January 17th finally got here, it seems like time was crawling as the days went by.  Since moving to Arizona in July of 09' I figured I'd getin training mode for the P.F. Chang's Rock and Roll Marathon.  I had only done Boston in the spring and Chicago in the fall so hadn't really gotten into marathon shape for a winter race.  I'm glad I did. 

    Following The Professor's GTD training plan we set forth on the training journey in October with a loose race goal of 3:10-3:15 hoping to get the 3:20 needed  to stay qualified for Boston through 2011.

      As the training progressed I was feeling very good and PR'd at the FiestaBowl Half Marathon in December and then again at the AZ Road Racers 30Kin late Dec.   It was after this race that I was convinced something sub-3:10 was doable and the Professor agreed, so we upped the ante the last few "hard" weeks and I made it to the starting line feeling pretty good, no significant injuries or worries, it was go time. The race starts at 7:40am and true to AZ, weather was not an issue, in fact it was perfect, around 42 at the start and mid 50's during.  I was a bit nervous but also had a nice sense of calm, I knew I had put the time and effort into training and knew I was ready both physically and mentally.  This was my 8th marathon and I felt ready to draw on both my

training and past experiences and it worked out great. 

    The course was pretty flat starting out in downtown Phoenix and proceeded north through the city, mostly city landscape but some decent crowds, nothing like Boston or Chicago.  I will say the bands were awesome, it was pretty cool to hear the different music at each mile marker and it made the time fly by nicely, before I knew it we were in Scottsdale andthe half-way mark.  Crossing that I knew it was time to bear down and focus and really get going.  Through Scottsdale the course stayed pretty much flat with some turns but good crowd support, I was psyched as the miles kept moving by.

    Mentally I had prepared myself to really go hard after mile 19.  The previous 30K race had given me the confidence that I could carry a 7:01 pace that far and the Professor was like,  why not keep it going?  Do you think you can?  I also knew that in his training plan he had 7 miles as our easier runs during the week, I KNEW I could  hold on and count those 7 miles off, we did it for the last 3 months, this was only 49 minutes!   As I got through to mile 23 I knew it was going well and I knew I could bring it home strong having run those miles the week before.  Luckily I work only a mile from the finish and was able to see that part of the course.  At mile 25 the aid station was Jimmy Buffett theme'd, I knew I was home then as I was singing the tune they had cranking on the loud speakers surprising the happy volunteers.

   My wife and friends were at mile 26 and after giving them a nice Jersey Shore fist pump I hammered it into the final chute and in true Goon fashion was trying to raise the roof with the spectators as they were cheering very loudly.  When I looked up for that final arm raising finish line photo opp I saw 3:04 and gave a few more shouts and fist pumps.  I had finished the race stronger than I have ever finished a marathon, I got faster over the last 5 miles and had managed to take an hour off my first marathon (Boston 2005) and had a PR by 8 minutes.  3:04:15     

     When I reached my wife I was in full-on teary eyed mode.  Training solo the past 3.5 months was tough and even the Prof said I was whining at times (I told him never to mention this to any other Goons!!!)  but it really helped at gut check time.  All the runs I had done by myself made running with others and crowds easier but also gave me a better understanding of myself.  I couldn't do it without my wife, she "gets it" even though she is not a runner but she puts up with stinky shoes, sweaty shirts and achy legs.  I also couldn't do it without the Professor, his weekly outlines and "little stuff" make the BIG difference or the Goon family.

   I've gotten such great training advice from everyone and I truly miss the nights at the Cove even though the Silent Assassin continually kicks my butt.  I hope to see some Goons at Boston in April and I hope everyone is feeling great, training strong and continuing to be all the GOON you can be!

  :)    COSMO 

Photo courtesy Scott Mason