When life gives you lemons...

[The Moose1]

Ottawa 2009, the 4th time in 6 years I've attempted the National Capital Marathon.  I love this race.

It's not the college dorm room with the ever-defective beds and no water pressure.  I don't really like the race expo with thousands of people blocking the aisles to talk about so and so's cesarean.  (Yup, that was a real conversation I couldn't find a way around.)  I don't even get to see many new faces...but race day, that's something.

NCM weekend starts on Friday for me, packing.  I'm like a Boy Scout,  without the uniform, always prepared.  I pack 2 of everything, then tuck in early for my last good sleep.  Saturday sees me load everything in the van, dart over to Damon's and throw his one bag on top of all my crap.

Skip through our quick 5k run, steamed rice and beef, early bed time and we're suddenly at Elgin and Laurier, waiting.

The water on the windshield this morning was a suprise, as we couldn't find the cloud it had leaked out of.  As we watched the rising sun, we joked about qualifying for Boston on little or no training...big dreams.

Damon and I lined up behind the 3:15 pace bunny with a plan to hang on as long as we could.  Boston would be great, but a 3:30 we both thought would be easy.  I quickly forgot about the fact that I've only finished in less than 3:30 once, and I'd trained much harder that winter.  As the corral filled, we made plans to meet after (he had the van key tied to his shoe laces) and we took off our hats for the National Anthem.  Suddenly the crowd was on the move, and shortly after, go.

Up Elgin and down Wellington, everyone in the group lost satellite signal at the same time, so we're all running on instinct, trying not to go too fast without losing precious time.  2k in, and we're 8 seconds up...by 3 it's 15 seconds and I've already lost a gel.  By the time I got back to Ontario I only had 1 gel left (now in my hand) and I feel a little pressure on the side of my left knee.  I decided that by ignoring my knee I wouldn't have to deal with it yet...and kept running.

By 9k I was tired of carrying my gel, and started to look for the next water station, which, thankfully, came at 10k.  The pace of the 3:15 bunny was brutally consitant, he didn't even slow through the water stations.  I stuck to the plan...hold on as long as you can and try for BQ.

By 15k I started to worry that the pace would keep me from finishing, and started to lose a little ground to the bunny, heck, if I could still see him, then I would be less than a minute behind, and still qualify.

1/2 came and went, said "hi" to Jon Bell and decided that Boston really wasn't in the cards (I honestly didn't think I was going to anyway).  Better to aim for a good finish then a bad walk.  I dropped the pace 20 seconds a mile and settled into a comfortable pace.  As the canal came into sight so did the sun..."only 7k to the hard part, let's get this done."  I said to myself.

Under the underpass, no parking lot loop?  What a relief, my second least favourite part of the old course was gone.  Past the experimental farm, no loop through the park.  Another relief, my least favourite part of the old course also gone.  6k to go and no wall in sight.  Race time.  Back down to 8:08, then up to 8:32, then 8:36 hold on to it....750m to go, keep pushing, 500, 200 (1/2 a lap now you can do it) 100.  Someone says "lets go" and nods at the finish, like a street racer.  Up on my toes, I push on the accelerator.  Knees up...really, knees, come on up, the finish looms closer and I haven't got clear of him yet.  An old wrestling anthem runs through my head, it's "Hulk-a-mania" all over again and I press harder, finally approaching something resembling speed.  I stride across the line bursting with the feeling of accomplishment that only something this large can give you.  Then the hand shakes.  Total exhaustion.  Water, food, Gatorade, food, water.  Weren't we supposed to meet here?  Oh,hey, how'd you do.  Cool.  Lets go home.

I love this race.

Oh, never got any lemonade, but then, I never did get any lemons either.

Mike

[chattyfeet]

I love race weekend in Ottawa too.  your report made me sad because I opted not to do Ottawa this year for the first time.  I did my first full there and two more after that.  I decided to try something different this year (London) and enjoyed it, however I really, really missed Ottawa.  Think I'll return next year.   by the way, how was the weather???

[Jon]

Hey,
Nice job Mike.  Would have loved if our greeting was on better terms, but on that day - I was not on form.  Trying to move on from it, I would have been happy to have lemons, compared to the "bomb" I felt was dropped on me. Anyways, kudos to you for settling in and finishing a strong race, good job.
 

[The Moose1]

Jon,
Sorry to hear you didn't have a great race.
I've re-written this a dozen times trying to think of something to make you feel better, but I know nothing is going to help.
What happened anyway?

Mike

[Jon]

Hey Mike,

Well talking about this now, is like ripping a bandage of a fresh wound, so I'll make it quick to ease the pain 
I was sick for about 10 days in the 2 weeks leading up to the race.  I think this made getting recovered for the race very difficult.  I missed a bunch of workouts, and the ones I did were sub-par efforts where my HR was much higher than normal. Unfortunately come race day, my HR was 15-20 beats higher at race pace then it was in training or in racing at ATB back in March.  Very frustrating, but there was no way my body was going to let me sustain that effort for the full race.  The signs came hard and fast as the 20km mark approached, and it was like the "power plug" was pulled from body.  My first DNF ever.  Not happy about that, but it was the right thing to do in that situation.  BQ was my goal, and I had it in me, but not on that day.  I figured I'd move on to race another day.  I will try again...I'm already plotting out where and when.

Thanks,
Jon

[chattyfeet]

Oh Jon, I don't even know you and I almost cried when I just read your post. Only another long distance runner can feel your pain of not finishing.  Honestly, when I read that it was your first "DNF" I gasped...out loud!  Even my kids asked "What happened mommy?" because they were in the same room watching t.v.  I can't even imagine the frustration and anger you must feel after not finishing after all that training.  My first marathon ever was not what I had hoped for, I had to stop and walk several times after the 30k mark (I wanted to be able to walk through aid stations only).  It was hot and my body just kept screaming "STOP AND WALK DAMMIT!".  I walked/ran off an on for the last 10k and felt like I had failed when I crossed the finish line.  So if I felt that awful yet still finished, I can't imagine how you must be feeling.   Hope your next race makes up for it!

[The Moose1]

Well Jon, I know it hurts, but keep talking about it, and the pain will fade.  The mental part is the worst, I know.  In my first running life, my first DNF was my last run...for 8 years.  My second DNF came in this running life, and it didn't hurt any less, but with age comes wisdom, and strength.  I recovered and think I'm stronger and wiser because of it.  I hope you recover stronger and wiser as well.  Let your body rest a little, but not too much, and analyze what you did right, and what you can do better next time.
Remember most of all, that you've already accomplished more than most people (including me), and you're allowed to be merely human once in a while.

Best of luck,

Mike

[Jon]

Wow, what an example of the great "heart" in the running / endurance community.  I really appreciate your kind words and support.  Chatty hopefully we'll meet someday at an event or the store, please introduce yourself to me if you spot me at a race.  Mike, we've hardly chatted, but I respect the support you've shown me here.  Thank you both.

Jon