For my second marathon I was very excited. Accompanied by photographer and friend Michael Gonzalez we drove early Saturday morning from Atlanta to Birmingham. The ride was a bit treacherous on that morning of February 14th. There had been snow flurries and inclement weather here in the southeast. Luckily it was not bad enough to the point that we had to avert traveling by automobile. We picked up a rental car, dropped off my car and made our way to Birmingham. The roughly two hour trip was an easygoing one and we made it to our destination at around 2pm. We headed directly to the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. I made my way in and picked up my packet which included a race hat, gloves and a few other items. No shirt in the packet; this was only awarded at the finish line. Afterwards we made our way to the Hampton Inn off of exit 133. Exemplary service, beautiful room and great amenities. The hotel provided a complimentary carbo load dinner for guests and a shuttle service to the start line. They also picked us up after the race, all for $89 for a double for one night. I took the day off to rest up and be prepared for the marathon the following day. Picking up a few mustard and salt packets to stash into my waistbag after dinner I headed back upstairs to kickback and get focused. I awoke at five-thirty in the morning to words of encouragement from my coworker and fellow marathoner Mitch Otaki who texted me letting me know that ‘the race doesn’t start until mile 20.’ I headed downstairs for a light power breakfast with Mike and jumped on the shuttle to head to the starting line. Mike would come on a later shuttle than mine; it was interesting because on my bus of about seven people I was the only marathoner and everyone else was participating in the half, no issue however. We made our way downtown and to the complex where we were dropped off and told where to meet for pickup. I walked alone towards the start hoping that I would run into friend and fellow University of Georgia alumnus Horace Grant at the corral area. As tall as he is it was easy to spot him in the crowd. I was proud that we were both out there looking forward to this. Speaking to him before hand I found out that he was participating in the half-marathon. After catching up and counting down we made our way to the corral and parted at the race commencement. Different colored bibs were utilized to display the different participants: blue for full marathon, white for half, red for late registrant and green for relay marathon. My bib, 331, was blue of course; there was the welcome, a speech by the mayor and then another speech by the President of Mercedes-Benz North America. Shortly after the race commenced amid cheers and applause, I started off lightly letting the crowd swarm around me and pass. Today I was not competing with them; today I was competing with James Frederick Green. The second time around and I must say that I felt very good and much better prepared. Unlike my first marathon I had trained longer, harder and better for my second. I also had my headphones on pouring musical motivation into my ears. I powered on the Nike plus program on my iPhone and set out. Behind me tucked in my waist pack, a water bottle with what I like to call ‘the saline solution,’ a couple of packets of mustard and a protein bar from the expo. Unlike my first marathon I had also changed shoes; this time I was wearing my Nike Air Pegasus 26. Very comfortable and durable for the long haul with excellent breathability and a superb build. I did however replace the insoles with aftermarket ones. Today would be the longest run in these and I was excited to see how they would hold up. The crowd of cheerers, like us, braved the cold to come out and put on a good show. Of course they were just a little bit more bundled up than the hip running crowd. Around the mile two marker I noticed that although music was playing on my phone there was no announcement about my progress. Needless to say, thanks to human error I had forgotten to activate the Nike Plus program and just music going. Turned it on (again) and kept moving. My pace was nice, strong and steady, I was trying to stay in a 6.5 to 7 minute mile for the first half and ratchet things up little by little afterwards. The miles came and went as we rounded and made our way through the downtown and surrounding outskirts of the city. I made sure to consume liquids every twenty minutes. I tend to skip water and go for the sports beverages offered at the stations in order to replace electrolytes lost. Around forty-five minute mark I pulled the saline solution from my pack and took a swig of it. A simple mix of table salt and Powerade learned to me by someone as crazy about running as I am, Mr. Emmanuel Emujioke. Cramping had literally put a cramp into my performance at SunTrust and afterwards I searched desperately for a solution. I was initially convinced that stretching and eventual acclimation of the body to the longer distances would do it but Emmanuel educated me immensely. The interesting thing about it is that the answer had all but been right there under the surface and if I had delved just a little deeper I would have discovered it. Two things: Glycogen deficiency and electrolyte imbalance can lead to cramping. Glycogen is a carbohydrate stored in the muscles and often times after long periods or exercise it is depleted leading to cramps. Electrolyte imbalance occurs when any of the following: Potassium, sodium, magnesium or calcium are out of balance in the body. The saline solution abated this for me; I was a little nervous of course at first with so much sodium in my body but also realized that my sweat was sodium and that I would sweat it out. On top of that I avoid salt in my diet so that alleviated things. Before I knew it mile thirteen was approaching; I had seen the signs telling half marathoners to go one way and full marathoners, relays to go the other. We were back in the downtown area at the starting area the half marathon was wrapping up. I continued of course and ran the loop again. The numbers had drastically reduced at this juncture which can be a good and a bad thing depending on how one feels. Looping a course is something that I am not terribly crazy about in a marathon I realized. There is so much to be said about a constantly changing canvas of scenery around you. It refreshes you and is never boring; also I think it makes a psychological difference overall. The next mile marker that stood out was sixteen. Sixteen held special meaning because it was around mile sixteen in my first marathon