My Marathon Diary    ·    10/13/2007 is the date I will run ran the Baltimore Marathon

The Baltimore Marathon Website

My name is Jason Weatherholtz. I hated running in school and thought marathon runners were virtually super human. So quite unnaturally, I decided to take on the challenge. Let's get up to speed on my desire to run a marathon in easy to follow bullet point form:

So that's it. I made my decision. I am (barring injury) going to run in the Baltimore Marathon on 10/13/2007. Here's my diary:

06/10 - I ran the Survivor 7 race in Baltimore w/ my friend's fiance (Ashley) and her sister (Justine). My goal was to run the whole way and finish in under 70 minutes (10 minute miles). The most I had run before this was 5 miles. And I was successful. Too bad Justine had an asthma attack. I was too selfish to hang back with them- but Ashley did and they finished too, asthma attack and all.

06/17 - I ran 8 miles this morning thru Westminster- downtown and then by the hospital and up by the AG center. It was the furthest I've ever run and I'm extremely proud of myself and have never been more motivated.

06/17 - I have officially registered for the Baltimore Marathon. No turning back now.

06/18 - I am worried most about the hills on the marathon- the first 3 miles and 16-20 are uphill. I ran up Bishop today and did ok, but it did take a lot out of me- I need to keep at practicing the hills.

07/04 - I had an intestinal infection 2 weeks ago and missed my long run. That wasn't great, but I rebounded and I am back on track. I did my first 9 mile last Sunday and I'm set for a 10 miler this weekend. Today- on this, the birthday of our nation, I will be running 5 miles. Along the way, I'll be sure to pass the house that I am (if all goes thru) buying. Very exciting!

FAST FORWARD... 

August - I did my 16 miler and I did pretty well, but later in the day I realized I hurt my foot. Oh yeah, and I got that house! Over the next 2 weeks I walked with a limp and even a week after that while I didn't limp, I still couldn't run. So basically that means I missed my three 18 mile training runs.

September - I contemplated bailing out of the marathon but I hated the thought of losing my $100! So I said 'F- it' and I committed to doing it. What's the worst that could happen?

October 11 - (two days before the marathon!) I got my packet with my number, timing chip, etc. I also signed up for a 5 hour pace group to help me keep pace and to help me out along the way since I was running alone. And I had been eating, drinking, and sleeping right all week. And the experts say that this night is really important. But I just couldn't pass up a date- so I went out. So I didn't eat the right dinner, I drank too much, and I stayed out way too late.

October 12 - My parents and daughter came over and I got my stuff all together. I put my number on my shirt and I really felt ready. Had chicken alfredo pasta for dinner and yogurt and raisins and bread, and tons of water. While my dad drank beer in front of me, I had to fight of my inner-alcoholic to focus. So I did avoid the drinking, which would be a killer the night before the race. I ate right. And I got a good night's sleep. So the date didn't hurt me afterall. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?

October 13 - Race day! Woke up at 5:15- ready to run. I felt 100% and despite me missing the key runs I felt extremely confident. I mean, I would run my race the best I could and would only stop if my body forced me to.

7:20 - Arrived at Camden Yards. It was a sight to behold. It's amazing how much better looking the world would be if everyone ran. Tons of people, great positive energy, and any nervousness I had the night before had worn off. I knew I had prepared as best I could (with only a few exceptions).

8:00 - My folks went to the start and then I took, what I felt was like an ironic walk of shame. All my family, friends, and co-workers had been impressed that I was training for this and they couldn't imagine running that far and I felt like Superman. But then I took the ironic walk of shame. I looked at the pace signs and I walked from the 3 hour sign, 3:15, 3:30- through the sea of people- 3:30, 3:45 - back further and further 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45- to finally, pretty much at the back of the pack. I went from being Superman to being a little weakling. It's a testament to how amazing elite athletes are. To think how hard I trained and I was in the back of the pack. But as Jim my pace guy said to those ahead of us, "We'll always have your backs." But I really didn't care about being back there- because I couldn't run a mile much more than a year ago.

The race: 

Mile 1-5 - (north through the city to Druid Hill and back towards the city) I was worried about the 'hills' at the beginning but I felt so fantastic and I didn't even notice them at all.

Mile 6 - I looked up and saw Burke's Restaurant and knew that my parents and daughter had gone there to eat. I didn't expect them there, but there they were, on the curb cheering me on. I talked with them for a second, told them how great I felt and gave my daughter a hug. Then my mother said, "You better get going." So I left them in the dust.

Mile  7-13 - A nice part of the run through the city, around Fort McHenry and back to the Inner Harbor. Our Geico pacers gave us little gecko signs to waive to a cameraman and I was glad to do it (even though I have State Farm). We did our photo op with the camera guy on top of an over pass as we came near the harbor and our pacers said just give the signs to little kids. I was hoping to see my daughter and sure enough, there she was- so I passed off my sign to her and she was thrilled.

