BayState Marathon - RunMarathon

Ok, wanted to average right around 11 Minute miles for the run. To the most part my first 1/2 was around 10:40 give or take a little. Around mile 16, I started to slow, then at about mile 20 I started to go junk. By mile 25 I was struggling to stay on my feet. Could only muster 100 yard suffles the rest of the way in to the ball park. Did manage to run the warning track around to the finish line.

My biggest problem I think was not doing a couple of 20+ mile tune up runs before my taper. I did not take the long runs seriously enough. By the time I got to mile 20 I had already done a personal best for a long run. I think I was one jell over on nutrition, started the rumblies twards the end. Took 5 gels with me and was gifted one by a trifury member latter at the 1/2 way point.

On the positive side. I got to run with TAGP, DK, and tri again for about 1.5 miles. Just after the 1/2ers sepperated from the full mary folks, I met up with a woman named Cynthia. She and I spent about the next 6 miles together, sharing the time of our first mary together. At precicisly the 2 hour mark the leaders overtook us on there second lap. Just about when I figured they would. At that point we went single file out of courtsy to the faster runners. About 6 miles latter she was still just about 100 yards behind me, so I stopped to let her catch up. She protested my move, but I said the company was more important than my time. We stayed together for about 2 miles until she needed to start to walk run. A few miles latter, I had about a 1/2 mile on her.I joined the walk club at mile 21. Pained me to do it, for it only got easier to do. By mile 25 I was walking all but 30 second stints of shuffle. I just kind of closed my eyes and kept moving. The only thing in my mind was putting one foot in front of the other. I wanted to stop, but figured if Gina can go 31 hours strait in a Double IM, I can finish a punny mary. I can not tell you how much she inspired me to go, go hard and finish with some dignity.

As I approached the final bridge, I put together enough of a run for a possible good photo. Then started to walk again. TAGP and DK saw me from the stands and prompted me to run. Maybe I mustered about 2 steps, but decided to wait until I was on the field to try again. Hit the finish line and grabbed a water.

Drank the water like it was going out of style. Took a mylar blanket. I had stopped sweeting around mile 21. Partly due to lack of exurtion and falling temps. I may have also been a little under hydrated, but do not think so. A nice young lady asked for my chip, so I sat. She could not figure out my speed laces, so I kicked off my shoe and did it myself. Took me forever. Got the shoe back on and spent what felt like 5 minutes trying to stand. The mind was willing, but the body was nowhere to be found. TAGP and DK suggested picking up my gear bag so I would not have to walk back down to the field again. Grabbed a Pepsi and MT Dew along with what felt like a 1/2 a loaf of bread in the form of rolls. They never tasted so good. With in about 10 minutes of eating I could fell my brain comming back to me again. TAGP kept asking if it hit me what I had accoplished. That took almost 1 hour. I was on the way back to the car with DK before the feeling hit.

BTW stretching, not sure that is possible yet without fear of getting locked in the position due to a mussle spasim. This still holds true 5 hours latter while I write this.


Longer long runs and understanding different types of training pacing and what they are for.


can not write about the post race activities because I was too tired to think about them. Plus DK waited almost 3 hours for me to finish with TAGP. The voulenteers rocked. It seemed that every highschool track team with in 10 miles was manning a station. Porta Johns were a little on the light side as I was caught more than once taking up close and person views of the foliage. My only porta john stop cost me over 2 minutes which I made up in less than 3 miles. Great race and better learning experience.