Camp Pendleton Hard Corps Marathon

Completed this Hard Corps Marathon last Saturday, April 17, 2010.

What a wonderful group of people!  I strongly recommend this marathon for anyone who can complete a rather hilly course in six hours.  The support was outstanding, with plenty of enthusiastic, encouraging, and courteous Marines at every aid station.

There were about 400 runners, and at least that many support people, probably more.  It was so exciting to see the courage and determination of several of the runners in the back who were completing their first marathon.  Two different runners each ran with the American Flag on a pole the entire 26.2 miles.  There was at least one man who ran with a prosthetic lower leg.

Another thing that stood out about this event was that the support men and women held their positions until the very last runner had passed.  When the last runner arrived at the finish line, he had an escort of at least 20 marines, who were jogging in with him and encouraging him.  The last runner got a standing ovation from everyone present - how often do you see that at a race?

The course itself is as it is billed - hard corps.  There were lots of hills, though with an out and back you must always keep telling yourself that for every hill you go up you get to go down.  Miles 21 to 25 constitute one large hill, so one of the challenges is forcing yourself to keep climbing that hill after you have already gone 21 miles - which makes finishing the race on the one flat mile in the entire race even more satisfying.

I was excited to finish in my best time this year 6:07, on a more difficult course.  I was a little worried that my time would not count, as it was over six hours, but relieved that the six hour requirement advertised was primarily to discourage the really slow runners since having too many stragglers would disrupt other activities on the base.  That means I have now qualified to become a Marathon Maniac - three marathons completed within three months.  As they say in the civilian world - hooray!

Another plus is that I discovered Wright socks at REI.  These are double socks that essentially eliminate the normal blisters, as the sock absorbs all of the shifting around, not your skin.  So, no blisters, no lost nails, not even any raw feet - all ofwhich was a big plus.  The orthotics helped keep my knee ligaments from getting too strained on the right side, though my left side may be adjusting to that as it had some new aches.

Something to consider with orthotics.  To wear them, I had to take out the normal cushioning, so the bottom of my feet took more of a pounding and felt a bit bruised for a day or two.  Still, not so much that they affected my run at the time, so a small price to pay for keeping my knees properly aligned throughout the race.

I am so grateful to my incredible older brother, Tim, who encouraged me to enter the Iron Man race last November, for motivating me to start entering races.  I used to think that I would have just as much fun running on my own as in an official event, since at the events I can't really say that I am actually "racing" anyone other than my own previous best time.  I was wrong.  Meeting so many great people, and observing so many others overcome their struggles is far more enjoyable and inspiring.

I thank God that we are able to have so many events organized by private citizens in this country, thankful for the health and time to participate, and thankful for so many wonderful people who come together in a common task.