Marathon

On June 15th, 2003, I ran the last leg of the Manitoba Marathon with a relay team. I ran about 5.4 miles in about 45 minutes.

I started running 2 1/2 months before the event. I had no intention of running the Marathon; I just had the time and I needed to get out in the eavenings a little. Tom, a friend of mine with much running experience, suggested I join a relay team for the Marathon, stating I needed a goal. After warming to the idea, I joined up with a couple of people, some of whom I'd never met but we had the common goal of running our share of the 26 miles.

To train, I ran every other day. After a half mile warm-up, my goal was to run 8 minute miles and gradually pushed up the distance. At first, I ran 9 minute miles for 2 miles. I do not care much for self-imposed pain but running comes naturally to me so it was fun. After a long Manitoba winter, it was good to get out every other day for a half hour and enjoy the cool eavenings.

On the day of the race, which started at 7am, it was raining. By 9:30 am, the rain had stopped and the clouds were breaking up. Tom, running 4th leg, handed off to meat about 10:20. By then the sun was fully out. I had not really trained to run in the morning, in full sun so this morning was a challenge. I tried to keep on pace but lost about 20 seconds per mile on my first couple of miles. Some fans came out to cheer me on which was a good boost. I passed many people, mostly full marathoners who were, for example, on their 23rd mile, while I was on my second, so I don't see it as some kind of great running performance on my part.

Coming into the stadium at the University of Manitoba was a real thrill. The rest of my team cheering me on, I could hear them :), I sprinted in the last 100 yards. We placed 149th in the relay standings with a time of about 3:52:??. 45 minutes of running after over 2 months of training felt like it passed by too quickly though I think if I start traing sooner and harder next year, I'll enter for the Half marathon. I look forward to it. Thanks Tom, Loretta, Kerry and ?? for being great teammates.