Saturday, October 29, 2011

The Big House



I always knew I'd end up in The Big House, again. It was only a matter of time. Okay, we all know I'm not talking about the one in Jackson! At least I hope so, and if you the reader expected that one, then you may stop reading my blog now!

It's not very often free tickets fall into your lap. It's even more rare when those tickets are to my favorite team. When they do, it's very hard to pass them up. That's the situation I was put in the night before the game. There's something to be said about being spontaneous and before I knew it, the tickets were in my hands. CT had never been and it's probably been close to fifteen years since I had been.

The energy in a stadium with 110+ thousand people is special. Even CT, who I think was only doing this because of how much she knows I bleed Maze and Blue, was impressed. My favorite part was watching Michigan getting a sack for a safety and proceeding to "Woooooohoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo" long enough to I think embarrass CT. Next thing I know, I got put on a one "woho" limit. Seriously, girls just don't understand! I behaved for the rest of the game, but little does she know it was only because it wasn't a close contest. Had my team needed me, the rule would have been broken!

She did enjoy the band, which I knew she would. Honestly, I think she enjoyed the football too, at one point she said her heart was beating fast as Michigan almost scored. Her favorite part was the wave. With the game in hand, I knew it was only a matter of time before it started. Of course she enjoyed the normal wave, but once the student section put the wave in slow motion and she got to do it o.n.c.e (and you have to saaaaaaay that very sloooooowwwwwly as if in sloooooow mooooootion)...that sealed the deal, she'll go to another game with me. By then, maybe, even my one "woho" limit will even be lifted!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

26.2 Miles comes down to 4 (minutes)

Grand Rapids Marathon (the Bling)

Four friggin' minutes! We needed 224 to get CT's goal and we crossed the finish line at 228. I suppose going that whole distance and missing it by four seconds, would be worse, but it still seems awful damn close to me given the distance.

The race started with a storm. Dark, gloomy, rainy, why am I doing this again? It was cold, which only bothered me waiting for the start. I knew once we started, it would be a blessing. The rain was my main fear as I scanned the crowd. Running in wet shoes is horrible. Don't mind the snow, sleet, whatever, just keep my feet dry! Wasn't going to happen this day. Bang goes the gun and the with the surge we are off.

I attempted to enjoy the start more, feed off the excitement, take in the sites, but trying to keep adrenaline at a minimum. I'll be honest, in the back of my head were all the thoughts about hitting the wall at the first marathon, worrying about the missing miles because of the heat this summer as I dodged puddles. With the crowd the first mile turned out to be a little slower. The next few miles, things started to open up, mud puddle avoidance was easier, CT and I shared a couple of jokes and we found a rhythm. We didn't start right with the pace group we wanted to stay with, but I could see us gaining on them.

That's how it went until around mile ten. It felt like I was running very easy. We passed the pace group and it was about this time I asked how CT was doing. She said her hip was hurting her some and no sooner did she say that, then my knee started feeling a little weird. We both moved to the center of the road to avoid as much of the grade on the street as possible. It was also about this point the half marathoners turned off. I distinctly remember thinking to myself, how tempting it would be to turn off and be done in three miles, but the sense of pride I had as I continued forward.

Just before mile thirteen there was a little bit of a hill going down and a turn. It's here where my knee really began to hurt and I limped around that corner. Wow. Warning bells and lights started to go off. All the miles I've logged and it's never felt like this. Can I continue? Should I? I can't let CT down. This is about where the decline started in the first marathon. All those thoughts came rushing in my mind. Back on level ground and out of the turn, the pain was gone, maybe some discomfort, but better. Okay, lets see what happens.

Even with the pain, waist up, I felt great. It didn't feel like I was having to work very hard to maintain our pace. Though I was worried about my knee, my mind was more concerned that next stretch is where "The Wall" came and destroyed me last time. CT was beginning to struggle and it's somewhere in this stretch she told me "This is our last marathon". She wanted to start walking through the water stops and I did as well. Though, coming out of the water stops and beginning to run again my knee felt like it was grinding more gears than if I were to drive a stick-shift. It was at this point the marathon officially became survival. The goals get left behind and it simply becomes whatever you can do to finish. I knew we were getting slower and it was around mile seventeen our pace group passed us. I had visions flash back to the first marathon and the crushing defeat I felt when the pace group that I wanted passed me. This time, I was much more level headed. We had started well behind them and although we weren't exactly at the pace we wanted, we weren't walking.

