It all started after packet pickup, "So is there anything that you shouldn't be eating or drinking before a marathon" asked JB. The three marathoners at the table looked silently at each other and lifted both their plate of Hooter's chicken wings and pints of beers. I'm convinced this was Dugan's desperate attempt to sabotage my race. Family and friends met up later that night for dinner; during dinner it was show the most embarrassing pictures of Brent to the family time...thanks guys!
Race day is finally here. After a few before pictures, it was time to run. Dugan and Joey went to the front of the line because they thought they had a shot at winning, I was closer to the back. I was pretty excited about the run and became very talkative to the people around me. They did not share in my excitement and I'm pretty sure they thought I was crazy.
As the herd started to move toward the start line and we started to jog, the marathon was underway. Running through downtown and all the people running around me, the first couple miles flew by. I checked my pace around mile 6 and was dead on my goal of 10 min/miles. We started running back into the city and passed the Hooter's that Dugan tried to sabotage me with, not today I was feeling pretty good still. Around mile 8, my family was there cheering me on and even jogged a half mile with me. I was still thinking this was going to be a breeze.
The hills started shortly after the cheers from the family. I'm convinced that miles 10 through 20 were straight up hill, and not short small hills, real long, steep hills. At mile 10 was the break-off point where the half marathoners split off, it pumped me up a little knowing I was going further than 75% of these people. The excitement was quickly diminished when a half mile after the turn-off it was time to run up hill again. People had no idea how to run these hills, many people were running backward, walking up and sprinting down. I'm never running in Austin again.
I was enjoying all the random people cheering everyone on, but in my mind they were only cheering for me. I high-fived everyone I could and enjoyed every sign they had. My favorite was 'I don't care what anyone says, You are all Kenyans now'. Around mile 16, a huge house party was hosting a 'Cocktails for Quitters' party. That looked fun. I could feel myself starting to drag a little and perfect timing for my fam to be at mile 18/19 for a little pep talk. That one helped me get to mile 22ish.
I checked my time and had over an hour and a half for the last 4.2 miles. I was dying and didn't understand why I was running a 'race' that I knew I wasn't winning. It was a good thing there was a bet on the line because I could have gave up right there. I took a break at a water station and started talking to the people. They did not look as tired as I felt.
I started back up, only a couple miles left. The popular cheer at that point was, 'Don't stop you are almost there'. That did not help. I tried to rationalize the 'only 3 miles left' but it doesn't work, 3 miles left after 23 miles is a lot. Then, the mileage signs turned from miles to tenths of a mile and that was a glorious sight for my eyes. Not too glorious though, as I passed the '.5 miles left' sign it was time to go up hill. My entire right leg cramped and I started having visions of crawling to the finish line which would have put a smile on everyone's face. Luckily the cramp went away and I could jog into the finish line to cheers from friends and family. 4 hours and 27 minutes - cash time!!
They gave me a medal and told me congratulations, so I'm pretty sure I won (or came in second since the medal was silver). I was pretty excited about the medal, and even wore out to the bars all night. I finally got that runners high everyone talks about, it was later that night after a couple beers still wearing that medal!
Unfortunately, I'm associating the marathon to such a good weekend. This has lead to talks of another marathon or an IronMan or some other gross celebration of over exercise. Maybe I'll do another blog for that one!
Thanks again for all the comments and support. This turned out to be pretty fun, right Dugan?!!
