Marathon Recap

So Marathon By The Sea is officially behind us, and I am happy to note that I finished the run in one piece. Yes, my legs are hamburger, and I am pretty sure that I won't be walking normally for at least three days, but I was able to cross the finish line on my own two feet. The race took a little longer than expected - I finished in 4:07:40 - but all that time on the road gave me plenty of opportunities to take mental notes for the blog. Here are some highlights:

Pre-Race
I arrived at the Lily Lake Pavilion at 7:30AM and tried to get into marathon mode. Mentally, I wasn't prepared for the task ahead of me, and I was physically tired due to lack of sleep (pre-race jitters kept me up all night). Instead of focusing on my worries, however, I spent my time chatting with friends and fellow runners. Everyone was in good spirits, although more than a few people wondered how the heat would affect the race. I tried my best not to think about it as I made my way towards the starting line.

Miles 1-4
I started out conservatively, checking my body for lingering sore spots while dodging runners of all paces. Aside from some tightness in my quads, everything seems fine, so I was able to relax and enjoy my time on the road. I cracked jokes with my fellow runners, and greeted bystanders with a wave and a few words. So far, just a great day of running.

Miles 5-10
Mile 5 began with a splash - literally. My friends from the InterAction School of Performing Arts were manning the Thorne Avenue waterstop, and theatre head Kate Elman-Wilcott decided to greet me with a cup of water to the chest. I didn't need it at the time - it was still relatively cool out - but I could tell from the clear, sunny sky that it would warm up soon enough. I'm not exactly a hot weather runner - my lone summer marathon prior ended in heatstroke - so I silently hoped for some fog, or at least a little cloud cover.

That didn't happen. By the time I hit the Pumpkin Patch (mile seven) the sun was blazing above me, in full summer sizzler mode. With no fog in site, I knew it was only going to get worse.

Miles 11-17
The dreaded Lorneville section. Feared by men, hated by women, this six mile section is the last place you want to hit the wall, because there's nothing of note to keep your mind in the race. And with less than 80 people running the full marathon, your chances of buddying up with a fellow runner are slim at best. I ran the Lorneville portion of the course several times in training, and I can assure you that it is a long, lonely stretch of road.

Luckily, the marathon committee took this into account, because the entire section was filled with signs that you could read as you were plodding down the road. Inspirational quotes, random Saint John facts, and two part jokes (First sign: How do crazy runners go throught the forest? Second Sign: They take the psycho-path!) kept my mind distracted as the heat beat down on me. I was also treated to some great music by Steve Zaat, who entertained the runners in the middle of this desolate area. Thanks Steve!

I hit the turnaround feeling okay, but wondered how long that feeling would last. My trick knee started bugging me around 12 miles in, and my quads were really starting to ache. Instead of focusing on my discomfort, however, I decided to encourage the runners that had yet to make the turnaround. Eventually, I saw the Lorneville store in the distance, and I knew I was almost out of the woods. Less than ten miles to go.

Miles 18-20
This is where I started to fall apart. The heat started to get to me, and I hadn't increased my fluid intake to offset the sweat pouring from my body. My lack of training was also starting to take its toll; my quads finally seized up, and my right knee protested every step. I slowed dramatically, and my good nature was clouded over by a new 'get this finished' mentality.

I hit my low point right around mile 20. My head started swimming from the heat, and I completely lost focus, tripping over a sign on my way to the next water stop. The folks there talked to me, but I was in no mood to respond. Thinking I might have to quit, I stopped for an extended length of time, using the washroom and downing every drink that I could put my hands on. I also ate a banana, and soaked every exposed body part with sponges. Cooled down and hydrated, I continued on my way, hoping I could escape my running funk.

Mile 21-finish
While my speed remained slow (and it wasn't going to pick back up at this point - my legs were toast), my mood improved dramatically. Fog rolled in from the bay, and while it didn't make its way to the course, the cool breeze that accompanied it lifted my spirits. I rediscoved my ability to chat with my fellow marathoners (I started getting passed once I hit the wall), and I conversed cheerfully with the water stop volunteers. I was going to make it after all.

The last two miles were quite enjoyable, considering how fatigued I felt. I caught a little bit of Trip Lewis' performance (the band at the New Brunswick Museum), enjoyed some jelly beans on Wellesley Avenue, and soaked in the satisfaction of completing my last mile. With a final burst of energy I picked up the pace for the last 400 meters, and crossed the finish line with a smile on my face. I was done!

That being said, I am not quite done blogging. Expect one more update on my final fundraising totals, and some final thoughts on the Marathon and the InterAction School of Performing Arts!

Chuck is running the Marathon By The Sea in support of InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.

Getting Loopy

Fundraising update: Cash is slowly trickling in for my fundraiser, but it should pick up soon enough (I have faith in you, my friends). I have an all-ages show taking place at the Germain Street Baptist Church (our future home) July 22, featuring high school heroes Trip Lewis, The Exemptions, and Learning. Minimum donation is five dollars, so spread the word to your teenaged friends and come enjoy a night of great music!

Ok, back to the blog. I wasn't feeling great about my fitness level after my run on Sunday, and resolved to add other activities to my workout regimen. Today I included some warmup running exercises to my routine, and tomorrow I will attack my abs for the first time in ages. I doubt I'll see an immediate improvement in my times, but I should notice a difference in my form, which will hopefully ward off injury and increase my comfort level during those long Sunday runs.

My workout today included four 800 meter repeats (my online distance calculator thinks the loop is closer to 900 meters, but it's close enough for me), with a 400 meter run included for good measure. Thinking it was colder than it actually was, I left the house in a long sleeve shirt, which quickly became drenched in the humid West Side air. Cursing my decision, I jogged to my workout spot in a negative mindframe, and contemplated turning around and going home. Shaking off the thought, I resolved to finish at least three quarters of my planned workout. I tentatively started my first repeat, feeling every ache and pain in my body and I completed the loop.

Running a little slower than expected (the extra 100 meters probably had something to do with it), I decided to focus my forum during the second repeat. As I mulled this over, a city works crew showed up and opened a fire hydrant nearby. The mist blew my way, refreshing me as I started the second lap. Feeling slightly better, I picked up the pace and managed to knocked a couple of seconds off my time. Better yet, the aches that nagged me during my first repeat vanished, allowing me to focus on the task at hand. This run was getting better by the minute.

My third repeat wasn't amazing - a car and its passangers blocked my original path, forcing me to run a wide turn to avoid it and some nasty looking puddles - yet I still managed to maintain my pace. I decided to go all out on the my last loop, and knocked an extra second off my time, despite my fatigue. Excellent!

Feeling inspired, I decided to jog home and try loop out a neighbourhood loop that ended in front of my house. Starting my watch, I ran quickly and efficiently, and finished stronger than expected. Noting that my finish time, I checked my online calculator, thinking it would be close to a 400 meter effort. Low and behold, it was 400 meters on the button. I guess I won't have to travel too far for my next workout, eh?

I'd love to stay and chat some more, but it's getting late. If all goes well I'll find a group to run with tomorrow, or at least a new route to shake things up a bit. Wish me luck!

Chuck is running Marathon By The Sea in support of the InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.