Both years I ran the Pocono Marathon were big years for me for different reasons. In 2008, I had a breakthrough race that opened the door for everything I've been able to accomplish sense. In 2009 I returned to the fast course on a mission to qualify for Boston. I had failed at the 2008 Chicago Marathon at getting a BQ time when I blew up at mile 19.5.
I had nailed most of my long runs. I had been crushing my track workouts. And I'd received a plethora of great advice from Jonathan Cane. The plan was to grab a BQ, which was 3:10:59. JC wisely made me realize that a 3:05 and a 3:10 gave me the same end result, so I shouldn't risk blowing up by gunning for a 3:05.
The weather in 2009 at Pocono was almost as good as it was in 2008. There was a slight headwind for the first few miles before the course did a 180 and we'd catch a tailwind for the remainder of the course. My friend, and multiple world record holder, Chris Solarz was also running the race. As the race begin, Chris, a veteran, of more marathons than all of us combined, pointed out a tall runner moving along at about my pace and told me to tuck in behind him and draft. Solarz ran next to me for a while, but faded after a few miles. Although a much faster runner than me, he was only running the race for fun.
After the 180 on the course, I set out on my own with the wind at my back. The miles were easy. I felt phenomenal. I was way ahead of pace, but in the back of my head I still had memories of Chicago. When I came through the halfway point, I had PR'ed the half marathon and felt like I could conquer the world, but I had to keep my emotions in check. It wasn't until the 24 mile mark that I was sure I had the race in the bag. I conquered the final hill of the course, which wasn't easy. I just had to hold on for 2 miles and I had a lot of time in the bank.
I was hurting, but I dug deep. The course was flat to the finish and I knew what I had to tackle since I'd run the race the year before. Finally I entered the track. I had .2 miles to go and I had 5 minutes to spare. I looked across and saw the finish line and knew I was about to qualify for Boston...and I started to hyperventilate. I imagined passing out and DNF-ing only meters from the finish line, but I was able to compose myself and came in for the finish. I almost immediately called Coach Cane. He was my first call.
In the end, I ended up running that 3:05, but had I gone out gunning for that, I likely would have gone out even faster and blown up. When I crossed the finish line I had absolutely nothing left. One second faster per mile and I don't know that I would have been able to hold on. I know I did all the physical work, but I still credit JC for planting the seed for success.
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