Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon

I just posted about our second day of Spring Break, but I thought I'd finally tell a bit about my marathon, just in case anyone actually cares.

Pre-Race:I spent the last week very nervous about this marathon. Every time I got an email reminder or heard someone speak about it, the nerves would start again. I think I was nervous because of all the warnings I got about how difficult it would be. It is put on by the military, so there are plenty of warnings about all the casualties (yes, they use that word) from past years and about all the possible injuries. I heard time and again about the mountain I'd have to climb and the ferocious sand pit. I really didn't know what to believe. They really made it seem like there was no way a person would escape without terrible blisters and various other problems. I finally gave up worrying and decided that there was just no way to prepare myself for what I would be facing.

Too make matters worse, they required us to be at the start line between 3 and 4:20AM. That means there is no possible way to get a good night's sleep. There is also no way to make sure you get the right kind of breakfast at the right time. Do you eat the right foods at home at 3am? Do you eat their continental breakfast offerings once you get there? How many times do you need to eat between waking up at 2:50 and starting the race at 7:00? All those things (sleep, food) you are warned to be so careful about before a marathon get thrown out the window.

Race Time:So I got to the base at 4am and basically sat around on the cold ground until the opening ceremony at 6:30am. The opening ceremony stage was about 4000 people away from me, so I didn't get to see any of it. It was still very nice, with a roll call for the survivors of the original Death March and for those who did not make it.

The cannon went off at 7am to start the race. It took me several minutes before I ever made it to the start line, since there were so many people participating. We got to shake the hands of survivors at the start line, at one point in the middle of the race, and at the finish line. Right away I knew this would be a different sort of race, actually not a race at all. People were just walking at all sorts of paces. Friends were together chatting. Military teams of 5 were encouraging each other to jog for a bit and then walk it off. Those few people who were serious marathoners were long gone right away.

There were bananas and oranges, water and Gatorade, chairs and port-a-potties every two miles. People actually stopped to get the dirt out of their shoes. They took the time to drink the water and throw the cups away--this may not seem like much but it is so different from the other events I've participated in.

I got in my groove (an object in motion stays in motion) after a few miles and really felt great and enjoyed the walk. It took me a while to even notice I was climbing that scary hill. The sand pit at 21 miles wasn't fun, but the sand was a couple inches deep, not ankle deep, as I had been told. I jogged a bit at the 22 mile-mark until I started to drag. I still was able to keep up a decent walk and never truly hit "the wall". When I saw the sign that would indicate only one mile left, I jogged again. I was hoping that the faster I went, the sooner I'd reach the finish line. That last mile does take forever, though!

All in all, it is a tougher course than most (some say all) others, but the pace and atmosphere is so much more relaxed. I really felt as though I was in a long line of marchers that were trudging through just like me. I will look forward to next year's march, and won't be nervous about blisters, extra training, that mountain, or the sand pit.

After-the-fact:Most of my toes were sore after the marathon. By the next day, only two or three still hurt. Today, there is very little soreness left in my toes or anywhere else. I was really tired the day of (of course) and again yesterday. Today I'm back to normal. The biggest thing I've noticed is that I AM STARVING all the time! I eat a meal and am sick with hunger an hour or so later.

And now you have the experience of one person doing one marathon. Who wants to join me next time? Just kidding! I won't pressure anyone.