Kalamazoo Marathon!

Little recap: I finished the race, begged a shower, got some food and started the 4 hour drive to Michigan. I knew the drive was 3.5 hours or probably 4 but the GPS said 5 hours and it bummed me out big time. As usual, I tried to stay awake by talking to the GPS. She doesn't listen very well, constantly giving orders even tho I keep telling her ok, she always repeats. Whatever works, right?

I was feeling good - not tired and no pain. The car was great and the miles went on. Into Chicago and I see the Sears tower which was pretty awesome. I was once in Chicago with my family on a drive vacation when I was 10ish and it was pretty cool to see it again. Traffic wasn't too bad. Eventually drove through into Indiana and then into Michigan. I did at one point get real tired and realized I had to get off the highway. I didn't want to but I had no choice. Stopped at a Popeye's parking lot and rested. I don't think I slept but I sure felt better afterwards so maybe...

Started the drive again and it really bummed me out that I had to drive extra. Talked to Lee and the kids and to DD also. One weird thing happened tho: Crossed into Michigan and it said 47 miles to Kalamazoo which means to me about 47 minutes of driving even tho the GPS said 1:47 to go. It just didn't make sense until I realized that I must have crossed over a timezone. The GPS didn't say 1:47. It just gave an ETA and it was right!

What a relief until I made the last left turn and the GPS said I was there and there was no hotel. I was on Holiday Inn Drive and there was no Holiday Inn. How does that make sense? Tried looking and then gave up. Called the hotel who told me to drive until the end. Oh....I wish there was a sign there but who the hell cares. I have arrived!

Last room in the corridor on the 4th floor away from all the noise. Went upstairs and immediatly went to washing my cloths in the bathtub. Some things I had doubles for while others I didn't. Didn't matter any which way. I didn't want things to get ruined so down on my knees. Hung everything up and went downstairs to print my boarding passes. At the desk I ran into the T-Rex runners who just arrived. I said Hi and she asked if it was me on the course. I said yup and she apologized for being short with me which there was really no need. Still, I asked her for aquaphor and she gave me a little travel bottle. My HERO! From there I went to the pool. I didn't bring a bathing suit (STUPID STUPID STUPID) but I sat on the edge and dunked my legs in the hot tub. Nice.

Ate, went into the tub, watched a little tv and sleep.

This race was an 8 am start and they suggested people drive to the Radisson and take the shuttle from there. I don't remember the time anymore but I think it was starting at 6am. Slept till 3am and got ready. Left the hotel toward the Radisson and took the shuttle. Started talking to the guy sitting in front of me and I told him the disaster I had getting to Wisconsin and he says to me: "Let me guess...American Airlines right?" Wow....I was floored. Turns out he's a pilot for American and he knows that Chicago was a disaster. Everyone knows not to land in Chicago...OK...Told me about the course even tho he was doing the half.

One of the perks of the Mitteners Challenge was that we had our very own race day packet pickup. All we had to do was to bring our bibs from Wisconsin everyone else had to have picked up the day before. Thank God as it would have been tough.

One major thing that struck me driving to Michigan and later at race site was as my boss said, "once you leave NY, you are in the bible belt". I thought it was only certain states but driving there there were 2 stations on the radio that were doing church music and there on race day they had a huge tent with a service going on. I mean WOW! Cool. Not for me but that's great.

I did my usual which was talking to people and standing in line for the port-a-pottie. My stomach was off this morning so I did pop an Imodium.

