chexfan
Oct 8, 02, 1:47 am
This is the seventh installment in chexfan's "All I Wanted…"© series. Feel free to peruse November 2001's All I Wanted Was a Singapore Sling (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/002294.html), January's All I Wanted Was Real French Toast (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/002294.html), March's All I Wanted Was To Drive On The Left Side... (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/002634.html), April's All I Wanted Was to Write a Trip Report About Nothing (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/002687.html), July's All I Wanted Was to Write Someone Else's Trip Report (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/002918.html), August’s All I Wanted Was to be a Millionaire… (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/003044.html) epics if you're bored.
**********************
Background 1 & Warning:
1) this Trip Report has nothing to do with a trip on an airplane, train, or boat. It does not include a hotel stay. It does not involve earning or burning hotel or airline affinity points or miles. It's about another kind of "trip" (but not a psychedelic one either).
Background 2:
2)In 1996, my roommate and great friend, ‘Fill’ told me that I would never run a marathon before I was 40. The “Marathon Bet” was made (although the wagers cannot be mentioned in a public forum) and Fill looked like he would collect his winnings sometime. Then I got the foolish idea that I could run 26.2 miles… at once.
**********************
The Now- Qip (co-star of March's All I Wanted Was To Drive On The Left Side... (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/002634.html)) and I left Seattle in his Subaru Wagon around 10:15a on Saturday morning. The first stop was at the Green Lake Starbucks where our requisite doses of caffeine were purchased. The wonderful baristas Carrisa and Amy wished me luck and we were off.
We had an uneventful drive down I-5 where we were lucky to run into zero traffic. Due to the Autumn NPR Pledge Drive we were lucky enough to have 'CarTalk' on through Olympia.
We arrived into the Rose City shortly before 1p and went straight to the Hilton for registration. Qip secured an amazing spot at 6th and Madison about 2 blocks away. The Hilton was a mad house. Registration was a simple process even though I had to fork over $115 in U.S. greenbacks. We then walked through the Sports Fitness Expo. We were quick to fill our bags w/ CliffBars, PowerBars, CliffGoo and other sorts of freebies. As we moved from table to table we told the folks that their product was our favorite to ensure extra goodies.
I then made my way to the back of the expo to register for the Clydesdales division of the marathon. Tipping the scales at a svelt 192 fully clothed and forking over another $5, I was good to go. The “scenery” of females at the expo was quite good and that in itself kept us there an extra 20 minutes or so. It kind of made me wonder why I hadn’t discovered races earlier in my life… athletic, fit women! But anyways…
We trucked up to NW Portland to my Marathon HQ for the weekend (aka “Qip’s parents’ place”). The rest of the day and evening was expectedly low-key. A number of Portland friends stopped by and some fellow alumns from San Francisco and San Diego who were running the distance came up for a big pasta dinner. It was great company, but all the talk of running got me nervous. I suddenly realized that a single 17 mile run 10 days before the race may not be enough training. Oh well. You only live once. In a blatant attempt to avoid the conversation of my lack of training I left the table to watch the Ducks beat up on the Wildcats from Arizona. Following the game I watched the beginning of the “Man Show”.
I decided to get ready for the race by attaching my timing chip to my shoe and laying out my clothes for the race. My head hit the pillow around 11:20p, but the nerves in my stomach kept me up to 12:30 at least.
Sunday: Raceday- My alarm clock, Qip, awoke me at 5:47. Even though falling asleep had been a bit difficult, I really did get a good night’s sleep. I brushed my tooths, got dressed in gear (JL rowing trou, Nike DRI-FIT shorts, a “Be NYCE to Me: I’m not carrying cash” t-shirt and a Nike DRI-FIT top, and my Adidas Supernova- yr. 2001 version).
I had a half a bagel w/ raspberry jam, two glasses of water and a half a cup of coffee. I was able to force myself to go to the bathroom before we left the house thankfully. Qip gave me the game plan for the day and drove me downtown. He dropped me off about three blocks away from the race’s start line. I followed the crowds and tried to get myself mentally prepared for this darn race.
