New Years Eve...

December 31.  The majority of the sane world is sleeping late in preparation for the upcoming parties.  That seems like a perfectly good idea to me as I choke down as much home made granola as I possibly can.  Don't get me wrong--this stuff is awesome--I just don't usually care for food before 10:00am.  It's a little earlier than that right now.  Like FIVE FREAKIN' HOURS earlier to be precise. 

5:00am
"Why does anyone in their right mind get up at 5:00am on New Years Eve?" I ask myself in that pessemistic/sarcastic voice that those who know me hear so often. 
"They don't." I respond.  "You're pretty much insane." 
"Shut up and eat your granola!" I reply.  It probably isn't a good sign to be arguing with myself at this point.  I'm pretty sure that before the day is over I will tell myself several more times that I've lost it.

6:30am
I meet Brandon, AKA Superman, at the rendevoux point and we head off.  My wife's cousin's husband (he's cool) gives us a ride to the park and drops us off with a sadistic "Have fun!" before leaving us to our own devices.

7:00am

Packet Pick up.  Number 243 - my identity for the next 4 hours or so.  Superman is 244. The sun is starting to come up on the horizon and it promises to be a beautiful day but right now, I'm freezing.  I give Brandon my gloves because he left his sweatshirt at the bag drop and is in just his t-shirt and shorts.  I at least have my longsleeve technical shirt on.  We pin the bibs on and walk around to keep the blood flowing and make several stops by the restrooms.

Best Cheering Group Ever!

8:00am

The voice over the PA calls out, "All marathon and half marathon runners to the starting line."  Superman and I line up in coral B.  The super fast runners toe the line ahead of us in coral A; the speedwalker behind us in coral C.  We're right in the middle.  I'm ok with that.  It really is a miracle that I am here at all, but that is another story.  I can see the excitement building behind Superman's eyes.  This is his first marathon and he has a keen sense of the obvious, "We're going to run a marathon!" He exclaims with a little jump.  Yeah, he'll be fun to have around for the next 26 miles.  I'm glad that we are in this together.

8:16am

"Coral B...GO!!!" shouts the voice on the PA.  And just like that, we're off.  These runners aren't stupid; there is not big surge off the starting line like you see in most 5k's.  These races are never won in the first couple miles.  In fact, if you try to win in the first few miles you're likely to end up on the dreaded DNF list.  Superman and I start out slower than most of the folks in the coral.  "Don't worry," I tell him.  "They'll be back."

1:05:17

Time has lost all meaning.  The $200 watch I'm wearing doesn't tell time.  All I know is that we just completed our first lap in 1 hour five minutes and 17 seconds.  We are a little slower then we expected.  I know that's my  fault but Superman is a good sport about it.  We started this together and we're going to finish together.  The crowd has thinned out some but there are still a lot of people.  Before it's all said and done we will complete 4 loops of this course, each loop being about 6.6 miles long.  We are both feeling great and decide that it is time to pick up the pace a bit.  There some poor girl behind us that sounds like she desperatly needs a tank of oxygen.  I feel bad for her because there is still a LONG way to go...but I guess you live and learn.  Her breathing is so loud it is annoying.  "Ok," Superman says.  "Let's ditch her."  I agree and we take off.  Not super fast but fast enough to break her heart, I'm sure.  The poor thing was trying SO hard to keep up with us...then we just...vanished.  It was for her own good, really.  If she had tried to keep pace for the rest of the race she would have died for sure.  That was the last time we saw her.

2:09:40

We go through 13.1 in two hours, nine minutes.  Almost 40 minutes behind Superman's PR (personal record).  Mine is a little slower.  For having run 13 miles I'm feeling pretting well but the hard part hasn't really started yet.  My feet are a little sore, not bad.  I can feel some lactic acid creeping into my legs - I figure I have maybe another lap before they start rebeling.  My stomache is a little upset.  I think I might have to stop at the next portapotty--Won't that be fun?

Superman is flying like a champ.  Aid stations have taken to calling us The Heroes.  We call out, "Up up and away!" every once in a while.  It seemed funny at the time, but I think your sense of humor gets a little screwed up after running for a couple hours non stop.

3:01

I've been here before.  This is where the race really starts.  This is why I was up at 5:00am choking down granola and chugging water like a freshman at fraternity initiation.  I suck on a GU pack and it helps a little but not much and not for very long.  Once you hit the wall there's nothing to do but dig deep and keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Superman has picked up the pace (He actually just kept steady when I wanted to slow down) and I am forced to choose between talking and breathing.

Our conversations now go something like this:
Superman: You okay?

Me: Ugh.
Superman: Cool.  Let's catch that group there.  Ready?
Me: Ugh.

(We speed up and pass the group)

Superman: Good job.  Need some water?

Me: Ugh
Superman: Here you go.  (Hands me the waterbottle)
Me: Ugh

Superman: You're welcome.

3:15:11

We are starting our last loop.  Six Freakin' miles left.  The mile markers that we've seen all morning now actually apply to us but somehow it is no consulation that we have gone 20 miles when there is still six more.

"Drop your shoulders," a voice calls to me from behind.  "You're wasting energy holding them so high."  I know he's right but the muscles in my back are cramped so tight that I can't relax them.  I chose to follow Superman instead and we drop the Shoulder Guy instead.

I can see the 26 mile marker ahead.  Just over 300 yards to go.  0.2 miles.  Superman is ready to fly; he has held back a lot to help me but he needs to blast through these last yards to feel complete.  I understand that.  "No one finishes between us!!!  You hear me?" He says as he sprints off.  "No one passes you!"  And with that he is off.  What a guy, I think.

I am digging deep.  My legs are like jelly; my feet are numb;  I'm so dizzy that I have to keep going forward just so I don't fall backwards.  But I'm almost done.  Point two miles, I tell myself.  No one passes me...Except maybe her.  And her.  And her.  And Shoulder Guy.  Three girls and Shoulder Guy...What happened?  Where did they come from?

We turn into the parking lot, which is slightly down hill.  I've got nothing left but heart.  Is it enough? 

I take one more mouthful of water and command my legs to run on energy they don't have.  I pass Shoulder Guy.  "You got it!!!" He calls after me.  I feel him match my step for a few yards before falling behind.  The girls are coming back quickly.  I doubt they have anything left either.  They fall behind as I make the turn out of the downhill portion.  Normally I wouldn't even consider a slope so subtle to be a slope at all but after 26.1 miles even stepping up onto the curb feels like you're climbing Everest.  I'm sucking wind as fast as I can but don't slow down.  Hold it hold it hold it! I scream at myself.  One more turn.  Through my cloudy vision I see Superman cheering.  He has a Finisher's Medal around his neck.  I let the water bottle drop from my hand.    It's just me and finish line now.