The Portland Marathon

It's a brutal sport, this. Running 26.2 miles!? That's the same as running from Baylands to San Francisco airport. What lunacy!!
Except it isn't. No other sport so rewards participation. You can be last in a 100m dash and feel
inadequate. You can finish last in a marathon and feel like a million bucks! Because you FINISHED! That's what it's all about.
Of course, when the sport is held in a city with many thousands participating and ten thousands more cheering you on all along the course, it can all take the air of a big jamboree.
Except it isn't. Marathon running is not for the faint of heart. A six month training period is almost mandatory. Friendships built during this period, with people who understand the pain of hours of running and training, can be lifelong. And that support is absolutely essential when your body is trying it's best to give up on you at that mile 21 after 4 hrs of non stop running.

Part 1: Good
The weather at the start is great! It's cool but not biting cold. The pavements are bone dry and the forecast calls for the sun to come out soon. I am feeling good except for one thing. On the last monday run, I've felt pain on the inside of the right foot just below the ankle bone. This is the first niggle I've had in all the months of running. Ice, massage and a quick email to coach later, I feel better, but I still cant escape that niggling feeling.
But it's forgotten at the start line, when I join the chorus of runners all ready to go. There are literally thousands of people. Spirit's are high among all the Asha runners. I sync up with Shiva and Shailesh and we decide to start together. On long runs I've always liked to start slow (11 min/m) and feel the pace build up gradually, such that my average pace by the end is around 10:15-10:30.
But finish times are not on the forefront of my mind. I just want to finish, come what may. This is the marathon, this is what we've trained six months for. You die before you give up!
The start is good. We are running nice and steady. At miles 2 and 5, the cheerleading squad lead by Snehal, Balu and Madhavi are out in full force. These guys have come to Portland just to cheer and support us, which is beyond awesome. Little did I know how crucial their support would become.
Mile 9 and 10 passes by uneventfully, and there is no sign of the ankle niggle I had the preceding week. It has already started to rain and get chilly, and a glance at the clouds doesn't paint a good picture. But it doesn't bother me at that point, my body is warmed up and I'm running steadily.



Part 2: Bad
Mile 14 has gone by, and early signs of trouble. My right ankle has now started to hurt. It's a feeling akin to someone poking pins into the tendon just below the ankle. This is not good. It's not something that's stopping me from running right now, so I press on. The pain is consistent, but doesn't seem to be getting worse, which is heartening. But I'm unable to relax and ignore the pain. The rain is showing no sign of stopping, and the humidity is high. I am taking in electrolytes at every aid station. At mile 16-17 is an uphill climb to the bridge.
Trouble!! My legs, especially my right leg, suddenly feels like a stone block. My thighs and calves feel so tight, its like someone wringing them dry.
..And then the first cramp shoots up the calf. It's an extremely painful sensation. I am forced to stop and stretch it out. I immediately swallow the only salt tablet I have with me. I start running gingerly, but things don't feel good. At mile 18 the cramps hit again. It's such a shooting sensation I almost stumble to a stop. Both my legs now feel bone tight and very sore!

Part 3: Ugly
The rain is coming down. It's overcast, chilly and wet, with nary a break in sight. The wetness is causing a painful blister to develop on my left foot. Walking is lowering my core temperature and I am wet and cold, but running is out of the question. Cramps are shooting up at the first hint of a running motion. Walking is now the only option. I walk upto mile 19, trying to ignore the blister when putting weight on my left foot, trying to ignore the ankle when putting weight on my right foot, trying to block out the cold, and stopping at times to stretch out cramps. Mahesh and Shailesh pass me at this point, urging me to finish it, which gives me a boost. And then at mile 19.5 comes the kicker..

Trying to explain ITB pain at it's worst to someone who's never experienced it is like trying to explain color to a person born blind. Many times I have queried Saumil and Shailesh on how and where exactly does it hurt, but I could never really see...until now.
It comes on suddenly in the right leg at mile 19.5. I don't know if the tendinitis in the ankle somehow caused the ITB to tighten up, but I feel its full wrath. Suddenly I cant bend my right leg at the knee. I am forced to bring my right leg around as if in a cast. Its extremely painful. I limp upto mile 20.

Part 4: Good again!
Cramps are coming on now even while walking. I am close to breaking point. All of a sudden I look up and see a familiar smiling face running towards me. It's Balu! He asks me if I'm ok. I tell him that I cannot run, just about walk. He tells me not to worry, lets walk to the finish. That simple statement fills me with renewed hope. Why not? I've come 20 miles! Why stop now?


This point is where the support and camaraderie of the group comes out in full force. Balu is on his cell phone, with calls to Snehal for advice. I can hear Snehals voice on the other end, urging frequent fluid intake. I drink up at aid stations and limp on. We meet Madhavi at the 21 mile mark, who along with coach Char on cell phone disperse crucial advice. Instead of stretching, massage the muscle hard and deep to stimulate blood flow. Balu uses his cell phone as a tool (akin to SMI Greg's bottletop) to massage the calf and thigh. With this, I feel some blood flowing in the legs, and I can walk without cramps for a bit, with 'only' the blister, tendinitis and ITB for company. Those three I can handle till the finish. On the way, we see a guy hunched up with severe ITB pain. Balu invites him to join us on the walk. He joins us and chats for 5 minutes but his long legs allow him a longer stride, and I have to stop for another cramp massage, so he presses on. There are many struggling runners at this point, but all seem to be headed one way, the finish. And that's where we are headed.





Part 5: Finish!!
On any marathon, seeing the finish fills you up with energy. In my case its just about enough to renew my confidence that yes, I AM going to finish. For 6 miles I have walked with Balu, with cramp massage stops at every mile. I make one last ditch effort to run at the finish line, but just the act of STARTING to run causes immense pain, and I limp to the finish. Crossing the finish line is a mix of jubilation and relief, but my brain is fried. I am just hunched over, not knowing what to do. I am like the walking dead. A friendly aid worker comes to me and escorts me to a tent, puts ice on my ITB and gives me chocolates. Ahh I can walk again. I gingerly make my way to the Asha tent, at a pace of probably 10meters/hour, where juice, samosas, bananas and other goodies await. Slowly, my energy is coming back.

Part 6: Thanks!
Simply put, without Balu's support there was no way I could've finished this! At mile 20 he suddenly appeared like an angel from heaven :)! Thanks Balu!!
Of course, no small part was played by Madhavi who partly walked with us and gave valuable cramp tips, constant calls from Snehal with support and tips, encouragement from Shailesh and Mahesh who implored me to finish when they passed me, my running buddy Shiva who finished strong for me, my brother who drove me around and handled all hotel formalities when I could not walk, all the Asha runners who offered encouragement on the way, my bayland mentors without whom I wouldn't be waking up at 6 to train, the great coaches who disperse 200$/hr advice for free, and of course the amazing volunteers whose meticulous planning ensures that we focus only on one thing, running.
It was an amazing experience.. You guys rock!!



Part 7: Aftermath.
This was a combination of a lot of things happening at the same time, but I was still able to cross the finish, in a total time of 6hrs, a PR. It can only get better from here. By far this won't be my only run!