Message posted by: Ryan B.

Well, after IMCDA in June I started focusing on my running only. I wanted to have a great time at the Portland Marathon. I trained hard and fast… for a month. Went to work at my family’s vineyard. temps of 100+ everyday and the hard training mixed with no real recovery break from training after IMCDA… I got BURNED OUT. Took all of August and September off from running. Sept 28 (12 days from marathon) went on my first run. Talked to my friend who was also planning on doing the marathon and we decided to just jog/walk it and take it easy in the back of the pack.

Marathon Morning… (yes it rained the ENTIRE time)

I am feeling stupid for being at the starting line. I have learned a lot about racing and training over the past 3 years, and know that i am setting myself up for a poor day and possibly injury. I seriously do not care one bit about my time, just want to focus on having fun and not getting hurt.

It is a mile and a half walk from my house to the start line. POURING RAIN! I am wearing a plastic bag to stay warm and dry. race startes- my friend and I jog lightly.

Mile 4 my legs are hurting a little..

mile 6 they feel like they should be feeling around mile 17 or 18… not good…

mile 7, strangely they start feeling better.

mile 17 they still feel the same- not a lot of pain. (up to this point all we have done is jog lightly and walk the water stations… I was not expecting my body to hold up this well.

mile 21- i get a bad cramp in my right quad and have to stretch. I had felt the cramp coming for a while and tell my friend that he should keep running. (this was his first marathon and i wanted him to be happy with his time, not have to hold back for me).

I jog the last 5 when I can and stop to stretch when i need to- which is fairly often.

At mile 26 i tear the bag off… it has kept me warm the entire race. I am glad I kept it on this whole time. Jog across the finish line. 4:38-not fast – but I was uninjured and had fun.

The mile and a half walk back to my house was painful and coooold. still raining.. but I am happy I finished. Time for a HOT shower.

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