Mile 13-16 - I was familiar with this stretch from the Survivor 7 race in June and my friend lives out this way. It goes through Fells Point and Canton and I was still feeling on top of the world. I couldn't believe how good I felt! I kept doing internal checks on my breathing, legs, feet, etc and I felt better than I did after normally running just one mile. I imagine it was a combination of race day excitement, taking things a little slower than I had trained, and eating right and being fully hydrated. Along the race I was taking water and gatorade at each stop, as well as shooting some Gu every 45 minutes or so.

Mile 16-22 - I was thrilled to get to 16 (my personal best) and be feeling so great, but I knew that hell was about to come to my body in a explosive way. The hills... As we passed by Patterson park, going north to Lake Montebello it's the steepest incline on the course. I felt like I had trained pretty well for hills running around Westminster- but after 16 miles, the reality of what I was doing I guess caught up to me. I was happy at this time to have met up with Jen. It was her first marathon and while I had planned doing the marathon with minimal talking (because in training I felt I couldn't talk on long runs), I talked with her a good bit and that made the hills up to Lake Montebello passable. There I saw my aforementioned ex-girlfriend cheering me on and literally 20 yards away a co-worker doing the same. After climbing that horrible, horrible hill, that was helpful. So Jen and I stayed running together until about 22.

Mile 22-23 - I don't know if I hit the wall, but if the wall is worse than I felt, then I don't want to know. I mumbled to Jen to just go ahead because our pace group was starting to get about 30 yards ahead and at that moment I started to feel a bit defeated. I told myself I would not stop to walk, except a little though the water stations. But I couldn't keep going up that damned hill. I had to walk. So I did for about 1/4 mile. Then I started again when it flattened out, but then I walked a little more. At this point I had the chills and my right quad locked up. I thought if I stretched it, it might just snap, but I did stretch it and it felt pretty normal again. And the chills started to go away. And at this point, it was amazing- the people on the street still shouting and cheering and encouraging me and the others to keep going that we were looking great and it was not far from here... I then realized I was feeling better (a combo of knowing the hills were done, some gu and gatorade kicking in, and a general re-focus on my thoughts) and I said to myself- after this street light 20 yards ahead, I am going to turn it on and finish strong.

Mile 23-26 - I was running again and it was great to be able to be going at a slight decline most of the way and being able to see the buildings of the city ahead. I knew I was going to finish. In some of my long runs I felt just like this, and I didn't quit then, and I wouldn't quit now, for sure. And as I got closer I started to feel better and worse at the same time. My body screaming to stop this stupid thing, my mind smirking at it and denying what it wanted so bad.

Mile 26-26.2 - The finish of the race has you running through Camden Yards (the long brick building on the left, the stadium on the right) and it's pretty inspiring- I turned it up and saw the finish line I sprinted- I heard my name on the left but didn't have the energy to turn my head to look and I crossed.

Finish line - 5 hours, 5 minutes. I came in 5 minutes more than my loose goal. I declined the offer for a tin jacket thing but gladly took my medal. And I thought after about a minute of just walking- I don't feel absolutely spent. I feel like I could keep going... It's strange thinking back to that moment at mile 22 how utterly stopped my body was and why couldn't I just keep going? But I didn't care- I knew I did the best I could. I took a check of my body- my feet were sore, but no pain at all. I knew I had a blister on my right foot, but everything was very superficial. I got some water and an orange. Of course took my 2 free beers. I found one of the pacers and I shook his hand and told him how I fell out around 22. He told me Jen had caught up to them. Good to know she finished with the pacers, just under 5 hours. I wish I could have congratulated her, but I didn't see her again. I found my parents and daughter who were proud. I chugged my beers which were awful, but who could pass on free beer?

On the way home - Walking back to the Metro I had tons of energy and thought it was strange that I had just run this marathon and still felt this great. But, after about ten minutes on the metro, I started to get exhausted.

Home - We got home- my folks congratulated me again and left. I told my daughter to have fun by herself and I went upstairs to my room because I was spent. I didn't nap, but I was in a zombie like state for a few hours.

The next day - I feel good. Sore walking up and down steps, but no pain at all. I realize- it's not the marathon itself that's tough. It's all of the dedicated training you need to put into it that's tough. Marathon day was an amazing experience and aside from mile 22-23, I had just an incredible time. I am ready to sign up for next year!

I wrote this more to myself- but if you somehow come across it and it inspires you in any way (or you want to make fun of me for pussing out at 22)- email me at jason@gatorclaw.com

Happy running!