The Cowtown - RunMarathon

Bob and I ran together for the first 17 miles. I really do not remember that much about it, because everything was going so smoothly. Every 45 minutes we took a gel and an enduralyte. Every aid station we hit we would grab some sort of hydration just enough to not have a sloshy stomach.

At mile 17 things got interesting. Bob and I trained together for this so it was pretty cool to run it togther as well. Late in training he had hurt his foot, so at one point it was questionable if he would even be able to make it. So, naturally every once in a while I'd check with him about his foot because his doc had said if the pain reached a 5 he would need to stop. We were running along and Bob says, "I have to stop." I started to slow up to make sure he was ok but he told me to go on. I wasn't sure at first but then I figured if something happened to me I'd want him to go on as well. It was not like there was not any support out there after all. So I went on. For the next few miles I was hoping that it was something that would be resolved, but with the history with his foot I did not know.

The run was not too bad until mile 21. I really think that the temperature had a lot to do with that. At 21 my calves locked up. I had to run / walk / stretch for the next 2 miles before they let go enough for me to run the rest of the way in. My hydration and nutrition strategy had been based on my training which was in 55 degree weather at the most and 25 degrees once or twice. So, when it was 70 I was losing a bunch more electrolytes than at the temps. that I trained in. In some ways I'm glad it happened though. I learned about myself while fighting through the "bump in the road" during my race.

Then at mile 24 my calves still were in pain, but they were not hurt. At that point I was also very angry. I had busted may tail in cold weather all winter long to do this race and I was not going to walk it all the way in. So since the cramps had gone at this point I was able to start running at about a 11:15 - 10:45 pace. I made a pact with myself that I would not stop until the finish line was crossed or I collapsed.

The last half mile or so was kinda rough because we turned into the wind. At that point though I could hear the announcer and the crowd. I was going to bring this home. When I rounded the final corner Angie (Bob's wife) was there. She shouted that my wife and kids were at the finish (which was a pleasant suprise to me) and that Bob was 20 minutes back. (Great for Bob) With those two pieces of great news I picked up the pace. I wanted this thing over. About half way from that corner to the end a wind gust almost knocked me down, but I kept on going I could see the line, hear the crowd, and I knew that I was almost done with a feat that 5 years ago I never dreamed I could have accomplished. I crossed the line to see my wife and kids at the line and a swarm of volunteers congratulating me on finishing.



I would pay more attention to the weather and modify my nutrition strategy as the temperature increased. Then again this was my first, it was a learning experience.

Off to the finishers tent for some grub, so I could get back and see Bob finish. What a day.

Lots of stretching, water, and walking / hobbling around.


Preparation: more miles and speed work

The day of: Nutrition and wind.


I had a great time with this event. I wish I could have done better and hoped that I could have finished in 4:30 or better, but my decisions and the conditions did not allow it. It was a first so i can take the experience and learn from it.