Through out all of this, I was on/off on the phone with Elizabeth. She and Adele and Heidi were doing the Long Island Half-Marathon and things had to go "right". Adele picked up for everyone on Saturday so that was easy. She also went and picked up Heidi Sunday morning and then Elizabeth. I was worried that Elizabeth would wake up in time to eat, use bathroom and walk LC. That went ok. Adele came at the right time and picked up everyone. In my opinion maybe they should have left earlier but I knew Adele knew the area and was confident she could find "somewhere" to park. Later Adele told me that the holdout was Heidi. She balked at such an early pickup. Well, recupersions...I was on the phone with Lee and she told me they have not parked yet. Oi...Later Adele cleared it up for me. It's not that they couldn't find a parking spot but rather there was a LOOOONG line to get into the park to park. I'm on line for the port-a-pottie and that stress was not welcomed. At 7:42, I got word that they parked. I told Elizabeth to find indoor plumbing on way versus to go there and stand in huge line for port-a-pottie. You don't want the long lines and you don't want to run 13.1 miles with a full bladder. They listened and since it was so late, they had no lines whatsoever. Nice...Still, they got to the start and almost immediatly started. They didn't really warm up except for Elizabeth who in the car did what she could.

I guess I should also review my body at this point. My stomach was iffy but I was done (HOPEFULLY) with the porta-pottie. My legs were Okish. They were tired and that made sense. Apart from running a Mary the day before, the long drive was not helpful in recovery. I did get chafed the day before on my left side (under armpit) and I did put some aquaphor on it and I also went to medical to get Vaseline. Otherwise I was feeling ok.

Yesterday, I wore compression shorts, tights and shorts, a long sleeve shirt with my MM singlet and a skullcap and light gloves. Today, I wore compression shorts, shorts, MM singlet and a cap. NICE!

Met up with the MM from the end of Wisconsin and we went to the start line together. I can't remember his name (I'm terrible with names) but I remember he is from San Diego. We decided to run together and we did initially.

He said he was cool about talking but I'm not sure of that. I like to talk. He stopped to get water at the first aid station and I figured he would come back to me but he didn't. I'm not sure if he had a hard time which would suck or that he just didn't want to talk which would be fine but I never saw him again. Oh well.

The course: We went out and somewhere between mile 3 and 4, we split off from the half-marathoners in the city. There was a young woman screaming with a speaker things like you're doing great and making comments about what she was wearing. Later, I learned she was part of the EPIC crew. On/off I was talking to a MM (Kent Munro) guy who was with a woman for the first few miles. Also started talking to a guy with a vest holding bottles high up on his chest. He was training for a 50 mile trail race and trying it out for the first time. Nice.

I also ran on/off with 2 woman who were both Mitteners and that was pretty nice.

We went through some University (WMU ?) and there were college kids who were very very happy at that early in the morning. We assumed that they were still high/drunk from last night's party but maybe they were in the cheering zone and that was it. Still it was kinda funny. Somewhere here I saw a mittener from yesterrday who waved at me but initially I didn't recognize her. Oh well. I also saw Scott Vanloo for a second and I yelled out his name and he waved. Later he said I looked good.

I saw a Medical station and ran to it only to realize that it wasn't a medical station. It was bagles for the volunteers. Oh well. The medical station was a little off the course and I thought that was silly. I did stop at all the other medical stations for vaseline tho. The first station I stopped at was great...I ran on the grass behind the volunteers to it and made eye contact with the person there. I pointed at my armpits as I ran to her and she understood. She was awesome. I got there and raised my poor armpits and she and someone else lubed things up and I got out of there INDY 500 style. In and out in 2 seconds...

We caught up to the 4:30 group and I made my move alone and passed them only to be later swallowed up by them. No prob...

Of my 2 lady friends I later saw the younger one (nanny) at the medical tent at the finish. I don't remember why she stopped but I stopped for preventative action but more on that later. The other one I didn't see.

Ran with the 4:30 group and hooked up with 3 runners: Shannon Birkhold(First Timer), Dave Solberg(His 5th or 6th) and someone else who I can't remember her name (Her 2nd). It was fun talking to them. Told them about coke/pepsi while running and I felt like they didn't believe me but that's ok. Shannon was annoyed that she just got a PW (Personal Worst) for a half-marathon but we explained to her that that is NOT how to look at it.

At around mile 13, you get to Baconsville. What's that? Well, first thing the pope greets you. He's wearing the full suit, hat and has a staff. I found a picture on the web of it. At this point he directs you to baconsville. Both sides of the street have the BBQ's out on the front lawn and are grilling bacon and bacon covered dates. Wow...Well, I stopped and asked for a coke. Guy said he only had chocolate milk but told his daughter to get a coke from inside. WOW!!! Awesome and I feel good.

