Okay, don’t quote me on that, but I’ve reached my goal of a sub-four hour marathon: 3:58:46 at yesterday’s Eugene Marathon (if you click on that link and enter my name in the search box, then scroll onto and click my name, you’ll find video of me finishing [with my name being announced] and a link to my average cumulative pace throughout the race).
I still felt GREAT at mile 17, regardless of the fact that when I run I look like a windmill (I notice my crazy legs in photos). I ran among my handful of fastest legs in the next mile because of the woman in the bikini behind me. She and her running partner passed me, and I convinced myself that I'd look like that if I ran that fast. It worked for two miles (keeping the pace, not looking like that).
My peanut gallery
I realized the night before the race that I must be getting older because I filled in the emergency information on the back of my race number.
Really, was I possessed by a marionette, or what? Mile 8.
I'm sorry, but there will be no performing for the camera anymore, not at mile 24. From a range of 8:46-9:09 previously, miles 22-25 then crept up to a max of 9:57, at which point I was perilously close to not running under 4 hours. I perked up a bit for mile 26, which I ran in 9:35 (while I said, out loud, more than once, "Push!").
At the end, after weaving a bit upon finishing, I quickly downed two ice-cold chocolate milks and lay on the turf, flat-out, for twenty minutes. Ahhh. Then a full can of Pepsi on the S-L-O-W walk home.
My favorite sign held by a cheering spectator, “I’m proud of you, Complete Stranger.” Runner-up: “Very creative cheering marathon sign.”
The Eugene Marathon is a great marathon to run: flat; lovely; great spots for spectators to cheer; nice T-shirts; plenty of volunteers, food, and water (at least for the four-hour pace). Highly recommended, if you’re looking for your next.
