I was on the road up to Rochester at 6:05AM, it was 72F, foggy and humid. I didn't sleep well, maybe 4 hours. The traffic around Frontier Field was dense but I knew a trick or two to bypass a bit of it.
The start was uneventful. The first 9.5 miles on the roads were OK ... however the sun came out about a mile before I made the turn onto the canal path for the next 14.5 miles. It rapidly got hotter and more humid ... by noon it was around 87F. A heat advisory was posted on the course and we were advised to slow down and hydrate. Any thought of a PR went out the window and all I thought about was finishing. I saw spots more than a couple of times so I was on the edge of keeling over. Everyone was having trouble with the heat and humidity ... plus I forgot my sunscreen. So ... I am a bit red in the face.
Well, besides the heat and humidity I was having my own problems. My right hamstring started hurting ... then my right hip started hurting ... then it became very painful to run. After about mile 12 or so I was starting to run a mile, walk a tenth. After about mile 18 or so I was starting to run a half mile, walk a quarter. After mile 22 or so, it was sheer willpower. By then trying to start up running after walking was sheer agony. But I wasn't going to quit, no way, no how. People have said that a marathon is an experience ... they are so right.
I finished under 4:30:00 barely ... 4:29:37, 10:17 pace, 188th out of 556, overall results here, 10th out of 32 in my age group, age group results here, youtube video here. I needed a guiding hand at the finish ... I guess I didn't look so good. I really took my time drinking lots of water and getting some nutrition (mostly pizza) after the race. Not bad I guess for a 50 year old (51 in 2 days)! Everyone says that finishing in 4:30 under these conditions is an accomplishment so I guess I will take pride that I am part of the estimated 430,000 that complete a marathon every year!
After I got home I just collapsed on the bed. I texted a bunch of people my results and watched the Bills pull out a win over Jacksonville, 20-16. Later I went to see my father at the Wayne County Nursing Home. He likes that I visit him every Sunday. I was not going to let him down, though I did limp.
Keeping active, Doug
P.S. I watched the Channel 10 news and it reported that the marathon was shut down at 12:30pm at mile 20, news link here. I had been done for half an hour by then.
P.P.S. I had a fitful night of sleep. My right knee really hurt. I woke up around 4:30AM and iced it before going back to sleep. I will heal and I will run again.
