As some of you may know, I have been training to run the Portland Marathon, as I've always wanted to do a marathon. My main goal was just to finish, but I completed a half-marathon in July in about 1:25, so my secondary goal to was to meet the Boston qualifying time for my age of 3:20.
Doug Rennie, who at one time was quite the marathoner, counseled me to run the beginning of the race very conservatively, so I found the Red Lizard 3:20 pace guy and tucked in behind him - for a while. I was feeling really good and strong, so eventually I drifted ahead of him and the 3:15 guy as well. No problem I thought, I was feeling really good and didn't feel like I was pushing too hard. I hit the halfway point at about 1:32. A little fast, I thought, but I was still feeling good - much better than at the end of the half-marathon in July. At about mile 16 just before the St. Johns Bridge, however, the legs started to tighten up. Running up the approach to the bridge, though, felt much better, and I was in good shape until it came time to come down off the bridge at mile 17. "That's really starting to hurt," I thought. About half-way down the bridge I had to give in and walk. When I got to the bottom I resumed running - for a while. The legs would start cramping again, and I'd have to slow to a fast walk for awhile until I could start running again.
The good news, though, was that my legs felt much better when I walked, so I knew I was going to finish, even if it took 4 hours or more. Eventually, I got into a decent run, walk, run, walk rythym. I walked most of the downhills like Greeley and the Broadway Bridge, because that's where my legs really hurt like hell. With about 3 miles left, the 3:20 pace guy, and my Boston qualifier dreams, passed by. At the end, after the route flattened out, I was able to run for the most part, and I crossed the line in about 3:28. Right after I finished, I heard a familiar voice call my name, and I turned around and saw Bruce Giunta standing in the rain on the other side of the barricades cheering the finishers. That was a nice surprise.
Now that it's over, I have to say that was the hardest physical ordeal I've ever went through - much more difficult than climbing Mt. Whitney in one day, or completing my first century. Now that I've had several hours to cool down, I have to say I had no idea my legs could be so sore and stiff. I can't fathom how Kaytee Petross, and other ironmen and women, could do that after first swimming two miles and biking 112! I think I can safely say I will not be doing Vertical Reality tomorrow, although I hope to do an easy ride on Tuesday to work some of this crap out of my legs.
All-in-all, I'd have to consider my first marathon a success. I finished and broke 3:30 - not bad. I do wish I'd gone out a little slower (my first half was 1:32, and the second was 1:56) and didn't have to resort to walking at the end, but we'll probably never know how that would have turned out because I think my marathon career is over, although I may think differently in a few weeks when I've forgotten about the leg pain. ;-)