Reflections on the 1992 Chicago Marathon
Yes, attack is the operative concept here. The animal within was unleashed and carried my conscious being through all the preparation and over the finish line after 26.2 grueling miles. I felt it roar inside me and would find myself sprinting at a full tilt boogie, the earth shaking beneath my feet, while rounding the track on Wednesday nights. Tuesday mornings in Oak Park on my 7 a.m. 8 mile run would find me galloping down the quiet tree lined streets feeling every bit the Clydesdale. I would think about the comparison, certainly not unflattering. Head held high, proud work horse, graceful yet strong, not the swiftest but maybe the strongest... I guess the endorphins were coursing through my blood whilst having these delusions. But there is a lot to be said for having a positive concept driving you forward. I have taken Bob Hakes' advice to heart, he said that you have to banish those negative thoughts and just think positive thoughts while experiencing adversity. There is a certain degree of adversity one has to deal with when training for the marathon, but nothing like what one experiences at mile 24 1/2 going up that steep bridge over the river on Lake Shore Drive. My quads felt like they were going to explode, my right knee ached, my left ankle felt broken, my toes were burning, I had tunnel vision, and cotton mouth. By mile 25 I wondered how in the world I could finish. Then I turned west off of the drive, saw the 26 mile mark, and heard the crowd was roaring. I saw Joe and Bob, made the last turn, and picked it up. With 50 yards to go I kicked. I sprinted past 50 people and ran into the canyon of people in the bleachers, a wall of noise, and I heard the announcer say "and here comes a freight train, that's Buck Hales of Oak Park..." When that nice woman at the end of the chute hung the medal around my neck, I really felt like I deserved it. Everyone who finishes a marathon deserves a medal. A true test of character. I learned more about myself Sunday and feel good to have done it. I almost made my goal of 3:50 (I did it in 3:54), but I broke 4 hours and did the whole thing running. Of course I am so stiff and sore now that I can't walk forward downstairs or sit or stand for long without starting to cramp up. It is a perverse reward for all that training. This pain and soreness is hard earned and short lived, I am enjoying enduring it. When some people finish a marathon, they declare that this is the last time they would ever do such a thing as foolish as run 26.2 miles again. They'll laugh when reminded of this when they're running their next one. But when I finished, I began to think about doing my next one. I fantasized about running the Big Sur Marathon, or Berlin, or Moscow, or.... But I am relieved I don't have to even think about it for another five months. Then I will begin training for Grandma's. Next year I plan on doing 2 marathons.