Friends and a Nature Trail

The Susanville Marathon experience started out by catching a bus at 7, then traveling 40 minutes to Westwood. We ended up arriving at the starting line at about 8, then waited outside for 45 minutes for the start. The temperature was 32 degrees and it got my teeth chattering and my glutes shaking. There were rays of sunlight beaming through opening in dense treeage, so I grabbed a ray and ran in place to keep warm. Because we were so cold- the race official started it 15 minutes early (bless his soul). I ended up using the port-o-pottie about 4 times before the race. I figured the hydration and cold weather let the river flow.

I placed myself in the middle of the pack on the right hand side. This was strategic on my part, because I figured that I was a average runner and I needed to stop on the right hand side of the road for my walk integral. It turns out the crew I'm running with goes out like speed-demons and I'm in the way. Every time I looked over my shoulder to make sure that I could stop without having someone trip over me, there was someone right on me. So, I purveyed for other options and ended up on the left-hand side of the road for my walks. I got left in the dust and was in dead-last for 3 miles. I thought to myself, "This is either a really fast bunch of runners, or they'll be in a real hurt-locker and I'll be passing them, later."

Did I mention that this marathon was run on a nature trail? Obviously, this means that there's dirt, rocks, holes, ruts, and miscellaneous debris. At mile 2, I rolled my right ankle so bad that I could feel my ankle touch the ground. Makes me shudder to think about how it felt. It honestly felt like I snapped something and would need to stop. Then some thoughts swept over me, "I didn't train this hard and plan like this to go out in the 2nd mile. Lord, please heal my ankle, this is important to me." By mile 4, I had no pain and all was well!

With this being a trail run, I had to keep my eyes on the ground and that took a lot of energy to do. It's like a constant stress to be looking and also the shoulders/head naturally follow where we're looking. I really had to concentrate on keeping my shoulders back and put my chest out a bit. From mile 4, on, I started passing people, because they had started way too fast. There were guys and gals that were "SPENT" by mile 4/5 (seriously). I always enjoy encouraging runners when they're struggling and I usually say, "Hang-in there, and run smart." Some people like those words and others don't. Sometimes after I pass someone, they spend about a mile or two trying to pass me up. People are funny when it comes to running/getting passed. There's just something in us that gets automatically competitive when running. Hence, the word "race." The only problem with racing others in a marathon is that unless you're a elite competitor, you're really only racing yourself. When that's true, and it is for most of us, you run within your fitness level and pace yourself.

There was one lady in particular that I spent most of my marathon see-sawing with. She was about 40 and really stocky and had a lumbering running form. Our run/walk intervals and pace we're almost exactly the same. From miles 8 to 24, we were together. I tried on a few occasions to strike up conversation with her, but she was having none of it. Also, she had headphones on and I got the feeling that she was a woman on a mission and that mission didn't include a balding guy with short-shorts on. :>) I finally shook her at mile 24 and was relieved to have stopped obsessing on the peach jacket she was wearing. It was driving me nuts. I met a few nice people (usually women) and they cheered me on as I passed them. I like people contact during a marathon, so this one was definitely lacking in that area. Overall, most people seemed a bit unfriendly compared to the other two marathons that I've ran. I will say that the aid stations (every 2 miles) were totally stocked and that was a real blessing.

With regards to strategy on this long run, I planned on running with a sports drink, only, in my bottle, pour water on my head every two miles (help core temp), and would eat 3 energy gels (at miles 8, 12, & 16). This worked so well that I think I have found the optimal fuele replacement plan for me. A new thing I tried was taking some ibuprofen at the half-way mark. I had been having some sciatic nerve pinching towards the latter part of training, then during the marathon it didn't pinch, but my lower-back on the right side started getting achey. So, after taking 4 ibuprofen and then Gu gel at 13, I felt great.

It was so nice to have have seen the rewards of training hard and sticking to it. The elevation gave me some oxygen issues for the race, so I had to work through that. Despite the oxygen challenges, I was able to get a PR of 5:14 (yay!). I was so happy to have Mindy and my friends at the finish line- that helped a lot. More important than the marathon and my efforts- was the family/friends (same thing) that supported me and how our friendships were made stronger. I'm so grateful for my family/friends.

I'm off, today, letting myself recover. I'm going to go make the bed, take out the trash, and unpack from the trip. God is good. This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you do the same.

Dedications: S. L. & J. T. B.

Love ya,
Jason