The City of Oaks Marathon was supposed to be the marathon that I actually "trained" for since my first marathon back in 2004. Well, the training consisted of increased track workouts over the summer but when I added the Siouxland Lewis and Clark Marathon to the calendar, the "training" went out the window. And in the end, the training was no different than the previous 28 marathons.
I had intended to "save" myself for the City of Oaks but at the Siouxland Marathon, I knocked out a 3:14 when I didn't have any intention of running that one for time. So a week removed from the 2.73 mile run at the FSU Parent's Weekend 5K, and 5 days removed from either food poisoning or a stomach virus I ran the City of Oaks Marathon. I'm not sure after Monday's conversation with Ralph on the big white phone; I was really up for running a marathon. I had felt sluggish all week and while I never really feel like running a marathon, this feeling was slightly different (tired, felt like I was getting a cold, etc) but that has never slowed me down before.
The City of Oaks Marathon was a rolling hill type course that runs through Raleigh and then a short loop through Umstead State Park before running through the NC State campus towards the finish. The race started under clear skies with a temperature of 39F. It did feel a bit warmer than 39F but by the time I hit mile 3, I was breaking a sweat and feeling pretty comfortable.
I hit the 10K mark at 45:23 (7:20/mile) and was feeling pretty good. My GPS was already off by .06 miles so I didn't have an exact measurement of what my pace really was. Around mile 8.5, I stopped and had a quick sip of beer from the local HHH. From mile 8.5 to mile 13 it was primarily downhill with 13 to 15 being uphill (1:35:50 – half). It was in this stretch that I got sucked into to talking with my fellow runners and probably slowed my pace a little bit but I was still feeling pretty well. At the mile 15 aid station, I stopped for a GU and when I was done I tossed it into a "trash can" but just as soon as I released it, I realized it was the water source for the aid station. They had filled large trash cans (lined with garbage bags) with water. The trash cans were right next to the table and not behind the table. I slowly watched the used GU packet flutter to the bottom of the trash can. J
Umstead Park was alright, it was canopy tree lined with a hard sand packed running surface. I took advantage of the downhills and made my move to pass five runners on the uphill around mile 17. Little did I know that we were about to enter a never ending hill that stretched from mile 18 to almost mile 21. I stopped for another GU around 18.5 (stomach was growling – thought that would be the only way to settle that down). As I took the GU, two runners sprinted past me and after throwing the GU into the right garbage can I was off again. I nearly caught one of the two but this hill was having its way with me and by the time I reached mile 21 I was starting to feel some twitches in my left hamstring. After mile 21, things started to even out and by the time mile 22 hit, it become a mostly downhill course.
I was still on a pace for a sub 3:16. Then disaster struck near the Bell Tower on the NC State campus (mile 24.5 – time 3:02). My left hamstring cramped up on me and any chance I had for a sub 3:16 went out the window. I walked it out a bit and then kept on running but my pace was closer to 9 minutes than it was 7 minutes. Then I heard the same line I had heard in the two previous marathons "…and then it is all downhill." I don't know what the hell is wrong with people when it comes to elevation gain. Where I grew up, if you gained anytype of elevation that was considered uphill. When you lost elevation that was considered downhill. What this guy could have said was, "…after this turn, you'll hit a short uphill and then its all downhill from there."
Either way it didn't change the fact that I was cramping and I still had to run that last section. I crossed the line on my 30th marathon (21st state) in a time of 3:19:39 (fifth fastest time); which was good enough for 57th overall, 9th in my age but more importantly 2nd in the active duty military division which resulted in me taking home a big fat check for $300.
After the race I eventually found Katharine at our rendezvous spot but by this time I was feeling extremely light headed coupled with a tingling sensation in both my arms. I kept walking around for several minutes and after about 30 minutes, I swallowed my pride and made my way to the first-aid tent. I got my blood pressure (108/67 – normally 110/70) and my pulse 104 (but the oxygen in my blood was 100% - which is good they said) checked and after a Gatorade and some water and an ice pack for leg cramps, I made my way back to Katharine. I joined her on the grass and then my legs cramped up even more. After finally standing up, the cramps subsided but I was still somewhat light headed. I've been light headed after a race before but only for a few minutes and nothing like this. I can only guess that I had not fully recovered from Monday's episode but if I can run a 3:19 I might follow this same routine.
Next up: Baton Rouge Beach Marathon (30st marathon, 22nd state).
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