3 Marathons, 3 States, in 8 Days

The Reader's Digest Condensed Version:  I just completed back to back marathons in Kansas City and Des Moines, on Saturday and Sunday (10/16 and 10/17), which was just 1 week after the Chicago Marathon on 10/10.  3:49, 4:17, and 4:19 respectively, and I feel great.  No injuries.  That's 3 marathons, 3 states, in 8 days.  Yes, I'm being fitted for a straight jacket tomorrow.

Disclaimer:  I take full responsibility for what I do to my body, but do not suggest anyone else do this based on my results.  I got lucky. 

Oh, here's the really long, and Non Reader's Digest Condensed and boring part.

What's the Point:  Well, why not.  After seeing a couple of friends complete back to back marathons in June, I kind of got the bug, and by mid July, had decided that I wanted to end my fall training cycle with something that was borderline insane.  At the same time, I didn't really reveal my plan to anyone incase I happened to bonk.  I figured if I failed, it was nobody's business but my own, and I was willing to take the risk. Plus, it would be a 5-star upgrade in the Marathon Maniacs club that I'm part of, and I just thought it would be something fun and wild to try, let alone complete. The only problem, I couldn't really train for it since I wasn't changing my plan for the Chicago race.  I had to have faith that a summer of 50 to 60 mpw would be enough.

Recovery between Chicago and Des Moines:  Immediately after the Chicago race last week, I was in recovery full swing.  I walked a ton.  2, 3, 4, miles a day.  I ran a couple of slow miles here and there.  I stretched a lot.  I foam rolled and used the stick everyday. I got a massage.  I sat in the hot tub every day and took very hot showers.  It all worked.  7 days later, I felt very good.  I was ready to give it a go. My left leg was just slightly tight, but nothing major at all.

Kansas City Marathon:  Nervous as all get out (or scared), I toed the line to see what I could do.  The weather was beautiful, and it was a great race, although it was extremely hilly.  The hills also scared me a LOT, afraid that they would give me an injury.  I used a run/walk strategy, running for a mile or so, then walking for a minute, and used it from the very beginning, trying to walk the uphills when I could.  Shins hurt a bit a first, and my left foot hurt a bit occasionally, but it all loosened up within a few miles.  It was hard, but I got a finish with 4:17 and change.  Not bad.  It also scared me that I perhaps ran it too fast, as I had another marathon to do tomorrow. I had absolutely no goal time for this race other than a finish.

Recovery between Kansas City and Des Moines:  I was not looking forward to the 3 hour drive between the 2 cities.  But immediately after the race, I got a cold water bath at the gym, and then started pushing calories.  Chocolate milk, bread, protein, regular soda, crackers, the works.  Every 30 minutes or so, I got out of the car at a rest stop or gas station, and walked 1/2 mile or so and stretched.  Did this all the way to Des Moines.  Did another cold water bath once I got to my hotel in Des Moines, and continued to push calories and carbs. I think I ate more calories in 8 hours than I did the entire previous day. Everything felt pretty good, but my left leg felt tweaked.  More importantly, I crashed hard and got a full 8 hours of solid sleep.

The Kansas City Numbers:  Note the pace, doing a run/walk from the beginning. And note the hills, I do not like hills.



1 race down, 1 to go, feeling good:



Des Moines Marathon: I woke up with lot of self doubt, although I felt amazingly fresh.  My entire body was NOT sore, except for my left hamstring which was tweaked just a bit and tight.  I toed the line with a running friend, who helped calm my nerves and also gave me a boost of confidence.  I ran the second race just like the first, doing a run/walk strategy, walking the hills when I could. The weather was absolutely perfect.  Des Moines has such a beautiful course.   The left hamstring which was tight, loosened up completely about a mile in, so I would run a few minutes, walk a minute, rinse and repeat. Again, I had no time goal whatsoever for this race other than a finish.   By about mile 21, I was done though.  I wanted this adventure to be OVER and I almost walked off the course.  But I slogged out the last few miles, and finished with my head held high and a huge smile on my face.  Only 2 minutes slower than the day before, with 4:19 and change.  I was amazed that I could do that, I thought it would be much slower.

The Des Moines numbers:  Again, note the pace using a run/walk strategy. Not as hilly as Kansas City, and all the major hills were done by mile 8.



Mission Accomplished:  Three marathons, three states, in eight days, and a 5-star Marathon Maniac upgrade, with NO injuries.



