26.2

September 22 was the first day of Fall.  It also was the first day of Fall Marathon season so I started it out right and ran a marathon for Autism. 

The alarm sounded at 4:45 am so that I could start to get some protein bars and fluids in my system.  My goal was to be out of the house by 5:30 so that I could be done before Xmas.  So at 5:25am I laced up my shoes, geared up in all of my hotness (Pics will be shown later) and got ready for a SOLO marathon.  Just me, the damn hilly route that I mapped out like an idiot and the support of Friends and Family that helped me Raise over $2000.00 in one week for this event!  Yep, over $2000.00 for #Autism research.

The first 6-7 miles the sun was not up, it was brisk.. I thought I head a Bear – but that was probably one of the 12 deer I came face to face with along my way.  Memo to Hunters – yeah that’s a tough sport… I could have carried deer home with me as they wanted to play… okay I digress..  At Mile 4-5 I had my first Hilly climb and my first thought of hmmmm Should I have went this way?  I played frogger with some cars that were late for work – but I was geared up in fluorescents and a LED light so I was visible to them.  BE SMART people – wear reflective gear and lighting if starting at 5:30am (Uncle H tip).

As I ran down Rt 82 in Macedonia this would be the really last flat part of my day.  DOH!!!!!  I tuned onto Chaffee and it started to roll a bit.  When I got to mile 9-10 on Valley View I hit a BIG hill – Long and a decent grade and I swore at myself.  However I was running fine – Just taking it easy – listening to music.  I started getting communication from my Pit Crew at Mile 12 (Kelly, Callan and Riley) were going to meet me a few times for on course support.  This was great timing as the road I picked next was like a frigging roller coaster. By Mile 13.1 I needed my pit crew to reload on Gatorade and a Banana.  See.

13.1 Mile Pit Stop!

Awe – they even made signs… here are them a bit bigger!

Rileys Sign

Cal’s Sign

TeamWork Sign

These really made my day – turns out they had been working on them all week!

By Mile 15-17 I was in that area of wow – still have a ways to go but I dont feel bad.  The hills kept rolling and I knew once I got back to Old Rt 8 – it was down and around the town of Hudson to Home.  I was still making decent time and ahead of schedule so when my Calves locked up at Mile 20 – I called in the PIT STOP!  I stretched out and they met me at Mile 21.  This broke up the run and I really never hit a wall outside of Calf pain.

As they drove away from me and headed home I knew I had about 5 miles left – however my Calves were hurting bad – so I was doing more of a run/walk method to get through it.  I passed Chipolte at Mile 23 and wanted some food!!  turned on the home stretch and headed home.

Mile 25-26 was a Giant Hill – I knew it was there – so I walked it.  Got to the top and had .75 till home ( the Pit crew gave me a bit of gatorade at the top and I was ready to go)  I stripped off my phone, water packs and ran with just my brain – something I should never do …

But the last mile of this was so rewarding.  I was running 26.2 by myself, no Medal ( so I thought ) no T-shirt, no crowd support outside of family – but what I did have is my own community of support.  Raising $2000+ in a week, Good lucks, texts, emails, tweets and FB posts all week – a smiling family -and a very Happy little guy that Daddy was going to win a Race (about time).

I arrived home and stopped my Garmin.

A New PR

I set a New PR and finished First Overall and in my Age group – Running alone works like that…

But this Picture is My Favorite – Riley made me my Medal – Cal was Happy – and I did what I could to help support researching the main reason I train.  I had just ran a Marathon by myself – for all those affected – Every dollar counts and I thank you all for the support!

1st Place!