run the inaugural ing georgia marathon on march 25, 2007 and then hang out with jeherv in atlanta afterwards

If you told me a year ago that I would have run a half-marathon I would’ve probably done a spit take.

It feels like a dream, a vivid one. First off, waking up at 5 a.m. for this rock star is unfathomable. Yet I did it willingly. I was eager to meet this challenge. After all, I prepared for this since January 1st.

I met AM, JH and SS at the Inman Park MARTA station. We were at 5 Points in 10 minutes. A constant flow of people came out of the station to the street.

It was a beautiful morning, not a cloud in the sky. There was an incredible energy in the air, like a huge adrenaline bomb waiting to explode.

This was an international event. A woman from Ireland bumped into me and said sorry as I waited anxiously at the start line.

The MC introduced the race director and the husband to whom the race was dedicated. He lost his wife to cancer. After that a pastor, who was a runner, led a prayer. His prayer touched me. He prayed that each runner would encounter Christ during the race. He also prayed that at that point when we needed to dig deep, we’d call out to God for strength. Let me tell you I did this no less than 17 times.

Right at 7 a.m. the race started. It took a while for the thousands of runners to begin moving. Eventually I hit the mats which recorded my time with the special chip in my shoelaces.

I was passing many people looking for my pace. I finally found it at about mile 2. That was about the time I saw a gospel choir on the right singing for us! It was thrilling. They were wearing purple robes hitting tambourines and singing for us runners.

One of the most indelible things about this race was the amount of support from the city. At every single step of this race people were cheering for us saying “Go runners!,” holding signs and ringing cowbells. Some even had water bottles and oranges for us.

All things were rocking for me until I hit Freedom Parkway. That was the 10k spot and I was at 49 minutes at that point, doing well. However it wasn’t long after that I started fading fast.

As I got to Ponce to run through Virginia Highlands I began to struggle and slow down. I turned off the music too. It was messing with me head.

Honestly it was hill after hill. The flats were so short that I couldn’t quite catch my breath. I would turn the corner and it would just be another hill. It was brutal.

I think it was in Piedmont Park that did my first minute walk. I’d hoped to run the whole way but it wasn’t going to happen. I started praying fervently at this point. I just wanted to finish.

As I hit midtown I knew the end was getting closer. 10th Street was yet another hill before I turned to the home stretch and last brutal hill which was South on Peachtree Street. All I had to do was keep going.

Peachtree had the most supporters. People were everywhere. Quite honestly I blocked it all out. The only thing in my mind was crossing the finish line. Here I began walking more. I think I walked 3 more 1 minute breaks. People were passing me left and right but I didn’t care anymore.

Soon enough I saw the finish line. I knew then I’d run the rest of the way, finishing strong was the only option. I kept my head up and just ran.

I did it! The clock said 1:56 but my official chip time was 1:54:19, 8:43/mile pace. I was so glad it was over. If I make it sound hard that’s because it was. This was serious.

I didn’t know where to walk. I could barely walk as it was. I saw the medals and got mine. Right behind them were huge stacks of water. I grabbed one and inhaled it. I turned around and got another bottle. Just beyond the water was a huge, long table filled with gogurt, muffins, bananas and apples. I grabbed a gogurt and banana.

I was in a daze. I wanted to get back to MARTA so I could get home. As I walked I ran into an old college friend who was in town from Chicago for the race. She finished in 1:50 I think. We talked about the race and how hard it was.

I got to my car and sat down. I thanked God for allowing me to do this and for His help. It was an emotional moment. Truly there was NO WAY I could’ve done this without Christ. Sure I put in the training. The conditions were rough out there! It was hot and again the hills, so many. There is no doubt God carried me though this.

I’m so grateful to have been part of this first race. The city was closed off and shut down just for us runners. Police were at every street and many of them were cheering for us! My friend from New York, who ran the half, said she realized how much she enjoyed Atlanta during the race. The city looked beautiful. The route showed off our best neighborhoods. I think this race will be known for its difficulty.

All of the volunteers and staff did an excellent job. For us running the half I don’t think it could’ve gone any better. This was not the case for the marathoners. A few water stations were missing for a 6 mile stretch.

