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Comments: I started out the race aiming for a 9:44 average. With the black flag warnings being displayed, I lowered my target to 10:00. I was pretty much on target through mile 20, with a little slack for additional unplanned walk time through the water stations to take in about double the amount of fluid that I had planned. It was time well spent. The weather was pretty warm and the forecasted overcast skies never showed up. It was sunny and bright the whole way . . . not a cloud in the sky. I took advantage of virtually all of the homemade sprinkler systems devised by the fans along the course. Anyone willing to tape a sprinker to the top of a stepladder for the benefit of complete strangers is OK in my book. At mile 20, an enthusiastic young lady was offering a "cold shower" to all comers. I took advantage of the opportunity, but didn't realize how cold it really was. As the pitcher was emptied over my head, I thought I had made a fatal error in judgement. I was gasping for air for about 5 seconds as my life flashed before my eyes. When I realized that I was not dead, I noticed that my shoes were soak through and squishing with every step. At least my feet were cool. I felt pretty strong through Lemon Drop Hill (mile 22), passing my relatives at the top of the hill with a smile on my face and a little spring in my step. Mile 23 brought the onset of cramping in my left quad, resulting in a mix of stretching, walking, and running for the next 2.5 miles. I couldn't consistently run for those very long 2.5 miles, despite the enthusiastic crowd encouragement and the belly dancers. My sister came out of the crowd in the last 1/2 mile and ran a couple of hundred yards with me. It was the encouragement that I needed to finish the race running. What would you do differently?: Take a pass on the cold shower offer, no matter how cute the offerer is.  Post race
Warm down: Warm down consisted of total collapse. I took a look at the line for massages and just about cried. My legs were jelly and I could not stand long enough to wait that long. I got a turkey sandwich, sat on an unbelievably unconfortable rock, got a cup of ice cream and went to find a piece of soft ground where I could lie down and die with comfort and dignity. What limited your ability to perform faster: The leg cramps in the final few miles did me in. No matter how much I drank on the course, with its attendant belly-sloshing, it just did not seem to be enough to keep the cramps away. A Kenyan front runner said "It was too hot for me." When it is too hot for a Kenyan, the rest of us poor hacks are doomed. Event comments: This was a great event. It was very well organized, the voluteers were wonderful, and the spectators were top-notch. If I ever decide to run another marathon (which is in some doubt as of now), I would definately do this one again! Last updated: 2007-02-15 12:00 AM
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United States
84F / 29C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 4368/7283
Age Group = M3539
Age Group Rank = 491/682
Up at 3:30 and sucked down as much water as I could to fully hydrate. Had a bowl of cereal and several attempts at toasted bread products with peanut butter and jelly. The first attempt was the bagel I brought from home. My host's toaster was set at the darkest setting so I burned the bagel. The second attempt was 2 pieces of wheat toast that came out fine, after adjusting the toaster, but I noticed the furry growth remaining in the bread bag so I tossed those as well. The third attempt was a relatively fresh piece of wheat bread that came out well. It was then I noticed that the peanut butter on hand was "super chunk", a vision that invoked fears of what would be coming a couple of hours down the road. I settled on butter and jelly. After I fully tested the plumbing, I triple-checked all my gear (not much since it was a run with no music permitted). I walked over to the neighbor's house where I met up with my cousin and his friend and we drove down to the pick up point.
The school bus ride to the start line was a flashback to grade school, complete with a full bladder. We had the slowest bus driver on the planet and while painfully holding back my urinary urgest, he proceeded to keep us locked in the bus until we reached the furthest point from the battery of portapotties. It was good to finally be off the bus!
Headed straight to the portapotties and got in without a moment to spare! Sipped water to top of the tank since it was so warm already and then went and streched. It was a beautiful blue sky, sunny morning. Lots of music and I generally felt pretty relaxed by joking around with my cousin.