Cowtown Marathon Recap
2.24.13
When almost eight months ago I decided to take on the task of training for and running a marathon I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew that it wouldn't be easy, I knew it would take time away from my family and call for me to dig and tap into places in myself I was skeptical if they even existed. So it was with a great deal of apprehension that I set out to accomplish something that many people believe to be one of the greatest test of physical endurance that 'normal' (although most definitely insane) people can attack.
My training was exciting for the most part. I enjoyed the runs around the neighborhood throughout the week and I could feel myself getting stronger with each run. I especially looked forward to the long training runs with friends and exploring parts of Denton that I rarely find myself in. There were a few setbacks in my training I had to shut down for about a week or so thanks to a bum Achilles tendon/ankle injury but I was able to stay on the bike at the gym and not lose too much fitness in the process. I had fun testing out different nutritional combinations before my runs and just the fact of telling people that I was training for a marathon because people look at you differently when you tell them that (I think they're really sizing you up to see just how crazy you are).
The plan originally was to run the Metro PCS Dallas Marathon December 6, but thanks to a freak ice storm that we had roll through that all got cancelled so I had to re-rack and adjust my training to prep for the Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth 2.23.14. It was a disappointing reality but one that I was excited to add a little wrinkle to my marathon story.
The day before the race I was filled with excitement and nervous energy. John and I went and picked up our packets and the energy was electric in the expo I got to talk to lots of first timers just like myself and there is a mutual respect among runners that I haven't found in any other group I've ever been a part of. I believe that it has something to do with knowing that in a matter of hours we're all going to be in the same boat fighting the same demons and pushing our bodies beyond their limits and that is the great equalizer.
Race morning I got up at 4am, dressed, ate a little something and hit the shuttle from the hotel to the starting corrals. I was still feeling very confident, strong and excited. The energy and excitement just continued to grow for me as more and more people showed up. I think there was close to fifteen thousand people there at the start and I had never been a part of a group of people that large at one time fighting for the same thing; completion. There were people talking about desires for PR's and qualifying for Boston. For me the goal was step across that finish line, little did I know the cost that goal would require. They shot off the starting gun and it took my corral about 25 minutes to actually start the race. I started out strong and felt great. I had the awesome privilege of running with my high school band director's wife, Mrs. Audrey Staniszewski, for the first 10 miles as she was running her 7th half marathon. It wasn't until mile 14 or 15 that I began to realize that this was going to be a much more difficult task than I had originally anticipated. I began to feel the miles in my legs and my feet and the group had thinned out quite a bit so I didn't have nearly as many people to talk to as I normally did on my long training runs. I began praying for my second wind to come and for relief from some of the pain.
Mile 16 marked the beginning of the mental darkness that so many runners talk about. I began having negative messages over-flooding my mind telling me that I can't finish this and that in reality I should've never started. I had to dig deep and find a resolve that I never knew I had and remember why I was doing this in the first place; Hawkins. I was carrying my Team Beads of Courage beads which I touched many times throughout the race as well as a bracelet that I always wear with Hawk's name on it and just kept remembering my little man. There were times where I had to call Sarah and just hear an encouraging voice reminding me why I'm doing this and to tell me that I can and will finish this because I'm strong enough. I also called a buddy of mine Troy who reminded me to keep breathing and breath the pain out and away which was a great help. All that got me down the road to mile 21.
Mile 22 I was dehydrated and my blood sugar had bottomed out. I was in a very bad place, and physically I thought I might have to call it. I had developed the habit of constantly looking behind me just to make sure that I wasn't the last person on the course and it seemed like every time I did I was staring at the next person that would pass me. When I got to the aid station at mile 23 I asked the volunteers if I was the last one and they said that I couldn't be because the 'sag-wagon' wasn't right behind me so that offered me some comfort that I only had 3 miles to go and there were still people behind me, but I still didn't know where I was going to come up with the energy and strength to fight through the pain and fatigue. It was about that time that some SUV came buzzing past me honking the horn and my first thought was "what kind of jerk is honking at me while I'm on the verge of needing a defibrillator and a fifth of whiskey" then I realized it was Ryan Martin. He jumped out of his car and as soon as he got close enough to me I gave him a massive bear hug. I was just happy to see a familiar face, but I was blown away when he told me that he was going to run the last 3 miles with me. It was nice to have someone to share the time and distance with and I honestly don't know how I would've finished if I would've had to finish on my own.
Over the next 3 miles Ryan and I fought through exhaustion, dehydration, blisters and foot pain. It was great having a distraction and sharing my highs and lows over the last 23 miles. There was one point around mile 25 after taking a quick walk break it felt like someone stabbed me in the ball of my right foot and I really couldn't walk anymore so Ryan and I decided we'd just run/slow job it in the rest of the way.
At the turn into the parking lot where the the finish line was Sarah, Murel and Hawkins waiting for me and cheering me on. I can't put into words how glad I was to see them and to know that I would soon be finishing my 26.2 miles. I turned the corner and there it was, what I had been working all day toward; the finish line. I made it across the line and the feeling of accomplishment and relief was indescribable. I accomplished something that I never thought I could, something so many people told me I shouldn't, but I did it.
I have never depleted my body to that point or felt fatigue that severe. I learned so many things about myself and life that I'm sure I'll be unpacking for a long time. It was an amazing experience that I'm sure I'll do again at some point. For now I'm just going to marinate in the knowledge that I am a marathoner.
