February 17, 2003 – Guadalajara Maratón Summary
Buenas Días,
The following is a summary of my experience running the Guadalajara Marathon, yesterday. Some of you received a summary from Andy, and mine will include some of the same things, but I believe he only sent it out to the running group list. It is VERY LONG, so please save reading for when you have some time to spare…
The GDL marathon was my fifth marathon but my first outside of the United States. I did not know what to expect (is the water at the water stations purified, are the streets monitored by cops to save me from the crazy drivers, etc.), but was pleasantly surprised!
We went to the Expo on Saturday and picked up our packets. I was very surprised to learn that they iron your race number onto your brand new Nike Dri-FIT (TM) tank top. They also had electronic chips and promised another long sleeve t-shirt at the end of the race. All this for less than $10, marathons in the states are now ranging from $45 – $75.
We got up early yesterday in order to do the pre-race rituals, Body Glide, Baby Oil, Immodium, Gatorade, careful preparation of GU’s, etc. We drove downtown and luckily found a parking lot close to the race. The race was scheduled to start at 8am in front of the cathedral.
For actual race pictures, check out the following official marathon website: http://www.maraton.com.mx
Anyway, we parked, walked to the start, and begin looking for the porta-poddies. After searching the entire area twice, we found where they were supposed to be. The problem was that they were still on the back on the truck and they were just beginning to unload them. We made our way to the starting line and watched thousands of people run around in a circle, apparently warming up. It was also interesting to note that all of the participants where jumping around and shaking their various muscles incessantly. I do like to shake my legs out, but it was taken to a whole other extreme.
The wheelchair and elite runners started. It was now time for the rest of us to start. The countdown: Diez…Nueve…Ocho…Siete…Seis…Cinco…Cuatro…Tres…Dos…Uno…
Church bells ring, pigeons fly in the air, fireworks explode (and get my heart beating faster) and we were off. Blue and yellow Nike Dri-FITed corredores (runners) everywhere. (Blue and yellow are the colors of the city and you can see why if you look at the steeples of the church.)
I must admit that you all were the inspiration for the first 16 kilometers.
I was actually thinking about what I was going to write in my post-race e-mail. So many funny things were going through my mind and I am sure that if I had had a device to capture them that this e-mail would be a lot more entertaining, but I didn’t, so this is what you get. 
I began, knowing that to run a 3:40 (my Boston qualifying time), I needed to run a 5:11 min/km pace. I did this for the first 5-10K and then decided that I was not going to be able to maintain/increase that pace, so I just decided to have fun with the race. Well, have fun but still try come in around 4 hours. I also thought that it would be cool to PR, but was definitely okay if I didn’t. (My PR was 3:56:06 in Portland). I really did just want to have fun and make it through. (with all of those caveats). If you cannot tell, when you ask someone what their goal is for a marathon, it is a complicated answer.
So there I am running though the streets of Guadalajara. Following the blue line. I did not know anyone. I could not effectively communicate with anyone. All of the thoughts, both negative and positive were to be suppressed and to remain in my brain until this e-mail.
(1k) My beginning of a marathon mantra, “A journey of 1000 miles begins with one footstep.”
Hmm. I may have to change it to “A journey of 1600 kilometers begins with one footstep.”
(2k) Usually I divide the race up into three races: 1st 10 miles, 2nd 10 miles, last 6 miles.
That is going to require a lot of math. Maybe I should go with: 1st 10k, 2nd 10k, 3rd 10k, 4th 10k, last 2k. Oh great, the last 2k is finished. Only 40k left.
(still 2k) I don’t know, I will like to know when I am at 20 miles because that is such a turning point. I better do the math now while my brain is still working. Okay, you will be at 20 miles at 32k. I wish I was there now. But without the pain that I will feel then.
(3k) It is easier to pick off kilometers than miles. Too bad that there are more of them.
(4k) Yea, a water station. They are handing out plastic baggies with water. What do I do with them? Okay, maybe I just bite them. Cool, these are great! What a great idea! I wonder why they don’t have these in the US? It is much easier to run and drink at the same time.
(4.5k) The city gate
(still 4.5k) Minerva Glorietta (Circle) I wonder if Minerva was a runner? Did people run for fun back then? Is Minerva even real or is she a legend?
(7k) Oh look, a man with his family and a rooster. He is yelling, “Animo.” Does he really mean, “Animal?” Oh no, someone else is saying it too, so that must be a word used to cheer people on. Hmm. I wonder what it means.
(8k) Others are saying, “Vamos.” If I remember correctly from Spanish class, that translates to “we go.” Hmm. We. I remember my mother saying that to my father and him translating that to, “You.” (sorry mom) I would think that it should be “Va/Van.” (you go/they go). They must feel like they are running too. I must be translating that too literally.
