I’m not really into corporate slogans. They rarely have any connection to real life. But I will make an exception to one that has turned into one of my core beliefs, and that is that if you have a body, I believe you are an athlete. That’s from Nike, and it’s been something that I’ve come to realize since getting into running. When I run, I feel like an athlete on TV, getting to train and compete at a high level among other runners. And I’m at the point where I am into putting that to the test. Last fall, I came up with a grand experiment to run a qualifying time for the 2025 Chicago Marathon. You can read more about that here, and in my By The Numbers section. I’ll be updating that in the coming days, and offering some insights on the data side.
My first crack at that qualifying time was Sunday in Cleveland during the 47th edition of the marathon. I chose Cleveland as my first attempt because it was a relatively flat and fast course (except for two bridges). It also has some sentimental value, being where I ran my first half marathon after getting into this whole running thing. I couldn’t think of a better place to throw down some fast miles and go for a personal best and a major qualifier.
A 3:10 marathon would be a 43-minute improvement from my last race, and going in, I planned to get with the 3:10 pace group and do my best to keep the pace as long as possible. It was going to be my most aggressive approach yet and was a major change from previous races, where I had less aggressive goals and was focused on being steady and comfortable the entire way. I would need to average 7:15 per mile, faster than I have ever run in any half or full marathon.
When the gun went off at 7 A.M., our group took off through the streets of Cleveland.
This year’s marathon route showcased the best of the city. After winding through the streets of downtown, it took runners past Browns Stadium and into the popular Flats district, before heading into Tremont. The second half took runners along Lake Erie, before returning downtown for the finish. It offered great views of Cleveland’s skyline, passed through popular neighborhoods and landmarks, and the spectators were out and ready to cheer. I had taken the course and broke it into sections, wanting to focus on each individually.
I had planned on throwing down some fast times through the downtown section of the race, but the first miles were faster than anticipated, clocking in under 7 minutes. Although it was faster than I planned, it felt great to go that pace with fresh legs and after all the long, slow runs that happen during a marathon training block. I hit the 5k mark at 22:04, ahead of what I needed to do, at an average pace of 7:07.
A marathon is a long race, but as we passed Browns Stadium and entered the Flats district time was moving quickly. I hit 10k at 45:24, only 20 seconds behind my needed split at that mark. My legs were feeling a little heavy, but I was still able to keep my pace group in sight, and I was in good spirits. As my watch alerted me to another mile complete, it dawned on me that at this rate I was going to finish this race before places opened for brunch. With the first quarter of the race was over, I was in the game. I just had to replicate this three more times.
It was around this time that the temperature started to rise as quickly as our pace. What started as a cool day in the high 50s quickly elevated to a humid mid-60-degree temp, which was taking its toll on runners around me. Many were shedding any layers they had, and stopping to address cramps. Luckily, the Tremont section of the course was shaded, and as we prepared to cross the bridge back into downtown, I was still running fast, although my pace had slowed slightly.
The Guardian bridge that connects downtown to Ohio City is the one thing I remember from my first race in 2016, specifically how it never seems to end. You finally come downhill after what seems like a much longer than-necessary incline. But this view is also the best, offering Cleveland from a different angle. The mid-sized city has a silhouette that makes it look major from here, and I couldn’t help but be distracted by it for a moment. Other people couldn’t either, with some other runners who didn’t care about their times stopping to take a selfie with the skyline in the background.
We were 12 miles in at this point, and as we turned to pass Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, I saw the signs for the half-marathoners to head to their finish, while the marathoners would head west for an out-and-back stretch over the next 13 miles. I watched them turn toward their finish, while I carried on and crossed the halfway point of my race with a time of 1:38.
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I’ve written a lot about why I love this sport, with the way it challenges and rewards participants for going outside their comfort zone, and the way it teaches you to view results with a degree of perspective. My 1:38 half-marathon time was a personal best for the distance, and coupled with my 45-minute 10k, was the 2nd personal best I had accomplished that day. But that same 1:38 time was 3 minutes behind my goal pace, and a 3:10 finish was going to be a heavy lift, given the temperature and fatigue that was setting in and the toughest parts of the marathon still ahead.
Mile 16 is where the cramping started, first in my right calf and then in my left quad. As they tightened, I would try to run as normal of a stride as possible, but soon it became too much to continue running consistently. I would get going again, only to be slowed by another cramp a few steps later. Each fluid station offered a chance to rehydrate with electrolytes and water, and I would walk through the station, stretching the cramped muscles so that I could begin running again. At this point, my pace had slowed significantly, and by mile 20 I was 15 minutes behind pace. It’s frustrating when a muscular issue presents itself because the majority of the focus is on aerobic training when preparing for a race. I wasn’t winded or breathing hard, yet was struggling. It’s just another way the marathon challenges your fitness.
Before the race, as my wife and I discussed the possibility of the day not going the way I planned, she reminded me that this was a chance to do something I love. When you are running for a time, the focus is the clock. It was disappointing knowing that my goal time was out of reach. It is easy to look at what was going wrong instead of what was going right in those moments, and I knew stewing in disappointment for the remaining 6 miles wouldn’t help. My mindset began to shift from my speed (or lack of it now) to remembering her words and why I decided I run this race. Running has turned into a true joy for me. It’s become a way to not only challenge myself athletically but to experience people and places differently and to celebrate people being the best versions of themselves. On this day, I was getting to experience a city I love in a new way, and in my toughest moments physically, I was lifted by encouraging runners, spectators, and event staff. Kids offering encouraging signs and high fives. Residents of the neighborhoods were sitting in their driveways to cheer strangers and motivate them to finish. Security and volunteer personnel were applauding, no matter how slow I was going. That support means a lot to runners and makes their day, no matter what the clock says.
Running has also taught me a lot about the importance of doing hard things. It’s important to stretch ourselves, learn what we’re capable of, and enter the arena of the unknown. Each race I’ve run has reminded me of this in different ways, but it has remained the consistent message. Today, I was facing new challenges with heat and other physical issues, but I was still moving forward faster than I ever had. I had entered the arena and was coming out better.
The 3:10 goal was out of reach, but I was still ahead of my personal best by a large enough margin to begin picking up the pace as I started heading back toward downtown. The finish line was approaching, and as I entered the last few miles making a personal best happen became my priority. I picked landmarks ahead of me and focused on running towards them or catching and passing runners that had slowed to a walk. I was able to pass a few, and my legs were starting to come back to life.
With one mile to go, I passed a large group of spectators, with a young fan spraying runners with a water gun. I opened my arms and let him hit me, a welcome feeling in the heat that was now in the 70s. I hit the last fluid station and made a run for the finish. After the last turn, I could see the finish line in the distance. I passed the 26-mile flag, and ran the last quarter mile as fast as I could, passing a few more runners on the way. I crossed the line with the clock reading 3:44. A 9-minute personal best, and my third personal best of the day. My legs were wrecked, and sweat had begun to crystalize on my face and arms, but I was happy. Just like that, another marathon was in the books. It was a good day for a run, and I ran better than I ever have at the distance. And who can argue with that?
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You sure made it look easy crossing that finish line and chatting like you were hardly out of breath. Beyond proud of the way you push yourself. Congrats on the PRs!!!
You're amazing. So proud of you ❤️