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[05/02/2010]
Flying with the Pigs - My 1st Marathon
By: Mark Jacobsen
Today (5/2/2010) 20 weeks of training came to a head when I ran my 1st marathon - the Flying Pig marathon in Cincinnati Ohio.
Festivities began around 3:45 when I woke up to get ready. Fortunately, my sister lives near Cincinnati but it also mean having to get going even earlier to drive into the city. I helped myself to a bowl of raisin bran and a small cup of coffee to help speed the digestive process before the race, and I'm happy to say that worked.... Though that may have been one of the few things that worked :(
I arrived at Paul Brown Stadium around 5:30 with about an hour to start and got things situated. Only problem is there was lightening and pouring rain - a theme that would continue throughout the race. But, not to fear, we were told the lightening was moving out so the show would go on. Sure enough, we stood around for another 10 minutes or so before the gun went off getting soaked by rain, and another 10 minutes waiting as they let runners out in waves.
Things started off ok, and I was moving along at a decent (for me) 10 minute per mile clip. I even made it up the 3 mile climb between miles 5 to 8. The thing about the Flying Pig is that it's known as one of the most hilly marathon courses in the country, and I have to say, it's true. If I had to guess, I would say at least 5-6 miles of the course is up hill, and not just slight hills. For example, the 3 mile climb between miles 5 and 8 is over 300 feet in elevation.
If nothing else, I have to say that the people of Cincinnati are great and still came out in force to cheer everyone on. Pretty much every couple hundred yards there would be people watching and cheering as everyone went by. Besides my girls coming out and seeing them at the finish line, the highlight is the guy with the sign "It's not sweat, it's your fat cells crying".
So, back to the race... we continued on and I was still doing well around mile 16, and then... I started to feel my foot sloshing around. As I continued on it started to get more and more annoying. Adding to that, the continual hills caused me to start to walk for the first time and I began feeling a bit of a twinge in my right leg between my knee and hip. It finally got to the point that my soaked feet were just too much to handle so I did the one thing I could do... find someone having a party outside their house and ask for their socks! Yes, I'm the guy that stops along the side of a marathon to get some random stranger's socks. He didn't want to take the money I offered, but I did let him keep my socks :) And I'm so grateful. For the next few miles my feet felt much better... until I stepped in another frickin puddle.
Long story short, around mile 19 the soaked, blistering feet and pain in my leg got to be too much and I had to resort to walking the rest of the race. I tried running a few more times, but it just wasn't happening. Every step was painful just walking and as soon I tried to run it felt like my knee was going to shatter and my nips split open and bleed. Ultimately, I made it to the finish line and got to see my girls. I did finally run the last 50 yards or so with my wife and collected my medal and got a little grub before finally being able to hoof it another mile to the car so I could finally get my shoes off to reveal my pruney blistered grandpa feet.
Finally got back home and jumped into what turned out to be the most painful shower ever. Let's just say, imagine what it would feel like if someone rubbed your nips with sandpaper then made you stand with a rope held between your legs before ripping it out and then sending you into the shower and you might have an idea what I'm talking about. Add to that getting to pop 3 huge blisters on my feet and you have an idea how I was feeling.
At the end of the day, am I glad I did the marathon? Yes. Would I do it again? The jury is still out. If I did, I think it would have to be a seriously flat course (I hear Chicago is) and no rain. Sure I trained in the rain, and even the snow, but it's completely different running the entire 26.2 miles in rain with wet feet over hills. Oh well. It was quite an experience, and provides a good story.
Breakdown:
6.8 mi in: Time: 1:11:00 - Pace: 10:23 - Rank: 2632
13.2 mi in: Time: 2:18:35 - Pace: 10:35 - Rank: 2804
19.7 mi in: Time: 3:54:23 - Pace: 11:54 - Rank: 3461 <-- Started Walking
Finish: Time: 5:51:01 - Pace: 13:24 - Rank: 3772
Expected Finish (12mi pace: 5:14)
Div (30-34) Place: 339/351
Sex Place: 2322/2452
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Mark Jacobsen: I hope you have found this article or tip helpful. If so, please consider making a donation. 100% of all proceeds will be directed to charity: water.
Contact me at MarkJacobsen.net or @MarkJacobsen
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Awesome job, Mark! Cross that off your to-do list, eh? I've been there with the whole "nipple" thing....they make some nice stick-ons and such but maybe we'll talk more about that over a few beers!
# Posted by Steve | 5/5/10 5:11 PM
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