Sunday, October 30, 2011
PREFACE: A friend asked me to tweet during my first marathon because he knew the range of physical challenges and emotions I would go through. The emotional part, I would have never anticipated and it was particularly accentuated by this particular marathon, in my estimation. I ultimately elected not to try and tweet, and in hindsight, would have clearly never finished the race had I done so. But here is the next best thing: some quick reflections within 24 hours of the race.
It all started very innocently..."Sure, I can do that." This past spring I had been at a dinner with a good friend and client. "Vince, you look like you work-out. I appreciate you sponsoring me last year, but how'd you like to run the Marine Corps Marathon this year?". It sounded like a good idea at the time. A great cause: www.safekids.org. Cross one off the bucket list, I thought.
To set the stage: yes, I work-out. I lift some weights, and I play basketball when I can. Does golf count? I also have been blessed with some good genetics and I generally try to eat the right things. But, I don't run – certainly not on a regular basis. And I probably had never run a distance of more than maybe 5 miles. Oh, and I have tendonitis in my knees from the years of basketball, so when I went to the knee specialist this summer he told me "you shouldn't be running" – which is good news, I said, because I don't run.
The summer goes by and I begin socializing with some friends who run that I am thinking about running a marathon. The responses range from "wow, that's going to be pretty tough" to "seriously, you are going to die". The latter response grows more common when I explain that I am going to just "go do it" and "no, I am not training".
At about 8 weeks out from race date, I come to the conclusion that maybe I should start running a little bit. So, I did spend the next 6 weeks trying to run one or two times a week and increased my distance from 4- to 8- to 10- and then ultimately did two 13-mile runs – the final run being my first "race", at the Indianapolis Half-Marathon. I actually felt pretty good after my first race and the competitive juices were flowing – but, ultimately that probably was a mistake in setting my confidence artificially high. After all, there is an obvious difference between 13.1 miles and 26.2 miles – but for some reason that hadn't yet set in.
Two weeks out from the big race, I decide to listen to the advice of my running friends and just rest – kind of. I can't stop playing basketball – so, I continue to play a little and did some stationary bike (which is my knee therapy).
I arrived in Washington DC, on the day before the race. An unusual storm had developed on the east coast, and it was actually snowing and with a wind-chill of 25 degrees – not exactly ideal running conditions. What I am most amazed by in the 24 hours that follow, are the range of emotions that I experienced. And, that is why I am documenting this – so that I can remember that special experience.
What follows here, are the thoughts that randomly went through my head, as the day played out...
October 30, 2011...
2:30AM - Can't sleep. Seems a little early to get up, but maybe I can start stretching.
5:30AM – Start the checklist: socks, shoes, calf compression sleeves, compression shorts, lots of talc powder, nipple tape (CRITICAL – learned that one in first few training runs!), running shorts and shirt and hat. Sweat bands. Gloves. Sun Glasses. Aleve. Cliff Shots. OK – how many of these sweat pants and shirts do I need to throw on to keep warm until things start?
6AM – Race starts in a couple of hours. I better figure out exactly how to get over there. It looks like I can walk. Can't be more than a couple of miles?
7AM – Holy cow. That was a long walk! It's really cold ("feels like" 27 degrees) and dark. When is sunrise??
7:30AM – How many times do I need to use the bathroom? Really??
7:35AM – I'm going to be under 4hrs today – that's my goal. I'm lining up in the 3:40-3:59 Corral.
7:40AM – Marine Helicopter Flyover and with the sun starting to rise – wow.
7:42AM – National Anthem. Paratroopers fly-in with American Flag – Wow.
7:45AM - Marine with artificial limb lines up in front of me to race. Looks at me and wishes me luck ("Good luck, Sir"). WOW! Wheelchair race starts.
7:50AM – the countdown is on. I lose the warm-ups. Right before I toss them, a woman behind me –shivering - asks if she can have my shirt – sure.
7:59AM – one more look around – geez there are a ton of people here. 30,000 racers. Marines everywhere – lining the road – wishing me luck: "Good luck, Sir!" LET'S DO THIS!
8:00AM – Howitzer – BAM! Walking towards the arch of the start-line. Lined with Marines carrying every flag of the United States at full salute. Amazing.
