I completed the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon
By Larry Laux
President and Founder
Yesterday I joined 2500 other marathoners and started the 26.2 mile journey. As a first time marathoner, I really didn’t know if I could finish, or even what to really expect. The longest distance I had ever gone previously was 11 miles.
I had built a plan based on Galloway’s training method – run, run, walk. I would run for two time periods, then walk for one, right from the first mile. I felt remarkably good for the first 3 ½ hours.
We were very fortunate to have an excellent day for the race. The sky was cloudless all day, and very light winds. Temperatures at the start were 50 or so, and rose to the upper 60’s by early afternoon.
As the saying goes, I ‘bonked’ a bit around mile 19 or so. My legs started feeling pretty heavy. I had been taking my ‘goo’ (a carbohydrate gel designed to give a controlled fast-acting energy release without the crash) about every hour. By the way, they try to make it palatable (‘apple cinnamon’, ‘raspberry’,’vanilla bean’) but overall it’s pretty disgusting. Still, finishing was not certain.
Somewhere in there I switched from run, run, walk to run, walk, run, walk. In Mile 23 as I hit the lakefront, I was pretty sure I would finish. My support crew (my wife Nina) had been providing me with support and assistance throughout the race. She was incredibly helpful and patient.
How did I get this idea? Well, I turned 50 this year, and my Mom (she is SO cute) sent me $50. Now, what can I do with $50 that will be memorable?
Two words: “Entry Fee”.
So, now I can tick the “Did a marathon” box on my life accomplishments list. I doubt that I will do another one. And you don’t have to be concerned about me being too boastful of this feat. Metrix’ VP of Sales, Tom DeVroy has completed an Ironman Triathlon – where you swim for 2+ miles, ride a bike for 120 miles THEN run a full marathon. Worse yet, on his day the weather was in the 90’s.
He wins bragging rights.
p.s. if you’re really curious about my final time, click here and enter Larry Laux in the name box.
President and Founder
Yesterday I joined 2500 other marathoners and started the 26.2 mile journey. As a first time marathoner, I really didn’t know if I could finish, or even what to really expect. The longest distance I had ever gone previously was 11 miles.
I had built a plan based on Galloway’s training method – run, run, walk. I would run for two time periods, then walk for one, right from the first mile. I felt remarkably good for the first 3 ½ hours.
We were very fortunate to have an excellent day for the race. The sky was cloudless all day, and very light winds. Temperatures at the start were 50 or so, and rose to the upper 60’s by early afternoon.
As the saying goes, I ‘bonked’ a bit around mile 19 or so. My legs started feeling pretty heavy. I had been taking my ‘goo’ (a carbohydrate gel designed to give a controlled fast-acting energy release without the crash) about every hour. By the way, they try to make it palatable (‘apple cinnamon’, ‘raspberry’,’vanilla bean’) but overall it’s pretty disgusting. Still, finishing was not certain.
Somewhere in there I switched from run, run, walk to run, walk, run, walk. In Mile 23 as I hit the lakefront, I was pretty sure I would finish. My support crew (my wife Nina) had been providing me with support and assistance throughout the race. She was incredibly helpful and patient.
How did I get this idea? Well, I turned 50 this year, and my Mom (she is SO cute) sent me $50. Now, what can I do with $50 that will be memorable?
Two words: “Entry Fee”.
So, now I can tick the “Did a marathon” box on my life accomplishments list. I doubt that I will do another one. And you don’t have to be concerned about me being too boastful of this feat. Metrix’ VP of Sales, Tom DeVroy has completed an Ironman Triathlon – where you swim for 2+ miles, ride a bike for 120 miles THEN run a full marathon. Worse yet, on his day the weather was in the 90’s.
He wins bragging rights.
p.s. if you’re really curious about my final time, click here and enter Larry Laux in the name box.
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2 Comments:
Larry,
Congratulations on your finish. You now have a very good idea of distance involved in a marathon having experiencing every foot of the 26.2 mile distance. Time is of no consequence. You are now part of the club.
The plan worked. You ran your race and finished.
As John Bingham, author of 'Courage to Start' and 'No Need for Speed' say's it "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." Waddle on freinds.
Great work!!! It's a very impressive feat. :)
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