Real David H.

older. wiser. slower.

Plan Z

✴︎

11.11.2012

When all other plans fail, just finish.

That’s what yesterday’s Richmond Marathon ended up being about — finishing. I don’t know what went wrong or why it went wrong or how it went wrong. Halfway through I felt good, was right on pace and ready to kick it up just a notch.

Then the wheels fell off. Not by a little … when the wheels fell off the rest of me fell apart.

Finishing time: 4:40 and a few seconds. Yes — nearly an hour off my “A” goal.

Instead of dwelling on what happened, I’ll leave you with a post I put on Facebook yesterday. These were all thoughts I had along the way. I really don’t have anything else to add right now.

2012 Richmond Marathon finish

Mile 1: I love running.
Mile 3: I love me some Monument Avenue. Who’s buying me a house here?
Mile 7: Enough with the poop signs already.
Mile 11: I forgot to tell Scott about this neighborhood and the hills. Oops.
Mile 13.1: Perfect pace, feeling good.
Mile 17: If I see Christina I’m dropping out.
Mile 19: Right about now I need Travis to be the voice of reason.
Mile 21: I’m never doing this shit again!
Mile 22: That’s a dumb thought. I should do Disney in January.
Mile 24: I’m going to cry about everything in life.
Mile 26.2: I’m a marathoner for the fourth time, who cares what my time was? Bring me beer.

23 responses to “Plan Z”

jennifer Martin

commented on

November 11, 2012

Your post on FB made me laugh out loud. I read it to out loud in the car on the way home. My addition to your list is I would have diverted into one of the bars in “up town” Fan district. Great job! I love this quote from @coachJenny Finish Time is merely the outcome of the experience. It only defines you if you let it- via @coachjenny Happy Running @marathoningmom

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1. David H.
  
  commented on
  
  November 12, 2012
  
  That’s definitely a great quote. I don’t let finishing time define me, but I’m also learning that I kind of let my goal time define too much of my training this past summer.
  
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Kelly

commented on

November 11, 2012

Sorry to hear about the race but on another note, yes, you did finish!

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Phil Settle

commented on

November 11, 2012

I see it often among those of us who blog about our marathon experiences. We tend to create expectations, ofted times very realistic ones, and then somehow on raceday something just doesn’t “click” right and the necessary surge for the last 10k just isn’t there. Happened to me twice personally. I’m going to completely reboot my training philosophy before my next 26.2 in March. Anyways, fortunately completing a marathon at ANY pace is a remarkable achievement. Congrats! Your enthusiasm for active living and running in particular is inspirational!

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1. David H.
  
  commented on
  
  November 11, 2012
  
  I think sometimes what we forget is to make it clear that it’s a goal, and not an expectation. There’s definitely a fine line between the two that isn’t always clear.
  
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Beth (i run like a girl)

commented on

November 11, 2012

You definitely deserve a beer. Or two.You’re a 4-time marathoner. That’s all that counts. (And, honestly, the painful races are a better indicator of your mettle than the easy ones are.)

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1. krissy m. murphy
  
  commented on
  
  November 13, 2012
  
  I agree completely with Beth about the tough marathons.
  
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  1. David H.
    
    commented on
    
    November 13, 2012
    
    I certainly don’t disagree, but 1 was enough for me 2 years ago. More lessons learned this time around though. 🙂
    
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Jenny

commented on

November 11, 2012

Congrats on your finish…every one is a gift that holds insights into running stronger down the road.

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steena

commented on

November 11, 2012

Congrats on the 4th marathon! Your mile 24 thought, HAHA, yeah, I got that one at my last marathon too. I would love you see you run Disney in a pink tu-tu. Doooooo it!

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Charlotte

commented on

November 12, 2012

haha. I’m not going to lie. Your mental process really made me giggle. Then imaging you running Disney with some sort of mickey hat on made me laugh even harder.
yep, thats my current mental process.
Congrats on finishing when you were ready to drop for nearly half the race. That is a victory in itself. Proud of you for keeping it together. So many people fall apart after not hitting a goal.

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1. David H.
  
  commented on
  
  November 12, 2012
  
  No matter what I do, I will not wear a Mickey hat in any race. 😉
  
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Running Librarian

commented on

November 12, 2012

Way to go! You finished a tough race! Sometimes when we have a really difficult race it makes the next one just a bit sweeter 🙂 Congrats on finishing!

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Jessica

commented on

November 12, 2012

I think the whole mental process is applicable to so many other things in life. Things happen, get in our way, screw up all our plans, but we still pull through.
Hell yeah marathoner. More medal biting!

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Carrie M

commented on

November 12, 2012

Definitely with you on the Mile 21 thought! Congrats on your finish – 4 time marathoner is pretty darn awesome. And thanks again for all your info about Richmond. What a beautiful city!!!

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Jessica B.

commented on

November 12, 2012

I love this! I think everytime someone runs a marahton they should post something like this. Can’t wait to see what you sign up for next 😉

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1. David H.
  
  commented on
  
  November 12, 2012
  
  I’m at a point with running and writing that I can’t do mile-by-mile posts, and it’s really hard to read it like that. So much of it comes down to the experience of the event and what happened (or didn’t happen) to figure out if it was a success or not.
  
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Lori

commented on

November 12, 2012

I know it wasn’t your goal but as you said dwelling doesn’t solve anything. Move on to the next one and enjoy! I’ve been wanting ask “what is up with all the poop signs?” They’ve been popping up at races all over the country and they’re not funny, any more.

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Chad @ beardrunner.com

commented on

November 12, 2012

My race recap would go like this, following your format:Mile 1 – what have I done?
Mile 3 – is it mile 3 yet?
Mile 4 – worst. parade. ever. (again and again and again)
Mile 11 – Gangnam Style is stuck is going to be stuck in my head for the entire race isn’t it?
Mile 13.1 – wait, what mile am I on?
Mile 17 – why God? why? (Lee bridge)
Mile 19 – …-_-
Mile 22 – why is my pee brown?
Mile 26.2 – Can’t wait to do this again, now get me to a doctor.

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1. David H.
  
  commented on
  
  November 12, 2012
  
  Yeah, a lot of that too, minus the brown pee. 🙂
  
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krissy m. murphy

commented on

November 13, 2012

WTG on finishing ANOTHER marathon!!
Us marathoners certainly are strange birds. 😉

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Ara

commented on

November 13, 2012

I have to say, my latest marathon that I did was very similar. It didn’t go ANYTHING like I planned. But, at some point during the race, you have to abandon any goals you had and just have the main goal of finishing. 🙂 You still did a great job David! Be proud!

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LifeisaRun

commented on

November 16, 2012

Congrats on no. 4!! Might not have been the 4th marathon you expected, but you still finished it and have no doubt there’s still something to learn from it. Not that that necessarily makes it easier.

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