Marathon Facts

Dear Readers:

Yesterday I ran a marathon. You can tell, because today, I move very slowly and ache in a lot of places. It was one of my slower races and humbled me, again. Running 26.2 miles is really a challenge. Most of the time, no matter how much preparation you give it, something goes wrong, either before or during the race. Usually it's minor, like aches and pains, but sometimes it's more substantial, like no strength, no stamina. The stamina part is the hardest for me to figure out. Sometimes you have it, and other times you don't. This was one time I didn't have it.

My wife said I looked exhausted halfway through the race, and had bags under my eyes. Truth is, I felt like I had bags under my eyes, and I was tempted to quit after the first ten miles. It was a small marathon in Buffalo, New York. I've run there before, and usually do very well. Yesterday seemed like any other race day morning. Runners collected around the announcer, a singer belted out the Canadian and United States national anthems, the horn sounded and we were off. I spent the next 26.2 miles huffing, puffing and plodding along, and had to resort to many walking periods in the latter part of the race. I think what kept me going was knowing how bad I'd feel if I didn't finish. Finish I did, but with difficulty.

Ironically, I ran the Boston Marathon a few years ago and "quit" two times during that race. It was a hot day, and I was light-headed and beat. I remember standing in a gas station watching all the runners go by, while I waited for someone to pick me up. Minutes passed and no one came to get me, so I got back in the race and ran some more. I eventually finished the race in under four hours. Yesterday, the weather was cool and I ran a much easier course, but it took longer than Boston to complete, and I was tired the whole time. Go figure. At least I finished, so I got a medal to take home.

Until later.