WAYNE’S WORDS
APRIL 9, 2006
TOPIC: 2006 ST. LOUIS MARATHON

The following is a true story, names have been change to protect the innocent.

6:00 A.M.
I meet with three young, beautiful, athletic, women at a local bagel shop, who are doing the St. Louis ½ Marathon, and get a ride down to the start. At this point I didn't think life could get any better. I was quietly sitting in the back, listening to what they were talking about. It sounded like a bunch of guys talking about training, racing, and shoes, but there was a difference — a discussion on the safest place to pin the race number on the front of their shirts. After listening, I realized that these three do more races and train harder than I do. The plan was to run the last 6 miles with Amy. Casey and Kathy didn’t need me to pace them, besides, I couldn’t keep up with them anyway.

7:00 A.M. Start.
It’s incredible to see 10,000 people in one place that are in good enough shape to run 13.1 or 26.2 miles. I said good-bye to my threesome and got out of the way. The race started and my friends didn't start moving for a least five minutes.

8:15 A.M.
I’m waiting at the 7-mile mark, looking for Amy. I finally find her among the 10,000+ runners. My impression, as people are running by, is where did all the people come from and these folks are in incredible shape. I’ve done two marathons in my previous life and I had forgotten how much fun they are, with lots of talking and joking around amongst the runners. The weather was perfect, 60's and sunny, with a breeze out of the NW. The course was lined with cheering spectators. The volunteers where right on top of things, passing out water, Gatorade and GU. The streets where blocked off from cars, thanks to the incredible job done by the St. Louis, University City, and Clayton Police. When do you ever get to run down the middle of Market Street with 10,000 like-minded people, and not have to worry about cars? It was like Mardi Gras without the booze and beads.

It’s amazing how far 6-miles seems when you do an out and back on a course that you haven’t run before. We turn around near S.L.U. and this is where the crowd was the loudest, largest and having the best time. The last 3-miles went faster, downhill? Finally, we make it to the finish, I run off the course and blend in with the crowd. Amy had done her first ½ marathon and was elated to have finished. Casey and Kathy had finished in front of us.

Post-race had lots of tired happy faces, celebrations, hugs and kisses for those that met their goals and for the family and friends that had cheered them on. There was lots of food and beer. Finally we headed back to the comforts of West County, with my friends content that they finished and met their time goals.

An hour later, I was relaxing in my hot tub with a 32 oz. Lemonade Gatorade. My overall impression was this was an extremely well attended, well organized, fun, and challenging race. I was amazed had how MANY runners there were. They came in all kinds of shapes and sizes, all striving to meet the goals they had set for themselves. With the number of out-of-town runners, it looks like the St. Louis Marathon, under the guidance of Nancy Liebermann, has gone from a local, small race into a signature marathon that people from 47-states will have on their calendar next year. Congratulations to everyone who ran, and a big thank you to all the volunteers, police, and anyone else involved with this fantastic event.

Until Next Time,
Train Smart, Race Smart.
Wayne
whuckshold@yahoo.com