Steamdown Weekend....I was so excited to get away and run I went to the expo and then the train museum. I had such a hard time there thinking about my dad and how much he would have loved it. The whole day was very emotional. I wasn’t feeling great and went back to the hotel. By 6 pm I was in bed resting for the race. Got up very excited, had a stressful ride into Scranton getting lost but made the bus and met friends with plenty of time to spare. The weather was cold but perfect for running. Started off the race with the cannon blast taking my plan to get my Boston qualifier into account. Sadly what was in my mind was not in my body and by the end of mile 2 I found myself walking because I was in afib. Trying not to panic as I have had episodes the day before and prior where I go in and out for a short period of time I tried to walk it off. Within a few minutes I was back on the course running. . My pace was on track to my plan 8:07/ 8:08 until I got to around mile 9 where I was back in afib. This time it was lasting longer. I tried to stay calm but as I kept watching everyone run past me, I went into full blow tears, crying hysterically that my chance to qualify was over. All that hard work gone in less than an hour and twenty minutes. My heart went back in regular rhythm and I thought go a bit slower, calm down, you still have a shot but the next time it happened I knew I was done. I was wheezing and could not control my utter disappointment. I was devastated. Forced to basically walk the last six miles and begging medical to let me finish at mile 23, I was completely rock bottom. I had to sit for almost ten minutes watching everyone run by till they felt I was capable to walk to the end. Coming across the finish line like a zombie, I found the curb as Corey went in search for help. I spent about an hour hooked up to the heart monitor as they waited for my pulse rate and blood pressure to come down and to ensure I stayed in regular rhythm. They offered me breathing treatments for my cough from my asthma. So the positives in all this? While walking I saw a man wearing a Koren Veteran’s hat. I went over to shake his hand but he was coming over to me and shook mine! I had my Fisher House hat on. He said “thank you so much” and I:thought why is he thanking me as I said “no sir, I thank you for your service”. He was so happy. People behind me overheard and started to come and shake his hand and thank him and that made me feel great. I also learned my friend Val finished his race on a broken toe, my friend Dean made his sub-4 time and PR’d , my friend Steve got his Boston Qualifier, my friend Jackie finished her race strong and happy, my friend Lou crushed his race with a hip injury and my friends Sue and Sean stuck with their plan and ran a great solid race. I did not get to find out how Kat, Paul and Marty did but I did get to see Marty at the beginning of the race and I was glad about that. Other positives, I didn’t end in the hospital and I did get to finish the race. Still feeling very sad today almost wishing it was just a bad dream and I was running today but that is not the case. So, I have to get over it and move on. Thanks very much to everyone who supported me towards my goal. Next race Marine Corps Marathon! (pictures to follow soon)
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 14:24:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015