Going the Distance

I'm checking in days after the event to say that we finished with 6 minutes to spare.

What can I say, we walkers take our time. But we finish.

While his friends were going to bed after a full night of video games on a three day weekend, my son Cody was up and getting ready to walk his first half marathon. At 14, he was one of the few teens in the event, and although those who placed first, second and third had times of less than 2 hours, for us, this was a miracle of a day. I think I counted less than half a dozen 14 year olds out of the 2,500 half marathoners on the results list.

We started slow and spent most of the race, catching up and passing other walkers.

My co-worker Cathy left us behind within one minute. After mile two, she started running and finished at 2:33. We're very proud of her.

 I guess the thing that slowed us down the most was the fact that I couldn't pass up a morning cup of tea and had to make a pit stop at mile 2. By the time I jogged to catch up to Cody, my mouth was dry and all thoughts of jogging a bit here and there were gone. I'm just not that interested in getting new knees.

It takes a bit longer to walk, but you can get there. We were amazed at how quickly the four hours passed, and amazed at how well we were making the hike.

We followed a couple of women from the Prevention group who were from Rhode Island and North Carolina. One had experience, so I latched onto the idea of keeping up with them. I was so happy to reach the turn off for the half marathon in their company, only to see them take the straight path and continue for the full marathon. I checked the results and they did finish within 8 hours, most of it in the rain.  

Next year, we'll have a larger group of kids with us as all of his friends have consented to train with us. In the meantime, I'm recruiting team members for the Mud Run in September in Columbia: 4.5 miles of obstacles sponsored by the Marine Corps. I can't wait.

So close!!

So, I made it through another marathon weekend. Although, I didn't go the full 26.2 this year, I still had a lot of fun and was able to feel pretty fulfilled in the task I had completed by the time all was said and done.

Despite not feeling any twinge of anxiety or elation in the days leading up to the race, when it came down to it I still had trouble sleeping the night before and all the same worries of "will I sleep right through the alarm and miss the race?" came back in the hours before it started. Alas, I had no problem getting there and was able to get to the start line in plenty of time.

I wasn't able to find my friends from work who were running, so the 10 or so minutes before the start were just as awkward as always...people all standing around filled with nervous energy...trying to stretch and bumping into each other...wondering who the jackass in the red getup and flashing lights is (that's me, BTW).

When the gun fired and the race started, I was glad to be moving but a bit frustrated by the lack of breathing room. As someone who does all his training alone and simply doesn't care much for crowds, it's a little tough to get going when there are 70 year old women walking in front of you, not paying attention. This density of runners continued for the first 2.5 to 3 miles, which made it a little difficult to keep a steady pace, but yet I tried my best to just push along at a steady clip.

I was aiming to finish in 2 hours, with no real idea of whether that were actually possible. I knew to do it, I would have to run really close to a 9:00 min per mile pace, which is a good deal quicker than what I usually train at...but I was determined to at least give it a shot.

I got a chance to see Heidi and Miles as I wrapped around Broadway at the Beach, which was fun, since she wasn't able to make it in time for the start. As I passed mile 3 I was able to spread out a bit more, and I spent the next mile or so trying to find a nice open space to run and trying to decide who I was going to aim to follow the next 10 or so miles.

By mile 4 I had realized I was right about on pace for my 2 hour goal, but it was still too early to feel really good about that, since I could tell that I was already pushing myself more than normal. I thought "If I can just keep this pace up through 8 miles, I should be right around 1:14 on the clock, and then maybe I can shoot for 12 miles from there."

I was getting a bit hot from the vest I was wearing, and thought I'd get a chance to pass it off to Heidi around mile 5, but never did see them again until the end. Still, just after that I took the oppurtunity to lighten the load of my vest by drinking down the Monster energy shot I was carrying in the pocket. From that point on I was carrying a cell phone, tissues, my remote to unlock the car and an armband in the pocket of that vest but it seemed to weigh signifcantly more than those items at some points. Probably not the best idea, but I wasn't about to throw it down somewhere and chance my car key not being there when I came back for it.

