[Timr1]

<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Event:  USAF Marathon</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Date:  9/18/2010</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Location:  Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">This was my 3^rd time running this event, having made the trip to Dayton for both the 2007 and the 2009 events.  The difference this time though was that those previous two runnings were done as training events while I was showing up this time to perhaps run hard and see what I have from my summer training.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">That said, I didn’t put a lot of pressure on myself to achieve a maximum performance.  Having done my training under the brutal sun of the summer, I had no idea what I would be capable of.  My training in August consisted of slogging through the miles on my plan and surviving my long runs.  As a result, I had not ran a single mile at Goal Marathon Pace. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">So, my plan was to start on the back of the 3:10 group and run with them if I felt comfortable.  I did think to myself that I would back off and shut it down if I didn’t feel like it was my day.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">From an event perspective, I really like this race.   The Air Force typically does a great job of organizing everything and it’s great to support our military.  This year, the maxed out their participation and sold out all for events, 5K, 10K, HM and Marathon.  The additional people really taxed their infrastructure and as a result, there were lines at packet pick up, a large traffic jam getting into the parking area before the race, a long line at bag check after the race, and another traffic jam trying to get out of the parking lot. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The pasta dinner is held inside the US Air Force Museum and I really like this event.  The food is just OK, but the atmosphere and the speakers are always great.  This year, Amby Burfoot and Bill Rodgers were the two featured running speakers.  Good stuff! </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">After the dinner, the museum is open only to the dinner participants and my Dad and I did a quick tour around one of the hangers before heading back to the hotel to turn in early.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">With a 7:15am gun time for the marathon, the alarm went off super early at 4:15am.  I went through my usual race day rituals including the various pre-race foods that I eat.  Other than the line getting into the parking area, pre-race activities were low key and I was low anxiety.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Pacer and I had a few mins to chat on the line before the National Anthem and B-52 flyover.  Right at 7:15am, the gun was fired and we were off.  The 3:10 pacer must have thought it was a 5K or a horse race, because he sprinted out of the gate like a maniac.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was looking at my watch and thinking this pace is nuts!  He’s running practically, sub 7 pace.  So, less than .5 miles into the race, I made the decision to back off from the 3:10 group and run my own race.  I settled into a nice 7:15ish pace and set the cruise control.  That was after I climbed THE HILL from mile 1 to 1.5.  So, mile two was actually 7:29 while mile 3 was downhill and 7:02ish.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">From there, I was a machine hitting splits that were within :09 seconds of each other.  At mile 2.5 the band was playing Sweet Home Alabama.  I told everyone around me that that was for me, since I’m from Birmingham.  It was good for a chuckle.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The miles clicked off and I felt great.  The weather was cool, there was a slight breeze and I knew every turn of this course.  I had great time on the out and back in Fairborn.  The spectators there were great!  This course is challenged a bit by the fact that on the active AF base, access is restricted to Air Force people only.  So, while the spectators may be few in numbers the people who are there cheer you loudly. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Around mile 8 or so, I met up with a young guy (Air Force) who was from North Dakota and he was running his first marathon.  He fell in step with me and we had a nice chat.  He told me that he was looking to break 3:30. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">He was with me when we crossed the HM timing mat at 1:35.  I told him he had 3:30 as long as he didn’t blow up.  About a mile later, he pulled into a rest stop to hit a porta john and I soldiered on. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I knew that I had a bit of time in the bank and that had been my plan.  I knew that the end was going to be warmer so I planned for my pace to fade a bit.  My goal was to prolong that as long as possible.  I didn’t even give pace a though until mile 18. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Then, I told myself, just hold it to 20.  And I did.  Then mile 21, you have to climb an overpass and I knew that I’d slow down there and I did.  Coming down off the overpass I realized that I was now hot and dripping sweat.  I couldn’t wait for the next water stop to get some water to pour over my head.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">At this point, I made a mistake.  Prior to mile 22, I had managed both my fluid and gel intake perfectly.  At this point, though, I thought that  I didn’t really need/want to take my last Gu at 2:45.  I don’t know but had I done so, I might have not had an issue with cramps in the last 1.5 miles.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">At 22.5 the half marathon and the marathon course merged.  For a while, there was a barrier splitting the road in half with marathon on the left and half marathon on the right.  Then the barriers stopped and that’s when all hell broke loose.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Here I was trying to hold onto 7:40 pace with everything I had while a few hundred 9:10 pace running Half marathoners clogged up the entire road.  I was yelling at them to get right as I tried to pass on the line on the left side of the road.  Some would move, others wouldn’t.  Some had headphones and couldn’t hear me.  Some yelled back, I gave many a hard sweaty shoulder.  This totally sucked as I felt my energy and my time slip away.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Around the 25 mile marker, a half marathoner woman told me to chill out and I unloaded on her.  While I had my upper body twisted so I could keep yelling at her as I ran by, I felt cramps shoot down my legs to my calves.  At that point, I hobbled, but didn’t break stride.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I got into the last half mile and knew that it was going to be close.  I ran over a couple of people at the last water stop just inside the gate.  Half marathoners tend to come to a complete stop in water stops instead of moving forward or out of the way.  (Voo would’ve been proud of my effort.)</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I could see the finish line but I had to run that U to get to it.  I didn’t have a lot left due of the cramping.  I made the final turn and knew that I would have to sprint it in, but when I stepped on the gas pedal, the cramps cranked up in both calves.  I backed off knowing that if I pushed it, I was going to lock up and go down.  I hobbled to the finish line in 3:16:33.  A new PR by :11 but :34 seconds shy of my BQ goal. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I didn’t have time to think about it much as I motioned for the medical helpers to come over immediately.  They had to hold me up while I tried to get everything under control.  A 3 star General saw that me and my two helpers were not going to fit down the chute to the medal area, so the General came to me.  That’s what makes this race so cool. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">My new friends asked me if I needed to go to the med tent and I said no and hobbled off.  I got my USAF Marathon towel and then realized that I needed to go the medical tent so I took myself there.  I asked for a bag of ice and a place to lie down.  After about 5 mins on the ground and after consuming ½ bottle of water, I felt better.  The helped me up and said I should got the next tent over to see the PT and massage people.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">They were great there too and a PT helped me gently stretch out my calves.  At this point, I felt pretty decent just typical post race sore.  I stuck around in the finishers area and waited for my Dad to come across the line for his 2^nd ever Half Marathon.  He did great with a 4 min PR over last year. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I finished 82^nd out of 2400+ finishers in the full marathon.  Not bad for my 16^th career marathon.  I’ll take it.  I’m excited to see what I can do this fall in cooler weather.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Here are my splits:</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mile      GarminWatch</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">1          7:13      7:11</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">2          7:29      7:14</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">3          7:03      7:14</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">4          7:16      7:16</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">5          7:14      7:14</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">6          7:16      7:14</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">7          7:14      7:20</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">8          7:17      7:15</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">9          7:14      7:15</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">10         7:21      7:18</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">11         7:18      7:21</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">12         7:33      7:35</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">13         7:27      7:22</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">14         7:27      7:23</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">15         7:27      7:23</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">16         7:25      7:27</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">17         7:27      7:21</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">18         7:28      7:26</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">19         7:32      7:31</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">20         7:33      7:31</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">21         7:38      7:38</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">22         7:51      7:55</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">23         7:46      7:39</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">24         7:54      7:52</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">25         7:34      7:39</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">26         7:52      7:52</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:arial;">0.22      2:55      2:55</span></span></p>

