Last Saturday morning, I ventured out to Newport, to compete in the 2007 America Insurance Breakers Marathon. I felt well prepared for this 26.2 mile race and I was rearing to go. At the request of the race director I started the marathon two hours earlier than the others at 6 a.m.

Starting so early the roads were still slick with the soaking rains of the night before. This made the first few miles really slippery and took away from my time. The way I race is to kick off the ground and propel my racing chair backwards so I really need good traction to keep my pace going. When I get off to a slow start I know the rest of my day will be a battle against the clock and the course. Although I was off my goal pace it helped that the sights lining the course were simply breath taking. The view was spectacular however the lack of spectators took away from the excitement of the race. I am the type of athlete who craves the applause of the larger crowds found in Boston and New York. At this marathon I heard a few people cheering every couple of miles, but there were also long moments of complete silence. Putting this out of my mind I pushed on willing my body to make it up the next hill looming ahead of me.

I reached the half-way mark of the race (13.1-miles) in just under five hours. Disappointed but not beaten I continued on intent to pick up my pace. My goal going into this marathon had been to finish in less than eight hours. After the first hour and a half I knew this would not be accomplished on this day or this course, it seemed there was another hill one right after another throughout the course. I trained very hard for this day and it still took quite a toll on me.
I had reached the 20 mile mark in seven and one half hours. I knew now my goal was just to finish without getting injured. The last 6.2 miles felt as long as the previous 20. People often ask me if I ever think about quitting in the last few miles of a marathon, my answer is never. Of course my body is in tremendous pain and my mind is completely spent, but then I think about how much worse I would feel if I gave into that pain and called it a day. Many people can start a marathon but it takes a person with a strong mind and body to overcome all the obstacles you can encounter out on the marathon course.

I finished this marathon in 9:06:03, one hour, six minutes and three seconds longer than I had hoped to complete marathon number 39 in my career. Hopefully next Sunday when I line up on the Verrazano Bridge to compete in the 2007 INC New York City Marathon I will have a much better day as I am very familiar with the course and I will be hearing the thunderous applause I crave.

-Jason Pisano

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