Country Music Marathon 2012: Heat, Sun, Hills and Home...
The sky turned a deep pink and purple as the first rays of dawn pierced the night sky, sitting at Starbucks at 5:15 am. It was race day- Country Music race day, for the city of Nashville and those involved it is a very special day. A day that is fueled by the participants and volunteers and bands and countless police and emergency staff that strike out before dawn to make it happen. It is an almost mystical experience. The atmosphere is rich with nervous yet happy energy... we are all here because we want to be... I however am not there yet... the Hawk is late, or Brian lost his keys or his wife changed her mind about picking me up. I fidgeted and drank my coffee calling the Hawk to no avail. They pulled up 5 minuted before I had decided my wait threshold was over.
I jumped in as we tooled to down town Nashville and were dropped of as near to the start as possible. It was already warm, I noted the sky - it looked like it was going to be one of those brilliant warm days perfect for most everything... except marathons. I shook it off prepped in the park and broke away from my compatriots who were a few corrals back.
I always pee in Centennial Park before the marathon, usually I don't have company- but today I had plenty, of both genders, we all sort of looked up awkwardly. Portapotty lines are for more serious calls.
I got to the start in corral one, and after the national anthem, we were off. I felt smooth and calm- this was all business. The miles clicked by and I made sure to drench my Fleet Feet Nashville Cheetah spotted yellow race jersey at every aid station. My plan was to pre-cool as best I could. It was going to be a scorcher. I cranked out mile after mile in the 6:30s and felt like I was still holding back.
The bands and crowds melted with the orange peels and music from my ipod, I was now in the rhythm of the race. The first part of the race behind me, I set my sights on the 2nd portion - basically an out and back to a non descript part of town heading toward Metro Center. Here the crowds are minimal and a runner must run... in some ways alone. I like it it's a great chance to click in ever further. I remember thinking - this is my home, I know these streets I know everything about them I can do this. This... for me was a fairly modest time goal - I am no road marathoner- I wanted a 2:50 or somewhere south of 3 hours for a PR.. I had certainly put in ths miles and speed work - all I needed was everything else to not go completely wrong HA!
Coming out of Metro Center at the turn around I noticed a thin crowd ahead of me, I thought it odd. I also noticed some very accomplished runners struggling. I caught several of the and passed them heading to the bridge. One bald runner, who was obviously a strong marathoner, stepped up with me as I made my pass, I knew we had a mile climb to Nashville Running Company -where my wife and boy would be waiting with a Red Bull at about 18. I asked if he wanted to work the hill together and we did, like 2 cyclists taking turns - we alternated lead and worked until we came upon a struggling runner. He was bent at the waist and spittle dripped from his lips, but as we passed he wrenched himself up and joined pace. He held until I saw Julia and my boy and then disappeard.
Seeing them was like a shot of adrenaline- I grabbed the Red Bull and shouted and smiled, I love you!" The streets of East Nashville dogged and cut left as we now were descending to 5th St. where we would begin our final push. My watch had crapped out, (as usual) so I now ran on feel- when I realized it, I burst into laughter. I knew this was a good sign. Early in the race I prayed for Christ to give me his heart for the run... I did not want to be afraid of the pain. I felt the heart of a lion as the miles clicked on inside my chest as I began to feel my body heat up. As I passed the aid station for mile 20 I found myself shouting, "salvation in Christ alone: and holding up a single finger to anyone who would look my way. Oh yeah. It was on.
I passed 2 more runners on the out part of the stick of the lolly pop - the final part of the marathon - Shelby Bottoms Park. I entered the park and was now starting to overheat - my legs were hot and my breath was no longer controlled. I kept digging and passed 2 more runners on the backside of the park.
Dan Sheehan- a man who shows up at the most opportune times, he had been at mile 19 or so. He jumped out shaking his fist and telling me to go. Dan is one invividual I can point to who helped me get into running in the first place.
Out of Shelby Bottoms I saw mile 23 and heading to 24 I recall a moment of intense clarity - and an inner voice - "OK now let it go... let it hurt." And hurt it did as I stopped holding any reserves pounding the pavement, raking my constitution for extra give. I could see a female runner a quarter mile ahead of me. She was rolling as was I. I recall thinking, I am gonna try to catch her, but then a quick thought of "what are you crazy this HURTS" I dug in as I saw her start to weeve back and forth across the heat waves on the pavement. We were less than 2 miles from the finish. I took the hard right back on to 5th Street which meant the last climb of the race and I began to notice the gap was closing. Near the crest Dan Sheehan emerged again. All I remember is he held up 9 fingers, look right into my eyes and said "Ninth". I was ninth? What, I shook it off and beared my teeth and began a gutteral all out attack on the finish- I passed her on the descent and hit the shoot at a full sprint and left nothing on the table... 2:56:14, 8th overall and first Tennessean.
Thanks to Fleet Feet Sports Nashville for sponsoring me and Swiftwick for making exceptional running socks.
