I know, I know, I know..; it's been 5 months since my last post and the last thing I wrote about was how our big day was only 6 days away. Every time I've ran since then, I always think to myself
'I really should write about the actual marathon.' Even if it's old news, even if nobody reads this, I know that I'm going to eventually want my kids to read these posts, and I should write down what happened before the memory gets too clouded. So for that reason, I present to you.......the story of October 2nd & 3rd, the year 2010.
October 2nd, was a Saturday, I gave Mom a big hug, shook Dad's hand, and left around 8AM for Ben's house. Dan, Ben, and I piled into Ben's car and headed to LeMoyne College. When we got there, we picked up Erin, stopped at a DunkinDonuts quickly and headed for Corning. Talking about movies, television, and other random things, time passes rather quickly on the trip there. We didn't speak much about the marathon. We got to Corning and drove downtown, parked the car, and went to the Runner's Expo the city had set up. We were like kids in a candy store, and I can't speak for everyone else, but I was a little awestruck that we were ACTUALLY there, and I couldn't help but feel out of place.
We walked over to the big wall that had the names of all the participants and found our names. Then we received our numbers. #914. As 9 is my favorite number,(I had just gotten it tattooed two months earlier to honor a sports hero of mine), I saw that as a good omen. The expo was set up right near the finish line of the marathon. We had heard that it was bad luck to see the finish line before crossing it, but we LIVE ON THE RAZOR'S EDGE..READY TO DIE....so we checked it out. The way the course was set up, you had to run 26 miles through little villages, and wine country, and then you arrive in Corning, and come to this pedestrian walking bridge lined with flags from around the world, and the bridge was .2 miles long. We walked the bridge, knowing that in 24 hours we'd be at the same spot, but in much different shape.
We went grocery shopping for the following morning's breakfast and then decided to go to the movies. We found a theater on the outskirts of town and of course, couldn't all agree on a movie. So that plan was thwarted. Deciding we should get some lunch in us, we decided on Friendly's. (Author's Note: Anyone who is thinking of running a marathon, you can eat Burgers, Fries, and Buffalo Chicken Melts the day before and still finish......spoiler alert: we all finished.) After dinner we walked around Corning for a while and then we headed to where we were staying for the night.
So, due to poor planning, all the hotels in Corning got booked before we got one. So we slept in a church. I'm tempted to not offer any explanation, but I GUESS I will. Through Ben and Erin, there was a connection to a pastor? reverend? priest? I don't know, an employee of the church.(sorry Ben+Erin:-\) But anyway, there was a church two blocks from the action of the marathon, and we made our way there. To be honest, I can't even remember the guy's name anymore, but he was beyond nice and we were grateful beyond words for his help. We were all expecting to be sleeping on a floor with our blankets and believe me, we would've been thankful for that. But much to our surprise, there was a big rec room with a couch for each of us, a ping pong table, and a piano! It was an awesome setup. We played ping pong for a little bit, played cards, talked for a while, and eventually ate some Pasta that my Mother made for us. We were all getting calls and text messages from our friends and families the night before wishing us luck. We felt the love. I could be wrong, but I genuinely don't remember talking about the actual marathon that much even the night before. But believe me, it was all HEAVY on our minds. We laid out the clothes we were going to run in, on the ping pong table, and made our way to sleep. Ben was very strict about making sure we went to bed on time. (8PM maybe?) I had an AWFUL night of sleep. I couldn't sleep at all. I managed a couple hours, but I was definitely concerned the next morning.
