Our First Race (2008)
Tommy arrived at my apartment in Myrtle Beach the night before the race and we made the short commute to Broadway at the Beach the next morning. It was not as cold as it was the year prior when I covered the event as a stringer writer for The Sun News – staying outside in below freezing temperatures for three hours was far from my brightest idea.
There was a lot going on. The Coastal Carolina University pep band was playing as the race day announcer scrolled through his list of sponsor thank yous over the P.A. system. At 6:00 a.m. participants warmed up feverishly.
I was in a state of perplexity.
I remember being just as confused carrying around a clipboard looking for eye-catching stories in 2007 but I guess you don’t know what to expect until you experience the actual running of the race for yourself.
Regardless, we didn’t know where to lineup. We took a conservative route when guessing our pace and moved back to the 4:30 (Marathon) pace marker.
That was rookie mistake No. 1.
We got through the first mile in just under 10 minutes and finally set in to a decent pace once we hit Ocean Blvd. We had no idea what we were doing (Tommy would claim otherwise because he always has a plan) but all I knew was I was on an adrenaline high from the spectators that lined the streets offering words of encouragement. We even had our own support group. Our cousin made the trip over from Sumter and joined my roommate to offer words of encouragement.
Tommy, six years my elder, repeatedly told me to slow down fearing a potential burn out, but my unorthodox running style has only one pace, comfortable.
I was close to a quarter mile ahead of Tommy mile marker 10 when my ankle reminded me that I knew nothing about running. I trained in an old pair of basketball shoes and wanted to look more like a runner on race day – deciding to go with a lighter (no shoe lace) slip on Puma.
Rookie mistake No. 2.
Tommy caught up with me down the stretch beating me by several strides claiming the inaugural crown “Ripke Run”. I credit his wisdom and strategy but to this day continue to claim I am an experiential learner (I beat Tommy last year.)
Limping around the parking lot of BB&T Coastal Field - home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans – waiting for the results to be posted I had never been so exhausted in my life. No sporting event I ever participated in had left me so lifeless.
Running my first marathon before the age of 21 I could not enjoy an ice cold beer to quickly replenish the lost carbs from running 13 miles. Instead I loaded up on Powerade and crackers and fresh fruit provided by the Bi-Lo Grocery.
Rookie mistake No. 3.
When I got back to my apartment I decided to take a nap after showering and sucking down close to 100 ounces of electrolyte-enhanced drinks. Coupled with my annoyance for stretching the nap was a bad idea.
Rookie mistake No. 4.
I found out that not only does training help you during the race, but it probably helps you more following the race. I couldn’t walk without pain for nearly a week and had to crawl up the stairs and inch my way down. Needless to say I took close to a full month off from exercising waiting for my body to recover.
Lessons Learned From The ’08 Race
1. Start training earlier, 10 weeks wasn’t enough.
2. Wear running shoes, they’re made for things like this.
3. Line up closer to the front; be the traffic, don’t make the traffic.
4. Train with a watch, set a pace and keep it.
5. Bring dry clothes to put in your car, cold sweat is more painful than the race itself.
6. Stretch more, you’ll hurt less
7. Turn 21 quick. Free Breakfast beer at the finish line.
8. No immediate nap, stay on your feet and walk it out.
Signing off… bedtime in Bellevue.
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