We touched down in Little Rock behind schedule but right on time to start the party. Morgan’s friend, Sara, picked us up at the airport in limousine style service and drove us

At the Expo.

to her house so we could drop off our bags and get ready for the night out. Morgan bought a shirt and some coasters and magnets with running slogans. I drove back with Marcia to prepare my knee for the marathon on Sunday. I hadn’t been able to train, much less run since the Houston Marathon in January. I continued foam rolling, icing and stretching and little by little it eased up to the point I could run with the support of Kinesio Tape. Two weeks prior to the Little Rock Marathon I tested my speed and endurance, placing 3rd overall at the 5k on a muddy cross country course, and finishing a half marathon with Alex in a perfectly paced run of 1:28, which earned her 4th overall female.

Last minute hill training to the top of Pinnacle Peak

Along the way into town, Marcia drove the 2 crucial hills of the marathon course, the ascent up Kavanaugh and the decent down Cantrell, which would peak around mile 15. They looked brutal but still manageable compared to other hilly marathons I’ve run like Pittsburgh. Knee supports and inflammatory medicines are not my preferred way to run, and I hope my knee returns to health soon.

We crossed the Arkansas River on the Broadway Bridge into Old Town Little Rock. With the mile 16 water station in view, I tore into my first energy gel and grabbed a water to wash it down. I flew down the side of the hill, which must be one of Little Rock’s big rocks and had my second energy gel at the mile 19 water station. I crossed under the Mile 20 portal and timing mat in 2:18. I washed down my last energy gel at the mile 22 water station and passed a few runners. Then I saw David on the out road. It’s a good feeling when you see a mile 24 marker, expecting to only see mile 23. I grabbed my last cup of water before ascending the last hill which topped out at mile 25. We grabbed a beer and headed toward the finisher chute to watch Morgan finish. She came through in 4:01:20, her fastest marathon yet, capping a great homecoming race.

Follow this link to read the entire report

Little Rock 2012