I was in the middle of training for the 2008 Finger Lakes 50 miler. While screwing around online, as i often do, and stumbled upon a small race in Pennsylvania with a fast course profile and low entry fee. It was a Wednesday, and I was coming off a 50+ mile weekend--9 miles on Friday, 24 on Saturday, and 20 on Sunday. The race was four days away, and I didn't have a car, but paid the $45 entry fee anyway. I started asking around to borrow a car and then ran another 12 miles that night.
At that point, I'd never had a good marathon. My PR hovered right at 3:48, but I felt like I could run a 3:30 in good conditions. At the time eight-minute miles felt quick, but sustainable, especially on a fast course. I set 3:30 as my optimistic goal for the day and decided I would be happy with anything under 3:45.
I didn't want to get breakfast until I was closer to the race because I knew there was a shuttle bus to the start and then a wait for the gun. When I got close to the registration area, I realized I'd made a poor choice. There was nowhere to get breakfast with the exception of McDonald's. I had to eat something, so I grabbed two bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits and quickly ingested both of them. I drove to the packet pick-up, grabbed my bib, and then climbed aboard a school bus. Only getting a few hours of sleep, I slipped in and out of consciousness on the bus ride. It was a cool, foggy morning, which was perfect running weather as far as I was concerned.
I went into the school gym next to the start to pin on my bib, go to the bathroom, and stretch. Afterward, I checked my bag, warmed up, and found my place among the small group of starters. The race started and I found a pace that felt pretty easy as I navigated the rolling hills that speckled the first four miles or so of the course. Just before starting the big downhill section of the race, I caught up with a gentleman and we started chatting. The miles flew by as we talked and I felt great. Just before mile 12 the gentlemen said he was going to dial it back and wished me luck on my race.
When I came through the halfway point in just over 1:37, I realized I had just run my fastest half marathon ever. I laughed to myself thinking I was probably going to blow up at some point even though I was still feeling good. Around mile 16, I started to feel a rumble in my stomach (McDonalds for breakfast?). I tried to ignore it, but the sensation grew stronger with each footfall. Approaching mile 19, I knew I was going to have to stop very soon or I was going to be in trouble. I was surveying the trees and bushes looking for a discreet area when I noticed a port-a-potty sitting just past the mile marker for 19. I was able to take care of business and get back on the course.
From Mile 19 on, the course was rolling hills until the last two flat miles. My pace slowed slightly, but I was feeling strong. I started doing the math in my head and realized I was likely going to go sub-3:30. Wait, no, sub-3:20! I just had to hold on. As we came into Stroudsburg I found myself running next to a woman who looked strong but fatigued. Someone shouted that she was the 5th place woman. She muttered to me that she didn't care she just wanted to be done with the race. I laughed and said, "I could walk in and still PR." We didn't say anything else for the rest of the race, but we ran together through to nearly the finish.
As I turned into the parking lot at the school, I saw my watch change from 3:10:59 to 3:11. I could see the finish line. It wasn't close, but I could see it. That's how close I was to qualifying for Boston...by accident. Once I hit the cinder track for the final .2 miles, I kicked in to another gear and pulled ahead of the woman. I crossed the finish line in 3:15:42, marking a PR of 32 minutes and 54 seconds! I was not only ecstatic but completely shocked. I never dreamt that I would break 3:30, much less break 3:20.
I rode that high right through to the finish of my first 50 miler and beyond. That almost 33 minute PR was my break-through race. It completely changed my mentality regarding my running. Boston was in sight--something I didn't previously think possible. All the miles have come easier since that day in 2008. It opened a whole new world of running I never thought possible.
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