What's Next - February 13, 2010

"Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see. Faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past. It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God's command so what we see was made by something that cannot be seen." Hebrews 11:1-3

"Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him." Hebrews 11:6

I finally have the chance to update my report from the Houston Marathon. The reason I used the bible versus above for this posting is in the later stages of the race, my faith was truely tested. As you'll see below everything was going as planned until disaster struck.

Marathon Story
The weekend was awesome as it started out by celebrating my 46th birthday on Saturday and then getting to stay at the Hilton Americas. Friday night we went to Buca de Peppa for dinner. I had lasagna, salad and bread. All day Friday and Saturday I made sure and drank water (about 72-90 ounces each day, if not more). I felt pretty good going into Sunday.


On Saturday night after going out and eating a Chicken Sandwich, I sat down and made out my race plan. It was simple. Run the first 13 at a 10 minute pace, miles 13-20 at 9:30 to 9:45 pace, and depending on how felt 9:45 to 10 for the last six miles. I figured for the last six miles, I would probably be closer to a 10 minute pace. If I stuck to that plan my time would be around 4:10.

I also spoke to my sister Kellye, she was so excited for me. She reminded me of how proud she was of me. Most importantly she told me to not to forget about Dave, my father in-law who passed away in 2007. He had suffered with MS for over 30-years. My inspiration was so high. Now it was time to focus.

Sunday, I woke up at 5 AM, drank 16 ounces of Accelerade and ate a Snickers Marathon Bar. I dressed for warm weather which was shorts and short sleeve shirt. I started with the first wave.

So for the first mile as I planned I ran a 10:30, but on miles 2-3 I ran a 9:40 pace. When I first looked at my watch at those splits I was surprised and I told myself to slow it down or "your going to pay for it later on."

But, I couldn't slow down and my splits after that for miles 5 through 7 were 9:25 to 9:30, miles 6 through 12 the splits stayed between 9:10 to 9:25. The thing is, I did not feel like I was pushing it, it still felt like I was running slow. I came through the 10K at 1:01 and the halfway point at 2:06.

From 13 to 17 my pace picked up to between 9:00 to 9:20. Still did not feel like I was pushing it. I came through the 30K mark at 3:03. Which for me was ahead of my goal. But, right before 18, I felt a twinge in my left calve, uh-oh. But I figured that after I met my wife at 18 and picked up a new bottle of Accelerade, popped 4 electrolyte tablets and re-stocked my Gu..(I was using Kaboom Electrolyte Gels and the Accelerade Gels, which do not have the high sugar content that other gels have.) I would be ok.

Then it happened and the rest of the run would go down hill. At Mile 19, my left calve cramped up. I walked and jogged until 21, and then started to feel better. My pace at 19 was 14:09, but for miles 21, 22 and 23, I was able to run 10:30, 10:39 and 11:13. I figured that everything I had done at 18 was starting to kick in.

Up until this moment I wondered where God was. Why was he doing this me? I had trained so hard for this. All the long hours away from my family, the hot morning runs in 80 degree weather and the cold long 20 mile runs in a icy wonderland came to mind. I felt like he had abandened me.

But as usual I was wrong. God puts adversity onto us to make us stronger. So that is why he did this to me.

At mile 23, my prayers were answered. A friend of mine saw me and she knew I was in tough shape, but her words of encouragement helped me to carry on. It was at that moment that God told me what I needed to do. He was telling me not to give up and that my friend was there to pass on that message. It was amazing, and the tears flowed, I realized that God was truely amazing!! He would never leave me and the whole time he was right there with me.

At 24, my world came crashing down when my right calve locked up, from there on in I walked, skipped and jogged in to finish in 4:37:35.

I don't know why I cramped up. Some people have told me that I probably suffered from a Potassium shortage or maybe a lack of Sodium. I was hydrated, I drank at every stop. Water for the first 6 miles and after that water and Accelerade. I didn't take in Gu until 1:15 in to the race and after that it was every 35 to 40 minutes.

I do know this, as disappointed as I was with the results I walked away feeling proud of my effort. I had given it all I could give. Which is what God expects from us. And I the one verse from the bible still sticks with me.

"For God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
What's Next
The first weekend in March I will participate in the Texas Independence Relay which is a 24-hour relay that goes from Gonzalez to Houston, Texas. I will be running with 11 other people, but most importantly it will be with one of runners from Woodlands Fit - Andy Sullman. Andy is an amazing story and before that weekend I will share it.
 
After that, I will run a few short races. Work on building my speed and endurance and prepare for the beginning of the Marathon training cycle which will start in July. I hope to run the Houston Marathon in 2011. It will be my 10th Houston and #14. Next year, I won't make the same mistakes.
 
Below are some pictures from that great day.
 
God is Great!!