Mile 2: Funny, I don't think I've ever driven these exact roads before. I like the hills! That's quite a column of runners ahead of me, going all the way around the next corner. Lots of spectators, that's cool. The guy in the striped shirt is having more fun than we are!
Mile 3: (to guy in striped shirt) "Hey, didn't I just see you?" "Wasn't me, man!" he shouts back as he continues to cheer for all the runners. I shake my head.
Mile 4: I point and shout, "Now I know I've seen your ass before!" to guy with striped shirt. He smiles back.
Mile 5 1/2: Note to self: Do not open pill baggies on windy overpasses. Only dropped one Endurolyte and have plenty of extras so no harm done, but let's be careful. Mindful. Mindful is a better running word. Tilt your head down or that hat will be gone!
Mile 7: Great crowd on Gregg Street! Where the hell did they all park? I hear: "Alright 146 in the Tilley hat!" "Dude, you guys rock!" High-fives for the whole line of them.
Mile 7 3/4, as the half-marathoners peel off to go to the Scull Creek Trail: "That could be us," we green-bib-number people all lamented together. We turn later and get our first glimpse of the legendary Rush Running aid station from the Van Asche Street Bridge. We hear the music full volume, though!
Mile 10 1/2: Holy shit, that dude is flying! And him, and him. How is it possible to look so fresh after something like 19 miles? Where is Leah?
Mile 11: Aha! Those dudes must have been relay runners. Leah sure looks focused!
Mile 15: Shuffling up with my empty hydration bladder in my hands,"Do you guys have lots of water?" "Barely any. We have tons of Gatorade." "No thanks just dump those two cups in here and I'll be good to go till the next stop. You guys rock!" Note to self: Fill pack early and often.
Mile 17: "And it's cold, too! Thanks guys, you guys rock!" 1.5 liters for the last 9 miles, good to go!
Mile 17 1/2: The wind feels nice but take a look at those clouds!
Mile 18 1/5: "Hey, can I get a picture with you?" Turns out the guy in the striped shirt was named Jacob. He ran the Little Rock Marathon last month but then injured himself and was not able to run the Hogeye. He wanted to run so bad! Instead, he just drove from place to place to encourage the runners as they made their way. I would see him three more times before the finish. Some people are just awesome!
Mile 20: Finally! I though I was going to run my whole first marathon and not get drenched with rain a single time.
Mile 21 1/2: The energy of the Rush Running aid station cannot be described in a blog entry, it must be experienced in person.
Mile 23: It's mile 23, and I have earned the right to go as fast or as slow as I want to for the remainder of this race. I'm walking!
Mile 24: I'll be damned if those motorists on Sycamore are going to see me walking. I'm running!
Mile 25: Still running!
Mile 26: Note to self: Be mindful of tongue when passing professional photographer near finish.
Mile 26.2: Is sitting down a good idea? Maybe I should walk around some more. Or stretch. No, stretching is a lie. I think I'll just sit here and enjoy this Mountain Dew. Damn, that was fun!
Dry cloths, Mazzios, icewater, Flyers hockey, and a very cool kid. Life is good!
(Oh, yeah. To Leah Thorvilson, I'm just running today means breaking her old course record with a time of 2:52:02. Way to take it easy, Leah! To me, I'm just running today means five hours and ten minutes, which I think is a damn fine first effort. I can't wait for the next race!)
11 comments:
You do rock, friend!
I can't see me ever running a marathon. I'm incredibly impressed.
Awesome job, Dave!! I am still amazed that you did this. If I ever run a marathon and get drenched in a downpour at Mile 20, I expect my attitude will be less positive than yours. My hat's off to you.
Congratulations, marathoner!!
Thanks, Soub! Glad you had a good trip to Texas despite the strep, which we always give to visitors.
Thanks Jen!
~Dave
Incredible. Really impressed. Most of all by the Run, but also by the post. How about writing an intire novel about the running of one marathon -- all the things that get into your head, memories of earlier runs, training, etc. But this was great already. Such nice people too along the route.
Thanks, Martijn! To tell you the truth, though, clowning your way through a five-hour marathon is not the emotional roller coaster you might imagine, nor is it especially meaningful. It's basically just fun. Really fun! Besides, if everyone who ever ran a marathon wrote a novel about it, there would be a lot of fucking novels about marathons. I'm not exactly in an elite group. A greater challenge would be to write a novel about running a 5k, a really slow 5k, like maybe 30 minutes. That would be a literary tour de force if I could ever find the writing chops to pull it off. On second thought, that novel has probably been written already, too. Plus I've never run a 5k. Sigh.
~Dave
I think your dad said the same thing about not being in an elite group one time Davy.
This is a really cool accomplishment, and that picture of you and donald on the couch is awesome.
Belated congrats Dave! Outstanding, both the run and the post. It is you who rock! :)
Scott
You are sooooo AWESOME!! I'm so proud of you though I've done nothing to aid you in your accomplishment. But I'm smiling right there with you on the sofa with the cute kid.
Outstanding!
xxx
Hi Dave!
I wish I had talked to Dad more. Thanks, Steve!
~Dave
Thanks, Scott! You need to work on Jen to get her past that arbitrary 13.1 mile barrier. SHe's missing all the fun!
~Dave
RDG, you legitimately aided my accomplishment by leaving encouraging comments on my training log entries. That counts!
Thanks, Mule Friend!
~Dave
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