Soldiers Marathon - Run

Race Start:
When the cannon went off, we started out with just a slow jog in the crowd, I thought this was fun. Between mile 2 and 3 there was a hill where drill sergeants were yelling for us to run up the hill. This was AWESOME!!!! I was running and enjoying the experience. I was telling every Army volunteer “Thank you for your services”. Since I run with only a watch I didn’t have a clue about my pace but my long runs are 10 minute miles like clock work, I figured I was ok since I was breathing so easy. About mile 3 I finally started feeling my feet and toes.
Now I felt like a dog, I could not pass up a port-a-potty, I had to mark my territory I guess. About mile 5 I ate part of a pop tart and took off my toboggan. At the 10 k mark it was an hour so I was right on pace but then thought, this is really slow.
I jogged and when camera folks were taking pics I tried to get Nicholas’s name up for the camera, it was about him and not me.
When the ½ marathon folks veered off, I got lonely but I was taking Nicholas along for the run.
I kept passing the 4:10 pacer, his name was Jack, he was great, telling folks when to take their gels, when water was coming etc etc. I kept passing because I was always stopping to pee. Finally his group was all gone so I just jogged with him and talked to him for a long way. It made the time fly by. Mile 17 was a huge feast, PB&J bagels, oranges, M&M’s, gels etc etc. I would stop and add gels to the water I was taking because gels by themselves play with my stomach. I got dropped at mile 17 by Jack as I filled my water bottle and peeing (again)! As I was leaving the feast I saw a little boy running. I asked him his age and he said 11, I looked to see and yes he had a marathon bib on. I tried to encourage him, he was faster than me and a good runner but he was fading fast.
By now we were running along the river few people were out. When I met another runner I would encourage them. I even gave some enduralytes and energy chews.
I was still doing good but starting to get a little tired and finally remembered to start butt kicking to stretch out my quads. It was warming up and Nicholas and I were running by the river and looking at the passing clouds. I started talking to him. I was sorry he had lost his life as such a young age. I appreciated his efforts. I know he wished he could be here running.
Mile 20, further than I have ever run in 1 day but thought just 6.2 more miles to go. Here the inside of my legs started tightening up and it started getting painful to run. Again, I started talking to Nicholas. I told him running was the easy part, what he did was the hard part! Guess what, Nicholas Carnes carried me to the finish line! I don’t remember a lot about mile 20 to 26.2 but Nicholas got me there. Thank you Nicholas!
Splits per the course
¼ 9:47 pace
½ 9:46 pace
¾ 9:40 pace
To finish 10:05 pace.


I'm fairly new to running, I just need to run more miles and stay injury free.

When I finished, I stretched, got a drink and some pretzels and watched my wife finish and she set a PR, so proud of her.
The only bad thing of the whole race was the people eating the food and making a huge mess. They left popsicles on the granite stone to melt, dropped food, spilled drinks etc. and didn’t clean it up. I know the new recruits were having to clean it up Sunday.
I’m giving my finisher metal to the family of Nicholas Carnes, he deserves it!



Being injured the last 5 weeks prior to the marathon but I was very happy with the results for my 1st marathon.


This is a small race, and runs a lot on the army base so there are few spectators but the Army does a lot to make it special and I hope to run it next year.

Thanks to all US military!