Christian Oliver's digital thoughts

I can’t believe it myself. I beat my target time and finished the Marathon without a hitch.

This was my first Marathon and my second race in general since I did a 5K before I decided to run the Marathon. Given that I’ve been a runner for less than a year, I can’t be happier with my results.

The experience was amazing, the course is very beautiful and the cheering was really encouraging. I think I’ve fallen for running, real bad. Can’t wait to run my next one and run in different places.

Seeing my family get excited along the way was beyond description. Unfortunately they didn’t make it in time for the finish line but just thinking they would be there helped a lot.

This Marathon is very hilly, one of the those with most elevation changes in the US. Yes, more than NY or Boston and I really felt it, specially because there are many long hills along the last miles. It did affected my pace substantially so I’m hopeful that I can make a better time at a flatter course.

Getting there. Woke up at 5 am.

Along the way…

The results:

Average Pace 8:19,

10K: 50:43,

Half: 1:45:40,

20 Miles: 2:43:06,

Marathon: 3:38:10

Trying to steer away from getting too cheesy, this is my Oscar speech part:

I thank Valois, José Espinel and Franco who got me on this “doing a Marathon” thing.

To Titi whose support really made this possible in many respects. To my kids, both for inspiring me as for passing time without me while I trained.

To my parents and sister for always believing in me, always supporting me and always being there, even if some couldn’t physically be.

To Meme, for teaching me so many things, specially about enduring, which is what this race is all about.

To the rest of my family and to my friends for your friendships.

Nuf Said

I’m getting ready for the Atlanta ING Marathon which will be run on Sunday the 29th of March (this coming Sunday).

If you want to show up and cheer me up along the way, here are some tips on how to follow my progress and when I may be in the different cheering locations along the track.

The Marathon starts at 7 am sharp at the Centennial Olympic Park in Downtown Atlanta.

This is the course of the Marathon (2009 Route Map and Street List ):

There is some official Race Day Information here

“The Cheering Zone will supply plenty of inflatable noisemakers and “Go Runners!” signs. All you do is provide the enthusiasm and NOISE!

ING Cheering Zone- Marietta Street – the exciting final mile of the race!

Following the Runners Along the Course

Friends and family members of ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon participants are encouraged to use MARTA, Atlanta’s rapid transit system, to follow and support along the course. Several key MARTA stations fall along the route of the ING Georgia Marathon to include Five Points, MLK Memorial, Inman Park/Reynoldstown, East Lake, Decatur, Midtown, North Avenue, and Peachtree Center stations. MARTA Breeze cards will be available for purchase at the ING Georgia Marathon Health & Fitness Expo. For more information on MARTA, visit www.itsmarta.com.”

This is a close up of the Start/Finish area:

I’m hoping to finish the marathon around 11 am if all goes well. My expected average pace should be 8:22 minutes per mile, which should help you calculate where I may be along the course.

If things go according to plan, I may be around these times at these key locations (Download PDF):

If I’m not there at these times, things are either turning out too good to be true or not as good as planned…

You can find out where I’m at by tracking me live through this website.

Any positive energy is always welcome.