Sunday, May 3, 2009

Tacoma City Marathon 2009


Dan, me, Donna (BQ), Natalie


I ran my 77th Marathon or greater distance event today at the Tacoma City Marathon. Late last week the 4:15 pacer told the race director that he was injured and couldn't run. Long story short I volunteered.

Rain had been forecast with a 40% chance of precipitation but a few people must have done "the special dance" because we had SUNSHINE!

One of the perks of being a pacer for TCM is that you get a limo ride from the sponsor hotel to the starting line. As you leave the two limos they announce your name and give your stats. That was a fun way to start the day.

I had a weird thing happen between mile 8 and 10. I was trying to take an S-Cap for some much needed electrolytes. I was taking the capsule and trying to dry swallow it before the next aid station where I could wash it down with some water. When I tried to swallow it I started to choke just a little and coughed. Everything seemed fine and we continued to run. We had entered the heavily forested area of Pt. Defiance Park when I started getting a small burning sensation in my eyes and nasal passages. It seemed I was having some sort of allergic reaction to pollen or something. Well apparently when I coughed while trying to swallow my S-Cap it launched the cap up into my nasal cavity. Just so you all know it takes about 2 miles before the capsule melts and released the salt into your sinuses. All I've got to say is "don't try this at home"! Suddenly my eyes and nose started watering like crazy and I had an overwhelming taste of salt dripping into the back of my throat. That's about the time I figured out what must have happened. Don't know if you have ever done a saline rinse of your sinuses but this was at about 100 times stronger and I was hurt'n. A couple of voluminous snot rockets latter and the problem cleared for the most part.

Do I know how to have fun during a marathon or what?

Anyway... I consistently hit the numbers for time at the mile markers for my pace group and was able to get the one person trying to qualify for Boston in with a few seconds to spare. I will admit getting caught up in the exitement of the finish with the two guys that were hanging with me which caused me to finish two min. ahead of the 4:15 pace time. But it's better to come in a little early than late while pacing.

15 comments:

Bret said...

Nice job being the pacer. Did you get tired of holding that sign for 4 hours??

Love reading guys blogs, none of these womens blogs would hear the term "snot rockets" But I bet that hurt. I have never heard of that happening to anyone before. Anyway good job on the pacing. I posted on Michelle's blog that I am in Seattle this week and was thinking of you all at the marathon today.

Wes said...

Dry swallowing an s-cap is an adventure by itself. Launching it up your nose.... priceless :-)

bagelsong said...

Definitely a marathon experience to remember! I also wonder what it was like to hold up that sign for 26.2 miles. Good job Eric!

Unknown said...

I have never heard of anyone doing that with an S-Cap. I give you credit for even trying to swallow one of those without water. I always need a ton of it when I take one. I'm just glad to hear you were able to get it cleared up fairly quickly and keep running. Nice job with the pacing!

Unknown said...

Well done on your pacing duties!

Laura H said...

You sure know how to spice up a marathon! That musta been painful - my eyes are watering just thinking about it. I occasionally do saline rinses - they make the best snot rockets! (there ya go, Bret) Good job on pacing and getting that woman her BQ!

Thomas said...

I was waiting for the description of the S-Cap being launched out of your nostrils, but ended up disappointed. I guess that was the most painful part of the marathon?

Anonymous said...

Nice job on the pacing! How annoying was it to have to carry that sign, though?

Dude - take some water with your S-Cap next time! Ouch!!!

Scott McMurtrey said...

I like your way to take the scaps better. I'll try it, it will probably be better on my stomach.

lizzie lee said...

Eric, that was funny... Salt in your nose... Wow....

And good job marking the pace for others.

Hone said...

That is a story that you do not hear everyday. Good thing it was an S cap and not a lima bean. =)

Great job pacing as well.

Anne said...

I've never heard of anything that weird happening with a capsule. Hey, be glad it dissolved as quickly as it did!

Doris said...

All hail and bless the pacer dudes that's what I say! Doesn't carrying that flag make your arms ache?!

and thanks for the advice - next time I get me a bout of sinusitis I have a cure ;o) .....

Anne said...

Thanks for the advice on the ankle injury. You're right: the pain patch is getting mixed reviews. Hmmmmmm.

Darrell said...

Darn cool of you to step up to the pacer duties and then to help someone BQ, awesome. The S-cap episode is just weird.

(Yes, I realize I'm over a month late getting to this, sorry)