6:50a: National Anthem. After the national anthem and the Mayor’s welcome I started to make my way closer to the starting line. I laced up my pair of Adidas and began to look for the 3:40 pace group. I hop in line and threw my Polar Heart Rate monitor on. I made sure my ticker was ticking and was very happy to see a 76 flash up in spite of the nerves in my body.
7:00a: Prompt. The Mayor of did the countdown and the initial (i.e. FAST) group took off. The next countdown was about 20 seconds later, when the masses including yours truly were released. I was chatting w/ some random guy next to me and as we started trotting, I exclaimed, “this was the stupidest thing I had done all day!” I was able to garner a few laughs, but we all had a long day ahead of us.
So here, I am running a marathon. For a stupid dare and bet that I knew had been all forgotten. But I guess I was just doing it for myself.
My goal was TO FINISH. I wasn’t kidding anyone. And if I did finish I would have liked to average 8:50 miles to finish around 3h50m.
Mile 1: 10m20s just in the middle of the pack with tons of people going.
Miles 2-5: Feeling good. Surprisingly. Thankfully for me, there were these two tall girls (one wearing orange shorts, the other navy shorts w/ a Georgia Bulldawg X-Country shirt) who I was able to pace off of. Just keep my Heart Rate between 140 and 144 and I’d be all set for the first two hours.
Mile 6.5: I wondered what I was getting myself into!
10K split 53 and change (8:38/mi avg)
7 Mile split 59:40 / HR 142
Miles 7-11: A boring part of the race b/c you go down 2 miles on NW Front St. and then come back the same route. Sebastian, Qip’s brother, hopped on the course and ran with me. It was awesome b/c he provided comic relief. For instance as the faster runners were on the way back, this bunch of 3 girls near us started cheering for the women leaders... "Way to go WOMEN!" they screamed. Now Seb yells at them... "You shouldn't objectify women like that. You know she DOES have a name... I can't believe you..." I started laughing. The three lasses looked at us and shot us a look of disapproval.
At the turn at mile 9, a guy is standing with a bowl of Gummy Bears… and I mean a BIG Bowl!!! I wonder what would possess a marathoner to eat gummy bears but a few people grabbed some (not including Seb’s 2 handfuls… heck he was only going 4 miles!). He made those four miles go by really quick!
15k split: 1:20.19 (8:37/mi avg)
Miles 11-13: At mile 11, Seb ran into a familiar face and playing the baton in a relay, I was handed off to Qip for the next 2 miles. Qip, being the way he is, started getting the crowds on the side of the street pumped up to cheer louder for the group of people I was with... this included. "Yea you in green (person on the side of the road)... Good for you!”… “Lady on the cooler... <moment... moment> Guy on the cooler...!" All of the runners
near us almost started dying laughing. Qip's big mouth!!!
Qip’s pop, met up w/ us to run at 12.5and Qip’s mom was standing there with a big smile at the 20K mark. At 13 I was by myself.
Half Marathon split: 1:52:22 (8:34/mi avg) / HR 144
Mile 13-14: ok, no problem. Started to eat the banana Qip’s pop gave me. A nigbor of their’s came up to me and says, "Mike, Qip's friend?" He ran with me for about a half mile and a pleasant conversation ensued.
Mile 14-15: On St. Helen’s Road. I don't remember much.
After 15 I passed this girl in royal blue shorts and a light blue tank top who had been in front of me for a while. We were running the same pace. I ask her how she was feeling and we run together. She turned out to be a very nice girl. She introduced herself as Renee, and was a local gal from P-town, she was graduate of a university in California who was in pharmaceutical sales.
Mile 16: ...Renee turns to me and says, “It's all single digits left now!!!”… Oh if it would only be that easy.
