Yes, Another Marathon!!

This past week marked the very end of my latest training regimen as I prepared for the Camp Pendleton Marathon. I think it is safe to say I am now addicted to running marathons!!! I may need a 12 step program as I have traded my compulsive gambling addiction in for marathon running. I am being a bit facetious but there could be some truth in those words. In the past 11 months I have now run 4 marathons bringing my career total to 9. I can still remember my first marathon back in 2002 when I completely disappointed myself with my performance. When I finished that marathon I was more upset than anything else now 7 years later and 8 marathons since I was anything but disappointed when I completed the marathon on Saturday. I didn’t achieve my time goal of 3 hours and 20 minutes but that didn’t matter and even the fact that my family wasn’t waiting for me at the finish line didn’t bother me either. I was more than happy to run 26.2 miles on a military base covering very prime real estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

This marathon was different than any other I have run for several reasons. One of those reasons was the fact that it was on a Saturday which was interesting and not so bad. Another reason was the fact that it was filled with rolling hills. When I completed the Arizona Rock n’ Roll Marathon back in January I was looking for a marathon that was relatively flat and run prior to the San Diego Rock n’ Roll Marathon at the end of May. I thought the Camp Pendleton Marathon was relatively flat because there wasn’t much of an elevation change but I was woefully wrong!! There may not have been much of an elevation change but there were certainly hills are through the course.

I arrived on the military base well in advance of the marathon and was impressed with the large size of the facility. It is truly a world unto to itself and I have always respected the wonderful men and women who serve this country but seeing this up close gave me new found respect. This was the very first time this marathon was run and I was very impressed with the organization. I had only run one other first time marathon which was the Arizona Rock n’ Roll Marathon back in 2004 which wasn’t a very good experience. The marathon this past Saturday was a wonderful experience and it was a very intimate affair. There were only 450 participants who made the start very easy and I certainly enjoyed the fact of not having to wait for the outhouses!! This maybe lost by those of you who have never run in an event like this but not having to wait for the outhouses does make a world of difference.

I was very moved as the “Colors” were presented 10 minutes prior to the start and I took a couple of deep breaths mentally preparing myself for the 26.2 miles which lay ahead of me. The gun sounded and off everyone went towards the Pacific Ocean into a fairly strong headwind. I completed the first mile in a very quick 7 minutes and thought I was moving much too fast but the next few miles ahead would set the tone for the entire race. I was just about on pace but the rolling hills caused my pace to be very erratic and as the headwind strengthened I knew my goal time would be fleeting very quickly. The headwind lasted just until the halfway point and it was so strange as I headed in the other direction it was as if the wind had been turned off. Instead of a headwind I thought there would be a tailwind but this tailwind was very quiet. I could feel the sweet building on my forehead and seeping into my eyes.

I did my best to take in the scenery with the big beautiful Pacific Ocean on my left and as I made the turn back it was on my right. There really wasn’t much else to look at and I did my best to get into a rhythm but this rhythm was very elusive. It became apparent that I would not be qualifying for the Boston Marathon as I finished the 21st mile. My mile pace had slowed considerably and I didn’t have much left in my legs. I didn’t want to quick but I just couldn’t get back to the pace I needed to finish the marathon in my goal time. Again this didn’t matter; what mattered most was the fact I was actually running and enjoying every footstep.

I finished the race in what was my worst time in the past 11 months but I was very happy. I covered the 26.2 miles in 3 hours and 26 minutes but I was energized crossing the finish line. I found out later on that I finished 3rd in my age category and yes, there were more than 3 participants in the category!! There were actually 22 participants in my age category and overall I finished 29th out of 450 people. This really isn’t so bad for an old man and yes, I intend on running my fifth marathon in the last twelve months next month as I enter the San Diego Rock n’ Roll Marathon for the fourth time. I think it is only fitting that my very first marathon will be the marathon I actually qualify for the Boston Marathon. I really have no idea and I just read an article about others who are and have tried to qualify for the Boston Marathon to no avail. These people have tried at least 12 times and finally qualified so I don’t feel so bad having only attempted three times so far!! In any event I am running in a mere month and I know I will enjoy every moment along the way.

My family wasn’t at the finish line because Saturdays are filled with baseball and softball games and the logistics of getting down to the marathon were too much. My son competed in his baseball game and that didn’t go so well for his team as they were held hitless for the first time all season. I did make it back for my daughter’s softball game and her team didn’t do so well either. This was the last regular season game of the year and my daughter’s team only one won game all year. However; my daughter’s attitude has gotten so much better over the past few weeks and her pitching performance was excellence only giving up one run in her only inning. It was the first time all year she only gave up one run and her team even backed her up during that inning. She was very happy but there was an altercation with a player from the other team who didn’t play very “nicely”. I did my best to console my daughter and it seemed to work.

This was another wonderful week through and through and on Sunday I attended the Gamblers Anonymous meeting which was very good. On Monday I attended the Speaker’s Meeting which was also very good and life is moving so well as recovery is wonderful. I am also helping someone in our program at work and I get to play “counselor” three times a week which is much better than my “real” job during the day. It is amazing how things work it and my life is working out exceptionally well.