The sky turned a deep pink and purple as the first rays of dawn pierced the night sky, sitting at Starbucks at 5:15 am. It was race day- Country Music race day, for the city of Nashville and those involved it is a very special day. A day that is fueled by the participants and volunteers and bands and countless police and emergency staff that strike out before dawn to make it happen. It is an almost mystical experience. The atmosphere is rich with nervous yet happy energy... we are all here because we want to be... I however am not there yet... the Hawk is late, or Brian lost his keys or his wife changed her mind about picking me up. I fidgeted and drank my coffee calling the Hawk to no avail. They pulled up 5 minuted before I had decided my wait threshold was over.
I jumped in as we tooled to down town Nashville and were dropped of as near to the start as possible. It was already warm, I noted the sky - it looked like it was going to be one of those brilliant warm days perfect for most everything... except marathons. I shook it off prepped in the park and broke away from my compatriots who were a few corrals back.
I always pee in Centennial Park before the marathon, usually I don't have company- but today I had plenty, of both genders, we all sort of looked up awkwardly. Portapotty lines are for more serious calls.
I got to the start in corral one, and after the national anthem, we were off. I felt smooth and calm- this was all business. The miles clicked by and I made sure to drench my Fleet Feet Nashville Cheetah spotted yellow race jersey at every aid station. My plan was to pre-cool as best I could. It was going to be a scorcher. I cranked out mile after mile in the 6:30s and felt like I was still holding back.
The bands and crowds melted with the orange peels and music from my ipod, I was now in the rhythm of the race. The first part of the race behind me, I set my sights on the 2nd portion - basically an out and back to a non descript part of town heading toward Metro Center. Here the crowds are minimal and a runner must run... in some ways alone. I like it it's a great chance to click in ever further. I remember thinking - this is my home, I know these streets I know everything about them I can do this. This... for me was a fairly modest time goal - I am no road marathoner- I wanted a 2:50 or somewhere south of 3 hours for a PR.. I had certainly put in ths miles and speed work - all I needed was everything else to not go completely wrong HA!
Coming out of Metro Center at the turn around I noticed a thin crowd ahead of me, I thought it odd. I also noticed some very accomplished runners struggling. I caught several of the and passed them heading to the bridge. One bald runner, who was obviously a strong marathoner, stepped up with me as I made my pass, I knew we had a mile climb to Nashville Running Company -where my wife and boy would be waiting with a Red Bull at about 18. I asked if he wanted to work the hill together and we did, like 2 cyclists taking turns - we alternated lead and worked until we came upon a struggling runner. He was bent at the waist and spittle dripped from his lips, but as we passed he wrenched himself up and joined pace. He held until I saw Julia and my boy and then disappeard.
Seeing them was like a shot of adrenaline- I grabbed the Red Bull and shouted and smiled, I love you!" The streets of East Nashville dogged and cut left as we now were descending to 5th St. where we would begin our final push. My watch had crapped out, (as usual) so I now ran on feel- when I realized it, I burst into laughter. I knew this was a good sign. Early in the race I prayed for Christ to give me his heart for the run... I did not want to be afraid of the pain. I felt the heart of a lion as the miles clicked on inside my chest as I began to feel my body heat up. As I passed the aid station for mile 20 I found myself shouting, "salvation in Christ alone: and holding up a single finger to anyone who would look my way. Oh yeah. It was on.
I passed 2 more runners on the out part of the stick of the lolly pop - the final part of the marathon - Shelby Bottoms Park. I entered the park and was now starting to overheat - my legs were hot and my breath was no longer controlled. I kept digging and passed 2 more runners on the backside of the park.
Dan Sheehan- a man who shows up at the most opportune times, he had been at mile 19 or so. He jumped out shaking his fist and telling me to go. Dan is one invividual I can point to who helped me get into running in the first place.
Out of Shelby Bottoms I saw mile 23 and heading to 24 I recall a moment of intense clarity - and an inner voice - "OK now let it go... let it hurt." And hurt it did as I stopped holding any reserves pounding the pavement, raking my constitution for extra give. I could see a female runner a quarter mile ahead of me. She was rolling as was I. I recall thinking, I am gonna try to catch her, but then a quick thought of "what are you crazy this HURTS" I dug in as I saw her start to weeve back and forth across the heat waves on the pavement. We were less than 2 miles from the finish. I took the hard right back on to 5th Street which meant the last climb of the race and I began to notice the gap was closing. Near the crest Dan Sheehan emerged again. All I remember is he held up 9 fingers, look right into my eyes and said "Ninth". I was ninth? What, I shook it off and beared my teeth and began a gutteral all out attack on the finish- I passed her on the descent and hit the shoot at a full sprint and left nothing on the table... 2:56:14, 8th overall and first Tennessean.
Thanks to Fleet Feet Sports Nashville for sponsoring me and Swiftwick for making exceptional running socks.
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| B and I at the finish - he ate my pretzels from the finish tents. |
