Marathon #3 ... the long road back was a long road

[underpants]

Well I did it. I DID IT.
Back from a stress fracture in my ankle diagnosed in August (it was broken in April-ran my second marathon on it last May). Long rehab of bone stimulator 10 hours a day for 70 days, swimming, and an abbreviated training regiment (14 weeks instead of 18)

4:40:04 total -that is a 10:41 pace. I was marking myself against the 4:30 pace group who I caught up with at about 7 miles. I hit a WALL at 22-I was there mentally, physically (mostly), but I just could not pick my feet up anymore. When I got to 25 I said "F*#k it, it is going to hurt anyway" and went.

Va. Beach Shamrock Marathon. Flat and NO WIND which the Shamrock is known for.

My wife was AMAZING. She got a prime prime prime hotel room with a late checkout, a jacuzzi jet tub, and on the course (Atlantic Ave. and the Boardwalk). She had to wrangle our three year old the whole day and they had a blast. Josie ran at least 200 yards with "Daddy" on the Boardwalk with me. This was Josie's first trip to see the ocean and the beach-Momma and her played several times on the beach.

Amazing. I freaking did it.

Training in the winter is tough enough but having doubt of your ankle snapping doesn't help. I was "an accident waiting to happen" according to my NEW podiatrist in August. I did it. The last 4+ miles were tough but I did it.

:D B-) :7 :headbang: :woohoo:

My world right now consists of: walking down stairs backwards, ice, Balmex (ooops!), Maker's Mark, and my lovely wife and daughter.

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Very cool. So happy for you.

Congratulations!! :bounce:

[mike_c]

2. congratulations!

Wow, that's great! :woohoo:

[driver8]

3. Congratulations!!

I used to live in Virginia Beach -- sounds like it was a great day!

[underpants]

4. Map here

http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/Assets/marathon+map+2009.pdf

Basically 33rd to Prosperity (on Gen. Booth) through Camp Pendleton- back over Rudee inlet to the boardwalk-then to Shore Drive - to Port Story- and back to the Neptune statue at 30th.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Biggo congrats, my dear underpants!

A marathon indeed!

I'm proud of you...

What a great story!

:hug: :yourock: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[underpants]

6. Thanks

I had short conversations with people from New Jersey, Colorado, Ohio, and overheard a group of four native New Yorkers who had spread out across the country. I also watched what I am pretty sure was a "hook up" between a young guy and a girl WAY out of his league who agreed to look each other up on Facebook.

[1gobluedem]

7. Congratulations

The endurance and conditioning for a marathon is beyond my comprehension; I am in awe of anyone who completes ONE let alone three.

I remember when my brother ran the Chicago marathon. He called me when he finished and all I could hear was wheezing. At first I thought it was an obscene phone call.

Congratulations!

[underpants]

8. You'll be glad to know...

that there seemed to be quite the contingent of "Big Blue" people there. Lots of UM shirts on spectators and exchanges of "GO BIG BLUE" between runners and the crowd. No idea why (it being Va. Beach) but it was noticeable.

Also-on Ft. Story one of the water stops was completely manned by Notre Dame alums. I would guess that it was a ND alum association that an officer got onto the base. They had inflated goalposts and (this was really funny/cool) one guy had a replica of the sign that ND players touch on the way out of the locker room that read "Run like a champion today"--same color, font, and everything. I had to go over and slap it. Pretty cool.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. Congratulations!

You were on a bone stimulator for 10 hours a day for 70 days? Did I read that right?

Anyway :applause:

[underpants]

10. Yep

the joke writes itself

God I hated that thing, just about broke my other leg tripping over the cord several times