San Antonio Marathon 2006

We left Harrisburg for San Antonio and had travel problems on both ends of the trip.We had a long delay going down due to hydraulic problems;and coming back we were circling over the Detroit connection when it was socked in from bad weather.Then flight regulations prevented us from leaving till a plumber came aboard for a malfunctioning toilet.He couldn't fix it so just duct-taped the doors closed,making for lines for the remaining one during the over 3 hour flight connection.When we finally got on the plane,people were already sitting in our assigned seats because they overbooked our flight.

One funny thing did happen while boarding one of our connecting flights.The co-pilot was chatting with a stewardess outside the cockpit while drinking a glass of tomato juice;and turned to look at the passengers as they started to enter the plane.He turned just as the lady in front of me came on board.As she passed him,she took the glass of juice from his hand,said "thank you",and started to walk down the aisle.After being flabbergasted for several seconds,he took off after her."Ma'am",he said,"we're glad to welcome you on board,but that's my drink". :>)

Before race day:
We planned our schedule to minimize walking.We started at the runners expo at the convention center.Some doctors had set up a booth and were looking for volunteers to participate in a study on hyponatremia (low sodium) that can have life-threatening complications for long distance runners.Participants fill out diet-history forms and give pre and post-race blood samples and weight measurements.In return,the physicians will e-mail you results of over $1000 in blood tests they do on you.I was in line in front of a soldier waiting for our turn to give blood.We started to get uncomfortable as we watched the tech try to get blood from the young lady in front of us.First multiple sticks in the left arm,then the right arm,then the back of the left hand,then the right hand.no luck.
When I sat down and extended my arm;I had a decent vein.I chuckled when she looked,breathed a deep breath,and exclaimed,"Thank God !"

I stopped at the pace team booth and asked how I could identify the volunteers who run at specific rates of speed on race day.He said,"look for someone wearing a turquoise colored shirt".He saw the blank look in my eyes.I asked him if he thought many of the guys would know 'turquoise' from a buffalo.He relented and brought out a pacers shirt for me to see.

After the Expo,we planned our schedule to minimize walking.We took a narrated boat-ride along the Riverwalk,saw an IMAX movie on the Alamo,checked out the Jackalope store,watched the Veterans Day Parade,and visited the Alamo.


Race Day:

Sunday-7am.The weather was partly cloudy,temps around 39 to start,climbing to the low 70's at the end,We lucked out.Last years' race was 87 degrees.I was told people were dropping like flies.The San Antonio Marathon revamped course starts at the Alamo and finishes inside the Alamodome. The single loop course tours the Historical Missions, The Alamo, El Mercado, Plaza de Armas, Hemisfair Park-Tower of the Americas, King William Area, Pioneer Mills, Old Lone Star Brewery, Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission Espada, and Mission San Juan Capistrano along the San Antonio River ,and ends in the Alamodrome stadium.

We had a great pace-team leader.She kept us entertained with reports on the over 70 marathons that she had ran in the past.she'd quiz us on spots trivia.I didn't get any of the questions right on the Texas Longhorns or Spurs.She'd give us tips on handling the long run,like changing your stride by lifting your knees in an exaggerated high-step.Can you imagine what the spectators think when they see a small group of runners suddenly breaking into a modified version of 'Riverdance'? Well into the race,we went through a park,feeling tired as we approached the start of a hill.A soldier came up along side of our group ,pacing us as he yelled the words of a cadence-march while we climbed up the hill.When we reached the top,he turned around,ran back down,and repeated his actions again with the next group of runners.He gave all of us a needed emotional boost.

At mile 25,I pulled over to the side and got out my cell phone,spilling energy gels all over the street, to give my wife a 'heads-up' that I was about 10 minutes out from the finish line.I started running again as soon as I hung up;my running companions hollering for me to catch up.When I tried to put my cell phone away,I missed the pocket and dropped it down the back of my shorts.So there I was,awkwardly running down the road with my hand and arm stuck down the back of my shorts ,trying to grab my phone before it fell out the bottom of my shorts and bounced in the street.I didn't look too cool then!When we entered the Alamodrome,,our images were flashed up on the big stadium screen as we approached the finish line.

The next stop was the medical booth to get the post-race blood sample and weight reading.Even though I drank some water/Gatorade at all 20 water stations during the race,I was surprised to find out that I had dropped seven pounds in water-weight.The head doctor said that level of dehydration isn't unusual for a distance race.

We walked back to the hotel.A 20 minute ice-water soak and then walking around sight-seeing afterward helped to loosen up my legs.I was happy with my race-day performance.I had a PR finish chip-time of 4:12:36.

John Boyle



To view Sportphoto pics,go:

http://orders.racephotonetwork.com/QPPlus/SearchBibNumber.aspx?EventID=331189&_AccountNumber=13447&EventName=San%20Antonio%20Marathon&EventDate=

and put in bib # 112