Shoe Fly Don't Bother Me: Tales from 3M

Last year, I trained long and hard for the 3M. I ran the course 4 times and practiced picking up the pace. This year, I was not prepared. The time between the San Antonio Marathon and 3M was short relative to my ability to get some speed work in.

So, the week before, my daughter got the stomach bug and I got cedar fever. I get sick every year the week before 3M, so it's really part of the deal. But, I was really wiped out from, well, cleaning everything in my house and not sleeping that much.

I showed up on race day with no plan. I rode with Lorenzo and friends and he reported that he was not racing. DD wanted to do a good training run as she's training for another marathon. I hit the Afrin for the nasal passages and hoped for the best.

I saw Lucy at the start (see Jingle Bell entry) and squeezed in by some Gazelles. They were all going to run fast. I saw DV as he made his way to the front. I hugged DD and off we go. I started out fairly well and tried to pull the pace down. At about mile 4, I wanted to quit. But, I wouldn't give up. I heard Lorenzo talking to DD behind me. What the heck, where'd he come from? He came up on me and we ran for a bit, then he took off and I just couldn't catch him....again.

I decided that it had to be my own race and I just hunkered down for the lonely ride. I saw MWoo and he cheered and encouraged me. He told me about the head wind coming up. When I turned onto North Loop, I was ready, not too far to go Red. I was playing chicken with this other gal. I'd pass her, she'd pass me...back and forth.

Suddenly, I feel something around my left foot. I look down. My shoe is untied. No, really, it is. I couldn't believe it. I lace them 3 or 4 times. How did that happen? I had to stop and tie it. My hands were cold, it was hard to bend. I kept trying and trying to tie it and nothing would happen. The clock is ticking, people running by...one after the other. I shout some curses and get it done.

Off I go. I'm pissed now. I have so much to make up. I concentrate and hit the secret weapon. I come up to and pass some folks that were near me before. Ok, I'm good (this was from 7:21 to a 7:00 during that time). Then I see some Gazelles who I know are fast and I'm feeling a bit better. One is near, but she goes by. Darn it! On Duval, a guy next to me tells me, I don't have much to give. Yes, you do, I tell him. You are breathing too shallow. Try to take a deep breath and relax some, lean forward a little. He does this and I hear him taking big deep breaths. We pass by two Gazelle-spectators with the cow bell and they give me a huge cheer. You know them the guy says. Yes, they are my friends from the Gazelles. He breaths again and takes off.

I start to dig, not looking at my watch. I just have a little bit to go. Hold on, I tell myself. There's Gilbert -- come on Red, dig in. He shouts a time at me. Ok, I think, almost there. You didn't train really and it's almost over, just dig in. And so, I do. I try to give more and head for the finish.

Lorenzo meets me and asks me where the heck I've been. My shoe came untied, I tell him. I lost some time. Didn't you triple knot them. I did, I don't know what happened.

Anyway, I'm happy, I did it, I was alone. I had no cheering section and I tried to help someone along the way. I didn't get a personal record, but I hit the top 10 in my age group. That was my goal all along. Next year, steel laces.