tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post7759849498218170165..comments2023-07-18T02:19:58.359-07:00Comments on I'm the one they call Beal: 2012 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Race ReportBeal88http://www.blogger.com/profile/11150444320585428648noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-88563281055443590752012-12-17T09:18:51.578-08:002012-12-17T09:18:51.578-08:00Hi Matt. I'm glad I came across your blog. I...Hi Matt. I'm glad I came across your blog. I ran Cleveland's '12 marathon too and finished in 5:08. I saw you along the way many times. I was a short red-headed dude wearing all gray. I know we passed each other numerous times. I have the EXACT same story as you. All my training runs were in the 9 - 9:30 pace including a 22 miler in 3:25. I was so excited to have my 1st marathon be around 4 or 4:15... and then came the heat. Cramping, fighting back tears from frustration, seeing friends and family to keep me going. Well here we are in December... and I'm doing it all over again.<br /><br />You and I are going to hit our goals. The weather is going to cooperate!!!! Good luck and I'll be following your blog.<br /><br />RobAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08955041269253320683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-66492065634947822732012-05-24T20:54:17.346-07:002012-05-24T20:54:17.346-07:00You are so correct about Euclid. It WAS a death ma...You are so correct about Euclid. It WAS a death march. That stretch of 3 miles beat me down to a pulp.John S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-4806849161922657932012-05-23T18:24:16.072-07:002012-05-23T18:24:16.072-07:00BEAL! You are SO TOUGH! I love this race recap. Yo...BEAL! You are SO TOUGH! I love this race recap. You captured the emotions of a tough race so well. This reminds me so much of when I ran Chicago in 2007. It was literally hell on earth, but it made me SO much stronger and left me wanting to come back for more. Rest up and celebrate your victory in the finish! Excited to see where you go next!Mollyberrieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04407770998590208268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-7063005204759932462012-05-22T18:02:02.172-07:002012-05-22T18:02:02.172-07:00This could have been my story. The sun and heat we...This could have been my story. The sun and heat were brutal. I started walking at the 15-mile mark and did not feel guilty as I watched numerous ambulances zip by. I ran this race in 2009 and had to wear gloves the first 4-5 miles. This race was more than one hour slower than 2009. After reading these posts, I've made up my mind to return in 2013 and give it another try. GCSG Spaldingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-28941213190893537862012-05-22T10:11:17.749-07:002012-05-22T10:11:17.749-07:00you did great! it was really hot out there--the su...you did great! it was really hot out there--the sun was brutal. I know its tough given all the time invested in training, but imagine how much worse it would've been like if you hadn't trained well. You finished and given the conditions, that is a huge accomplishment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-36560654727405368912012-05-22T09:07:58.602-07:002012-05-22T09:07:58.602-07:00This was my first marathon, so I have no point of ...This was my first marathon, so I have no point of comparison. But I struggled through the same areas you did. I finished about 30 - 40 minutes slower than I had hoped, but I guess the fact that I ran the whole thing (minus one stop to stretch cramping calves and three less-than-100 yard walks)should be a point of pride. I think everyone - from the most elite runner to someone like me - had to adjust their expectations. Great job!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-33826964752777995082012-05-22T09:06:03.554-07:002012-05-22T09:06:03.554-07:00Great job! It was a hard one for sure, the heat an...Great job! It was a hard one for sure, the heat and the blazing sun did nothing to help! <br /><br />Most people were in bed while the rest of us were sweating it out on the race course! That' says a lot!Fizzgighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12086526805778452531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-200082624013284272012-05-22T08:19:40.214-07:002012-05-22T08:19:40.214-07:00I had no idea you were feeling dizzy early on. I k...I had no idea you were feeling dizzy early on. I knew it was hot and I know it affects you more than others. So proud with how you held up and still finished this race. I know it was not easy and being in the heat for a race is not much fun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-4934048669060032282012-05-22T08:01:50.611-07:002012-05-22T08:01:50.611-07:00Wow, I think you put into words what I had seen on...Wow, I think you put into words what I had seen on EVERYONE's faces that day.<br /><br />I won't lie, if I saw my HR above 180bpm during a race that was anything longer than 5k... I would have bailed. That is INTENSE buddy.<br /><br />Glad you pushed through. The time goal was not achieved, but you accomplished something that day that not many people will ever experience. A true character builder out there.<br /><br />You have a wonderful base right now, I think if you really wanted that PR, Canton could be the day for it. <br /><br />I was glad you wore all Black so I could pick you out easily :) I suck at finding people during races haha. But don't do that again! ha!<br /><br />Great work man. Don't ever look down on the race time since you put all the hours in training and you lost all that weight. It's about the journey, not the race.Matty Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13447270565189789394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-57477567367362772872012-05-22T04:34:15.920-07:002012-05-22T04:34:15.920-07:00way to stay tough, fight thru and cross that finis...way to stay tough, fight thru and cross that finish line. every report is that it was brutal..