(8.5k) I wish Michelle was here.
(8.5k – finish) Or Lindsay or Sage or Kelly okay, anyone.
(10k) If I choose to follow option 2 of breaking the race up, I am through the first mini-race. But it is really only 6 miles. Argh.
(15k) I once told Kelly that I was a realist, not a pessimist or optimist. It is funny that while running a marathon a realist sure sounds a lot like a pessimist. I don’t suppose a true pessimist could run a marathon, though. Must asking the running group their opinion about this sometime.
(16k) Option one, race one completed.
(18k) This feels like a hill. Well, hopefully the downhill feels as good as this feels bad. It is truly amazing, the awful thoughts I can have on the uphill. And the great thoughts that I have on a downhill. It is like I am two different people.
(20k) Option two, race two completed.
(20.25k) Cool, a Gatorade hat. I needed that.
(20.45k) Cool, a sprinkler. Squirt me. Damn, glasses are all smeared.
(20.5k) Pain is starting a little earlier than I expected. Shoot.
(21k) The 1/2 marathoners are finished. I am strong. I do not need to run into their chute and finish now. I can run another 1/2 marathon. Can I? I hope so. If I did stop now, I wonder if I could hitchhike back to the start/finish of the full marathon? I am sure that someone is going back there. No, must continue. You would be disappointed in yourself. Besides, it may be dangerous to catch a ride back. Pain during the last half is better than possibly unsafe ride back. Is it really? Hmmm. Yes, I think it is. Will continue.
(22k-finish) Oh, little kids want me to slap their hands. How cute.
(24k) A kid is standing on the road with a rubber glove covered in Vaseline. I stick my hand out to take some and he pushes his hand towards me. Due to the extra force of him moving his hand, my hand is now covered with Vaseline. I use the little bit that I needed and then try to wipe the remaining on my shorts. Gross, it is still everywhere!
(25k) These people probably think that I am in a lot of pain, by my face. I guess that is accurate.
(27k) Another sprinkler. Cover glasses under shirt to avoid water smearing. Squirt me. Remove glasses and replace on face. Cool, it worked.
(30k) Brain is definitely starting to turn off. Just keep running.
(32k) Okay, at the 20 mile point. Good thing I did the math earlier. Keep running. Second race of option 1 completed. You can do it. Only 10k left.
(33k) Keep going. There are a lot of spectators. Animo!
(34k) There sure are a lot of short males running this race. Only 8k left.
(36k) Oh my gosh, did I do the math right? Maybe it is really 44k and not 42? I don’t think that I can run 2 extra kilometers. Ask gentleman next me, “Perdon, cuantos kilometres mas?” He responds, “Seis.” I respond, “Hay cuarenta y dos o cuarenta y cuatro kilometres en la carrera?” He responds, “cuarenta y dos, mas o menos.” I sigh with relief. I can continue. Only 6 kilometers left.
(37k) Only 5 kilometers left. Anyone can run a 5k. I can finish 5k. Everyone else seems to be suffering as bad or worse than I am. I am passing a lot of people. But that doesn’t mean that I feel much better. It hurts worse to slow down.
(37.5k) IT IS SO HOT! I say to the gentleman next to me, “Hace mucho calor.” He says, “Sí.”
My conversation skills are AWESOME! My math skills are even better!
(39k) I missed 38k, no wonder that last kilometer took so long! Water station…yea, maybe I can walk real slow through it. Did I mention that it is SO HOT! Just keep running, you are almost there.
(40k) 2 KILOMETERS LEFT!!! Yea.
(40.1k) Crowd says, “Dos kilometres mas.”
(40.2k) Crowd says, “Dos kilometres mas.”
(40.3k) Crowd says, “Dos kilometres mas.”
(40.5k) Crowd says, “Dos kilometres mas.”
(40.8k) Guess what the crowd says?
Okay, seriously people, if you are going to tell me how much is left, can you please be accurate!!!
(41k) Never saw the sign, so just kept running.
(Between 41k and finish) Rounded the corner and saw the cathedral and the “Meta” sign (finish).
It looks SO far away.
But the fact that I can see the finish allows me to keep running.
(200 meters before the finish) Enter the chute for the mujeres (women).
There is a guy next to me in the men’s chute. Should I try and beat him? Can my legs do that?
Sure, I speed up. He speeds up.
Seriously who cares if I beat this guy? I will never see him again in my life.
I speed up. He speeds up.
This is stupid. I speed up. He speeds up.
We finish about the same time.
We shake hands.
I have not seen my official time, but according to my watch it was around 4:01. Near the end, I thought that I may be able to break 4 hours, but like I said, that last stretch was really long! I wasn’t going to PR, so it didn’t matter that much to me.
