I took my phone with me today for a few images -- this is crossing over the Huguenot Bridge overlooking the James River.
I could be mad. I could be sad. I could feel sorry for myself.
But this isn’t the time for any of that. If I’m hard on myself or upset about how today went, I would be doing a disservice to myself.
Another view of the James River. This is along River Road.
Today I overcame some crazy challenges that life has thrown at me in the past month and finished the Richmond Marathon in 4:45. In what was easily the worst race when it comes to pace, I can’t be disappointed with pushing through it.
I left whatever was remaining in me after all this training and knee problems and recent illness on that course today. Sure my knee gave me hell — it started bothering me about 3 miles in, and I was oh-so close to just packing it in a few miles later. But when I saw my wife at the first party zone, I just kept going.
I started walking through the water stops very early on and after those first stops through the halfway point I would feel pretty good. Through mile 16 or so, I took a walk break for about 30 seconds or so at some point in every mile up until about mile 19.
The Lee Bridge. Easily the worst stretch of the race.
For the last several miles I did a run-walk as best I could: I would run until my back and legs would tighten up. Then I’d walk for a quarter mile or so. I was pleasantly surprised that my mile times were staying between 13-14 minutes.
Just before mile 25 I saw a familiar face as my wife had walked from the finish line to meet me. I had sent her a text near mile 23 saying I’d probably be close to 45 minutes before I got to the finish. Then for about 3/4 of a mile she stuck with me during my run-walk. It was truly a special moment in this tough day.
You can tell a lot from my splits. Things were actually rolling along just fine until halfway, but at mile 20 it pretty much unraveled: 9:09, 8:57, 9:29, 9:59, 9:44, 9:36, 9:28, 9:15, 9:20, 9:22, 10:08, 9:54, 10:09, 9:45, 9:41, 10:16, 10:50, 11:47, 11:45, 13:50, 14:02, 14:01, 13:18, 12:52, 12:59 and 15:36 (final 1.2).
After I decided to stick with it, I made a big mental shift to do whatever I had to do to make myself not suffer too much pain and to prevent too much damage to my body. Seven hours after the fact, my lower part of my body is feeling like it should after a marathon and my knee hurts like everything else does. I hope that’s a good thing.
There are a lot of other things on my mind with how today went, but I am a marathoner for the second time. And nobody can take that away from me.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Love you! Glad I could share the day with you!!
It says a lot about who you are for sticking with this marathon today. I for one am very proud of you and not just becasue I'm your mom. Congratulations for a brave finish!!
Congratulations! Finishing is so impressive and tells a lot about your character.
Wow, well done pushing through this injury and this tough situation; it takes a lot of character, fortitude and courage to do what you did! Well done. I wonder if in 10 year (after many more marathons) that you will look back on this one as a seminal moment. Well done!
It was my first marathon today, and I was just hoping to finish - and I did, so glad, so happy!
It was a beautiful day, and I give you a ton of credit for doing what you did.
Well done.
Peter Carey+
Kudos for putting it all out there and finishing! I am inspired.
I have to admit that I got a little teary reading your recap and I have to say that I am really impressed with your determination! Way to go David!!
You are a true inspiration, David. Congratulations on not giving up!!
Wow you're a tough one to keep it moving when the pain began at mile 3. I know the mental struggle you were having, it's not fun or easy to deal with. Glad you found the finish line through that pain. Ice up, eat up, & rest up! Congratulations!
A huge congrats to you David! It says a lot about you for hanging in there and pushing through!! And how wonderful that your wife joined you for the final mile - really special!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Friday Shout Outs =-.
Congratulations! I'm glad you stuck with it and didn't throw in the towel. Now take this time and rest! You've earned it.
Definitely a tough day - as can be expected. Congrats on making it through smartly (it sounds).
Next goal is getting to 1000!
Nice work David. I hope the healing process goes well.
Cheers,
- Fitz.
Congrats for finishing — and while not your goal, still a good finish time. Hopefully you can take some time to rest now and let your knee heal!
Thanks everyone for all the comments so far. They mean so much to me!
Congrats on a gutsy performance David, I truly believe, as others have said or implied, that it is the races that don't go well, that you have every reason to DNF, that really show our character, and you showed a lot by earning your second marathon finish after a tough season of training.
Great work David, congrats on finishing, even if you didn't get the time you would have liked. It says a lot just that you were able to finish, considering everything else. It sounds like you've got an awesome wife who is very supportive, and that's just great too!
Now, good luck with that recovery!
.-= Brandon´s last blog ..Old Habits Die Hard =-.
congrats on finishing! that is an awesome acheivement!
I've read a lot of marathon recaps and many of them leave me feeling sad for the runner because they beat themselves totally up over their time. Rather than being happy with their accomplishment, they give in to the numbers game. I think finishing a second marathon (even a first) is fantastic! It takes courage, commitment, and pure heart to push through pain.
Congratulations David on a job well done!!! You continue to inspire me with your determination and perseverance! I look forward to the day of my very own first marathon next year! Take care of that knee! Hug Christina for me- she is a fabulous woman- and it ROCKS that she did the last mile with you!
YOU ROCK!
Well done David!
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