Grandma's Marathon Recap

It was just one of those days.  I came to Grandma's Marathon knowing that I had physically and mentally prepared for the race of my life.  Even with that said, I know race day can throw everything and anything at you and it did.  At the start line, I was surprised at how calm I felt.  I thought with all the thoughts of sub 2:50 in my head that I would be more nervous than ever.  I cleared the first mile at 6:30 and then the second at 6:20 and began to find my groove.

When racing a marathon, it is so important for me not to get caught up in the moment early because that is usually when I take it out to fast.  When I saw my splits rattling off around 6:20 - 6:25 pace I knew I was in control of the race.  The first half of the course had a few rolling hills but no huge elevation changes.  I was greatful of the rolling hills because it kept me in control early.  I went through the halfway point (13.1 miles) in 1:23:32.  It was a comfortably fast pace but still a little bit slower then I thought I would be.

Despite, the slower pace early I knew I had a great race going shortly after the hallway point.  I didn't panic halfway through at the pace and that alloweed me to run my race in the second half.  I honestly believe that the old Dave would have seen that pace and instantly thought I really had to go after it now to achieve my goal time.  It was not the case on this day.  On this day, I gradually picked it up and got stronger as I went.  I reached 20 miles at just past 2:06.

From 20 on I reminded myself of how much I had put into this race.  I thought of where I had come from when I first began running the marathon, how I had come to Minnesota to run 26.2 miles and not a foot less, and I thought of my late friend John who would have been 57 this past week.  John believed I was great, even when I doubted myself and I know he was watching in on me race day.  By the time mile 23 rolled around and I was over the worse hill on the course, I entered that zone that only a true marathoner can experience.

I was exhausted, totally spent, and honestly was just trying to hold on.  It is in these moments that special happens.  Special moments are made from great opportunities.  Not just dreaming it but doing it.  I was just running on anything I had left and let my legs do the talking.  That meant a 6:15 24th mile, 6:11 25th mile, and 6:08 (my fastest mile of the whole race) 26th mile.  After that it was a sprint to the finish and the thrill of what was a victory.  2:45:47.

2:45:47, an hour a half master than my first marathon. 2:45:47, an 8 minute PR.  2:45:47, the time I will beat in New York City.  This time is not the finish line, it is just the start.  I now believe that anything is possible.  More to come soon friends and thanks for reading!