What I Saw At The Marathon

They started arriving at the water station at about 8:45.  The location; mile 21 of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver Marathon.  By the end of the day nearly 2400 people would pass the intersection of Asbury and Washington.  

Will there ever be a more impressive marathon performance than the one Chris Siemers gave on the streets of Denver?  2:18:49; Olympic qualifying.  The expression on his face was one of philosophical contemplation; like trying to figure out his bank account balance after depositing the $1,000 prize money minus expenses.  I would pay particular attention to the faces of the runners.  They became the windows to the core of the runners.  

“Run, Run Away” by Slade blared through the PA system.  The runners did not seem to notice the music at all.  But running 21 miles would suck the fun out of even the most upbeat person.  

And what of those runners?  I am used to moving along the course; passing through the aid stations.  The experience of having the race pass by me like a parade was bizarre.  There were quite a few people I knew running the race and I called them by name.  Some responded.  Most looked bewildered, confused and really tired.  I made a mental note to evaluate the runners coming through at 2:20 on the race clock; my anticipated mile 21 split.  Those runners looked about the way have felt at that point; a little lost and in a lot of discomfort.  

Not to blow my own horn, but I am a really good cup-hander-offer.  I only mishandled one cup in hundreds of attempts.  So, if you see me at an aid station, get your cup from me.  I’ll make sure you get a full cup.  What you do with it after that is your own business.

Be nice to the volunteers.  They are runners too and a great group of people.  We greeted every runner with a hearty cheer.  We were tired too.  Nearly all of us had been on the course since well before 6:00 am.  The camaraderie was great.  We were having fun.  We have felt the pain of running long distances.  We know what runners don’t want to hear five miles from the finish of a marathon.  It was a gratifying feeling, one that all runners should experience.  

Weary in the leg, but resolute in spirit, they made their way to Civic Center Park.  Nearly the full range of emotions was on display.  For many, this was their first marathon.  For some it will be their last as well.  There were many veterans.  All were sharing an experience they will always remember. 

The Race Not Run

Two marathons were scheduled for the same weekend in October.  And sorry I could not run both and be one runner, long I thought. 

One was the Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver Marathon.  The Rock ‘n’ Roll course, well, it would have been straighter if they’d run it around Cheesman Park 19 times.  It looks like the race director dropped a piece of cooked spaghetti on a map of Denver; like a schematic of my lower intestine.  All of those turns would confuse me. 

The Rock ‘n’ Roll is a relatively flat course and should yield a fast time.  I’ve run a personal best already this year.  Sometimes a personal best is just that.  There are a finite number of seconds faster and an infinite number of seconds slower that I could run.  I just don’t like those odds.

Still, there is something unique about running a race in an urban setting.  There are spectators along almost the entire route.  That really helps towards the end of a marathon when your spirits are flagging.  And finishing a race in the city is special.  Just ask anyone who has ever run Boston.  When you take that left turn onto Boylston and see the finish line, how sweet is that? 

The other marathon was no walk in the park.  It was the XTerra Trail Marathon in Colorado Springs.  It called to me because it sounded manlier. 

The XTerra course is two laps up and down the trails in Cheyenne Mountain State Park.  It entails over 2600 feet of climbing.  Ouch!  It meanders like my train of thought after 23 miles.  It would take me a little under four hours to complete the race.  Ouch!  I’ve been asked, ‘what do you think about when you are running for four hours?’  I say the same thing that I tell my wife when she asks me what I’m thinking about when she catches me watching the Nuggets Dancers.  “Nothing.”  Mostly, I’m just enjoying the scenery.

A few weeks ago I was running through a stand of aspen near the slopes of Beaver Creek when I was struck by the beauty of it all.  I was off the clock and off the grid.  It was getting close to mating season and I saw two male deer.  For a while it was just us three bucks romping through the woods.  I thought, ‘man, this is living!’  In a trail race, even if you are off the pace, there is still a beautiful trail to enjoy. 

In 2011 there were 26 marathons in Colorado and a few more races of 25 miles.  What a difference from 1994 when the capital city’s namesake International marathon went bankrupt.  There is no shortage of races.  You’ve got to be selective of the races you run; where you spend your money and your sweat.  Don’t be a lemming.  If the Running of the Bulls was held in Denver and there was a T-shirt and finisher’s medal, would you sign up?  OK, bad example; maybe I would.  The point is, make your races meaningful.

Also, those Rock ‘n’ Roll folks sure are proud of their race.  On a dollar per mile basis, the XTerra race is a far better value.  Though as for statistics, both are 26.2 miles long and either way, there is no easy running. 

And both marathons were held that same weekend, when the aspen leaves were gold and falling.  There I stood with one foot on the pavement and the other on the trail.  I’ll run the other marathon someday.  But since I haven’t yet, why break the streak?

I’ll be adding this to my list of regrets; after I’ve hung up my Nikes.  Two marathons were run the same weekend and I, I chose to volunteer at the mile 21 water station at the Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon.  And that’s all she wrote.