MILE 1 – TON OF PEOPLE! I feel like a sardine. I can't get a good pace going. Just trying to avoid stepping on people or being stepped on. Somebody drops something right in front me – I jump over them. Gotta be careful – focused – can't look around too much right now. I see the 4hr mile pacer carrying a stick with balloons – got to stay with that guy.
MILE 2 – crazy people everywhere. Guy in a shark suit running. George Washington. KISS – Peter Criss and Paul Stanley – very cool! Is that Mario? Are those Lederhosen? Take it all in – it's Halloween, after all. Man, this is uphill already? People are walking already?? – that's going to be a long day.
MILE 3 – "ON YOUR LEFT, MOVE RIGHT...ON YOUR LEFT, MOVE RIGHT!" Wheelchair racer comes flying by on the downhill followed by a Marine carrying two full-size flags: American and Marine. {I will see them 10+ more times today} Awesome.
MILE 4 – "CANCER SUCKS", "Running for My Dad", "Running for Brian" – seems like everyone is doing this for a cause, to memorialize or honor. A couple running together – pretty fast - pushing a large stroller; looks like a 9- or 10-year old inside sleeping – no hair. Geez. Keep it together - Run faster!
MILE 5 – passing the leaders doubling back. Those guys are flying! How far ahead are they? {answer: 3 miles ahead already!}.
MILE 6 – seems like spectators are starting to pick up. Signs everywhere, people giving out cookies, candies, etc. A band – hard metal! Excellent. Starting to hear some "ooh-rah" chants from Marines – and others of us join in: "OOH-RAH!" right back at you. Again...let's do this!
MILE 7 – downhill – this hurts the knees! People starting to create their own restroom breaks – running on and off course. Wild. Glad I went 20 times before the race {which may come back to haunt me – SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE FLUIDS!}
MILE 8 – coming into town – lots of people – lots of noise. Doubling back on the MILE FIVERS – geez that's a ton of people – and a lot of walkers – a long day ahead for those people.
MILE 9 – Georgetown baby! Let the party begin. Is that a keg? Bands everywhere. High-fives everywhere. Need a water break. Let's walk for 15-30 seconds. Quick math – hey, I'm like 1/3 through this race!
MILE 10 – cool: that's Watergate. Crowd getting bigger.
MILE 11 – hip starting to hurt a little bit – should have stretched more. Push it out till we get to the food break, then stretch – keep it going. Cardio feeling fine – even the bad knees are pretty good. But the hip is painful.
MILE 12 – food break. Stop – stretch for 15-20 seconds. Walk for 30 seconds and do a Cliff Shot. What are those two guys doing roped together, passing me? Back of their shirts: "BLIND RUNNER". Choked-up for a minute...wow. Again, Let's get it ON!
MILE 13 – HALF WAY – second wind from the Cliff Shot – let's put in some music. Put on the earphones. Wow – lots of energy, and seems like racers are thinning out. Start passing people left and right. THIS FEELS GOOD!
MILE 14-17 – {not sure why, but these miles were a blur. The music was pumping and I was in a zone. I remember seeing the Lincoln Memorial – that's it...} the music plays...Ozzy-Crazy Train, Iron Maiden-The Trooper, Mc Lyte-Ride Wit Me, Creed-Higher, NWA-Straight Outa Compton, Living Colour-Cult of Personality, Trick Daddy-Let's Go, White Zombie-Thunder Kiss 65, Hasim- Al-Naafiysh, Megadeath-Symphony of Destruction, GN'R-Welcome to the Jungle, Metallica-Search and Destroy, Daughtry-There and Back Again, Stryper-Soldiers Under Command, Afrika Bambaataa-Zulu, RATM-Bombtrack (and Bulls on Parade) DOUBLEPLAY RATM!, AC/DC-If You Want Blood..etc..etc...{I know, all over the place, but make it your work-out song list and you'll be pumped! – trust me} rocking it!
MILE 18 – OK, the crowd still seems to be getting bigger. There's the Washington monument, there's the Capital. Take it all in. Need to stop a stretch a little – just a little. Maybe walk 30 seconds this time and get some water.
