The 2010 BMO marked my 9th full marathon. And as always, I not only learned something about running a marathon, but about myself.This was the first time I thought the "Boston" word. I didn't want to put too much pressure on myself however. My training paces were going well, but I had missed some of the early training mileage because of my Olympic volunteering. But I was feeling good, so after some consideration I thought I should at least give it a try.
The already cool weather started to turn wet just before the start. Given my previous problems in similar weather, this wasn't welcomed. But you take what is offered. I started out on my target pace and was feeling really good as we completed the initial False Creek loop. On or ahead of my a 3:35 target I headed out into east Vancouver and found myself holding back a bit to not pass the 3:30 pace bunny.
Heading into Stanley Park nearing the half way point I started to feel my legs muscles tighten and the knee pain start. This was not good. At the 2009 Fall Classic the same thing happened and I hobbled the last half of that race. Soon it became very clear that this was not going to be my day. I went from feeling great to terrible in just a few km's. And as I went out towards English Bay I said goodbye to Boston. Maybe a new PB at sub-3:45 was possible? Soon that was clearly "no". Why was I even doing this? I had to stop listening to the voices, dig deep to just keep moving. I must have been quite the sight running with a brace and a big limp. This was the first time I've had medical people ask me if I was OK. But not finishing was not an option. My final times: a 1:44 first half and a 3:56 finish.
I clearly recall the looks on various friends faces as they saw me slowly approaching, limping, or walking. They saw the pain and disappointment on my face, and I saw it on theirs. In hind sight I think I felt worse for them than I did about my knees.
And this is when you can learn something about yourself. I remembered back to 1999 when I first started running. I remember having trouble just walking my dog up this one hill as we went around the block. I felt I needed the dog to help haul me up the last part. This was not right! I used to be fit and healthy. I had wanted to run a marathon since my teens. So I started to train for a 10km Sun Run. I worked hard, and suffered with these sore knees, but I did it. But to do a marathon? Not with my bad knees. Or so I thought.
So here I am in 2010. I was not able to get my Boston time. That's not anything serious. I was fit and healthy enough to finish my 9th marathon. And 3 of those were in an Ironman. Bad knees and all, I was able to do what many others have just dreamed about. And I had friends out there who cared enough about me to feel my pain too. When asked how my race went I'd say "I had a GREAT half marathon. Too bad I was racing the full." Sometimes you just have to find the humour in things.
I learned it's not the clock that you are running for. It's your friends, your family, and your health. It's for these reasons I run. And who knows. Maybe #10 will "B" better.
