My Accidental (Almost) Half Marathon

Disclaimer: I'm writing this for no other reason so that I can have a little memento from the day I lost my marbles and decided to do what I did. I apologize in advance if it sounds self-indulgent or like a writeup of the Apollo 13 mission where everything seemed to be breaking.

In a recent blog I talked about the desire to pick my game up a bit as I feel like I had been slacking a bit in the challenge department. I felt like I had been satisfied with the ability to run a few miles and that I had not kicked myself in the arse enough to get to the next level.

In the back of my mind I had been planning to run 13.1 miles (a half marathon) on my birthday this year. In order to give me a little extra motivation, I finally said it out loud to Rebecca a few weeks ago. Once again, I had never run more than 6+ miles (I thought I was running further than I was. More on that later).

I decided that yesterday (Sunday) was going to be the day to start to inch closer to my goal. I loaded up with a stack of pancakes for breakfast (our Sunday morning tradition) and then laced them up. I've been a little hesitant to try to push myself because my current kicks should have been replaced months ago. Also, I never take any water with me.

My goal was to run to Love Road and back down the West River of Grand Island. I believed this to be about 8 miles round trip. That's the great thing about running on the Island - the roads are almost exactly a mile apart (they actually are that far apart - the curve to the river road adds on a little bit of distance).

Here is what happened next.



1) Start

I take it real easy for the first stretch little bit heading south down the river.

2) Whitehaven and W. River (1.1 miles)

All systems are good so far. This is a tough stretch in which to start because there is a constant uphill slope for almost the whole way.

3) Staley and W. River (2.2 miles)

This is where I would turn around during most runs. Once again, my goal was to hit the next cross street and turn around.

4) Love and W. River (3 miles)

I did run this far once last year on a really hot day. This was my goal and I considered going further but my left shin was really starting to talk to me. I turned around and headed north. It wasn't long before I had to walk a bit because my leg was really starting to hurt. One thing I've discovered that if you are starting to hurt (knee, shin, cramp) that you can usually get through it if you walk it off for a bit. This would serve me well later on.

As I turned around I felt a cool breeze coming at me from the north. For once I was happy to be going into the wind.

5) Staley and W. River (3.8 miles)

I had to walk for a little bit again because of my shin. My cardio feels great, however

6) Whitehaven and W. River (4.9 miles)

All systems seem to be a go, although my shin and knee are a tad sore. I can live with sore.

7) Bedell and W. River (6 miles)

At this point I feel really good. At the time I was under the impression that I had run 8 miles and since I was feeling good I thought I would run to the next cross street and back so that I would finish up with an even 10. For a minute I thought about going around the north end of the Island in the hopes of running a half marathon (13.1) but this seemed a little ambitious.

8) Long and W. River (6.9 miles)

I was still feeling good as I was about to turn around to head back home - I had just run about 3 miles and counting without pain. The show I was listening to on my mp3 player had just ended and my favorite Wilco cd came on. I'd say that it was a sign, but... well, you know. At that point I just said "f*** it, lets keep going". After all, it was a cool, cloudy day and I had nothing planned for the rest of the day. I had been wanting to run a half marathon - why not today? I figured the only thing that could get me was my complete lack of water.

As I ran into Buckhorn State Park I felt something that runners talk about but I had never quite experienced. I was running pain free and it was enjoyable. Not that I dislike it running (I've grown to enjoy it), but for the first time I wasn't focusing on getting to the next marker. I felt like I could run around the entire Island (and don't think for a minute that I didn't have it in the back of my head, although my logical mind knew that this wasn't going to happen today).

A half mile later I was walking again as my knew started to hurt (it often does after a get a shin splint - I think I change my running style without realizing it). That'll teach me to get too far ahead of myself.

9) Baseline and E. River (9.9 miles)

I felt really good as I emerged from the park. I better - there weren't any shortcuts to get home. I made the turn south to head down baseline road. I ran for about a half mile to Huth Road before I had to walk for a bit as my right knee was sore. I walked for a good minute as I was starting to feel a little dizzy.

10) Bedell and Baseline (10.6 miles)

By this time I was still running but at a turtle's pace. I think that is what really hurt my joints today - I ran a little slower than I usually do and I find that my body feels better when I pick it up a bit (presumably because I'm not spending as much time with my body on the ground). I also have a bad habit of leaning backwards so I try to lean forwards and this helps me keep up my speed.

I did allow myself to walk up the thruway overpass - I think that would have killed me to try to jog up it in the condition I was in. As I came closer to my house I started to get another wind. I have to admit, I did throw my arms up as I ran into the driveway. It was important to me to run the last stretch and finish up strong.

I had no idea what my time was and quite honestly it didn't matter to me. I was rather thirsty but not as thirsty as I would have expected. I knew that I had to get something to cool me down so I opened up the fridge in the garage. It was at that point that I had a thought that only a guy would have: I bet that if I had a beer right now I would get super blotto on one beer. What can I say? I had the thought.

I felt really good for another twenty minutes and then I felt sore and tired in ways that I hadn't in years. Part of the difficulty I have in running is that I weigh 220 lbs. I know that if I wanted to be more serious about it that I would have to lighten up on the weightlifting as that is the only way that I know of to lose weight (other than giving up alcohol but lets not talk of such silly things).

After a couple of hours of sitting on the couch I talked the wife into heading out with the gps to see exactly what I had accomplished. I chose the route that I did because I felt that I could comfortably get to my desired mileage without cutting it close (I thought it would be sad to do all that work only to come up short). So we cruised and back and forth down the river and then followed the rest of the route only to find.....

Home (12.66 miles)

I came up short.

12.66 miles. One half mile short of my goal. I had misunderstood Rebecca when she said how far it was down one stretch of the river (she takes a road that goes inland and thus is longer). I have to say that I was more than a little disappointed as we pulled up to the house. I know what some of you may be thinking - "you ran a long way - just call it a half-marathon". Sorry, can't do that. I do these kinds of things to challenge myself. As Bob Dylan once said in one of my favorite songs (Most of the Time off of Blonde on Blonde), don't ever cheat on yourself. Getting out of the car to run another half mile would have also been cheating.

I'm proud of what I accomplished yesterday - along with climbing up and down the Grand Canyon on our honeymoon and doing some standup on national radio, it is one of my best personal accomplishments. Besides, I look at it as another adventure that I have to look forward to. I'm hoping that for my birthday I get the gps watch and new kicks that I want. And one cool day later this fall I'll head out again - maybe this time planned - and I'll see if I have what it takes on that day.

(and yes Jamie, I'll bring the camelback next time).