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So earlier this year I decided that Chicago would be my goal fall marathon. I built up my mileage, used Pfitzinger’s 70/MPW plan and felt good and strong in September, ready to attack Chicago. Then a few things happened:<br><ul><li>I ran a couple days in the Poconos. I felt great and quite strong during the runs however the hilly routes did a number on my previously healthy left hamstring and hip.</li>
</ul><ul><li>I pulled myself out of the race in Chicago just before mile 13. The weather was taxing me too much and I was thinking ahead to NYC.<br>
Feeling a bit bummed about Chicago, I took a few days to host my own pity party.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Getting back into the routine and prepped for NYC, I further tweaked my left hamstring & hip.</li>
</ul><ul><li>I made a decision to move forward with running NYC. I was still strong and I wanted some closure to the fall marathoning season.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Because of these events, my last longish run was 15.5 miles, 6 weeks prior to race day. This, I believe, is what caused me the most hurt in the marathon.</li>
</ul>
The day started off great! Met up with <b>PacerChris</b>, <b>LLdiggingdeeptoprBerg</b> and PC’s buddy Tom to set up camp in the starting area. It was great hanging out and sharing both porta-potty and pacing strategies. I didn’t really have a time goal in mind. This race was about me seeing my training through and producing a good experience in lieu of Chicago. I was thinking about maybe going out with 8:45s-9:00s and seeing where it took me. Well, that didn’t last long. I met a very cool runner in my corral and we decided to run together for a bit. She had also run Chicago and was from my hometown of St. Louis so I knew she was good people!<br><br>
A bit of congestion in that first mile but we made up for it on the downhill off the bridge. I was feeling great and it wasn’t the go-out-too-fast-and-get-burned-later excitement type of great. It was honest to goodness, this pace is comfortable and I’m in control great.<br><br>
M1: 8:58<br>
M2: 7:55<br>
M3: 8:23<br>
M4: 8:23<br>
M5: 8:24<br>
M6: 8:33<br>
M7: 8:29<br>
M8: 8:41<br>
M9: 8:42<br>
M10: 8:38<br>
M11: 10:53 1st porta potty stop<br>
M12: 9:29<br>
M13: 8:56<br>
M14 - M16 the leg cramps begin.<br>
M17: 8:31<br>
M18: 9:04<br>
M19 – 25 3 more porta potty visits (collective UGH!) and some more leg cramps on and off<br>
M26: 9:11<br>
.88 (yep, I didn’t run that shortest route) 4:28<br>
Finish time: 4:14:23<br><br>
As evidenced, the leg cramps and on-and-off digestive problems pushed me way off pace. The thing is, I knew I could do this. I never had a mental slide, I felt strong despite the cramping and knew that the old going out too fast wasn’t the problem here.<br><br>
I finished, still without a time goal, and absolutely giddy that I could see Jason x 3, my sister Beth x 3, Heather, Tara, Steve, Kate, Alexis, Bob, Maggie, Matt, Kelly, Larry, Jack, Hunter, Lyla, Lori & Lora, all cheering me on. They are friggin' supa starts in my book!!!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/hello2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hello1"><br><br>
I am confident that had there not been that 6 week period of time from running 15.5 to running 26.2 I could have and would have nailed at least a sub 4:00 if not better. I don’t like to live life with a bunch of would haves, could haves. I know what I am capable of and I’ll continue to work hard to get there.<br><br>
It wasn’t the race I trained all summer for, it wasn’t the condition I’d like to go into a marathon in, and it wasn’t a PR. <b>What it was it what matters.</b> It was my marathon, it was a fantastic journey going further & harder in training than ever before and feeling incredible, it was a huge learning experience and it was yet another opportunity to hook up with the always wonderful 30s gang!!! I continue to learn so much in my running and having the people here to share it with is one of the best feelings evah!
</ul><ul><li>I pulled myself out of the race in Chicago just before mile 13. The weather was taxing me too much and I was thinking ahead to NYC.<br>
Feeling a bit bummed about Chicago, I took a few days to host my own pity party.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Getting back into the routine and prepped for NYC, I further tweaked my left hamstring & hip.</li>
</ul><ul><li>I made a decision to move forward with running NYC. I was still strong and I wanted some closure to the fall marathoning season.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Because of these events, my last longish run was 15.5 miles, 6 weeks prior to race day. This, I believe, is what caused me the most hurt in the marathon.</li>
</ul>
The day started off great! Met up with <b>PacerChris</b>, <b>LLdiggingdeeptoprBerg</b> and PC’s buddy Tom to set up camp in the starting area. It was great hanging out and sharing both porta-potty and pacing strategies. I didn’t really have a time goal in mind. This race was about me seeing my training through and producing a good experience in lieu of Chicago. I was thinking about maybe going out with 8:45s-9:00s and seeing where it took me. Well, that didn’t last long. I met a very cool runner in my corral and we decided to run together for a bit. She had also run Chicago and was from my hometown of St. Louis so I knew she was good people!<br><br>
A bit of congestion in that first mile but we made up for it on the downhill off the bridge. I was feeling great and it wasn’t the go-out-too-fast-and-get-burned-later excitement type of great. It was honest to goodness, this pace is comfortable and I’m in control great.<br><br>
M1: 8:58<br>
M2: 7:55<br>
M3: 8:23<br>
M4: 8:23<br>
M5: 8:24<br>
M6: 8:33<br>
M7: 8:29<br>
M8: 8:41<br>
M9: 8:42<br>
M10: 8:38<br>
M11: 10:53 1st porta potty stop<br>
M12: 9:29<br>
M13: 8:56<br>
M14 - M16 the leg cramps begin.<br>
M17: 8:31<br>
M18: 9:04<br>
M19 – 25 3 more porta potty visits (collective UGH!) and some more leg cramps on and off<br>
M26: 9:11<br>
.88 (yep, I didn’t run that shortest route) 4:28<br>
Finish time: 4:14:23<br><br>
As evidenced, the leg cramps and on-and-off digestive problems pushed me way off pace. The thing is, I knew I could do this. I never had a mental slide, I felt strong despite the cramping and knew that the old going out too fast wasn’t the problem here.<br><br>
I finished, still without a time goal, and absolutely giddy that I could see Jason x 3, my sister Beth x 3, Heather, Tara, Steve, Kate, Alexis, Bob, Maggie, Matt, Kelly, Larry, Jack, Hunter, Lyla, Lori & Lora, all cheering me on. They are friggin' supa starts in my book!!!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/hello2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hello1"><br><br>
I am confident that had there not been that 6 week period of time from running 15.5 to running 26.2 I could have and would have nailed at least a sub 4:00 if not better. I don’t like to live life with a bunch of would haves, could haves. I know what I am capable of and I’ll continue to work hard to get there.<br><br>
It wasn’t the race I trained all summer for, it wasn’t the condition I’d like to go into a marathon in, and it wasn’t a PR. <b>What it was it what matters.</b> It was my marathon, it was a fantastic journey going further & harder in training than ever before and feeling incredible, it was a huge learning experience and it was yet another opportunity to hook up with the always wonderful 30s gang!!! I continue to learn so much in my running and having the people here to share it with is one of the best feelings evah!
