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oh man up at 4am to drive to downtown. Houston Marathon is here again. It's my favorite. The more marathon's i run the more I appreciate Houston- it's the friendliest big city marathon. photo: my daugher jam decorated my gatorade bottles like little robots on Saturday. She's the artiste. Thanks to Theresa Pearsall Torres for the photo.
They got a buses at Hilton Americas by the GRB convention center. It takes the elite and local invited athletes out to the start line. I mean seriously it's like 10 blocks away. But you gotta be on it to get to the first corral. And there are many international runners that don't speak English so it's easier this way. Boarding the bus I say hi to all the local runners on the bus and finally we're out to the start line.
We all put our bags and warmups in the tent. Ha in my clear gear check bag I have the book "Unbroken". I sit next to Michael Wardian, a really good masters (over 40yrs division) runner from Arlington, VA. I see he has the same book in his bag. Harrumph, he's a few chapters farther along than me. I read a chapter(just to relax), oh it's the part when they go on
their first bombing mission, man it's good. I read too long and look up and everyone is out warming up. But really for the marathon we got more time. I hear top American marathoner, Aaron Braun sitting there still tell someone wondering why he wasn't warming up, "there is plenty time to warmup during the 26.2 mi." Patience grasshopper.
The US Half Marathon Championships are leaving 5min ahead of everyone else. And they all going fast. Sub 5min miles the whole way, or u getting last of the 60 runners. so they need a warmup. so fast. skinny whippets, youngsters, young stars.
Warmup loops in front of the start line. It's fun with the music playing. Doing loops with the Ethiopians, Kenyans, and Americans. I'm just the old dude loving it, last days of youth... humor me.
Waiting at start line, chatting with Matthew Manning, a tall runner, real nice guy. He's a new Houston local. And ran in college and has great times; won the Louisiana marathon. We talk about what times we're going for today. I say "I'm chasing the ever elusive for me, sub 2:30" which I can never seem to get." I've been 2:31, 32, 34. Collection of heartbreak. Just gotta get over the hump and have a good day or something. I tell him I wanna watch Wardian as well for the masters title/money. Matt says, "Wardian going for a Trials cut, 2:18" I say then, well he can go for that. Wow. Wardian ran 2:23 last april in Boston. So not out of the question for him. but no way for me to do that. I got lucky and beat him in DC for the DC marathon win, when he was coming back from injuries- i was in the right time, right place- as i always say :)
Gun goes off, Dewayne Defee(me and him run lots local of races together. 2 old warriors, he gives me pep talks during the run, we've put in a lot of good miles together- much respect) is there with us, too. Me and Matt and Defee start out together in the first mile heading out of downtown w/ Tom Petty's "Running Down a Dream" playing on the loud speakers. Ah yeah. (i'm not a big Petty fan, don't know why, but that is a good song) (Also I heard Johnny Cash's "Hurt" on the radio on the way- what a song! lyrics: "And you could have it all/My empire of dirt/I will let you down/ I will make you hurt"- good pre marathon stuff right there!)
mile 1 5:44 (mile times are from my gps watch)
down Congress ave. downtown, just chatting and happy.
mile 2 5:44
down Washington Ave. easin around. amazing how easy race day is. At home on streets 5:44 is bustin my arse.
mile 3 5:45
We're-a starting off kinda slow for 2:30 which is 5:43 pace. My watch usually lies nice to me about my pace by about 4 seconds- that's why i like it. But I was thinking ease into it. Chillax man it's furgin marathon man- the end is'a not so happy no?
mile 4 5:40
we run past the place where we totalled our car about 6 months ago at Waugh/West Gray intersection. Lady in a new Black Mercedes went through the light and hit two cars that just started going thru. Dangerous intersection. A ghost bike is there too in memorial to a lady riding home at 10:30pm after getting off a shift at Whole Foods. I give a thought here.
We also go by elite lady wearing bib #111, later I find out it's Lindsay Flanagan- an all American runner who ran with our new BARC member Breanna Huschka at Univ Washington. Small world. Breanna's been running Sunday's at the trails with us- good runner.