Mile 16.5-18: THE HILL. It sucked! Plain and simple. The course was beautifully flat up until now. Then this monster. I start to separate from Renee. Half way up I notice my HR around 166, and wonder if I am pushing myself too hard. Heck I really did feel good. I make it to the top of the hill at mile 17, but still realize that the first half of the St.John’s bridge is still a greater incline than any other part of the course prior to the hill. At mile 17.5 I cross the first half of the bridge. I make the requisite spit off of the bridge... but begin to start to feel icky. All of a sudden my left calf muscle decided it wasn’t happy. Heck… it was only a little sore. I’d been through worse so I pushed on. Renee catches up and runs with me the rest of the way across the bridge and down Willamette Blvd. through the Univ of Portland.
Mile 18-20: I am expecting Qip at mile 19. Renee is expecting her friends at 20. 18 becomes a tough mile. But bearable. Mile 19 comes... no Qip. Now I am really starting to hate this entire marathon idea. REALLY hate the idea. We get our times at 19 and Renee says we can break 4 hours. Cool! 2 minutes later. I am crying and begging for my mommy... Well I wanted to at least. I nearly stop, but push through and was barely jogging. Renee takes off. At this point, on a normal day, I would be walking faster going to my car in a parking lot... I am moving THAT slow!
Mile 20 2:58 (8:54/mi avg)
6 miles in an hour? Could I do it? I mean I run 6.2 miles around Green Lake in 39m. 10 minute miles. Could I do it? But I’ve already run 20? Is it chexfanianly possible?
I continue to attempt and push through. But my legs seriously don’t want to go any further. Qip’s dad comes up to me. I STOP. That's it. The legs don't want to move anymore. The familiar face was AWESOME, but my legs said, "Nope, nuh uh. No more." We walk a bit. He tries to offer some solace. But I am IN PAIN. I pushed the pain back for 2.5 miles but it was too much now. It really was.
I hit the proverbial wall here. At this point. I can't even explain it. I really can't. In rowing, it's possible to just push through the pain. It's all mental. You just try and get your body to perform at levels it doesn't want to. Even if you do hit "the wall" in rowing, you can still perform, just not at your optimum level. I had been trained to perform at peak athletic levels in anaerobic, painful conditions with minimum (if any) negative results.
This "wall" for me in the marathon, was similar in that it was trying to get my body to perform at those unwanted levels... unfortunately, those unwanted levels of performance were to simply move! Serious. My legs did not want to move anymore. I can't explain any more than that.
It probably took me abut 20 minutes to go a mile and a half.
Qip comes up a minute or so later... I take in some more water and the Powerbar GOO stuff. Qip’s pop takes off and it is just me and Kip. I had never used this GOO stuff before. It tasted horrible. But Oh my god, it worked.
At Mile 22... I just started running and made it to mile 23 w/ o stopping. 3.2 miles to go.
Around 23.5 we pass this guy and Qip goes, "I know you" An exchange of words goes down and they realize they don't know each other. I remember the guy and inform Qip, that he was our college roomate’s cousin. What a small world. And how in the the Lord’s name did I recall that piece of information from 6 years ago???
Finish mile 24 at 3h forty-something
Slow down to walk a couple more times.
Qip and I cross the Steel Bridge and approach the Mile 25 marker… ONE mile to go. The clock is going, 4:04.54, 56, 58, 4:05, 4:05.02, .04...
My next goal was to finish under 4:15. I have 10 minutes to go 1 mile, 285 yards...
I hit the ZONE. Screw the pain. I could do anything for a mile. We trot (“running” isn’t even an appropriate verb at this point) along the river on Front St. where the infamous Portland Brewer’s Festival is held. I ask how many blocks until the next turn. Qip says about 8...it turned out to be 11, but good enough. Kip leaves the race course
at Mile 26 and I run the rest by myself. I make the last turn and see the time 4:15.10. I am pissed. I cross the line at 4:15.4something and I am upset at myself...
