When I decided to do this marathon last Spring my goal was to just get another marathon under my belt within the same year as IMWI 08'. My goal was to finish in under 4 hours, which per my normal pace should have been a reasonable goal. Unfortunately my training schedule had a blurp which kept me from running for two weeks back in August (travelling to support wife during her ultra-marathon events). When I returned to my training I jumped back in with a 17 mile run. Mistake #1. I continued on my schedule as if I hadn't missed two weeks. That stopped quickly while out out on a run when I felt a sharp stab in my right foot. Long story short...I got posterior tibialis tendinitis (similar to plantar fasciitis). I had to stop running completely. To make up for the lack of running I aqua-jogged and took spin classes about 6 days a week. This didn't allow my foot to heal completely, but it kept my fitness level adequate. In the past TWO MONTHS I've ran approximately 35 miles. This is about 10% of the mileage I should have been running leading up to the marathon. Because my training was shot and I was still suffering from the tendon injury I had planned on just running the half marathon. Then I had the bright idea that I would run with my wife and friends on the full course and Opt Out at one of the designated first aid stations. The RD set it up so that runners could bail at certain points along the course. So the plan was to make it to the 12 mile point and evaluate how I was feeling. The next first aid stop was at mile 21. I had no problem hitching a ride back to the start line in a golf cart for my first DNF. Or so I though...

I seated myself with the 3:20 pace group in order to run with my wife and friends for a couple of miles. The gun went off and so did I, maintaining a 8 - 8:10+ pace for a couple of miles. My pace was steady for the first couple of miles then we started hitting the hills. The course description called for a few hills, but I did not expect 8 miles of climbing and descending, up and down rollers. I forced my pace down when I started to feel my right foot start to heat up. I wanted to atleast make it to the 12 mile point without screwing up my foot even more. I started to amend my stride, favoring my bad foot. I could feel my left foot starting to hurt, as well as my left knee. This was obviously caused by my amended running stride.

As I approached the mile 12 first aid spot I didn't see any first aid station or medical staff, or golf carts.....or anything, but cheering fans. I also saw my wife who was running the opposite direction and was looking good. This gave me a spike of energy. That coupled with not finding any support staff I made the decision to try and make it to the 21 mile first aid station. So I plodded on with a hobbling stride.

Mile 12 to 16 was a steady decrease in physical and mental strength. I had so many pains going on in my lower half that I had pretty much forgotten about my injured right foot. Mile 17+ and the stabbing started in my right foot. I slowed down to a walk to take a few more e-caps and eat a gel and re-group. I started running again, favoring the foot even more. This is when my left foot started throbbing. It felt like my arch was starting to cramp or a stress fracture developing. I pushed on making each water stop my goal. I'd walk the water stop, eat, drink, and continue hobbling to the next. By mile 19-21 I was down to a 50% - 50% walk/run. As I approached the 21 mile first aid stop the only support I found besides water girls were two Paramedics sitting in a rescue squad. I had to make a decision quickly. Stop and ask the paramedics for a ride in an ambulance to the finish line? Ahhhh'.....that wasn't going to happen. Only other option was to keep hobbling for another 5+ miles. So I hobbled on....

Mile 23 the cramps started. My waist (groin, abdomen, hip flexors) started to cramp, which folded me over in pain. Then the nausea started. Mile 24 and the puking began. I exited the trail to vomit next to a tree and my entire body went into a cramp. A couple of minutes later I'm back on the trail, still shuffling. Another mile, more cramps, more puking. You can see the puke stops in the pace graph below. I'm falling apart so quickly that I'm starting to doubt I can make it the last mile. Three steps and I'd cramp. I would try and run but my entire lower half would seize up, everything from stomach down would lock into one gigantic cramp. I continued, now with a support person on a bike riding next to me asking if she could help. Very nice of her, but I was .5 miles away from the finish line.

As I rounded the last corner the finish line was in sight. This was probably 800 feet away. The streets were lined with people cheering. I was walking like the Tin Man from wizard of oz. I couldn't straighten my calves and my feet felt like I was walking on nails. As I got about 300 feet from the finish line I tried to jog so not to cross the the finish line walking. My first two steps and both calves and quads locked solid, which almost knocked me to the ground. Keep in mind there are hundreds of people lining the street next to me yelling cheers of encouragement. I could not take another step. The crowd was now focused on me and I was horribly embarrassed. As I clutched the side of the railing that constructed the finish chute people yelled at me to keep going, you can do it, etc. All I kept thinking was how I hope no one was capturing this on film. It was quite a display I must say. After a minute or so of clutching the railing I decided I'll have to run across the finish line with both legs in full cramps. So I did. I was literally running with both legs straight as a board. I'm sure the crowd enjoyed the "show" I put on for them, but this was the most embarrassing moment I've ever experienced. In retrospect it was quite funny.

So I crossed the finish line 37+ minutes slower than my original goal, but 13+ mile more than I had planned on running.


Lesson learned. Never jump back into a running schedule after you've missed two weeks of running. A gradual increase may have saved me from getting this injury.

A big shout out to my BT peeps who've helped me nurse this injury back to a point that allowed me to run. Lauren, Dan and everyone else who have offered suggestions and support. Thank you!