As come up to #111 she looks strong and I think maybe she's going for 2:30. But I'm feeling good here so I go by.
mile 5 5:42
down the new part of the course(cuz of construction) this year on Inwood St. thru River Oaks and a turn on Kirby.
mile 6 5:39
down Kirby- this to me is a fast straight away. I feel like going a bit.
mile 7 5:41
turn on to Bissonnet St. going to Rice U area.
mile 8 5:39
Bissonnet St is fast too. i like it.
mile 9 5:45
Dewayne falling back some. Get a little lonely here. Half Marathoners turned off. No one to chase. A guy in blue like 30 sec up on me(turns out to be Patrick Kuhlman from DC who is my age and ends up running a 2:29, he's one spot ahead of me in the mens.). I tried all day to catch up to him. never got there. Not even close. Also i see 2 elite American women. One looks like Serena Burla who won the half champs last year- she probably trying to qualify for Olympic trials.
PHOTO from ABC 13, Michelle Lee told me about it, here i am looking dopey and punch drunk, running pics tell too much most of the time. Here is me and Defee and in the background the assassin #111.
mile 10 5:46
University Blvd. good hoopla here. I'm running alone. Damn Blue come back.
mile 11 5:44
turn up Weslayan. Some more alone time.
mile 12 5:52
onto Westpark up the bridge hill
mile 13 5:53
down Westpark. I'm faltering all alone.
mile 14 5:53
hey at half way mark i got thru in my customary 1:15:50
I don't feel real bad or tired, but my left ab is tight (where i fear i'm working on a hernia for the last few months) and right hammy tight. pretty normal for me lately. just need some motivation i guess. my mind is extrapolating out the pain and conserving. damn u brain.
Weird lonely part of the course. Going under concrete freeway spaghetti bowl. No fans. Just me and my faltering pace.
mile 15 5:55
Down post oak by the Galleria.
mile 16 5:56
past galleria to Tanglewood into subdivision.
mile 17 5:56
On Chimney Rock. i hear the cheers for the next runner or runners behind me getting closer to my cheers. Someone is coming...
mile 18 5:54
turn onto Memorial Dr. I hear footsteps, glance back wondering if it's Dewayne. Nope it's super light lady #111. I knew she looked like a gamer when we went by at mile 4. Dewayne later told me she went by him churning at mile 15. But actually I'm glad someone has come for me- cuz on my own i'm floundering.mile 19 5:56 More Memrial Dr. heading toward the park and the 'wall'. we run side by side. Racing rules 101. When you get caught try to hang on... or u gonna get caught by more people. If you don't like ur situation... let up and it'll get worse.mile 20 5:56 staying with her, but she's tough. I think she breathing heavier than me. But she seems determined- she probably trying to get Olympic Trials standard too. I'm just happy for someone to run with. mile 21 5:51
oh yeah. running with someone works. we're doing better at the park.
mile 22 5:53
going good on Memorial dr still.
mile 23 5:49 on to shepherd and then Allen Pkwy, she picking it up. I'm coming with. gotta get back downtown and finish.mile 24 5:45 allen pkwy up downs. she is fierce. toughest part of the course and she picking it up. A guy comes out of nowhere and catches us- seems like he's just gonna leave us at first- but the updowns get him. He goes from 5 seconds up on us to 5 seconds back. mile 25 5:51 holding on it's tough now. gotta get to the end game. exit plan.mile 26 5:45 last mile at downtown. She picking it up. I'm holding on. People cheering her. "Don't let him catch you." Is the popular refrain Geez i'm not a bad guy. I try to hold to her... cuz the guy behind us ain't far back. so my only option is to hang on last .2 5:48 pace she's gets like 10 sec on me. Beats me down. She goes thru finish line. Too tough. Much respect, good runner. I worked hard. Thankful she came along and i could pace off her.
i come thru in 2:33:21 10 sec behind her and 6 sec ahead of the guy who caught us for a bit. Then the next pack was 3min back.
I was 26th man, 35th overall. 9 ladies got me. In the Masters i was 4th. Two guys at 2:23 then another at 2:29. All from out of town, one from Brazil, 2 from Washington, DC area. Tough field. Well done.
AFTER RACE
I hobble up to hotel to get my gear bag. Then hobble to the 2nd floor window and i see the finish line I want to see all my training group and friends finish. We're all out there together. We put in the work together. I feel sorta like Star Wars when they look out of the ship's window and reflect, after they battled and are all injured and reminiscing... really a sweet time. I talk some to Theresa's friend Ron, a race volunteer this year, who tells me some good running stories.
I'm looking for my friend Chris Robbins. I see him come thru 2:48 on the clock(2:47 on chip time)- what a story, last year he was out 6 months and fighting for his life after a reaction to antibiotics. He's made it back. An inspiring guy, friend, and family. Well done Dash. Most dedicated runner i know. He's our clock.
