15 years ago, in a drunken fog I made a bet that I’d run a marathon before my 40th birthday.
In September of 2010, I turn 40. I hadn’t forgotten my bet. I’d began running a little in 2009 and managed to complete a 25K trail race and several shorter distances. But the marathon eluded me. I signed up for an early 2010 marathon in hopes of getting it over with with time to spare, but the winter training didn’t go well and I didn’t run the race. With the clock ticking, I had to find a local marathon before September 2010, and fast. That’s when I found the Endurrun, a remarkable 7-stage race in Waterloo, Ontario that offers single stage entry. Lucky for me, Stage 7 is a marathon. For added incentive, I concluded that if I could convince others to enter on a team with me, I’d have to finish Stage 7 or risk DNF’ing the whole team.
Enter Team Monumental Effort. My partner in crime on this blog, Vince is an ultrarunner so I figured he was a no-brainer for inclusion on the team. Not only did Vince agree to be on the team, but he decided to run 3 stages. He ran Stage 3 (a 30K trail run) and Stage 4 (10 mile hill run) as a team member, and Stage 7 as a single stage entrant in order to pace me.
Vince after the marathon. Looks like he could run another.
Vince managed to convince two buddies, Martin Vallaincourt to run Stage 1 (half marathon) and Geoff Sheppard to run Stage 5 (25.6K alpine run).
Martin finished Stage 1
Shep about to start Stage 5.
I managed to talk my friend, Jonathan Finn into running two stages as well, Stage 2 (15K time trial) and Stage 5 (10K time trial).
Jonathan running strong in Stage 6.
Each team member ran like champs! For every one’s results, see the Endurrun Results.
Which brings us to Stage 7, my first marathon:
The day did not begin favourably. By 7:30am the temperature was about 30 celsius and very, very humid. But I was a single stage runner, and the majority of the other competitors had already run 6 stages so how could I possibly complain. As everyone gathered at the start line a fine mist descended from the clouds. I hoped desperately that a light rain would fall throughout the race. Following the ceremonial singing of the Canadian National Anthem the clock started and we were off. Vince and I kept a slow, even pace as we chatted throughout the first 21.5K loop. He had written down split times on the back of his race number and attempted to coach me through each one. The splits would have us finishing in 4:30, my targetted time. We completed loop 1 in about 2:10 and I dutifully ate Hammer Gels and gulped Gatorade and water as much as possible.
About 5K into the Marathon and still smiling.
Loop 2 began positively. I felt pretty good and was happy with our loop 1 split. But as we approached the 25KM markers I was really starting to feel the heat and my legs were beginning to ache. Teammate Jonathan had warned me that during the second half I’d want to quit, that my brain would scream at me to stop but that I just had to push through it, that things would get better. I hoped he was right. I’m certain Vince could sense that I was sufferring a little as he mercifully suggested we walk a little, in particular up the hills.
The pain!
From kilometre 30 until 35 or so I was in agony. Many of the runners behind us began to pass us and I was walking more and more. Vince urged me to try running to landmarks in the visible distance so I did my best to comply. I was beginning to feel nauseous as well and thought for sure I was going to be sick. Oddly, in my head, I didn’t think I was trying hard enough but just couldn’t muster the strength to push much harder. Then, around kilometre 37 I began to feel a little better. My legs hurt less for some reason and I could run again.
As Vince pulled me along I began to realize that I might just finish this thing. We ran past the neighbourhood where I live and I knew the finish was a mere 3KM away. I wanted to sprint, I really did, but my body wouldn’t let me. Vince urged me to push for a sub-five hour time but in my head, I just wanted to walk into the finish. But I couldn’t do that, as I knew my wife, Trish and kids, Charlie and Lily had been waiting there for hours for me to arrive. With 500m to go I could see Trish,Charlie and Lily running out to meet me on the road. They cheered me on and gave me high fives. It was all I could do not to cry.
Charlie and Lily running beside me near the finish.
Final time: 5:01:45. Not quite what I’d hoped for, but I’ll take it.
Trish giving me a high 5 near the finish.
During the run I told myself I’d never run this far again. But it’s been 4 days now and I’m already itching to run again. I told myself that I’d give myself a week off, but come Monday, I’ll be out there again. Looking back, I don’t think I tried hard enough. I didn’t train as hard as I could have. I didn’t push as hard as I could have. I want to run farther, and faster!
Oh shit!
Leave us a comment, please.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Way to go Bill!
When you wrote about being nausious, I thought
we were gonna tell us you ended up with an intra veinus!
Maybe next year we can bring to Honolulu with Vinny and I to run
the December marathon there? Don’t tell me it’s not tempting!
Oh man, Hawaii in December is mighty tempting, Martin! That wouldn’t take too much convincing.
Thanks again for running the half-marathon. If it wasn’t for the fact that I had to finish for “the team”, I probably wouldn’t have finished at all.
Billy, your marathon was incredible and your story was awesome. I am proud to know you asa friend.
Thanks Dean!
Wow, talk about integrity and determination! It was inspirational because, even though I have no desire to run, these qualities can be applied to many areas of our lives. Thanks for sharing your story Bill!
Thanks Joanne, you’re so right!
Wee Willy – nice summary. I was thinking about taking up running but am fearful that I could not write such a nice summary describing the event.
Mills, if you run a marathon I’d be happy with a 3 word summary “I did it”. For what it’s worth, about 13 months prior to the marathon I couldn’t run around my block.
Bill, I applaud you for hanging in there and taking it to the bitter end. Maybe one day when I’m making my 3rd attempt at a marathon I’ll recall your story to inspire me. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks Steve, my goal was to finish only. If I’d had to walk the whole second half, I would have. One of the runners actually dropped out on the first loops then ended up walking the second loop in her flip flops just to finish.
Congrats on your achievement! The marathon is something set apart from other races. I have only done one, but I can relate to much of what you describe. Mostly the emotion of the lead up to the finish…that feeling is so incredible. It is most certainly the drug that leads to signing up for another long one.
Sarah