So, I know this post is surprising. A month ago, this race wasn't even scheduled to happen. But, after the snafu in North Carolina of finishing the half, almost getting knocked out, and then being swept at 12.5 miles of the Marathon the next morning, I was devastated. I had spent a considerable amount of time prepping and then to have it come apart hurt. I spoke with coach almost as soon as I could get back to the room that day. We talked at length, and she mentioned, why not run Knoxville. My eyes lit up. Frankly, Knoxville was where I wanted to be. Its home. Rocky Top. The finish at the 50. I was like, HELL YEA, but lets do the half and be done. She was like NO, do the full. Your more than ready. I had to have it talked into me, but once that was completed, as soon as we hung up the phone, this became reality. The trick was to keep this one A SECRET . No one, except those on my deepest inner circle was going to know. This was FOR ME! Period.
A little back story. This race is my baby. This race is where I shut the individuals mouth of whom said I couldn't or wouldn't complete a half. This race was my first big distance race. Since that Day, I had secretly dreamed of wanting to do this race. I also began my working relationship with my coach and teammates the day after this race last year. That day, after last years half, I set with my parents in the stadium, and I secretly said to myself, If I am back next year, I'll be hell bent to get my Medal for the full and the hat that goes with it.
Once I got back home from Ashville, and got recovered, I had a quick half. Not an official race, just a long training run. I actually came up to campus, and went and looked at the closing miles of the race before just wandering around and finishing the miles. Because of a short turnaround, this was the only long run. Essentially, after a recovery week, I went right back into taper.
The day before, I went and got my bib #. I would be 682. I followed my pre-race night before rituals with the exception of staying low profile. This was to be kept a secret till the VERY END. Not even many of my teammates knew this was going to go down. This was my sweet revenge. My time to enjoy it. That was just what i was going to do. ENJOY. EVERY. MIN. OF. IT. That night, before I laid down, I texted coach. My question was do I jump into the 6 hour pace group and ride or do I do my own thing. She was adimate with me. She wanted me to run my race. Pace groups and I have a love hate relationship and she didn't want me making mistakes. She left this one 100% on me. I was so excited. I could race. Goodness. After getting my gear together, I made my way to bed, as 330 was coming early.
Sunday Morning, I woke up 330 am. Laid there till 4. This race start is 40 min away from my house but I wanted to be there to get parking. I ate my normal breakfast 3 eggs with cheese scrambled and Honey BBQ chicken tenders. Then I got my gear together and got up there.
As I pulled in I became super nervous. Perfectly normal. Once in the waiting area, I got a seat , and just hung out and waited. I had my drink an hour before race time. Pretty soon it was time to load into the corrals for the anthem and the push off.
It would be a few min since I was in group D, so they had to filter through before we rolled. As the anthem was sung, I was super nervous. I stood there and prayed and took some deep deep breaths. Also on my mind was my soldier, who always pushes me in the end, SSGT Goodwrench.
My plan was simple. Don't do anything stupid, but if you wanna fly, get after it. You know the front so well. So many miles up here. This is your turf. Go play. Also, immediatley after the gun went off, they started blasting Rocky Top on the PA. Hell, that got the blood going. I started singing at the top of my lungs. Hell, the whole crowd was. We were off.
The start was straight uphill, and then it hung left, and went right into Campus. The first mile, I tried not to come out too hard till we hit that down hill. Once we hit the downhill, I spread the legs for their first run. Then it immediatley climbed again, so I walked up that hill. Then we hit another downhill and a right hand turn that led us past where the Volunteers play Baseball and then onto Neyland. The next 3.5 miles are flat. So , I let it fly. I felt like a MILLION BUCKS! I was on my game. When we came to the bridge at Kingston pike , it was a steep hill. I slowed down. Once to the top, I knew what was next. A downhill, and then Sequoya Hills.
Sequoyah Hills has been a sore spot for me the last 2 years. Finally I have figured it out. I have spent enough time in here that I remember where it goes. I was literally spitting fire through here. My plan was working. I was running my race and having a blast. The miles were flying by. Also, by this time was my time for my first nutrition dose. I took a dose of it , and stopped by the restroom for a min. Once back out, it was time to continue on .
Once we turned left onto alta vista way, I knew my next monster was ahead. Noelton Drive. Its a 2 headed hill. you get up, and it flattens out for a moment, and then it grinds all the way. Once I made my way up it, the next stop was the greenway.
While not 100% flat, the greenway is a nice calming point. Its kind of a transitional point before you head back up volunteer and turn left to start up twoards fort Sanders and the hospital. I have lost many pr's to fort sanders and childrens hospitial. By this time, I knew I was just 20 miles from home and then finish. I mentally told myself you get to 20 miles to go , or less, your gold. Its a flipping 20 mile training run which you can crush.
Through The ft area , i calmed way down and tried to rest and prepare for the next half. I knew a lot of my crowd i had been with were running halfs and would be splitting. So I had to prepare to loose my support.
Once i crossed the split, It was half over. Do it again, your home. By this point, I was happy. I had just spit fire the first half, and had killed it! My plan had worked. I didn't care if I ran again or walked, I wasn't going to be denied.