that my legs first started cramping. This time however was different, my legs kept moving and the music kept playing. Today there would be no stopping for cramps, today I was a proverbial cramp buster in my own right. The images of my shortcomings at SunTrust still fresh in my mind pushed me and let me know that I had come a long way. I continued making my way through the course powered by saline solution, Bill Conti’s ‘Rocky’ theme, and a myriad of other songs. Before I knew it I was up to mile 22 and it was at this point, around what appeared to be a park, that I came upon a brownstone Catholic Church. It stood there boldly against the backdrop with its rocky façade and etched glass silent before me. Seeing it took me back to my childhood and catholic school years at St. Anthony’s in Atlanta. It was at this moment when the song ‘Shape of my heart’ by Sting came on; its soft beautiful harp medley and story whisked me back, lulling me almost. It was as if time had slowed down around me, leaves fell like feathers and the church seemed to embrace me and fall back at the same time. It was a very indescribable feeling but one that captivated me nonetheless. Soon enough I was back in the moment and it was around this time when I noticed one guy on the side of the road bending over. I offered to him what little words of motivation I could and kept moving. He was neither the first nor the last. There is much to be said about helping and motivating anyone out there with you. That guy was easily me when I was cramping in my first marathon so I could sympathize with him. I saw him make his way to the side of the road to stretch as I did; good idea, never stop moving! I came across about two more runners in the same predicament and they too were thankful for the words of encouragement. It is things like this that illustrate to me that at our most basic elements we are inherently civil and good. Perhaps that is a bit off course though (lol) so I will get back to the race. Around mile marker twenty three, I happened upon a station and looking back I wish I had not have slowed down for a beverage because it was only here that I stopped to walk. I was fatigued and pushed myself to power walk and keep moving. My stride was less spaced out at this point; the next three miles were by far the toughest. Riddled with run/walks I pushed myself to through them because I knew that I was so much more ahead of where I had been in the past. Before long I happened upon this lady wearing a ballet skirt and she too was run-walking. Other runners stood out also at this point: another lady, oddly enough in one of my pictures, who would stop, gather herself and go and an older guy who took breaks followed by strong runs. Interestingly enough for some reason I found him a bit annoying because I would keep running and moving ahead and he would blow past me just for me to pass him again. In any case, I look back and laugh now. This small cast of characters continued with me and soon enough I realized as I turned a right onto what ordinarily is a busy street in downtown Birmingham that we were close to the finish. My body felt enervated but my mind and focus were strong. Still taking it easy and knowing that I was not much further from the finish line I made my way through the final bends of the race. Fatigue battled mental focus at this point and said mental focus outlasted fatigue. You could feel the sounds of the huffing and puffing all around you but just a few more steps. I drifted further and further just as the finish seemed further and further. Soon, like a bolt of lightning my body went rigid and raw energy coursed through my veins. Off to the right of me I spotted it. I saw the mile 26 marker; it was in that moment, that instant that my mind sent signals at 240 miles through my body that ahead of me lay a mere 400 meters to a damn good finish! I inhaled one strong breath letting the cool air cleanse and energize my lungs. My arms pumped, the fatigue vanished, dissipated like it was never there and my legs catapulted me towards the finish line. The gloves were coming off, literally! I pulled off the complimentary gloves that covered my frozen digits and balled up my fists. I passed one person, then two and soon enough I passed the exasperating stop-sprint guy. I was running for daylights, “Strong finish, strong finish!” I kept repeating in the walls of my mind. I turned one bend and then another; I could hear the finish and now I could see it. It was coming faster and faster towards me and in the distance I could hear Mike cheering me on to the finish. Kept hoping he would be able to get a good picture out of this. My legs crossed the first marker and then the second as if in slow motion. It was as if that moment had been captured in a bottle somehow. 4:25:30 I believe the clock read above me. It was no matter to me, I was simply happy to have made it to another finish line. The fact that my finish time was over thirty-six minutes faster than SunTrust made it even greater a finish. My second marathon, the Mercedes Marathon, was now behind me; ahead of me lies Little Rock and I look forward to it because I realize that I will be even better and ready for it. I do not simply enjoy running, I love it. It has given me life and a passion unlike anything I have ever had before. It has allowed me a path, a destiny of sorts and for that I am honored, humble and thankful. I am a more positive in my thoughts, less stressed and more spiritual I find and I would change none of that. Thank you.
Review (1-5):
Organization: 4.0 Well organized, only a couple of spots where there was no one around to guide or instruct but overall everyone was in place.
Course: 3.5 I would say three and a half out of five for two reasons. A) The marathon course looped which starves the curiosity. B) Potholes and debris made the roads prove to be very tough in some spots. Much of the debris could have been swept away before the race; the potholes made you keep a keen eye out but they were only in a few spots. The layout was good though, mainly flat with a few hills but nothing major. Great views along the way, I will never forget the brownstone church.
Awards: 5 It is hard to go wrong with a well designed shirt and an awesome medal. Love the medal and red long sleeve finisher technical shirt, both of which are only received upon completion of the course.
Overall Experience: Good run overall, if anything I would recommend that organizers stretch out the marathon course for next year and attend to the road conditions before race commencement.
Recommend? Yes
No comments:
Post a Comment