Race: Operation Jack Marathon (www.ojmarathon.com). Shadow Race in Kabul, Afghanistan, December 26th, 2011, 1200 noon.
Weather: 48 degrees, calm winds (less than 5 MPH)
Altitude: 5,800 (first marathon at altitude)
Finish time: 3:46:30; goal time was 3:35-3:45

This was my 8th marathon and my second fastest. Marathon #7 was my PR at 3:28. Therefore, I’m very pleased with my time especially considering type of course. This was a Shadow race that a fellow runner here told me about and talked me into running with him. Total numbers were six for the full and 7 ran the half. The course was a .66 mile loop around our Compound, which comes to 39.6 loops for the full marathon. Also, the course is very flat. All runners provided their own water/gels/sports drink and we didn’t have anyone handing us cups as we ran/walked by the water station. But we did have volunteers keeping track of everyone’s laps. I had my gels on me, but every time I took water/sports drink I had to stop, stand there and drink. That equated to adding about 10-15 seconds (or more) to your mile splits.

Overall, I was doing Ok until mile around mile 19 when my legs started cramping, which is unusual because I haven’t cramped that early in a marathon since my first and second marathons. I thought I had solved the cramping problem. The cramping caused me to run about 1 to 1.5 minutes slower plus I was stopping to stretch the last 4 miles. But even with the cramping, I can’t complain about running my second fastest marathon.

The monotony of running around a .66 mile loop was NOT enjoyable. No scenery to look at, no bands playing, no spectators, no funny outfits/characters running beside you, nothing to distract or entertain you. Usually, I experience portions of the marathon where the miles go by quickly, or I get into a “zone”; but, not on this course. I counted off each mile…I usually do not run with music, but if I had to do this again, I definitely would have music or something to listen to during the race.

My splits are below.

Nutrition: With a 12:00 start, my plan was to eat a good breakfast at 8:00 am, then a power bar at 11:00 am. For breakfast I had 3 scrambled eggs, ½ cup of grits, and ½ cup of applesauce. At 11:00 I was still filling full so I decided not to eat the power bar. As planned, I took a gel 10 mins prior to the start, then at 5, 10, 15, 18, and 22 miles; however, when the cramps started I also took a gel at miles 21 and 24. I took water with the gels and had 2-3 swallows of sports drink (Cytomax/Gatorade) every 2 miles.

Well, this one is in the history books and I can continue to say I’ve completed at least one marathon a year since 2008.