Lesson from the Marathon #2

2 Corinthians 1:9 (New International Version)
9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

After completeing the Marathon, I started looking at the things I could've/should've done differently. Starting out too fast and ignoring my game plan was Lesson #1. Lesson #2 began to take shape around mile twelve. It started with a simple thought, "If I was running the Mini, I'd be wrapping up in another mile." While seemingly innocent, it was the seed from which many doubts started to grow.
The seed had a very fertile place to grow. I was wrapped in a cocoon of MP3 files. Having borrowed my wife's good, in ear, ear buds, I was oblivious to the world around me. I became trapped inside with nothing but the music and my thoughts. I began to focus on myself, every ache, every pain. Each one feeding the self doubt and cultivating more questions.
I will definitely reconsider the use of the MP3 player during my next marathon. I survived several long runs without it, because of low batteries. I ran 10 miler without it. I'm thinking that had I allowed myself to experience more of the external stimuli that the race had to offer, perhaps I would have staved off some of the mental pitfalls I experienced.

Lesson #2. Don't focus too intently on yourself and how you feel. You're not likely to find an internal drive that survives the long haul, so don't rely on an internal motivator that you have to generate yourself. Leave the music at home?

Lesson from the Marathon #1

Proverbs 11:2 (New International Version)
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 (New International Version)
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

As I wrap up 2 days of post marathon gluttony, I'm already contemplating what I have to do different in my next marathon attempt. My plan is to run the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio, in September, because the medals are really cool. This marathon is similar to the Akron and KDF, it ain't flat.

Anyway, back to the lesson. I had a game plan. That was to run the 1st half of the KDF moderately, conserving myself to push reasonably hard through the middle of the race and hopefully leaving enough in the tank not to falter in the later stages. Instead, I threw the game plan out the window.

I felt strong and confident at the start, and after a slow start in traffic, picked up the pace to recoup the time, but instead of returning back to my planned pace, I stuck with the quicker pace. Boy oh boy, was I proud of myself. I was on top of the world, I was bullet proof. There I was, out ahead of the 3:40 pace group, loosing ground to them briefly when I took my pre-planned walk/refuel break at the five mile mark, but catching them after my break and building a bigger lead than I did in the first five miles. Man was I proud, "Look at James, he's a bad man. Don't you wish you were cruising along at his pace? Move it to the side slow pokes."

I took a well thought out and measured game plan that was based on my training experiences and threw it out the window based on the confidence I felt in the moment. In a future lesson I'll detail the price I paid for my pride and arrogance, but for now, trust me when I say I paid.

Lesson #1. You always feel strong when you're on top of your game. Better to trust the plans you made when you were tired and defeated. They will provide a clearer picture of where you are and what you can handle. When you think you've got something "licked", that is when you are actually at your weakest. Remain humble.

Race Report

I'll pass on some things I learned later, but for now:

4:10:35
9:33 pace.
514th of 1206 Marathon Finishers,

Original Goal was to finish, next goal was sub 4 hour, felt like I had a 3:45 in me. Accomplished my orginal goal only.

Went out too fast, knew better, but felt really strong. By mile 18 the rolling hills of the second half of the race chewed up my legs. Not my hammys and calves, the down hills shredded my quads.

Was great to see my Dad and Brother at the base of the bridge as I came into Jeffersonville, and it was awsome to see Jina and all three boys yelling for me at the finish.

More later, I've still got to check all my friend's times and start laying out my training plan for this falls marathon.

My Five Minutes of Fame and Last Post Before Race

The local AM news station's afternoon DJ is a runner, and has a call in spot on his show for people to call in and tell them what exercising they did today.

I tried my luck today and guess what? Yep, my call was selected and I got to talk on the radio about my plan to run the full marathon, blah, blah, blah....

Oh yeah, I also won a gift certificate to a shoe store, good because mine will be pushing replacement mileage after the marathon, but bad because it's not to my usual store, and a gift certificate to a local pizza place.

Anyway not much else to talk about. The "healing" that takes place during taper has stopped hurting and my legs aren't sore every morning now. My mind is starting to focus in on the race.

I picked up my race packet today, time to write out a quick to do/check list for tomorrow, eat a pasta dinner and then "get r done".

Good Luck everyone! I'll hopefully have something to say Saturday night.

Hebrews 12:1 (New International Version)

God Disciplines His Sons 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.