Richmond Marathon - Part 4
What was that? My calf? my hammie? Why are leg muscles named after barnyard animals? Okay not all of them, but 2. Back to the problem, that pain started in my hamstring and shot down to my calf. It is gone but it, ouch, there’s another one. What the snot? This isn’t good. That’s 2 spasms in a short period. Try to breathe, keep running normally everything feels fine right now but what happens if? hey Coach Ellie. I’m fine except, never mind. No really it’s not a big deal. I had a couple of muscle spasms in my left leg. They started in my hamstring and went into my calf. It felt like someone poked me with a knife. It hasn’t happened in awhile so maybe it’s gone. Yes, I’ve been walking through waterstops and getting lots of fluids. I’ve gu’d on schedule, is that really a verb? today it is? Okay. I am a bit hungry though. What’s this on tongue depressors? Is it some kind of gu? I’ll try…why did you knock it out of my hand? Vaseline? I almost ate vaseline? That would have ruined the day. thanks. Yeah, I think I’m okay. It’s been a mile since the last spasm. So I’m keepin’ on. Thanks, see you in the funny papers!
Here’s the Holiday Inn. I got over the hill and past the Diamond and didn’t even realize it, here’s mile 20. Thanks Ellie whereever you ran off to….
So this isn’t as much fun running by yourself and I still have six miles to go. I could be out here another XX minutes. I don’t think I can make it. I was just feeling fine, now I’m not sure I can even finish. My legs hurt, I’m hungry, my feet hurt, my legs hurt, my arms hurt, my legs hurt, my shoulders hurt, my legs hurt. Maybe I can just walk for a bit and feel better. I’ll walk to the next corner and then start running. Walk, walk, walk, walk, okay start running. Run, run, run that hurts more now than it did. No more walking, the sooner I am done, the sooner the pain will go away. Keep running - Let’s catch that guy in the blue shirt. Focus on his shirt, focus, focus, focus. Bring him back, keep moving forward. Caught him. Who is next - white shirt up there. Keep it going. Keep it going, keep it going. Hey there’s the arch. That’s some progress. Look at all the cars backed up on Bellevue - that’s not fun. Those folks are going to be there awhile. Look at all the residents along Pope that are outside. Great waterstop by the St. Gertrude High School Ladies! This is some serious energy. Use the energy, keep moving. Great job - thanks for being out here. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks.
Great sign - “My Girlfriend is easier than this Marathon”, Love that sign!! Less than 4 miles to go. Let’s think about what’s left - Brook Road, Lombardy, Grace, 3rd and Cary. there’s only about 5 turns left in this Marathon and then I’m downhill to the finish. I can do that, I can do that. I need one more gu. I’ll get it ready for the waterstop. Where is it? It was pinned to my shorts? Where is my last gu? Oh no, I don’t have it. I need my last gu. I still have XX minutes left to run, I won’t make it without a gu. There is no way, I’m running on empty already. I am about to die right here on Brook Road. I need another gu. This is not good, I can’t believe that 25 weeks of training is going to fall apart in the last 4 miles because I lost my last gu. This is so typical. How did this get so screwed up? Hey. No it’s not okay. I lost my last gu. I know I am less than 5 miles from the finish but I need one last GU. Yes I am sure I had it but it’s gone. What, pinned to my shorts where? On the left? it was supposed to be on the right! I can’t believe it was there the whole time. Did you put it there? Are you sure? Right on Lombardy at VUU. Here we go down the hill to the overpass, Mile 24 - walk through the waterstop, get some water eat some gu and ready to go. Run, power up the hill to Broad. It’s easy from here. Let’s see how many people I can pass in the final 2 miles?
Left turn on Grace and……
YOUR MARATHON SUCCESS IS DEFINED BY YOU! HOW WILL YOU RUN THE LAST TWO MILES OF THE RICHMOND MARATHON - RUN THEM NOW IN YOUR HEAD. FINISH YOUR PERSONAL MARATHON BUT FINISH IT IN TRUE SNOTTY STYLE!
Always be ready for Success - it knocks whenever the hell it pleases and you have to be ready!
This is gonna be so awesome!
Relax. Be Calm. Be Confident. You are so Ready.
Trust your training
Trust your coaches
But most of all - TRUST YOURSELF! YOU CAN DO THIS AND DO IT WELL!
