Bayshore Race Report

This will be quick and dirty. But first, thanks to my friends who were kind enough to hang with me over the weekend. Also, I ended up placing H2O bottles on the course and they were there during the race. Lastly before the race report, the weather conditions were cloudy and low 50s to start. Basically, perfect.

The first 17 miles were amazing, nothing higher than a 7:10 mile. Miles 18-20 went 7:18, 7:26, 7:25. I was happy with all of these splits—everything was coming easy and consistent with all of my training runs. My average mile for the first half was 7:00/M even and after 20 miles my average pace was 7:05.

But during mile 21 my calfs began to cramp. Painful and terrible cramping. I had failed to apply BioFreeze before the race and I instantly regretted the decision. Although, regarding hydration, I had consumed enough Gatorade and H2O and salt tablets the days leading up to the marathon and during the run that I felt this would not be a problem. I was wrong.

The calf cramps prevented me from running at anything like the pace I was cursing through before. My last six miles went 7:52, 8:24, 9:19, 9:54, 9:34, 8:58. Average pace over the last six miles was 9:00/M.

All of this notwithstanding, I finished two minutes above my goal, and I’m very proud. It was a great run; I wouldn’t change anything despite the collapse during the last 10K.

The Saddest Story

I have never known anything like the love and joy I was lucky enough to share with Lil. The two years we spent together were the very best of my life. I am forever indebted to her. Her strength, compassion, unending drive, and smile inspired me to be a better man. And I will be haunted by her eyes, grey like a ghost in a mist, forever.

Sadly, Lil and I had to let the other go. Not for a lack of love, desire, or any reason typically articulated by former lovers. We realized we just needed to let the other person be who they need to be, and we loved the other enough to let go. I know, those three lines utterly fail to describe the difficulty and struggle and tears we experienced, but they embody the heart of the reason we separated.

I dedicated my old blog to our running adventures and a chronicle of our preparation for the 2008 Chicago Marathon. Reading it today brings back wonderful but sometimes bittersweet memories; and I can’t help but feel the great weight of emptiness that arrives on the shoulders of knowing no future memories of Big and Lil will be created.

But life is what happens while you are busy making plans.

After taking several months off, all of November and December, I’m back to the pavement. The Bayshore Marathon awaits.