It turns out that I didn’t cross the strt line until 50+ seconds into the clock, so I did break the 4:15 time. Ya-hoo for me!
After crossing the finish line, you get corralled into this area for recouping. Here, before you know it, a number of volunteers have already armed you with your space blanket, finisher’s medal, rose, and pin. Water and sports drinks are offered as is a disgusting amount of food, food and more food. Stuff a runner would never touch before a race. Yea, there are bananas and oranges, but chocolate chip cookies, candy, yogurt, Dreamery ice cream, Dove Icecream bars, Tim’s Cascade potato chips, bownies… all sorts of caloric goodies!!! Unfortunately, I can't eat a thing. I sit down and I realize that my legs are still running and moving. NO LIE. It was so weird, but kind of cool.
My body was in such shock. On one hand, it wanted to sit, but on the other, it was still going. After I recoup, I spot Renee and chat with her. She didn’t reach her time goal either but she thanked me for helping her up the Mile 16 hill and across the bridge. Well I thanked her too.
I leave the area and spot Qip. We go and get my white pine sappling and official Portland Marathon Finisher t-shirt. And we were on our way back to his parents.
My personal Marathon HQ was well stocked w/ ice cream and beer. I made the necessary calls back to Connecticut to inform my family that I had succeeded in running the 26 miles, as well as geo in RDU. My last call was to FILL, to tell him that he had better get ready to hold his end of the “Marthon Bet”. He obliged and was in awe.
I took a refreshing shower and afterwards I had realized that my appetite had appeared. I downed about a quarter gallon of Apple Pie Ice Cream and two Bridgeport IPAs (my first beer in 22 days)… Yes, beer and ice cream- a wonderful thing.
I fall asleep/pass out with the empty bowl of ice cream in my lap and awoke. At 3:15p we left in the Subaru to head back to Seattle.
Ironically enough when we stopped to fuel up the wagon, and food (i.e. sweet-tarts, laffy taffy, bottle caps, sour patch kids, and Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips) for the ride home, the bill came to $26.42. I charged it to my visa and earned 26 miles for my weekend trip… unfortunately, there was no 500 mile minimum for my 26.2 mile trip!
And that's the story of my first marthon!
[This message has been edited by chexfan (edited 10-08-2002).]
**********************
Background 1 & Warning:
1) this Trip Report has nothing to do with a trip on an airplane, train, or boat. It does not include a hotel stay. It does not involve earning or burning hotel or airline affinity points or miles. It's about another kind of "trip" (but not a psychedelic one either).
Background 2:
2)In 1996, my roommate and great friend, ‘Fill’ told me that I would never run a marathon before I was 40. The “Marathon Bet” was made (although the wagers cannot be mentioned in a public forum) and Fill looked like he would collect his winnings sometime. Then I got the foolish idea that I could run 26.2 miles… at once.
**********************
The Now- Qip (co-star of March's All I Wanted Was To Drive On The Left Side... (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/002634.html)) and I left Seattle in his Subaru Wagon around 10:15a on Saturday morning. The first stop was at the Green Lake Starbucks where our requisite doses of caffeine were purchased. The wonderful baristas Carrisa and Amy wished me luck and we were off.
We had an uneventful drive down I-5 where we were lucky to run into zero traffic. Due to the Autumn NPR Pledge Drive we were lucky enough to have 'CarTalk' on through Olympia.
We arrived into the Rose City shortly before 1p and went straight to the Hilton for registration. Qip secured an amazing spot at 6th and Madison about 2 blocks away. The Hilton was a mad house. Registration was a simple process even though I had to fork over $115 in U.S. greenbacks. We then walked through the Sports Fitness Expo. We were quick to fill our bags w/ CliffBars, PowerBars, CliffGoo and other sorts of freebies. As we moved from table to table we told the folks that their product was our favorite to ensure extra goodies.
