Detroit Marathon Bullets
Things I can remember from the race today:
- ten million wonderful screaming cheering people!!!!!!!
- well staffed and very polite aid station folks!!!
- hot women screaming my name ;)
- starting out much too fast (4:15 pace group)
- our pacer (Jim?) with orange spray painted hair
- stopping to pee on Canadian soil, literally (sorry guys)
- foolishly running faster to catch up to my pace group again
- realizing at mile 10 that I am in serious trouble with regard to pain
- missing Russ at the aid station because I was in a complete fog from mile 10 - 12
- stopping to stretch during a race for the first time at mile 15
- having my legs hurt so badly I wanted to cry
- crying during the race
- walking to see if it helps a little
- my right IT band exploding at the 22 mile marker, killing three people and destroying a volkswagon
- hobbling through mile 23
- trying to decide if quitting is really that bad
- running and losing both hip flexors somewhere on the road to mile 24
- walking through mile 25
- running the last mile and swearing I will never, ever do this again.
- walking down the incredibly STEEP ramp onto Ford Field because I have no ITB or hip flexors
- running to the finish line and trying not to cry on camera
- walking up the 1300 steps OUT of the stadium because there is only water down below and some guy taking pictures of people who badly need Gatorade.
- taking 40 minutes to reach my truck because I can barely walk
Chip time - someplace near 4:47.
I finished, but it has to have been the worst race experience I have ever had. I can say without a doubt, if I knew I was this far from being ready, I would have stayed home. It was shocking how much I had lost since that 20 miler.
I can’t even begin to describe the level of pain in my legs and hips during this race. I’ve run with alot of pain but this was just unbelievable. When the ITB pain started I knew there was no way I could run on that. Walking for a 100 feet doesn’t cut it, but walking a whole mile really did wonders for it, and brought the pain down to a manageable level. Run a mile, walk a mile. Stretching really didn’t help although squatting seemed to stretch my hips out a bit.
Oddly enough, not a peep out of the shins. Go figure.
So, I’m home. I have my medal. And I think I am going to be more sore tomorrow than I’ve ever been in my life.
October 23rd, 2005 17:05
Wow, Jon. You are one determined person. I really hope the pain doesn’t stick around too long…rest and eat well tonight.
October 23rd, 2005 17:12
Honey - you just finished a marathon, which is a lot more than most people could do. I’m so impressed.
October 23rd, 2005 17:25
You ARE a MARATHONER!
I’m very proud of you.
soak in some epsom salts…take some drugs…sleep through tomorrow.
October 23rd, 2005 17:26
Congratulations Jon! You did awesome, the pain will disappear … I promise, along with any bad memories. What will remain is the fact you completed a marathon!
You stopped to pee in canada … woo hoo I stopped to pee in chicago … canada 1 usa 1 … we’re even!
Well done Jon, rest, stretch, ibuprofen, eat and sleep … repeat repeat repeat
October 23rd, 2005 17:51
Well deserved Congratulations! You persevered and finished. That says a lot about your determination. Get some rest and eat lots of chocolate!
October 23rd, 2005 18:04
Congratulations!!! You should feel really proud of yourself. Sounds a lot like my marathon experience, including the IT issues– and exactly the same time I did for Disney, despite the fact I have done a sub two-hour half…Marathons are a monstrous beast to be reckoned with. Advice– don’t run at all this next week! it will not be worth it! Enjoy the well deserved rest…
October 23rd, 2005 18:04
I thought of you all day. I thought of you when Bill crossed the finish line in Mystic. And I knew you had made it, too. It sounds like it was an incredible struggle, but I hope in a day or two you forget about the pain and have only good feelings about your accomplishment. Way to stick it out, Jon. Now please rest….rest….rest….you just ran a marathon!!!!
October 23rd, 2005 18:04
Congratulations!!!
Your race report does sound kind of horrible. It’s almost funny how you forced yourself to push through to the end, but will still not allow yourself to be happy. (I said almost!) I think what others say is true, eventually you will forget the pain, and remember the accomplishment. (Kind of like childbirth.)
Anyway, my guess is you’re not yet ready to hear us congratulate you. Hopefully, in the next few days you’ll come to relish in your accomplishment. Be proud Jon!!
October 23rd, 2005 18:15
Mister, I was at the GU station and saw you! You acknowledged that I was yelling your name, you did not miss me, rest well my friend, you have earned it and I can promise, the pain does go away in a few days! Great job!!!
October 23rd, 2005 18:55
Jon - I was poking around and found this interesting note. A little more poking led to this one - which you need to scroll all the way down for. Congratulations. You did it.
October 23rd, 2005 18:57
I recently found some interesting stuff online…
http://runforchocolate.blogspot.com/2003_12_01_runforchocolate_archive.html
Congratulations. You did it.
October 23rd, 2005 19:04
yikes. yikes. yikes!!!!!
I hope you recover quickly. You are one determined guy, runniing through all that pain (a volkswagan, really?? Sure it wasn’t a kia??)
Congratulations, it’s OVER, and now you can start some well-deserved R & R! (and p.s. i can’t believe your time–with all that pain!?!)
October 23rd, 2005 19:12
Jon- I doubt you’ll believe it, but I know EXACTLY what you went through. If you read my marathon report from June 5 you’ll see that I blew out both ITs and was crying one the edge of the road at mile 19 and trying to decide to finish or not. I walked a lot at the end and I wanted to cut my legs off I was in so much pain. I’m sorry you had to go through it. It was months ago and I still remember that pain!! Congrats for finishing!!!
October 23rd, 2005 19:15
I knew you could do it!!! CONGRADULAIONS!
