Palm Beach Marathon (http://www.runpalmbeaches.com/)
Start: 73F 71%H 18MPH Winds
End: 78F 71%H 18MPH Winds

Plan: 9 minutes minutes running, 1 minute walking.

Actual: The first two miles were run as warmup and both were the fastest mile splits of the race. The sun and temperature rose as the race started. While both elements took a toll, it was the wind that proved to be a deciding factor. The wind blew at a constant 10MPH with gusts to 18-20 MPH. For most of the first half of the race, run along the Intercoastal Waterway, the wind blew across the streets. Imagine pictures of palm tree fronds pushed in one direction during The Weather Channel reports of hurricanes…that’s what conditions were like (without the rain and flying debris). The wind caused sweat to evaporate faster; and since the body cooled as a result, dehydration was difficult to observe. (I was sooo glad to carry a CamelBak at this point.)

Ran according to plan (9/1 minute run/walk) through mile 10. Having consumed my water (62.5 oz.) and Gatorade, I was lucky to find a water station with water.

From mile 10 through mile 12, I really struggled and felt terrible. The race had passed 3 water stations that were out of water and Gatorade over a 7.5 mile stretch. I met a runner, nicknamed Texas, who did not have water or fuel and was in deprivation. Every time we passed an abandoned water station (no water or Gatorade), he had a harder time continuing. At one point, he went to the back of a house to drink from the water spigot.

At mile 13 my left calf started twitching. Luckily, the next water station had some Gatorade which eased the calf. Gatorade saw me through this race, as this was a pattern that repeated itself.

Somewhere after mile 13, I met Virginia who was also running her first marathon. She wanted to know why I was wearing a shirt with her name on it (Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon shirt). Her training companion broke her foot a couple of weeks ago and she was forced to run alone. I told her we would get through this together.

At mile 16, the race headed east, crossing the Intercoastal Waterway into South Palm Beach over a drawbridge. Heading towards the bridge took the race directly into the full force of the wind (between 18-20 MPH) which cooled as well as evaporated precious water. I walked into the wind, which seemed to stand my hair straight up, and up the only incline in the race. Since this was a drawbridge, the top part of the race was metal mesh and was painful to cross. So, I took to the sidewalk, walked into the wind, caught my breath and drank what was left of my refilled CamelBak.

(I never did figure out the direction and the names of the towns… West Palm Beach is on the east coast of Florida. From West Palm Beach, heading south takes you through Lake Worth and Lantana. Heading east, you wind up in South Palm Beach.)

After the turnaround, the wind was at my back making it far easier to run. After crossing the bridge, I found more Gatorade, filling and drinking part of a half-gallon jug (no more cups). This marked the southernmost part (bottom) of the race and mile 18. The return route had the disadvantage of being late in the morning when it is hotter and further away from the ocean where it was cooler.

At mile 20, I met a fellow Badger named Harold who ran the Baton Rouge Marathon the previous day. Harold ran over 250 marathons to date and wore a hat with a neck cover. He was running his own race, but seemed to run every other street. Whether that was his running plan or not, I adopted this strategy from miles 20-25 and this simple trick kept me running.

At mile 22, my wife was standing in the shade with a bottle of Gatorade. I got lucky because my calf had just started twitching again.

At mile 25, I was completely tapped out…no more energy…and did my best to power walk to the finish. When the finish line was in sight, I started “running” again. With about 25 yards to go, my calf cramped and I stopped to work it out and started running again. Within 5 yards of the finish, it cramped again and I hopped across the finish.

Harold greeted me with a cup of water and the race director escorted me directly to the medical tent. (I asked for a masseuse.) Eric, the medic-in-charge, stretched my calf, ITB, quadricep and hamstring. As he unlocked one muscle, a new one cramped. That’s the picture Ray J. posted on DailyMile (http://www.dailymile.com/people/runrayrun/entries/11321659)

Harold finished ahead of me, pretty close to the time he predicted. Virginia finished after I was collected and hobbling towards my car. Texas finished after that and was severely dehydrated. His brother and sister helped him to the finish line. I am happy to say that no one was severely injured and the only use for the emergency vehicles was to deliver water to the policemen along the route.

Interestingly, my back did not bother me at all during the race (or afterwards). Both of my Achilles held up and were not an issue during the race. However, once I stopped moving, both Achilles were so tight after the trip to the medical tent that I could not walk normally after the race.

About the race:

  1. it started 30 minutes later than last year. That proved a mistake as the mix of sun, heat and wind could not be circumnavigated.
  2. I did not receive a finishers medals. (Postscript: medals will be shipped mid-December)
  3. most of the water stations were out of water; even more of the stations were out of Gatorade. At one point, a runner got into a fight with a volunteer. The runner was frustrated and thirsty; and the volunteer was totally not at fault. It was at this water stop, after 3 consecutive empty water stops, that I was grateful for my CamelBak.
  4. the police presence at intersections was ubiquitous and I am thankful for their presence. I do wish that water was provided though, as it was tough in the sun.
  5. my wife was a fantastic supporter who both had a good time waiting for me by talking to the locals and supported me by providing a welcoming face and that all important Gatorade.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/132685552

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