Marathon Training: Race Day Part 2
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The cannon was loud and made its point: I was off and running along with about 500 other marathoners. It was exciting to be running in the Inaugural Missoula Marathon. I was a part of history.
The sun was barely up, and it was so quiet except for the sound of many, many feet hitting the pavement. I felt good and the pace was fast, but not uncomfortable. In retrospect, I see it was adrenaline and the reality of being in my first marathon that kept my pace fast for the first 8 miles.
As the runners started to thin out a bit, I fell into a really good zone. I was feeling strong and was inhaling the sights and sounds of the early morning start. We were running alongside open fields, and the sound of the large irrigation sprinklers tick, tick, ticking away was as simplistic and serene as the joy I felt from hearing them. As I ran, I could hear a lone meadowlark singing its song to cheer me along.
The 8 mile mark was just ahead, and I could hear the music from several boom boxes pumping out the tunes loud and strong to keep us marathon runners energized and motivated. Then I heard my name being called out. I looked up and it was T. She told me my time, right on track for a 4:30 finish. It was such a great surprise to see her at this point in the race, as I wasn’t expecting to see her until the 16 mile mark. So with a fresh, cool neck wrap and a hug for luck, she shooed me off to continue on my quest.
My right hip was beginning to hurt a little; this was a pain I hadn’t had before. I was kind of worried, as I still had a long ways to go. I kept running and soon I made the turn that would lead me through one of the most beautiful valleys in Western Montana. The Big Flat valley is known for its picturesque horse ranches and the winding Clark Fork River with dramatic drop offs.
As I was running along, I encountered my first mishap at mile marker number 9….
How ’bout it?
-Vision Runner
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Title: Marathon Training: Race Day Part 2
URL: http://runnerinsight.com/2009/09/18/marathon-training-race-day-part-2/
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Tags: blind, blind runner, legally blind runner, marathon, marathon training, marathon training program, marathon training runs, Missoula Marathon, Montana, Retinitis Pigmentosa, run, Runner, runners, Running, running a marathon, running blind, training for a marathon, training runs, Vision Runner