I had the chip removed from my shoe, got my t-shirt and post-race goodies. I realized too late that my t-shirt was an XL so I had to find some larger male to trade with and luckily found someone.
Post-race was painful mostly because of my joints. Today is painful because of my muscles. In three days, I will *hopefully* be back to normal (except for a couple of toenails)…and I know you are wondering, was it really worth it? And I have to say, no matter how negative (realistic) I may sound, it absolutely was!
It was a great experience and I hope that I haven’t bored you too much with the details. AND yes, I know there are a lot of details. By being my friend and me knowing that I was going to write this e-mail seriously helped me get through the race! Thank you!
Until the next one,
Alecia
February 17, 2003 – The Best 10 bucks I ever spent
Well, Alecia and I are still alive after the marathon.
Here is my experience: (I think Alecia will send out hers) Rather lengthy, but it was a pretty cool experience.
It all started on a nice sunny Saturday when Alecia and I headed downtown to the marathon expo to pick up our packets. We found the big tent next to the Cathedral and headed on in. The hardest part was figuring out where to go. It seems most of the people sign up the day of the marathon. After looking around for a bit, we found a short line and got our packets. Opening our packets we found the timing chips, a course map, and a really nice Nike Dry-Fit shirt with our race numbers on them. No need for race bibs. As we headed out the expo tent we passed by the Gatorate table which consisted of young ladies wearing rather long T-shirts. Alecia informed me that they were supposed to be Gatorade dresses. Outside of the expo tent there were many vendors selling all sorts of running equipment. Alecia was looking at a couple of tops, but the fact that the word “SAMPLE” was stenciled into the back, detoured her from buying them.
Sunday morning arrived early, like all other races. We ran around the house drinking fluids and going to the bathroom about 10 times. Once we donned our race shirts we headed towards downtown to the race start. Once we got to the race start, we had to use the bathrooms again. We remembered from the map that there should be some porta-potties nearby, but we could not find them. We walked around for 10 minutes and still no luck. We finally found them. They were still on the back of the truck. It was already 7:30 and the race started at 8. As they started to unload them, the women in the crowd quickly commandeered two of them. No men entered that line.
Alecia and I then made our way over to the staring “corral.” When we got inside we saw one of the most interesting pre-race behaviors. Usually before a marathon you see a couple of the really good runners doing some warm-up jogging. What we saw was about 1,000 people running laps in the corral. It was amazing. Everybody was warming up. 7:55 came and the wheel chair division took off. At 8 am there was a count down and the race began amongst some fireworks, church bells, balloons and confetti. So off we went.
I had a game plan for this race. It is 42k, so I thought I would break it down into 4 10k segments and forget about the last 2k. If I could run under 50 minutes for each 10k, I could easily make 3:30. The math was easy, every kilometer had to be five minutes or less. (math gets hard when running marathons ) The first marker I could see was 4k, I was at 19:10 and feeling good. It was about this time I saw the first water station. As I neared water station I saw that they were handing out plastic bags of water. At first I was a bit confused. Then I figured out that you just bite the corner and squeeze the water out. This definitely the best was to take water during a race. You could take the bag with you, and drink it at your own pace. It was nice that you didn’t have to stop and try to slug down some water. As we made our way through the streets we got to hear a lot of new race encouragement phrases. No longer would we have to listen to, “Keep, it up, your almost there.” We where cheered on my chants of “Animo!!!” and “Vamos!!” Around 7k, I saw a guy and his family standing on the side of the road with their rooster. It appeared to be the family pet. After a while I heard a loud “slapping” sound on the street coming up behind me. It was a man running in sandals. He was about 50-60 years old. I was pretty amazed. The course continued to be mostly flat. At one point there was steep but short uphill. I was still maintaining my pace and feeling good. Visions of sub 3:30 were dancing in my head. The first 10k was under 50 minutes. As I headed toward the half way point all of the 1/2 marathon runners left the race. After the second 10k I was two minutes ahead of schedule and still feeling really good. Toward the end of the 3rd 10k there was a long gradual uphill. I managed to maintain pace but after getting to the top (right around 30-31k), the show as over. The wheels came off, and the train derailed. My legs had completely blown up. As much as I tried, I could not get them going again. I tried to run faster to shake the pain, but that did not seem to work. Oh well, now I just had to finish. The last 12k took a very long time. I eventually ran into the man with the sandals again and stayed with him for a bit, but in the end he whooped it up on me. I finally saw the finish line and knew it was all over. 42k in 3:49. As I made my way through the finish line gates, I was handed another cool race shirt (long sleeve cotton, very nice) Gatorade, water, fruit and pasta. All in all it was a great experience. The race was well organized (minus the portal potty episode). It was cheap, and yes the Kenyans won the race.
The first picture is of the expo tent. The second is me standing in front of our door ready to race with the cool race shirt.
Andy
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