It was around mile twenty that I told CT, I couldn't walk through the water stops anymore. It was too painful for me to start up again. The plan became I'd slow up my pace so she could catch up, but I had to remain moving. For as bad as my knee was doing, I actually felt very good because "The Wall" hadn't reared it's ugly head. I know the last six miles would be the worst, but getting here without breaking down, felt like a huge accomplishment and I could feel the confidence coming back. Even though we were in what I'd call defensive mode, at mile twenty were were at exactly the pace we needed to be at to get our goal. Prior to the run, CT and I discussed that if we were at twenty and weren't at our goal, we'd shut it down. Here we were, right at our goal, but both our bodies were struggling and I knew keeping the pace we had to would be next to impossible. Take away the pain, everything else the same, we could have done it. I know it.

Running isn't pretty. Anybody who looks good crossing the finish line, caught a bus and cheated (maybe not, but that's my theory)! Skip this paragraph if you are squeamish. This is going to get filed under WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION. Remember, I warned you. Prior to a marathon, I'm convinced there's nothing more important than a good poop. I spent a good thirty minutes in the morning doing everything possible to leave the biggest deposit I could. Even though I resorted to praying, I knew enough didn't come out. Well at just over mile twenty-two, the urge struck me. It wasn't just an urge though, it was all the bells and whistles of "you have ten seconds". I politely told CT to continue on without me as I stopped to contemplate what was going on. I seriously thought I was going to shit my shorts right there on the course. Believe me when I say that all my concerns about my knee were instantly gone. I don't know if it was fear of the scene I'd surely cause, excellent muscle control, divine intervention, or me using all the good karma I've tried to save up, but the shit decided it would wait. This makes the scene in Forrest Gump more classic as he cheerfully says "Shit Happens", luckily for me it didn't. I took a moment to stretch, then my concern became I've gone this far with CT, I have to catch her to finish with her.

The last mile felt like forever. Even with everything this marathon threw at me, the goal was still possible. I could pick up the pace and get darn close. Then I thought about the real goal and that was to cross the line with CT. That was the only thing that really mattered. Not much was said between us down the final stretch, both in pain, both tired, both wanting to be done hand in hand...that's the goal, 4 minutes didn't matter.



Even for missing the other goal, I don't feel bad. This was a much different marathon than the first one. Am I bummed about missing the time we wanted? Sure. But, I'm walking (make that hobbling) away with a much more positive outlook. Life is a learning experience and even though that first marathon was a disaster, I learned a few things. Applying those lessons this time around and seeing the improvements, helps when I evaluate my performance. In honor of those 4 damn minutes, here's the 4 lessons I learned:

1) Tape your nipples - I felt like a pure genius for doing this. As I waited for friends to cross the finish line, I was surprised at how many blood soaked shirts came across the line. Knew with it being cold, it would be a problem. Where I failed and will make adjustments, my rain soaked shorts and the chaffing on my thighs. Ouch.

2) Electrolytes - Maybe I'm stronger, maybe it was the cooler weather, but I'm convinced that drinking electrolytes instead of sticking with water the whole way is what prevented me from hitting the wall again. One bad marathon drinking only water, a much better second one drinking electrolytes, I'm sold.

3) After mile 20 anything goes - The G and PG rated conversation ceases to exist after mile twenty. Colorful four letter words come out to play. "Lets finish this f*cking thing!"

4) Promises - Whatever promises are made during a marathon, don't believe them. "This is our last marathon"....haha.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

It's Time



Fall is here and so is the Grand Rapids Marathon. I'm nervous. Where was this emotion last marathon? Though I complained last marathon lacked emotion, I did feel confident, probably over confident, heading into it. This marathon is flat, the weather is going to be cooler, I'm running faster, and last I checked the distance is the same, 26 (.2), where are these nerves coming from?

The plan is different this time. Gone is the plan of running as hard as possible, then dealing with whatever energy is left to finish the race. Also gone is the thought of running the race for me. This time, CT and I are going to stick together. Maybe that's really where my nerves come from, last marathon when I broke down, it was only myself. This time around, there's added pressure of not letting CT down. But with that also comes the strength of having her near me. Last time CT and I entered a race with this plan, it was by far our best race. She's still convinced Superwoman took over her body that day and ran the race for her. Lightning doesn't strike twice, but I'd sure take it if it does.

CT set a lofty goal for herself of finishing under 3 hours 45 minutes. No added pressure, huh? Track us Live HERE.