30,000 Runners, Heat, Humidity and Hills - What could go wrong?
The End is Near
As I crossed the finish line, I made my way to a guard rail that separated the runners from the finish line spectators. I grabbed the rail leaned over and threw up, and then once more for good measure. The heat had beat me down. I collected myself long enough to make it to the nice volunteers who were handing out finisher medals. Generally, the medal is placed around your neck, but in this case I just asked them to hand it to me. I didn't want to run the risk of throwing up on an unsuspecting volunteer.
I told Rose that I would meet her at the Beer Garden after the race, so I walked a few hundred yards and made it to the entrance. I was in no shape to go into the "garden," but since they were only serving Michelob Ultra, it wasn't a huge loss.
I laid down under a tree, threw up again, which prompted Rose to seek out a couple of EMT's from the nearby medical tent. This whole scene takes place in the parking lot of Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans. The EMT's helped me over to the medical tent, and sat me down in a chair, got some ice on me, checked my blood pressure, took my pulse and listened to my heart rate. Apparently, they did not like what they were hearing. My heart rate was erratic. They said it could be caused by an electrolyte imbalance, but to be safe they wanted to get me to an ER to get checked out. So, here comes an ambulance. I get loaded up, and the first IV of the day gets started.
On my way to the ER, I had a chance to reflect on how it all ended up this way.
Race Day Morning
As I made my way from my hotel to the race start, I could tell the forecast was accurate. It was already in the 60's and the high was expected to reach the high 80's, with the humidity hovering around 70%.
There were 40 corrals, with full and half marathoners placed in the same corrals. Although I was placed in corral 15 with an anticipated finish time of 4:05, I wasn't too concerned. I knew this was not going to be a PR kind of day, but I wanted to get into an even pace and work through the miles.
Due to the anticipated heat, the race officials decided, rightfully so, to move the start time back to 6:45 am. Once the gun sounded, my corral made it to the start line by 7:03. Less than a mile into the race, many runners had started to walk, as the race moved from a four lane boulevard to neighborhood streets, people were now walking 3 and 4 abreast in the middle of the street.
As I picked and weaved my way through corrals that were ahead of me, I knew I was expending energy, just trying to get a clear lane, and set a decent pace.
The half marathoners split off at 11 miles, and that really opened things up.
The Course
The course is scenic and provides a great tour of Nashville. It takes you by the bars and honky tonks on Broadway, downtown Nashville, Music Row, and at mile 17 you even get to run around the Nashville Sounds ballpark -- you swing down onto the outfield track, run past third base, around home plate, past first base and then back to the outfield, and then you exit the park -- pretty cool. The Rock and Roll part of the race really plays a motivating factor. Every couple of miles there is a band playing. Also, through the neighborhoods, people would have their own sound systems cranking. I heard everything from Devo's Whip It, to the theme from Rocky.
Once I factored in the heat, and the fact that this was as much an event, as it was a marathon, it was just easy to go with the flow. The medical tents were great, they would hand out Gatorade, with salt already mixed into it. They were usually stationed about a half, to a quarter of mile from an aid station, so you could quickly get the salt taste out of your mouth with a cup of water. Also, there was one aid station that offered ice cold pickle juice, to help with cramps. I love ice cold pickle juice. It really helps.
Around mile 22, I was reduced to the old marathon shuffle. I was just trying to grind it out. The heat and humidity started taking a toll. Did I mention that there are a bunch of small, rolling hills? If I didn't, I'll just say, there are a bunch of small, rolling hills. By the time, I reached mile 24, the occasional dry heave had started.
I got across the finish line, and you know the rest of the story. I will just say the ER doctor and nurses at Saint Thomas were great. I got two more IVs, they ran an EKG -- my heart is in good shape, and they took some blood. I wasn't crazy about them taking my "core" temperature. Let's just say it's the opposite of opening your mouth and saying, "ahhh."
As I walked out of my room, I heard a nurse call from down the hall, "Do you need a wheelchair?" I looked around, because I was sure she was talking to someone else. I said, "Who, me?" I told her I could walk out. We skipped the cab, and walked five blocks back to the hotel.
Everything turned out okay. I got a medal with lights, a finisher's jacket, and a nice tech shirt. And more than anything, I was able, with the help of friends, to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It's a great cause, but a tough race.
As I made my way from my hotel to the race start, I could tell the forecast was accurate. It was already in the 60's and the high was expected to reach the high 80's, with the humidity hovering around 70%.
There were 40 corrals, with full and half marathoners placed in the same corrals. Although I was placed in corral 15 with an anticipated finish time of 4:05, I wasn't too concerned. I knew this was not going to be a PR kind of day, but I wanted to get into an even pace and work through the miles.
Due to the anticipated heat, the race officials decided, rightfully so, to move the start time back to 6:45 am. Once the gun sounded, my corral made it to the start line by 7:03. Less than a mile into the race, many runners had started to walk, as the race moved from a four lane boulevard to neighborhood streets, people were now walking 3 and 4 abreast in the middle of the street.
As I picked and weaved my way through corrals that were ahead of me, I knew I was expending energy, just trying to get a clear lane, and set a decent pace.
The half marathoners split off at 11 miles, and that really opened things up.
The Course
The course is scenic and provides a great tour of Nashville. It takes you by the bars and honky tonks on Broadway, downtown Nashville, Music Row, and at mile 17 you even get to run around the Nashville Sounds ballpark -- you swing down onto the outfield track, run past third base, around home plate, past first base and then back to the outfield, and then you exit the park -- pretty cool. The Rock and Roll part of the race really plays a motivating factor. Every couple of miles there is a band playing. Also, through the neighborhoods, people would have their own sound systems cranking. I heard everything from Devo's Whip It, to the theme from Rocky.
Once I factored in the heat, and the fact that this was as much an event, as it was a marathon, it was just easy to go with the flow. The medical tents were great, they would hand out Gatorade, with salt already mixed into it. They were usually stationed about a half, to a quarter of mile from an aid station, so you could quickly get the salt taste out of your mouth with a cup of water. Also, there was one aid station that offered ice cold pickle juice, to help with cramps. I love ice cold pickle juice. It really helps.
Around mile 22, I was reduced to the old marathon shuffle. I was just trying to grind it out. The heat and humidity started taking a toll. Did I mention that there are a bunch of small, rolling hills? If I didn't, I'll just say, there are a bunch of small, rolling hills. By the time, I reached mile 24, the occasional dry heave had started.
I got across the finish line, and you know the rest of the story. I will just say the ER doctor and nurses at Saint Thomas were great. I got two more IVs, they ran an EKG -- my heart is in good shape, and they took some blood. I wasn't crazy about them taking my "core" temperature. Let's just say it's the opposite of opening your mouth and saying, "ahhh."
As I walked out of my room, I heard a nurse call from down the hall, "Do you need a wheelchair?" I looked around, because I was sure she was talking to someone else. I said, "Who, me?" I told her I could walk out. We skipped the cab, and walked five blocks back to the hotel.
Everything turned out okay. I got a medal with lights, a finisher's jacket, and a nice tech shirt. And more than anything, I was able, with the help of friends, to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It's a great cause, but a tough race.
(Managing a smile after upchuck 1 & 2. #Nuunbassador2017 #NuunLove)
