4:38:44

My ultimate goal in running a marathon was to finish. I can say that now after actually finishing a marathon and realizing first hand how difficult it is to do. In addition to that main goal, I had a smaller goal of running in under four hours. The training process was long and grueling to say the least, there were days that I didn't want to run but had to in order to be completely prepared. This past weekend was the race. I was prepared, or so I thought.

Night before the race-

The carb-load meal that has become something of a tradition among long distance runners. It consists normally of a large pasta dinner that contains a high number of carbohydrates to aid the runner the next day in the energy department. Spaghetti is my pasta of choice along with a large piece of garlicked bread. Needless to say I didn't really care about making friends and not offending folks with my breath along the route of the race. The meal was great and high in carbs and I felt good.

Sunday Jan 13, 2008

5:15AM- Wake up call. Dress and depart for downtown Houston

6:00AM- Arrive at GRB Convention Center and receive my good luck kiss from my wife. Check my bag in at the runner station and begin to stretch and eat an energy bar and hydrate.

6:45AM- Exit the Convention Center and proceed to the starting line. Although I am with nearly 6000 other competitors I feel completely solo, like it is just me against the course. There is no doubt in my mind that I will finish the race just if I will be able to do well.

7:00AM- First wave start

7:10AM- Second wave start (my wave). I officially start at twelve minutes past the hour. Please use this interactive map to see where and what I am talking about in terms of miles on the course. http://map.mapnetwork.com/event/chevronhoustonmarathon/

MILE 1-3 The first moments of any large race like this are not fast. The elite runners are those that get the privilege of starting in front and get to run their pace from the beginning. While 90% of runners are clumped together for the first mile or two of this type of race. It doesn't even really begin to thin out enough to actually run the pace that you have planned until about mile 3 or about the turn onto Quittman St.

MILE 3-10 Just before Hogg Park I passed Davis High School, it was great. I attended a high school by the same name growing up and it was a real pleasant surprise. And when the marching band was out playing it was a great pleasure to hear and gave me a real boost, even though it was only three miles into the race. When I turned down Studewood St. at about mile five is when I really started enjoying the crowd. Throughout the race there were thousands of people out to cheer the runners on. It was good fun and the marathon had printed our names on our race bibs and the lookers on would call out names of all the runners. It was awesome to hear someone say, "GO JAMES, you're doing great!" Then down through the Museum District and past Rice University. There were some cool things to see in that area, a huge fountain and down Main St. past Rice was my favorite part of the marathon. It was a four lane road covered with large oak trees, with trees so old that it looked like a tunnel of oak. It was a fun experience to run past the University and the stadium.

MILE 10-15 West University Place is a good neighborhood with lots of people out running for exercise that would stop and cheer us on. Then we ran up and over a highway overpass and this was interesting because you could see the people that never trained for any type of altitude change. Then we ran through the Galleria Mall and at just about that point I completed half of the marathon at 1:55. I was at a 8 min 40 sec per mile pace and well under my personal goal of completing the marathon in under four hours. I was feeling good and excited about everything that was happening. Next was up through the San Felipe neighborhood and again there were lots of people out cheering us on.

MILE15-20 San Felipe then to Woodway Drive. There was one spot that I really enjoyed. I was just passing the eighteen mile mark and there was a group of older gentlemen outside on the corner playing in a quartet of brass instruments. I don't know exactly why the music was so great at that point in the race but I will always remember that section.

MILE 20-21 The WALL! I reached Buffalo Bayou and crossed the 30K mark at 2:39 which is still very much under the four hour marathon pace. But, then it happened. My left leg stopped. With no warning my left leg cramped and every muscle in the entire limb just locked up and I was unable to continue. The only thoughts that I had were disbelief and anger. I couldn't believe that this was happening. I had to slide myself to the curb and stretch out my leg and then my other leg cramped and I was incapacitated. A spectator saw that I was in peril and brought me a large gatorade type drink, and it was a life-saver! I was able to start walking after that hydration and greatful to do so. I have been to the wall and walked right through it! When the race was over my mother told me that the measure of someones will is when they meet the wall if they are able to finish.

MILE 21-26.2 Walk to the finish. I tried numerous times to begin to run again but each attempt was unsuccessful. The hardest part of the entire marathon was watching the four hour marathon pace setter pass me up. I knew that I wasn't going to reach my personal goal of finishing in under four hours, but my new goal was just to finish. Just finishing a marathon is something that only one out of every ten thousand people can say that they accomplished. Also, the cheering that is meant to help out was becoming a nusance to me, the same "C'mon James" that I enjoyed earlier was not as welcomed in this part of the race. My mental state was perfect, aerobic state was perfect, will was perfect, body was just on the unable to perform list. It was tough to be completely willing to run and not tired enough not to run but unable to do exactly that...really really tough. But I did it and I finished. I finished a marathon. 26.2 miles completed. The best part of the entire race was the last few steps with thousands cheering the runners on I heard the cheers of my family. My wife Mary was screaming and so thrilled that I was safe and finishing. My mom, sister and brother in law were all there as well to cheer me on and it meant the world to me have them all support me even though I was unable to reach my personal goal. I cannot thank them enough for the support.

It was an experience of a lifetime and I am thankful to have completed the race.

Here is the finish line video

My finishing time 4:38:44