-General William Tecumseh Sherman
General Sherman could not have described better what the inaugural Gettysburg Marathon would end up being this day. I remember when I first heard they were planning a marathon in Gettysburg, PA it was one I knew I just had to run for my follow-up marathon to MCM last fall. Just a short 35 minute drive from Chambersburg, PA, a marathon practically in my backyard. A race with 2 courses depending on what state you were from be it either the South or the North. Clever idea on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The race organizers later determined it was not feasible to have 2 courses as the logistics would not work, but runners would be segregated in North & South fields.
As registration opened I was unable to commit to train for this race with family plans around that time needing to be confirmed. Unsure if I was going to run this race I started training for the local half marathon here in Chambersburg instead. A few weeks before the half marathon, plans came into focus and it was decided Gettysburg would be the site of my 2nd marathon.
Reworked my training plan to focus on marathon training after my half marathon in early March. Training for my 2nd was a different experience than training for my first. My first marathon was all filled with the unknown with never running a marathon before and not knowing what to expect. Lessons learned from MCM needed to be applied here. As prepared as I was for that fall race I wanted to be more so for my second if I was to continue to grow as a runner. I virtually did no quality runs for MCM outside of my weekly MP & LR runs. I incorporated tempo and interval runs and increased my mileage into my training this cycle if I was to improve on my PR of 4:12:59. I decided on a goal time of 3:35 confident I could get it done based on the good training cycle I had worked so hard to get thru.
Gettysburg was going to be a special race not just for me and a potential PR, but also get to run with good running buddies Kevin Hewitt and Rick Bigbee who would be going for a BQ. Training cycle was in the books and it was time to head off to Gettysburg on Saturday. It turned out both Rick and I were staying at same hotel in Gettysburg. We met up late that afternoon for packet pick-up and a final shakeout out and back on that first mile of the course. We had a good run keeping it nice and easy. Afterwards went to the Appalachian Brewery to get our pre-race dinner. We both chose the pasta to keep the GI in check for race day. To top off the nite we drove the course. Course looked hilly, but driving the course is different than running and did not seem any more hilly than I was used to back in Chambersburg.
Race day was here and as was the case with MCM I did not sleep well waking up numerous time throughout the nite. Alarm went off at 4:45am and I was wide awake ready to run in yet another marathon. I went thru my normal pre-race routine and got ready for the race. Kissed my wife good-bye and thank her for supporting me thru another training cycle. She would be waiting for me at finish along with our three kids. Met Rick downstairs to head off to the start. We got to start and met up with Kevin as well as some other running buddies Glenn McKinley and Rob Dolan. Hung out with them for a bit discussing the task at hand and took a few pictures. Kevin, Rick, and I proceeded to start line and the inaugural Gettysburg North-South Marathon had begun.
Mile 1-6 - kept it slower than MP to start off as runners were bunched up with mile 1 at a 8:40 pace. Some good hills with mile 2 a little faster and right at MP of 8:06. Knowing that was too fast at this point got into a groove next few miles slowing it down to a 8:20-8:30 pace thru the 10k mark.
Mile 7-13 - started to pick it up to a 8:15 pace for mile 7 and eased into MP at 8:05 for next few miles. Tough hill at mile 11 really ate me up at 9:21, but did not get unraveled yet. Came into good portion of downhill and maintained MP until turn around point. Saw Kevin and Rick before that and Kevin gave me a high five. Still feeling really good at this point.
Mile 14-17 - hit mile 14 and calves started feeling tight and eased back pace a bit. Kept it going until another big up climb at mile 17 and that's where I started to unravel. Calves were hurting so bad I had to walk a bit to relieve the pain a bit. At this point I pretty much decided a 3:35 was not going to happen and just thought about keeping it moving along.
Mile 18-23 - calves were screaming at me now and decided to just run/walk rest of way. I was walking the up climbs and running the downhill or running long enough until I could not tolerate it. Disgusted with how the race was going just thought about finishing with all my goals clearly out the window. Never thought about a DNF, but was clearly doubting myself and all the hard work I had put in.
Mile 24-26.2 - I got to mile 24 and all I thought about was crossing the finish line even if I had to crawl over it. I was cruising along in a slow jog wondering if Rick with Kevin pacing him got his BQ 3:24. It was one of the things keeping me going. Then out of no where who do I see, but my buddy +kevin running towards me knowing full well why he was here. It really boosted my morale a bit and he ran alongside me keeping me going. We discussed how my race fell apart for me, but all he was thinking about was getting me to the finish. We both agreed we over-estimated course and probably more hilly than we thought. Kevin running me in is something I'll never forget no matter how many marathons I end up running when I close the book on my running career. We got to last mile and as bad as race had went I was determined to finished this one strong. Rounded last corner with finish line in sight Kevin tailed off with his job done. Gave it all I had for that last stretch and crossed the finish at 4:22:41. 10 minutes worse than my first, but was relieved this nightmare was over. Run to race another day!
When I ran my first at MCM I thought I had gotten all of my running firsts out of the way. Clearly there was still one more first to be had. Disappointed I did not get my goal time of 3:35, but what does not kill us only makes us stronger. I know I am better than this and Gettysburg will just motivate me even more and drive me even further at the marathon distance. I'll remember how I felt at this moment dejected and defeated for that race in the near future where I get that 3:35 and a eventual BQ. It will make those victories all the more sweeter. Take that Mary until we do the 26.2 dance again. Billy will be back!
Thanks for reading!
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