Many of us want to inspire especially us Type A athletes. Teachers to their students, coaches to their athletes, Parents to their children, bosses to their employees. I am proud to say that I tangiblely saw that inspiration mature today. And who knows how I may have inspired the next generation. But it’s a proud moment for me as an athlete, similar to being Race Director in the Alice Springs, Australia women’s only triathlon with 150 ladies giving it a go, or that fellow colleague I helped inspire to change his life and get healthy to get off Diabetes drugs, and that analyst who lost 20+ pounds with lifestyle change. I want to inspire, mission achieved.

Today I was joined not by Raytheon colleagues, but, friends. Analysts, Senior Leaders, PM, Vice President, I did that and it’s awesome. It’s already led to ideas for morale events in 2026 and others signing up for future races. And for the 1 who ran his first marathon yesterday in Phoenix as we watched his dog, well done Friend!

We had myself trying to break 3hrs after 53 marathons as a fail with 3:17, wifey in her 20th marathon just giving it a go after her BQ in July with a 3:51, my analyst (I didn’t force him to do it!) his second ever serious approach an amazing 3:36, and team NOTHING COMES CLOSE relay with 3:47. We also had our VP getting the half done and her hubby too. 9 people. All because I just wanted to run 26.2miles. Pretty frigging awesome man.

Michael just came over, we had some beers, his legs are shattered and up for another. Your PTO is canceled! Haha j/k.

John just came over, some more beers and he reunited with his dog Mason. Again, smashing his first in 4:43 coming 1,454/2,493 Overall.

RACE WEEK

So Monday and on miles: 0, 3, 4, 3, 0 ,2, Race. 343 included 4x400m at 6:40/mile which was goal pace through the half to go 1:27/1:32 and get 2:59. I thought I was capable with 3 marathons this year in 3:02, 3:22, 3:03. So I upped the miles thinking going up to 62m/wk would do it. Nope.

The week had too much food with a team morale event that I ate too many Baggins and cookies. Friday was a Costco individual pizza which was still in my gut 36 hrs later, at least it felt like it. Carbo loading adventures of pasta, white bread, cookies, Sprite, Gatorade just made me bloated. Dinner of my go-to 2 Cups Ramen with 2G salt was light with 2 more pieces of bread but I felt so full and fat. I have been down to 182 pounds in the past, I didn’t even go on the scale today but it would have been 192, up 5-8 pounds from my prior races because I got no damn discipline.

Race Morning

4am wake up. 1 medium redbull, 2 pieces of toast for 400 calories. Michael came over, he lives 5min away and we drove him the 45min to Oro Valley. Loo, Bus, climb up 1,000′ to Biosphere. (watch Biodome, CLASSIC). At the staging area, nice and early a seriously pumped up DJ absolutely rocking it. Felt like I was in da club. We saw our friend Lisa whose husband couldn’t run as he had a broken ankle that is seriously sidelining running. GUMPTION. I GET to do this. My why. So sorry Morey!

Loo again, Gatorade drinking, probably didn’t need that and a 100Caffiene Maurten Gel with 15min to go. Walk down to the start where we had done the Earth Day 5K, 3 years earlier with Fionas Australian family.

Kisses, wait, see Tyler (no kisses to Tyler, just the wife!), photo time, anthem, music, GO.

THE RACE

The first mile was going to suck and it did more than I thought. 8:03 mile climbing 167′ with the 3:10 pacer passing me. “Just get to the top, it’s all downhill from there.” Mile 2, -121′ loss and only 7:05, uh oh. This is not going right. That first mile peak HR 145 for 12seconds, very high for me with avg resting 7 day HR at 38 down to 36 over night. “just keep going”. “Wow, there is someone walking at 1.5mile, at least your not walking already.”

Out to Oracle Rd where I have a 1:27 half in 2017… “this is not coming as easy” 6:33mile then on this great downhill, 6:55 the fastest today. “What the hell is going on?”

At mile 6.5 I caught up to the 3:10 pacer, “Oh crap, I gotta go again? You had no fiber, no veg, no meat, WTF!” OK, “just go and you’ll feel better.” I lost 50 seconds and 3 miles later I caught back up to the 3:10 pacer. Running with a pack of 6, through the half in 1:34, “OK, this is steady, just run this…HR on 132, steady.” At M14, I started to lose it mentally..I had more Maurten and MORTAL salt in my camelpak 1,000 calories 3G salt, I had the 2nd 100mg CAF at 1hr, and another at hr 2, then as soon as I said “just enjoy it”, I saw the pacer slowly pull away. M10 my ITB started in pain, “OK, dont think about that because it’s not going to feel better.”

Mind you, I had been sick for the week with nasal and throat and that 8HR Tylenol was staring to ween off by the half but I wasn’t slow because of that nor the plantar injury I’ve had to nurse for 3months. No, this was deep fatigue and lack of strength. “You’ll need to work on that for next year’s IRONMAN Florida”.

“This is awesome, I get to do this. Smile man. Enjoy it, Embrace it.” GUMPTION!

As I enter the loop, I think of Sam Long and Lionel Sanders, Professional Triathletes who I have watched so many times on their YouTube videos in this exact spot. “This is awesome.” I also think of Fiona who also ran an out and back marathon in this exact spot several years ago.

I saw Tyler, Jeff, Bryan, “this is legit.”

I am slowing down and as the Senior Finance Manager supporting this team, I start doing the math. OK, 6 miles at 8minute mile 50minutes for the .2, this is sub 3:20, nice. “That’s a solid time.”

5K to go, just run non-stop for 3:18. Now, walking the aid stations to dose self in water or electrolytes, who friggin cares, “I smell like shit.”

Damn, another walk, OK just keep going. After 3hrs and 15min of EDM of Avicci, Giuseppe Octaviani, Martin Garixx, take those things off. Listen to the crowds.

I cross the line happy to get in at 3:17 tying it to the Army Navy game that was 16-17 that my CFO of Army customers might have to have “some fun insisting defeat with” and I cross the line.

Thank you for the shirt Brenda. I was proud to wear it. I join my friends, cheer in our other friends, and celebrate together.

4 marathons in a year is a lot but for my body, it was the volume I always hope works, doesn’t.

In January, after world wide travels from the 70.3 World Championship in Taupo, NZ I missed my PB by 11 seconds in 3:02:45 and my longest run was 13.4miles. Although after the 13.1miles in 70.3WC, I ran another 10 on the day. I tried again at the Mesa Marathon 28 days later and failed at 3:22 because 2 marathons on 4 weeks, yea… But only 2 consecutive weeks at 44miles.

In the lead up to my 3:03 in WA, I had mostly just went to 16 but ran the Grand Canyon Rim to River 24.6M, up Mt Lemmon 21.3M, and a 20M treadmill. But only 2 weeks over 50miles with 52mile peak.

But for Tucson, 3x20M runs and 7 consecutive weeks over 50miles with peak  62miles. “Kevin, you are good, but you are not THAT good.”

Volume isn’t always better. And the stress of a full time, important role and studying 10+hrs per week for the CPA,… you’re not superman. “I know, but life is short. Fake it, till you make it. Passion and Lovrle of life.”

I am mostly proud of my colleagues and inspired to grow the love amongst our broader teams.

Tuesday you get the next blog. Subscribe for more. Fingers crossed.

You get one shot at life; give it your best.