Less than a week away from the final 3 races of #Leadman.
...am I ready? I suppose I'm as ready as I'll ever be.
Had a phone interview with a nice lady today, looking to do a story about my 'journey', and one of the questions she asked really hit me...and I didn't know how to answer.
'When you're done with the series, and your running/racing is done, how are you going to feel?' ...great question. I assume I'm gonna be a puddle at the awards ceremony, maybe emotional for a couple days after, but honestly, I don't know.
Is there going to be a 'depression' period? ...I think I'm pretty well set, knowing that this is it, and it's my path/journey, and also knowing that I am ending my racing 'career' on my terms. ...doesn't mean it's going to be easy, as training/racing has been such a big part of my life for SO long...am I ready to move on? I think so...?
Race #14: 1995 Columbus Marathon
The story begins early fall, 1995, I get a hair up my ass about wanting to run the 1996 Boston Marathon, 100th anniversary race. Well, looks like I need to qualify...but where? When? Columbus Marathon? ...honestly, looking back, I'm not sure why I picked Columbus. In 1995, there were plenty of late October marathons, all within driving range of Mankato, MN, my home at the time.
In rock solid shape in 1995, winning a number of races in MN and WI..high 15 5K shape, and training hard with Scotty, so getting ready should be fine.
Either way, Columbus it is, but work will only give me Saturday/Sunday off, having to work late on Friday and early on Monday, driving to OH on Saturday.
...again, don't remember much about the race course, only that it was beyond cold, running in a winter hat and gloves.
I DO, however, remember how well organized the race was, and even though it was beyond chilly, great crowd support.
I think a lot of people were in town to watch the Buckeyes play, and that Saturday saw Eddie George run for an NCAA record of like 700 yards (exaggerated...).
Fell apart during the final few miles of the race, again, and finished, for the first time in a long time, OVER 3 hours, finishing 3:05:10.
I guess what I remember best about this race...after I finished, is that I grabbed a snack, walked to car...and drove home. No shower, no cool-down jog...just a quick BQ...and a quick ride home (10+ hours...). ...and yes, I was early for work the next morning.
** Signed up for Boston, but during a training run over the winter, fell on some ice and broke my elbow...so I ended up selling my bib (cool at the time...) and not running, though I'm in the results running 4:28 and change... :)
#15: Twin Cities Marathon
...not so much a 'memory', just a nice race that's in my backyard. I've run TCM numerous times, never running well there, though I've never really 'raced' TCM either...though qualified for Boston a time or 3 here. ...now I prefer to go and cheer on athletes on the course.
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