“No marathon gets easier later. The halfway point only marks the end of the beginning”.
(Joe Henderson)
2022 was finally the year I accepted the 26.2-mile (marathon) challenge.
I thought and talked about it for a few years but never took the steps to sign up and train. Accepted the challenge and signed up for the 2022 Palm Beaches Marathon. This was my race of choice due to the flat course and proximity to Fort Pierce. I chronicled my training program and the marathon with multiple Walk into the Future blog posts.
Started 2023 with an aggressive race schedule: 1 marathon, 6 half marathons, 1 10-miler, 3 10k’s, and 4 5k’s. I skipped two additional half marathons due to injury and my trip back down to Jamaica. The race volume was designed to help prepare me for the last race of the year which was the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon in December.
My marathon training program allowed me to complete 580 miles as part of my preparation for the race. I made a point to minimize the miles I completed on the exercise bike as I wanted to ensure my training miles were consistent with the mechanics of running a marathon.
I enjoyed the training sessions more this year from a physical and mental aspect. The training didn’t get easier, but I was better prepared to train and compete this year.
Made my way back down to West Palm Beach the day before the marathon. Decided to get a hotel closer to the race start/finish line this year. This allowed me to spend more time downtown without having to worry about finding parking—I parked at my hotel and then walked when I needed to go out. The race EXPO was only one block away from the hotel so headed over to pick up my race bib and goodie bag. Garden of Life is the race sponsor, and they provided each participant with a full bag of supplements. This was a highlight for me because this allowed me to stock up on supplements without having to purchase individually—this stuff will last me for most of 2024. 😊
Got breakfast at E.R. Bradley Saloon again this year to continue to carb load. Pancakes and beer at 10 am are what fueled me towards race day. Headed back to the hotel to hydrate more and get my race gear ready. Got on the exercise bike at the hotel to stretch my legs and then got busy with my foam roller to work out my legs. Kicked back a bit, watched TV, and continued to drink extra water since the forecast called for high humidity on race day. Found Nico’s Pizza for a large pasta dinner to help put extra carbs in my system. This was a great place to watch people so sat for a while and continued to drink beers before heading back to the hotel for an early bedtime.
Race day called for an early alarm so I could stretch and mentally prepare for the 26.2 miles that were on the schedule. My training program had me physically and mentally prepared to perform. I was not as nervous this time since I knew I could start and complete a full marathon. This was a welcome feeling and I found myself enjoying the wait at the start line. There were a lot of folks around me, but I had a big smile on my face and I’m sure they wondered why I was in such a good mood.
The temperature and humidity were higher this year and I knew this would be a problem at some point during the race. These conditions were considered as I determined my race day strategy—wanted to run a safe and tactical race to ensure I finished with a smile on my face.
I positioned myself in the middle of the corral—like the feeling of passing other runners early in the race. Also, the middle of the corral helps me check my speed in the first portion of the race and keeps me from going out too fast.
My race strategy called for me to hit each water stop during the marathon to ensure I stayed hydrated and didn’t hit a wall later in the race. The first water stop surprised me because it was only a half mile into the race—thought that was a bit early but followed my plan and got Gatorade and then splashed water on the top of my head to keep me cool. Wanted to get as many miles in as possible before the sun started to peek out of the early morning clouds.
Ran the first 5 miles with a group of runners who had a nice steady pace. Decided to stay with them as long as possible to see how this would impact my race experience. There are not very many spectators on this course, so it was all internal motivation and grit guiding me through the miles.
I hit the 13.1-mile (halfway) marker a little slower than 2022 which was part of the plan. The sun was out by now and most runners began to slow a bit. A male runner who has a similar body type as mine decided to run with me for a bit and we joked marathon running is not a typical activity for guys with muscles. He kept calling me ‘big guy’ which I didn’t know if that was a compliment or insult, but we kept a good pace during the second portion of the race.
Made it to mile 22 this year before I started feeling the full impact of the humidity. The course is not shaded so the sun plus humidity on the back side slowed most of us down. I didn’t feel as bad as last year but did begin to question myself again for tackling this distance. Had to pull out a lot of positive self-talk to move myself forward after mile 23. The spectators that were out helped motivate me at this point and I kept putting one foot in front of the other towards the finish line.
The last mile hurt but I would not be denied crossing that finish line with a smile on my face. The crowds cheered and I waved like I was in first place. Crossed the line a bit slower than my first race but my mental and physical outlooks were much better this time around. Collected my medal, got some finish line pictures, and found a spot to sit down and drink my beers.
The challenge was accepted again, and I completed the mission—start and finish upright.
This will be the last time I run the Palm Beaches marathon. Looking to run this as a half marathon in 2024 because the heat and humidity make the second portion of the race unpredictable for me.
Also, I have the 2024 Chicago Marathon in October, so the turnaround time is too quick for another full marathon in December.
What challenges did you conquer in 2023?
Irie!
“A marathon is hundreds of miles. The finish is the last 26.2”.
(Unknown)
Walk Into the Future 