I did it. And I had a lot of fun.  Yes, it was very hard and there was a big risk for an injury, but at the same time, it was very rewarding and a significant challenge.  2 years ago, I was not a runner.  But I fell in love with running, and now it is one of my true passions.  I've pushed my limits, tested my fortitude, and have worked hard to achieve my goals.  I've made significant improvements in my race times, and have made solid gains my endurance.  No, I'm not an overly fast runner, but that's OK.  I'm getting better, and have proved to myself that I'm capable of more than I have given myself credit for.  And that's a good thing.  My motto always has been, better than I was, but not as good as I'll be, and for now, I'm going to keep moving, forward!

My Bling: Ahh, I love the bling. I will treasure these forever.

2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Short Version: I finished.  And I didn't die (I always joke about that, but not really).  It was horribly hot in the last 1/3 of the race, with temps pushing the mid 80s. I had to walk, a lot.  I cramped really badly and couldn't even walk at mile 23.  I was 15 minutes off my goal time, but still managed to squeak out a 7:14 PR over a previous marathon in May.  Official time 3:49:24.

Pre Race Training:  It was the best training program I've had, peaking at 60mpw during the August challenge, with a solid PR half 5 weeks before the race, with a perfect taper.  The stage was set, I felt I had a solid chance at 3:30 - 3:35.

Expo:  Was able to finally meet Doug (Venomized) in person at the expo.  He's a cool guy.  The expo was awesome.  DW accompanied me to Chicago for the weekend, and we both really enjoyed going through the booths, taking pictures in front of all the photo backdrops, and various shopping, and just in awe of how big it really was.  Neat.

The race:  I did everything right for this race.  Was very well hydrated, did a proper carb load, and just felt this was my race.  Signed up for the 3:30 pace group at the Expo.  Standing in the starting corral when it was 64 degrees, I threw that goal out the window.  Fell back to my 3:35 pace band that I had made for the race.  Within the first 2 miles, threw that out the window because I was already sweating buckets, and settled in with the 3:40 pace group through mile 17.  Miles were ticking off in the 8:10-8:15 range, and I felt awesome.  Of course, there was shade, a lot of it.  By 17 1/2 miles in, the shade was gone the wheels were falling off and beginning to become piles of bubbling goo, becoming part of the ashpalt.  I got nauseous, started cramping, had some minor GI issues, and I was dehydrated, despite stopping at EVERY water station for a glass of Gatorade and water. By Mile 18, I had to drop to a walk.  Gasp.  I walked about 10 more times over the next 8 miles.  At mile 20, it was 83 degrees, with full sun.  The last 2 to 3 miles were a pure slog.  I had stopped sweating.  When I crossed the finish line, I was extremely nauseous.  I was swearing that I would NEVER do another marathon.  It was hard race, and I definitely descended to somewehre very near the point of hell I believe. Still got my PR, and given the conditions, I'm extremely happy with that.  Wanted more, but we can't control the weather, and one of my sayings, it will be what will be.  Today was not my day.  The crowds along the race were insane though.  Very fun!!

Post Race:  The long mile walk back to my hotel was probably the best thing I could do.  It took that long to start feeling better, and I could finally smile again.  Got a Pepsi, and a banana, and started feeling better, and got into an ice bath for 10 minutes which really helped the legs.  Took a hot shower, and packed up and headed home.  And, I told my wife I would never do this again, repeatedly.

The Epilogue:  After a long trip home, involving planes, trains, and automobiles, 9 hours later, I'm feeling much better and am thinking about my next adventure. My legs really aren't that sore, and I feel pretty good! It is what it is, I'm a runner, and there are good and bad days.  Today was a mixture of both.  For better or worse, right?  Right??  In the end, I'm better than I was, but not as good as I'll be.  Peaks and valleys.

Here are a few pictures:

Me pointing to my name on the Wall of all of the 45000 registered Chicago marathon runners.  See how chubby my finger is?  I told you I was well hydrated and had carbed up.



A picture of DW and I at the photo backdrop at Niketown in downtown Chicago (OK, we spent way too much money there, but that's OK, we love Nike stuff).



Me, post race back at the hotel, with the medal, and getting my sugar levels back to normal, and I'm even smiling, quickly forgetting about the pain.



The bling!  Ahh, the bling.  I love, love, love this shirt, it's a Nike Dry Fit shirt.  The medal is really nice too, It might be one of my favorite medals.  Simple, but very elegant.  And the whole 10-10-10 theme is awesome.



Overall, this was a PRICELESS weekend with one crappy element, the weather.  And yes, there will be another day. I also want to thank my DW for being my support crew this weekend.  I think she legitimately had a great weekend too.  She got to watch the Elites at the finish line, and couldn't believe how many runners were going down in the last couple of miles. Ironically enough, after we got home, my feet feel great, but my DW is the one with 2 huge blisters on her feet.  Bless her for supporting my passion and sticking with me, for better or worse.