2008 Atlanta, GA Thanksgiving Day Marathon
Monday, December 01, 2008
Well, I did it. I came back after back surgery and ran my 2nd official marathon. The Atlanta marathon. What attracted me to it was that it was the 1996 Olympic marathon course. And let me just say that it certainly was Olympic.
I was in decent marathon shape. I can complete a 26 plus long run with minor damage on Florida elevation. But running this hell-bent Atlanta course made a woman out of me.
8:00pm: We arrived in Atlanta in just enough time to pick up my packet. I bought a few gel packs from the expo (which was closing down.)
At around 11:00pm we hit the bed. We awoke to the blaring alarm at 4:30am, and made it to the Turner Field starting line at 5:30am for a good parking spot.
We sat in the car for a while with our hands on the heater vents of the dashboard until the gun went off at 7:30am.
The first 13 miles: My legs are feeling good. I had some nice tunes going in my earphones. I called Jamie on the bluetooth at mile marker 13 and told her that things were doing really well, and that I felt fresh.
Mile 20: The world ends. The course takes a sharp up-hill slant, and my calves begin to scream foul obscenities.
Mile 22: I veer off the course momentarily to the porta-john. My whole lower body is wrenched with serious pain and burn. My knees feel like someone is stretching the muscles into Play-Dough. It hurts so bad to run. But it hurts worse to walk. So I keep running.
Mile 24: I don't know if I am going to make it. But I didn't drive 6 hours, train for 7 months, and pay my money to walk or quit. So I kept running. The hills won't quit. I am cursing inside at the powers that be. It's like climbing a giant staircase. All the Atlanta natives are breezing past me. My world is fast becoming a living hell. My pace continues to drop.
Mile 25: I am holding onto conciousness. Literally. I feel like I am about to pass out any moment. Then I meet Jane. A mid-aged runner in my same plight. A glorious personality who is hurting like me. She sticks with me and we motivate each other to the end. Well, actually, she motivates me. I just moan and at times cry.
Finish Line: I bring myself to smile for the camera my wife is holding. I find a chair and slam an orange juice, water, 2 granola bars, and 2 packs of peanut butter crackers. I am in agony.
My wife helped me into the car, and we arrived at my aunt and uncle's. I was shivering cold like a beaten horse, and felt like I was dying. I crawled in the shower and let the blistering hot water run over my legs for a bit. Then I took some pain-medication and enjoyed Thanksgiving. There was a glow inside me. After all, I did it. And the fact that it was so hard, made it taste better when I finished.
We spent the rest of our holiday weekend in Ashevill NC, and people looked at me limping around the city like I was a war veteran. And I felt like it. I still can't walk down steps without wincing. But, it is a pleasant pain. It brings me joy that the infernal race is over.
I am still limping, and I will never forget the Atlanta Marathon. It about killed me. I will run this one again next year if it works out. I will conquer this course someday.
Labels: atlanta marathon, barefoot marathon, thanksgiving day marathon, weather channel marathon
posted by Sean Dietrich @ 7:52 PM,
