You see, after the last marathon in Raleigh (2 Nov, 3:19), I developed cramps at mile 24, became very lightheaded and I had tingling in both my arms for 30 minutes after the race. I got so concerned that I went to the first aid tent (for the first time ever) but everything checked out okay. Only thing I can chalk it up to was the stomach bug I had on Monday so maybe it was still some lingering effects.
But even though I thought that was the cause of it, I let myself get worked up because every time I looked at marathonguide.com, Men'sHealth and even Runner's World, there were articles on people dying in marathons. So naturally, I tied what happened to me in Raleigh as a sign of trouble to come. Plus I had new Under Armour running shoes that I had not run more than 10.5 miles and wasn't sure how they would work out over the course of the marathon. Enough of my worrywarting....
On race day we were treated to nearly perfect conditions. The forecast was supposed to be 32F but it felt closer to 40F but that didn't stop me from wearing a long sleeve wicking shirt, thin gloves and a winter hat. After checking my bag and a quick bathroom visit, I headed to the start. And w/o even hearing the "go" the mass of runners took off.
The course was a double loop around University Lake and through the LSU campus. In some ways the course reminded me of First Light Marathon in Mobile, AL. The first few miles were through the LSU campus (which didn't really impress me) but then as we approached mile 5, I overheard a spectator say, "they don't support the second half of the course that well." I tried to put that out of my mind and concentrate on the next 8 miles and remember landmarks so I would kinda have an understanding of the course for the second loop.
Around mile 6, I noticed a credit card in the middle of the road (the course was run on roads that were not closed to traffic and marked with orange paint for turns), I ran a few seconds past it and then ran back to pick it up. After running with it for a few miles I eventually tucked it into my glove.
As I approached mile 9, I was being gained on by some half marathoners. This woman was pacing two other guys and was complaining about the hill we just ran up. I think the "hill" was about 30 feet high and I told her how I'd like to have some hills to mix it up and then she, we'll you are gonna get your chance, "...the toughest part of the course is coming up at mile 10." Now, I start thinking think this is mile 10 but the second time around this is gonna be mile 20. She was almost ready to pass me but then she dropped back a bit but didn't let up about the hills, so finally I turn around and quipped, "good grief, are we gonna be running the Rocky Mountains?" Her response, I'm just a flat-lander from Baton Rouge. After that I didn't hear or see her for the remainder of the first loop. The hill turned out to be a highway overpass and another 30 foot hill.After the hills, we went through some old-money homes near University Lake. This part of the course was wide open to residential traffic and most of them thought the speed limit was 40 (posted 25mph) and didn't even bother to slow down with runners on the road. I finished the first loop in 1:36:56, on a pace for a 3:13:52 (I have run a few negative splits and one even split before) so well within the realm of possibility. I quickly passed two runners (pass but don't be passed is my motto for the second part of all races) and suddenly decided I wasn't content with a 3:25 (which was my real goal for the day). After a aid station, in which I stepped in a fire ant mound, I was passed by two runners but passed one of them w/in a mile.
In about 2 miles, we ran past Death Valley stadium where we had to cross a major intersection and then run along the shoulder of the right lane (there were no sidewalks). But since there were not hordes of runners this time, both lanes were open to traffic including the lane we were running. As I went to pass another runner, I hear this horn behind, then I hear it again. First thought, f*ck-it, I'm not getting over and plus I can't get over anymore. So I basically stood my ground and eventually the driver got into the left lane and I got this nasty scowl as he dove by. Within about 1/2 mile we made a turn on that would take us back through the campus. This particular stretch of road was void of traffic but I must have been zoning as I missed a (well marked) turn and went to the end of the road before I turned right (the course went right at the orange markers but I just missed it). Even though I was parallel with the course, but didn't really know it, I realized I didn't see any orange trail markers. For a second there I thought I was on a hash w/o a properly marked tail. So I stopped, looked around and thought where I was looked familiar from the first loop but there were no markers. So I ran about another 50 yards and stopped again because I had not seen orange markers in a while. Just then I look behind me and two lemmings who apparently missed the turn or just followed me were pointing right so I turn right at the next stop I could, turned left and was back on course. A small diversion of about .10 miles. Not to bad in the big scheme of thins but then again my two stops probably added a few more seconds that I would have liked.
