The route would start with pavement for 3 miles. Then you hit the rails to trails of The Tobacco Road. Maximum rail grade of 2%. Headed south to the 7 mile turn around. Then proceed North to the 19 mile turn around. At 23 miles you hop back onto pavement and head back into the finish. This event had over 2000 in the half marathon and 1500+ people n the marathon. The two events started about :15 apart.
Off we go. It took 10 seconds to actually start to move. As the wave of folks started to shuffle out. In true fashion I had to utilize my weaving technique. Following along with the 3:30 pace group. Till I noticed the 3:15 pace group (pg) ahead. That's all I needed to speed up.
As I proceeded to bridge the gap to the 3:15pg. The very idea of blowing my plans of a steady first half went out the window. With some very snappy legs I wanted more yet forgot I had a long way to go. At the 7 mile turn around I found myself running within the top 5 of the ladies overall. Pacing my efforts off of a strong looking lady of seemed to be building momentum with every stride. Striking up a conversation, I find that she ran the Olympic Trials in '96 here in Columbia. This is about the time I realized I had been going way too fast.
Now at mile 14, she begins to pull away as I am fumbling for water at the aid station. Oh well just maintain a steady turn over and keep chugging along. By mile 17 I could hear the group leader for the 3:15pg coming up from behind me. Dang I should have just listened and been patience. Digging deeper to stay with them. Now as the cramps have began to take hold of my lower half.
Slipping into survival mode. I had just committed the number one rule of running a marathon, going out too fast. As I collectively try to consume as many calories and hydrate for the closing miles to come. The damage had been be inflicted. Self-inflicted. By now my pace had dropped from steady sub 7:30, to the 7:45's to the low 8's. Dropping fast and the miles were getting longer.
Back out onto the pavement for the last 5k to the finish. The hills started in this section. I was zapped. A few walk breaks mixed into the pace. I had to convince myself to push the last 20 minutes. So I did. Just one foot in front of the other. I shuffled into the finishing straight with the sheer satisfaction of completion. I will admit now that not very pretty or text book procedure. Finished in 3:24, 6 minutes under my goal. PR my first Marathon, oh yeah it's the first one. Works for me.
