Today marks precisely three months after my Pikes Peak
Marathon debut. As my report at the time
suggested, I was none too pleased with my result at the time. After some time
to reflect, though, I have come to a bit of a different and, I hope, healthier
perspective on the race.
As I pointed out at the time, it was not my best day. I had
not slept very well the night before, nor had my nutrition and hydration been
optimal in the days leading up to the race. These were both problems of my own
creation, and I can chalk that down to experience.
Looking back at it now, the race was just that: experience.
Pikes Peak was only my third marathon, and I had chosen what is generally
regarded as one of the most difficult races in the country. I had very little knowledge of the course,
Matt Carpenter’s excellent course description notwithstanding, so I was not as
prepared as I might have been for the fast, flat section in the middle on the
way up and down.
And I simply had a bad day. I had a few good miles at the
outset, and a few good miles after the turnaround, for a total of 6 miles out
of 26 where I felt ok. Not an ideal
ratio.
But I finished. I slogged through 20 difficult miles. I had
time after time where I thought I would give up but turned that around and
finished in spite of it. And I think that kind of stubbornness and
determination will only help me as I continue in my racing career.
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