After the San Diego RNR Marathon

Well, this was my 6th marathon overall, 3 of which were run in the past 2 months. I am actually impressed with myself for finishing them injury free and all under 4 hours. I didn't meet my goal of qualifying for Boston, but hopefully I will have at least one more chance this year to do that.

That said, I think I have finally found what I want to do when I grow up. I want to run. I love running. While I doubt that I will ever be fast enough to win a major marathon, I think with proper training and dedication that it is possible for me to get to at least a 3:15PR. I am very stubborn, and when I decide that I really want to do something, I usually acommplish that goal. That's just me. I don't quit. I also still want to try an ultra as soon as I can find one that fits into my schedule and budget.

I decided to run this race with a pacer so I didn't wear my Garmen. My pacer sucked. He started out too slow, then sped up to the point where I was pushing it to keep up with him. I finally had to stop an use the bathroom at around mile 6 (very dissapointing), so I lost him there. Everyone was complaining about his pace. Many others did wear there Garmens for the race and said he was going much faster than the pace he should have been running. The whole point of wanting to run with a pacer was so that I would not start out too fast. And to keep an even pace. I was mad.

Anyway, needless to say I didn't see my pacer again until about mile 24, where I passed him as he WALKED the last few miles. I guess everyone has bad race days. You should not try to pace people if you are having one, though. I think that I burned myself out trying to keep up with him for so long.

While I love the San Diego RNR Marathon, I am not sure that I will ever run it again. I don't think that I am going to get into the real reasons for not wanting to run this race again, because I know I might offend some people. I will just say that this race didn't feel like a "real" marathon and leave it at that.

That said, it was really great being in the 3rd corral because it wasn't corwded and it also meant that I didn't have to dodge as many people. I also felt good. I remember when I used to look at the people near the front and I envied them for being able to run so fast. They inspired me, and still do. I didn't think that it was possible for me to ever get that fast . I placed 1703 out of over 17,000 finshers. That's the top 10%. I am really proud of myslef right now. I think this race has changed my whole perspective on things. I want to go faster . I want to one day tell people "3 hours" when they ask me my PR.

I now wonder if I can ever get a sub 3. I really doubt it, but that doesn't mean that I won't try. One of the most important things that running has done for me is to give me the confidence to know that I can do just about anything that I set my mind to, and that I will never know my limits unless I continue to test.

So from here on out I will continue to train and coninue to race and improve my times whenever the military allows me the chance. I feel most alive when I run. It gives me a sense of purpose and a sense of pride, sort of like being in the military but on a different level.