Fourth time was a charm to run a marathon in under 4 hours. My best attempt previously was my first marathon at 4:16:52 back in 2010. With more than two years since my previous marathon and with a do or die mentality to break the four hour mark, I had the jitters, beginning with a sleepless night and loss of all confidence going into the race. It had been two weeks since my previous 20 miler, and my legs were tired while shopping the evening before, so much so that I sat down on the floor.
After freezing by the fire for over an hour, I took a 5-hour energy for an extra boost. An extra boost it was. First mile was 7:36 and I never go that fast on the first mile. After that it was 8:06, 8:02, 8:10, 7:55, 8:18, 8:03, 8:40 (including a climb), 8:18, 7:38, 7:55, 8:13, 7:46, 8:20, 8:17, 8:19, 8:28, 8:03, 7:59, 9:21, 9:19, 10:32, 10:55, 12:05, 11:07, 10:53, 10:40 (which was .4 miles). I was pretty careful to take the tangents, so I think they measured the course wrong.
I was keeping up with 3:35 pacers until I came out of the canyon (at almost 21 miles) where I saw my wife and son (Ben). Needing a 3:40 to qualify for Boston, I pumped my fist in the air and yelled "Boston!" In doing so, I pulled a muscle in my leg and I slowed down, never to speed up again. I was hurting so bad. After my pitiful mile 24, Ben came in to pace me for the finish. He had just finished the half marathon, suffering from a sinus infection, but he was worried that I wouldn't make my goal. He pulled me along through my pain for the final 2.4 miles. I still couldn't run very fast, but at least I didn't continue to slow down. Without his help, my 3:40 marathon could have easily turned into being over four hours again.
I was hardly able to walk for two days, but now I'm mostly recovered and feel like getting back out running. I actually miss it. I might go tomorrow, or I might go on Saturday. Now that I'm kind of close, I feel like I can break the Boston barrier. After all, with Ben's help, I broke the 20-mile wall.
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