Chapters 26.2

Chapter 1
Start of the race.. Lot of experience runners enjoying the moment.. Lot of deer in the headlights runners wondering how they got to this point (me).. It is cold.. I am smiling I could not have asked for better weather.. Just not rain.. I hope..
I am alone no ipod nobody to talk nothing to do except think.. I think I am hungry.. I think I have to pee.. During the national anthem my heart starts to race.. I am an athlete again.. I look for my helmet..

Chapter 2
Flying through the city tired faces looking for someone but all they see is drifit and steam rising from the mass.. Legs feel amazing.. Am I really apart of this..

Chapter 3
Still nervous foot goes to sleep just like old times.. Shut up and run it will shake out of it.. Trying to shut out the constant dribble of conversations around me and find someone or something to focus on.. Nope all alone still lost.. I hate women under the age of the 30.. They should ban the word like..

Chapter 4
The rain.. Maybe it is just a sprinkle.. Just enjoy the race heavy.. Need something to do .. Still lost.. Shoot I am running to fast..

Chapter 5
It is pouring now.. I love it.. I am dumb forget that I have to be in it for another 4 hours.. Wondering if I will see family around 6 miles.. Legs are money… Feel like I could run all day.

Chapter 6
Wow this is a lot of rain.. Enjoying the Course.. Would be great to live around here the lakes and neighborhoods are beautiful..
Legs feel really good too good.. I need to find a away to pace.. I see the Cliff Bar Pacer balloons at 4:15.. That would be cool if I could do that.. Would be a little fast but if I slow up I would be around 4:30..

Chapter 7
Sounds like a plan.. Crap I reset my timer on my watch by mistake trying to brush the water off.. I have a plan just stick to by the 4:15..

Chapter 8
I hate the 4:15 group.. They all think they are better than this time just running the race this day to enjoy themselves.. We normally are under 4 but I just want to have fun today.. I think about starting to punch anyone that says that they are just running this for fun. I think this is where I hear some guy cussing about getting his shoes wet watching the race.. It is my brother.. I yell for him but he is too busy keeping his 1998 loafers dry.. Great to see him..

Chapter 9
I have my groove.. I am enjoying the crowd.. They are all saying things about go Chuck or keep it going Chuck.. I am at point at whoever says Chuck I am giving them a thumbs up… Legs strong mind strong.. People are wondering how many toe nails they will loose.. My brother told me to put Vaseline in between my toes.. It works no pain..

Chapter 10
I want to be an iron man.. I think I see IJ and his Wife at this point.. I have this thing in the bag.. But it just keeps raining and the puddles are drenching my feet.. I make a fat guy joke and tell the people are me that at least my feet are not get wet they laugh and think I am serious and start examining my feet.. All runners think everyone else has an edge..

Chapter 11
I think I see BS here or somewhere close.. The wind has picked up and it really getting ugly out here.. The grind begins.. I feel just a little tightness in my quads the wind and rain are smashing down on my legs.. I want to tell him that it feels like I am playing Dassel but I can't say it right.. I am really focused now.. BS looks like he could run the race today.. I hate thin people..

Chapter 12-16
All my training is paying off.. During this stretch the weather is terrible the crowds are great and I am enjoying the run.. We are running along the river for awhile the wind is just terrible.. But I am just feeling like I can do it now.. Everything is blur I see my Aunt and Uncle and IJ and my wife and kids but only for seconds. I am thinking about how many hours I have left as I feel like my legs can roll on forever.. I just love the brief seconds I see people I know and give them high fives or wave.. I feel terrible for making people have to walk around in this horrible day..

Chapter 17
The water stops are really pissing me off as people keep cutting me off or stopping or elbowing me right as I take a sip.. I tried to take water ever three miles but I really don't think I am getting enough.. This was a mistake.. I am taking my Goo at every 45 minutes but I feel my legs getting crampy.. No doubt I will finish now.. Think about close lining a guy that says less than ten miles to go.. I think about saying I am less then 10 steps away from choking you..

