Okay, I know this blog is supposed to be about kayaking, but I’m also a runner. Let’s face it, sometimes it is too cold to paddle. In fact, there is a rule of thumb that says the air temperature and water temperature should at least equal 100 degrees. I don’t necessarily always follow that, but it is a good rule to follow — especially if you are just starting out and don’t have a roll. That’s my kayaking guidance for this post.
What I really wanted to share was my experience running my first half marathon this past Sunday in the Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham, Ala.
Running is something I’ve done for about 14 years. I always ran alone and didn’t do much distance until I started running with my friend Annette. Last year she was training for the full marathon and we started running together in the mornings. Suddenly I realized I could run 5 miles, or 6 miles, then 10 miles. My first race was Statue to Statue (10k) last spring. I did pretty well, but have toyed with the thought of a full marathon, so why not try a half?
The day of the race it was 24 degrees (too cold to paddle). I did not know what to expect, but it was a very cool experience and had a lot of similarities to paddling other than I was running a race with 700 of my new best friends. There were friends from work, and I also met two ladies from Atlanta who are trying to run a half-marthon in each state. They said I could run with them, but I figured I would just get in the pack and see who I kept up with. Other interesting sights at the start was a man with a beard and blonde wig dressed as a cheerleader, batman, and all sorts of interesting layering options for warmth. In the beginning I imagined this is what cattle feel like. Then the crowd started to thin as people found their pace and we eased away from the start/finish line.
Soon, there were only a few people around me. Other than the wind in my face taking my breath away, it wasn’t that bad. We hit our first water station and I remembered that even though it was could it was important to hydrate. So I did. What I didn’t expect was the ice on the road from where those before me had chunked some water and it froze on the ground. For those of us back in the pack it made for a skating like experience.
Around mile six I started feeling a little fatigued. It was the cold I think and the wind chill. It would literally take your breath away at times. I thought I would try at the next station a “goo” packet. I’ve heard of the goo, but never tried one. I grabbed a strawberry banana one, which wasn’t bad. I couldn’t help but think about the Matrix. You know when they are sitting around the table talking about Tasty Wheat. It has all of the nutrients a body needs but tastes like crap. Plus it is sticky. Okay, so I’ve hydrated at a couple of stations and had a goo taste. Well then it hits me — I need to pee. But, who wants to stop and wait in line for a port-o-let. So I keep going. Around mile eight or nine, I’m really feeling my legs, but I’m talking myself out of it because they are too cold to hurt. And, I still haven’t passed a port-o-let without a line.
There was interesting inspiration along the way that helped you think. In five points we passed a church (Catholic I think) who’s priest was out in the street cheering runners along with church members. That was cool. One sign said, “Pain is a body’s weakness.” I thought about that for a while. The people running next to me loved it. But, I’ve always thought of pain as the body’s indicator. Oh well, I kept running. Down around Highland Ave. there was another goo offering. I thought maybe if I could get more out of this one it might help. I had gloves on and the sticky goo once opened stuck to my fingers. I’m sure I looked like a good SNL skit trying to shake off the goo packet. I did luck up on the flavor this time, some sort of chocolate!
So then we head down by the golf course and I’m thinking I’ve got to be close to 10 miles, cause my legs sure feel like it. I had run 9 the week before and it was a similar tightness, but not cramping. Then we came to the last water station…or maybe it was next to last, but it was down near Pepper Place. There I saw two old friends Kerry and Jeh Jeh. Jeh Jeh wasn’t on the air and they both recognized me and gave me a big hug. It was worth stopping for. I also said hey to someone on the phone…I’m guessing it was Ona, Kerry’s wife. That was the little boost to keep me going.
Then I started thinking about the people running the full. The winner usually finishes in like 2 hours. So I’m thinking it’s about time for them to lap me. Sure enough — here comes the police siren, live truck and celebratory Mercedes. I laughed to myself. The last time I felt like this was on the Tellico river. On the Tellico I was analyzing every line but there were some guys who lapped us at least twice running the river for a contest. Oh well, slow and steady wins the race right?
Then a beacon of light shown and just up ahead was a port-o-let with no line. I’m thinking if I can pee quickly the last two or three miles will be doable. Long story short — I was in and out in a flash.
So now I’m headed toward the finish line. I had been running back and forth with a woman next to me. She was struggling too and had started to walk. I looked at her and said, “We’re almost there.” She said, “yes, and I’m close to breaking my personal best time.” I asked her what that was and she told me. I asked her name, it was Jennifer. I said, Jennifer let’s get going, we can do this. I think I said the right thing…she took off. When I got close to the finish line I could hear them announcing the finishers ahead of me. One was a 63-year old woman (ouch).
I crossed at 2 hours and 36 minutes. Not bad for 13.1 miles. I actually started out at an 11 minute mile pace and finished just under a 13 minute mile pace. I will have to be in much better shape for a full marathon. At the end of the race, they give you a medal and you take your bib and they give you a hat! So, I ran 13.1 miles and got a hat. Actually, I got a lot more. I gained mental toughness. Running is like a lesson, you’ve got to get through the pain to get to the good stuff. I think that is what the church sign was trying to say.
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