I’ve been asked will I run another. At this point I don’t know. There is an amazing sense of accomplishment that I can’t deny treasuring. I have concerns about the effects of running on the body, how it effects the knees, joints, back and overall health. I know there is a downside.

For now I don’t have to think about all that. For now I deal with the soreness in my legs. For now I take pride in accomplishing something which tested my limits physically and mentally.

Special thanks go out to Jeherv and Thatgirlsab for encouraging me to run this. I would never have done this if they hadn’t encouraged me.

I’m still processing this accomplishment. It seems like a dream, like it didn’t happen in reality. Oh but my legs sure bring it back quickly! I can barely walk. Stairs are deadly!

The turnout by the fans impressed me. There were people cheering at every single mile.

Very tough race. I’m on the fence about another half. I haven’t ruled it out either. We’ll see.

Thanks to all my friends for their support! Thanks to my Higher Power for getting me through that race!

It took an hour for SS and me to get our race stuff. By the time we left AmericasMart the line was down the street and almost around the corner. It was a madhouse in there.

The race is going to be insane tomorrow. 15,000 people running all at the same time. The energy will be off the charts.

I’m reflecting on this race. Tomorrow is the culmination of 3 months (really 2.5 with my injury) of training. Honestly I’m mixed about running. I know running is brutally hard on the body, especially the knees. I know that a balanced workout regimen includes resistance training, something I truly love. For me running a marathon is as appealing as living in Siberia. I discovered I enjoy the 5k and 10k races.

Though this training I found I enjoy running quite a bit. The solitude, being with nature, seeing different sides of my neighborhood and the athletic aspects are great. This training practically eliminated my weight training though. I dropped down to once a week. After this race I’m going to be hitting the weights hard.

Earlier today I ran 2 miles on the advice of my friend who made my orthotics. He said to run in them and make sure my feet felt good. I’m glad I did it too. It was the first I’m I’ve run in 11 days. Everything felt ok. The knee felt strong.

Am I excited? For sure. Do I have doubts? Not so much. I have no doubt this race will be a rewarding experience. I’ll get to see an extremely unique side of the city. I will have proof that anybody can do anything if they train and keep their eyes on the goal.

Interesting fact. Tomorrow marks 5 years off of cigarettes. How about that for an awesome coincidence? Expect a full report on the race.

I have “Runner’s Knee” in my right knee. I’m not exactly sure when I did it but I think it happened on my long run last Saturday. It’s not too painful and it feels like it’s getting better today. I haven’t run since Monday.

James says I’ve done enough training for the race. I took his advice and I’ve been doing RICE and ibuprofen all week. Still I’m going to see a sports medicine doctor next week.

It sucks for this to happen so close the race for which I’ve been training 3 months. I’m not worried. I think I’ll be there and I think I’ll be fine.

The title is a reference to that insane Beatles song and the insane distance I ran today, insane for me. 9.1 in 1:18, a little under 9 mins/mile.

It was tough. I only stopped once to walk. I did have to stop the clock and stretch twice. My calves were very tight and I didn’t want to cramp. It would suck to limp 4 miles back home.

Gorgeous weather and also the warmest I’ve run in, 67 degrees. That added to the difficulty.

I finished strong. As I finished I thought about the half, “Ok the half is only 4 more miles than this, I can do this.” It’s not going to be easy. When you’re in a race a lot of that difficulty is gone. When you’re in a race you just run faster, you have the adrenaline and the competition.

Next week is 10, after that the race.

This was a much different affair from the 5k I ran last month. There were hundreds of people for this one, runners of every imaginable shape, size and color, even some kids.

At 8am on the dot the race started. It was packed in for the first 2 minutes. I started passing people and found a pack running at a comfortable speed.

At each mile marker someone was yelling out the split time. That was cool. At the halfway point a group of folks were cheering for us and beating drums. Right past them a radio was playing the standard sports anthem, “Eye Of The Tiger.” As cheesy as it was it gave me a boost.

The course was up and down, an equal share of uphills and downhills, nothing that brutal though.