I continue running and catch up to the pace leader of the 4:30 group. Guy swerved to not hit something and got injured. Offered tylenol to him and then continueed on to let his group know. They were glad to have gotten the news even if they weren't good news.

Ran with the 4:30 group. Was getting boring. I called out for jokes. I told a few and others told a few. Lightened up the mood but at 18 I had to let them go. I was at a low and needed a small walk. Fortunatly a little conversation with Jessie and things were a little better.

I was about to make a left and this guy had a bag and I asked him (and many others) if he had a coke. He responded with "No, but I'll cat you up later". Oh well. Ran into Shannon, Dave and still_can't_remember_new_name and we ran together. I told them about my encounter and that I was looking for this guy. They were saying he meant next year while I still had hope. And then...Wait for it!!! There he was with a bag and he had 4 cokes for us!!! UN-BEL-IEV-ABLE. Guy went to the store and bought us 4 bottles. My new friends tried it and immediatly felt better. Dave was on/off cramping and it did make him feel better but he on/off stopped and continuued. We would lose him and then he would catch us but eventually he dropped. Came to the big hill and it really wasn't...The ladies shared a coke so I had a spare and it was awesome. I grabbed a sponge and put it under my hat. We walked fast the hill and ran a little of it too. It really wasn't a bad hill. Could have ran it...On the top, there were kids handing out popsicles. I didn't have any but my 2 lady friends loved it.

Ran with them and at 23 unknown had to stop. I walked with her and offered to bridge her back to Shannon but she said she can't so I left her and rejoined Shannon. How cool is it to escort a first timer?

Ran with her and close to 25 ran into an EPIC guy. He had support in terms of a friend with a bike so said hello and we left. Got another soda up here too and it was awesome even tho it was Diet something. Not my favorite but beggers can't be choosers.

Eventually we were back on to the first street we started running with and I got Shannon moving faster. I wanted to catch up to the mittener from yesterday and we did. I kept screaming "come on" and she responded and we finished. Awesome. Got a Chocolate Mile (I'm sure Jeremy is jealous) and downed it. Said my goodbyes and congrats and went to medical. Got 3 ice bags: Left knee, right knee and adductors (down my pants). nothing was hurting but this was preventative as I still had a long time to get home...

The shuttle back to the Radisson was leaving hourly so I could not afford to miss the 1pm shuttle. Shuttle to car to hotel and a shower. As I was checking out, Team T-Rex was coming in. They begged for a shower and this hotel was cool about it. Turns out the car ride for them from Wisconsin to Michigan was a disaster (No A.C or rather it only lasted 10 minutes) so there they were sweating their butts off and then the A.C at the hotel wasn't working either. Sheesh...Sorry...

Drove to the airport, returned the car and got food. Trip to Chicago uneventful and from there onward to NYC. We were supposed to land at 8:59pm (why not 9pm?) but the pilot said he was in a hurry and at 8:10 we started our descent into LGA. By 8:30 I was getting into the cab and by 8:45 I was home. YAY!!!

As soon as we landed in NYC, after I called the cab dude, while still on the plain I called home and at least said good night to Jessie. When I got home, Lee, Jeremy and LC were awake and that was great.

Went to sleep early, laundry will have to wait and woke up the usual time to take everyone to school the next day. Arlene showed up and that was great until she scared me...Knowing the she truly "knows" my body, I asked her how did it seem like to her after the double and she said "that my legs look like they gained weight"... What?!? I gained weight? Fat on legs??? She meant muscle...Whew... Got my cardio for the day...

Little things...Ryan never made it to either Mary. On Saturday, as per his new plan, he did a bike race and rode 200 miles. He was too tired to come out on Sunday to even cheer. That's ok. Scott...Animal...On Saturday he "took it easy" and paced his friend to a PR with a 3:46. Sunday he paced the 4:15 group. A weel or 2 before he ran a Mary or a 50K and I think he had another one coming. Jeez...