Another marathon in the books! While it wasn't my best time it was pretty close to it, and with all we have had going on in our lives these past few months I was absolutely thrilled with the finish. Since my last race in December my wife and I have both gotten promotions, found out we are expecting a baby (our first!) traveled to Portugal, sold a home, and (fingers crossed since we're still in the process of closing) bought a home. Whew! Talk about a busy season. I have done my best to keep up with my training in the midst of it all, averaging about 50 miles a week, but did not have a chance to throw in enough of the spicy stuff (speed work, hill repeats, etc.) typically needed to move the needle on performance. Regardless, I showed up to the starting line at the Delaware Marathon this past Sunday in good spirits and ready for a challenge.
The race started at Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park, a gorgeous venue right by the Christiana River that memorializes Harriet Tubman, Thomas Garrett, and the surrounding area that played a vital role in the liberation of slaves through the Underground Railroad. I charged out fast in a pair of Altra Escalantes, which were a Christmas gift from my amazing mother and father-in-law (thanks Bob and Sally!) with a hand-held water bottle packed full of salt tablets and Cappuccino Hammer gels to power me through the day. Scattered showers hit us in the first mile but they quickly dissipated, giving way to a perfectly sunny day. Feeling strong I reached the 10K mark in 46 minutes, and continued to press on at a 3:20 pace while drinking in the beauty of the city all around me. Wilmington is so charming! Most of the race ran right by the water, with lots of scenic bridges, parkways, and neat old buildings along the way.
We also passed through several parks and ran a good distance along some really pretty trails that reminded me of my favorite ones back home in Arlington. Thinking back through all the races I have done over the years, this one had elements of all the best. I hit the halfway mark in 1:40:17, then shortly after I spotted my beautiful bride and our beloved hound dog, Bud, on the side of the trail. My pace quickened and my smile brightened as I sprinted alongside them for a few moments, laughing as Bud playfully barked and dashed about. Since he’s my normal morning running buddy, he was NOT happy with me for leaving him behind earlier. Still feeling great, I noted that I ran mile 16 in 7:55 and had yet to record any miles over 8 minutes, with the fastest being a 7:08. I thought I would be able to keep that pace down the back half but unfortunately I was wrong, as I slowed for a bathroom break at mile 17 and never got back into a good rhythm.
And then came “the wall.” At this point in past races I have gotten frustrated with myself, but today was just different for some reason. Perhaps it was the bright sunshine, perhaps it was the sheer magnitude of beauty all around me, perhaps it was my own conscious thoughts about becoming a father soon, but rather than anger or frustration, all I felt was immense love and gratitude. I stopped caring about my times and splits and started giving out high-fives, smiles, and words of encouragement to the slower runners as I passed them on the return trip to the start/finish line. I let go of the need for a new PR and just decided to enjoy the moment. Before long I hit the 24 mile mark by the Riverfront where I saw Sarah and Bud again, right when I needed them most. Hot, tired, and cramping badly, just seeing them for a few moments was enough to take my mind off the pain and focus instead on things that truly matter. The last few miles all I could think about was how blessed I am to have such a loving, supportive wife and how excited I am to become a father. I wondered what our daughter will think of me, if she might enjoy running like her mom and I do, and if I will make her proud. Only time will tell I guess. I crossed the finish at 3:36, then settled on a grassy spot by the river to stretch, refuel and rehydrate. Sarah and I enjoyed the post-race celebration for a bit with a firefighter named Riley, a new friend I had the pleasure of running a few miles with, then walked back to our Airbnb to get cleaned up and recover. I presented Sarah with the “Inspiration Coin” included with my finishers medal (really cool touch by the way) to show her how much her support meant to my race success, gave her a kiss, and we hit the road. And with that, my last marathon before our beautiful little girl arrives into this world was a wrap.
Commentaires