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08011009498623515710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-3439453847032057322012-05-22T04:17:20.181-07:002012-05-22T04:17:20.181-07:00I am so glad to read this! Not glad that you had a...I am so glad to read this! Not glad that you had a hard time, but glad I wasn't the only one. This was my first marathon, and it was awful--I trained in great temps all winter, and wasn't used to the heat. I finished 30 minutes slower than I had planned, and was feeling disappointed about it. But anyway, congrats on sticking it out--you described the heat much better than I did on my race report! ;)SlimKatie @ Runs for Cookieshttp://www.runsforcookies.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-26126010047637717022012-05-21T20:56:32.186-07:002012-05-21T20:56:32.186-07:00I am not a runner so I do not know the difficulty ...I am not a runner so I do not know the difficulty of undertaking something as foreign to me as 26.2 miles( I make it 4.5 on the elliptical and think i am a god.) The fact that you pushed through and completed it makes you a ROCK STAR. Be Proud. I am proud of you.Rapunzel41https://www.blogger.com/profile/03010153216172924125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-8161240042363222382012-05-21T19:29:22.423-07:002012-05-21T19:29:22.423-07:00I was with you at about mile 12. I wondered how a...I was with you at about mile 12. I wondered how a guy could go on with the black outfit but now I know how you continued on after reading your story. I was very disappointed with my time and I wondered if I could have done better but your story helps me understand that the heat can really take a toll on someone and it's more important to know that the effort is what's important not the PR.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-28484385568201231052012-05-21T17:54:26.521-07:002012-05-21T17:54:26.521-07:00This is a very well though out race recap, so majo...This is a very well though out race recap, so major props for taking us through every step of those 26 miles. I give you all the credit in the world for making the decision to continue on. We all know most would have chosen the easier route, but you fought the touch fight. Sure the number on the clock wasn't what you were hoping for, but you sure as heck earned that medal. Nice work Beal!Alicia at Poise in Parmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08820331832136674346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-67892305376553434262012-05-21T17:32:09.353-07:002012-05-21T17:32:09.353-07:00You are a true inspiration! Fighting through adver...You are a true inspiration! Fighting through adversity, pain, physical and mental anguish to finish yesterday are amazing feats. Your training wasn't wasted one bit. You'd never have been able to get through without it. Plus, think of all that you accomplished during these past few months leading up to the race. The pounds lost, the miles you ran and rode, the swims ... dude, you all around killed it. Celebrate the entire process. Don't look at one day and feel like you failed. Because, you won. In so many, many ways, you won!Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13968370738933111939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-15126357820477461002012-05-21T17:10:17.781-07:002012-05-21T17:10:17.781-07:00Congrats Beal on finishing "a race through he...Congrats Beal on finishing "a race through hell." I have so much admiration for all of you who were able to run the full. Even the half was tough for me and I wanted to quit at one point. I feel like all use runners who survived this race are part of this unique fraternity because we fought through the heat, physical and mental struggles, and roller coaster of emotions. <br />Even though it wasn't the race you wanted, you've become such a better an stronger runner through your training. I know your next full you will reach your goal of sub-4. :)Annahttp://annarunning.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-33660833331364023082012-05-21T16:56:39.017-07:002012-05-21T16:56:39.017-07:00Congrats on getting through the crazy heat yesterd...Congrats on getting through the crazy heat yesterday. It was kind of surreal how quickly it got hot, but the medical teams and other runners were very quick to respond in the few cases I saw.David H.http://www.runningbecauseican.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-72214903452619623802012-05-21T16:53:21.490-07:002012-05-21T16:53:21.490-07:00Awesome, dude. Congratulations!Awesome, dude. Congratulations!pengohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159516848217178336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-9809677666066738322012-05-21T16:36:27.615-07:002012-05-21T16:36:27.615-07:00Congrats for getting through that in less than ide...Congrats for getting through that in less than ideal conditions. I still can't believe how hot it's been in the midwest this early in the year. You are a champion!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-86828788954612399152012-05-21T16:35:51.139-07:002012-05-21T16:35:51.139-07:00also...I thought they did a great job w/ the medic...also...I thought they did a great job w/ the medical help as well, everyone I saw in bad shape was getting attended to. I thought the back half should have had water every mile though. That would be my only suggestion for them next year if it's a hot day. But I appreciated all the volunteers out there doing the best they could with a tough situation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-41431647935686524152012-05-21T16:21:18.810-07:002012-05-21T16:21:18.810-07:00You did awesome Beal. It was a rough day out there...You did awesome Beal. It was a rough day out there and a very humbling experience. I understand you feel like all the time spent training and you didn't have your desired race... but I really think it will make you a stronger racer and the next seem "easy" if that's possible. Congrats on pushing through it, it was definitely worth it! Be proud!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538607049070992837.post-40569703994976971892012-05-21T14:34:53.721-07:002012-05-21T14:34:53.721-07:00Each race report I read it's like we were all ...Each race report I read it's like we were all in the journey together because I experienced many of the same feelings and frustrations. You chugged along and completed the race. That's what counts in this one. There will be other races along the journey!<br /><br />Didn't know you always wear the same outfit. Will have to look for the man in black next time. :)Hollyhttp://rustbeltrunner.comnoreply@blogger.com