Pure Insanity

My alarm goes off at 3. I don't want to get up. I might not, until my mom sticks her head in and asks me if I am ready. "I think so". I get up and get my stuff on. All of these questions are going through my mind. "Did I hydrate enough yesterday?", "What is waiting for me today?", What would I have done differently?", and most importantly; "Am I going to finish?". We get in the car, and we drive down to the finish line. Swarms of people are getting there already. I get out of the car and say goodbye to my mom and dad and tell them that I will see them in a while. I make my way to the bus and realize that in this moment I am very alone. I wait in line. People are chatting with each other about other marathons that they have run and what they expect from this one. I finally make it onto the bus and sit next to a man from San Diego. It was his second marathon and he was able to calm my nerves a bit. He said; "Pace yourself. It doesn't matter how many people pass you. It's only about you." The bus dropped us off an hour later. It was 30 degrees at the starting line. I wanted to hop back on that bus and go home. People would understand right? I couldn't do it. I was here for me. I waited in the cold for a while until the fire department came and lit a few fires. For two hours I sat next to a fire trying to warm myself up. No one was talking. I over heard someone who said that it was about 6:15 and they were getting in line for the bathroom. Now, there were probably 200 porta potties at the starting line, but the line to use them were about 20 deep. I was incredibly lucky to be able to talk with a really cool old man from Canada. We talked about schooling, marathons, where we both came from(ski towns), and were able to express our concern about the upcoming day. As the time arrived for me to use the porta potty, a loud siren went off. I had no idea what it was. Is that the ten minute warning siren? I heard someone say that the race was beginning. I went the the bathroom expecting to come out and everyone to be gone. I had forgotten though that 6500 people were running today. I was able to throw my sweatshirt into my bag and drop it off at the U-haul and to make my way to the start line.

I past the start line and the adrenaline was amazing. I could already see a mile up the road the first police road block and it gave me something to look forward to. There were so many people running that it was difficult to pass anyone. I approached the first road block and the police officers were cheering everyone on. It was something else. We rounded the corner. 2 miles until the next aid station. "Keep pace with those in front of you" I thought. We kept winding through the roads and I was feeling great. We were coming up on mile 5. I was still feeling fresh, but if I wasn't, the next sight would have given me a boost of energy. It was the first place where spectators could come and cheer on marathon runners. Who knows how long they had been there. The leaders were long gone. But this group of about 150-200 people were still sticking around. As we came up on them, they would wander out from behind the police barricade and stick out their hands for you to give them a high five. Some would be holding signs. "You can do it. Don't give up." It was amazing. I thought that it was so cool. It would only get better too.

I am getting ready to approach mile seven when words of wisdom come flooding to my head. "From mile 7 to 9 1/2 is a huge hill. Pace yourself". It was the words of someone behind me on the bus. I came around the corner and saw it. "Yikes" I thought. We started climbing, and at this point everyone is starting to slow down. This hill was a beast. I made it over the hill and kept on my way to mile eleven. Still feeling good. Not great anymore. For the next few miles I would do great. Nothing holding me back.

Approaching mile 13(half way) that all changed. The change in the heat along with the brutal climb of the hill starting taking a toll on my legs. At each aid station I would take a cup of gatorade, a water, and a slice of banana that the wonderful volunteers handed us. But, it didn't seem to help. My legs were cramping. After mile 13 we began the decent of the race. My legs were hurting bad coming up on mile 16, until I saw another group of wonderful people waiting to greet runners. Both sides of the road were packed. A group of old men were in the back of a pick-up truck playing music. It gave me the strength I needed to keep going.

As I got up to mile 19 though I was really starting to struggle. My legs would begin to cramp every few feet I would run. So. I would run, have to stop, stretch and keep going. I truly think that if it wasn't for the next two events I would have hopped on that shuttle and taken it to the finish line. We were approaching a bridge where spectators were standing over the bridge, and along it cheering people on. Something about it just makes you want to run past them. I decided that I was going to stretch so that I would be able to pass them and not look like I was going to die. As I was stretching, a man in a white LIVEstrong shirt came up to me and said; "come on baby, you got this. It's yours". I didn't even get to say anything. He had already run off. I finished stretching and began my run toward the bridge and mile 20. All the runners were taking the inside lanes of the freeway as the road was curving to the right. There were a group of spectators to the left and I could see one little boy(may 2 or 3) standing off to the side. One hand waving at everyone and one extended like he wanted a high five. How could I possibly pass that up? I took a detour and took the outside lane. My legs were killing me, but I had to give this little kid a high five. As I approached he had a huge smile on his face. I was so tired that I was barely able to bend down far enough to give the little guy a high five and keep going. But you know what? That event helped me keep going. From then until about mile 23 I didn't see another person unless it was a runner. It was not fun. I wanted to quit at this point. At mile 22 I came up to an aid station and had to stop for some medical treatment. "What do you need?" asked the medical guy. "My legs are dying and cramping" was all I could get out. He took some bengay and slapped it on my legs. "You're this far. You can do it. I know it" he said as I ran off.

Spectators had lined the streets with signs. They kept me going. From mile 22 to 23 that's all I did. Read those signs. Here are some of my favorites that kept me going. "So easy a caveman could do it?". "It it were easy, wouldn't dad be doing it?" "If you walk it's still going to hurt." Those signs helped me go. Not fast. But I was running.

