Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon - RunMarathon

So we're off, and this is surreal. I've seen pictures, but never thought I would be a part of something like this. Runners, everywhere. I can't get a good pace, because there's just so many people. First mile comes at around 9:40. My HR is high in the 160-165 range, because I'm so excited I guess. Never really spreads out, I just dodge alot of people in pass mode.

The first 8 miles are a blur. Absolutely beautiful neighborhoods are lining the streets. Gina's right next to me wearing her "GO CLINT" shirt, and I have my bib showing my name. Spectators are really getting a kick out of it. I've never been cheered on so much in my life. Unbelievable!

We're getting very close to the lake and nature calls. Bad. Stop at the first set of port-a-potties at the lake. There's only 2 of them. Gina has to go also, so I let her go in the empty one. Some lady strolls out of the other one, so I jump in. I'll just say that only fluids came out. No need to get into too much detail here. Jump out and get back to running. Lost maybe 2-3 minutes in the process.

Running around the lake felt great. Just like old times. But now I have Gina beside me. I'm enjoying every second of this. It's just crazy how I'm still surrounded by so many runners. Still taking in a gatorade at every aid station until the clif bar aid station. I'm running on the left side, and realize that I missed the first one. Crap. Notice there's a second person handing them out. Doh! Too late. Oh man, there's one on the ground. Reach down to pick it up and accidentally kick it. Finally pick it up on the second try. Felt so clumsy, but that clif bar sounded so good. And it was mint too!

Approaching the hills, and I'm starting to feel a bit drained. Well, really drained. Trudge up the hills, and tell Gina I'm considering walking for a bit. At this point, I'd just walked the aid stations to get the gatorade down. She tells me that there's an aid station just up here, that we can make it there. And we do.

Have to pee around mile 22. Stop and can't figure out the portas. Really in another world at this point. Finally find my way inside, relieve myself, and run to catch Gina. Lost another minute.

It's at this point where I kind of start to lose myself. I just finished reading "Ultra-Marathon Man" by Dean Karnazes, and he mentions how when after he's run an incredibly long distance, he feels broken down all the way to the core. While I'm not running those crazy distances, they are relatively long for my experiences. And I really felt like I was being stripped a bit. I was struggling to hold my emotions in. I kept thinking back to alot all the running I've done before this. The highs and lows that it's brought. And I felt an overwhelming sensation that I've never experienced while running. I lost my shell, and everything I was thinking was just there to be seen. Never before has this happened, but I know it will at Ironman.

Cross the marker for mile 23, and this whole time I've been thinking that the marker meant that's the mile we're about to run. Then Gina informs me that we just finished 23 miles. Holy crap! You mean I've only got a 5k left? She laughs at me a little for my ignorance. Ok, I can muster up some juice for this final stretch. Pickup the pace to something like 7:30 - 8:00, and Gina has finally had enough. She tells me to go run. So I take off.

About half a mile before 25 I have to stop to walk. I've got nothing left in the tank. But after 15 seconds I realize I can finish running. Well, jogging. To the 26 mile marker. Only .2 miles! Find the strength again. Pickup a nice pace of what I think to be sub 7 as I finish strong.

And I'm losing it. I'm not going to lie, I start tearing up a bit. I never ever believed up until I finished my first HIM that I could run a marathon. Thought about how far I've come, how far I've got to go, and I couldn't really hold it back. Thought about how this lifestyle has enabled me to find my fiance, who is crazy enough to run a marathon with me just to provide me with support. And she has done very little running over the past couple of months. Didn't even decide to run it until the night before. Thought about all this, and realized that I'm very lucky.

More speedwork and tempo runs. Every run I did I stayed in zone 2, with the exception of 3 tempo runs. I'm thinking that a little more speedwork would have helped me feel what it's like to run faster over longer periods of time.

Tried to find Gina, but couldn't do so. Turns out she was about a minute behind me and ducked out right before the finish line since she didn't have a bib or a chip. Such a bandit! Told her that I'd meet her at a location inside the AAC, but the security guard told me only runners were allowed back in the AAC. Well, it turned out he lied. Regardless, I searched for her for about 30 minutes, before I decided to check out the AAC anyways since I saw some kids running around. Finally found her, gave her a big hug, and went for the little food offered.

Found Gary, and said adios. Not any BT'ers left, I guess. Stopped for mexican food on the way home. MMMM!


Base training. Speedwork. I now have a little less than a year of training, so I'm thinking with a couple more years I'll really be able to focus more on speed.


Yeah, I'm guilty of being a sap with this RR. But, this was my greatest experience in endurance events. The emotion that is running a marathon has been unlike anything else. While the HIM's I did this year were very special, this meant so much because I was able to run it with Gina. And I really believe this was a necessary step in becoming an Ironman. Yes, I am now one step closer to the M-dot!