Since 2011, I have wanted to attempt a marathon again. My first attempt, successful in crossing the finish line was cut well short of my time goal by a foot injury. This year in my first Ironman, the marathon portion was a painful walk-run adventure that brought me to one of the highest points in my short triathlon career but left me wanting more.
While planning this years races, the Richmond Marathon was perfect for allowing me to recover from the Ironman in August and giving me enough time to properly train. Also, Steve and Adam were also planning to race as well as other Snapple Team mates.
I should note that one of my goals this year was to improve my running. Thanks to my coach Adam, the year got off to a great start with a 5K result that exceed my expectations. Excited from that finish, I could not wait to see what the rest of the year would hold. To my dismay, a lot of issues would plague my run training and the run portion of all my tri races this year regardless of distance were a bit of a disappointment to me. As such, I had a lot of worry going into this race.
This training block went very well, a few minor overuse injuries popped up but I was able to work through them and slowly build my mileage up. I normally have been running between 20-30 miles a week and now working into the 40’s. I also ran a half-marathon a few weeks into this block and got a personal record. Things were going well.
In conversations with both Adam and my training partner Steve, they helped to keep my mind in the right place. Pushing that doubt side and helped in keeping my confidence growing.
Race day arrived, as Steve and I drive over to race site, rain was falling but the temperatures were holding in the low 50’s. As the start ticked time ticked closer, my nervousness kept building but I had this gut feeling that good things were to come.
For a slower runner among amazing athletes, it was cool to be in corral 1 for the start of a race with over 4700 participants. Progress! LOL.
After the gun went off, I was running much faster than planned and worked to slow it down, also my low back got really tight and I was hoping that was just nerves. It wasn't and it bothered me most of the race.
Between mile 2-3, I started running closer to my target race pace but faster than the planned pace, since I was was feeling awesome, I went with it. I started to remind myself that how you feel at mile 2 is much different than mile 22, keep to the plan. Shortly after, the 3:30 pace group caught up to me and I decided to hang with them or at least keep them insight.
This was working well and even though I was not totally sticking to the plan pace wise my gut was telling me it was ok.
Running with that group was a huge help, talking with some of the pace leaders gave me some great insight into the course and what to expect. We talked triathlon racing as well as a few other topics. Also, as it turned out my M-dot tattoo was a bit of hot topic, many racers as they passed would ask me what race I did or even congratulate me for being an Ironman. I also came upon others with the M-dot, it provided me with an opportunity to chat and run with some great athletes.
All of this went on until mile 20, at which point I was feeling good and decided to push the pace up. I left the group and just ran by feel, for the next six miles I kept telling myself do not look at my Garmin and just run. I started catching people who passed me early on and it started to hit me that I was going to finish this race, running the entire time.
At mile 22, I saw a friend who was working as a course marshall and it gave me a big pick me up. Thanks Dixie as well for the great pictures.
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| Taken by Dixie Daisy |
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| Taken by Dixie Daisy |
By mile 24, my left calf started to cramp, it was causing me to limp. Shortly after, the right started to do the same. I took a hit of the EFS Liquid shot and kept yelling at my legs to HTFU! No cramps, No cramps! Thankfully my legs listened and the cramps went away.
As I hit mile 25 the adrenaline was kicking in, I felt like I was flying.
The mile 26 marker came into view and the long downhill to the finish. I slowed up a bit since the roads were wet, I was worried I would face plant or somehow fall descending. Then two younger guys that were with the pace group who took off before I did and who I passed a few miles back, caught up to me, they were racing each other. I literally said, HELL NO! Sorry gents no passbacks! I took off sprinting with them. We sprinted the last .2 miles and pretty much crossed the line at the same time. It was awesome! I shook bother their hands, congratulated them and thanked them for that push at the end. What a great way to end an amazing race.
I found Steve very quickly after I left the finishing chute and learned he ran a blistering 3:02, also that Adam finished 6th overall with a 2:27. Congratulation gentlemen, you both are huge inspirations!
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| Steve and I after the race. |
When it was said and done I finished with a time of 3:27:46, this as it turns out is just shy of an hour PR from the 2011 Marine Corp. Marathon that I finished in 4:27:43. To say I am excited would be an understatement.
This year started off and ended with running races that well exceeded my expectations. I can comfortably say that in regards to that goal, goal crushed!
A big thank you to everyone who supports me, Maggie, Orlando, Addison, my parents and family back in NJ. Thank you Adam Otstot, your coaching, guidance and words of wisdom are a big reason for all the goals met and crushed this year. Thank you Steve Smith, it has been an honor to train with you this year and can’t wait to see what we accomplish next year. Also, thank you to the Snapple Triathlon team and their great sponsors.
