Marathon

I finished my second marathon on Sunday, May 20. I think I'll just tell the story today and then try to pull a couple lessons learned out of it some other day.

I planned and trained to run 3:35. I had run 3:53 last year at the same course, and I know that I made tactical errors that killed me on that run. In other words, I should have run faster last year.

So this year I actually corrected what I thought I did wrong last year and trained a lot smarter with some decent results. I finished the run in 3:34:47 (I had to kick it in on the last half mile a bit in order to reach my goal!). I list the highlights:

• CellCom Green Bay is a well organized race! They text message anyone you want with updates as you run. Nikki got little messages that told her where I was on the course. VERY cool. Nik has pictures of this event on her blog.
  
• Somehow it's ALWAYS freezing in Green Bay on this May race day. It was 38F and extremely windy (especially from miles 17-22--that was brutal). I'll take that over hot any day (see my little "I got tagged" list below).
  
• There were 6,700 participants in the three races (5K, Half- and Full Marathon). Of the 6,700, about 1,400 were marathoners. I finished #321.
  
• I won't forget the feeling at about mile 11 when all the Half-ers turned to finish and the rest of us kept going. It was like moving from a sea to a trickling brook. You felt somewhat alone out there.
• My three boys, Nik and her mom were there rooting me and Nik's dad (ya, he ran it, too) on. I saw them at mile 6 and again at 17. I knew I would see them at 17, so I took a 30 second walk break about 600 yards before I thought I'd see them so I would look strong. I think it worked.
• I was averaging sub-8:00 minute miles until 23. Twenty Three!!!
  
• I had to pee from mile 3 through 23 (when I finally found an open porta-john). Those were 20 interesting miles. I kept arguing with myself about where and when to stop. Jessica Lynds story (Vienna City Marathon) inspired me (though I did not go in the woods, Jess).
• I already lovingly communicated this to the Marathon people: the finishers medal was very cool and the t-shirt was weak.
• My favorite parts:
• My whole family was there and really had a great time. Nikki is SO supportive. I love her and my boys!!!!!! It is amazing to share these memories with my family!
  
• I love being able to share the experience with may father-in-law. I have about 5-6 people who inspire my life, and/or running--he does both. He shaved 8-9 minutes off his time from last year as well.
  
• I got to lead a pre-race prayer rally for maybe 65 people (most of whom were waiting for the post-prayer "course lecture"). Anyways, I pray that the name of Jesus Christ was uplifted and that anxious marathoners were comforted.
  
• The rest of the insights would be for rabid marathoners, and would begin to bore.
  

So that is pretty much the story. I felt recovered as of Tuesday, but after a run today I realize that my legs are still a bit heavy. I cannot wait for the next marathon. You know how it is! If you like to knit, to drink Diet Coke or to read ESPN The Magazine--it's a hobby you look forward to.

I close with one statement that is more for me than for you. Who cares about running? Life is not about a run. Life is about giving God glory with every relationship you have, every note you sing and every minute you live. Remember Eric Liddel (Chariots of Fire)? "I feel God's pleasure when I run" (that is probably a paraphrase). Okay. So life is about following Christ with my footsteps. So if I never run another step I praise God!! Life is his! I am his and he is mine! I hope you have a hobby that you like to give your all to once in a while. I hope we all keep it in perspective.

The phrase I repeated to myself 4 million times from miles 15-26.2: "It's only a marathon."