....So the 4th PF Chang's Marathon took place three days ago. A race that I've been training for throughout most of 2006. A race that was gonna mark the first of hopefully many marathons to come.

WAIT!! Maybe you should get some background first...

I moved to the Phoenix area over 6 years ago, and somehow four years ago after spending hours and hours in air conditioned gyms, I decided to hit the pavement. I picked up running as a new hobby. Over the past few years, I've actually started getting pretty good, for a non-athlete most of my life....Fastest 5K - 19:44, 10K - 41:49, Half-marathon - 1:37:09. I wasn't headed for the Olympic Team, but I'm pretty happy with it.

Until three days ago, I never danced the BIG dance, though. 26.2 miles can be a pretty intimidating distance, but I was constantly inspired by Bethany (a skilled 4X marathoner), as the months drew closer. Unfortunately, our relationship fizzled a month before race day. (One of those summer flings, where one person believed that it was going to be more of a REAL relationship....I'm sure that will be the subject of another post, at a later date)

So first off it's COLD AS FUCK!!! 29 degrees at the start of the race... no big deal for the kid from Queens NY!! The siren goes off... & I'm feeling good...NO....I'm feeling GREAT!! I'm not breathing heavy...I'm running comfortably.....and my knee problems..gone for the moment.

For the first 8 miles...I'm with the 3:20 pacers... A little faster than I expect to finish, but I figured that I'd stick with them for the first half of the race...then fall back to 8 thru 8:30 min/ miles for the last half of the race. My plan was unfolding perfectly UNTIL......

Mile 10... had to stop to use the port-a-potty, while getting back on the road..FUCK! My knee problems returned with a vengeance...I hobbled to get my rhythm going again...UNTIL

Mile 13...the calf cramps began...way earlier than anticipated. No problem, though.... I'll just stop occasionally to stretch them out. By this time I realize that I will not be hitting my goal of 3:30...but I'm still holding on to a finishing time of 3:45

Mile 19... my calves are killing me....and I'm stopping to stretch them at more frequent intervals. While stopping to refill my water bottle BAM!!! Both hamstrings lock-up. Luckily there was a medic tent nearby. I hobbled over, they got me stretched me out, as best they could...and I was on my way. Only 7 miles to go...

At this point...I'm just fighting to make it under 4 hours. I'm thinking my buddy Alex, who ran the 1/2 marathon, is waiting for me at the finish line, coming up with a million jokes about my slow time. But I already knew that I wasn't gonna be in the mood.

Finally 1 more mile to go.... I must be moving at a 12 minute / per mile pace. My energy was there, my drive was there...but anytime I tried to move faster, my leg muscles would lock harder than ever. I was reduced to becoming a mere spectator, watching hundreds of runners pass by while it felt like I was standing in one spot. I felt embarrassed, frustrated, defeated....and just when things couldn't get any worse. Bethany passes me. It was the first time I saw her up close, in over a month. She looked amazing!! Yet she passed me, as if there was no history at all. I tried to keep up with her to the finish line (hoping we'd have one of those awkward moments where we'd be forced to speak to each other) ...but I was almost forced to the ground when my left hamstring locked up one last time... I was forced to watch her distance herself, once again.

Finishing time 4:13:06!! Not bad for many...ultimately disappointing for me. With my busted knee, I limped pass the photographers...pass the food...straight to the UPS trucks to get my clothes. Then off to IHOP to drown my sorrows in a plate full of Steak & Eggs!!

I will have my redemption, though. This year I will use the memories of this humbling experience to regroup, recover, and retrain these legs to conquer that distance!!

First stop is the doctor's office. I have an appointment tomorrow to see how bad the damage is to my knee. Fingers crossed...fingers crossed!!!