Anyway, after getting a boost from my energy drink I trucked on through miles 6-9 at a very good pace. I was feeling good and I kept keying in on different people trying to stay with them or to catch those ahead of me. This varied from "too skinny girl in the white" to "folks with hambruger hats on" to "athletes ministry guy with all the tattoos" and even "teenage cross country kids in all pink." I never did catch those damn pink cross country kids, BTW, but I did end up following tattoo guy until about mile 11 where he eventually smoked me (considering he was in MUCH better shape than me, I didn't feel too bad).

Around mile 10 I really started to doubt if I could continue the pace I had been going at (which was somewhere between 8:30 and 9:00) but I pushed through a side stitch and kept at it for another mile. By 11, I was not doing well. Legs were not working so well...calves were aching...vest weighed about 65 pounds...Course turned slighty uphill (who knew there were inclines in Myrtle Beach?)

I thought Heidi and crew would be waiting for me between miles 11 and 12 but I never saw them. That's when I about lost it. I wanted rid of that stupid vest I had been carrying SO bad, but had to strap it back on and keep moving. I felt like I was going about 2 miles an hour at that point and everyone seemed to be passing me, but when I checked my iPod, it told me my pace was in the 9:45 range and I still had a chance at hitting the 2-hour mark.

But despite that encouraging news, I had pushed myself too far and couldn't seem to pick up the pace for the last 3/4 of a mile. I simply took off my headphones, put my head down and willed my legs to move, figuring if it was meant to be, I'd make it. As I rounded the corner into the chute at BB&T Coastal Field I saw Heidi and Miles waiting for me in the distance, and at this sight I DID pick up the pace ever so slightly. I waved a quick hi to the boy as I passed and I pushed on, finishing with something resembling a gallop. The time on the big clock said something like 2:01:38.

I knew I had to be close, because I was aways back at the start and my own clock had been about 1:30 behind the master clock all along. I crossed, reached into my pocket, fumbled with the ipod headphones and armband and hit pause on my own clock...it read 2:00:08. "Is it possible it just took me 8 seconds to get that out of my pocket?" I thought. I knew it was gonna be close.

I got my medal, post race snack, drink etc. Smiled for a few pictures and stood around for another hour or so watching my friends and the marathon winners finish, but the whole time I was left wondering whether I had broken 2:00:00 or not. I got home, ate, showered, napped, etc. and still I wondered.

When I finally checked the marathon site around 4:30 p.m. that evening I looked through the sea of names and found mine. Here's what it read:

908 49 2282 Christopher Mowder 28 M Myrtle Beach SC 1:18:54 2:00:05 2:01:26 9:16

This means I was the 908th overall finisher in the half marathon (out of 2829). I was 49th in the 25-34 age division. My time was 1:18:54 at the 8-mile mark, my final time on the big race clock was 2:01:26, and my official race chip time was 2:00:05.

5 seconds over! Something tells me that if I had known this all along I could have pushed myself to run 6 seconds faster. Still, at a final pace of 9:16 per mile the whole thing sure felt like a victory...after all I DID finish in two hours...but yet I would have felt that much better about the whole experience had that chip read 1:59:59.

I guess there's always next year.

See the rest of the photos on Flickr.

Woohoo! I've finished No. 4

What a great feeling to have a nice young man put that beautiful heart-shaped medal around my neck. This was marathon No. 4, and let me tell you, they don’t get any easier. I struggled a lot from mile 19 on, and I walked a stretch here and there as well as through the water stations.

 

I finished with a 5:01, a little slower than my finishes for the past two races. But I’m a finisher! There were times when I thought it would be great just to quit, and I made myself repeat that Lance Armstrong quote over and over: “Pain is temporary. Quitting is forever.” Or something like that.

 

The weather cooperated. I only got rained on for the last six miles, and it was light.

 

Thanks so much to all the volunteers who made the race possible. They were all so helpful and encouraging, especially during the later miles. I don’t think, unless they’ve done a marathon themselves, they can know how much of a boost their encouragement can give.

 

And thanks to all the city police officers who do a great job of keeping traffic away from the runners, even when confused drivers try to do stupid things.

 

And thanks to the spectators who cheered for all the runners as well as their friend or loved one.

