28 months to 26.2 miles

I had a heart attack on June 15, 2009. Since, as most who know me can attest, I can be a bit slow at times, it took me 6 months to figure out that I should make a change in my life. In January 2010 I finally took my fist steps to a new me and started running. As the running shirts say, I started slow and tapered from there. Actually, I did something right and started the C25K program. On 3/14/10 I ran my first 5k at a blistering 41:29. My first 10k came in November of the same year and was 1:21:42. I stretched myself and ran my first half marathon on 5/7/11 and finished with 2:50:35. And now, on 10/30/11 I officially became a marathoner.

Let me rewind back to Friday, 10/28. Sarah & I went to the MCM Expo to pick up my packet. It was pretty cool to have the Marines wish me luck and congratulate me for entering. Sarah got a pic of the Marine giving me my bib and we toured the vendors. I picked up some new headphones and a special MCM tumbler with the MCM motto “Always earned, never given” on it. I decided that that glass would not be used until I had earned it, so it was put away until Sunday night.

After the expo we went to the First Timer’s pep rally. It was a pretty fun event with some food and cheering items for the kids. Since my nieces would be joining my kids on the course we grabbed multiple sets of pop-poms, flags and other such items and headed home. On the way home we learned that my sisters & mother had struck a deer on their way down from Ohio and would be delayed by a day. Luckily everyone was ok so we knew we’d see them the next day.

Saturday was intended to be a chill day to allow me to rest for the impending marathon. Sarah & I ran a few errands and generally relaxed while waiting for my family to arrive. They got here safe and sound around 4:00 pm. I can’t say enoug how much it meant to have my mother and sisters come down to support me. We had dinner together and then I headed off for bed about 9:00 to attempt to go to sleep. While I did that, Sarah, Thing1 & the gang led the little ones through making posters to cheer me on. I think I finally managed to fall asleep around midnight.

I’d say my day began at 4:30 am but I actually woke up almost hourly, sure I was oversleeping. I got up just before my alarm went off and got dressed in my racing clothes with an extra old sweatshirt over them. I kissed Sarah good bye and headed over to Elaine’s house for my ride to the race. Elaine is the best running partner you could ask for. She’s an awesome cheerleader and will always help you out. I’m truly blessed to call her friend. By 5:15, Elaine, Jill, Scott & I were in the car and heading for the race. After chilling at the hotel lobby until 7, we started walking to the start line.
This is what I saw while walking to the start:

Almost immediately after walking through the arches in search of my starting corral, we got to see a fly-over by a pair of Osprey’s. They’re pretty cool planes and made quite an impact:

Since Elaine, Jill and Scott are all much faster an I am, I bid them good luck and went off to my start area. Once there I managed to convince a nice lady to shoot a pic of me:

and of the bib I was wearing on my back:

Finally it was time to start. The race starts at 8:00 and I finally crossed the start line at 8:20. The first few miles passed by fairly uneventfully. We got a fly-over by Marine One as we crossed the Key Bridge, which was pretty cool. Before I knew it we were passing the Kennedy Center and cruising to mile 10. I was hitting my paces just fine and was feeling pretty good about myself. Life got even better as I saw my sisters and children in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I waved and kept going, hearing their cheers and getting a wonderful lift from them.

The course went around Haine’s Point which is pretty boring unfortunately, but there were some funny signs to keep us going and a cool group of dancers at the point. About mile 15 I started to flag a bit and was doing a 4/1 run/walk to try to keep going. I got another boost from seeing my family, and I mean all of my family, around mile 17. I managed to get high-fives from them as I cruised by. Unfortunately, I hit the wall hard around mile 18-19 and was having major cramping issues in my legs. I was determined to keep going and beat the bridge though. Once again, the family came through as Sarah, Kelli, Gabi, and Dre met me on the Mall and walked with me for a bit. We walked until we caught up with my cousin Sean and his beautiful wife Julie who had also come to support me. I got a drink refill at that point and kept going.

Mile 20! I beat the bridge! Nothing could stop me now, except of course my own legs trying to tie themselves in knots. Nothing like having the back of your right knee seize up mid stride to almost send you to the ground. I felt a bit better as I notices many other folks walking as well. We finally came into Crystal City and once again, there was my family, with the addition of the Ramsey clan. Mark, Julie, Nick & Connor came all the way down to cheer me on. Since the course went down and back I passed them and then looped back to the gang. At that point I knew I was in trouble and needed some moral support so I asked for “chaperones” for the last 3 miles. Thing2 & Gabi never missed a beat as they fell into step with me and kept me company.

We passed the Pentagon and closed in on the last mile and came across my family one last time. I got to walk most of the last half mile with my entire family around me. Thats a memory I will always treasure. As we hit 26, they all peeled off and let me finish. I had to walk up the final hill but managed to find the strength to start running the final approach. I may have walked most of the last 6 miles, but I finished strong and running. There’s even video proof! Getting that high-five from the Marine and hearing “Way to finish strong man, Oorah!” will stay with me forever. Official time – 6:31:29

I collected my space blanket, my medal & my hospitality box and met up with my family. After a few misadventures involving dehydration, extremely low blood pressure, the wonderful folks at VA Hospital Center, and the worlds rudest cabby, we finally made it home

While I loved and appreciated everyone for their support, a few folk need to be singled out. My mom took time off work, traveled all the way from Detroit, got her car damaged, schlepped all over DC & VA for a few second glimpse of her son as he ran by. I love I you mom and can’t thank you enough. My sisters, who did all of the above too while towing their toddler daughters along. You guys rock, appreciate all the love. Ditto for my kids. I’m sure Thing1 & Thing2 had better things to do than watch their old man lumber along but they made me feel loved anyway. Of course WeeOne was cheering her daddy on every step of the way. I hear she even got quite upset that she hadn’t gotten a good picture for her daddy. Cousin Sean and the wonderful Julie who pushed herself just to support me. Thank you so much. Also many thanks go to the Ramsey’s, who probably spent 3 times as much time traveling as they did at the race, just to cheer me on.

Finally, there’s the one person who I literally could not have done it without. She kicked me in the arse 28 months ago and made me realize I was losing the best thing to ever happen to me. She encouraged me when I had bad days running. She put up with Sunday after Sunday where I had long runs planned, preventing her from making any plans. She chased down Gu, she made sure I had new shoes when I wore them out. She did a million other things to help me. And finally, on race day she busted her butt, (and everyone else’s), to make sure I saw people who loved me as much as possible and knew I was supported. I love you Sarah Lloyd, I couldn’t have gotten this medal without you. I may have run the 26.2 miles, but you did the marathon with me. This medal is as much yours as it is mine:

I write this post 8 days after the marathon and the first day I don’t have any pain in anything. I managed to get out for a 5 miler tonight and it felt wonderful. In order to run tonight I had to heal up from 2 major blisters, multiple bruised muscles, 2 bruised heels, 6 different IV sticks between my arms, and general dehydration. It was all worth it.

Would I do it again? Ask me that again when MCM 2012 registration opens up.

~Conan

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