When you run their first marathon in howling winds four years earlier you'd think you'd learn something. I was just over five hours in 2007 and was going to avenge that time as I always like under five hours. Well that did not happen and running a marathon is never a give me and I have learned that three times this year now. I will admit I did finish the three disasters I have had, but lessons learned is never an easy pill to swallow.
I was fine through the first 11 miles till I hit the headwinds for the next 13 miles. They were registered around 30 mph with gusts up to 35 mph which were felt along the bay. What was even worse was a groin pull injury that came to extreme pain just before mile 18. To consider a marathon a training run is never a easy decision, but when you hurt it makes it a no-brainer, so I shut it down and walked 6 miles. I knew if I ran 2 more I'd have run 20 miles run and walked the rest, a great training run for Portland in two weeks if I could heal my injury before then. So I walked on and fortunately I was able to walk with half marathon walkers who were on the course at the time.
Marathon runners take pride in finishing of course, and I was proud I finished on a very windy day. Being in the bottom 5 percent of finishers is not a normal thing, but I was able to run my last two miles at a decent pace (under 10 minute miles) with no pain as it had subsided and I was not last! Twenty-two finishers were behind me and my plan did work for Portland. I honestly doubt I ever run Bellingham Bay again as winds really slow you down and I just like larger races, but it was well run and I would recommend it for those who like scenic rural marathon runs.
