"g's" Marathon Training Journal Continues...

Marathon Weekend
Potomac River Run, Belle Haven, VA

Friday April 29th:
Aside from scheduling myself with only two easy warm up runs this week, I arrived at Dulles Airport feeling pretty darn good. Weather.Com predicted rain Friday through Saturday night, and brilliant weather for Sunday - race day! Marathon day! Big enchilada day! What, me worry?

Saturday April 30th:
I've been feeling heavier the past couple of days. With only a few miles in my running shoes this past week, I've become progressively skeptical about my fitness to run a marathon. From what I've read... this is typical and should be dismissed.

Marathon Jeannie and I had planned to run an easy 3 miles just to stay limber before tomorrow's race, but heavy rain and the fear of wet shoes on race day kept us indoors.

Rob and Jeannie, their 4 children, and I went out for burgers at noon. Later we picked up fixin's so I could make Mama LaBella's Home Made Spaghetti Sauce and pasta with turkey meatballs for dinner. We were joined by my wife's niece (Jolena), her husband (Dan) and their 1 year old, Jackson. We feasted on a monster meal!

With Jeannie running the half, and me the full marathon, we did pretty well staying hydrated and carbed-up. After setting out our running attire, gel packs, filled water bottles, and setting about 5 wake-up alarms for 4:30 AM... we retired around 9:30 PM. We wondered if the rain would ever stop...

Race Day. Marathon Day!
At 4:29 AM, moments before summoned by my Suunto, I awoke to the sound of pounding torrential rains on the sky lights to my 3rd floor bedroom. The thought of 26 miles in wet feet causing huge blisters the size of candy bars triggered a sinking feeling. There would be no brilliant weather, for sure.

As scheduled, we loaded into the Durango at 5:15 AM, and were race bound in the most gosh-awful, wet and dismal weather. Destined to have nothing but wet feet and blisters, I was prepared to leave on top of Jeannie's car an extra pair of dry sneakers and socks in plastic to change into at midpoint.

We arrived at Belle Haven Park at 6:00 AM to grab the second to last parking spot in front of the puddle strewn start line. There would be a total of 200 half and full marathoners running either one or two loops of the course which was peppered with persistent rolling hills. I'd been thinking of the 2-loop course in terms of four equal sections - out and back and out and back. I'd been training to run the first loop (out and back) between 9:30 and 10:00 minute miles, and then slow down to about 10:00 to 11:00 minute miles for the second out and back.

Moments before the start, and immediately following race introductions, LaBella Karma struck unpredictably and surprisingly hard. The rain stopped. Minus the hassle of rain, our running shells offered just the right amount of skin protection for a desirably cold 7:00 AM start.

I felt strong the first out and back. My pace was right on schedule. Just as I began to heat up, Rob and the cheering squad caught up with us at the 2 mile marker. Warmed up, and as LaBella Karma would have it, Jeannie and I were able to eagerly ditched our outer wear. It looked like we were in for cool, dry overcast weather. Perfect!

I finished the 1st loop (13.1 mi) at 2:02, with Marathon Jeannie 6 minutes behind me. The out leg of the 2nd loop began to wear on me as the wavy path with it's sudden ascents and descents gradually took a toll on my legs. At the turn around cone on loop 2 (mile 20), I was greeted by the roaming cheering squad who roared with chants of support as I negotiated a short walk to sip water and Endurox R4 (my secret weapon), and chew on an orange slice... Marathon Jeannie waved her 1/2 marathon medal and called out, "Hey... I'm all done!"

As I realized a 4:18 race time had vanished... I motored-up my weary bones for the last 6.5 miles of up and down up and down up and down up and down up and down. I figured by mile 23, I would be burnt toast. I was.

At mile 24, at barely a jogging pace, I was met one last time by the Roaming LaBella-Juers Cheering Squad. At mile 24.5, I was ready to call it a day. By mile 25, I was seeing dancing chicken wings in the grassy fields. When mile 25.5 came into view I experienced a robust desire to stand up straight. I could feel my pace quicken. I knew I was home free all! I just had to cross the finish line... way over there! At 4:48 - about 30 minutes slower then I'd hoped for... I completed my first marathon at the ripe old age of 51. Cool.