My First Marathon – Sedona, AZ

Quick Race Stats for  Sedona Marathon 2008:

• Distance:  Marathon 26.2 Miles
• Time:  3:39:36  (23rd overall, 5th in division)
• Average Pace:  8:23 min/mile
• Elevation Gain/Loss:  1,860 ft
• Average Elevation:  4,480 ft
• Heart Rate:  Don’t Know

The Most Beautiful Finish Line Potties Around!

Of the multitude of choices in signing up for a first time marathon, I chose the 4th annual Sedona Marathon in Arizona. Why? The real answer is, because my wife Jen saw a one page ad in Trailrunner magazine and it looked gorgeous.

I was also lured in by the fact that it’s a 1/2 road and 1/2 jeep trail hybrid marathon and not an easy one at that. I signed up, we packed up the Audi, and off we drove to Sedona, AZ 12-13 hours one-way.

On marathon morning Jen and the boys dropped me off at the highschool across highway 89A from the start line. As they passed in the car, Eli was yelling “Go, daddy go!!!” and the entire street likely heard him. It was the cutest thing ever – I love that kid! 8:00 AM approached and the gun went off for the full marathon. A pack of runners lurched in front with myself huddled in the mid-packers. Everything was a variable to me: fast pace, arid air, 4,400′ elevation, and a competitive atmosphere. I was excited yet very nervous – I locked in my cruising at about 7 min/mile through the starting downhills.

At the 3-4 mile mark I struck up a conversation with Brian Tindor. He’s a runner from Flagstaff but a transplant from Auburn, CA running his 27th marathon. While we were talking, the front runners of the 1/2 marathon (started 5 minutes after us) caught us. Brian turned around, made some fraternity like grunt, sprinted forward, and donned his derriere. I figure he’s done this a few times before; his balance and compensation of stride were perfect. I wish I had some sunglasses (if ya know what I mean). Fortunately, Brian pulled up his drawers.

The obvious question was, “do you know those guys?” as they passed us. He proceeded to give me the scoop on each of them. One was a 1 hour 5 minute 1/2 marathon Olympic time-trail athlete as were all the others – all training partners in Flagstaff. Each had the Olympic tattoo. These guys could run, more like float on road. Then another older gentleman passed. Brian told me that’s Phil Wharton. He told me to Google his name and I’ll discover he’s one of the leading authors of books on stretching for athletes. Needless to say, Mr. Wharton came in 5th 1:18:51 for the 1/2 marathon… which is damn fast.

I eventually was left behind by Brian during an aid station water grab and took the opportunity to pull my pace back a bit. I was feeling awesome at the 1/2 point but did feel the effects of my higher than normal pace. The turn around and up the 500′+ hill sapped me with my right hamstring taking the opportunity to tighten up at my hip. My jovial meter sunk lower as I inched closer to the finish. I hit pavement and pulled out my phone, put it on speaker, and called Jen. She was happy to hear from me as I told her I was at the 20 mile mark. I ran and talked it was really nice having her there with me – it felt like cheating because she really picked me up.

There was paved hill after hill drawing the last miles on forever. Many of the marathoners ahead of me fizzled and were reduced to walking while I drew from my ultrarunning and held a strong, consistent pace sucking down all the GU I had left. The last 2.5 miles of this race just plan sucks – you’re running through town where EVERYONE can see you and it’s UPHILL the entire way sometimes on sidewalks. I LOVE a finishing kick but this course really tested my end-of-race energy levels.

With 3.5 miles left I catch this guy walking an uphill. Him and his brother pick it up, tearing off .1 of a mile ahead. But my pace remained consistent and he slowly dropped back. Over the course of the 2 mile uphill I gained on him. Then we took the last right turn into the finish (shown here). I gave it everything I had wondering if I had ‘kicked’ too early. This kid didn’t want to run and I knew it, but he had just enough in him to stave off my attack. After the finish he was hunched over a steel police barricade. I walked up and said “good race man!” Without raising his head, he held out his hand and muttered, “nice kick”. That right there is what life is all about – those moments of complete purity and simplicity. This is why I love to race.

I heard Jen and Eli cheering me like crazy and it was GREAT.  There was big family hugs all around!

My final time (and PR) was 3:39:16 good for 23rd out of 199 finishers and 5th in my age group.

Here’s the Flickr photoset of all our pictures!  Beautiful place!

~ by pureh2o on February 10, 2009.