Words behind the Miles

As I noted, the decision to run Columbus was very last minute. I think I first mentioned to Paul about 3.5 weeks out from the race date but quickly followed it up by noting that EVERYTHING in training would have to go perfectly from that moment on - but also that I would not be adjusting anything specifically for the marathon distance. The plan was to stick with my originally 10k type training and see how things developed.

Well, everything did continued to go good, so about 12 days out from the race I registered and decided... 'as long as the weather is good, I'll toe the line'.

The final week was nothing like last year heading into Chicago. I was quietly confident in my goal of 2:30-2:32 as I had told a few of my friends that I was definitely in the best shape of my life, regardless of distance. Amazing how this level of fitness happened by complete accident. It really makes you wonder - should you train and then pick a race when you're fit or pick a race and then structure your training? Obviously this question of approach doesn't work if you run for a team...

I remained cautiously optimistic about the race (Chicago 2007's second half of 1:27+ still fresh in my quads)... the plan was simple - hit the 1/2 point in 1:14:30 to 1:15:30, hold until around 20 miles, and then see what the legs had left. Again, the basic of all marathon strategies. I did however, if all went right, feel I could really roll the last 10k.

All week heading into the race I was telling people 'I'm ready', no predictions... just ready. Last year my training was so specific to 26.2 miles that I just didn't feel that confident. This year, since I basically did random 10k training with long runs thrown in, I was race ready... not just 'marathon ready', and for me, that's the mentality I need heading to the line, regardless of distance.

The Friday and Saturday before race day were painfully dull. I drove 7 hours from Charlotte to Columbus on Friday afternoon and then on Saturday I sat in my hotel, by myself, the entire day... leaving 3 times - once for a 20 minute run in the morning, once for an hour trip to the Expo, and once for a 40 minute dinner. I was losing my mind, bouncing off the walls, and wanting it to just 'be' Sunday morning already.

Sunday I woke up at 5:07... 8 minutes before my alarm. I was wide awake, and I felt GOOD! Feeling good on race morning? An immediate red flag, I never feel good on race morning!

So I headed downtown after a quick shower and a breakfast of a 1/2 can of Coke, a banana, a few crackers with peanut butter, and lots of water. I parked, did a warmup of just over a mile and then switched shoes, stretched for 3 minutes and then headed to the start line with about 10 minutes to spare.

I get to the line and say 'what's up and good luck' to Chaney, Casagranda, Eby, and a few others... then I made my way back to about the 4th or 5th row as there was no need for me to be up front... I wasn't going anywhere.

Gun goes off and it's an absolutely perfect morning for a marathon... upper 30s, clear, and calm. Couldn't ask for better conditions!

400 meters into the race I see Fredo, yell to him and then he hops in... off we go. Fredo asks about the early plan - I say '5:40-5:45 pace through the half... but the first few miles I am not worried about'. So we hit the first mile in 5:53, perfect.

Between 3 and 4 miles we picked up Brent Martin into your little group and from then until about 10 miles it was all about cruise control. At this point I was feeling a bit 'giddy', but knew what laid ahead.

Then around 10 miles the 3 of us hooked up with Bryan Straniero and at this point I took my first water - a mile later at 11, I took my first GU. Also, just past 10 miles - Fredo sternly reprimanded me for my 'talkative nature' and warned me to 'save my breath'.

Once we got out onto High St. at 11 miles, we caught up to Ann Alyanak, who was the lead women in the half-marathon. She ran with us for just over a mile on her way to a 1:14:46 win. We saw JP and he gave us the update that we were sitting about 25th overall... we knew right away that he didn't bother to subtract the 1/2 marathoners, so that provided a nice laugh and the chance to take our minds off the task for a moment. Brent and I were actually sitting 9th and 10th at this point.

We continued on and went through the 1/2 point in 1:14:53 (5:43 pace), still Fredo, Brent, and myself... but we could see Eric Hamner in the distance - so that provided us a nice reference point to focus in on as we carried up High towards the Ohio State campus.

At the 1/2 I was feeling very good, the temperature was perfect, the sun was up but was still being blocked by the buildings. The legs felt fine, but I was getting a slight tweak in my left hamstring (the same one that I pulled in the final 400m at Chicago). We made the zig-zags through fraternity row and then onto the OSU campus, towards the Horseshoe. I took my second GU around 17 miles and started taking Gatorade instead of water every third water stop.

