“Most people never get there. They're afraid or unwilling to demand enough of themselves and take the easy road, the path of least resistance. But struggling and suffering, as I now saw it, were the essence of a life worth living. If you're not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you're not constantly demanding more from yourself--expanding and learning as you go--you're choosing a numb existence. You're denying yourself an extraordinary trip.”
― Dean Karnazes, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner
Did something fantastic yesterday. I went for a run with Dean Karnazes, someone I have quoted on this blog quite frequently. Runner's Alley in Portsmouth sponsored a 4 mile run with him in advance of the talk he gave as part of the Portsmouth Music Hall lecture series. Needless to say, both the run and the talk were incredible.
I had a chance to run alongside him for a good bit, keeping an easy 9:00 pace and we chatted about my 12 marathon challenge as well as his incredible future endeavor of running a marathon in every country in the world in one year - that's 204 marathons in 365 days! I told him I'd love to join him when he gets to Italy!
I have read all three of his books, so I shouldn't have been surprised at how genuine and down to earth he is. His first one, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner literally was a turning point in my life. I had started Taekwondo, and by that point lost around 15 lbs when I began reading it. That planted the inspirational seed to not only get running again, but gave me the confidence to do a marathon as well as a 12 hour ultramarathon.
I'm down an additional 45 lbs since then, just attained my Red belt in Taekwondo (next belt is BLACK!) and on the verge of completing my 12 marathon 12 month challenge. Amazing what you can achieve, and the experiences you can have, if you simply believe in yourself.
But let's back up a bit since the past few weeks have been hectic and I haven't had a chance to blog of late...
Marathon #10 was the Clarence DeMar Marathon in Keene, NH on September 25th, a race that I signed up for in my post-Quebec City scramble to find a replacement race due to Hurricane Irene.
Up at 3:30am, Mrs. 12 Marathons and I made the two hour drive on Rt. 101 in plenty of time to pick up my bib. They bused us to Gilsum where the race began, a tiny town with a white line painted on the road in front of the Post Office to mark the start. About 200 or so hardcore runners, and we were off!
I knew the course was relatively straightforward - a 400ft decline over the first 12 miles until a hill before the split, then some rolling hills on the back half until a beast of a hill at 22. I ran it hard, my first seven miles were all under 8:00 with Mile 3 clocking a 7:00 even and Mile 5 7:14. Was I going out too strong? I eased up a bit and made it to 13.1 in 1:44, a decent half split time.
That was around the time I started to really feel the heat and humidity, however - it was very sticky for late September, and the leaves hadn't even begun to turn as yet, and the mosquitoes were brutal.
I battled in the low 9:00's between mile 14-19, but Mile 20 I was 10:02, then Mile 21 10:49, Mile 22 10:56 Mile 23 11:02... .I was toast. I began the final three mile push to make sure I'd get this one under 4:00, and I finished #11 in 3:58:20.
The heat had gotten to a good number of runners, however, as the triage medical tent was overflowing with heat exhaustion victims. Fortunately I've run enough races so that I manage both my nutrition and fluid intake properly, and it helps that I perspire with great proficiency.
Recovery from this race was surprisingly quick, aided by the fact that a post-race massage helped loosen up my muscles and clear out the lactic acid. My calves were tight, but they felt considerably better after the rubdown. I'm now a big advocate of the post-race massage - if they offer one, count me in.
So with #10 down, my attention turned to #11, the Smuttynose Rockfest Marathon in Hampton Beach, NH. I was running marathons successive weekends for the first time, so decided not to run in the days between to keep my legs as fresh as possible.
To make matters more interesting, I tested for my Taekwondo Red belt on that Saturday, a six hour event that required a lot of stamina and effort. It is as demanding as running a marathon, but it went well, as I particularly enjoy the contact sparring and board breaking portions.
Immediately following testing, I made Tagliatelle alla Bolognese to fuel up for #11, as it was a special request by Mrs. 12 marathons since she was going to be running her first half marathon.
So properly recharged from testing and fueled up for our races, we woke on Sunday excited for our runs but greeted by torrential rain. This was going to be interesting!
We went to the start and were drenched before we even got our bibs. It was a ferocious, driving rain that would not let up but undaunted we ran anyway. Despite running 26.2 the week before and Taekwondo a day earlier, I actually felt great. Being a flat course, I set a personal goal of 3:45.
I ran the early miles at a pretty steady pace:
1) 7:28
2) 7:18
3) 7:26
4) 7:14
5) 7:27
6)7:24
7)7:34
8)7:30
9) 7:49
10)7:29
11)7:51
12)7:40
13)7:51
So I ran a 1:39;13 over the first 13.1 miles, crushing my Quebec City PR for that distance by over three minutes. Feeling strong, but once I went over 8:00 min/mile I couldn't get back under it and started to slow:
14)8:05
15)8:21
16)8:29
Just three miles in the 8's and then I hit the 9's:
17)9:06
18)9:22
19)10:12 (Porta-potty break, maybe lost :45 sec?)
20)9:45
21)10:21 - starting to feel it
22)9:07 - made a charge
23)9:54
24)10:22 - pretty much out of steam - self-preservation mode
25)9:51
26)9:25
27)4:25 - final push, I ran the last .59 miles at a 7:32 pace, very proud of that
So I finished up 3:45:15, my 3rd fastest marathon ever, and 2nd fastest in this 12 month challenge. Mrs. 12 marathons met me at the finish, and soaked, I wolfed down about 4 Larabars and 2 Stonyfield smoothies before having a well-deserved beer:
Very happy for Mrs. 12 marathons - told me that at mile 12 she was chugging away and a big roar erupted from the crowd. She was elated that they were cheering with such enthusiasm for her, and she whooped and hollered along with them - only to find out that the police motorcade was passing her, escorting the leading male runner. She laughed about that all the way to the finish!
So this is a race I would love to do again - it is a fast course and if I train specifically for it, would love to gun for a BQ at some point here. With the tightened BAA qualification standards I would need to shave a full 30 minutes off my finish time, which is a near eternity in running terms, but perhaps by age 45 (when they give runners an extra 5 minutes) I will be able to make a serious charge at a 3:20? A man can dream - - and train!
So with bittersweet emotion I prepare for my final marathon in this 12 month challenge - the ING Hartford Marathon on Saturday, October 15th.