Marathon

Steamtown Marathon--I have, as I said I would, compleated it. It proved more of a mental and physical challenge then I had anticapted in the latter miles, but I have compleated it. And there may be typos but even today I am just to tired to correct them. This basically tells of my exploits.

Day 1, Departure to Steamtown (which is a portion of Scranton).

We left here a little late then we wanted to (all runners that I know have that problem for some reason). We went into the "Courtyard" hotel. We missed it the first time and ended up at the race Expo. Which they see cloting, sunglasses, etc. and give out cupons for messages...some times it is good being a runner!

Well the place was held in an ampetheater which had a huge tent. They have a stage that holds conserts. It was windy and cold in that tent. I bought a pair of tights which were about $10 cheaper at the expo and the price was only $30, then the guy sold them to me for $20. So I made out good there.

I then picked up my packet wich included my long sleeve T-shirt and "chip" wich is a small . . . "chip" thing that was attached to a velcro band and you put it on your ankel. That chip gives you actual time. (more explained about this latter).

Then they had a map of the course up...really long...and we left before we got any colder.

We then (2 tries latter) got to our hotel. We missed a very small sighn that was camoflaushed with the bushes. We noticed the gorgous bushes but didn't notice the sighn.

We got out rooms and went to the lunchon. My parents didn't realized that it was pasta, salad, and cake only. Even though I told them...but what do I know, I am only the runner...

Then we went to the hotel and I saw the end of "The Clumps" very funny... you have to see it (at least the ending) they will not show parts of that ending on cable TV if they ever even have it aired on it.

Then it was the "Pasta Party". Which was held at a ski lodge. I was once told I would end up there, well I was there...just not for skiing. I am not big...ok I can care less about skiing, but will support others who do the sport.

After that it was only a matter of time before I fell a sleep. I also bet Zelda: Oracle of Ages that evening. Now I just have to get Oracle of Seasons.

Day 2: 26.2 mils of fun!

Woke up at 5:30 AM and got ready for the race. Ate some of the "Energy Crunch" cereal and went down stairs in the lobby and boarded the "Shuttle" for the race. Hugged and kissed my mom good-bye.

It was really cold out that morning. And very dark. I was nervous for my first race. The driver dropped us off at Scranton and told us to walk down the block and make a right to board the busses for the race. A 45 minute drive until we ended up if "Forest City".

Along the way, there were some people that were pre-pairing the water stops and waved "hi" to all the busses. It was at that time when I appreciated them more. Especially when they were out there about an hour early.

We arrived at the school. Me and another guy got off and the bus was told to drive around the school. I don't know why but we were told to go to a "station" to pre-pair for the races. They had sepreat "stations" to control 1600+ runners. They had runners in the gym and had some pre-race messages, which btw was all "donated" to the race and no one (not even the race) had to pay. There are a lot of good people out there. And all are very greatly appreciated.

After a short hour we were called to the start. The race was dedicated to the people who lost their lives in the attack on this nation. And a priest held mass (I didn't attend because I am protesant and the catholic religion is much differnt then mine) but at the start of the race he gave a prayer that all religions could pray. The mayor of the town welcomed us and a cannon was fired by the fire chief and the race started. From where I was at it took me several seconds to get to the start (that is why we have the chip, which times us as soon as we leave the start and enter the finish). And IF we lost it (which is highly unlikely) or forgot to put it on, then we would get no "finish" time.

The race started on a very...VERY...cold day. It was about 40 degrees out but the wind chill...that is what would mess alot of runners up, even me.

The race went threw several towns. Each had bands or DJ's playing and people cheering us on. There was a camera guy, kneeling on the ground with his camera to get a good shot and I didn't see him for I was in a thinck pack. I saw an opeing and though, I will get around this guy who is slowing me down. I nearly powed over the news camera guy. Came about six feet infront of him and it usually take me about ten feet to stop. I was fortunate to duck back in my spot for it wasn't taken.

