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Race Result

Racer: Shawn Clark
Race: Yuengling Shamrock Marathon - Half Marathon
Date: Sunday, March 18, 2007
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Race Type: Run - Half Marathon
Age Group: Male 30 - 34
Time: 3:51:54
Overall Place: 566 / 1878
Age Group Place: 63 / 168
Comment: Local Fat Man Runs Shamrock Marathon and Doesn't Die



Race Report:



My wife and I headed down to Virginia Beach on Friday so we could have a little extra time relaxing. We stayed right next to the convention center so we were able to head over and peruse the expo at leisure. We actually both expected it to be bigger. We picked up our race numbers and headed back to our hotel to have dinner and look through our goody bags. We were both so nervous that we had a few too many beers and headed off to sleep early.

On Saturday we got up early and Julie went for a jog and I went for a short swim just to loosen up the muscles a bit. Then we headed out to check out the local tri store "Final Kick." It was kinda small but well organized with an extremely friendly staff, (it might have been cuz julie is looking to buy a bike soon and they could smell the profit .) Then we headed out to visit our neighbors who own a condo on the bay. We were going to rest but seeing as it was St. Patty's day we decided that we should have at least one beer which turned into 2, 3, 4, well you get the idea...stupid Irish. We did manange to quit early in the evening and I was sound asleep by 7.

4:45 rolled around pretty early but I didn't feel too much worse for the wear. We headed out and had some pancakes and coffee. We were determined to be fueled up with no GI issues. So when race time came around we were pretty nervous but confident that we would be able to finish the race without self induced problems.

Somehow we bring cold weather with us wherever we go, Phoenix half: 29 degrees at the start, Shamrock marathon: 32 degrees at the start. We didn't care (too much), we were ready to get this first marathon out of the way. The start got going and I felt great. I was with the 3:50 pace group but found myself comfortably moving forward until I got to the 3:40 pace group. I thought, "I feel great but I should slow down a bit and stay with these guys." So I brought my pace down to stay with them. It was a great group and I felt fantastic until about 9 miles in when suddenly my legs decided they hated me and started to weaken. Then the headwind started. I have never liked wind but after Sunday I have decided that I HATE, detest, abhor, headwind and I am officially adding it to my blacklist, which until now only had Radio Shack on it (long story from my childhood). I couldn't even see the pace group by the time I got to the 12 mile mark. I was determined to keep going but I was scared that I had pushed too hard too fast and didn't know what was going to happen by the time I got to mile 20.

I managed to finish the 1/2 in 1:50 which is 5 minutes faster than my PR so I was happy about that but that was it..I was in severe pain. I started thinking about my race report and the only title I could come up with was "Ouch Compound Expletive Ouch." My pace was now at about 9 minute miles and I was able to keep that up until mile 20. There were great signs to keep my mind occupied. My two favorites were "If Milli Vanilli fell......Would someone else make a sound?" and "On the Other Hand, you have different fingers." They made me smile, well ok I actually laughed out loud and some guy next to me gave me a funny look, whatever dude.

In the last 6.2 miles, which included one bathroom stop, I didn't even care about my pace. I just kept saying you can run one more mile and then walk a bit, but when the time came I would repeat it, one more mile and you can walk, one more mile and you can walk, ok only 2 to go, no problem. Then the 3:50 group passed me and I kicked up my pace to try and stay with them which didn't happen but it did give me enough of a boost to finish my first marathon in 3:51.

I was so happy that , even though I couldn't feel my legs, I was just vaguely aware of a dull ache that started below my waist, I smiled.. Never before has anything so excruciatingly painful felt so good. I can't wait for the next one, well ok I can't walk right now, but as soon as I can, I will be excited for the next one.