Rob and I headed to Huntsville, AL on Friday morning. It was about a 500 mile drive and we enjoyed the conversation as we drove across southern Missouri, portions of Arkansas, Tennessee and into Alabama.
We had a room at the LaQuinta Inn. We had a very nice dinner at Olive Garden and left the restaurant stuffed.
Going into this marathon, I was pretty set on run/walking a 4 min/1min. I set my Garmin up to pace myself at a 9:00 min/mile pace while running and 16 min/mile pace. This was a great strategy. I actually negative split for the first time in all of my marathons. It proved to me that I can run faster if I will do some speed work.
After running this Half marathon in 2007 and 2008, I took 2009 off and just focused on supporting my local friends. This year, I decided to run it as I was initially planning to run it with Susan. This race was an organizational disaster. The traffic was not controlled very well. At 4 miles some idiot almost drove right into myself and a group of runners. I ran the first 7 miles in 63 minutes and I had a feeling that was too fast. I was using a 4 min run to 30 sec walk plan. Around that distance Rob came out to meet me and took some pictures. I met a guy from Chicago named Marco Lopez. He like me had just recently become a marathon maniac. We started chatting as we ran along. I was feeling pretty tired from the race the weekend before. We trudged through the course together and finished in 4:58. I felt decent at the end, but I always feel a little bad for the first 20 minutes or so after finishing. I talked with Susan off and on throughout the marathon and she was definitely feeling the challenge. When she was getting close to 24 miles, she called me and I met her out there and walked her in the last 2 miles. I was a little disappointed with some of the residents of Springfield and their lack of respect for the runners.
Susan feeling pretty rough at this point (21 miles)
This is an exerpt from Susan’s DM post
“Scott and I went to Indianapolis with Rob and Robin to run my first full marathon. The day of the marathon started with us getting to packet pick-up and finding out we had not registered. LUCKILY they had race day registration. The weather was perfect! It was like 40 degrees at the start and didn't get over 70. Scott and I ran/walked the whole thing together.
WHEN ROB AND I FIRST DISCUSSED DOING STEAMTOWN, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IDEAL BECAUSE WE BOTH HAD COLUMBUS DAY OFF AND WE COULD SAVE SOME VACATION TIME AND HAVE AN EXTRA DAY TO DRIVE. WE BOTH HAPPENED TO HAVE SOME COMP TIME AND WERE ABLE TO TAKE FRIDAY OFF. WE LEFT AT 4 A.M. ON FRIDAY AND DROVE ALL THE WAY TO YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO THAT DAY (850) MILES.
THAT GAVE US A SHORTER DRIVE ON SATURDAY MORNING. WE DROVE ACROSS PA AND THE LEAVES WERE AMAZING COLORS AS THE SUN WAS RISING. THE WEATHER WAS COOL SETTING UP FOR A PERFECT RACE DAY AHEAD. WE ARRIVED IN SCRANTON AND WENT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL TO PICK UP OUR PACKETS. I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT I HAD RECENTLY HAD STREP BECAUSE MY THROAT HAD BEEN SORE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD A RASH ALL OVER MY BODY. I WANTED TO GET CHECKED OUT BEFORE I RAN BECAUSE OF THE RISK FOR SERIOUS KIDNEY DAMAGE AFTER A MARATHON. WHILE ROB WAS LISTENING TO THE MARATHON LECTURE I WENT TO A LOCAL URGENT CARE. THE DR. TOLD ME THAT MY STREP SCREEN WAS NEGATIVE SO I FELT MUCH BETTER ABOUT RUNNING THE NEXT DAY. I WENT BACK TO THE HIGH SCHOOL, PICKED UP ROB AND WE DROVE THE COURSE. IT TOOK QUITE AWHILE AS WE HAD TO DRIVE TO FOREST CITY (THE START) AND TRY TO FOLLOW THE MAP. IT GOT A LITTLE TRICKY AT TIMES BECAUSE THE COURSE WAS WINDING THROUGH SOME VERY SMALL TOWNS AND EVEN USED SOME RAILS TO TRAILS. AFTER DRIVING THE COURSE WE DROVE TO WILKES BARRE TO OUR HOTEL. WE HAD MODEST RED ROOF INN ACCOMMODATIONS. RACE DAY MORNING WE GOT UP EARLY TO DRIVE THE 20 MINUTES TO GET ON THE SHUTTLE TO TAKE US TO THE START. WE PARKED NEAR THE FINISH LINE AND STARTED WALKING TOWARD THE BUSES. THE RIDE UP TO FOREST CITY WAS ENJOYABLE AND WE WERE BOTH LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A GOOD RACE. WHEN WE GOT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AS WE GOT OFF THE BUS, WE HAD CHEERLEADERS CHEERING US ON AS WE WALKED TOWARD THE ENTRANCE TO THE SCHOOL
WE GOT INTO THE GYM AND GOT BAGS FOR THE BAG DROP. STEAMTOWN DOES A GREAT JOB WITH BAG DROP.