Then I see my friend Samuel Sanderson come thru in 2:56, (2:55 chip). Sam deserves this like crazy. He's got great running talent. He loves running. And he's figuring out the marathon. He figured out how to solve the sub 3 riddle today. Lots ahead for Samuel-son.
Then I get to see the Ohian, Jeremy Saums, come thru. He trained with us for a year while down here on work. Dedicated runner, never gets ruffled, and always there with a wry joke. And he make his Sub 3hr dream happen as well. He goes 2:59. Raises arms at the finish. Well deserved here too. He's been close a couple of times. He seems a natural marathoner with a smooth stride. He's figuring it out. Glad he got it in Houston. Good job Ohio!
Then i see the 3hr pacers Kerry Lee and John Yoder come thru with a few disciples. They nailed it. 3hrs on the dot. No doubt about this one. These guys are pros. Kerry and John. Like clock work. Kerry is an endurance freak. The mountain man. And Yoder's been showing us how to do it for years.
Anyway it was a sweet day!!!
As i turn away from the window, oh no my stomach has that old familiar feeling. It's been a while old friend. But i know i need to get out of here. When i puke. It's a sad sight. I gotta lay down. my limbs go numb. basically i turn in to a big wuss. Every marathon used to be like this when i wasn't in shape. I musta gone deep in the well trying to stay with #111.
So i high tail it to the car. Well i guess i shuffle. But shuffle with a purpose. I wanna keep some pride and not put on a public show. I get to my car in back of Toyota Center by a Chinese restaurant. I put my bag in the car. Then head over to the grass lot behind the restaurant. I lay there with some water. Whenever i get horizontal it lakes the pressure off my stomach and avoids the puking. I lay there for 30 min.
Then get in the car. I only make it to the gas station in chinatown before you go on the ramp to I-45. My limbs are going numb and my stomach is doing back flips. The gas station by the odd boxcar art Lawyer. I go lay in the field there across from gas station. There is a homeless guy on the corner looking for handouts- he's there a lot. I lay like 30 ft from him. After a while he calls over, "just do what you gotta do brother" I wave to him. Sun is out. feels good. I'm in and out of sleep- which is what i really need to cure me.
finally i stumble back to car after 30min. I get a bag out of the back, my wife keeps care packs for homeless in trunk. Socks water, t-shirt, some food and a couple of bucks and go back over and give it to him. He asks "what's wrong with me?" I say "ohh i ran the marathon and pushed it too far i guess" He says "what you need is some Ex-lax and olive oil." My rumbling stomach on Ex-lax would be like a rocket explosion, I'm thinking. I'm trying to keep this stuff down. He says, "They got some stuff called Revel,man that would bring you around but it cost like $300 a bottle." i thank him. He asks more questions about the race winners and stuff- he's pretty knowledgeable. But i'm hurting. He asks, "you gonna run any more of those?" I said "yeah." I gotta get back to laying down. He's thinking I'm crazy. He's got a point.
I lay down back in my spot for a while. Every once in a while he calls over to me and I wave. Finally I get up and try driving again.
I make it this time to almost Beltway 8 and i pull over by a Taco shop, Rucci's or something. It's got some grass and no one around. I catch some zzz's in the grass. One lady and her family get lunch and take it back to the apartments out back. they go extra wide around the sleeping dude in the grass. after a while I wake up. And call my wife to make sure i'm not late getting back, we talk a bunch. it was fun. and i got to feeling better and drive it home like a champ (normal person.)
probably all in my mind anyway, right?
Laying out there, I'm reminded of lyrics from one of my fave bands, OLD97s:
"love is a marathon sometimes you puke"
and
"Stretched out on the concrete running out of pride"
But hey i kept it all down. Damn those goos and gatorades, ugh - they got me today.
I get home and feel like a million bucks coming in the door. Well a really tired million bucks that's been run over and thrown off a bridge and pecked by buzzards. let's do it again next year. I gotta heal up some from these marathons. Darn ab muscle not making life pleasant for me.
In my current mind, i'm thinking anything more than 2 marathons a yr is too much for me. I wanna be in this for the long haul. And go for them when i get the chance.
Houston marathon. Great day and results for many friends and BARCERS.
Shout out to Theresa Pearsall Torres.
She Boston qualified in her 60s with a 4:04 after not doing the marathon for 30yrs. She is running great. Good to talk to her over the weekend. Love it when people go after dreams.
(photos are courtesy of Michelle Lee, Kerry's wife. She's a BARCer and gets around the course and takes pics. And it makes for fun memories and race investigation. Thanks Michelle.)
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