Fiesta! My First Marathon

My first marathon is done. How did it go? Well, I have already written two play-by-play accounts of it, but maybe that’s a little too much information for this blog. Let me just narrow it down to the main points.

This Fiesta Marathon was a half-marathon loop covered twice. Of course, like most of you, loops bring a bad taste. However, I thought this would be perfect for me for two reasons: the second loop would be very familiar and this was close to home, so no travel costs.

I really DID do my homework for this race!

One major concern was going to be the weather. It is early October and South Texas is still under summer conditions. The morning would be around 80-90% humidity and the sun would be out early, bringing big-time heat (90+). I knew what I was getting into, I just didn’t realize the huge factor this would be late in the race.

Luckily for me, my wife Kathy would be out there around the 4 mile marker with gels , clothes, and drinks.

So, the beginning of this race was very calm for me because I wanted emotionally to treat this like a training run, so that I would not start too fast. I kept with the plan very well. I only was anxious about the aid stations. This was my first long run without my woobie (camelback). I worried about the quality of Gatorade at each AS (aid station) because I trained on full bore Powerade.

German's Pace Plan for Me

Any way, I drank a cup at each AS on the way out and ate one gel up to Kathy at 4 mile. I toweled off, drank some Powerade, and debated putting on my cap and shades, but was going to wait until I came back from the turnaround. Monte Cristo road was nice, I ran across my running friends who were already on their way back and this motivated me to pick up my pace just a little. I reached the turnaround and headed back with ease. The sun was in my face, though, and I regretted not bringing my cap and shades with me.

So far so good!

I reached Kathy at the 9 mile mark and picked up my shades and cap, drank powerade, toweled off, and kept on…but I forgot to reload my pocket with gels! Oh no! I would be calorie-free for 8 miles! I just thought it would be ok. I kept going.

Then I did the unthinkable…I broke from my pace plan. I was feeling really strong and decided to push the pace from miles 10-12 and get that first loop done with a strong finish. I reached the turnaround with ease and thought to myself that I would slow back down to 10 pace and redo the second loop like I did the first. But the sun was getting hot already and my body was feeling the depletion of calories. Oh well, nothing I could do but stay calm and easy until I get back to Kathy. Luckily Sami was at the mile 14 AS and was able to get me a donut, but I only ate half. It was great and I kept on, but my pace was starting to slow down.

Whoa! I look around me at mile 15 and there’s Cyndi on my left and David on my right. They decided to urge me onward and run alongside me. Wow! These guys are awesome. I never realized how amazing my running friends are until now. However, I am feeling it already: the bonk. I am not keeping pace, but we reach Kathy at mile 17. I drink a red bull and eat a bar. I’m a mess already. But David is with me (Cyndi moved on with another runner) and he is truly getting me through this with his knowledge and wisdom. We press on, but the sun, heat, humidity, and the lack of calories have already done their damage. I also developed a painful cramp in my diaphragm that forces me to walk for a while. I am also starting to get dizzy.

 Am stopping at every AS to get water, a drenching over me by David’s hand, and really, just to rest. The rest of Monte Christo road out and back felt like 6 miles, not three. German found us at mile 20 AS and gave me ice down the rear trick. It was awesome. I am out of it, though…and I’m really worried.

David...pulling me along!

David and I get to Kathy at mile 22, but I am really gone…dizzy…tired…and now I want to puke and pass out. NOT good. David and Kathy are worried. I can tell in their voices. I want to DNF.

But I remember waaay deep in my soul that I worked very hard for this, that I ran a lot, that I left behind my family many days and evenings to train, that I promised my students I would get the job done. So David and I press on. I finally get to mile 24 AS. The police officer wants to get me first aid. I’m almost too gone to fight it, but somehow David gets me going and we pressed on. I am walk-jogging at about 15 pace and walking more and more. I want to pass out.

Mile 25! I just keep dragging myself onward. Ben greets us at the corner of University and 4^th and somehow I am feeling better now. We take pictures at the last AS where Sami and Carly are really encouraging me. 

Feeling much better (because I am soooo close to the finish line)!

David and Ben jog with me on to the final stretch. Of course, I tell them they better not get in the way of my picture at the finish line!  I gather enough energy to run it in to the finish! YES! I did it!! I can't believe I made it.

Thank you Lord for air conditioning and comfortable chairs.

Lessons I learned in my first marathon:

1.    Get more training on tired legs.

2.    Pick a marathon with cooler weather.

3.    Learn to run without powerade.

4.    Stay on the damned pace schedule, no matter how good I feel.

5.    True friends don’t walk a mile in your shoes….they run 13.1 miles instead.

6.    Get more than one long run over 21 miles done in training.

7.    Get stronger and don’t overestimate my conditioning. I was probably in poorer shape that I should have been for this race.