TRI'ing to be FIT: Columbus Marathon Weekend

First off I want to thank one of my friends to being very dedicated and helping Aimee, Matt, and I out with our ride this weekend. As the last 3 of the FIT team still training for their IM races, we are all trying to get long rides in for a few weeks. Saturday started out in the mid 30's and was looking to be a high of maybe 48. Very cold for a long bike ride. So, our friend Natalie (and Matt's sister-n-law) offered to drive us out 75 miles so that we could at least have a tailwind back for most of our ride. After checking the weather online several times, it looked that the wind was going to be from a NNW direction, changing to a N direction by afternoon. So after plotting out a course we headed out to Roundhead, OH (by Indian Lake) to get dropped off as this route would take us mostly West and then South by afternoon this way. Fortunately the sun was out so this helped to warm us up a bit. Unfortunately Mother Nature decided to not listen to the internet and we had sort of a strange cross/headwind for the majority of out ride. By the end of the ride all Matt wanted to do was "turn right" because everytime we did, we had a nice tailwind! Eventually we made it, but it ended up being a bit more work then I think all of us really wanted!

Sunday morning started out in the low 30's but was clear and forecast was to be up in the 50's by the end of the day. Perfect conditions for a marathon! The MIT group met at one of the local hotels downtown where there were bathrooms and warmth prior to heading down to the start line.

Jenny is gearing up for her first 1/2 marathon since having daughter, Claire. Rob is a good friend of the MIT folk and also the winner of the 2007 Columbus Marathon.

My plan for this race was to do the 1/2 as part of a training run and then go back out and find as many of the "10's" as I could and help them through the last mile toward the finish. My time goal for this race was to help Coach Kristen pace the runners at a 10 minute/mile pace for the first half of the race. Kristen was a very good coach and even put together a wand of balloons so that all the MIT 10's could easily find us. Unfortunately we had a lot of runners asking us what pace group we were, which prompted the phrase of the day "unofficially 10 minutes" to be said, many times throughout the morning! I am happy to say that my finishing time was 2:10:36 which comes out to be a 9:59 pace. Nice work, if I must say so myself! CT also did the half and got a very nice PR at 1:23:07!! I am still amazed at this time, but not at all surprised. I knew that his fast legs and hard work would pay off with a very nice time.

Myself, Keith, Wanda, and Michael - just a few of the MIT half finishers.

After finding a moving van to change clothes in, I headed back out to Front Street (location of the last mile of the Columbus Marathon) to cheer on the Marathon Finishers. It was a blast! I love the energy of the marathon - watching the fans and the runners alike coming down that last stretch. For those that are trying to finish the marathon for a first time, this is the best feeling - when you know you have done it! When I did my first marathon in 2007, it was the most emotional part of the race because I finally realized that all of the hard work had paid off and my dream for all those months was finally becoming a reality. I knew at this point that I would finish. For others this is a bittersweet place - for those trying for a time goal or a BQ (Boston Qualifier) this is when most people are looking at their watches and trying to figure out if they are going to make it. You can really see the pain on the faces, in the gait, in the postures of these runners. That last frantic effort to make it down the chute to get that desired time. In the fans, you can feel all of that energy and support. It is almost so loud with cheering that it is hard to hear the person next to you speaking.

Just a sampling of some of the MIT supporters and fans - Jeanette, Angie, Kristen, Matt, Rocco, and Susan. Also in the pictures in the background was Brenda and Teri. This group was awesome with their signs, yelling, and cow bells. More than one runner commented on this and appreciated it very much!