Now that I have had some time to think about my first marathon, I thought I would revisit the day. Since this blog is really just a public journal I wanted a little more detail for my future self to look back on.
Splits:
1- 08:09 I started out with the 3:40 group, so I don't know why this is fast
2- 07:43 Got sick of the pace group pretty quickly so I just ran what felt good
3- 08:05
4- 08:08
5- 08:04
6- 08:19
7- 08:05
8- 07:54 Somewhere in this area I was running next to a girl whose dad (I assume) was cheering her on-"looking good (girl's name) but try to pick it up." That gave everyone around us a good laugh.
9- 08:01
10- 08:01 I think I had some delicious sport beans here
11- 08:06
12- 08:11
13- 08:08 Half marathon split was a bit over 1:46, which was right on time, or so I thought
14- 08:04
15- 08:18
16- 08:25
17- 09:35 This was a little slower because I had to piss and I could not hold it any longer. No, I was not willing to piss on myself to save a minute.
18- 08:14
19- 08:42 This is where the knee pain set in, I was really hoping it would just go away
20- 09:08 Knee pain
21- 11:22 Took a couple Hammer gels the were handing out, that didn't help the knee, all miles after this I was using the tried and true run/walk method :(
22- 11:22 Stopped somewhere around here to stretch out the knee and legs a little, that didn't help either.
23- 12:03 I was really hurting here, it was really demoralizing "running" this slow. It also didn't help that I saw all my peeps pass me by around this time.
24- 10:41 At this point I knew I would finish under 4 hours by just walking it in and that gave me some energy to run this blazing 10:41
25- 12:08
26- 10:11 The spectators got thicker here and I think that helped, I could also see the finish area by now.
27- 09:21
During those last 5 or 6 miles I witnessed many people who looked much fitter than I dragging themselves along as I was. In the last mile there was a woman laying on the side of the sidewalk getting medical attention.
At mile 24-25 there was a guy limping along with his girlfriend yelling at him to run and pick it up. That was humorous and I don't think it was helping.
Now that I have had some time to think about it, I am somewhat glad I ran this the way I did. I tested myself, and that is what these races are all about. I could not hold my pace for the entire race, but I definitely gave it all I had.
I probably could have finished quite a bit faster if I would have run all 8:30s from the start. That would have put me around 3:45 and that would have been great, but I learned a lot from this and now I know what running a marathon really feels like.
I read a great quote regarding marathons-"Mile 20 is the halfway point." That really sums it up and I can relate to that after this one.
For my next marathon I will be better prepared to be sure. Good weekly volume has to be +40 for the whole cycle with a least a few weeks over 50 miles. For the near term I am really going to concentrate on speed. My number 1 goal going forward is a sub 20 minute 5k. #2 has to be a faster half. My 1:39 last spring is going down.
I need to be more consistent with speed work and tempo runs to accomplish these 2 goals, which should be doable now without the time consuming 20 milers. Of course, I have to wait for my knee to improve, I am still having some stiffness after 2 weeks.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Milwaukee Marathon
3:56:45
First of all, thanks to Lindsay for putting up with my training schedule this summer and fall. Between work, classes, photo shoot and running, it has been taxing on all of us. You are the best!
This is my first marathon. In preparation for this I started out on the Higdon Advanced I schedule, but that didn't work out well for me so after a few weeks I just ran what I felt like.
Here is my log
3 runs over 20 and a few in the high teens. The last 20 miler felt pretty good and I was finally feeling like I was ready for the marathon. I ran my long runs at about 9:00min/mi. which is about 45-60 seconds slower than my planned marathon pace. This seemed to work out well for me. I needed zero recovery time after my 20+ runs and I never got to the point of feeling burnt out.
On my last 20, I had some Sport Beans courtesy of Golden Legs. They were really good, so much better than any Gel I've had. So on the way up to Milwaukee, we stopped to get some from the Jelly Belly store.
Me as Linds was dropping me off
The race started great I ran a typical, if not slow, half for me of 1:46:32. So I was on perfect planned pace. I was feeling good, no surprises.
At a couple spots along the route, Mary, Trish, John and Greg were there with signs and everything. This was a great pick-me-up. That was really great to see some familiar faces cheering me on.
