I was plannin on a 4:30 finish... was with my pace (4:30) group and all was well...i upped the ante after the 1st 6miles and started hitting a 9:00-9:30 mile..

I was smoking and feeling strong...10 miles no sweat...ran thru kitty hawk and by the wright brother park...and hit some trails...still smoking it...

we began runnin on some compacted sand with rocks...umm not good because i was wearing racers with little to no support, but livable.Then a few hills were hit. Since when are there hills at the beach?!!

They got steeper and rollercoaster-like...at mile 11 as i was blasting up a switchback, my foot dug out and rotated way too much in the soft stuff and i torqued my bad knee...to the point i could barely put weight on it.I pulled over and gave a rest. The throb was noticeable but i winced and kept going. Made it to the half distant checkpoint (2:08) and went straight to the EMS. I had them tape the funk outta it...I told em i'd rather lose toes from blood loss than feel my knee.

With taped knee and all i began peg-leggin my way back out on the course..til a nice "hinge" developed in the tape ...got in a nice 11:00/mi pace..not bad with a shot knee at mile 19..

4:30 pace leader and group caught up to me...I struggled as gave chase to the last pace booty in the pack. She wiggled away and they seemed to be going so fast from me! There went my goal...I shook it off and kept going...I'll make 5:00 i told myself!

Mile 23...was a bucket of reality... The Bridge loomed ahead...as I passed the aid tents I slathered on some extra petroleum on the rub area and grabbed a handful of gels and a gatoraid...and off I went disappearing into the great arch i call hell...

My pace went from a great fast trot to a slow painful shuffle. Each step was met with an incline of concrete, stopping my stride short and pounding my injured knee...half way up...pace leader 5:00 caught me a passed me....at that point i had tears in my eyes from this distinct feeling from my knee...i knew if i stopped my race would be over. I had stopped previously at the tents and gettin back up to speed and running from a stop hurt worst than running itself... My leg was on fire (for those of you who dont kno i have a meniscus tear in my knee and a tweaked MCL that i've been self strengthening)

i peaked the bridge at mile 24...slightly faint, dunno it it was from exhaustion or me going into shock from my knee..lol...2.2 miles left...i didnt go that far for nothing... i gritted the teeth and squeezed my fists and chugged on...made the last few miles as bearable as i could. People were shouting encouraging words and pumping fists. I went into this zone of tunnel vision and muffled hearing. I was literally at whit's end from pain and thats when i saw the corral gates..I gathered everything that was left in me and broke the shuffle into a stride for the cameras. I hit the finish... i walked past everyone and began hyperventilating (i've never done that before in my life) Medics came up but i waved them off...i got my medal ...and my free beers and i was content.



i'm not sure...I was solid til my "injury"

I could barely walk...no warmdown. Hot tub later that night


Meniscus tear / MCL damage