I am a marathon finisher. Some random initial thoughts, with more to be added this evening:
- The back corral start was fine for me, people did a reasonable job of placing themselves appropriately.
- The road was pretty crowded for a long time, basically until the half marathoners split off, and this made me uncomfortable. I thought I would be tripped several times from people cutting in front or moving sideways. The Bolder Boulder roads and wave start for 45000 people is more comfortable as there is more room on the roads to spread out.
- I went to 6 am mass before the start, it probably lasted 30 minutes, likely a PR. Thanks to Fr. Rivers Patout, ND Class of 1960 for saying mass for the 12th year before the marathon.
- I basically ran a half marathon and walked a half marathon. I did not have my aerobic fitness today, my capability to run continuously shut down at mile 13. Then at mile 20, calf cramping shut down my capability to run at all. So I did my first half running in 2:15 and my second half mostly walking in 2:48.
- Amazing how inconsistent our bodies, or at least mine, can be for these long runs. I could have imagined shutting down at mile 20 based on all my training, but never expected to lose it at mile 13.
- I can very close to throwing in the towel at miles 15 and 17 since it just seemed stupid to keep going when I could not really run. There seemed no point to continuing. If I had a cellphone I would have called to be picked up. But then I looked at all the people around me just trying to move forward somehow. I thought about them finishing so I kept going. I am glad I did.
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6 comments:
Great job! I'm glad you persevered (and didn't have that cell phone with you). I was thinking the same thing though!
Joe,
Good to meet you at the Expo and then see you again on the course on Sunday! Don't ask me why I didn't jump in and offer to run with you ... please forgive me for that, I had temporary amnesia at that point; however, if things didn't work out the way they did, I might not have had the chance to introduce you to Holden. So I hope there was a happy medium there ... somewhere.
Glad you finished and didn't throw in the towel. I know how frustrating it is to have to walk when your mind wants to run.
Way to get that 81.3!
Jon
your last comment about other people continuing to move forward...that really got to me. that's how i managed to finish the half marathon...other runners. strength in numbers:) WTG.
I'm so proud of you! Makes me want to get off my butt and enjoy this "mild" Michigan winter... alas, about 100 pages of rational choice theory reading left before tomorrow. Good thing you're running for the whole family ;) YOU ROCK!!!
PS we all know you would have managed to lose the cell phone within a few miles anyway
Great job. I must have been in your vicinity through out the day as I finished in 5:02 and also went to the mass.
i am glad you persevered as well!
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