Since the race, I’ve eaten a hamburger and many, many fries. I’ve soaked in a tub. I’m feeling sort of human again. And now my husband is cooking me a Valentine’s Day steak dinner. Enough pasta. I’m ready for a (another) large dose of red meat.

 

So now what? It’s a relief to know I don’t have runs scheduled for next week. It will be close to a week before I’m ready for an easy, short run. But I know not having that strict schedule to follow also will be a little disorienting. So maybe I’ll start thinking about another one before long.

What a great day!

What was I worried about? The race went great! I woke up at 4:30 a.m. and was so happy that there was no rain. What a nice surprise! I spent last night setting out two sets of clothes – one if it rains and one if it doesn’t. I was happy to put on the “dry” clothes, but struggled with the choice of headgear. Normally I run in a visor to keep the sweat out of my eyes. I find a hat makes me way too warm. But, looking carefully at the weather radar, it seemed as if it surely would rain sometime before my projected 9:30 a.m. finish. So I grabbed the hat and ran out the door. I guess the hat choice was a mistake, because I ended up running with it in my hands the entire 13.1 miles.

 

What great weather! By the time I got to the two-mile mark I was wishing I had selected shorts and a short-sleeve shirt instead of long tights and long sleeves because it was pretty warm out. But once we got to Ocean Boulevard and the wind picked up a little, I was happy with my choice.

 

I’m happy to report that I ran the entire way, with my only stops at water stations. It’s the same way I ran the race last year and I was so pleased that I had the endurance to do it again. I didn’t quite meet last year’s time, but I’m very pleased with my 2 hour and 50 minute finish.

 

I want to thank all of the volunteers and everyone who offered an encouraging word. There were so many of you! You’ll never know the impact you have on us runners trying to complete just one more mile. And for all of you Buckeye fans who responded with I-O to my O-H, an extra special thanks to you!

Ahhhh...it's over

I'm just minutes away from passing  out and getting some much needed sleep but I wanted to say:

1) Yay. I finished!!!

2) Thank you for all the support friends and family. Thank you volunteers and bystanders and organizers and sponsors for another well-run marathon.

3) I'll post a more in-depth play by play later.

P.S. I finished about 10 minutes faster than last year!

Now I'm nervous

Ok scratch what I said earlier. It's now 11pm before the race and I'm now very nervous. Not so much about my performance but basically I'm just worried that I'm not gonna wake up despite 2 alarms, that I'm gonna be tired and that my stomach will be upset (always my first sign of nerves).

I'm sure all will be ok, but it's these worries that have me still lyoing awake 6 hrs before race time blogging in bed from my iPod. Oh well what can u do, right?

See u all in a few hours, good luck to everyone!

Marathon Expo coverage

I'm sure most of you have already been or have plans to go, but just wanted to remind everyone that the Marathon Expo is going on and give the details for anyone who might have missed them.

• Location: Myrtle Beach Convention Center, 21st Ave N & Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC.
• Hours: 5 PM – 9 PM, Thursday, Feburary 12, 2009

11 AM – 9 PM, Friday, Feburary 13, 2009

Check out The Sun News photo gallery from the expo last night and click here to see our story on it:

Recapturing the feeling of the first time

If you asked me a year ago if I was ready to run the Myrtle Beach Marathon, my answer was something like "Well, I better be."

That was exactly how I felt. I had begun training the previous April, starting slowly with 2-3 miles at a time and building up to long runs of 18 and 20. But still, going into last year's race I had never run 26.2 miles.

I was truly nervous in the days leading up to the race. I believed that I could make it, but I knew there was plenty that could go wrong in those miles ahead of me. I could barely sleep the night before...I thought I wasn't going to get enough sleep...My stomach was upset...I was achy and anxious.

However, I got a call from my mom this morning asking me if I was ready to run this year's race and my answer was "Ehhhh...sure." All the nervousness was gone.

Of course I can run 13.1 miles, no sweat right? No matter the fact that it's been since last year's race that I have run more than 10 or the fact that I've only been "training" for 4-5 weeks...deep down I just know I can do it. You would think it was comforting to feel this way, but really I miss the nervousness, I miss the feeling of not knowing if I can do it and I miss the challenge of 26.2 miles.

