Run for the Red - RunMarathon

Started 3/4 of the ways back. Freezing our ass off. Mike finger went into pain spasms so I gave one of my gloves and he got it settled down. Hard to hear the announcements. Oh well. 27 seconds to get to the start line. Felt WOW I am committed now. The wind was blowing oh at 20mph. Up a little hill then into a wooded road that broke the wind some. Course was closed so we had a lot of room. Mike and I took it slow. I was glad to see the first mile go by. Only 25.2 to go. We tried to find a good apce around 9 minute mile. Mile 2, check. Mile 3 the first hill up. Felt good not really to steep. Up the turn around. Yes get this wind out of our face. Turn the top across mat and down hill for a 1/2 mile. Funny how the next hill looks so big.
Oh great now Mike has to pee. Oh even better now I have to pee. Mike hit a as station and he can tell you the rest of the story with the icemaker and cop. I wait for the next porta potty stop. Great 3 miles to go. Oops shoelace but realized it before it was a problem. It was really cool great big 5 lane road closed for us. You could run anywhere on it. I gotta say the camber was pretty good at time. Atr the top of the hill at 6 miles the crowds gave us good news there is three and half miles of downhill. Sweet. hijack had a little bit as my clothes to run down hills and knew he would catch up. That's when we heard it first, the phrase Orange guys coined. Someone told Mike the other orange guy with upfront a little ways. I enjoyed the run down the hill and the three ladies doing the wave is that went by. Mike caught up of course.

Which stopped at every water stop and grab a quick drink before heading back out. Seem to be working well for us. Our pace was a low erratic ranging from a 8:12 to a 9:30. Mike often said slow down there speedy. I would say back "once you get this much weight moving it's hard to stop".
Silly orange guys rolled on. We ran along making pace with a girl who had headed split personality, she was running the entire marathon as a relay.I may try that next time. Ahhh the porta potties I forgot I had to pee. Stepped it up a little and to give me a little time. Great for parties and no waiting. Grabbed a minuscule couple of water on my way by. Step inside Pee. Mike was right behind me and stepped in another one for a R-stop. Bob would be proud. I finished up a little before Mike and headed out figure he had gone on. Lo and behold he was behind me, and people told him the other orange guy is up the there. Oh great now we are known. So much for driving four hours away to get a reputation. This is about 3 miles of country road which is enjoyable to run in a little potholed.

We came up in the halfway mark in 20 feet before the mat we hear go orange guys. We hit the half marathon point at 1:57:49. Sweet we are doing well. About a mile path that there was another orange guy but he didn't want to morph into the Power Rangers and finish the show. Silly short-sleeved orange guy.
Oh wait there is the three girls doing wave again. They run fast. we catch up with the girl with a split personality again at least I think it was her she did pick up a partner. Play the truth it was a nice race booty her not him. So we get to 16 miles what we've been looking down to single digits to go. We are feeling good. Rest stops are manned well with lots of cheering folks. Get to say that helps a lot.

At 20 miles we look three hours and three minutes. There's a possibility of going under four hours. Of course it's the hardest part of the marathon and prove to get harder. Our goal is to finish. Our next goal will be to break four hours wait what am I talking about. We can of agree that we just need to finish this. We picked up a couple gels at mile 19. Mike talked some business with a lad who wanted to do triathlons.I was just sucking wind. We started to get into some rollers up-and-down. My kid to slow me down as I wanted the top as fast as possible also to go downhill. You're like 20 feet from a rest stop kinda shoulder to shoulder with the entire road to use and we here excuse me as a stroke comes between us to get to the water before us. I told Mike next and we have to lean in. We cross a river and over the hill and pass the guy you would hit the wall but was still walking. We give into town at mile 22 and I feel that invisible wall go up. My left big toe is killing me, and my hips have been on fire since mile 15. At mile 22 or so I put on my last push a run up hill to get to the top to go downhill. Mike said stop it. I did.
We got into the neighborhoods. Lots of sheering folks, water and more often and a wagon I couldn't wrestle away from the four year. I was hoping Mike could pull me the rest of the way. The little brat won't let go. Made it up the last hill which was announce by a lady I wanted to kiss. We were downhill till mile 25 marker. Then a flat home. I was barely lifting my feet. Sheer will and mike brought me home.
We hit the stadium once around the track. Half way around a total stranger came up and said he wanted to finish with the orange guys. What give me a break. Then across the mat, trying to smile after making sure the boogers were wiped for our noses. Ripped my chipped off, the lady wanted me to sit but knew I wouldn't be able to get back up. Done cross that off my bucket list.

Really needed to wear a different color shirt.
Not spend so much time in the Pocono heart shaped tub, hard on the knees.
Bring the family but that would be boring for them.
Couple more 16-20 miles runs.
Take in a little more salt.
Learn to pace.

Got a metal and metal blanket. Hobbled out of chute area. They did a good job at keeping the area clear. The first table is brownies, huh? then some fruit. Nice 6 foot long subs. I only had a couple 4 inch sections. I kept walking, Mike fell down. I knew I wouldn't be able to get up. Took the shoes off and walked in the cool grass barefoot. Ahhhh...

We talked a little to some of the people we met on the course. Headed to pick up clothing bag and to the car. Ahhh sitting for four hour that is going to hurt. Changed and call the fam. Tried to text the gang but didn't work for everyone. Sorry Ken, house number I think. Did it three time. Made a 90 minute drive to Hallstead PA to have chicken and gravy and Mike had a burger and like 20 cokes. Gassed up and hit the road.
Stopped in about an 75 minutes to stretch and change drivers.


The last 3 miles what else. Hit the wall.


Great way to start out a marathon career. Wait what career. That damn Mike making me into a runner. Who knew? If you told me 5 years ago I would ever enjoy running I would have said you were out of you mind. It's something I took up because it is part of triathlons. Kinda like swimming to some of you. To do a marathon is outrageous.
I enjoyed talking to people and runners along the course. I figure I'm ready for a race when I know I can finish it feeling good. I was able to do this well for this one. As one person said along the course pacing and prep is the key to not taking the ambulance home.

Thanks to Willie and Y for home support and to Mike my quasi coach and BFF training partner. Anyone who has met him knows what a great guy he is. Oh yeah all of you who stop by and give words of encouragement. Kam see you in the next one?