I ran the Dallas Whiterock Marathon in 1993. It was my 2nd Marathon test, and my most successful marathon race. I had prepared well. I trained extensively in Lake Chabot regional park running the trails, and even running in inclement weather. I ran in the cold and the rain. One of my training runs up the Live Oak trail in Lake Chabot is one of my most memorable runs. I ran it in heavy rain over a muddy trail, slipping and sliding up an down the Live Oak trail. My training prepared me well for Dallas in the winter.
I flew into Dallas on American Airlines. I arrived on Friday and stayed in Irving, Texas at the Ramada Inn. The Ramada Inn is located 5 minutes from Texas Stadium(home of the Cowboys), and it just so happened that the Cowboys were playing the Steve Young led 49ers in the playoffs. So, as a Niner fan being in Dallas was a double treat for me.
I had invited my parents to come in to provide support for me. They arrived from Oklahoma City on Saturday. We had an early meal, and came back to the Inn to settle for the night.
The morning of the race was a brisk 45 to 50 degrees. This is pretty good running weather for me, and for most runners as the body heats up 10 to 15 degrees warmed up. I got to the start line and we were off leaving downtown Dallas for the race.
The first few miles went well. I began the 1st part of the race, a 10 miler. Once I pass the 10 mile mark in my mind the 1st of four parts of the race is over, the 2nd part of the race begins (a 5 miler), and at this point I was running well (7:44 clip). The crowd support was tremendous, and that would come in handy later in the race. The first ten miles were uneventful as I enjoyed the scenery of the downtown Dallas skyline. As I moved briskly past mile 10, and I got into the part where the course hits Whiterock Lake, I was moving well. In fact, I didn't feel the work until I reached mile 18 (in the 3rd part of race 5 miler); nonetheless, I arrived at mile 20 at exactly 2:40 (8:01 pace). I was excited, but I recognized the challenge ahead. Whiterock Lake is about 10 miles around and the course looped around the entire lake. Here's a snap shot of the runners going around the lake.
As I left the lake area and entered the 4th and last part of the race (6.2 miles), the course got into many small neighborhoods where the runners were greeted warmly Texas hospitality style. The people from the different neighborhoods came out with handfuls of cookies and drinks; I grabbed what I could and kept running. I ate all I could! I was given chocolate chip cookies, and I even had a small cup of beer (tasty). I was still feeling good, and as I approached the hills at mile 22--I took the hills well. I managed to slug my way through as other runners began to fade, and I wondered if I would fade, too! I began wondering when I would hit "the wall", but I never did. I fought off the negative thoughts and persevered! At mile 24, I knew I would make it even if I walked in. Amazingly, I passed more runners as the race hit Mile 25. As I moved in for the last mile, the cheering crowds sent chills up my spine, and strength to my legs. Another runner asked me what I thought, I blurted out emphatically "I'd do it again!" When I came to the 26 mile mark, I sprinted home the last few hundred yards, and crossed the finish line in 3:36:04!
If there is such a thing as a runner's high; I was on it, I crossed the finish line and was handed a beautiful medal that today is encased in a frame along with five other Marathon medals. I cherish this one because this marathon experience was truly my finest. I was 30 years old, and had just run my best marathon, and frankly, I thought better times and experiences would come my way. And, while I ran many more marathons (10), I never achieved the greatness of this day and experience. I was achieving a peak experience and regrettably I didn't recognize it until years later.
It's now 15 years later, and I never went back to Run the Rock, but just thinking about it brings back the memories of what could have been and whether I have one more of those performances left in me. I sure hope I do! I would love to prove to myself that I could recreate a day like the one I enjoyed at The Dallas Whiterock Marathon! This was it. This was my Marathon!