MILE 19 – Marine in full combat gear: boots, fatigues, 100lb pack - passes me. No Way! I can't catch up with him! Awesome! Hey, is that the two guys from KISS I saw at the start of the race?? Geez, those guys are for real – passing me!
MILE 20 - THE BRIDGE – not sure why, but ANOTHER second wind. Going over the bridge back to Virginia. Seems like a major milestone. And for some reason, I am getting this childhood memory of the NYC Marathon when I lived on Staten Island and watching it on TV in the 70's. The finishers crossing the finish line and collapsing and actually thinking about some day running a marathon. It's an odd thought process, because that must have been way back in the subconscious. A marathon? It hadn't really been something I had thought about much in a long time. And yet, now here I was – actually running in one – AND, close to finishing. COOL!
MILE 21 - It's a long bridge. And all uphill. People are stopping left and right. The course is wide open now. My legs are burning, but something about seeing that Mile 21 marker gives me a boost. Something about passing these breakdowns gives me a boost, too. But the disappointment – it's in their eyes. Some of these people are flat-out done. They came all of this way and they are not going to make it the final 5 miles – just not going to happen.
MILE 22 – going into Crystal City. Carnage everywhere. People just collapsing in front of me. Keep focused so you don't plow over someone. THE WALL is starting for even the good runners. People are crying. Trying to stretch, trying to walk it off. Friends helping each other along. Spectators yelling from everywhere "YOU CAN DO IT"! – but some can't – emotional.
MILE 23 – how long is this going to snake through Crystal City – geez? And then....was that my calf knotting up? Can't be. Crap – it is. Stop stretch it really good on the curb. Keep running. Again. Stop again and stretch. Now a little bit in my other calf too? No, not now! Too close.
MILE 24 – cramping up more and more. Stopping more and more – maybe every 200 yards. Hey lets change up the stride – stand straighter. Grab some Gatorade. People are giving food out all over the place. The official stops are replaced by random people with boxes, buckets, cups, stands – just handing out drinks and food. All of a sudden I am hungry. I grab a donut...a large Krispy Kreme and shove it in my mouth – while running. Are those Halloween Double-Stuff Oreos I see? I'll take a few. Man, I'm hungry now. But wait...now I feel the hamstring tightening some – crap.
MILE 25 – we are on an overpass. I see the finish line arch in the distance. I just have to get down this off-ramp...both hamstrings knotting up. I have to stop. I get to the side in full stretch for 15 seconds. I try to walk but the hamstrings are knotting up. Maybe I can just run even more erect – just not bend the legs much. People see me grabbing my hamstrings – they run out to give me water and whatever else they have. I drink it all and just keep up this funky walk-run. This mile seems like it's taking forever. There are literally more people walking then running – like a 3:1 ratio. I see the finish-line – I hear the crowd. It's an uphill ending – the last 150 yards. I pull out my earphones to hear the crowd. I am getting pats on the back and spectators running alongside me yelling at me to push it out. I see the timer - it says 4:09:22. Damn – I'm not going to make my time...but I'm going to beat 4:10 – and then, hold on, that's the race counter, not my personal time – keep it going, run it out!
THE FINISH LINE – I hobble over the line, and amazingly the hamstrings feel looser - immediately. The first person I see is the guy in the wheelchair I have been racing all day. He beat me! He is getting his medal. I pat him on his helmet and tell him "nice work". He looks up, a young guy – now I know a Marine – "you too, Sir". A Marine has my medal. He puts it over my head, looks me in the eye and shakes my hand: "Congratulations Sir. An amazing accomplishment. Thank you for supporting the Marine Corps, Sir." "Thank YOU Marine!". Another Marine puts a blanket over me.
POST-RACE – I look ahead, and it's all finishers in their blankets. We are walking like zombies – no one really talking. Weird feeling. The U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima) is directly ahead. I get my picture with my medal in front of it. And then we continue the walk. It's a long one – and now crowded with the spectators as we roll into the finishing celebration area – maybe 100,000+ people. But it's still kind of quiet – again, a little weird. But it seems like most of the friends, family, etc. all get it – let us just walk for a bit. There will be time to celebrate and reflect, both – soon.