I then made my way to the back of the expo to register for the Clydesdales division of the marathon. Tipping the scales at a svelt 192 fully clothed and forking over another $5, I was good to go. The “scenery” of females at the expo was quite good and that in itself kept us there an extra 20 minutes or so. It kind of made me wonder why I hadn’t discovered races earlier in my life… athletic, fit women! But anyways…
We trucked up to NW Portland to my Marathon HQ for the weekend (aka “Qip’s parents’ place”). The rest of the day and evening was expectedly low-key. A number of Portland friends stopped by and some fellow alumns from San Francisco and San Diego who were running the distance came up for a big pasta dinner. It was great company, but all the talk of running got me nervous. I suddenly realized that a single 17 mile run 10 days before the race may not be enough training. Oh well. You only live once. In a blatant attempt to avoid the conversation of my lack of training I left the table to watch the Ducks beat up on the Wildcats from Arizona. Following the game I watched the beginning of the “Man Show”.
I decided to get ready for the race by attaching my timing chip to my shoe and laying out my clothes for the race. My head hit the pillow around 11:20p, but the nerves in my stomach kept me up to 12:30 at least.
Sunday: Raceday- My alarm clock, Qip, awoke me at 5:47. Even though falling asleep had been a bit difficult, I really did get a good night’s sleep. I brushed my tooths, got dressed in gear (JL rowing trou, Nike DRI-FIT shorts, a “Be NYCE to Me: I’m not carrying cash” t-shirt and a Nike DRI-FIT top, and my Adidas Supernova- yr. 2001 version).
I had a half a bagel w/ raspberry jam, two glasses of water and a half a cup of coffee. I was able to force myself to go to the bathroom before we left the house thankfully. Qip gave me the game plan for the day and drove me downtown. He dropped me off about three blocks away from the race’s start line. I followed the crowds and tried to get myself mentally prepared for this darn race.
6:50a: National Anthem. After the national anthem and the Mayor’s welcome I started to make my way closer to the starting line. I laced up my pair of Adidas and began to look for the 3:40 pace group. I hop in line and threw my Polar Heart Rate monitor on. I made sure my ticker was ticking and was very happy to see a 76 flash up in spite of the nerves in my body.
7:00a: Prompt. The Mayor of did the countdown and the initial (i.e. FAST) group took off. The next countdown was about 20 seconds later, when the masses including yours truly were released. I was chatting w/ some random guy next to me and as we started trotting, I exclaimed, “this was the stupidest thing I had done all day!” I was able to garner a few laughs, but we all had a long day ahead of us.
So here, I am running a marathon. For a stupid dare and bet that I knew had been all forgotten. But I guess I was just doing it for myself.
My goal was TO FINISH. I wasn’t kidding anyone. And if I did finish I would have liked to average 8:50 miles to finish around 3h50m.
Mile 1: 10m20s just in the middle of the pack with tons of people going.
Miles 2-5: Feeling good. Surprisingly. Thankfully for me, there were these two tall girls (one wearing orange shorts, the other navy shorts w/ a Georgia Bulldawg X-Country shirt) who I was able to pace off of. Just keep my Heart Rate between 140 and 144 and I’d be all set for the first two hours.
Mile 6.5: I wondered what I was getting myself into!
10K split 53 and change (8:38/mi avg)
7 Mile split 59:40 / HR 142
Miles 7-11: A boring part of the race b/c you go down 2 miles on NW Front St. and then come back the same route. Sebastian, Qip’s brother, hopped on the course and ran with me. It was awesome b/c he provided comic relief. For instance as the faster runners were on the way back, this bunch of 3 girls near us started cheering for the women leaders... "Way to go WOMEN!" they screamed. Now Seb yells at them... "You shouldn't objectify women like that. You know she DOES have a name... I can't believe you..." I started laughing. The three lasses looked at us and shot us a look of disapproval.