Chapter 18.
How long is this river.. I am trying to enjoy the race but at this point.. I have some fear that I can go another 8 miles.. I feel anger building but I try to use it for me.. I feel my thighs no joke they felt like ice where forming on them.. I was freezing

Chapter 19
I am still cruising along I think I am way ahead of the 4:15 pacer.. Wow I just need to relax and I am going to make it.. Wait I am not done at 10 I still have a 10k to go after that.. I panic some at this point and really try to slow down.. I feel some serious cramps in my calfs and my quads.. Legs are really strong though I am going to power through it.. 2 ladies in green start making chit chat with me not sure if it was pity or just boredom but I talk a little.. They tell me I am looking good.. I think about saying they do to but I am worried they will be offended as I cannot look at anything but the road now.. I sprint ahead of them so I they stop talking to me..

Chapter 20
I see my in-laws they ask me how I am doing.. I can't lie I tell them I am not doing good.. The cramping has begun.. Still powering still striding.. There is some stupid wall or something over the road here.. My brother runs along with me and encourages me.. I try to listen but I am so focused on keeping my stride that I don't hear what he says other than keep going.. And he slaps my ass so hard I think that is going to cramp too.

Chapter 21
The worst thing happens here.. I have doubt now.. I think I am going to disappoint everyone.. I see my wife and IJ wife.. I am done my legs are done I have been going up hill for around a mile and half with no end in sight.. She run's with me for a little bit says some really nice things I think I cannot hear most of them as my mind is telling me to just stop.. My mind tells me this is it. You got no more in the tank..

Chapter 22
I am running with strides that are probably slower than walking but.. I just keep thinking of BS and my wife and my brother that just said keep moving keep going.. It is gross out there.. People are crying and stopping to stretch.. The conversations are the crowd pleading for peoople to keep going.. I try to help a few out. By encouraging them..

Chapter 23
I am running and version of walk running. I pick out a big guy in a light blue shirt a head of me and make it my focus to not loose sight of him.. I run until the cramps get too bad and then I walk and swing my arms for a few steps.. I don't loose that guy
Around this time I think the 4:15 pacer group comes buy.. I run with them until mile 24 I think..

Chapter 24-25.5
I hate the mileage markers infact I am not sure if I ever saw the 24 or 25 as they have angered me so much.. My legs are going to seize up here and I am going to have to crawl to the finish or quit.. I can't quit.. I just keep moving.. It feels like I am still going up hill.. I have no idea I am just moving.. Running drinking water at ever turn., eating candy from the spectators anything that will stop my legs from cramping. I do something I have not done in 18 years.. I start punch my legs right where it hurts.. I know it is dumb they are cramping already but I need something.. Anything to give me and edge or the the will to finish.. I hate the people yelling and cheering.. They are all there for the freak show if they truly where there they would be at the finish line. This is where people are shitting themselves crying laying down thinking of quitting.. Do they think some fat ass drinking coffee .. saying come on you can do it is going to help.. I have it.. Use the Anger big heavy.. I feel the rage.. Not sure at what point but I just say lets go.. And I don't remember how long it was maybe a mile maybe 2 but I never stopped jogging after that.. I just thought about the finish. I thought about the prize..

Chapter 26
I am coming down the hill it is finished it is over.. I see people I know.. I take my hat off to celebrate but I just can't stop the cramping.. I take these little strides.. I look terrible.. I feel terrible.. It all slows down now.. I remember the long runs in my winter spikes across the snow in the dark.. I remember the hot trips around lower turtle lake.. I am not going to crawl I am going to finish. I have no idea what my time will be but I don't care.. I am hungry.. That's it no great ah ha moment I think wow I am hungry.. I didn't have breakfast or lunch..

Chapter .2
I forget that the fnn mile marker for 26 is not the end.. There is .2 to go.. I think of launching myself at the mile marker and ripping it to shreds but really the only thing I could launch was the goo from my stomach.. I see the mat for the end.. That's it I am done.. Never again..

I look at all the people that came.. Wow thanks everyone… Hey Chuck we talked a lot between mile 21-25 thanks for telling me to keep my eye on the prize.. There is no grey in a marathon either you finish or you don't..


I finished

I am a runner