October 23rd, 2005 19:32
way to go, marathoner. way to go. yeah!!
October 23rd, 2005 19:51
Congrats on sticking with it and finishing. As someone who’s been down in the deep dark places at mile 24, I know how hard it can be to persevere all the way to the line.
The first is always hard.
Of course, in your case, your injury woes made this one especially difficult. You’ve earned my (and many others’) respect and admiration today.
October 23rd, 2005 20:09
omg, thats unbelievable, all I can say is I am so proud of you. You finished a marathon, I hope you heal fast.
Heather
October 23rd, 2005 20:28
yaaaaaaaay! Congratulations, Jon! I said to theroommate this morning as we were heading back, “I wonder how Jon’s doing?”
Evidently you were kicking butt, even through lots of pain. Great job perservering!
October 23rd, 2005 20:38
You did it!!!! I read somewhere a painfull marathon is like child birth. It hurst at the time but a few days later you are thinking about doing it again. Celebrate that medal and a job well done. Marathon Jon….ya know it has a nice ring to it.
October 23rd, 2005 21:06
YAY - Congratulations! Great report . . . I was the girl screaming your name from Dallas. When do we get pictures!
October 23rd, 2005 21:33
Duuuuuuuuuuuuude! Right on, Jon!!! Congratulations. Ya know, the harder it is, the more you get out of it. I’m proud of ya my man. You conquered some harsh shit today. Yer all right in my books. :)
October 23rd, 2005 21:47
Hey - you finished. That’s the most important thing. Congratulations on your determination. Any experienced marathoner has had days like yours. In the long run, I think you learn as much about yourself from the terrible races as from the good ones. Next time will be better.
October 23rd, 2005 21:59
holy crap. that is some story. congratulations jon. that’s a great personal victory.
October 23rd, 2005 21:59
Stop making me laugh at your pain! At least your “funny bone” survived. It sounds like *exactly* the kind of marathon you would have, actually. Amazing amazing amazing, you are. Rest, heal, tell all.
October 23rd, 2005 22:20
YOU SO TOTALLY ROCK DUDE!. Of course your insane..but then so are many of the men I know. CONGRATULATIONS!!@
October 23rd, 2005 22:56
I think they’ll let you use one of those wheel chair shopping carts at the grocery store, if you need one.
Man, that race recap sounds like your training - one big painful whine interspersed with periods of swift comic greatness. That poor Volkswagon didn’t have a chance.
Well I am sure you’re not happy with imperfection and wish you could have done better but you know what? You did it and that’s more than 99.5% of humanity can say. You can look it up!( I think)
October 23rd, 2005 22:57
Oh, Jon. I am so, so sorry about your ITB and hip flexors. That is terrible. I hope you start to feel better soon. :(
October 23rd, 2005 22:59
WAY TO GO!!! I knew you could do it!! For all your pain, you had a GREAT time!! Wear that medal proudly everywhere you go for at LEAST the next week. I hope you’re not in too much pain tomorrow. Oh, and remind me never to run behind you - I don’t want to be one of the three people you blow out with your ITB!
October 23rd, 2005 23:50
Good for you for not quitting. Truly inspirational (and funny). I think I’m going to try a marathon in the next year, as a result of reading you and a few other bloggers attempt this incredible feat.
October 23rd, 2005 23:52
Oh, and we want to see PICTURES!
October 24th, 2005 00:02
Rock on! Congratulations and I hope you’re feeling better soon! You are an inspiration.
October 24th, 2005 00:02
Incredible. I’m so happy for you that you finished. I hope you heal quickly.
You are a marathoner!!! I say wear the medal until you heal.
October 24th, 2005 00:09
Wow. All that pain and you still can make us all chuckle about it. The exploded body parts part was hilarious!
You FINISHED, man. You also reminded me why I really need to take this training thing for MY thon next summer really seriously. And maybe build in time for injuries. and pain conditioning…
October 24th, 2005 01:00
Totally impressive Jon, way to hang in there. You finished, you are a marathoner, you are absolutely one incredible dude for hanging in there with so much pain. Respect!! You’ve had a long hard trip to the finish line, now bask in the glory man!
October 24th, 2005 08:08
Whose “smart” idea was it to make the runners walk up and down the step at Ford Field to get refreshments? Hope you are feeling better and getting rest! Congratulations on being able to persevere!
October 24th, 2005 09:48
Wow. You went through all that and still finished in a time a lot of people would kill for! Great job pushing through, Jon. I’m proud of you!
October 24th, 2005 10:20
Jon, you did it! You did it! A lot of people (myself included) have awful first marathons. I think most people have awful first marathons. So, now you know what can happen, and you probably have some good ideas how to fix it and have a better experiences. You DID it! That is huge! And you may not be happy with it, but your finishing time is muy impressive to me. Hopefully you’re not hurting too much today (don’t give into the “I’ll sit around” thought - walk around as much as you can - it’ll make a huge difference for the rest of the week), and I so want to celebrate with you!
October 24th, 2005 10:50
As they say, the pride lasts longer than the pain. You are a MARATHONER.
Congratulations.
October 24th, 2005 11:21
WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!!
Yeah, Jon, he’s our man, he’s our man! Way to go despite the pain.
October 24th, 2005 12:13
WOO HOOO
You are an inspiration!
October 24th, 2005 12:34
Wow! I don’t know you, but I’m proud of you nonetheless for continuing on through the pain and completing the marathon! Congratulations!
March 24th, 2006 00:06
Jon,
I must apologize for the lateness of this comment. Congratulations on your marathon! Way to come back from all the pain!
Mike