This weekend I returned to Falmouth to run a marathon. I ran Cape Cod in 1999, and now I was back to do it again. Cape Cod was my first marathon, and now it would become my 15th. A knee injury in July had me wondering if I would be running or just hanging out. My knee healed and I trained with the time that I had. I managed two 20 mile long runs. The second 20 I managed at an 8:06 pace, so I thought that a sub 3:30 pace was possible.
The course is hilly, especially through miles 15 to 23. No great hills, just a constant up and down. The weather was perfect, cloudy and 53 at the start. The wind never became an issue.
About three miles out I met up with another runner who was also aiming for a 3:30 finish. The marathon course headed out towards the beach for a little over five miles before heading inland. The next five miles were quick and it easy to believe that we would finish in under 3:30. Hilly stretches, and quiet roads greeted us as we made our way towards the beached of West Falmouth.
Twelve miles in and I felt good, but shortly after a bit of fatigue started to settle in. I got my first thought that this could turn bad if I did not adjust my pace. Over the next fifteen minutes my legs went numb. My legs had no feeling but a disconnected pain. My speed disappeared, and I faced 12 miles with nothing in the tank.
The course at this point was beautiful. As I shuffled down the road I got to take in the seashore, and the steady flow of runners whose pacing allowed them to run by me.
About a third of the runners were running the Relay. New runners would pass me quickly, but I still was able to run down most of them. After mile 15 the hills returned. One of the steepest hills begin immediately after the 20 mile marker. It can be a real let down. Running was painful and slow at this point, but the hills seemed irrelevant. I was burned out, and the hills could do little additional damage to my running form.
23 miles in and we climb the hill at Nobska Point. This is one of the most beautiful lighthouses I have ever seen. The runners are spent at this point. Another mile and the hills are done. Spectators cheer us on sandy stretch appropriately called Surf Drive. 25 plus and we turn back to the downtown. The crowds are animated and I am doing my best imitation of runner. I see my family near the finish line, they were expecting me earlier.
It's over and I am done in 3:53:11. 261/829. The showers are not far, and they are actually warm.
I finished, I had no injuries, and I will live to fight again. Next ? Ottawa in May?
Keep your feet on the road,
Mark
