Columbus Marathon - RunMarathon

I originally had a 3:35 goal for this race about two months ago, but I have been having on and off metatarsal pain since my HIM at Cedar Point. So I didn't get in all of the training I wanted. My long run was 20 miles 2.5 weeks before the race and I thought with a longer taper, my feet would heal. But they didn't I started out with some foot discomfort and decided my revised goal was to finish under 3:45. I was loaded up with one bottle of Inifnit napalm for transition in a Simple Hydration bottle stuff in the back of my shorts (those bottles work great) and decided to take about 2 ounces every 40 minutes or so right before a water stop. It worked great.

When the fireworks went off and the cannon fired, I started out with the 3:45 pace group and decided I wasn't going to exert any more mental or physical energy than necessary. So I just hung with that group and enjoyed the nice easy run. I hung with them all the way until mile 17. Around mile 14 though, my feet started to hurt more than normal. Lungs felt great, knees felt great, but the feet were starting to hurt. I kept telling myself to focus on the stuff that felt good and ignore the stuff that hurt.

Around mile 17, I started thinking it was time to pick things up because I was feeling good. I also like the idea of a good photo opp in the horseshoe and I didn't want to be in the mob of the 3:45 group, so I figured let's pick it up a little. So I picked up a bit outside the stadium. That was a great experience. I was still having a lot of fun despite the foot issues.

My battery was still holding up on my GPS until mile 20.5 when it died. From that point, I was running blind (no pace, no HR), but started to focus more on picking up the pace at that point. Then, around mile 21 or so, I heard two guys come behind me talking to each other that they were currently running a 7:50 pace. I told them it was good to know since my battery died. They told me they were going to hit it hard to the finish and become the 3:42 pace group and asked if I was in. I said I'll give it a shot. From that point forward, Todd, Doug, and I started passing tons of people and just had a focus on getting to the finish and staying positive.

My feet were hurting for the last 10K, but every time I turned, I would feel a new level of pain in the feet. We were killing it through Victorian village at mile 25 and I could see the Nationwide building. I thought that looked a lot more than 1/2 mile away, but I just trusted my legs could make it. Went down front street and turned right on Nationwide, it was loud and downhill, so I went hard to the finish.

Ran through the finish went over to Doug and Todd, thanked them for getting me through the finish. Got my medal, and got some water.

My favorite part of the race was at each mile, Nationwide Children's hospital had a child who they named the mile after and that boy/girl was there at "their mile". They had a big foam hand they were sticking out and I made an effort to try and high 5 each of those kids. I really hope they enjoyed their day and it really puts life into perspective. What a great idea and it truly touched me to watch these children and all the people who supported them. Every mile was special because of them.


Need more longer runs. I also needed to take 2 weeks off from running after Cedar Point to recover. This was my first marathon, so I learned from it. My pacing plan worked great.

I could barely walk as my feet were in serious pain. Then I was concerned about finding my wife at the finish. As soon as I got out of the finisher area, there she was. She ran the half at sub 10min/mile which was really good for her.

I only parked about 1/2 mile away, but it took me forever to get there. I had to stop every few hundred feet because of the pain. Went and picked up the kids then headed to Groveport for the middle school cross country championships where I hobbled around but was able to watch my daughter run.


The foot pain. 1 or 2 more 20/22 mile runs would have helped.


I love this race!