Here are a few random thoughts from our first marathon last weekend.
+ You can say what you want about their awful taste, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have made it through without the energy gels.
- I need to know how many of those I can have per run. I may or may not have just filled my Camelbak with chocolate ones.
+ Surprisingly, we didn’t listen to music the entire time. I think I’m changing my stance on the issue. iPod when I’m running alone, conversation when I’m running with someone. My former self would consider this blasphemous.
- We passed the time from mile 12 through 18 by playing the alphabet game.* I think we ended on Malcom X.
+ If you’re in the crowd, you need to learn what constitutes as encouragement. Telling us you like our “nice, easy pace” isn’t encouraging.
- Nor is making fun of our Vibrams. I get that they are unconventional in appearance, but come on overweight volunteer security guard – you’re choosing NOW as the appropriate time to insult us?
+ Oh, and one other bit of advice for the spectators – make sure you know where on the course you are. When you tell us that “Mile 22 is at the top of this hill” and it turns out to be mile 21 that is at the top of the hill, it makes us want to backtrack a mile solely to kick you in the neck.
- Speaking of backtracking… remember when that lady fell and started screaming on mile 2 and we didn’t backtrack to see if she was okay because we didn’t want to break our solid 12:30 pace? No? Chose to forget about that? Me too.
+ We hit a wall at mile 17. Our sugar levels were low and we were literally about to crumble over. Then, out of nowhere, a lady appeared with a box of Krispy Kreme donuts and saved us. What’s even crazier…when we looked back, she was gone. An angel, perhaps?
- Actually she was gone because we had already run about half a mile before we looked back. It was physically impossible to see her because of the curvature of the road. So.. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t an angel – just a very generous stranger with donuts and white feathery wings.
+ If you’ve done a half marathon, you can do the full. I was in no better shape before the marathon than when I ran the half. Maybe better mental shape, but physical was about the same.
- Agreed. And even if we are in better shape, there were lots of people crossing that finish line who were in way worse shape than I’ve ever been.
+ Single greatest motivator? Seeing our families along the course. If you’re going to run one, make sure you have some of your loved ones cheering you on.
- And strangers. I think I’m going to start going to races and cheering people on. Now that I know how much it matters as a runner, I want to pay it forward.
+ After mile 20, I’m no longer responding to encouragement. Nothing against the encouragers. I just have other things to be thinking about, like how to make sure my left knee doesn’t shatter during these next few thousand foot strikes.
- Oh, and we almost didn’t arrive on time. I think the race actually started as we made our way through the spectators and climbed over a fence. And, THAT’S how we ended up in the 5 hour 30 min group.
All in all, it was an incredible experience. And it’s true what they say – the only thing better than having run a marathon is being able to tell people you’ve run a marathon.
*You know, the game where the first letter of the first name has to be the same as the first letter of the last name that was just said. Will Smith, Sandra Bullock, Brett Favre, Frank Thomas, and on and on and on.
Congrats, its a huge accomplishment, and the good news is that you never have to run it again.
On my run, my version of the Krispy Kreme lady had strawberries. And I wanted to find her and her husband again and say thank you.
The best part of the race was the other runners, encouraging and laughing along the way. I want to be that guy who does that at other races, except for you know, the 26.2 part.
This is hilarious! I completely understand ALL of these. I ran my marathon without music and it wasn’t so bad. I also would like to add a few…when encouragers say “You can do it! You are almost there!” AND YOU AREN’T!!! Or “this is your last hill” but you really have 3 more hills. Don’t lie to me, encouragers!
The Big Hurt? Well played, 10 points to Gryffindor.
Wish I could’ve been there running a modest 4 miles behind your pace instead of just being at home with my excuses.
Congrats and good luck with the Triathlon.
Congratulations guys! As a relatively recent purchaser of a pair of bright pink Vibrams, I can tell you that they are quite the thing and you should wear them proudly. The people who “get them” will understand and admire. Those who don’t, well, that’s their loss. As for gu, raspberry’s my fav! I’m sure I’ll bring along plenty when I attempt my first marathon in Spring (just finished my first half a couple of weeks ago). Thanks for sharing the funny stories and the valuable “words of wisdom!” Ya’ll rock!!!
i wear pink vibrams too! This morn 6 miles in 60 mintues with big hills in the beautiful Norhtern CA fall. I really hate how they stand out but I can’t wear my other running shoes anymore. You all have encouraged me (note only need courage when living a risky life). I have a goal to run a marathon before I turn 50. I have 4 years and have done half…maybe I will tick it off the list next summer. If you will keep up the blog…
Well done, guys.
I think you left one out:
- Smokers, feel free to take a morning off, because blowing clouds of it in my face isn’t nearly as funny as you think it is.
Congrats to both of you! Finishing 26.2 miles is a major accomplishment!
It’s encouraging that you feel that if you’ve done a half marathon, you can do the full. I’m doing 4 half-marathons within a year to make sure my body is ready for a full next year … so according to that, I should be ready.
Awesome job guys! That makes me happy you said that if you run a 1/2 you can run a full. I’ve been mulling it over for awhile. :)
still can’t believe you guys did this.
having the strangers cheer for you is great, especially when the race puts your first name on your bib. having people yell out your name for a couple hours makes you feel like the Biebs.
Congrats! That’s fantastic!
Not sure if you wrote this somewhere else, but I’m curious how long you have been running, and how long you were training specifically for this.
We’ve been running for a couple years and trained for about 6 months for the marathon.
Congrats to both of you. You have inspired me to run, not 1, but 2 fulls next year. My first ever will be in May, and the second the Atlanta next year. I’m excited, and you 2 have inspired me. Thanks!
Guys – outstanding write up!!! I completely agree on the music strategy, long runs by myself I’ll strap on the iPod – but I PREFER any long run with another person. The time melts away.
I’m surprised you didn’t write about the flurry of bodily fluids you encounter during a race. From the races I’ve been in I’ve “splashed” through most of the bodily fluids (i.e. blood, puke, a sweat-drenched Bob Marley-impersonator furious head shake, snot rockets, mouth-rinsed Powerade…etc.)
In addition to the donut angel, perhaps you have a heavenly-protector against errant liquids….
Congrats on finishing!! I am curious if you used the walk breaks? I read all the links from the initial post you made about walk breaks at the time and embraced it (my ego didn’t like it, but my knees and legs sure do!) I raced my first race ever, a half marathon, using walks breaks. Thanks for the inspiration!
That’s awesome!
Yeah, we definitely used the walk breaks. 4-1-4-1-4-1 (and on and on and on).
Many congrats!! This is definitely eye-opening for me. I plan on running a half marathon next year. The thought of running a full marathon never appealed to me because I figure its too much for me and that a half is more doable. But based on what you’ve shared I may go ahead and put it on my To-Do List.