Then just past 17 miles, Brent said 'good luck guys' and backed off a bit (he finished in 8th with a very impressive 2:31), Fredo and I continued on and Fredo noted that he would be dropping at 18 - as planned. He asked me how I felt just past 17, I responded with 'same as how I felt at 5 miles'... he snapped... 'Don't say that!' Silence again....

A few minutes later, just before the 18 mile mark we rolled up on the heels of Hamner and Cory Scheadler... Fredo gives me one last nugget and tells me that 'there will be a fine line between being aggressive and finishing, you'll know around 20 what you're able to do.' So he peels off and now I am solo... Brent, Hamner, and Scheadler are now behind me, Fredo is done providing company... 7th place with 8 miles to go. I got the chills..... I was feeling 'that' good.

I get to the 20 mile mark... the spot I have been thinking about way too often in the last week. I cautiously heed Fredo's advice and decide I will stick with my current pace (mid 5:30s) for one more mile - I was feeling great, but I've seen how fast things can bottom out. So I was willing to gamble, but at 21 miles, not now at 20.

Just before 21 miles I passed Stephanie Whitis and Leigh Daniel, and asked them what place I was in as a bit of a mental check-up... they thought somewhere between 5th and 8th (I was 7th still)... and I said 'great, thanks!'. I then hit the 21 mile mark, took a GU (caffeinated) and figured it was time to go.

Mile 21 was 5:24, Mile 22 was 5:21, Mile 23 was 5:14 (included a nice 300m downhill portion). I then saw Fredo just past 23 miles and he said 'the guys ahead of you are at least a minute up... and looking strong. Do what you have to for your race'. Or something along those lines. I thought to myself... he has no clue I just went 5:24, 5:21, 5:14!

Mile 24 was 5:28 but I actually spotted, briefly two 'runners' ahead of me - I started to wonder if I would have enough distance left to close on them.

Mile 25 was 5:26 and I'm still in 7th place. I closed the gap and noticed it was Nick Cordes ahead of me... I figured at this point I just got to keep rolling. Just about half way through Mile 25 I caught Nick - don't think for a second I didn't notice he was wearing Brooks Adrenalines! I'm giving everything I got in 3 ounce racing flats and dude is rolling in a training shoe... freak!

So I pass Nick, look up and see a Kenyan walking... there's a 1000 meters left and I thought, hell, I'll take the bonus place! So I pass him and move into 5th overall with about 600m to go. The guy in 4th is close, but not 'that' close...

I start going through the 'runner catalog' in my brain... who is that? Zarins? Can't be. Zarins? Damn... it is! Jemery is a great guy, but once I figured out it was someone I actually knew, it proved to be a bit of extra motivation.

Mile 26 was 5:19.

So I do a quick evaluation of my legs and figure - what the hell. So I start rolling pretty good and as we turn the corner for the final 250 meters, I knew I could catch him... but I would have to do the most asinine thing to get it done... sprint all out like a freaking idiot / mad man at the end of a marathon.

I caught him with about 40-50 meters to go and crossed the line in 4th place - 2:26:47.

This is not for 'bonus points' with the wife, but my first thought when I crossed the line and clicked my watch was Hannah and TJ. I missed them and I knew they were at home cheering me on, tracking me on the computer.

It's amazing how sometimes you just want someone to share the moment with. So after I gathered myself for a few minutes, I jogged/shuffled about a mile to the car, changed, and then moved my car closer to the finish line. I then met up with Fredo and JP, and 'shared the moment' with them... haha!

All in all, everything went 100% right. I even made the comment that things went so well I didn't even spill any water or Gatorade on my singlet or gloves. It was one of those 'million in one days' that 'us' runners train for. One of those days that even at one in a million, seem to be a lot less likely...

As with anything in life, it refreshing to achieve a goal when you laid it all out there... I don't have to wonder. I stuck to the plan and then closed the deal. 2:26, I'll have that forever... it's either a good foundation to build upon and run faster in the future... or it's a PR that I can be proud of and never wonder about.

It's also sweet redemption... last year, just hours after I finished Chicago, I posted this in my blog:

"I proved a few nimrods in Charlotte right - several 'gentlemen' in the running community probably enjoyed seeing 2:42 next to my name in the results... oh well, I guess some people get joy out of others people's disappointments. Man, I hate that... it's always fun proving people wrong - it's a healthy motivator."

I guess the title of my blog sums it up for at least one day.

* Timothy