Our alarms went off at 4AM. We each ate a bagel and a half, not toasted, and butter less. We also had orange juice and some cereal that was full of protein. No milk allowed. We got dressed, packed our blankets, and headed out. We walked over to the bus pick up that would drive us to the starting line. It was 5AM, it was dark, it was cold, and honestly, I was terrified. I tried not to let it show, but I was VERY apprehensive. We were the first one's on the bus. Shortly after we were seated, a man in his 40's, Guytanno, or as he came to be known as.."Guy" boarded the bus. This man was EXACTLY how you picture a runner: tall, lean, way too happy at 5 in the morning, energetic, but a great guy. We told him it was our first marathon, and he was really excited for us. He told us to make sure we really take a second now and then to APPRECIATE what was going on around us. He said your first marathon will go by so quickly, so be sure to cherish the scenery, the people you meet, and everything that goes along with it. Guy had run 8 marathons and this was his 9th. "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond came on the radio. For those that aren't familiar with Oswego...that IS the summer song. EVERYONE in Oswego knows it. Guy said "I bet you young guys don't know who sings this." In unison, as though it were rehearsed, we all said "Neil Diamond" and explained to him that it was the summer anthem of Oswego. For the rest of my life, that song will always have a special place to me because of October 3rd, 2010. It relaxed me in a way, and took the edge off. A musical beer if you will. After the song ended, we all got really quiet. The bus was full and people were talking, but between the 4 of us, I bet 10 words weren't said. We were all trying to get in our zone and focus on what we needed to do. I distinctly remember trying to not pay attention to how long the bus ride was, knowing that I was going to have to run the entire distance back.
We arrived in Bath, NY at the Philips Lighting Factory..the starting line.There was definitely a buzz in the air. Slowly but surely, the parking lot FILLED with runners. I don't have an exact count, but I think it was around 1,400 people total that ran. My parents, and sister showed up to see us off. Andy, our coach and ALMOST fellow runner showed up as well to offer us granola, and anything else we might need along the way.I want to take this opportunity to REALLY thank Andy. I've thanked him since, but even looking back on 5 months later, he was so very important to my finishing it.
A group of about 35 people started an hour before everyone else in case they needed some extra time to finish. Erin was in this group. I think it's fair to say that she was the most nervous about not finishing. We were all trying to psyche her up, but I think we drove her nuts. Ben gave her a big hug, and she headed to the start line. Off she went, with all of us, Guy included, cheering her on and yelling her name, Erin was the first of our group to begin what we had all worked so hard to get to.
After Erin took off, Dan, Ben, and Myself still had an hour to kill. We all made a bathroom stop, (and had to wait in the longest lines to use. Seriously, these lines put the NewYork State Fair to shame.) There was probably 30 minutes before we took off, and we started taking off our sweatshirts and sweatpants. We stretched out for a while, then with a final farewell to my parents, we lined up. This was the last time most of us, with the exception of Erin, saw Guy. He lined up near the front, as Dan, Ben, and Myself lined up in the middle of the pack. Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap was the song I had already chosen as the first song on my play list.
The adrenaline and feeling that I had when we started running was unparalleled by anything I had ever felt before. I tried to, and successfully cleared my head of everything. Nerves went away the second I started moving, (like Guy had said they would.) My biggest concern was that I would start off too fast and regret it about 6 miles in. I still think I started off too fast, but live and learn right? We had a strict plan to walk the duration of each water stop, which translated to about 20 seconds every 2 miles. Ben ditched this plan 4 miles in. Around mile 6, The three of us were together and decided to stop at the BlueBoy and pee. As we slowed down, I knew I didn't really HAVE to go to the bathroom, but I wanted to stay together. I decided that I wasn't gonna lose rhythm and stop unless I had to, so I kept on alone. I specifically remember shortly after that, Big Poppa by Notorious B.I.G. came on my play list. For some reason, it soothed my entire body. I remember at that moment taking in the scenery for the first of many times throughout the run. There was a field to my right, and just gorgeous mountains to my left, the sun coming up over them. It was perfect.
Dan caught up to me two miles later and I ran with him for about 3 miles then didn't see him again until the finish line. Ben caught up to me around mile 11 and I remember this exact conversation;
Me-"How are your legs?" Ben(laughing)-"Terrible." Me(relieved)-"Alright, mine too."
