It took far to long to write this but here is a race recap for Grandma's marathon back on 6/18. It is still painful to think about marathon number 19.
As I posted previously I signed up at the very last minute on June 1st for this race. I had run it a couple times before and really love the course. The weather unfortunately in my previous attempts was terrible for running. Both years were very hot and one of them the course was even black flagged. Despite that these were still two of my fastest marathon times. I just hoped the weather would be OK this time and besides that my wife and kids were not going to be around that weekend so it just made sense to me to try it. I had run the IceAge 50k only 5 weeks before but was feeling good as race day approached. Running back to back long races makes training properly difficult. I t's hard to rest for a couple weeks, train hard for one, and then start the taper again. On the other hand you are not starting all over again with base training so resting properly actually becomes the most important facet of the short cycle.
I paid extra to have my race packet sent to me. This allowed me to leave a little later in the day Friday as I didn't need to get to the expo. Previously I had stayed in Superior with my sister, but this time because the rest of the family was away I had to take the dogs with me. I stayed at my mom's house in Bayfield instead. This meant I would need to get up a little earlier, but not by much. I had to be in Superior by 6AM to catch a bus to the start line so leaving by 4:30 at the latest would give me plenty of time. I made it to Bayfield in time to watch the local news to catch the forecast for the next day. All week the forecast looked like it would be perfect running weather with only a real small chance of rain introduced late in the week. Well Friday night that all changed. They now were calling for soaking rains all night and well into the morning. I was able to get to sleep shortly after 10:00 and actually slept pretty well for a race night. The rain pounding on the roof did wake me at least once.
Waking in the morning it was pouring. A quick look at the weather channel and it looked like the forecast from the previous night was going to be right on. Nothing but green well back into western Minnesota. I ate my usual prerace meal of pancakes and a couple banana's. Accounting for what looked like a race in the rain I repacked my drop bag to be sure I had enough warm and dry gear for after the race. A cut out garbage bag for the start of the race and an extra rain poncho for the time waiting until I needed to get the drop bag in the truck and line up were added as well. I was underway well before 4:30. It rained hard the entire way to Superior. It rained hard as I made my way to the bus. It rained the entire way to the start in Two Harbors. Funny thing though as our bus stopped the clouds got lighter and the rain quit. I didn't expect it, but it didn't rain again the entire day. We arrived about 6:45 or about 45 minutes before the race start. I quickly got in line for the porta potties. I knew this would take a while and I was right. With about 20 minutes to go I changed into my race shoes and got my other gear (watch, Gu, etc...) ready to go and packed up my drop bag. Got the drop bag to the truck and fought my way towards the appropriate starting place. The temperature at the race start was about 50 degrees with a NE wind off the lake. This is as perfect as it could possibly get. I decided I would attempt to go for it. I was going to run with the 3:10 pace group and at least give myself a chance for a PR.
The race started pretty much on time at 7:37. Taking off with the pace group I didn't have to worry too much about a fast start. These guys are usually pretty good at keeping pace. The beginning was crowded. As with most races there are people up in front of you that should not be there. It didn't take more than a couple miles for things to spread out so you could get settled in. I was feeling real good and passed the 10K mark right around 45 minutes. About mile 12 I was back of but still had the 3:10 group in sight when I felt a little twinge toward the back of my heal. Affected me for a few steps so I didn't think much about it at the time. I passed the half right around 1:37. I had fallen a little back of the 3:10 pace group, but was still feeling OK. I felt at this time I was still in for a good race, but didn't think a PR was possible any more. I've never run the 2nd half faster than the first in 18 previous tries. So unless some magic would happen it was not to be. The weather was good, the crowd and scenery were great and I felt good so I was just going to do my best and enjoy the day. A few miles past half way the issue at the back of my heal started up again. By mile 18 it was becoming a big deal and by mile 20 I had slowed from an early 10K pace of 7:14 pace to 7:42 for 20 miles. It was right after this that I almost fell to the ground as I took a step on my right foot. I stopped for a bit by the curb and pulled my shoe off to check for anything. The back of my heal had swelled but that's all I could see. I starting walking for a while to see if the sharp pain would go away. It did not. I contemplated dropping out at this point. I had never DNF'd before so my stubbornness kicked in and I decided I was going to get that finishers medal if it meant crawling to the finish. Little did I know it almost had to happen. After walking for a while I tried to run again. After realizing it hurt just as much to "limp run" as it did to walk I decided I would try to run. Each step for the last 6 miles was harder than the one before it. With the cool temperatures and the walking I really cooled off. I believe I was becoming hypothermic as I was shaking uncontrollably. I found a cut off garbage bag along the road and put it on to save some heat. I wasn't running fast enough to generate enough to keep me warm though. Now I'm coming into town with people lined up on both sides of the road. I must have looked terrible. At least people were offering lots of encouragement. Nice as it was I really didn't want to hear it. If they only knew. Every time I heard "come on 4587 you can do it" or "one foot in front of the other 4587" or "almost there" as people were passing me all the time it was just frustrating as hell. I just put my head down and tried to ignore it all. These last miles were the worst running miles I have ever experienced. Not anywhere soon enough the finish was in sight. I struggled through the chute to pick up the well earned medal. My finish time was a very disappointing 3:40. I know many people will never run a marathon that fast, but for how optimistic things were after the rain quit and the race started so well it could only feel that way for me. Now I could barely walk. My right foot was almost useless. I made my way painfully to pick up my drop bag. I limped to the closest table I could find and changed into dry and warmer clothes. I still couldn't stop shaking as I had gotten so cold again after stopping. Now I had to walk almost a mile back to where I had to catch the bus. On my way I stopped at the beer tent to spend the free beer ticket they give you when you finish. I actually found another on the ground so I had a couple. I actually warmed up a bit in the tent and enjoyed the beers. The alcohol didn't help much with the pain though. That was one long miserable walk to the buses just to pile on for the day. I eventually made it back to the bus and then back to my car in Superior. It hurt, but I was able to use my right foot to drive.
What a day. I certainly hope this is not how I end my marathon career, but it just might be. The update on my heal is that is is a bone spur or traction spur. It is located at the back of the heal where the Achilles tendon joins the heal. Underneath this is a bursa sack. This also became inflamed and really swelled the back of my heal. I could not wear my normal shoes for about a week. I spent three days on crutches. To this day over six weeks later I still have not run. It is very possible I will have to have surgery if I am ever going to run again. Second opinion coming tomorrow.
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