There were a lot of high school bands playing. The frist half of the marathon was fun, but I was in the back of the pack, a place I was rarely in. I couldn't believe how some of these other runners behave. Standing on the road to pee. Their back was turned but they were peeing over a guard rail for crying out loud. And any "normal" runner would crawl in the bushes to go. All those people I basically dusted in the whole race.

Around mile ten, I was with a small group of runners and I said (since they were jokeing as they run) "Is it just me, or is this a long 5K?" The guy in front of me laughed and the others gigled a little. We then headed towards and under pass where 7 or 8 people about 40 feet on the bridge were on the bridge cheering us on. This race, whith the cheering was un-real.

Shortly after that I tried to take a half of bananna from a kid but couldn't grasp it. I didn't realize that my hads were even numb like that. I had to slow down to take a bananna half from another kid. I ate it for I know that in cold weather my calve's cramp up, and banannas help prevent that. Shortly after words I felt a "twitch" which was a warning.

It wasn't even at the half way mark when I seen the first person walk. I knew that he was about to have a tough race if he didn't compleat it. In this weather, if you stop, you legs will easily cramp up. And you may not even finish at all.

At the half way mark the road was ripped up and it was un-comfortable to run on. And I said to my self, "Ok, this is where all my traing boils down to Lockey. This is now the testament of your how much you really want this. And now it gets serious." Then there was a band playing "It's A Small World After All" and I sung to my self "It's a Small RACE After All"

Around mile 16, a guy was offering some Advil at a water stop. And I thought that "I am luck that I am OK, my luck was about to run out...

It was at mile 18 that I would start to have some serious problems that would really slow me down. being that I was new in marathoning, the race was hard enough.

Mile 18 my legs started to get tired and I walked a little to give them a break. Then at mile 19 I had to go for a "number 2" and just couldn't squat in some ladies bushes for it was a populated area. Then I starte to crap so I had to walk before it would all blow out. That would be a "bad thing" with 7 miles left.

Well by the time I found a "job johnny" I didn't have to go, but walking about a half mile with cold wind blowing at my legs, I got cramps that would force me to walk for several miles. I did "speed" walking wich is the fastest I could go. I tried to stretch but then another leg muscle started to cramp when I stretched one.

It was not easy to walk for 4-miles. I felt "weak" but kept going. At mile 20 (which was only a 10K until the finish) the clock read 2hr 32min and ?? seconds. I had about an hour and a half to beat my 4hr goal time. I figure that it tooke me about 77minutes and some seconds to compleat that last 10K. Then to make it worse, at mile 21 I started to see snow flurries. "Snow flurrie's is the last thing I need, I need warmpth." Then I saw some guy laying on a small grassy hill in shorts and a tang top. "What is he doing? I am freezeing and I have spandex on and a long sleave T-shirt" I said to my self. I asked if he was ok and he waived us on and said that is was fine and he glanced at his watch. I had to stop at and under pass, which served as a wind block, and I stretched the sore muscles. And I jogged a little until the pain returned.

People were offering chocolate, water, gatoraid- which I didn't need.

As I sturggled to keep moveing, mile after gruleing mile of pain I knew that I had to keep walking, for if I stopped, then I would cramp up much more. And then I would not be able to compleat this race. My legs never fealt pain like this before. My feet were hurthing for I wasn't walking on them proplerly to avoid carmping. I was filled with energy, but just couldn't run. I slowed down several times but then sped up to as fast as I could go. This was definatly the hardest part of the whole race that I have had. I stopped takeing gatoraid at every stop for it cooled my body even more.

Finally, at the end of mile 23, a lady was offering some of the crame that would help stop cramping. My hands were numb, and I had to pull up my spandex pants leg to apply it. She put a tone of it on my had but bing numb 2/3 of it fell on the fround with a "plop". After applying it, I was able to jog, and walk and eventrually was able to run at mile 25.

When I saw the sign infront of rail road tracks that read "mile 25" once again I started to get terry eyed in both pain and happy ness. Then something came over me. Alot of people said that something changes on your frist marathon. I was not immune to this. For the first time all the negative things people has done to me and has said, fueled me and helped me compleat the race.

