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I should probably begin by warning anyone reading this that if you are looking for the inspiration to run a marathon, you
should look elsewhere because, as I will later explain, the only way you will find any help from this is if you find yourself in a
lot of pain with a long way to go. I apologize in advance if this story seems depressing, but I assure you that it does have a
somewhat happy ending. I also want to say that I thank God that I was able to finish.
About a month before Motorola, I became aware of a severe pain in my right knee. The following week, I attempted
the big 21-mile run with Austin Fit and was unable to make it more than 3 or 4 miles before I could take the pain no longer. I
decided to take a little time off, and, to make a long story short, I ended up not running or doing anything even remotely
related to working out in the three weeks leading up to the race. However, with a week to go I felt no pain and thought that I
wouldn't have to worry about it (though I continued to rest).
On the morning of the race, I was feeling good and decided that I would try for a 3:40 pace with Doug and Luke. This
was a fine idea except that Doug didn't want to go that slow and so we went a little faster. The pains started at about mile
three and sometime during mile 4 (I think) I was forced to drop back from my two running buddies. This was when my race
really started.
I managed to continue running through the pain, which worsened with each step, but by mile 9 it had risen to such a level
that I was no longer able to bend my right knee. It was around this time that I first had to walk. Basically, my strategy had
gone from trying to achieve a 3:40 to just finishing the race. So, I simply attempted to get through one mile at a time by
gimping along at what could maybe described as a running pace until my knee was just about ready to give out underneath
me, at which time I would begin walking
Over the course of the next few miles, I met and talked with many runners who also found themselves having to walk from
time to time. At about the halfway point, I met an ex-marine (whose name I never got) and we talked for a while before I
took off on one of my little running spurts. I met many others in the same manner and I must say that I enjoyed the company
and discourse. It was one of the few things that kept me going despite my knee.
For most of the race, however, I found myself having to travel alone and I felt pretty bad because it seemed as if
everyone was passing me and I had felt like I was in last place since the moment I began walking (something I've never done
during a race). Despite this feeling, I decided to make the best of a grim situation as I hobbled onward by talking to everyone
that was willing to carry on a conversation, mostly about the race but, in general, I was not very particular about the subject
matter.
The last ten miles or so were especially tough as I found fewer and fewer people with the energy and breath to talk. But,
about three or four miles from the finish I saw the ex-marine I had met at the halfway point and I managed to catch up with
him. I spent the next couple of miles passing and falling behind him, but on the last mile, I ran when he ran and walked when
he walked so at least I could finish with a familiar face. It was a lot better than running alone. I ran the last .2 miles or so and it
may have even looked like I was going fast because I passed a lot of people, which, by the way, was not something I was
trying to do. When I crossed the finish line, I waved off the people who obviously saw that I was limping pretty badly and
offered to help me to a place where I could get medical attention. I figured that if I could finish the race, I could manage to get
around on my own.
I proudly accepted my medal and t-shirt at the finish and I do not regret finishing the race even though I experienced the
most excruciating and sustained pain I have ever felt in my life.
I realize that I have not mentioned the many people who came out to cheer on us runners or the volunteers who so
readily devoted their time to this race. I would like to send a huge thank you to all of you people because, to me, you were
nothing short of a group of God-sent angels of mercy who made my agony much more bearable. I would also like to thank
the members of the UT Marathon team who, when passing by, gave me words of encouragement and also helped me get
through training for a marathon, something I didn’t ever dream I would actually do.
It is now Sunday, one week after the race, and today I found that I have regained the ability to bend my knee, even if I
have to be careful about it. Though you may not be able to tell from the above account of my run, I did have fun. I will not lie,
however, I am quite disappointed that I was unable to run well and I find myself already looking forward to next year's race
(despite the fact that at this point I can barely manage to walk without a noticeable limp, which, by the way, gets me all kinds
of strange looks) with new motivation to do well, although I don't think I will wait that long to run another marathon unless I
have to.
The only advice that I can give to any other runner who finds themselves in a similar situation is to keep going (whether
you can run or not) because, though it may seem like an eternity before you do, you will finish*. In retrospect, I can truthfully
say that there was never a point in the race where I really doubted that I would finish (though I was wondering if the finish line
would be closed by the time I got there). I am thankful, however, that I did not fall down during the race because I honestly
don’t know if I would have been able to get back up and finish.
I plan to train more seriously for next year’s race, so to anyone else who plans to run it, see you there.
Finally, to the man who passed me sometime around mile 18 but before mile 20, should you someday happen to read
this, you were wrong, it undoubtedly was worth it.
* DISCLAIMER: Of course, if you are seriously injured and risk permanent injury, disregard this advice. I am not a doctor,
and some say not even an intelligent life form, nor will I accept responsibility for any injuries incurred while following the
advice of an oftentimes very stubborn man.
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