Did you watch that movie? It’s actually a great show about a guy who never finishes everything and finally vows to complete a marathon in an attempt to show up his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend and win her back. The problem is he is extremely out of shape! Run Fatboy Run Trailer 

It certainly wasn’t under the same circumstances that I entered and completed a marathon, but the movie title still fits.  I basically entered the marathon cause my friend Lance was also entering and I was doing some running and thought that it would be fun. If I got picked in the lottery and entered into the race I’d have to get in shape and if I don’t get picked this year I’d have another year to train. Well, as luck would have it I got in. Lance did too – but a super hectic life soon made it apparent that he was not going to run it.

So, my running history really only started in 2008. I got a gym membership and started trying to run (walking mostly at first) on a treadmill and doing some weight training to lose wieght. For some reason a 5K race happening in April that year really interested me. In my mind I figured that even if I ran 3 minutes and walked 2 minutes I could still finish the race in a decent time.  I convinced a super competitive, in much better shape, co-worker to run the race and I quickly built up the cardio and stamina to run the entire 5K finishing in 33 min 39 seconds (and yes, she did beat me badly).

In the spring of 2009 I did Moonlight Run in Lethbridge (10K), and Bloomsday in Spokane (12K). Then a busy life caught up to me. At the end of 2009 we moved to Utah, travelled back and forth a few times and during that thanksgiving to Christmas season gained back a bunch of the weight I lost. Thankfully the running scene in Utah is huge! Back on the treadmill and I entered a couple races  (Provo City 5K, Orem 10K). Then I found out I was in the St George Marathon and entered a couple half marathons (Hobbler Half, Provo River Trail Half).

There were weeks during the summer I would run 50 miles - alternating between 6 and 10 miles on weekdays and then doing 13 miles on Saturdays. Once the kids were back in school Football games and picking up the boys took priority to running time and I was only running 3 days per week and no long runs on Saturdays. Still with a couple half marathons completed I figured I would still be okay.

First Marathon day. I wasn’t too nervous – I knew it was going to be hard – just tried to prepare as best I could and keep lots of fluids, calories and ions in me. My diet all that week was eat what ever I wanted. I did a couple of short runs (6 and 5 miles) Monday and Wednesday that week, but just took it easy other wise. Race day I was fueled by snickers (3 of them) a bottle of power-aid, then the Clif shot blocks, and energy beans I ate throughout the race.  I waited at the start line for the huge crowd to clear and began running with a few others who had also waited. 7 am October 2nd 2010 in Central Utah was dark, but already warm out. My pace was good – normal half marathon pace and I was feeling fine. Somewhere around mile 7 all the fluids I had drank had caught up to me and I didn’t want to wait in line at the porta potties – so I found a nice tree close to the road to releave myself – like many guys and girls were doing all along the route. Then the road flowed down into Veyo. You could see the town and the high way rising up on the other side of the valley with a steady stream of runners. My pace slowed on the hill but I continued to run. The highway then reached the top and to a straight strech where again you could see a couple miles of the course ahead of you. By mile 13 I was a little slower than my previous half marathon paces and I knew it would get a lot tougher from there on out.

By mile 15 the lack of long run training became a serious problem (too late now!). My knees began aching and the balls of my feet were getting quite sore. I stopped to pee (available porta potty this time) and took a couple pain killers. It was also getting hot! The aid stations that were still 2 miles appart seemed to be getting harder to get to. I made sure I had a glass of water and gatorade at each station and really slowed down the pace – focusing on just keeping 3 steps going with every inhale and 3 more with every exhale (unless it was an uphill slope then I would shorten it to 2). I got passed by the 4 hour 30 minute Cliff Bar pace group and knew I was now at a much slower pace, but was determined to keep going.

Mile 20 – when I got there I figured if nothing else it would take me less than 2 hours to complete the remaining 6 miles if I walked. I took another 2 pain killers and forged on. I had calcualted that I was at about a 14 minute per mile pace and should be able to finish easily in an hour and 30 minutes (which by then sounded good somehow!).  At mile 23 I was still at that pace and took the time to eat the rest of my beans while I walked for a bit. It was hard to get running again, but I was excited to only have 3 miles left.

Near mile 25 they were giving out popsicles – and by that time it was so hot. They were cool bites of frozen goodness. Right there the 5 hour pace group passed me. They had kept a nice even pace the whole time, so I started to wonder if I had pushed it to hard at the beginning or if it was just my lack of long run stress on my body. At any rate I kept to my slow pace and soon rounded the last corner. I could see the ballons over the finish line, but I had to walk for a bit. Then knowing exactly how far was left I got the legs moving again one last time. 50 yards from the finish my wife and her friend were cheering my name and shouting out ‘hey Canadian’ which finally got my attention so they could take a picture. I made it! 5:01:09

The ice cream treat in the finish area is the best tasting thing I have eaten! I joked with the guy giving me my finisher’s medal that he should just give me a couple cause I don’t know if I would do that again. Thanks to some Body Glide and Aquaphore I didn’t have any major chaffing issues, the tips of my toes were extremely sore, but no bruises or blisters. We had fun making jokes about how bad I smelt and all the salt crystals that had formed from the sweat. It was also one of the nicest showers I can remember . . . and I sported my crocs for the rest of the afternoon. We went and did some shopping and tried to stay busy and on my feet to keep the legs from getting stiff. They were very tight, but never did get too stiff and sore (thanks cliff shot blocks and poweraid).

So, the question everyone wants to know the answer to is: “are you going to run another marathon?”. While I currently have no immediate plans – I will likely run another one. Now that I have done one and know what to expect I can make sure I do get the long runs in and hopefully keep up a better pace for the whole time. Plus I still have a few pounds to loose and the races strangely appeal to me – I enjoy them. Keep on running!