COT "Ring of Fire" Marathon 2023

I didn’t think that running a marathon would be such an emotional experience

Key takeaways

• Know for a fact what your pace is
• Start slow
• It’s going to hurt. Keep running
• DON’T TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF

My first marathon was exhausting, emotional, and enjoyable. When race day came, I had the jitters initially and calmed myself down by:

1. Stretching
2. Saying “I’m just running, I’m just running”

Mile 0.
Before I began the race, I decided to pick someone and stay with them the whole run because I didn’t have a watch to know my pace... let's say...learning opportunity.

Mile 1.
The group of people I picked were running at about an 8-9 minute mile pace- when I was expecting a pace of 10:30-11:30. That painful first 13 miles I stayed with them hurt even more when I fell behind in the last 13 miles.

Mile 14.
I gave in and walked short stints because my mental resolve to keep running no matter what had begun to wear off. I guess it gave me a chace to look at the eclipse!

Mile 16.
My wife was waiting at the aid station. This is where I learned of my big why- and that crying and running don’t mix. Crying closes your throat- and you need that to breathe. Don’t cry. (while running)

Mile 18.
Let me preface, I am tall. Tall enough to be the tallest person running the race by a few inches. That being said, my stride is pretty long. While walk/running I found someone running slow enough (at a 12:30 pace), that I could speed walk behind them. We start talking, and she isn’t even running the race, she is running 8 miles. We became best friends. (I should have brought my card!)

Mile 22.
After my best friend plowed on ahead of me and out of sight I found another friend. Let’s call him Steven. Steven had taken the same approach as me; Running too fast in the beginning and getting worn out. He had been walking since mile 20 or so, so we enabled one another by walking. We got to chatting and made a pact to start running, and keep running, when we got to the aid station at mile 23. Deal.

Mile 23.
Water drank, gel boost downed, and salt on the brow Steven and I got to running. A few minutes in, Steven says to go on without me and stops on the side of the road. I turn back and quickly snap “No you’re coming”. He ushers me to go on ahead; That was a mistake, sorry Steven. I keep running. Alone.

Mile 24.
I embrace a walk/run style that leaves me passing people that are walking. I try and pass giving as much encouragement I can being 24 miles in on my first marathon.

Mile 25.
With the mentality “It hurts more to walk than to run” I ran as much as possible the last 1.2 miles.

Mile 26
Running at an above-average pace the last .2 miles, my sister and wife greeted me at the finish line.

Finish.
I cried when I finished—a lot. Thinking back, I can easily bring those tears forward.

When you’re running you can assume the state of your feet. An assumption is enough! Don’t take your shoes off when you’re running! The state of my blisters was worse than I could have imagined and knowing their state would not have helped me mentally. I needed to run

When you run a marathon, you’ll get asked “Are you going to run another?”. I don’t know is an acceptable answer. Sometimes, you don’t know what you’ll do until you do it- and even when you’re running, you’ll not be able to understand how significant each step forward is.

Until you’ve reached the finish.

Reach the finish line no matter what,

put all the cards on the table,

and give it your all,

it is worth it.