THE RACE STARTED EXACTLY ON TIME WITH THE BLAST OF A CANNON. THE FIRST MILE WAS DOWNHILL WITH A HUGE STRAIGHT DOWN PORTION AT THE 1/2 MILE MARK. I CONCENTRATED ON KEEPING MY TARGET PACE FOR THE ENTIRE FIRST HALF (9:00/MILE). I HIT THE HALF SPLIT AROUND 1:59 AND WAS FEELING PRETTY GOOD. I MADE A DECISION AT MILE 14 THAT I WAS GOING TO CHANGE MY WALK SEGMENTS TO 4 MIN RUN AND 45 SECOND WALK BREAKS. I MET UP WITH A GUY NAMED ADAM FROM NJ. HE WAS EXPERIENCING SOME DISCOMFORT AND WE DECIDED TO RUN TOGETHER. WE RAN FROM THE TIME WE ENTERED THE TRAIL PORTION AROUND MILE 14 UNTIL AROUND MILE 22. OUR SPLITS STARTED TO GET SLOWER AS WE STRUGGLED TO KEEP OUR PACE CONSISTENT. WE PICKED UP ANOTHER COUPLE OF RUNNERS ALONG THE WAY WHO WERE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES. AT MILE 23, ADAM AND THE OTHER TWO LADIES WERE HAVING TROUBLE MAINTAINING THE PACE AND I WOUND UP LEAVING THEM BEHIND. I GOT A SURGE OF ENERGY AROUND MILE 23 AND MY WALK SEGMENTS BEGAN TO GROW SHORTER. AS I APPROACHED THE MAJOR HILL AT MILE 24, I WAS FEELING VERY EXCITED ABOUT MY NEW ENERGY. I DANCED FOR THE CROWD AND PUMPED MY FIST. I COULD SEE MYSELF FINISHING STRONG. MY 25TH MILE SPLIT WAS 9:40. THE LAST THREE MILES OF THE MARATHON WERE VERY CHALLENGING FROM A HILL STANDPOINT BUT I HAD THE EXTRA ENERGY TO MAKE IT THROUGH. COMING IN THE FINISH LINE, I WAS HOPING TO HAVE A DECENT TIME. I FINISHED IN 4:17:29 WHICH IS MY SECOND BEST MARATHON TIME TO DATE. SURPRISINGLY AFTER THE FINISH, I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE TOTAL CRAP AS I USUALLY DO. I PICKED UP MY GEAR BAG, FOUND ROB AND WE GOT ON THE ROAD TO COLUMBUS, OHIO. WE INITIALLY STOPPED AT A TRUCK STOP AFTER THE RACE TO SEE ABOUT TAKING A SHOWER AND DECIDED THAT THE PRICE WAS TOO HIGH ($10). WE FOUND A REST STOP A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND WASHED UP THERE AND CHANGED INTO FRESH CLOTHES. WE MADE TO COLUMBUS, OHIO THAT NIGHT AROUND 9:30 AFTER EATING OFF AND ON ALL AFTERNOON AS WE DROVE. I THINK THAT WE ATE EVERYTHING FROM MCDONALDS TO WENDYS TO ICE COLD COCA COLAS.
