Sunday Dec. 5th ~ Race Day
I got up @ 4:30 am, I prepared two bagel's with peanut butter and I ate one banana. I went over my marathon checklist and proceeded to get ready.
- Fuel belt with gatorade/protein mixure.
- Race belt with number (#8720).
- Time chip fastened to shoe.
- Two Gu's.
- Three endurance (salt) tablets.
Julia and I left the house around 5:30 and arrived about 6:10 at Greenback and Folsom Auburn Road, 2 miles from the start line. It was at this point I knew it was going to be a warm run and decided not to wear my gloves. They had shuttles at this point which took us the rest of the way. I sat next to a guy named David who looked to be in his 40's and he had run this marathon 3 times already. Finishing times 4:01, 3:57. and 3:55. At this point I thought that my goal of 4 hrs was reasonable as long as I stayed with the pacers.
At the Starting area, there were 8,000 runner's and they all were trying to stay warm and use the 100 porta potties lining the street. I got in line as soon as I arrived and was waiting up until about 5 min. before the starting time. As soon as I finished my business, I ran over to where the pacers were on the start line. I took my first salt tab and waited for the starting horn to blow.
The race started promptly at 7 am, my heart pounding with anticipation and nervousness, this is what I have been training for, for the past 10 weeks. The horn sounded and the race begain as we all slowly began the 26.2 mile journey to the Capitol, downtown.
The first 5 miles, I was on pace with the 3:50 group and I was feeling pretty good, passing the aid stations and drinking my own gatorade supply. At mile 8 I took my first Gu and at mile 10 I took my second salt tab.
I crossed the 13.1 mile marker at 1:55 and my second Gu at mile 15, it was at this point I had been carrying a gatorade bottle with me and decided to chuck it. This left me with two 8 ounce flask's full of gatorade protein mixure.
Still feeling pretty good and pacing with the 3:50 group. I took a pit stop at mile 17 and fell back about a minute off pace. At mile 18 I took my third salt tab and arrived at corner of Fairoaks and Eastern. At mile 19 I grabbed a couple more Gu's for the aid station at Fairoaks and Watt something felt wrong, my left leg started to cramp up and I could feel the muscle spasming.
The last six miles were the most memorable miles, because they were the toughest. Mile 20, I had to stop and stretch and walk a bit and took my fourth Gu. Mile 21 around CSU, Sac State the 4:00 pacer pass's me and my heart starts to sink. I had run out of my reserve and was relying souly on the aid stations for hydration. Mile 22 the 4:15 pacer pass's me and I pray to God that my leg's sustain me to the finish. At this point I can feel both calf muscles spasming and the joints around my knee's began to hurt. Mile 23, I am only able to alternate between walking about 100 yards and trotting 100 yards. Mile 24 the 4:30 pacer pass's me and I reach Alhambra and the overpass. I know I can't quit now, only 2.2 miles to the finish. Mile 25 and 26 was much of the same stoping a couple times to strech and at each aid station to drink as much as I can.
Once I hit Capitol Park, I was so glad to be in the home stretch even though I was in so much pain. I knew in my mind that if I pushed it too hard that my leg's would seize up and I would not be able to finish. It was truely an awsome experience the last couple of miles to see all the supporters along the way. It was disheartening though that I was only able to hobble along the way. When I turned the corner onto 8th and saw my family cheering me on the last 50 yards I was able to block out the pain and trot to the Finish line.
Finish Time: 4 hrs, 48 min.
The 28th Annual California International Marathon was one of, many life goals. Things I learned from this experience.
- Drink, Drink, Drink.
- Dress in layers.
- Don't start too fast.
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