Let's just start by saying I was not expecting much for my performance. I had run my first marathon in early Nov '07 and had not done a lot of running since. I had been biking a lot more and I figured that my cross-training would help, which it did, but I'll never run another marathon without some longer training runs prior to the event. My wife was signed up for the event and I decided a day before that since I'd already be there, why not?

The race start was not like any other I had ever done. They had a 5K that they started 10 minutes before the 1/2 and full marathons and they had a walking division as well. Many of the walkers started in the front which made it very difficult to get thru the first 1/4 mile. Had planned to take a gel every 4 miles, walk the water stops and hope for the best. Everything was going pretty well until mile 11. My right hamstring started getting tight and I had to walk more than expected before the halfway point. At mile 13 I was at 2:15 and I knew the hard part was just beginning. Mile 13 thru 16 was pretty hilly and definetly took its toll. By mile 19 I was reduced to walking about 5 minutes of every mile. When I hit mile 22 I knew I'd have to average a 14 minute mile to finish in under 5 hours. The last 2.2 were hell. I just kept thinking of the beer at the finish line.

Train more and eat a bigger breakfast.

Sat down and streched a little and waited for my wife to finish. Drank a water and a gatorade then went for a beer.


Lack of training.


I am less sore the day after this race than I was after my first. I think I'll be recovered by the end of the week. This was a pretty good confidence builder for IMFL considering my lack of run training.