#86 - Run a Marathon (contributed by Kevin Hawk)

November 15, 2009 - San Antonio, TX - This was by far the most time-consuming item on my list. I sarted my organized training in mid July, putting in some 300 miles of running and 200 miles of biking in the process. I wasn't as religious about my running as I should have been, and it showed come race day. Based on my longer training runs, I was estimating I would finish in 5 hours. It took 5.5 hours.

The first half was great; I hit the half-way point at 2:15. The second half took an hour longer than the first, which is not surprising considering how much I wlaked during the second half. It was awful. It was partly a physical break-down, as it was warmer than I was accustomed to (around 80 degrees in November) and quite muggy. I had a hard time balancing my fluid and energy intake with my expenditures. But I think it was also a very psychological breakdown. Though I did most of my training solo and never had problems with boredom, I got ridiculously bored during the second half of hte marathon, despite being surrounded by other runner, people cheering on the runners, and live bands playing every mile or so. Something in me sort of gave up and I had a hard time pushing myself on.

Kana and I started together and stuck together for most of the first half. We got separated around half-way, and then she caught up with me in the last mile and we finished together!!!

All in all it was a good experience. I learned a lot about myself. My immediate reaction was "Never again!" My delayed reaction is. . . "well. .. probably again."

As a super bonus, friends Julie Walker and Anna Bass flew into town to surprise me and Kana. That was a great surprise.