Wow, an amazing day for running my 2nd marathon with my brother Adam.  It started around 5:15 am and it was a really easy commute to the start line. MCM did an awesome job with transportation.  The morning started with a fly over from 2 Osprey helicopters, a howitzer blast to start the wheelchair division and none other than Drew Carey firing the starting gun.  (According to my wife Summer this was the most important detail of the day.)  It was 35 degrees and I was just thankful it wasn’t 38 and driving rain like the day before!  So I shed my over clothes and we were off.  Goal time 3:15:00 (7:27 / mile)

First two miles were nice and steady rolling hills, 1- 7:36, 2- 7:35.  These first two miles were really fun and tons of spectators yelling and screaming.  The Marines handing out water and Gatorade were awesome along the course.  They were all encouraging and acted like they wanted to be there.  it was their marathon, they owned it!

The third mile felt quicker and mile four was pretty much all down hill
3- 7:15, 4- 7:10.  Then it got lonely as we ran out in the park area.  I linked up with a couple of runners who I seemed to be running the same pace that I stayed with all the way until mile 18.  Thanks Mauricio wherever you are!  Next two mile were steady and felt good 5- 7:21, 6- 7:21.  My first 10K felt effortless like it should. 45:47, great start!  Considering the first 8 miles was the hilliest part of the course, I may have taken it too fast, but didn’t feel like an issue at the time.

They next 10K felt good as well.  Lots of spectators and the scenery started to get more interesting 7- 7:33, 8- 7:14, 9- 7:21, 10- 7:22.  I swear this was the easiest 10 miles in a race I have ever run.  I was 40 seconds up on my pace and was just trying to control the adrenaline as I knew I had some time in the bank and was feeling optimistic. Next two miles to close in on the 20K mark were 11- 7:22, 12- 7:25.  My 20K had me at 1:31:40.  Couldn’t have scripted a better run to this point.

As we hit the park along the Potomac the crowds thinned out and it was just the runners sticking together pushing each other.  Had a cliff shot at mile 12 and it did it’s job.  Focused well through the next 10K: 13- 7:25, 14- 7:26, 15- 7:33,
16- 7:29, 17- 7:29,  I ran the first 17 text book, saw Summer and the kids at 17.5 and started to feel some pain in the right quad during this mile 18- 7:55.  Had to start adjusting my stride a bit and mentally it was a bit of a battle.  I pulled it back together at mile 19- 7:46 with an incredible view of the capital building.  I had given away all my cushion.  At this point I saw the 3:15:00 pace guy pass me.  I stayed with the group as long as I could, I wanted to tackle him, I was ticked he was passing me.  I knew I would need some good miles at the end to reach the goal.

But that didn’t happen.  The right quad got worse followed by the right hamstring a bit later.  Considering all that was happening mile 20- 8:10, 21- 8:14 felt respectable.  I kept thinking, “OK, I still can keep this under 3:20:00.”  But then it started to unravel as I crossed the longest bridge ever Mile 22- 9:15, 23- 9:28 made me realize I just needed to hold it together.  I just needed to keep the legs churning. Mile 24 in Crystal City was awesome scenery, but I was in serious trouble 24- 10:51.  The killer mile 25- 14:35.  I was done, had to walk during 25 as I was literally dragging the right leg along and finished with mile 26- 12:08, .2 in 2:08 up the hill to the Iwo Jima Monument.

The last half mile or so I got an adrenaline rush as I began to remember who I was running this in honor of.  My 84 year old friend Lorin who fought at and survived the devastation of Iwo, and all those Marines and military who have given their lives and fight to give us freedom. Most of all I was thinking of my Dad who cheated death in Vietnam. Many of his brothers in arms died that he served along side.  I will never forget the day I graduated from Marine Corps boot camp October 8, 1993.  I received a card from one of my Dad’s buddies who saved his life in combat.  The card was simple and it said, “Congratulations, you’re one of us now!”  AWESOME! I am thankful to have this legacy.  thanks Tony for taking care of my dad.

A bad day on the course was better than any good day on the battlefield. At the end of the race I was handed my finishers medal and I couldn’t hold it together.  I knelt for a couple minutes and just prayed to God thanking him for sparing my dad’s life Donald W. Conn Sgt USMC 1963-1967 Purple Heart, A hero, a patriot, my dad.  Proud of you dad.  All 3:36:26 was for you from one USMC Sgt to another.  And Adam, great job 4:26:25 ain’t too shabby for an old guy like you!  To my 217church family, you are always an inspiration to me in what you are doing in Hamilton!  I took every one of you with me on this run!

Looking forward to marathon #3