done. We parted ways, and I got in the car there to get a drive back to the start. It was a very emotional ride. The person driving me back was awesome as she chatted about things to keep my mind off of the fact that I had to throw in the towel. When I reached the starting area, it was again emotional as it sunk in that my day was done. Glad I made the decision to let Steelie go and finish as I wasn't able to and didn't want to hold him back. My hats off to you. Actually it was your hat off to you since I borrowed your hat for the race. Maybe another day will be my day.