26.2 miles in brief

Brief and 26.2 miles (AKA the marathon) don’t seem like they fit in the same sentence.  I have been too busy to comment at length on the Rochester Marathon a few weeks back.  I did leave the reader at a cliffhanger… bad blogger Glen! Bad.

On the cool and comfortable morning of September 18, 2011 I ran in the Rochester Marathon.  Conditions were perfect.  It took me 4 hours, 1 minute and 36 seconds to run the 26.2 mile distance.  Among the loved ones cheering me on, I had my loving wife Emily, my supportive parents (Ron and Carol – with dog Angel tagging along) and Emily’s parents (Bill and Sue – with Brian tagging along).  Fellow runners; Pete, Brad (and girlfriend Jamie) and Chris were all there as well.

The first 2/3 of the race contained most of the emotional highs of the race.  Excitement and anxiousness pushed my mile pace down to about 8:30 to 8:45.  The final 6 miles was by far the most difficult physical activity I have ever undertaken. At the low point I laughed at the thought I had two days earlier pondering where my second marathon would be.  All I could think was, “I’m not doing this again.  This isn’t any fun at all!”

Coming into Genesee Valley Park my legs just gave out and they slowed to a walk.  “WTF!? There’s only 4 miles to go!”, I thought.  Typically on long runs you get into a rhythm.  Your legs just move naturally.  It’s kind of like breathing; you don’t have to think about it to do it.  Keeping my legs moving at a steady jog required significant amounts of thought and mental energy. At the turn onto Plymouth Avenue (about 1 mile left), I met up with Chris and told him I realized what it really felt like to be running on an empty tank.  All those other times where I thought I had no more in me… I really did.  This was a painfully evident demonstration and reminder to me that we are all capable of so much more than we think we are.  That lesson is going to stick with me.

I ran up Plymouth towards the final turn and the finish line.  It was the most amazing finish line experience I have had.  I immediately hugged my parents and wife and thanked them.  I thanked my wife especially because nearly every Saturday morning since we got married was spent with me out on a long run.

So that is my marathon experience in brief.  I have climbed my Everest.