I’m happy with my time, 45:20. I feel like I could’ve pushed a little harder on the downhills. The race was timed with a DAG chip. They scanned each runner’s number at the finish line. My official time will be posted on the website later tonight.

The race was well organized. Everything went off without a hitch. The weather was perfect.

During the race the thought of doing this for 13.1 crept into my head. It does not seem fun at all. Only 3 more weeks to find out if it will be or not.

Did 8.07 today in 1:08. The hardest route yet, it was hill after hill. I’ve been able to go non-stop for a while but today’s route kicked my butt. I walked for 2, 1 minute breaks.

I was on Martin Street when what can only be described as a crack whore walked towards me. I ignored her and kept on running. She got within 5 feet of me and said, “Pretty fly for a white guy.” I’m not making this up!

It was beautiful today so lots of folks were out. I was dodging little kids as I ran up Atlanta Ave. I saw a few other runner out too. I gave them “the nod” but they didn’t not back. That’s BS man!

It’s like when you’re out on the boat. You ALWAYS wave at other boaters as they pass, ALWAYS! So what’s with this not reciprocating on the nod?!

My right calf muscle starting cramping at the very end. It still is sore and tight. I’ve got to get back on schedule. I have not been doing my mid-week runs at all and I was feeling it today.

Again, a very challenging run. Next week I’m running a 10k. Hopefully this great weather will be there for me.

Just did 7.2 in 59:26. I finished strong. I wanted to keep it below 60:00 so I was going fast at the end. Ran through Grant Park and it was great. That hood has so many cool houses, churches and buildings.

I was so into the run I missed a turn and didn’t do the route I’d planned out. I’m sure it was still the same distance b/c the streets I took instead go the same direction as on the route.

If you listen to music when you run I highly recommend some stuff from BT. His music gets me more pumped than anything else. There is a certain energy and power to it that gets me going faster than any other music.

27 was what the weather said, 27 degrees. I did not want to go run that 5k today. I’m so glad I did.

The first thing the race did was give me the experience of being in a race. Even more important, I learned about pacing. I started right at the front with the fast runners. Many times I felt like I was dying and that I’d hurl at any moment. The good thing is with a 5k it’s over before you know it.

The race started at Medlock Park in Decatur and wove through the neighborhoods there. The course was not easy. There were at least 5 or 6 long uphills.

The entire race I kept telling myself, “Stay Strong!” “Keep going!” “Dig deep!” and “Don’t quit!”

It was a small race, maybe only 200 people in it. Still I came in 11th overall with a time of 22:50. I couldn’t believe I had run that fast. My goal was to break 30:00. I had no idea where I was and how much longer I had to go, I just kept running. I asked the guy who came in first what his time was, around 17:00.

The guy who finished after me immediately puked into a nearby trash can.

Afterwards a few folks approached me. I talked to one couple who ran the New York Marathon in November. She said the course went through all five boroughs. They said they’d never do another marathon but they are doing the ING half.

I’m pleased with my time. A runner friend told me I’d run fast but I didn’t know I’d run that fast. I finished strong. It was also for a good cause. The race benefited The Corneila de Lange Syndrome Foundation.

You know what else I realized today, I’m a fan of women runners. Many of them have a great ass and legs.

http://www.cdlsusa.org/

Ran 5.2 again in 43:58. 6 for next Saturday and then my first 5k the following Saturday. My attitude towards running was founded on contempt prior to investigation. Since I started running this month I found I love it.

Being out there alone in nature excites me. I like to run the first part without music. Then when I need that extra gas I turn it on. My shuffle is filled with high powered and upbeat rock/dance that gets me pumped.

I also like the danger. My friend Katie told me how she hurt her knee. Some leaves hid a water meter and she planted her foot into it and injured her knee by hyper-extending it. She was going to run the ING marathon but now she can barely run 3 miles.

With each foot plant anything could happen. Not only that, you dodge cars, mailboxes, dogs, trash cans, trash, people, buses and pot holes.

My buddy James keeps saying after this half I’ll want to run a whole marathon. It still seems daunting. It still seems like self-inflicted punishment. I’ll just take it one race at a time for now.