My lungs and breathing was totally fine, but my legs felt awful. It was a feeling we were used to, but it was nice to know I wasn't in the boat alone. Throughout the whole marathon, there were people sitting in their front yards cheering us on, which was awesome. But shortly after that conversation, we passed a huge fat guy in his front yard and he screamed "BEST FUCKIN HAIRCUT SO FAR!" to Ben's mohawk, (which inevitably resulted in one of the funniest sunburns I've ever seen.) We got a good laugh from that guy. Shortly after passing the halfway point,(which was an awesome little victory), I remember thinking how clutch it would be to see my family. Moments later, we turned a corner and I saw my mom,dad, and sister holding up a Titans banner. I started laughing with excitement and gave my dad a big high five. It was an awesome boost.
A couple times throughout the marathon, at the water stations, they would offer what's called Gu. It came in a little aluminum package and it was like a tablespoon full of a substance that was the exact same consistency as peanut butter, but not sticky at all. It was very awkward but it was a legitimate energy boost, and while I only had maybe 4 throughout the whole time, Dan later proudly admitted to having upwards of 12. "Oh I took a ton and stuffed them in my socks."-Dan Coant
Ben went ahead of me around mile 17 and I didn't see him again until the finish line. My longest training run was only 17 miles, so beyond that, I was in uncharted waters. 9.2 miles to go, I kept telling myself 'It's only 9.2 miles. Single digits. You can easily run 9 miles.' It sounds cliche, but I can honestly, truthfully, say that 85% of running a marathon is mental. Your body will stop when it's had enough. The body is an amazing thing and you can push it way farther than you would think. The key, is not doubting yourself for a second. It is so tough to recover once you doubt yourself. I didn't let one negative thought enter my mind the entire time, and I truly believe that to be one of, if not the most, important reason I finished. I kept thinking of how much work we had put in. I kept reminding myself that unlike training, there was no run after this. THIS is what the training was for. Just finish this run, and you've succeeded. I kept trying to envision how proud I was going to make my family. That sounds corny, I know, but it's true. I caught up to Erin shortly after this, and told her what a great job she was doing. It was refreshing to see her. We talked for a little while, and I told her that I would see her at the finish line.
Mile 18 was the most important mile of the entire marathon for me. I got 18 miles in, knew I only had 8.2 to go, and the second I saw that mile marker, I knew I was going to finish. I never thought I wouldn't, but that was the second I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would. I have no problem admitting, I shed a few tears at mile 18. I saw Andy shortly after, and I said to him "Now that I know, I want you to be the first one I tell; I'm going to finish this." In a very Andy like way, he said "Kid! I know!". That moment sticks out as a very special one for me.
They say that it's almost impossible to finish a marathon without hitting "The Wall". The wall usually occurs between mile 18 and mile 22. It's when your body has run out of glucose to turn into energy. It's basically when your body shuts down. I feared the wall since the moment I heard about it. I tried convincing myself that I wouldn't hit it. Shortly after I got to mile 21...I hit it. Hard. You can't truly know what it's like until you hit it. It was like there was an ON/OFF switch in my body that instantly, and very abruptly, switched to OFF. My body just said 'That's it. Great job, but I'm done.' I knew it was the wall instantly. With 5.2 miles left, I knew my legs were going to have to fall off for me not to finish. I stopped near a bridge and stretched for about two minutes. Completely numb from the waist down, I pressed on.
Soon after, I passed the movie theater we had visited the night before. It was the first thing I recognized. I had a concrete, solid idea of how close I was. I want to take this opportunity to say how terrific everyone that volunteered for the WineGlass Marathon was. All the people, young and old, that worked the water stations weren't mad that they had to stand there all morning handing out water to runners. They were all extremely supportive, happy, and encouraging. I made it a point to say 'Thanks' to everyone that handed us water and Gu.
I saw the Corning Museum of Glass and knew that the finish was about a half mile away. I can't stress enough how important this next part is to me. Lindsay Howard and Ryan Souva: I love you. Just before I got to the walking bridge which was the final .2 miles of the run, I heard "Yeah Dave!" It was Lindsay and Ryan, two of my greatest friends sitting underneath a tree. They came from Binghamton just to see me that day. Again, I started laughing and smiling with excitement. I've told them this several times, but I'll say it again; seeing them meant more to me than they will ever know. I'll leave it at that because it's all there is to say.
