Marathon dream fades away

They say that writing your goal on a piece of paper can help you visualize yourself completing it. A key step toward doing it. Sounds a little woo-woo new-agey to me. But what the heck. Thought I would give it a try.

On a 3x5 purple index card I wrote:

Lakefront Marathon 2006
- Be brave
- Have fun
- Finish the run

I trained all summer, preparing for my first marathon. I have never run 26.2 miles. Sounded a bit daunting. Before the summer started, though, I had never run more than 10 miles at a time. I now have logged multiple 10 milers, plus a 16-, an 18- and a pair of 20 milers. That’s something, right? Thought I was ready. The past months have included my share of injuries, but with stretching and rest, I thought I had them under control.

Sunday in Milwaukee started brisk, beautiful and full of promise. My first marathon.

The first 10 miles went well. With each strike of my foot, I scanned my feet and legs for signs of injury. No problems. I lit up when I saw Becky, Megan and Matthew at about the 7.5-mile mark. They were jumping and screaming as I went by. They have been awesome through months of training and they were awesome again Sunday.

Around 10 miles, though, my marathon dreams began to fade in a haze of pain and disappointment. The stabbing sensation in my right knee grew sharper, stronger and more persistent. Then the arch of my left foot began to stab, as well. What the heck? My right foot is the one that has bedeviled me at times in recent months. Never a peep of protest from its counterpart on the left side. On Sunday, my right foot behaved itself.

“Be brave, be brave, be brave,” I chanted to myself, hoping, praying and clinging to the hope that this written goal mantra would be enough to get me through. Gradually my one-minute per mile walk breaks grew a bit longer. The mantra wasn’t enough.

My walking turned into limping. A staggered gait caused by pain shooting through my left foot and right knee. I pushed onward. At about mile 17, the Gteam support crew reappeared. Cheering and waving at my arrival. I stopped. “My knee is shot,” I said as I bent forward, clutching my legs.

I tried to go forward, stopping a few times to stretch my calves and my hips. The race numbers pinned to our chests included our names. “Go Jason!” spectators called out. “You can do it.”

My limp gradually became more pronounced. With other injuries, I have been able to run through them, letting the surge of adrenaline mask the pain. It didn’t happen Sunday. By mile 19, I was done. My 2006 Lakefront Marathon result: DNF.

Sure, this was my dream. My goal. But part of it also was to set an example for Megan and Matthew. I wanted to finish what I started. I wanted to set a goal and see it through to success. Now I am not sure what kind of lesson I have taught or what example I provided.

Maybe I made errors in training. Too many miles too soon? Not enough, or not proper stretching? Maybe it was just bad luck.

I love to run and I loved training. For now, it’s time to heal. Then I need to seek a physical therapist’s help to condition properly – and then…try again.