The next few miles, I realized maybe I had pushed a bit, and should have called the dogs early, but then quickly I was like. Stay focused. You will kill yourself. Lets go. The next few miles snaked through downtown where I have run the Expo 10k so I kinda knew those. Made a little bit easier going.
Mile 14 was a pick me up mile. We went through the 4th and Gill Neighborhood. One of my friends who I went to high school with lives there. I knew to be watching. Luckily one of the stops was at his house. They had oranges. I grabbed one, took a couple min, chatted, he asked me how I was feeling. I was tired, but this was early the 2nd half. He told me I looked strong. Real strong. A big pick me up. So, Cody, if your reading this, Thanks man. It really helped me to keep moving.
By mile 16, I was hurting, but I had to keep pushing. I was somewhere around downtown. I was like this is too early. So, more nutrition , more water. Lets keep moving.
By 17 My body hurt. I was headed towards The interstate and James White Parkway. I was pretty much reduced to a walk. I still had some spurts in me , but they were just short fartlek type burst of speeds.
Miles 18-20, were solidary and lonely. I went back to my headphones as I was in direct sunlight and on the side of the interstate. It seemed to take forever. I knew though once I came off this interstate FINALLY that I was going to make it .
Mile 20 I hurt. I could do no more than walk. Also, I was beginning to worry about time. I know, but yeah. I finally asked and they said, No , I wasn't the last one , and the line would be kept open till I got there. WOOOHOO! Revenge was going to be mine!!! Moral booster.
By mile 20, my back was killing me. Hurting bad. I knew it was the heat and the pounding. I was not going to give up. I also knew my folks were there waiting on me at Neyland at the 50. I called them briefly to give them a heads up where I was, to hang on, and I was fine. Then I kept moving, 1 foot in front of the other.
Miles 21-23 were spent through Island home. This was the last stop before the end. By the time I got out of here, I was nauseus. Also, funny moment here. I knew I was overheating and needed to cool down. They had water and powerade. I grabbed 2 cups and tossed them on me. Not water. Powerade. All over me. Big deal. It was cold and that's what I needed. I also drank my last splashes of water out of my belt and kept heading home.
Mile 23 I climbed the hill and headed over gay street bridge. It was time to eat, but I was sick. I was doubling over with cramps. I had 3 different options : My Gels, my PB Sandwich, or some good cookies my coach had sent. I tried all 3 but nothing worked. I was like fudge. So, I slogged on.
The next 3 miles were the most uncomfortable. But Marathons hurt. It was literally left foot , Right foot, repeat. When I came across the bridge where 6 + hours ago I had started, a guy on his bike was like want me to ride in with you? Instantly, YES! I needed the boost. And this angel again was there for me. He stayed with me till the bitter end. As I came up the hill and turned the corner, there stood the hallowed house that Neyland built.
From there it was down and into the stadium and then to the 50. I somehow found the will to run. For one moment, it didn't hurt. For those final few fleeting seconds, I sprinted. Don't ask me how. I don't know . But I did it. REDEMPTION. 26.2 COMPLETED! ROCKY TOP ROCKED! IT was done.
The next thing was to get my water, and get my food and to my folks. By the time I got food, it was cold. I got ahold of my parents and then met up with them. I was euphoric. I had just done something that a year ago, seemed like a pipe dream. I had completed The ENTIRE Knoxville Marathon. This was my 2nd finish in my 3rd attempt. This one felt Almost better than Marine Corps if even possible. This was Everything I wanted it to be and so so so much more.
Once my folks dropped me back at my truck, since I finished so late, the busses were not running, then I called coach. We both reveled in the joy of the finish. I was so happy. I can't explain the feeling of sweet redemption . This was by far the most fun I have ever had running. Spitting fire at the front. Surviving the sickness, the heat, the back. All of it. Just one great day that will probably never be topped because My parents were there to support me as I crossed the 50 an rocked Rocky Top!
So, as I sit here, it has been a grand total of 369 days since I started Marathon Prep. I can effectively say right now... ITS FINISHED! I need a breather. 369 days is a LONG TIME. I have sacrificed so much to chase this dream. It hasn't been in vain either. I have enjoyed every minuet of it. I have grown so much through the process. It has made me a better Human. I am forever grateful I took the chance to step out and challenge myself. It was all worth it.
I am sore. VERY VERY SORE. VERY TIRED. But that will go away. What won't is the sense of accomplishment. That will live FOREVER!
In terms of races, I have some shorter distance races coming. I will talk about them as the time nears. But I am going to be shifting gears for the summer and getting ready for a Sprint Triathlon at home in the fall. Very excited to try out this new angle and see how I like it. I think it will be a LOT of fun.
I will also be keeping a very high run base around 15 miles, so if the chance ever came, or if I decided to do another Marathon at somepoint, which no doubt, I will, then It won't take as long to get my body re-acclimated. The notion of running halfs is still fun to me and even more cool is to know I can get up and just go run them off the cuff. No big deal now. That's something I entend to hold on too. I have worked way to hard to let that go.
I have made new friends, some of whom have become my 2nd family during this journey, and I can't have asked for any better. This has truly been an amazing journey.
This blog is not going away, nor am I . I just need a breather from the big distance training. I will keep you all posted as things progress with Tri - Training.
So, until next time we chat :
From one "Idiot" to another:
John
-IRC #2148-
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