Week 9 of 9
M: 5.4 miles, a.m.
T: 6 miles, after work
W: Off
R: 4 miles, a.m.
F: Off
S: 3 miles, mid-day
N: Twin Cities Marathon
Total: 44.4 miles
The week leading up to a big event can be nerve wracking, but save for a few moments I was pretty calm all week. As the week progressed I could feel some sub-conscience energy but if I wouldn't have felt that to some degree I would have been worried about myself.
Sunday morning, Pat/Katie/Family were nice enough to pick me up and give me a ride downtown. Pat also got me a guest credential for the elite hotel so I was able to sit indoors a bit and even better, have easy access to a comfortable bathroom.
I opted out of any type of formal warm up, but the short walk from the hotel to the start helped me wake up my muscles and level out my nervous energy. Steady rain developed pre-start, but it wasn't so bad except for the wet feet. I was glad I wore wool socks in this regard as I never had blister issues. I ran to the bathrooms close to the 10 miles start several times - which served two purposes - keep me moving and because there were no lines over there. My race strategy was to go out with the 3:15 pace group - so I found that group and waited for the race to start. My least favorite part of this race experience was standing in the corral - I forget how annoying people can be when filled with pre-race anxiety. I just tried to focus on my strategy and not them.
The horn went off and off we went. The first couple of miles were slow - which is good I suppose as I always tend to go out too fast. Running with the pace group was a challenge - there was a lot of jockeying to stay on the pacer's shoulder which resulted in a few trips and near misses. At around 5 miles I decided to run ~ 10 seconds ahead of that group to leverage the pace making but to avoid the risks. By around mile 8 my ~ 10 second gap had increased and I was feeling pretty good. Also at mile 8 I took my first gel at the water station. Then I put my head down and tried to run 7:20s. At half way, I took another gel. My split was 1:36.27 - a couple minutes faster than my 3:15 goal time. Out of all the marathons I've done, this is the best I've felt at halfway so mission accomplished. The next 8 miles or so I went to work - I tried to leverage my feeling good to taking as much time as I could. Took another gel at mile 17 - I really don't like Cliff shots and almost choked (I was carrying gu). Kept pushing my pace (from 13.1 to 18.6 I averaged 7:00, from 18.6 to 21 I averaged 7:08 and from 21 to 24 I averaged 7:18, all below my 7:26 target pace - another gel at mile 20. I surged at mile 21 (admittedly to take a shot at a free pair of shoes - I think I may have gotten it...to get a free pair of shoes, you needed to run mile 22 faster than your average pace up to that point). At mile 23 I really started feeling gassed - physiologically I was OK, but my muscular strength was shot. I hung on the best I could to the finish. And while the finish is down hill, it sure feels long from the church to the line. 3:10.24 is my chip time - success!
I am very happy with this race. I got a time that will likely get me into Boston - but even better, it showed me that I might still have a shot at sub 3. As my soreness subsides I will start thinking about my strategy to get there - hopefully in a spring marathon.
Nerd alert - back in 1997 I did the fat tire and TCM double as well. Here are my aggregate results:
1997: 1240 / 7:01.48
2017: 709 / 5:52.66
Times are a little meaningless since Fat Tire changes from year to year (really wet back then), but place is a good indicator that while I slowed a bit running - I'm a better all around athlete.
Finally, at the finish I was pretty overwhelmed with emotion. Not because of the race stand alone, but the culmination of the year we have experienced. Nothing bad, but a lot of change and challenge. I would be very reminisce to not thank Robin for her support, my family who came to the race and gave me motivation to push, and Pat and Katie for their support through out move.
Happy Tuesday.
T: 6 miles, after work
W: Off
R: 4 miles, a.m.
F: Off
S: 3 miles, mid-day
N: Twin Cities Marathon
Total: 44.4 miles
The week leading up to a big event can be nerve wracking, but save for a few moments I was pretty calm all week. As the week progressed I could feel some sub-conscience energy but if I wouldn't have felt that to some degree I would have been worried about myself.
Sunday morning, Pat/Katie/Family were nice enough to pick me up and give me a ride downtown. Pat also got me a guest credential for the elite hotel so I was able to sit indoors a bit and even better, have easy access to a comfortable bathroom.
I opted out of any type of formal warm up, but the short walk from the hotel to the start helped me wake up my muscles and level out my nervous energy. Steady rain developed pre-start, but it wasn't so bad except for the wet feet. I was glad I wore wool socks in this regard as I never had blister issues. I ran to the bathrooms close to the 10 miles start several times - which served two purposes - keep me moving and because there were no lines over there. My race strategy was to go out with the 3:15 pace group - so I found that group and waited for the race to start. My least favorite part of this race experience was standing in the corral - I forget how annoying people can be when filled with pre-race anxiety. I just tried to focus on my strategy and not them.
The horn went off and off we went. The first couple of miles were slow - which is good I suppose as I always tend to go out too fast. Running with the pace group was a challenge - there was a lot of jockeying to stay on the pacer's shoulder which resulted in a few trips and near misses. At around 5 miles I decided to run ~ 10 seconds ahead of that group to leverage the pace making but to avoid the risks. By around mile 8 my ~ 10 second gap had increased and I was feeling pretty good. Also at mile 8 I took my first gel at the water station. Then I put my head down and tried to run 7:20s. At half way, I took another gel. My split was 1:36.27 - a couple minutes faster than my 3:15 goal time. Out of all the marathons I've done, this is the best I've felt at halfway so mission accomplished. The next 8 miles or so I went to work - I tried to leverage my feeling good to taking as much time as I could. Took another gel at mile 17 - I really don't like Cliff shots and almost choked (I was carrying gu). Kept pushing my pace (from 13.1 to 18.6 I averaged 7:00, from 18.6 to 21 I averaged 7:08 and from 21 to 24 I averaged 7:18, all below my 7:26 target pace - another gel at mile 20. I surged at mile 21 (admittedly to take a shot at a free pair of shoes - I think I may have gotten it...to get a free pair of shoes, you needed to run mile 22 faster than your average pace up to that point). At mile 23 I really started feeling gassed - physiologically I was OK, but my muscular strength was shot. I hung on the best I could to the finish. And while the finish is down hill, it sure feels long from the church to the line. 3:10.24 is my chip time - success!
I am very happy with this race. I got a time that will likely get me into Boston - but even better, it showed me that I might still have a shot at sub 3. As my soreness subsides I will start thinking about my strategy to get there - hopefully in a spring marathon.
Nerd alert - back in 1997 I did the fat tire and TCM double as well. Here are my aggregate results:
1997: 1240 / 7:01.48
2017: 709 / 5:52.66
Times are a little meaningless since Fat Tire changes from year to year (really wet back then), but place is a good indicator that while I slowed a bit running - I'm a better all around athlete.
Finally, at the finish I was pretty overwhelmed with emotion. Not because of the race stand alone, but the culmination of the year we have experienced. Nothing bad, but a lot of change and challenge. I would be very reminisce to not thank Robin for her support, my family who came to the race and gave me motivation to push, and Pat and Katie for their support through out move.
Happy Tuesday.
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