Old Guy Epic

Was it all a dream or was I really being chased by David Rothenburger? 

It has been said that dreams about being chased represent your way of coping with fears in your waking life.  Instead of confronting your problems, you are running away from them and avoiding them.  Your own feelings of anger, jealousy or fear can assume the appearance of the threatening figure.  You may be projecting these feelings onto the chaser.  The next time you have a chase dream, turn around and confront your pursuer.  Ask them why they are chasing you. 

That is exactly what I was thinking when I looked behind me at the 26 mile mark of last week’s Colfax Marathon.  “David, just let me coast across the finish line,” I thought. 

The day got off to an inauspicious start.  My bag fell into the porta-potty; plop, right in a pile of you know what.  Maybe it was an omen.

Usually there are two forms races take.  Runners hold different paces and gradually drift apart or one runner flies and dies and is summarily passed by other runners.  My race against David was a classic back and forth battle as evidenced by our times at the checkpoints.

First	Last	6.4 Mile Split	10.1 Mile Split	16.1 Mile Split	20.1 Mile Split	TIME
CARL	MATHER	44:06:00	1:09:31	1:50:37	2:19:15	3:06:37
DAVID	ROTHENBURGER	43:34:00	1:08:58	1:50:46	2:18:56	3:06:45

My Garmin lost its satellite connections at the ½ marathon mark, which was a little ironic as that is about when I lost interest in the race.  But as the course made the left turn onto 20^th Street, I spotted David’s white singlet and unmistakable gate.  Slowly I drew closer to him, eventually passing him at mile 15.  Hoping to gain time on the downhill, I tried to press the pace, but my legs didn’t respond. 

David passed me at mile 18 and quickly had a large lead.  By the time I entered Mile High Stadium, David was through the other side.  I caught David at mile 22 and we ran together for a bit.  Mike Quispe joined us and gave us encouragement.  I was in no mood to talk, but Mike’s presence was comforting. 

Either Mike’s voice drifted back or my mind drifted, but I soon realized I was alone.  During the latter stages of a marathon the mind can go into some crazy dark places.  I turned around at mile 24 and didn’t see David. 

I got a side-stitch.  Hunched over pinching my side, I hobbled along for the next two miles.  Then, just after the 26 mile mark drifted below my feet, I turned around and there was David, showing up like a bad penny.  I did a ‘Feet don’t fail me now’ and held on to finish eight seconds ahead of David. 

It took everything I had in me to hold David off.  The proof is that my legs gave out just after I crossed the finish line.  Luckily, a volunteer was there to catch me before I collapsed.  I put my hands on my knees and told her I was fine.  I took two steps and my legs gave out again.  “Get a wheelchair!” she shouted.  “I don’t need that,” I said.  “Just help me walk a little.”  She did and I was OK in a few seconds. 

Rivalries exist, even in the Masters division, and David and I have had our share of battles.  Ernest has Julio; Ben has Jerry; Peanut Butter has Jelly; so we have each other. 

Thrilled Beyond Belief

What a difference a year makes.

Last year at 20 mile mark of the Colfax Marathon, as I ticked off another 6:25 mile on the downhill section of the course, my self-talk went something like this:  “You are running better than you ever have.  Finish strong!”  That, and the fear of being passed by the first female, Nicole Chyr, propelled me to a 2:56:45 PR and 1^st Masters finisher. 

This year at that same point I told myself  “Just hang on.”  And somehow I did.  I was very fortunate to defend my Masters’ title with a time of 3:06:37, out-sprinting my dear friend David Rothenburger by eight seconds. 

But this is not a story about personal performances.  This is a story about being connected and how lucky we are to be able to share an experience like the Colfax Marathon.

It was a beautiful day; sunny and cool until about 8:30, barely a cloud in the sky and the faintest of breezes.  Urban marathons are so special because they take you on a tour of the city.  Creigh Kelley and his team at BKB Limited put on a great race.  The logistics were flawless. 

Scott Dailey, my good friend and training partner, was standing next to me at the start.  I was wearing my red Runners Roost Race Team singlet and lost count of how many people gave me a “Go Runners Roost” cheer.  And there was Bret Stevens who ran beside me at the highest point on the course (in The Glens) and again somewhere along Colfax.  My old friend, Pat "Average Joe" Sullivan, was the overall winner in 2:40. 

The Rocky Mountain Road Runners and the Runners Roost Lakewood (aka Belmar Running Club) set up tents in the run club village.  I enjoyed the camaraderie of Jeff Wong, Ken Shimada, Deb Cunningham, and many others. 

The highlight of the race came at the lowest point for me.  At mile 23 Mike Quispe jogged beside David and me, giving us encouragement.  Melody Drummond White posted a sweet note on Facebook “There are some days that just aren't your day and you just want to quit...thanks to my teammate Josephine for not allowing me to get my first DNF!!! I cannot thank this wonderful lady enough!!!! She is my inspiration!!”  I was so close to stopping, but Mike helped me to keep running. 

There was some drama in the waning miles.  I developed a side-stitch (I never get stitches) and ran the last two miles hunched over pinching my stomach.  It must have been a ludicrous site; wish I had a photo. 

I am so lucky to have so many friends in the running community.