Marine Corps Marathon, Washington, D.C.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Race report from Tony...
Date: Wed Nov 2, 2005
Subject: MCM (Marine Corp Marathon) Race Report
Hi Everyone, I can't believe it's over...I've done it....my first full marathon.
It doesn't seem like that long ago that I decided to do it.
Sue and I left for Washington DC Thursday am by car... we drove the fast and beautiful interstate highways via Pittsburgh...thru some snow covered hills in Pennsylvania....thru the Catoctin Mountain State Park where Camp David is situated and where we stayed the night (in nearby Thurmont, MD).
Friday, we arrived in Washington DC...spent some time touring around the ostentatiously beautiful capital city, had dinner and then did some store browsing in the trendy area of Georgetown, and picked up the race kit at the expo. The expo was in the Marines Armory....it was like everything else, very organized...first class...I guess, if the U.S. Marines can't do right, who the heck can....probably nobody. We talked with many really helpful nice people who were all really pumped and excited as we were...lots of good energy...I even discovered a booth which had an exercise treatment for plantar fasciitis...a lady applied the treatment by stretching out the muscle on the back of my lower leg....it worked and it gave me instant relief.
Saturday...more of the same....using the Metro subway system....again, first class, the only way to get around the city.
The next morning, race day, I arrived at the start after taking a shuttle to a nearby subway station which was going to take me 2 stops to the runners village next to the Pentagon....the subway was not in service due to an accident...someone had fallen/jumped in front of the train...the nerve, they could have waited until after the race. I ended up walking about 2-3 miles to get to the start. Sue was going to see me at mile 4 or 5, then at 12 or 13, and lastly at the finish.
It was quite a spectacle at the start...plenty of runners wearing fun shirts/costumes (i.e. superman)....spectators cheering with huge banners....marines everywhere busy helping to set up.
As you can see, quite a crowd, lots of buzz, plenty of ceremony with speeches, a prayer, the national anthem, and a leap frog team which had just jumped out of their aircraft. Was I ready?....as ready as anybody doing their first full marathon....hopefully this experience will help to prepare me better for the next one. There were three starts....bib #s to 12,000, then wheelers, then, bib#s above 12,000(which is where I was).
The first 6 miles were not a problem, in fact I was running smoothly and at a faster pace than I had planned...my time was about 54min, about a minute per mile faster than plan...hard not to run fast out of the gate with all that awesome crowd support. I was looking for Sue at the 4-5 mile mark....didn't see her because I was ahead of schedule.
I kept up the same pace thru to the half....my time was about 1hr:56min...still feeling not bad, but starting to feel the fatigue. Up until this point, I had only been stopping for less than 15sec at every PowerAde stop for a mouthful to keep hydrated. I had a power gel around mile 14.
All along the route there were spectators calling out to someone or anyone to encourage....every once in a while...someone would yell out 'Go Canada Go'...Sue placed an iron-on Canadian flag on the front of my cap....it felt awesome....and of course I yelled back 'Yes! and Thank You!'
Then around mile 19....a lady dressed in red, calling my name and cheering came towards me....it was Sue....what a welcome sight....she gave me a power gel, hug & kiss, and cheered me onward. I was relieved that we finally made the connection and I was really happy to see her. Sue was there for me again at around mile 25 1/2 just before the finish, and then again at the meeting area after I crossed the finish line.
From mile 16 to 20, I was really starting to feel the fatigue....and now I was walking for a minute at every mile.
After mile 20, each step was a struggle...my pace was slower...I was running on empty...I was taking two minute walk breaks....and was starting to feel discouraged. I used the crowd to keep me going....I would also look at my watch, check my time, and project my finish....this also motivated me to get going again so that I could finish within the 4 1/2 hrs I wanted. At mile 23 my time was about 3hrs:50min....and now up to an average of 10min/mile...my first half pace was at 8.9min.
There was only 3.2miles remaining to finish....and 40min left to meet my goal. At this point, I am totally exhausted....my feet are tired and hurting, my back is aching, my leg muscles are tight....I couldn't do much more. This is when you really have to bear down and get the job done no matter what. After seeing Sue before the finish....I gave it my all...ran through the huge crowds, up the last hill and thru the spectator stands/seating area where the noise was tremendous...and where the huge red FINISH marker loomed high above the finish line.
Alas...I did cross...I finished...I met my personal time deadline....and, I was completely spent and walking in a daze. A marine Lieutenant gave me my finishing medal and said "well done sir", I replied "thankyou Lieutenant" and then proceeded thru to meet Sue. Although I was pretty spaced, hurting, and quiet for a while after the race....I was very happy and reflective. It is true what I heard...."the pain is temporary....finishing the marathon is forever".
Regrets...there are absolutely none.
Thanks to everyone, you know who you are, who gave me so much support and encouragement (thanks for your encouraging words, notes, tele & e-mail messages...thanks so much for being so thoughtful)...and especially to my sweet Sue, who took the journey with me and was there for me every step of the way...I don't know I could have done it without you. Also, a special thanks to my buddy Sue B, who inspired and started me running in the first place.
Tony
My stats are as follows:
Time at:
10.0 km - 54min:58sec
13.1 mi - 1hr:56min:58sec
23.0 mi - 3hr:50min:00sec
23.2 mi - 4hr:29min:54sec - finishing time
Pace: 10:17min/miPlacement:
overall - 7229/19211 (top 37%)
gender - 5131/11699 (top 43%)
division/age - 194/693 (top 28%)p.s.
Kelly Ambrose, and fellow Penguins....regrets on missing the Cobourg run....I bet it was a great day....Kelly, sorry I didn't get your message in time re meeting and saying hello to Karen Bingham at the Elite Racing Booth. We had already left for Washington.
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