Running With the Flu in Alabama

The 12th Bank Trust 1st Light Marathon was held in Mobile, AL on Jan. 13, 2013.
An annual fund raising event for L'Arche-Mobile, a community where people with
intellectual disabilities and those who assist them live, work and share their lives, I was
fortunate to be a part of it. The first 100 years, Mobile was a colony of France, then
Britain and lastly Spain. In 1810, became part of U.S. and is the 12th largest port city
in the U.S., a nice place to visit and run a race as well.

I've ran marathons/races while I had the colds/flu before but this was the worst that it
greatly affected my running. Feeling fine,  not wanting to miss the event, having a DNF
(did not finish) and  hard-headed stubbornness were my main reasons for doing the race.
The night before, I had chest congestion, runny nose, coughing and could not sleep well.
But early the next morning, I was feeling good so I decided to run. My body, feet & all
felt good with no problems. It was a go for me, so I thought at that time.

The start was near the hotel I was staying on Government St. How convenient for me!
It was a cloudy, warm (66 deg.F.) and humid day. With about 1000 runners doing the
marathon, half-marathon & 5-person relay, it started promptly at 730 a.m. after the
National Anthem singing. The marathon course goes through scenic and historic
neighborhoods, beautiful parks, the University of South Alabama campus and other
points of interest. Basically flat except for some rolling hills between miles 10 to 20,
it eventually levels out and ends downtown at Bienville Square. They had sufficient
water/food stops with friendly, cheerful volunteers and the police at all the road
intersections. A big thanks to them.

I started out with a 12 min. per mile pace and was doing great until mile 7 where I slowed
down  to 13 min. pace for miles 7 to 10. My breathing was okay and so were my feet but
this was a sign of getting tired. This did not discourage me for I knew I was not in the best
of health. I settled on whatever pace I could do. Miles 11 to 18, I was doing 15 to 17 min.
pace which btw are averaged and rounded up. I walked many times (can't recall how many)
to rest.  It was frustrating when runners walking passed me. Wow, I was really slow. On mile
19, I did a 15 min. pace followed by an 18, 16 & back to 15 min. pace into mile 24 where
two tough guys; Larry Macon, (68) from TX and Jim Simpson, (71) CA (both power walking)
overtook me. Yesterday, they did a 50-mile race in Savannah, GA and were doing this
marathon as a recovery run. They are amazing, super runners who do hundreds of marathons
a year. Luckily, I was able to pass them at about quarter of a mile to the finish.

I finished in a slow time of 6:35:53 feeling dizzy but after a few moments, I was fine and
enjoying the post race lunch with the rest of the runners. Unique wooden finisher's medals
and plaques hand-made by members of the L'Arche community were awarded by them, a very
touching and heart warming gesture. I placed 320 among 333 finishers and even with a 6-hr.
plus time, I got 3 of 5 for men 70 to 79. So, I have 2 beautiful mementos crafted by very
special people. Running in the 1st Light Marathon was well worth the effort, time and money.
With the exception of sore calves, thighs, elbows and slightly hurting lower back, I was feeling
great the next day with the flu slowly going away. Hoping and dreaming of doing a better time
in my next marathon.