Loose Ends: Marine Corp and Charlottesville Marathons

About the same time that I made a first attempt at this blog, I began training for the Marine Corp Marathon in late fall of 2007. I posted up a few times about the training. Well, I did it! A belated "Huzzah!" for me. Here's what I wrote at the time in an email to friends and family:

"I'm sitting at my desk, quads aching, knees stiffening, and feet shod in my most comfortable shoes (crocs) - yup, it's the day after a marathon! After months of training, I finally ran the Marine Corp Marathon and had a great time. Cali and I got up early Sunday and were on the metro by 6:15; it was a good thing we left early. Although we heard about the incredible crowds (35,000 runners with at least that many spectators), it was really a sight. The metro was packed and nearly the entire course was lined with fans, two or three rows deep at some places.

Dawn arrived beautifully while we were making our way to the starting line. The weather was a little on the cool side and pretty windy, but bright and clear. At around 8, the race started with a bang (literally, a cannon was fired) and I crossed the starting line a minute later. The course started at Arlington National Cemetery, headed first into Arlington, then out Spout Run and across Key Bridge, then looped through Georgetown, then followed the river down to the National Mall, ran along Constitution Ave. and back on Independence, went all the way down around Hain's Point, crossed back to Virginia into Crystal City and finally back to Arlington where it finished close to the Iwo Jima Memorial. Needless to say, I say pretty much all of the Washington DC sights in one morning!

I found Cali after the race and celebrated with her. It was great having her at the race - another memory that we'll share forever! Because the race is a big loop, she could crisscross her way through the city and see me at a couple of places (at the start, at miles 10, 15, and 19). She ran with me a bit at miles 15 and 19. Seeing her really was a pick-me-up!

I finished in about 3 hours and 40 minutes (about a 8:20 min. pace) - definitely not my best time, but I'm satisfied. I made a few mistakes - I didn't eat enough during the race and wore myself out too soon. But my primary goal was to finish. I'm especially proud of how consistently I trained; I only missed a few training runs over six months."

Clearly, I was suffering from the all too common, post-marathon "what a great experience!" delusion. Let's be frank, folks: a marathon is a painful experience. You have to be at least a several shades of crazy to contemplate, decide, train, and participate in a marathon.

Let's look at the photographic evidence:

"What kind of idiot am I?"

This was at about mile 18.5. Sure, I look fine, but I was feeling it - burning quads, aching arches, weak limbs, and the mental anquish of realizing that I'm some sort of idiot for thinking that running 26.2 miles would be "fun." Thanks go out to Cali: she had be wipe away the froth from my mouth so I wouldn't look to psycho.

Post-race:

Relief

Yup, the medal was my "prize" for surviving, kind of like when you were a kid and the dentist let you pick out a stupid toy for enduring a half hour of torment. Still, you can see the delusions seeping into my head at this point: "That wasn't so bad. It was pretty cool, in fact. You should do another..." In retrospect, I could have saved myself time and money by simply cutting off my toes and been done with it.

But, I was in the grips of an attractive delusion. After a month or so off, I started training for the Charlottesville Marathon in April. This race would be a real pain-fest - hills aplenty. My training was a bit more relaxed; my goal was just to finish.

Charlottesville was beautiful in April - buds were popping out, the weather was warm and sunny, and spring fever was fueling the delusions of many others, besides myself.

We enjoyed a leisurely after evening before the marathon - picked up my race packet, enjoyed the weather, and wandered around Charlottesville.

Express yourself.

The Free Speech wall is a cool feature of the Euro-style pedestrian zone downtown. It's essentially a big slate wall with free chalk and the encouragement to express yourself. Cali drew the cool mountain in the lower foreground. Above it I wrote "Oh, be wise! What more can I say?" Yup, we're outspoken extremists.

The race was just what I was expecting: a long, painful death run. Hills, hills, hills. Did I mention the hills? Cali found a way to meet me out on the course a couple of times, although considering my pace, she managed to read War and Peace between sightings. (Thanks for your patience, babe!)

Here I am... walking. (I wish I could say the only time I walked was at the aid stations...)

Out for a 26.2 mi. stroll

My primary goal was to survive, my secondary goal was to finish under 4 hours. I accomplished both. (Of course, my tertiary goal was to cross the finish line prancing like a physics fairy, but well, that didn't happen.) All in all, a quality pain fest.

Why do I do these things again?

Oh, yeah, the insanity...

Insanity... the water's fine! Come on in!