[Nfb-or] Portland Marathon

[jjacks at pdx.edu]

I Got up after some fitful sleeping to make sure I got some food in me  
before mike , my running partner,would arrive. I made some coffee and  
proceeded to leave it on the counter in the mad rush to jump on the  
tandem and ride in the rain to the starting line. My friend Sarahope  
came along for ground support, locking up of bikes, and getting the  
cheer squad in a frenzy when we passed by. I had brought a rubber  
tether with the "whozit" National federation of the Blind flag on it  
so we could both run freely and stay in contact with each other. Mike,  
had run a marathon in june, but  hadn't been ready for this and we  
began to take a pace that was slower than I wanted to go. We got into  
a pattern of me out front and he stretching behind me instead of side  
by side running. After the 17th mile my partner got a cramp and needed  
to stop. we tried to walk it off but when it happened again I told him  
I needed to finish. He told me to go take the tether and if there were  
troubles ask someone for... Once free I started passing all those  
around me and trucking up the st. Johns bridge. I ran with no real  
fatigue until then. I began to remember that I would like to get to  
see my Piano teachers band play at mile marker 22. I asked a woman if  
I could run with her for a time so that I might know when that might  
be. It ended up being the most blessed thing for the both of us as we  
were a great pace match and we passed all kinds of people and made it  
to the finish line in 4:53. 26.2 miles is no joke. I still feel like  
stairs are my enemy. maybe some more epsoms salt is in order. I am  
glad that I did it though. I guess I really can do anything  I put my  
mind to.