The next couple of miles were uneventful and I managed to stay on course. My pace was consistently sub 7:30, even though I was taking my time at the aid stations. Just after mile 20.35 I was 2:31 (7:26 pace). I started doing the math in my head and realized I had a chance at another BQ. Shortly after the timing mat, I approached another aid station and saw a kid playing with a football just off the sidewalk. As I approached the station, as the dad is offering me water/powerade, I notion to the kid to throw me the football. The look on his face was a are you kidding me? Then I notioned again and finally he threw me a perfect pass that I caught in stride. I stopped for some water and then the kid run out for a pass but the gloves I have on were too slick to throw a normal pass so I underhanded it and he drops it and then I tell the dad, "I've never caught a football during a marathon before."
So at this point, I've hit the bathroom twice (behind trees), stepped in anthill at an aid station, picked up a credit card and caught a pass. What else would I do during this marathon that I had done before? Well that question would be answered in about 3.5 miles.
As I wind my way through another residential area and gear up for the "hills", my pace starts to drop as I get serious. The next mile was a 7:26 (the two previous miles were a 8:03/football, 7:37) followed by a 7:17, then at mile 23, I dropped it down to 7:11. I was pumped. I can't remember feeling this good in a race before (no signs of cramps, the UA shoes are doing great) and then disaster struck around mile 24.0. By this time we were back in the 'hood with the traffic. I was in a zone and keeping an eye on cars when all of sudden I look up and I see two runners coming at me from the left (they both look at me and don't say anything). I immediately stop (last pace on the GPS was 7:03), look back and realize I just missed a turn. At this point I don't know what to do? 1) Run about what appears to be about .1 miles back and get back on course or 2) keep going.
I decide on the latter and quickly catch the first guy in front of me. As soon as I approach him I asked him how old he was and he says "35." Shit, I can't in good conscience pass him. So I slow and tell him I missed the turn and that I can't pass him. He tells me to go on but I don't. He stops at an aid station so I stop. He is struggling, while I'm pissed with myself. We start back up and before I realize it I'm not with him anymore. I stop turn and wait 38 seconds for him to catch-up. The previous mile was a 7:52. I finally yell out to him "have you ever qualified for Boston?" and his answer was "no", so I yell out again, hurry up lets get going. Th
e next mile was even slower, a 7:58. Time was getting short. By this time we were back together and I thought we were running faster but our pace slowed to 8:16. This was killing me. We rounded the corner at mile 26 and we were around 3:14. Since we had that extra 59 seconds we had a sub 3:16 locked. As we approached the finish line I dropped back and let Julian finish in front of me (by two seconds) and then I crossed at 3:14:59. Third best time in a marathon and second BQ in the last three marathons.I was pissed and full of guilt. Julian on the other hand was pretty stoked. Second marathon and first BQ. He did thank me for pushing him and he said he probably would not have made if I didn't push him those last two miles. After getting something to drink/eat I sought out the RD to tell him what happened. At first he thought I was complaining about the turn not being marked - just the opposite, it was marked well but I was just in a zone and he didn't have a problem with me missing that turn and I told how I stopped and didn't pass the other runners in front of me.
The loop I missed was .3 miles. I cut the loop by .2 miles. My previous detour added .1 miles to my total. I stopped at an aid station that I would have skipped, I stopped 38 seconds to wait for Julian, and dropped from nearly a 7:00/mile at mile 24 to nearly 8 minute miles by the end. So in the end I was .1 miles short (GPS showed .05 miles short). I know I did the right thing by not passing Julian. But I know deep down I would have closed that .2 miles he was ahead of me considering I had my pace down close to 7:00/miles and he was running closer to 8:00/miles. I figured when everything is factored in I could have run a sub 3:13 but I'll have to save that for another race. Had I run what I think I could have run(3:12:40ish), I would have finished 4th age and 13th overall instead of 19th overall/6th age.
In the end, what happened on the course is still eating me but I think I did the right thing.
PS, I called BofA to report the lost card and they canceled the card.
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