Cleveland Marathon

4:45 am. Heavy rain outside my hotel window. Heavy rain posted on the weather network website. My bed is enticing.

Ah well, I drove my car more than five and a half hours to get to this marathon, it would be silly to pack it all in for a cozy morning under the bed covers.

And, of course, I'm here on a research mission - to see how my body withstands two full marathons in one month. My usual coaching recommendation: set yourself up for success. This would preclude walking two marathons only three weeks apart. But I've coached enough people who have walked marathons with such minimal recovery time that I feel a personal responsibility to test the challenge.

Following the gruelling hills of the Big Sur course just three weeks ago, the best I hope for is that my body will take me from start to finish without suffering injury or insanity.

The sky is letting loose with water as I leave the hotel. Fortunately, it is a 5 minute walk to the start. The hotel staff are beyond helpful. I've been down to the front desk to borrow scissors to cut the top off my Sport Bean and Clif Blok Shot bags. Then, I am back down to ask someone to staple by disposable chip timing device to my shoelace because the adhesive is non-existent. Now, there is a hotel staff person handing out garbage bags as I leave for the race.

Thousands of us cram into the start chute with water attacking us from top to bottom. It's falling from the sky and dripping down the backs of our necks while our shoes wick it up from the puddles on the road.

The race gun goes and we are off into the sodden streets of Cleveland - a city which proves to be eminently walkable for a marathon. The course is beautiful despite the rain. By mile three, I am already thinking my legs are fatigued and I am wondering what I am doing out here when the Big Sur hills are still felt keenly by every muscle fibre in my calves.

There is so much to say about the race, but for now let me tell you that this race was walked all my head. My body was tired from the marathon I walked three weeks ago. I talked to myself, I cajoled myself and I entertained myself. At one point I inspired myself by deciding that the challenge of life is that it is often two steps forward and one step back, while the reward of marathon walking is that it is always one step forward!

All along the route I called upon different muscle groups to help push my feet forward. In the final two miles I was reduced to drawing upon my transverse abdominus!

So, the miracle is that I finished the race injury free, with my mind intact. The preposterous and unexpected result was a personal best and a first place finish!

Now what do I tell all of you out there asking for sage racing advice?