The best sight in the entire world happens at mile 23. You come around a corner and overlook all of St. George. And, there is a hill. My shins were hurting so bad as I was running down hill that I wanted to walk. I didn't, because as I was getting closer to the bottom of the hill, I could see spectators again lining the streets. They had shut down Bluff street(the main street in St. George) and people were all along the way. I could hear the cheers from them. Were they really still there 5 hours into this race? I began to get emotional. These people were all here to help me. It was amazing. I loved it. I don't know why I wanted to cry every time I passed them but I did. Along the street I ran. Marathoners who had previously finished were telling us that we were almost there. "You can do it".

I came around the last corner at about mile 24.5 and I saw my sister and dad walking my way to see where I was along the route. Amazing sight. So glad they were there. It was truly emotional for me to see them, and later towards the finish line. The encouraged me to keep going. I rounded a corner and saw my mom, sister, and dad running to tell the others I was almost there. At this time I could barely run. I would run for a few blocks and have to walk. I was coming up on a corner when a lady who I had just passed came up and said; "3/10th's of a mile left". I decided I could do it. I began to run and came around the corner to see my sister, brother, Spencer, Michelle, mom, and dad all right before you get to the finish line gates. I stopped to give them a high five and was about ready to lie down right there and cry. I turned toward the finish line and began my last run for the day. I wanted to just collapse, but people in the stands were cheering and I could see the workers at the end cheering me on so I kept on going. I crossed the finish line, received my medal and felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. I thought about the route that I had taken to get there. It's amazing to me still that it happened.

I still have a hard time walking, but it's getting better. I truly enjoyed the experience and I think it helped me become a better person. People ask. "Do you think that you'll run another one?" I answer them saying. I am not sure. I feel like it's my off season and that I am Brett Farve. "I'll let you know".

Countdown to Insanity

Thursday: 6:00 am-

I wake up to get ready for class. I am feeling pretty good. It hasn't sunk in yet that I am leaving later that day to run my first ever marathon.

Thursday: 1:45 pm-

I say goodbye to my classmates who some wish me luck during the upcoming weekend and I head home to finish my packing. Socks: Check. Shorts: Check. Running Shoes: Check. I am good to go.

Thursday 4:00 pm-

My mom and dad arrive at our house in Salt Lake to pick me up and to begin our Journey. The ride down isn't too bad. I feel pretty good. A movie(Tommy Boy) helps me relax and to keep my mind off of what is about to happen. We arrive at my grandma's condo later that evening. I am still feeling really good. Watch some t.v before I retire for the evening.

Friday October 2nd 8 am-

I awake and it starts to hit me that today I will check in and get all the info I need to help me get through 26.2 miles of pure insanity tomorrow. "What do I need to do to get ready?" I think to myself. I get up and try and see what's going on. My brother is still asleep and my parents are out for a walk. I start to meander through the condos' in the neighborhood. Anything to keep my mind from wandering. Alex finally wakes up.

10 am- Things start to get moving. We're getting ready for the day. My sister, her boyfriend Spencer, and Michelle are all coming down for the marathon today. We hop in the car and start making our way to the Dixie Expo Center where registration will happen. On the way over to the Expo center I start to get nervous. Not nervous about the race itself but rather, to check in. Weird. I know. We pull up and there are hundreds, even thousands of people who are walking in. We eventually find my bib number and I am able to receive my packet along with timing chip and shirt. We decide to mingle through the booths and to see what is there.

12 pm- We head to Costco to get things for the pre race meal that evening. We decide on spaghetti as it should be a good pre race meal. We head home and things start to get real. My family did a great job of trying to keep my mind off of things.

5 pm-

My sister and crew(who were now speaking in southern accents) arrive, just in time for dinner. We have a nice laid back dinner. I would keep getting messages from people. "You ready?". I have to say that I felt ready. I wanted it all to be over. That's what I was ready for. I didn't know what to expect. I wasn't worried about running, but what would happen at the start line? What happens if I don't finish in the alloted time given? Things like this are going through my head.

7 pm-

We head back to the expo center for my sister Courtney to pick up her running shirt although she wasn't going to run in the race, and to register everyone else to do the Mayor's Walk the next morning. After we left the Expo center we decided to head out and drive the course of the marathon. This is where it gets interesting.

We arrive at what will be the finish line the next morning. The road is already closed off. It's weird to be there at that moment. I felt that I was in a movie. You know, where the football player is standing in the end zone looking up into the empty seats where he will be playing the next day? That's what it was like. A man was practicing how he would finish. I wondered to myself. "Am I going to finish?". We get into our cars and decide to follow the course. We get on the road and we're driving, and it all feels good. I started to get a little uneasy because that car ride lasted for 45 minutes though. I was imagining myself running this route in less than twelve hours. "This is going to take forever" I think to myself. We finally arrive at what will be the start. We get out of the car and it's a crisp 45 degrees out. The starting line is illuminated with Christmas lights, those big lights used to due construction at night, and the workers still trying to get it ready. All the flags from each country and state that had runners representing it were blowing in the wind. I have no idea what to expect.

10 pm-

We get home and I decide that it's time for me to go to bed. I have to be up at 3:15 to catch the bus. I tell everyone that I will see them at the finish line, and head to bed.