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The Cowtown Marathon - Run


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Fort Worth, Texas
United States
The Cowtown
Total Time = 7h 25m 25s
Overall Rank = 1973/1995
Age Group = 55-59 M
Age Group Rank = 74/76
Event warmup:

None
Run
  • 7h 25m 22s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 17m  min/mile
Comments:

I got up at 4:45AM when the alarm rang. I had a good sleep.
We drove to the race start location and found a parking space about 15 mins away from the start line.
I met with Becca, Christi and Judy from the Galloway training group. It was 6:30AM and a gorgeous morning, albeit a little warm.
It was a big crowd and we were in corral 8.
Becca and me decided to run together with a 1:1 run, walk.
We started the run and for the first 9 miles, kept a good pace, between 3.9 mph to 4.4 mph.
Near the end, we walked up a steep bridge and when I looked back, saw a swarm of runners, with colorful clothes. It felt good to be a part of this big group of people.
I had to take a bio break, Becca took off and then I was running alone.
Once the marathoners and half marathoners split up, it became lonely, not many runners.
I passed and talked to many of the marathoners.
There was Susan, who walked a fast walk and said she was running her 460th marathon, a gentleman from Ohio who was running his 149th marathon and another man who was consistently plodding along, he looked tired but he never let down, he kept going.
Throughout, I was hydrating and taking my gu every hour at least and endurolyte tablets as well.
The sun had come out and it was warm and around mile 15, I started feeling cramps in my right calves, every time I ran.
I decided to walk the reamining distance.
In the far distance, I saw this person with the red cap walking and walking consistently at a slightly faster pace than me.
I started telling myself that it was the North star and I will take my inspiration from the star. I used to run a little trying to catch the star, but it was always ahead of me.
I think that it was around mile 20 that I finally caught up with the star, Rick from Oklahoma who was running his 130th marathon, and me running my 2nd.
We walked together for a while and then I had to slow down, while Rick continued on his pace, getting farther and farther from me.
I felt strong and walked a brisk pace, but could not run.
I met with Jennifer who was running her first race and wanted to finish before 7h30m and Priscella who got blisters on here feet and troubled her till they burst and then she felt better and she ran and motivated me to run some.
I was walking but enjoyed myself thoroughly, waving to the volunteers and the cops, talking to them and enjoying myself thoroughly.
Mile 23, at the waterstop, they guided me to go by the water. I went there and could see no marathon runners ahead of me. I wondered whether I will finish in time. But there was a pleasant breeze and I felt strong. I continued my brisk walk with the wind on my face.
At mile 25, I saw Rick again and I had my north star guiding me and giving me motivation.
I had to catch up. I ran some and walked some and finally caught up with Rick at 25.7 miles.
We walked together till mile 26 and then I burst out the last .2 miles, running strong and finally finished with Donna who was walking real fast.
My wife Gettha was at the finish line and I was jubiliant, I had finished my 2nd marathon ever in 7h, 25m, 25 s
What would you do differently?:

Nothing different
Post race
Warm down:

I came home and had a soak in hot water with Epson salt. Very tired.
I got the beginning of cramps a couple of times,but the cramps really did not happen. Slept till about 10PM and am writing my race log.


What limited your ability to perform faster:

I am pleased with what I accomplished.




Last updated: 2014-02-18 12:00 AM
Running
07:25:22 | 26.2 miles | 17m  min/mile
Age Group: 74/76
Overall: 1973/1995
Performance: Average
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/450588225 I believe that for roughly an hour, I was not running even though the garmin timer was running
Course:
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2014-02-24 8:31 AM

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18

Subject: The Cowtown Marathon


2014-02-24 8:47 AM
in reply to: #4954540

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Expert
1608
1000500100
Grapevine, Texas
Subject: RE: The Cowtown Marathon
Kumar, beautiful race report! Loved the "north star" analogy. The conversations, even if brief, that you had with people on the course are such a gift, and truly enrich the experience. Congrats to you on running your race, and soaking in every bit if your marathon day!
2014-02-24 10:28 AM
in reply to: squirt

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Veteran
439
10010010010025
Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Subject: RE: The Cowtown Marathon
Congrats Kumar! Half the battle with marathons or any endurance race is enjoying yourself and your reports shows that you had a good time and met a lot of new people!
2014-02-24 2:16 PM
in reply to: medeiros13

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Elite
5316
5000100100100
Alturas, California
Subject: RE: The Cowtown Marathon
Good job staying tough through a very long race.
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