THE PATRIOT’S RUN ON 9/11 IS TWO EVENTS. IT IS EITHER A MARATHON OR YOU CAN RUN AS MANY MILES AS YOU WANT WITHIN THE 9 HOUR AND 11 MINUTE TIME FRAME. LAST YEAR ROB DID 48.5 MILES DURING THE 9:11 AND I CREWED FOR HIM DURING THAT DAY. TODAY WE BOTH SIGNED UP FOR THE MARATHON AND WERE EXCITED ABOUT DOING THE EVENT. THE WEATHER WAS ABOUT 77 DEGREES AT THE 12 NOON START AND WAS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE LOW 80S. THE SUN WAS QUITE BRIGHT AND I GOT REALLY WARM AFTER THE FIRST HALF (2:04). I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AT MILE 18 AND ROB WAS REALLY STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN HIS MOTIVATION. HE HAD ALSO GONE OUT FAST (13.1 IN 1:45). I’M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN WE STARTED RUN/WALKING TOGETHER, BUT IT WAS ENJOYABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE TO SUFFER WITH. I DRANK SOMEPICKLE JUICEAROUND MILE 18 AND THAT SEEMED TO HELP SOME. I USED CYTOMAX FOR MOST OF THE ENTIRE RACE AND POURED A CUP OF WATER ON MY HEAD AND EVERY MILE. THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT ME COOLED DOWN. AT MILE 19, 20 AND 21 I WAS REALLY HURTING AND FELT LIKE THROWING UP. I KNEW I COULD FINISH, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO WALK MOST OF THE MILES. AT MILE 23, WE KNEW WE HAD THE GUTS TO FINISH THIS THING. EMILY DID A GREAT JOB CREWING FOR ME
WE GOT UP AT 4:30 SO WE COULD CATCH THE SHUTTLE TO THE STARTING LINE. WE GRABBED A QUICK LIGHT BREAKFAST AND LOADED UP IN THE BUS. WE WERE DROPPED OFF ABOUT A MILE FROM THE STARTING LINE. WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO SHOOT THE BREEZE PRIOR TO THE RACE. IT WAS ABOUT 55 DEGREES AND OVERCAST. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE A PERFECT RACE DAY. AT MILE 1 , WE CAME TO OUR FIRST BAND AND PATRICK SLOWED DOWN TO RECORD SOME VIDEO. WE PARTED WAYS THERE AND I DID MY OWN THING FOR THE NEXT 25.2 MILES. NOT HAVING RUN OR EXERCISED FOR TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO BEING SICK REALLY WAS TAKING IT’S TOLL ON ME DURING THE RACE. THE RACE GOT DIFFICULT AT THE 16 MILE MARK AS WE HAD SOME SERIOUS CLIMBING TO DO. FROM MILE 20 ON I STARTED TO SMELL THE END OF THE RACE. I CAME INTO THE FINISH LINE AT MY SECOND SLOWEST MARATHON YET. 4:39:26. I REALLY DIDN’T CARE ABOUT MY TIME AS USUAL. I JUST COUNTED IT TOWARD ONE MORE UNDER MY MARATHON BELT.
After running this Half marathon in 2007 and 2008, I took 2009 off and just focused on supporting my local friends. This year, I decided to run it as I was initially planning to run it with Susan. This race was an organizational disaster. The traffic was not controlled very well. At 4 miles some idiot almost drove right into myself and a group of runners. I ran the first 7 miles in 63 minutes and I had a feeling that was too fast. I was using a 4 min run to 30 sec walk plan. Around that distance Rob came out to meet me and took some pictures. I met a guy from Chicago named Marco Lopez. He like me had just recently become a marathon maniac. We started chatting as we ran along. I was feeling pretty tired from the race the weekend before. We trudged through the course together and finished in 4:58. I felt decent at the end, but I always feel a little bad for the first 20 minutes or so after finishing. I talked with Susan off and on throughout the marathon and she was definitely feeling the challenge. When she was getting close to 24 miles, she called me and I met her out there and walked her in the last 2 miles. I was a little disappointed with some of the residents of Springfield and their lack of respect for the runners. 
THE PATRIOT’S RUN ON 9/11 IS TWO EVENTS. IT IS EITHER A MARATHON OR YOU CAN RUN AS MANY MILES AS YOU WANT WITHIN THE 9 HOUR AND 11 MINUTE TIME FRAME. LAST YEAR ROB DID 48.5 MILES DURING THE 9:11 AND I CREWED FOR HIM DURING THAT DAY. TODAY WE BOTH SIGNED UP FOR THE MARATHON AND WERE EXCITED ABOUT DOING THE EVENT. THE WEATHER WAS ABOUT 77 DEGREES AT THE 12 NOON START AND WAS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE LOW 80S. THE SUN WAS QUITE BRIGHT AND I GOT REALLY WARM AFTER THE FIRST HALF (2:04). I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AT MILE 18 AND ROB WAS REALLY STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN HIS MOTIVATION. HE HAD ALSO GONE OUT FAST (13.1 IN 1:45). I’M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN WE STARTED RUN/WALKING TOGETHER, BUT IT WAS ENJOYABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE TO SUFFER WITH. I DRANK SOME PICKLE JUICE AROUND MILE 18 AND THAT SEEMED TO HELP SOME. I USED CYTOMAX FOR MOST OF THE ENTIRE RACE AND POURED A CUP OF WATER ON MY HEAD AND EVERY MILE. THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT ME COOLED DOWN. AT MILE 19, 20 AND 21 I WAS REALLY HURTING AND FELT LIKE THROWING UP. I KNEW I COULD FINISH, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO WALK MOST OF THE MILES. AT MILE 23, WE KNEW WE HAD THE GUTS TO FINISH THIS THING. EMILY DID A GREAT JOB CREWING FOR ME
