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Frank Shorter, the last USA Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist. |
Your mind can't know what's coming. ~Frank Shorter
You the know the saying, "You only get one chance to make a first impression", well my first marathon sure made an impression on me. So much so that once it was over I took a complete week off from running but after that I got right back into it, hardcore and thus I stayed in marathon training mode. I just couldn't accept the way it went down and felt like I needed to run another one. However, after the race I talked to any number of marathoners that I know and surprisingly, almost to a person they all had almost an exact experience with their first marathon. They have all gone on to run dozens and dozens at elite level times, something I have no illusion of ever attaining, but it was somewhat comforting to hear from others that I wasn't alone with my first marathon experience. I had also heard that it is common for those whose first marathon doesn't go well to want to do another one right away, but I was cautioned from doing that. It is such a long distance and your body really should only go through that a few times a year at best and running right away for "revenge" or however you want to look at it, is the wrong reason. With that in mind I still kept up my training and after a few months, with a clearer mind, I decided since I was in marathon shape that I will do one more and that's it for 2013.
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| Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest. |
Well work has now sent me to the Pacific Northwest for the time being, Seattle to be exact, and so I started looking at all the marathons in June and early July in the area. A few really intrigued me but were already sold out. I finally settled on a marathon in Vancouver, Washington on Sunday, June 16. Vancouver is right across the river from Portland, Oregon and hundreds of miles away from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. So as much as I was disappointed in my first marathon, I didn't feel the need to run away to Canada, I'm staying right here in the USA.
This map shows Vancouver in relation to Portland and the Columbia River separating the two states. The race goes mostly near the shoreline of Vancouver both west and east of the city. After all 26.2 miles is a long ways. I have spent a little time in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver seems to be the antithesis as it appeared to me that everyone in Portland had sleeves of tattoos and blue hair or another weird color. Coupled with the number of bumper stickers and signs that read "Keep Portland Weird" and "Portland Normal", I realized that for me, I will stay on the north side of the Columbia. Sorry Portland.
A view of the Vancouver Skyline at night.
Vancouver is, supposedly, not as rainy as Seattle but rain won't bother me. The hills on the back half of the course will be the challenge. Including a very long and steep hill around Mile 19. But that is where the marathon will be made for me because I am choosing to do this and thus in order to accomplish my goal I am going to try and embrace that hill as best as I can. Easy to say now for sure, but if you hear a torrent of expletives that day in the wind, it's probably me running up that thing. However I have done a lot more hill work this last month in preparation or should I say, hope.
The race used to be the Run to Fort Vancouver. Sure to conjure nice memories of Fort Michlimackinac for me. Hey 26.2 is along way, you think about a lot of things. Whatever gets you through.
I have a much different mindset for this marathon, Boston is not on my mind at all. I think I may have put too much pressure on myself trying to qualify and as awesome as it would be to be in Boston next spring due to what happened this year, I just don't think it's possible for me, yet. So I plan to run this race at my own pace and just want to run hard, start to finish, without hopefully any issues this time. I can try again next year.
Town Square, the start and finish of the race.
I have greatly appreciated all of the support I received from everyone for the last marathon both before and the aftermath. I guess it was really just another life lesson in that you can plan, work hard and do everything "right" and things can still go awry. Not the easiest thing to accept, even today, but I have made peace with it and I'm ready for Round Two! Whatever the results this time, I truly can take solace in all the hard work and training I have put into to it. Which is summed up nicely by the greatest distance runner in American history, Steve Prefontaine:
"You have to wonder at times what you are doing out there. Over the years I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started; self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement."
Before the Phoenix Marathon I had wondered what would happen when it was over, if I would stop running or slow it down or what. Obviously I feel the need to try again, but I definitely have come to grips with feeling a sense of accomplishment in the journey and enjoying myself when I do run every day. Let's face it running for me in many ways is just a metaphor for my life. Everyone has challenges and we each have our own way of getting through them. I just know that I am very fortunate to have great family and friends supporting me and good health, health enough to even attempt another marathon. In many, many ways I am very blessed. With all of that I vow to make a much better second impression on the Marathon, it will never wash away the first one, but it can make up for it for sure.
Dan P., sorry we aren't running this one together. Now Trucker Todd, where are you, because it's going to be time to celebrate!!!
Fire Up!
High atop Phoenix, it will be with me in spirit.
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