At mile 13.1 (half way) they took the surface of the road off to "re-surface" it ant that was irritateing to run on. All un eaven. There was a band playing "It's a small world after all" and I sung some altered lyrics to my self "It's a small RACE after all"

"This last mile goes out to all those who thought I couldn't do this. And to those who mocked me, and those bastards who tormented me."

That line stuck in my head for the final mile. I took off my long sleeve shirt and tied it around my waist (I had to have my race number visable to finish. Which was on my sleeve less shirt. I also, as side of my number had a red, white, blue ribbon to symbolize my partiotism.

Then my legs took off and I slowly approched the final (but smallest) hill which read

"Sorry!

Last Hill"

Then at the top it read,

"Now
Book it!"

And that is what I did. I saw the finish line about a half a mile away. On the way, as I was crossing threw an intersection a huge gust of wind hit me on the left side and nearly had me lose my balance, but I kept on going. I then said to my self, "I really did it. I actually compleated this race. And I am finally here". As I saw people on both sides cheer me on. And slowly I out sprinted two runners. I finished with 9 minutes and 56 seconds to spair. I was now done.

There were two lines of people, about 10 on each side. Most cheered and congratulated me. One on the right side took off my chip, then a kid put the "finishers" medal around my neck (which is a heavy bugger) then another offered me gatoraid but I refused. I needed to breath before I could drink. And finally another person put the shiny, thermal cape around my back to keep my warm. I slowly walked, and I heard my mom call me but I was just so tired to turn around. I was just like a zombie.

I grabbed some of Mrs. T's Perogies and ate them (even a piece of broccolie, which was a first, and the carrots) I threw some of the cleary out and ate the rest. My hands were numb, my legs about to give out on me, but I was happy...even though I was ready to be fitted with a coffin.

I then left the finish area and stood in the street like a zombie and my dad got a picture of me. I looked up and smiled as he caught me looking like I was about to drop.

My mom went to the truck to get my coat but finally remeberd that I took it to the start. The race officials put it in a bag, marked my number on it wich was 880 and then sent it to the finish. I then heard the church bells from a church that was behind me ring the 12 o'clock chimes. I smiled as I know that I had beaten my goal, which was to finish by noon.

My parents said they would be in the Mc Donalds. I went to walk it off and was attracted to the church that rung the bells. I had seen it on TV from the air but never up close. I couldn't get in, but by the church they had the baggage. So I got my coat then saw my time. The "gun time" was 3hr 50min and 04 seconds. I had about a several minute wait to get to the start so the time is off a couple seconds. My real time is 3hr 49min and 19sec and my place is 616 out of 1350 that compleated it. (There were over 1600 people registered. I think 1698, but I am not sure. In those amount of people they either didn't show or they dropped out mid-race or were injured.

I met my parents in the Mc Donalds. I told them that I was going to get some Gatoraid, which was in the Medical Tent. As I was leaveing I saw a runner on a wheel chair wich bandages on both knees down to his legs. There was some blood on his knees that was seaping threw. That is the worst running injury that I have ever seen.

We then left the cold friged place and went home, and that is all I have to tell. Even threw the four and a half miles of pain, I am still happy that I went. After compleating something such as a marathon you feel better.

And to all those people that have teased me and have made a joke of me and my training then, to hell with you. For I can do some thing that alot of people wont ever get a chance to do.

This all started from one mile in gym class. That mile made me decided to join the track team and then the cross country (running) team. And now this! The memory of this race shall live with me forever. As the same can be said about all my first races.

People often ask me "Why do I run?" the answer is that I truely enjoy it. Sure it is nuts...I mean 26.2 miles is just crazy! I am just simply...Boarn to Run!

On the way home, I want to add, I got a chill when I heard that Bush sent missles over the Afsganastan. I watched the news yesterday and didn't hear about any planned attack. Just that "time is running out". It remeinds me of how lucky we are to live is such a peacefull nation. But I was also relived to hear that we were helping the people of that nation. One thing that we must remember is that we are now after the Taliban, who kill their citizens. The Taliban are indeed, barbarians. When I first wrote this up, I didn't plan to saying this, but just had to.