With Frank Shorter on the jumbotron the gun went off and the fun began. We were only about 15 feet from the front so we made it to the chip mats fairly quick. I didn't really have a problem with other people being in the way. It seemed to thin out fairly quickly.

While we were still downtown but about two.5 of three miles in I started to get a peepee urge so I found a nice little unsuspecting bush and made it my personal urinal. I ran about a block off course to use the bushroom. As I got back on course I heard someone say "Hey Jason, Why are you way back here with the slow guys?" I turned around and there was a guy from Salina, Ks that I know from running and triathlons. We talked for awhile then he said well you better get going if you are going to break three hours. Gave him good wishes and was off to find my "FRIENDS". Ran fairly hard to catch back up with them. They were suprised to see me again that quick.

At the seven mile mark I told Winston that I sure didn't seem like we had already run that far. Miles were going by fairly quickly! We were plus or minus a couple seconds on every mile. We were right on pace and feeling good. Made it to the lake and started telling myself "OK you have run around the Augusta Lake a million times. This is just a little bigger version of that."

Somewhere between 11 and 12 miles I started to feel alittle rumbling in my stomach. I could see some port-o-johns up ahead so I mentioned to Winston that I had better stop. He said he wasn't going to slow down and he would stay on pace. I made a quick stop and was again playing catch-up. This time I didn't run as hard to catch him but I still caught him within a mile.

Around 14 miles in he mentioned that negative thoughts were starting to creep into his head. I told him we were alittle under pace and we were doing awesome. If we stuck together we could kill the three hour dragon! On a side note this was his 24th time trying to go under 3. Water, Gatorade and GU were going down good. I had no nutrition problems.

We stayed together until between 17 & 18. When he started to fall back I didn't say anything I just went on about business. He has encouraged me many times during runs when I felt the wheels were coming off! In hindsight I probably should have encouraged him some before I just left him out there. One of the guys, Lonnie, that traveled with us down there was supposed to be at mile 19 waiting for me. He was going to run me in and get me under that damn three hour mark. I never did see him! After talking after the race we must have missed each other by a matter of seconds. Because there was another Wichita guy alittle behind me and Lonnie asked him if he had seen me. John said yeah he is ahead of me abit. So I missed my pacer, damn it boy!

Made it to the Dolly Parton hills. WOW the girls were hot(men dressed in drag)! I stopped to fondle one and the other mentioned something about wanting to be motorboated. So I happily satisfied their needs! From 19 to 21 is where the hills were. I still felt really strong and the hills didn't seem to slow me down a whole lot. I was really pretty scared about the hill going into the race. I train in pancake flat KS.

At about 22 in I could feel my hamstrings start to tighten up. Ok I'm done for the most part! But 4 mile is a long way to deal with cramps. The 22 mile aid station is the first one I walked. I realized that I would have a better chance at finishing strong if I walked the aid stations and made sure I got some good nutrition in me. So I would run between the aid stations then walk and take all the food that I could! I never had a problem with cramps but I could feel that they were very close to happening! Did good running. Probably wasn't sub 7's like they needed to be but my miles weren't far from it.

Mile 24 where the half-marathon merges back with the marathon was inspiring. I managed to hold a good pace from there on in. I skipped the last aid station simply because the road was packed with runners and we were close to being done! The moment I finally let it sink in that I wasn't going to go under 3 was hard but I ran my race and that was all I could do.

Finished abit disapointed simply because there are alot of people back in Wichita that are waiting for me to go sub 3. If I race as good as I can on that day and don't get my goal then so be it! This was only my fourth marathon and I know I have the ability to do it. And I WILL soon!

After the race as we were wundering around the AA I noticed someone that looked awful familiar. I stod in AWE for a minute before I worked up the courage to go introduce myself. "Excuse me JeepFleeb, I'm El Flaco from BT." We chatted for a minute and he introduced me to a bunch of other BTers. Sorry guys I was in the presance of greatness and now I can only remember the names of one of you. So Doughboy the pleasure was mine!

Run more. And do longer long runs. I think my longest this time was 20. Next race I'm going to try increasing my miles and doing some runs closer to race distance!

No warmdown! It was plenty chilly out. After I crossed the line A guy handed me a hat and told me "Congratulations you finised in the Top 100" My hat says Top 100 on the back. That is cool. Made it to the people handing out medals and I let him put it around my neck. I usually would rather just hold it than wear them. Finisher medals are kind of cheesy if you ask me. Next in line was the ladise with the mylar blankets. I told her I don't think I need one and she politely responded "Yes, you need one". WOW was I glad I had one about 10 minutes later. It got chilly quick!

Sat down outside the AA and just so happens two of the guy I came with walked right by and I didn't have to look for them!


Testicular Fortitude! Lack of distance on my long runs...I think! Mabye I should ask a coach!


This was the biggest race I have done. Volunters and spectators were fantastic! I just love it when somebody you don't know sya something like "Way to go Jason, You look good". Of course I know I look good but it's nice to get reassurance every once in awhile!
I never imagined there would be so many volunteers at the aid stations. And there were spectators at almost all of the intersections. I loved it! I will definitely be back.