At the turn at mile 9, a guy is standing with a bowl of Gummy Bears… and I mean a BIG Bowl!!! I wonder what would possess a marathoner to eat gummy bears but a few people grabbed some (not including Seb’s 2 handfuls… heck he was only going 4 miles!). He made those four miles go by really quick!
15k split: 1:20.19 (8:37/mi avg)
Miles 11-13: At mile 11, Seb ran into a familiar face and playing the baton in a relay, I was handed off to Qip for the next 2 miles. Qip, being the way he is, started getting the crowds on the side of the street pumped up to cheer louder for the group of people I was with... this included. "Yea you in green (person on the side of the road)... Good for you!”… “Lady on the cooler... <moment... moment> Guy on the cooler...!" All of the runners
near us almost started dying laughing. Qip's big mouth!!!
Qip’s pop, met up w/ us to run at 12.5and Qip’s mom was standing there with a big smile at the 20K mark. At 13 I was by myself.
Half Marathon split: 1:52:22 (8:34/mi avg) / HR 144
Mile 13-14: ok, no problem. Started to eat the banana Qip’s pop gave me. A nigbor of their’s came up to me and says, "Mike, Qip's friend?" He ran with me for about a half mile and a pleasant conversation ensued.
Mile 14-15: On St. Helen’s Road. I don't remember much.
After 15 I passed this girl in royal blue shorts and a light blue tank top who had been in front of me for a while. We were running the same pace. I ask her how she was feeling and we run together. She turned out to be a very nice girl. She introduced herself as Renee, and was a local gal from P-town, she was graduate of a university in California who was in pharmaceutical sales.
Mile 16: ...Renee turns to me and says, “It's all single digits left now!!!”… Oh if it would only be that easy.
Mile 16.5-18: THE HILL. It sucked! Plain and simple. The course was beautifully flat up until now. Then this monster. I start to separate from Renee. Half way up I notice my HR around 166, and wonder if I am pushing myself too hard. Heck I really did feel good. I make it to the top of the hill at mile 17, but still realize that the first half of the St.John’s bridge is still a greater incline than any other part of the course prior to the hill. At mile 17.5 I cross the first half of the bridge. I make the requisite spit off of the bridge... but begin to start to feel icky. All of a sudden my left calf muscle decided it wasn’t happy. Heck… it was only a little sore. I’d been through worse so I pushed on. Renee catches up and runs with me the rest of the way across the bridge and down Willamette Blvd. through the Univ of Portland.
Mile 18-20: I am expecting Qip at mile 19. Renee is expecting her friends at 20. 18 becomes a tough mile. But bearable. Mile 19 comes... no Qip. Now I am really starting to hate this entire marathon idea. REALLY hate the idea. We get our times at 19 and Renee says we can break 4 hours. Cool! 2 minutes later. I am crying and begging for my mommy... Well I wanted to at least. I nearly stop, but push through and was barely jogging. Renee takes off. At this point, on a normal day, I would be walking faster going to my car in a parking lot... I am moving THAT slow!
Mile 20 2:58 (8:54/mi avg)
6 miles in an hour? Could I do it? I mean I run 6.2 miles around Green Lake in 39m. 10 minute miles. Could I do it? But I’ve already run 20? Is it chexfanianly possible?
I continue to attempt and push through. But my legs seriously don’t want to go any further. Qip’s dad comes up to me. I STOP. That's it. The legs don't want to move anymore. The familiar face was AWESOME, but my legs said, "Nope, nuh uh. No more." We walk a bit. He tries to offer some solace. But I am IN PAIN. I pushed the pain back for 2.5 miles but it was too much now. It really was.
I hit the proverbial wall here. At this point. I can't even explain it. I really can't. In rowing, it's possible to just push through the pain. It's all mental. You just try and get your body to perform at levels it doesn't want to. Even if you do hit "the wall" in rowing, you can still perform, just not at your optimum level. I had been trained to perform at peak athletic levels in anaerobic, painful conditions with minimum (if any) negative results.
