San Diego Rock’n'Roll Marathon 2009

The Marathon

I ran the longest I’ve ever run before at a time in my life on Saturday, May 31st at the San Diego Rock’n'Roll Marathon 2009. It was a spectacular event, with crowds cheering on the sides every mile, drinking stations every other mile, and rock bands every other mile as well.

This was the event that I’d been preparing for since the beginning of the year. In the process I increased my weekly mileage to 40-50 miles a week, had several long runs during the week, and also tried to cross train on off-days. Since February 1st I’ve run at least 1 mile every day.

I started off very well, eating more than normal for breakfast and trying not to overdrink. The weather was perfect for the marathon, cool and not too windy. With my goal of 3 hours 24 minutes, I knew I had to pass the 3:30 pace group. Fortunately, this came in the first mile of the race.

With my confidence increasing, I thought about a 3:10 marathon. This would require a 7:15 minute mile, which was my fast pace.

By mile 13, I saw 1:35 on the clock. I had passed the 3:15 pace group earlier on, so I knew I was well on my way to achieving my goal. Good, I was exactly on pace for a 3:10 finish! I met a guy named John who had just run Boston, who said he had lost his friend who he was also pacing for a Boston qualifying time.

I kept up with him for a mile or two, going at a 7:10 pace. But at around mile 16 I stopped at a water station and couldn’t catch up with him again. Each time I stopped at a water station, I would walk by, grab a drink from a volunteer, take it down, then start running again. This gave me a short break, but also cut away at my time.

But I kept pushing on, though my time was slowing by a few seconds. I can still make it, I thought to myself, if I can sprint and run 6 minute miles for the last two miles as I did for the Carlsbad half marathon. Unfortunately that wasn’t the end of the story.

At mile 22 my body reached a wall. I wasn’t able to push my body any further and had to stop running to catch up. I had run out of energy in my muscles. I had run out of breath in my lungs. I walked a step and then another. Okay, if I walk a minute, I can still save it by sprinting at the end, I thought.

I continued running, though at a slower pace. When I reached mile 23.5, I passed some members of the “Run Run Fun” running group I’m part of who were volunteering by passing out water. They cheered me on and I sped up momentarily, until I again had to walk a few minutes later.

Somehow, I managed to run/walk through mile 25, and until the last half-mile before the finish. This was the end. It was now or never. I was already behind my goal of 3:10 by at least 5 minutes. I had to just finish this up. So I looked ahead and started sprinting with whatever I had left. Each step was pain, but with each breath I was exercising my right and ability to live. I made it past the finish line, walked a few minutes, and had to stop and catch my breath on the ground.

I finished my first marathon!

The Aftermath

After I finished in a little more than 3:15 by the clock, I walked around for a few minutes, found a space blanket to keep warm (it was cold after I stopped running!) and waited for my friends who were completing the race behind me. I found Jordan outside of the finish area, and then we waited for Amber at the stands by the finish line.

While we were watching, Jordan said “Hey Kendall, look at that guy over there.” I turned to look and saw an older looking man with an American flag worn as a cape around his neck and over his shoulders.

And he was wearing nothing else.

This is a form of “freedom,” I supposed. But I’m sure the security at the finish line would catch him at the end.

Eventually Amber and her mom Mary came out of the finisher’s area. We found Mary with a chipped tooth! This was her first marathon, and at mile 25 she had taken a hard fall in which her face made contact with the ground, and she spit out a chunk of one of her front teeth! The paramedics wanted to take her away, but she would have none of that. She wanted to finish her first marathon. So she got up and started running again.

We walked back to the parking lot, spent 20 minutes looking for the car, and then drove to the 94th Aero Squadron for a buffet lunch of salmon, more salmon, lots of fruit, and dessert.

Next up: America’s Finest City Half Marathon in August, and Long Beach Marathon in October.

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