FINISHER!

I did it! I finished my first marathon today! Here are my official results from the Madison Marathon:

bib number:	1683
age:	40
gender:	M
location:	Sun Prairie, WI
overall place:	1113 out of 1191
division place:	98 out of 103
gender place:	705 out of 736
time:	5:14:35
pace:	11:58
10k:	1:09:18
half:	2:28:25
mile 18:	3:30:06
chip time:	5:13:38

I lined up at the start with the 5 hour pace group and stuck with them for the first 13.1 miles. That first half went great. I had to use the porta-potty at mile 6, which put me a little behind them, but I ran with a couple of nice ladies from Maryland that also had to stop, and we caught the group at the 8 mile marker. Unfortunately they were talkers, which when combined with the faster pace, really sucked the energy out of me. Still, we did catch them, and then it felt like we were just coasting after that.

I decided to run up ahead a little, knowing that my family was meeting me at the half way point. I stopped to hug everyone and then jumped back in with my group. That was the last time I spent with them. All the extra effort of catching up, running ahead, and stopping took their toll on me, and the 2nd half was a different race for me. It wasn't horrible, but I had to accept the fact that they were pulling away from me and my 5 hour goal wasn't going to be met today. Still, there was never a point when I felt like quitting. I always knew I could finish, so I set a new goal to finish in under 5:14 (chip time, since it took me over a minute to get to the starting line after the gun went off), which would put me under a 12:00/mile average pace.

This was a TOUGH course for me. My quads went to hell during the lonely run through the hills of the arboretum, and I pulled my groin a little just like I did last year. I was ready for pain this year, though, and popped a few Ibuprofen tablets and battled on. I also got a nasty blister on the ball of my right foot, but while I was running it just felt tiny pebbles in my shoe that I just couldn't seem to shake out.

I took water and Gatorade at every stop and stayed perfectly hydrated. I also took Gu whenever it was offered, and downed every one of them along with every one of the 4 that I was carrying. I never felt nutrition or hydration was an issue for me. This was just the longest run of my life and my first marathon, so I took it all in, learned a few lessons, and I'll be more prepared for the next one.

I have to give a shout out to my wife and kids, my parents, and my sister's kids, because they were out there for me at mile 13.1 and they were there at the finish line. My kids even came out and ran across the finish line with me, which was one of those great moments in my life.

I also have to give a HUGE shout out to my wife for being so supportive of my training. My long run days were tough for her, but she never said much about it, and just let me go about doing my thing so I could be as prepared as possible. I couldn't have done this without her, and now I have to do the same for her as she trains for the Ragnar relay, which we're doing in about 12 weeks.

Thanks also to those of you who take the time to read my blog and post your comments. You've also been very helpful and supportive, and I just want you to know you are appreciated.

I WILL run another marathon, but probably not this year. There's a new one starting in LaCrosse, WI next may, and since that's my home town, so that will probably be the one. It will be smaller, and certainly won't be as well organized, but I'm sure it will be great fun, and I'm sure my sister and brother-in-law will be running it just as they did here in Madison today.