I am wandering through the finishing "village". Finishers are starting to find open areas on the sidewalk, grass, wherever they can get some heat from the sun – now shining brightly (it's probably 40 degrees now). I decide to grab a spot, myself, and stretch out. It's an adventure trying to actually sit down. It's hard to move. I can't really move my right leg without using my arms to pick it up. I just lay down and soak in the sun for a bit. For some reason I am crying a little – not sure if it's the pain or the emotions.
I finally get up – it's now a good 90 minutes since I completed the race. I can barely walk. I start climbing the hill towards the shuttles. It seems like another mile uphill to get there. I try to walk up the bus steps and can barely pick up my legs. I sit down. The driver wants to talk. I just want to sit there.
I don't even know where we are going. Turns out it's the Crystal City Metro. We are probably 2 miles from my hotel. The roads are still closed from the race, but no runners – and no taxis. So, I begin the walk – right down the middle of the course I have just run. It's like a ghost town now. The only people are the police officers still blocking the streets. "Nice race Marathoner" one of them says. I just smile – can't really even talk for some reason. It takes me an hour to hobble back to the hotel.
When I get back to the hotel, I just lay down on the couch and watch football – for hours. Later, I check the results online:
20895 Finishers - 12365 M / 8530 F
VICKERS
Chip Time 4:06:22
Overall Place 5360 / 20895 (finishers)
Gender Place 3946 / 12365
Division Place 701 / 2103
Pace 9:24
I hadn't made the stretch goal of breaking 4 hours – but all in all, a special experience – one that far exceeded my expectations, and which I will never forget. I write a thank-you note to my sponsors of www.safekids.org. Check off another Bucket List item - SEMPER FI!
POSTSCRIPT {I can't go through this reflection without making the connection to / parallel with our daily lives and, in particular, my line of work. There are certain natural talents we all have. Those talents will get you through a lot of things. In the case of running – I was fortunate enough to be blessed with the right genetics to make it a much easier task than for most people. In business, I have some natural talents, as well. But, they each only take me so far. There is no substitute for preparation. There is no substitute for hard work. And there is no feeling like the accomplishment of one's goals – especially when you have worked hard to reach them.
In the marathon, my real goal was to finish – simple as that. It was the stretch goal at the beginning of the race where I decided to go for 4hrs. Now that may seem aggressive at best, and maybe even silly at worst. But, there was logic in how I had gotten there. If I didn't run that half-marathon to test myself, I wouldn't have known what kind of pace I could do and then estimate out an extended pace over another half marathon. You have to take your prior experiences, set goals, and then there is nothing wrong with a stretch goal that allows you to really focus your energies.
In my line of work I do this every day. While I am not sure that a marathon is a true metaphor for an ERP implementation, the types of people, processes, and technologies I work with have to come together in a nice, tight alignment for me to help a client improve their operational efficiency. Every situation I face is a little bit different – and in some cases a lot different. I leverage the past experiences and apply them where possible and then expand certain assumptions into those new situations. But then you have to plan (what if contingencies), prepare - but focus on the critical path and not low probability risks, put in some late hours to test your hypothesis, and in some cases take a leap of faith. You monitor your progress along the way – and you take in the journey so that you can remember those experiences and use them in the future – or, at least, enjoy the experience better. When you reach your goal – finishing a marathon, winning a big deal, going live with a new system – the feeling is tough to beat. But, never settle.
I look at the times of the Top 5 Leaderboard from the Marine Corps Marathon: are you freakin kidding me with a 2:19?? Who are these people? Well, the answer is: they are talented people, who are FOCUSED on their craft and work their butts off every day. It makes me want to be better. I have to stop for a moment, though, and remember that running probably isn't "my thing" – it's not what I love – but, it's inspiring to see that level of dedication – so, it's a reinforcement for me to apply that same dedication to MY thing(s), MY craft(s), MY life.}
Finally, I want to personally thank everyone for their support of the cause for which I ran this race, www.safekids.org.
We raised over $40k, and are still taking contributions at: https://secure2.convio.net/sk/site/Donation2?df_id=2140&2140.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=rfv0xhggh9.app244a
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