That's why I'm bound an determined to look at tomorrow's race not as an accomplishment, but just as motivation. When I see folks finishing the marathon with the combined look of relief, pride, and accomplishment, I'm going to be jealous. I don't mean to discredit those who have worked their butt off to get to 13.1 miles, but I truly believe that once you finish a marathon once, nothing else is quite as satisfying.

It may be that even doing a marathon again won't give me the satisfaction of crossing the line that first time, (maybe I'll have to move on to be one of those crazy 100km ultra-marathoners...HA!) but I'm definitely going to give it a shot. One thing is for sure, I love running and like everything else in life I want to keep moving forward and striving for bigger and better things. So as of today, I'm setting a new goal to finish the Columbus (my hometown) Marathon in October in under 4:30 hours.

And for those first-timers who may be feeling that nervous energy, or those of you who still don't know if you can make it...BELIEVE IN YORUSELF AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF TOMMOROW'S RACE! There's truly no other feeling quite like crossing that line.

-- Chris Mowder

Last minute advice

For all of you first time half-marathon or full marathon runners here is some hard won pre-race, race, and post race advice. Feel free to skim at will if some of this is already second-nature to you.

1) Pack a bag to take with you on race day. There is free bag check in at the start of the race and the bags are moved to the finish line for pick up. Volunteers take your bib number so no need to carry a ticket or anything. Your bag can include, a change of socks and comfy shoes like flip flops to wear home, pain reliever, warm sweats or comfy pants, power bars and icyhot.

2) Go grocery shopping. You will be sore post-race day and the last thing you want to do is have to move around the kitchen and whip up some elaborate meal. Invest in some easy to cook or ready to eat dinners, cold cuts, milk cereal and bread to get you through until you feel human.

3)Toss it to a friend. If you have people coming to watch you run and you plan to wear layers you may want to have someone meet you by the three mile marker to collect any layers you might want to shed after you warm up. It can be a real drag(excuse the pun) to have to carry around a sweatshirt for another 10 to 23 miles.

4)Eat.I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for you to eat well the night before and the morning of the race. If you do not have fuel you will feel like crashing in mile two. I know this from experience. Even if you don't get enough rest, eating right will at least help. I recommend loading up on carbs like pasta the night before and toast with peanut butter and power bar about an hour before the race.

5) Pre-dress. It will help to destress you in the morning if you pin your bibs to your shirt tonight. Get your sneakers out, your socks out, your running gear out. Put your chip on your sneakers. Pack your bag and leave it ready. You will be barely coherent in the morning and you want to make sure you don't forget anything.

6)Take advantage of finish line goods. There are post-race massages set up at the finish line and free food for the runners. There is also water and some form of power drink.And, of course beer.

7) Stretch.As hard as this might be post-race make sure you take 5 to 10 minutes to stretch it will help you in the long run. If you have a friend along, ask them to help you stretch.

8) Pose for posterity. It is an awesome thing you are doing. Take a moment to enjoy it and snap a photo with your finisher medal. You will want to have that memory. The marathon also hires a professional service that takes photos during the marathon which you can order.

9) Soak. Some people say soak in a cold bath. I personally can't stand cold water. Instead I take a hot bath in Epsom salt for as long as the water stays warm.

10) Sleep. After all, it's been a hard day's run and your body needs time to repair itself. So leave yourself plenty of time to sleep cause it'll be really hard to get up once you start dozing.

A story to inspire you

If you're looking for something to inspire you during the marathon or half marathon, read the story of Matt Long in the March issue of Runner's World magazine. He was a firefighter and Ironman triathlete until he was crushed by a bus. He was not expected to live. But less than three years later, and after more than 40 surgeries, he finished the New York City Marathon.

The weather forecast is looking a little better. The chances of precipitation aren't strong until 10 a.m., and then it's likely to be light rain. That means the half marathoners and leaders of the marathon pack could be finished by the time the showers come. For the rest of us, a little light rain could be refreshing.

Good luck, everyone. Enjoy every step of the journey.