I've been trying since Sunday to post this race report. Now I feel technologically ignorant AND slow. This was a lot better written, brilliant and witty the first 2 times I wrote it. With my luck the other 2 will magically appear just as I submit this.

Seven weeks ago, I decided that we felt so great after Bay State that we might as well give it one more shot and see if I could qualify for Boston. I suspected that at some point I would look back at that decision and see it as either my smartest or dumbest decision. Well I didn't make it AGAIN but we loved and savored every moment of this adventure. The main thing I learned is that I am NOT fit enough to run 2 marathons in 2 months and it doesn't matter how slow the first one was.

There were some omens: 1.The taxi that ran out of gas at midnight before arriving at our hotel, forcing us to walk the rest of the way. 2. My fuel belt was on upside down within minutes of the start causing one bottle to fall out and the rest to drip. 3. Dead coyote smack in the middle of the course 4. squatting to pee on a cactus and being saved at the last minute by the sight of a snake. . . Who knew my fear of snakes could be a real asset? But you get the idea.
The course is a point to point running along the side of the Catalina Mtns and descending about 2,200 ft. net.
Nice coach busses picked us up at the hotel at 5AM (piece of cake with the 2 hour time change, always go west to run a marathon)Starbucks was available in the lobby. We got to the start a little over an hour early and it was probably in the high 30's. I'd heard the swings in temp were a challenge (start in the 30s end around 70 degrees) so I bought sweat pants, shirts and hats at the Gorham Goodwill to wear before the start. It was like an $18 clothing rental fee because then they were donated back to charity.

The first mile has a mix of ups and downs then we settled in for about 24 miles of downhill. I was told later that the best way to prepare for this is to do some weight training focusing on the quads. I'd worked on my downhill running form but after 11 miles it was getting harder to hold. Our pace for the first 10 miles was right around 9:05-9:10. Making us look like smart, disciplined, conservative runners but really it felt like 8:45 pace. It wasn't so much that we were holding back as that we didn't have any more in us. There was a significant head wind (10-15mph) that we and 3,000 other people got to complain about for the next 24 hours and I'm sure that was a factor but we were the biggest factor. The splits for this race are way off. They show us as slow from 8.5-13.1 and then miraculously fast until 20.5. The truth: we hit the half in 2:02:46 and my goal was 4:05. In the next 2 miles we slowed some more and then we did a little walking reassessment, decided to relax, enjoy the scenery, sun, low humidity and the runners around us. We dropped down to about a 10 minute pace.
At mile 18 the calf that's been bothering Tom since bay State started screaming to take more walking breaks so we decided to split up. A couple of miles later a woman was running near him and gasping loudly. He said to her, "Hey that's what I sound like after mile 13." She responded calmly that she always sounds like that. After a pause she explained that she only had 1 lung. How's that for humbling?
After mile 21, I felt like I was running 9:15 pace but every time I looked down the forerunner said 10:?? but I felt fine and happy. I'd made peace with the wind, was drinking every chance I got and delighting in low humidity=NO CHAFING. I wanted to take in the mountains and all the different kinds of cactus, the really kind elderly people sitting along the course in their folding chairs, smiling and nodding quiet support. Like my first marathon, I was able to enjoy every moment of this unusual experience. It was all so fresh again.
Now, I had read that the end of this race was as challenging as the ascent at the end of Marine Corps and I figured it was an exageration. It wasn't. The longest, steepest uphill occurs at 25.5 after your quads have been turned to gelatinous goo. This kind woman looked deep into my eyes (this will show you how slowly I was moving) and explained that at the turn it would be flat and then I would see the finish and I could do it. She was right. I was so happy and excited when they called out my name and Gorham Maine as i crossed the finish line I started jumping up and down.
Afterwards we went back to the hotel, sat poolsaide, drank beer, ate hamburgers, watched strangers with cactus medals limp around and met a lot of great runners from around the country.
As we headed back to our room at the end of the day this couple saw our odd way of walking and asked if we'd run the marathon. We said yes and then asked if they had. The man replied with the utmost dignity, "No, we just walk funny."

your articulate race reports and course descriptions are truly appreciated.I think every runner no matter how fast or competitive should read and absord what you say.Enjoying a race regardless of acheiving a goal or not should always be what it's about. Dave T.

Really enjoyed your report. We know just how you feel and felt along the 26.2. The mind tells you one thing and the body says something else. While you were there you may as well take in the views if you don't plan on going back. The important thing is you did it and had a good time.
Don--Jean

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Hope 2007 provides lots of great content, BQ's, PR's, and other desirable letter combinations.

Speaking of great content..where else can you get all this? Renew your memberships now, $10.00 before the end of the year, $12.00 if you snooze. What a bargain!

Thank you for your inspiring race report. You two have really know how to enjoy the marathon process, and I, for one, should take a lesson from you. You said it very well...a marathon IS an adventure, and should be treated as such. Here is to you both, wishing you many, many more adventures ahead!

I really enjoyed your race report. You had me chuckling big-time. You have a beautiful sense of adventure, perspective on marathoning, and a wonderful writing style. Thank you for sharing.