On the walking bridge, I saw Ben. He was wearing a gorgeous blue finisher's medal. He was holding his daughter, Olivia, who was 16 months at the time. I will not love another child more until I have my own. And even then, Olivia will be a close 2nd.
I saw the big banner that said "FINISH" in big black letters. I thought I was going to cry at this moment. But I didn't. I threw my arms up in the air, and I truly don't remember if it was out loud or in my head, but I said "I want this second forever." And I did. Crossing that finish line...wow. We had run upwards of 510 miles throughout training. A lot of people, very close to me, had told me since the day I said I was going to run a marathon, that I wouldn't be able to do it. Even very close relatives were very blunt about not thinking I would stay committed to it and finish. I thought it would be a very "Told You So" moment, but it wasn't. I was so happy and proud of myself.
I saw my family holding up that same Titans banner at the finish line. I ran to my Mom and almost gave her a hug, but I said "Hang on, I want that medal." I jogged to the table full of medals. The kid was probably 16 years old and he was holding up a medal for me and I said "Yes, I've wanted this for a long time." and he said "You earned it." Now I know he probably said that to 600+ people at that point, but regardless, it meant a lot to me. After I put the medal on, I walked over to my family and gave them big sweaty hugs. Then I saw Dan, who had finished 40 minutes earlier.(There's a reason I call him Danimal. He's a savage.) I gave him, Ben, and Andy big hugs and then we went to wait for Erin to finish. Erin was crying her eyes out as she approached the finish line. Tears of pain, tears of joy, tears of accomplishment. I'll remember that image forever.
We all stuck around for a little bit, Lindsay & Ryan included, and then made our way to our rides home. On the way home, Dad, Mom, Tiff, and I stopped at a small Italian restaurant to get some food, though I wasn't that hungry. To this point, I had done a great job keeping my emotions in check. Then I started talking about how proud I was of Ben,Dan,and Erin. I couldn't finish a sentence about them without crying. I didn't cry at all when any of us, including myself, finished. But sitting in that crowded restaurant, talking about how proud I was of my friends, I was a teary eyed fool.
Ben, Erin, and Dan, I love you. I've never been prouder of a group of people in my entire life. We ran upwards of 515 miles each over the summer. Through injuries, adversity, and personal problems, we stuck together and didn't lose sight of our goal.
Erin did most of her training on her own, as she didn't live in Oswego. I don't know that I could've done it without a support system with me, at least in the beginning. So Erin, I salute you. You've become like a younger sister to me,(cliche police! arrest this man!)But you really have, and I love you. I doubt many people with asthma would even take on the task of running a marathon, let alone finish it. You'll never know how proud I am of you.
Danimal, I didn't know you existed until the morning of our first run. You were extremely quiet, and I'll be honest, I thought you were weird as hell. The first time we ran together, just you and I, you picked the route, and whether intentional or not, it was all hills. I hated you for that. But, over the course of time, and once I realized you were as big of a Seinfeld nut as I am, we were bonded for life. You EARNED the nickname Danimal the night you ran with a weighted training vest on......MO!
Ben, wow. You and I were friends before the training, but we became closer than brothers. It's amazing how much you can learn about someone just by running with them. With everything that was going on when we started training, you didn't have to let me in as much as you did, but you did anyway. I couldn't have even imagined persevering through all that noise, but you did. I admire you more than you know, and are one of few people that I'm proud to call my friend.
Andy, you were another rock for me. I never told you this, even in all of our runs together, but when we first met, probably the first month I knew you, I didn't like you. That's the truth. Now I don't know how I didn't. I think because we're both tornadoes of energy, we clashed. I'm glad we formed a MegaTornado. You're a good running partner, a great coach, and an amazing friend.I couldn't have finished without you. That's a fact.
In conclusion...(is anyone still reading? crickets? is this thing on? Bueller? Anyone?) The marathon changed my life. It made me so much more confident in myself, and it humbled me. It made me realize that hard work pays off. Truly. My confidence is much more quiet now, but there's more of it than there ever was before. To anyone who is even THINKING of running a marathon.....do it. You can do it. <
Thanks for Reading,
--Dave