Thanks to Trish for this one:
Here is my Garmin data
As you can see, I was doing well until mile 18. That was when my left knee started to hurt. It was on the outside of my left knee, I was sure it would subside after another mile or so.......but it did not.
It got worse and worse.
At one point I actually stopped and sat in the grass on the side of the road and tried to stretch it out. That didn't work either.
I started having crazy thoughts: "I'll just call Lindsay at the next place I see and she can pick me up." or "I'll make it to 20. 20 is enough. 20 is plenty."
Those evil thoughts subsided and I just kept on truckin' slowly. I walked some during all of the last 6 miles. I think it is ITBS, I had a little problem with this during training, but nothing like this.
I realized at mile 24 that I could walk the rest and still be under 4 hours, and that made me really happy. Which then energized me a little bit.
I was very glad when it was all over. I got my medal and saw Linds and the kiddies and made my way around the crowd to meet up with them.
Kids awaiting my arrival
Here I am relieved to be finished
Cool shirt
2 Alieve and my legs hurt much less, but this is going to take some recovery.
Before this race I was supremely confident that I could run a 3:40, if not faster. That did not work out for me. I thought my training and nuitrition were good. The weather was awesome. The race was awesome, great scenery, great support and everything you could ask for.
What went wrong? Obviously the knee was my main problem. I swore I would not go out too fast and I didn't think I did, but I guess I was wrong.
As the great Lt. Gen. Douglas MacArthur said "I shall return"
Thanks for reading
First of all, thanks to Lindsay for putting up with my training schedule this summer and fall. Between work, classes, photo shoot and running, it has been taxing on all of us. You are the best!
This is my first marathon. In preparation for this I started out on the Higdon Advanced I schedule, but that didn't work out well for me so after a few weeks I just ran what I felt like.
Here is my log
3 runs over 20 and a few in the high teens. The last 20 miler felt pretty good and I was finally feeling like I was ready for the marathon. I ran my long runs at about 9:00min/mi. which is about 45-60 seconds slower than my planned marathon pace. This seemed to work out well for me. I needed zero recovery time after my 20+ runs and I never got to the point of feeling burnt out.
On my last 20, I had some Sport Beans courtesy of Golden Legs. They were really good, so much better than any Gel I've had. So on the way up to Milwaukee, we stopped to get some from the Jelly Belly store.
Me as Linds was dropping me off
The race started great I ran a typical, if not slow, half for me of 1:46:32. So I was on perfect planned pace. I was feeling good, no surprises.
At a couple spots along the route, Mary, Trish, John and Greg were there with signs and everything. This was a great pick-me-up. That was really great to see some familiar faces cheering me on.
Thanks to Trish for this one:
Here is my Garmin data
As you can see, I was doing well until mile 18. That was when my left knee started to hurt. It was on the outside of my left knee, I was sure it would subside after another mile or so.......but it did not.
It got worse and worse.
At one point I actually stopped and sat in the grass on the side of the road and tried to stretch it out. That didn't work either.
I started having crazy thoughts: "I'll just call Lindsay at the next place I see and she can pick me up." or "I'll make it to 20. 20 is enough. 20 is plenty."
Those evil thoughts subsided and I just kept on truckin' slowly. I walked some during all of the last 6 miles. I think it is ITBS, I had a little problem with this during training, but nothing like this.
I realized at mile 24 that I could walk the rest and still be under 4 hours, and that made me really happy. Which then energized me a little bit.
I was very glad when it was all over. I got my medal and saw Linds and the kiddies and made my way around the crowd to meet up with them.
Kids awaiting my arrival
Here I am relieved to be finished
Cool shirt
2 Alieve and my legs hurt much less, but this is going to take some recovery.
Before this race I was supremely confident that I could run a 3:40, if not faster. That did not work out for me. I thought my training and nuitrition were good. The weather was awesome. The race was awesome, great scenery, great support and everything you could ask for.
What went wrong? Obviously the knee was my main problem. I swore I would not go out too fast and I didn't think I did, but I guess I was wrong.
As the great Lt. Gen. Douglas MacArthur said "I shall return"
Thanks for reading
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