A week ago, Sunday the 29th,
2018, I ran the NJ Marathon and the one thing I can say is that I did indeed
leave it all on the course. I had trained hard for the race in hopes that I
would achieve a Boston Qualifier of a sub 3:05 finish. As I learned training
only gives you the foundation to achieve your goals, and anything can happen on
race day.
I woke up
early at 3:30am Sunday morning after getting a pretty sound 6 hour of sleep. I
felt rested and physically great, I knew that it was going to be a good race
and I was going to perform well. Just before the race started around 7:00am I
started getting texts from friends and family wishing me a good race. It felt
good to have the support and it would be that support that helped me to the
finish line.
I was in
the second wave and we started promptly at 7:35am, I was with the sub 3:05 pace
group and was holding my own. The group was in a positive mood and we were
chatting with each other and the pacers. It felt good running with the pace
group, but I did notice that we went out a bit faster then I was expecting. I
was not too concerned because I was feeling good and was able to keep up. This
continued for some time, as I ticked off the miles. I got to mile 13 and thought,
“wow I’m on pace, I’m still feeling good I think I’m going to do this!” Little
did I know the entire race would change for me in the next several miles.
Between mile
16 and 20, as I was running through Asbury Park, I ran into some problems. My
legs started going into spasms, and I had an intense burning sensation in my
legs. This was not muscle pain, or cramps this was nerve pain, which is not
something you can just rub out. I was pushing but the pain and spasm continued.
At this point I was physically in pain, mentally unfocused and emotionally very
raw. In all my running I have never had thoughts about dropping out of a race, until
that moment. I didn’t think I could do it anymore and I was about to tap out.
I reached
into my runner’s belt to take out my phone, which I had placed in airplane mode
prior to the race and was about to call my father who was waiting for me at the
finish line. I opened my phone and somehow a text message got through with my
phone still being in airplane mode. The timing platform for the race is set up
where people can receive live text updates on the runner, I had set it up where
my family and a few runner friends could get updates. The text message I
received was from someone who is very special to me and it said, “Wow Will! I’m
getting your updates and you’re doing great!” I will admit I welled up a bit
and put my phone back in my belt and made the decision that no matter what I
was crossing that finish line.
From that
point on I ran when I could, stopped or walked when I had to. I slowed significantly.
I came across other runners in similar pain and we checked in with each other
and encouraged each other to keep at it. At mile 22 I was in rough shape and I
had to stop. At this moment I was at the same mile marker as a runner Jamie
Watts, an amazing endurance athlete who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, who
ran and finished the marathon. I had seen her a few times on the course at other
mile markers and she was surrounded by an amazing support team, who even came
to my aid. I was there standing on the side of the road and three women in pink
t-shirts approached me asking “are you alright?”
I responded,
“Kind of my legs are in spasm.”
“Can you
finish?”
“I’m not
sure, I think I can.”
“You can
finish, you’re going to finish, just take a moment and start again.”
“Yay, I
think you’re right.”
I walked about 40 feet and my legs stopped spasming, I
started to run, and I heard them call from behind me, “There you go, we knew
you could do it, cross that finish.” I ran the last two miles, in pain, put I
crossed the finish line with a time of 3:54:50. I was in rough shape, my legs were on fire, I was nauseous
and exhausted.
It took
some time to find my dad and we had to sit for awhile before I could move on. The
pain was searing, and it would come in waves, at times bringing me to spout an obscenity,
or even bring a tear to my eye. I was very emotionally raw and was full of so
many different emotions. I was disappointed that I did not achieve my goal I
worked hard towards, I was happy I was able to have been able to finish, I was touched
that so many people ended up sending me messages of encouragement, before,
during, and after the race, I was confused as to why the spasms happened, and I
was inspired by all the other runners and the supporters that were out there on
the course.
Every race
teaches a runner something, for me I learned that anything, including disappointment
can happen. I surprisingly came to peace with the outcome of the race quickly. I
realized that for most of the race I was on target for my goal and that I very
well might have achieved it if it wasn’t for the legs spasms. I am thinking
about hiring a running coach to train with for my next marathon to hopefully
achieve that BQ.
I have not
run at all this week, and today, is the first day that my legs feel normal. I
know that I will most likely go for a shake out run tomorrow and probably a pyrolites
class, which I will discuss more soon. As for the NJ Marathon I have to say it
is probably the best organized race I’ve ever done, I have now run the full and
half marathon and it is a seamless race, never any delays at the start, well-staffed
and a very flat fast course, a must run if you ask me.
