Runner Insight

Marathon Training: My First Marathon – Race Day Part 3

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I had made the turn that would take me through the Big Flat valley.  I was running along, feeling good as I had just seen T and I had a fresh boost of energy, hydrating and unaware of the “Leg Mile Marker” No. 9 coming up.  Let me explain.  

Each mile along the route was marked not only by a big number painted on the road indicating the mileage, but Missoula artists had painted really amazing, very unique mile marker sculptures in the shape of a runner’s lower leg.  The leg mile markers were life-size and had balloons attached to them. 

Well I, of course being legally blind, did not see the marker, so naturally, I plowed right into it, getting the balloons wrapped up in my legs.  It took some maneuvering, but I was able to extract myself from them within a few seconds, fortunately with no damage to the mile marker or myself.  Of course my up close and personal encounter with the balloons was witnessed by my fellow runners.

Still shaking my head and laughing to myself, I continued on my way; the Big Flat Valley was so peaceful and scenic.  Soon I began a gradual climb, the only hill on the 26.2 mile course, and really not too bad of a incline, except that it was really starting to heat up, and it was only 8:30 a.m.  The shade of the canyon was very refreshing and welcome.  

About half way up the hill, I saw that quite a few of the other marathon runners were walking, and the urge to join them was too much for me to resist, so I walked for a while too.  The walk did me good, and soon I was back running again.  I hit the half way mark and my time was 2:16.  I was excited to be right on track for a 4:30 finish.  

My dreams of a 4 hour marathon were long gone!  As I started the descent down out of the canyon, the 4:30 pace group passed me.  I started to run with them, but found their pace was too fast for me, and I fell behind. 

Coming out of the shade of the canyon, the heat hit me full force, like a blast furnace with its doors wide open!  At least I was now running in familiar territory; I had done a lot of my training runs here.  I got an energy drink at the aid station at mile 15 and had a power gel.  It was hot; did I mention that it was hot?    

I was really looking forward to seeing T at mile 16!  My hip was now hurting more, and all I could think about was getting to mile 16.  When I got to where I thought T would be, I didn’t see or hear her, and the fatigue and pain was making me feel a bit desperate and anxious.  I kept running and looking, when I heard T shouting to keep coming, just a little bit farther.  I made it to where she was.  I kept saying, “Where were you?”  She told me she had to park a little ways down the road, as there were too many cars right at the turn.  In reality, she was not even 100 yards down the road from where I expected to see her, but in my bonked out mind it seemed miles! LOL 

So I got some cold water and a fresh, cool neck wrap and we poured water on my neck and wrists and I splashed it on my face and arms.  The heat was intense and the next 10 miles came with no shade at all!  So with another hug for luck I was on my way a bit more composed…But not for long…

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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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Marathon Training:  Race Day…The Race of My Life!  So far.

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Wow!  The day was finally here!  All my training and hard work were about to be put to the test.  I was feeling pretty good about the training that I had put in and felt that I could go the distance: the whole 26.2 miles in my very first marathon! 

Rubbing the sleepy bugs out of my eyes, I made my way to the kitchen for my pre-race meal.  I stuck with what I knew would settle well with me.  So after a banana and yogurt, I got dressed. 

T was ready to go with the camera and water.  We made our way out to Frenchtown to the start of the race.  I could tell it was going to be a warm start to the race, as it was already in the low 60’s.  That concerned me a little, as I had done all my training runs in relatively cool weather, but obviously there was nothing I could do about it at this point.  The night before, we had soaked the neck wraps in cold water and put them in the refrigerator.  I had about four of them so I could change them out during the race. 

As we got closer to the race site, we noticed several folks running about a mile from the starting line.  I got a little panicked, thinking that maybe I had the start time wrong. But, no. I guess they were just warming up before the start of the race.

Then we had to find the real start area….they had just moved it that morning! But not to worry, Frenchtown is a small town, and we had no problem finding the starting line; it was just a few blocks from where they had originally planned. 

After some back and forth debate with myself, I decided not to take my mp3 player, so I unpacked the extra batteries out of my clip-on running pocket.  It didn’t really lighten my pocket much, but I knew as I ate my LifeSavers and power gel it would get lighter. And once I was running and in a rhythm, the pocket wouldn’t bother me too much.

Of course I needed to use the restroom before I started, so we found the porta-johns, but I was amazed at the lines! This was the first year of the marathon, and they obviously hadn’t known how many porta-potties was the right number to have at the race start, as they grossly underestimated the need. 

T checked her watch, and there was no way I was going to be able to use the porta-potty.  Sure enough, Anders the owner of our local running store “The Runners Edge” came down yelling “5 minutes to the start!”  He said that they couldn’t delay the start, so just find a bush and go!  No one cares! 

I was ready to drop my shorts right then and there, but T being more modest and able to see, grabbed me and found a bush I could use for a little bit of privacy. But Anders was right, nobody cared…everyone was busy worrying about their own needs right before the cannon sounded. The question of hydration and survival of a 26 mile race in record-breaking heat was everyone’s primary concern that morning, not who was behind which bush to pee.  Runners definitely get more than a little self-involved immediately before a big race like this one.

So, relieved of the bladder weight, we jogged over to the start area, and I positioned myself just behind the four hour pace runners.  Looking back at it now, that was quite a lofty goal for me, and I should have been more realistic and got behind the 4 ½  hour pace runners.  Even in cooler weather I hadn’t ever run a four hour pace on any of my marathon training runs, so thinking that I could do it in record high temperatures was really pie in the sky thinking on my part.  But I was a newbie when it came to marathon running.  Lesson learned: big time. 

Before I knew it the cannon boomed, signifying the start of the race. . .

 How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

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