My 10th Marathon Was Awesome!

Well I did it. I ran my 10th marathon and the Shamrock was awesome! When I woke up that morning, it was very chilly and breezy -- I was wearing gloves and a wool hat. My light jacket was not enough for the wind, but I knew once I was running it would be warmer. But standing there was not fun, so I sheltered by the side of building to break the wind from my body. The marathon was great, except they forgot to provide porta-johns for the start, so I and thousands of other runners had to find a bathroom in some of the surrounding hotels. Of course standing inside was ok with me and warm too. Fortunately, my hotel was close enough I could go back to pee before the race -- good call on reservations. Still I think that such a big race like the Shamrock they would have more bathrooms available near the start -- something to work on next year.

I had run the half marathon part before back in 2006 in the VA Beach Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon, so I knew what to expect and this made it a little easier to gauge my pacing. The wind was still blowing, but because we were shielded by trees around us it was unnoticeable. I find that the I get nervous enough, the my bladder get filled faster. So I had to pee again and it was only mile 4. So instead of waiting anymore, I stopped at one the only two stalls I saw along the side of the road. Since this was military property, just stopping to piss would have most likely landed a police ticket. I took the longer, but least harassing method of relieving myself. But I may have decided to do otherwise if I had known that the bathrooms would have been in such horrible condition. I think that someone had some serious GI problem, as it was almost unbearable to even pee in. I did not go to the bathroom again until I was back in my hotel room after finishing. There is something quite wonderful about running a marathon, like Marine Corps Marathon, where at mile 7 you can use the great outdoors in Rock Creek Park to relieve oneself. This outdoor peeing luxury was missing in this course.

But that was it, the course was spectacular! When I was at mile 11 and onto the boardwalk heading north, then the real adventure began. The beaches were to my right and deserted. No one was on the beach or boardwalk -- hmmm why would that be? Well the winds were ferocious and demanding. I remember having to push my chest forward to brace the wind in order to more ahead. The winds were about 35 mph with gusts of 40 mph and it was tough going for about 6 miles! I did manage to have some conversations in the windy weather with a guy who was 64 years old and had run about 167 marathons. Even he said that the winds were a first for him. We communicated about running fun together -- our words were flying all around the air as we pushed our way forward.

Finally, we reached the turn off into the trees at mile 17, where I met another runner. Mary was 64 years old and she only started running marathons at 52 years old. She has run about 67 marathons and how young she looked. She and I leap-frogged for the next two miles and then at mile 19 I surged ahead. It was not until mile 21 that Mary caught up with me. The scenery was spectacular -- there we breaks in the dunes where you could see the open ocean crashing along the shore line. We passed two lighthouses along the way, each us leaping forward in with each step. At mile 23, Mary surged ahead as I was having pains in my left knee. Funny its was my right knee that was having some problems during the week before. So I took some time to stretch my legs and knee and gaze into the beautiful scenery around me. I was in paradise even though I was so freakin' tired.

I was doing a 3:1 pace (meaning I ran 3 minutes and walked 1 minute.) This is the first marathon that have done this entire pace without change -- fully taking one minute of rest. I felt that this marathon I was able to keep moving forward very strong and confident than ever before. Yeah, running a marathon is a tough sport and you hurt both physically and mentally, but being able to keep doing it is the most difficult part. I have found that I am able to sustain a faster, fuller running motion the entire time without being winded. Hey, all I want is to finish strong and be able to sprint to the finish with my arm raised. I find regardless of my abilities that I get into a Zen mindset and drift around in the last 2 miles. I don't really remember much about my rest breaks because my eyes are closed. If Zen works then it works for me in this part to the marathon.

So at mile 23, my friend Mary had surged ahead and she had a purple running shirt on so I could still see her ahead of me. I was gathering my strength and pacing myself and frankly loving the course scenery. Unlike the elite runners, who may never see the what is around them, I was noticing all the wildlife and things about me. I figure that I was out there to have fun too and run too -- all good things in life. I was steady and unfaltering in my pace, which is unusual -- which I have in the past started to loosen up on my physical ability. But this time I felt a stronger passion to keep with the program. Perhaps unconsciously I was thinking of my dear friend Andy Summers who had passed away on Friday. I can't say fully that I even thought of Andy along the course, but I know her was apart of my passion to keep moving forward. I know that his marathoning was apart mine that day. Perhaps it was at mile 22 that he ran with me and gave me an extra kick in my step.

All I know was that I moved ever closer to that purple running shirt of Mary's. Then as I was fueling up with my favorite gel -- Raspberry Cream Power Gel, I realized that Mary was right in front of me and that we had just passed mile 23. As I ran to her left side, I said hello, and she said "I knew you would catch me eventually." I said that you would probably catch me again. She said, "No, I am slowing down, but I will watch for your blue running shirt ahead me." I surged ahead at mile 23, my legs were sore and tired, but my mind was clear and determined. I had 3 miles left -- so I trudged on. At mile 25, I remember hearing passerbys saying its so close, just keep going. At mile 26, I was is such a daze and my Zen state was intense. I don't remember closing my eyes. I only remember falling into a trance, as I floated into unconsciousness. It was the branches of a nearby tree that woke me up as I crashed into the curb, almost falling down. Some spectators yelling at me to press on. I did just that.

I changed to my chrono clock for the first time since the start and saw that I was close. Rounding the corner onto the boardwalk I could see the finish line in the distance. I knew that the distance was a mirage, but I pressed on. I wanted to stop and walk, but I could not. I kept going. A girl was next to me and we spoke for a bit, then she said lets finish this race and so I did. I summoned all the energy I could and let it fly. I sprinted the last leg of the race to the finish line. I raised my arms in celebration. I knew that this was what I had been waiting for all morning. As I crossed the finish line, my energy was sapped, but my mind was excited. I was dazed and confused, and several officials came to help me out. I was led to the get my chip removed and medal put on. I was cold, but happy. I could not believe that in 4 years that would be able to run 10 marathons. And yet, I am looking forward to running even more this year. It was March and I had already run two marathons in 2008.

I remember one of the runners who at the spry age of 80 something (who has run over 380 marathons) said as we rounded mile 15:

"Each year I run a marathon, I can say that I can only die young."

Have a happy and wonderful St. Patricks Day!