5am alarm.  Marathon day.

Dusky & humid, mile+ walk to today’s Obelisk Start in Ibirapuera Park.  Picked up runners soon after entering Portão 7 (gate closest my digs off Prof. Filadelfo Azevedo).  Buzz in the air, runners talking in groups.  Animated talk.  Voice pitch/timber fluttered up/down, sometimes hand movements – no need to understand Portuguese, they’re all talking ‘marathon’.

São Paulo’s tall concrete Obelisk is reminiscent of our Washington Memorial in DC.  Crowds swelled as the Obelisk grew larger in view.  Monument serves as a memorial to four men who protested/died/inspired the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932.

Pre-race porta potty lines – same as in the States.  UNIQUE to Brazil?  Crazy long lines for COFFEE 🙂

30 minutes ‘til Start: snapped a shot of the Obelisk, searched for my starting corral (‘sectors’ in Brazil).  Noticed runner bibs in lotta different colours, lotta different distances too (4K, 8K, 24K & 42K).  Matched my Bib colour to a Black banner marked ‘PRETO’.  I’d be starting way way back today.  Literally TENS of THOUSANDS of runners participating – & goofed my estimated pace time, confused miles with kilometers.  Based on the expected heat index however, walkers pace might be right on the mark.  Ugh.

Gun start?  No idea.  My journey didn’t begin ‘til 8:10 (an hour+ after the elites).

Sluggish early, felt the heat.  Muggy, thick air.  Stream running off the cap, sweat burned my eyes – mile 4.

Supporters shouted: Vai! Vai! Vai! [Go, go, go!]  Runners yelled: Vai! Vai! Vai! in return.  Loud South American day with NO zone-out music (started last week with success – this week, not so much).  So so many runners.  Largest marathon since New York.

Combination of heat & noise & crowds – HUGE mental struggle.  Completely outta my element.

Started water-dousing my head/neck/legs every aid station 2^nd Half.  Odd by true: Saw a herd of capybara grazing.  Stopped & pic-snapped.  Positive? Didn’t fall apart physically.  Steady jog pace from mile 12 on.  Pushed through, finished, collected my medal.

Flat course; HUGE FUN city; shame to perform so poorly.  Super sorry Brazil.

THREE steps forward, BIG step back.  New PW.  Worst road finish EVER.

LISTAGEM EXTRA OFICIAL (PARA CONFERÊNCIA DE TEMPO)

EVENTO:  24ª MARATONA INTERNACIONAL DE SÃO PAULO – 42.195 KM

RESULTADO PELO Nº DE PEITO – CLASSIFICAÇÃO GERAL (SUJEITO A ALTERAÇÃO)

 

NUM      ATLETA              TEMPO LÍQUIDO

6063     KEENAN R HAGA     05:56:37

Showered, afternoon napped.  Everything is better after a shower.  Uber’d back to the airport (no Lyft in Brazil).  Customs, passport control, Brazilian TSA – and dinner.  USA bound.  5am in Houston, back to work Monday 2^nd half.  Home Sweet Colorado Home ❤

UPDATE:  Trained hard Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.  Logged a whole lotta miles, next marathon: Sunday.