Marathon
If I had to guess when I actually started running I would be hard pressed to come up with a particular calendar day. I mined my Flickr stream and my blog and came up with 
this photo that was taken in June 2007. I’m pretty sure based on those and all that this was pretty early on in my figuring out running, but I can also tell that I ran at least a practice 10K in mid July
I don’t know when I came to see myself as a
” runner as opposed to someone out exercising, but I definitely crossed that threshold in my mind. The one lingering thing though has been a regular, if not frequent occurrence. It’s inevitable, you’ll be speaking with an acquaintance and it comes up that you are about to go, have recently gone or are running- they will ask, oh so my Aunt Louise did Such and such a Marathon last month, and then the question… “ Have you run a Marathon?” And then I have to answer no. I don’t get to tell them that – I ran a 45 minute 10K or a sub 20 5K. – Or whatever.
Well, next time this conversation comes up I can say that, yes in fact, just like your Aunt Louise I ran the Mercedes Marathon on February 13, 2011. It wasn’t fast and it wasn’t glamorous. I didn’t win my age group. All that aside I know that if push comes to shove I can and have run 26.2 miles. I know for a lot of folks running a marathon isn’t a big deal, they’ve done dozens, or they’ve done ultra marathons. For me though, this was a big fat stamp in my runner’s passport- a stamp that says I am a runner, – that I am just a little bit tougher, a little bit faster a little bit stronger than I was on Saturday.
It was a hard race, but the weather was beautiful. C came down and cheered me on and gave me snacks, for which I am ever grateful. It took me 4 hours and 19 minutes but I finished. My legs hurt then and they still hurt now, but I have another Mercedes Benz medal, this one is just bigger, heavier and has those words- “Marathon Finisher” engraved on the back.
48 581 425 Eric Wright 26 52 57:37 9:18 53 1:26:33 9:19 53 2:22:28 9:12 50 2:53:20 9:20 4:19:48 9:55 Gadsden AL
Ok- now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Mercedes Marathon Photos
Here are some photos from the Mercedes Marathon I ran with Dave in February
Golden Eagle 10K 2009
As I was sitting updating the football scoreboard- Dave came into my office and around 10 p.m. we decided to run a 10K race in Jacksonville Saturday morning.
Dave had been hitting the right miles to do a 10K. I on the other hand had not. I’ve been focused on trying to get in shape for Cyclocross.
Despite my reservations we ran on a supringsly warm Novemebr morning. The course was mainly an out-and-back on the Chief Ladiga Trail, with a short spur creating the start and finish.
I went out hard and kept pushing the pace. Around mile five I started losing speed, but managed to only lose a few places. Consequently I was able to pull together a 10K PR.
Last year I ran the 6.2 miles in 49:59.78.
This year- my unofficial time was 47:18.
Plus I received yet another unmarked medal for third place in my 10 year age group.
I really hope I didn’t blow up my legs for cyclocross.
post run
I know it’s time for my Moxie appointment when my sideburns start to curl and it feels like i have a wet furby on my head after I run.
I hate technical gear wash day. Hate hate
My Photo Stream
