blog (January, 2002)
Dublin City Marathon
Marathoning is like cutting yourself unexpectedly. You dip into the pain so gradually that the damage is done before you are aware of it. Unfortunately, when awareness comes, it is excruciating.
-- John Farrington
I think that it's almost inevitable that you go out a little faster than you planned on your first marathon. Months of anticipation and the thrill of the start are hard to combat in a race run at training pace. But I calmed down after 4 miles, and fell into the 7-minute/mile pace I had tentatively planned.
The first twenty miles of the Dublin City Marathon seemed like a breeze, but I realize now how much they wore me down for those last all-important six-point-two, when the race really begins.
I finished in 3 hours, 0 minutes, and 3 seconds, which made me the 207th runner (out of the 8000 enterred) to cross the finish line; (official results.) I'll spare the details here -- you can read my race report on Running-Log.com. I was a little disappointed with the 3 seconds, but have gotten over it, and am pleased with my performance. I should be counting my blessings that my over-anxiousness at the beginning didn't cause me to hit the wall earlier, or harder, (any harder would've surely meant hands and knees on the pavement...)
Nothing can quite compare to the way my legs felt in the last 800 meters (which were psychologically longer than any 10 miles of the rest of the race,) but each day since the marathon I've felt worse than the last. My body is destroyed and I am sensing the beginnings of what I've read about a kind of post-marathon depression. But, a kind of satisfaction lies behind everything; I'm happy for what I accomplished, and am glad to finally put the race behind me, and start looking forward to something new.
be like water
I've been concentrating a lot on the running lately, but with my peak distance pre-marathon run taken care of yesterday, and my online race entry form submitted today, I'll be easing up on the training and focus and trying to get back to other things, like books and people and Ireland. Nearing raceday is going to cut down my participation in the national pastime, however, though signs like this picture scream out from every other building, and barmen at the pub scowl when I request that my pint glass be filled with water instead o' the black stuff...
I'm learning to cook, and speak a little French, I'm improving my juggling and guitar playing, and I received a very short lesson with a didjeridu the other day, but it's not nearly enough. I want to stretch out and reach out more. I'm nearly done reading Walden, the book I've been quoting here of late -- it has intrigued me, but not captivated me, and I've had difficulty in trudging through to its finish. I now have a Galway Public Library card, though, so maybe I can find a new journey soon. Suggestions welcome (change the (at) in the address.)
On my computer back home I have a list somewhat like this self betterment agenda -- notes on certain habits I want to develop or weed out -- and another on skills I want to learn or perfect. (Unfortunately, I don't have access to a secure shell client here in Ireland to access the home machine, so I can't get to those and various other lists and projects...)
I haven't yet gone as far as Buckminster Fuller, who formulated a credo of self disciplines to live his life by, but it's nice to keep little reminders like "Don't chew on pens that people lend me," to keep me growing in the right direction.
runnin on dubs
Things are rushing here; lots of hours spent at work and not quite so much digging things around as I'd like, but that's the nature of my trip right now. Quite some time being spent running as well, and sleeping to make the running pay off. I've decided I want to run the Dublin City Marathon on October 28th. I've never run a marathon before - the furthest I've raced is 8k and the furthest I've run in one block is about 13 miles; half the distance of this race. I just picked up my training at the end of August (it's been on and off all summer) so it's kind of going to be a crash course, which is anything but smart, for a marathon. But if by October 11th I think I can swing it, then the entry fee is going in.
You can check out my training; I keep my log at Running-Log.com, a site created by my former CWRU XC teammate Branton Boehm. Branton's done a terrific job on the site, and it's grown quite indispensible to me; I'd recommend it to any runner.
wicked tired
Returned from UAA conference indoor track championships today, at Brandeis University in Boston. I ran the 1500 meters, with not-so-stellar results.
The trip was fun, though. My fourth or fifth time in Boston, I think. We were allowed some time on our own downtown last night; dropped off between Faneuil Hall and the wharf, and given some freedom. I ate my first lobster at the Black Rose, which was exciting, but it was more exciting to simply be swirled up in all of the activity and culture. People everywhere. I didn't realize what an industrial wasteland the city of Cleveland is. Everything just seems so lifeless and desolate here, in comparison.
A few of us came upon the Bill Rodgers Running Center right near Quincy Market, which was a treat. Half running apparel store, half shrine to Rodgers, who, among other running achievements, set the American marathon record at 2:09:27 back in 1979.
stuck in the slow heats
...or the [no-talent] "ass clown," (see space,) heats, as Andre calls them.
I'm referring to my races at the Oberlin College Indoor Track Invitational that I just returned from, tonight. I ran the 3000m and the 1000m, and my performance of late surely warrants my placement in said ass-clown heats. I ran a blistering, er, blistered 3k in 9:38 - an improvement over last week, but pretty sad when I notice that I ran 9:22 at the same meet 3 years ago. Frustrating. I'm fo'definiley enjoying training and racing, I just wish I weren't so damn slow. Something has to change, I'm just not sure what, yet.
Long distance running is particularly good training in perseverance.
-- Chairman Mao
(this and other good running quotes at The Quotable Runner)