Sarasota Marathon Race Report: Warning, Very Boring!!!

I have finally recovered enough to tell the tale of my first ever marathon experience. In short, I enjoyed the race and am looking forward to more suffering in the near future, (see side bar of races to run). I finished the marathon in 4hrs. and 18 min. For anyone with no life what so ever, I invite you to read my full report below. If you happen to have problems sleeping this report may just be the cure you need.

Sunday Feb. 15, I awoke to begin my normal, or abnormal, race day rituals. First ritual, make sure upon awakening my feet hit the floor at a number that adds up to either a 3 or 9. I look at the clock, exactly 3:00 A.M. Check!!! Next, I consume a small meal which consists of 1 brownie cliff bar. Yum-Yum, Check!!! I then get dressed in some running attire and head out for a 10 minute easy pace run. This step serves two purposes. First it gets the body loosened up for the race and secondly, other bodily functions are loosened up at the same time. I noted during my warm up run that at this early hour it was already rather humid outside. Good writers would call my last sentence foreshadowing. Anywho... My next ritual is rather obvious. After dropping the kids off at the pool, I take a long warm shower. O.K. now I'm ready to go. One problem though, the race starts at 6:00 and it's only 4:30. Shit!!!

At 5:30 fellow runners begin to show up at the house. Since our house is only 1/8 of a mile from the start line of the race, my wife invited anyone we knew running a parking spot. Five people took her up on the offer. At 5:45 the excited crew was ready to head towards the starting line. One note, of all the things I enjoy about running in these races, probably the best is seeing all the energy and enthusiasm people seem to have before the start of a race. If there were only a way to bottle this energy and sell it. We finally made it to the start line, wished each other good luck and headed are separate ways. I found my way to the 9:00 min (4 hr. marathon) pace group. I settled in behind the pace leader, listened to final minute instructions and the singing of the national anthem. 6:00 A.M. The race begins, 2 thousand plus crazy runners head down Bayshore Road in the pitch black darkness. The cadence of the 4,000 feet is deafening.

Miles 1-6: The Honeymoon Stage:

The first six miles our pace group appears quite large,(probably 40 runners). The main reason is the first 5.5 miles the half and full travel along the same route. The larger group remains in good spirits during these miles, mostly due to the half marathon pacer. She tells her group every mile how they are doing great and most importantly are on pace. I mean there was no shutting this HO up!!! Regardless, these first few miles breezed by. I was already starting to feel the effects of the humidity. My shirt was soaked with sweat, (I know TMI).

Mile1: 9:21, Mile2: 8:52, Mile3: 9:16, Mile4: 8:51, Mile5: 8:51, Mile6: 8:59

Miles 7-12: No Longer Honeymoon, But Still Having Sex Stage:

The half marathoners have now left us, and the realization of running a full marathon has now set in. Our pace group of 40, is now a mere 9 lonely souls. The small group is now quiet and focused as we all work to conserve energy. Our pace leader has began pushing the pace a little during these miles while the rest of us try to adjust to the quicker speed. I am still feeling strong at this point, knowing that I ran this pace during most of my longer runs. The miles are still moving by quickly.

Mile7: 8:37, Mile8: 8:46, Mile9: 9:13, Mile10: 8:44, Mile11: 8:51, Mile12: 8:50

Miles 13-18: Married With Children:

Our pace group past the half way point of the marathon at 1hr. 55 min. That time is just 4 minutes over my fastest ever half marathon time. The humidity is starting to wear on me and the others in my group. The group becomes separated for the next few miles, but I just keep checking my watch and attempt to stay at the 9 minute pace. Finally, at mile 16 I noticed the pace leader and what is left of our group is right behind me. The pace group is now just three of us, obviously I'm not the only one that was being effected by the 90-100% humidity. My stomach is now starting to feel a little strange. I'm sure it was the early stages of dehydration. My brain was starting to listen to my body. The two of them had already conspired to stop at the 20 mile water stop to take in more than the two cups we were taking at each stop. At mile 18 the pace leader was just in front of me. I remember him calling to me, "Come on Jason, lets go". I had the endurance and will, but lacked the energy and was slowing down.

Mile13: 8:46, Mile14: 8:58, Mile15: 9:01, Mile16: 9:10, Mile17: 9:14, Mile18: 9:03

Miles 19-26.2: Who Is This Bitch with Children, And Why Are They All In My House?:

At mile 19 all I could do is continue to slow down and watch my pace leader, all by himself at this point, fade out of my view. I made it to the next rest stop, listened to my mind and body and stopped to drink more fluids. I reached mile 20 at my goal time of 3 hours. I tried to continue running, but my calves were now starting to cramp up. I decided to run as much as I could and walk through the remaining water stops. I now know what they mean by the saying "The Race Begins at Mile 20". Mile 20 was the longest I have ever run to this point and can see why most training has you go no further. The last six miles might as well been 100 miles. I hit the "Fucking Wall". I continued to force my way to the finish line. Every so often I would be passed, or pass a fellow runner that was struggling along to the end. At mile 25 I decided to suck it up and run to the finish. It had taken me an hour and eight minutes to travel the last 5 miles, the least I could do is push it the last one. I tried to remember back to all the training and miles I ran along these same streets, but the motivational shit wasn't working. The cheers from family and spectators at the end was uplifting though. I finally crossed the finish line and immediately swore I would never run a marathon again.

By Monday that had all Changed... Peace out!!!

Mile19: 9:27, Mile20: 12:54 Shit!!!, Mile21: 12:21 Double Shit!!!, Mile22: 11:19 O.K.
Mile23: 11:31, Mile24: 11:35 Consistent, Mile25: 12:46 Consistently Shitty That Is!!!
Mile26.2: 9:45 Strong Finish!!! 4hrs 18 min. 4651 Calories Burned!!!