This "wall" for me in the marathon, was similar in that it was trying to get my body to perform at those unwanted levels... unfortunately, those unwanted levels of performance were to simply move! Serious. My legs did not want to move anymore. I can't explain any more than that.
It probably took me abut 20 minutes to go a mile and a half.
Qip comes up a minute or so later... I take in some more water and the Powerbar GOO stuff. Qip’s pop takes off and it is just me and Kip. I had never used this GOO stuff before. It tasted horrible. But Oh my god, it worked.
At Mile 22... I just started running and made it to mile 23 w/ o stopping. 3.2 miles to go.
Around 23.5 we pass this guy and Qip goes, "I know you" An exchange of words goes down and they realize they don't know each other. I remember the guy and inform Qip, that he was our college roomate’s cousin. What a small world. And how in the the Lord’s name did I recall that piece of information from 6 years ago???
Finish mile 24 at 3h forty-something
Slow down to walk a couple more times.
Qip and I cross the Steel Bridge and approach the Mile 25 marker… ONE mile to go. The clock is going, 4:04.54, 56, 58, 4:05, 4:05.02, .04...
My next goal was to finish under 4:15. I have 10 minutes to go 1 mile, 285 yards...
I hit the ZONE. Screw the pain. I could do anything for a mile. We trot (“running” isn’t even an appropriate verb at this point) along the river on Front St. where the infamous Portland Brewer’s Festival is held. I ask how many blocks until the next turn. Qip says about 8...it turned out to be 11, but good enough. Kip leaves the race course
at Mile 26 and I run the rest by myself. I make the last turn and see the time 4:15.10. I am pissed. I cross the line at 4:15.4something and I am upset at myself...
It turns out that I didn’t cross the strt line until 50+ seconds into the clock, so I did break the 4:15 time. Ya-hoo for me!
After crossing the finish line, you get corralled into this area for recouping. Here, before you know it, a number of volunteers have already armed you with your space blanket, finisher’s medal, rose, and pin. Water and sports drinks are offered as is a disgusting amount of food, food and more food. Stuff a runner would never touch before a race. Yea, there are bananas and oranges, but chocolate chip cookies, candy, yogurt, Dreamery ice cream, Dove Icecream bars, Tim’s Cascade potato chips, bownies… all sorts of caloric goodies!!! Unfortunately, I can't eat a thing. I sit down and I realize that my legs are still running and moving. NO LIE. It was so weird, but kind of cool.
My body was in such shock. On one hand, it wanted to sit, but on the other, it was still going. After I recoup, I spot Renee and chat with her. She didn’t reach her time goal either but she thanked me for helping her up the Mile 16 hill and across the bridge. Well I thanked her too.
I leave the area and spot Qip. We go and get my white pine sappling and official Portland Marathon Finisher t-shirt. And we were on our way back to his parents.
My personal Marathon HQ was well stocked w/ ice cream and beer. I made the necessary calls back to Connecticut to inform my family that I had succeeded in running the 26 miles, as well as geo in RDU. My last call was to FILL, to tell him that he had better get ready to hold his end of the “Marthon Bet”. He obliged and was in awe.
I took a refreshing shower and afterwards I had realized that my appetite had appeared. I downed about a quarter gallon of Apple Pie Ice Cream and two Bridgeport IPAs (my first beer in 22 days)… Yes, beer and ice cream- a wonderful thing.
I fall asleep/pass out with the empty bowl of ice cream in my lap and awoke. At 3:15p we left in the Subaru to head back to Seattle.
Ironically enough when we stopped to fuel up the wagon, and food (i.e. sweet-tarts, laffy taffy, bottle caps, sour patch kids, and Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips) for the ride home, the bill came to $26.42. I charged it to my visa and earned 26 miles for my weekend trip… unfortunately, there was no 500 mile minimum for my 26.2 mile trip!
And that's the story of my first marthon!
[This message has been edited by chexfan (edited 10-08-2002).]