2019 Akron Marathon

It's about 5:20 AM, and Dan arrives at the starting area outside Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens. But this isn't the start of his day. He woke at 3:05, drove to Medina Route 18 Dunkin Donuts before 4:00, shifted to Andy and Michelle Wolff's car at about 4:12, arrived in downtown Akron in time to catch the 5:00 AM bus... and now he's here and ready to go. But the race isn't starting just yet. Dan will need to wait until 7:30 AM for that.

Don't worry. There's plenty for Dan to do. He walks around. Talks with Igor Skalsky. Bumps into Michelle and Andy several more times. Uses the porta-john. Uses the woods. Meets up with other Medina County Road Runners for the group photo in front of the mansion. He even jogs a tiny bit, even though he shouldn't; it's too warm for a warmup today.

MCRR Friends   photo by Syd

Oh yes. The race. A couple raindrops are coming down as the race begins. Everyone appreciates the rainbow that's off to the right. Dan mentions to Beth Anne that she should arrange one for the start of the Medina Half Marathon. She says she will order one up.

It doesn't feel overly warm. Yet. Dan runs the first twelve miles in the 8:40 to 8:50 minutes per mile pace range. This is probably too fast for him, but he is beginning to think that perhaps Akron can be his 'A' race after all. Yes, he decides, Akron is now promoted. And he will try to hold this pace.

Dan enjoys this first half. But now it's time for the second. Going out one way, then the other one the 'Y' bridge, he's still doing fine. But it's beginning to get warm. Suddenly, when he's at about mile 15 or so a terrible thing happens: the sun comes out. It's now not just warm and humid; it's hot and humid.

It's not just hot and humid, he's going uphill. Uphill for what seems like mile after mile. It seems never-ending, and poor Dan is slowing down a little. It does end, finally, around mile 20. Dan's first-half joyfulness has now given way to grim determination. Without the determination.

Our runner is slowing, but even so, he's been passing a few folks. One of them is Doug Hradek. Doug is a good runner and he's in Dan's ancient age-group. This makes him an arch-rival. Another is training partner Theresa Wright.

Much of the final four miles are on the towpath that winds towards downtown Akron. It's nice, but Dan is now in full survival mode. His calf muscles begin to cramp up in the final mile and a half. He slows further - much further - to prevent a complete muscle-cramp tie-up. Theresa passes Dan in the final mile. Doug passes him in the final half-mile. Dan is now running so slow, he's in danger of being passed by walkers.

He looks at his watch. At 26 miles, it says, 3:59. He had been hoping for sub 3:50, then 3:55, then 3:59. Nope. Not gonna happen today. He finishes in the stadium with a final time of 4:05. He later learns that he's second to Doug in his ancient age group.

He meets up with friends Tim Pepe, Ladd Clifford, and Bob Pokorny, among others. The humid conditions were tough for everyone, and Ladd and Bob had trouble with cramping as well. After laying down on the baseball field for a while, Dan tries to get back up. EEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW! Every muscle in each of his legs cramps up and there is excruciating pain.

Tim helps Dan over to the medical tent, where he's stretched out and has four ice bags wrapped to his legs. He eventually recovers enough to find Michelle and Andy for the painful ride home.

All's well that end's well, they say. Is it possible the converse is also true?