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SRRC Race Reports
Marine Corps Marathon —October 29, 2006
by
Joy Granetz
The last time I ran a marathon, in November 2000, I swore it was my last. But approximately six months ago, somewhat on a whim, I decided to register for the Marine Corps Marathon on opening day of registration. My running buddies Alison and Kathy were signing up. Also, I felt particularly inspired that morning. At the time, I was working at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the Traumatic Brain Injury Center. In order to miss traffic, my routine was to leave the house at 5am, stop at Starbucks, and hit the road. Arriving at WRAMC way before necessary, I'd sneak in a morning run around the WRAMC campus. That morning I happened to be running with a few injured warriors. There I was, running along side a young man, probably in his early 20's, with a prosthetic leg. If he could summon up the physical stamina to run after all he had been through, then I could run a marathon. So I signed up.
Over the course of the six months of training, I completed the internship at WRAMC, completed a Ph.D. program, joined a private practice, and lost a grandfather. I logged over 500 miles of training runs. It was a challenge to come home from a 22-mile training run and enthusiastically respond to my two and four year olds eager responses to my arrival! But I did it. Unfortunately, I didn't do it unscathed. I suffered from plantar fasciitis (sidenote: never change sneaker brands unless absolutely necessary!) and a strained calf after the Army Ten Miler. The injuries were mild, but it was hard to start the marathon knowing that I was not at 100%.
The race itself was a challenge. I seemed to fly through the first sixteen miles. I kept a steady pace at about a 9:30 mile. I wore my name on my shirt and enjoyed hearing the spectators cheer for me. My family came to support me and saw me at several mile markers. Unfortunately, pain hit at Mile 16. My sister-in-law jumped in to run Haine's Point with me, which helped immensely. Luckily, she is a physical therapist so she was able to give me some pointers and stretches during the rough points. At mile 20 I felt as if my left knee was going to buckle. I began to doubt myself. Would I be able to finish this race? Better yet, should I finish the race? But I just kept putting one foot in front of the other. For six miles I just put one foot in front of the other. And you know what? I finished.
I finished in 4 hours and 37 minutes—a personal worst. But the time doesn't matter so much to me. I am proud of myself for setting the goal and accomplishing it. I swear that this is my last one. But, in the words of Lance Armstrong, I reserve the right to change my mind.
October 2006
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