Sometimes, a marathon finishing time isn’t particularly significant in the grand scheme of things. My result in Saturday’s Train 4 Autism Marathon Series Race No. 1 was one of those instances. I ran miserably, finishing in 3:23:56, but I had a great time at the race.
When I mapped out the schedule for 2010, Easter Weekend looked like a challenge. There were very few races on the schedule, mostly trail races and mostly far away. My wife puts on a big family dinner every year for Easter and I don’t want to leave her all alone, nor do I want to miss the dinner! So, I worked with local race promoter Charlie Alewine to put on the first of a series of three races.
The races are small and low-key and we called them the Train 4 Autism Marathon Series. It was awesome to see the T4A name on a race! The race wouldn’t have happened if not for Operation Jack,, I had a fair amount of running friends turn out just to run the race to support us. It was an absolutely incredible feeling.
I get shy about compliments — I always feel undeserving because I know I’m a flawed person just like everybody else. But it’s nice to get positive feedback, because I know it’s an indicator that people believe in what I’m trying to accomplish. And I have to say, it’s pretty strong feedback when somebody drives out to run in your race!
Anyways, the race. It was 10 loops around a 2.62-mile course. I started off a tiny bit too fast by pace, but my heart rate was OK. I think I was holding a fairly decent pace early on, although there a couple of spots where my heart rate jumped. I was a little concerned that I would bomb late, but I wasn’t tremendously worried. I ran a fair amount of the first half with four runner friends of mine — Jeff Cate, Zach Earl, Tracy Bowling and Peggy Kern. They all ran the half marathon, so I was on my own for quite a while.
I hit the half somewhere a touch quicker than 1:38 and felt OK. I didn’t feel like I was on the verge of falling apart. But I was! At about mile 18, I dropped off pretty badly. I slowed down about 30 seconds to a minute per mile. I kept repeating one thing to myself over those final eight miles or so: “My body HATES me!” I think I’m going to go through various phases this year. Right now, I’m struggling. Fatigue is setting in pretty nicely. I don’t think my body is very happy with what I’m doing to it!
From about 21 on, I really wanted the race to end. I felt like a truck had run me over. I never really had the energy to step it up at the end and kick. I slowed down until the end and finished up with a 3:23:56. The bright side of the small race is that I came in first overall. But it was a tough run. Still, it was pretty cool to earn a trophy and a medal that said “Train 4 Autism” and it was great to see so many people hanging out at the finish. Am I a jerk for winning my own race?
I didn’t have an amazing run. But I had an amazing day. I’m totally content with how this one turned out. I’m a lucky, lucky guy.
Me and Jack at the finish. I’m so glad he was there!
Me, James Hong and Ben Delaney sporting sweet-looking shirts. Ben, one of my best friends, finally got the sub-4 monkey off his back, finishing in 3:58.
Me, Shelly Overton and Ben Fesagaiga of Train 4 Autism.
Me with Jeff Cate, a super-nice runner friend of mine who’s given me a lot of good advice over the past year.
Me with Peggy Kern, an awesome runner and a more-awesome person.
Me and Charlie Alewine, who made the race happen!
Look at that — a Train 4 Autism trophy and medal!
Hey Sam, yesterday was a great day. I thoroughly enjoyed running and hanging out afterwards. I’ve seen you run 2 of your marathons so far this year, and I’m really impressed that you’re giving it your all week after week. You’re not just sticking a stamp on it and mailing it in. Really impressive running, even when you go through a rough patch.
And you know you set yourself up for a rough day… you were running with four of us there on the opening loops and then we were all done and stopped, and you were only halfway! That’s really cruel… especially considering that you keep running these marathons week after week, and I’m whining about having run a marathon 2 weeks ago and then only run the half yesterday.
But you ran another great marathon… and pretty much solo, which is never easy to do.
Good to run with you yesterday and meet so many of your friends. Good on ya!