 

[runningINnyc]

<p><strong>CONGRATULATIONS TIM!!!!!!!!! </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Always so impressed with your race mgmt skillz!  You have this sucker ...you've had it for awhile now, and I don't doubt you'll get there very soon.  Crazy how just a few split second decisions/items can evaporate that 34 secs.  <img alt="" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//sad.gif" title="">    Keep pressing on.  If you survived this summer with this effort as a result think about a nice cool training cycle and the result!!! </p>

 

[CMJHawk86]

<p>Great race, Tim!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Better course management by the AF those last few miles and you would have had the BQ in the bag. That's still an awesome time. <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/notworthy.gif" title=""></p>

 

[Mailbox Head]

<p>I checked on your progress right before I took off for my long run Saturday morning, and saw you were at the half right on 3:10 pace.  As I ran, I was hoping you were finding some shade (which I know doesn't really show up too often on that course) because I knew the sun was sure beating down on me.  Glad to see you were able to hold it together about as well as you planned.</p>
<p>Sucks about the chick who wouldn't get out of your way.  I know everyone has a right to the course, but it's just common courtesy to move over for faster runners.  The ironic part of it is that she probably thought you were being rude by yelling at her to move, but the really rude action would have been to stay quiet and just elbow past people- you were actually being polite.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Too bad I couldn't be there to run it with you this year, but I don't have the fitness for a performance like the one you put in at the moment.</p>

 

[Runninlaw]

<p>Nice job!!  The course intersect with the half would have made me crazy - especially if the halfers wouldn't get out of the way.  Good job handling the situation though.  Recover well - I have a feeling you are in for a few more great races this season!</p>

 

[Runnin-from-the-Law]

<p>Congrats Tim!  You always train so hard.  It is very inspirational to see your training pay off in a big way.  Bummer that you couldn't stomach another gu, when your head knew you should have one.  Did you struggle with that on the course (whether to take one), or just space it off because you were feeling ok?  Do you only take gu, or do you take NUNN or s-caps?  Maybe you would have been able to handle one of those things (in the future)?  Congrats!</p>

 

[gatorbob]

<p>Great job, <strong>Tim</strong>!  I can't imagine that you were the only marathoner who was getting frustrated by HM'ers in the way.  You'd think those people would get the hint after the first dozen or two marathoners yell at them...  <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/rolleyes.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;" title=""></p>

 

[Jill]

<p>Well done Tim. Congratulations on the PR.</p>

 

[PacerChris]

<p>Great race - it was good to see  you again and to meet  your dad.  I wish my dad were still into running since he's the one that got me going on this whole thing anyway - that must be great to be able to do races together.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I was pleasantly surprised with how smooth the transition with the half marathoners was for me, but then again those HM'ers were running a pretty decent pace and likely knew a lot more about race etiquette.  I had to deal with it more last year, blasting through the iPod wearers and 4 across HM groups, so I know what a hassle that can be.  That late in a race, you do NOT want to deviate from your line because any second, CRAMP!!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Keep at it - although this was a PR for you, you've got a faster time in you, I know it!</p>

 

[theia]

<p>Congrats on the PR!  With a cooler training season, I know that BQ is yours.  I just know it!</p>

 

[mmoonptdeux]

<p><strong>Tim</strong> - congratulations on a great race!  Sorry to hear about the last-minute issues, especially with the HM'ers - you're on the cusp, and just a little tweak here and there (cooler training season, perhaps a less crowded course) and you've got that BQ in the bag!</p>

 

[solarpowered]

<p>Congrats, Tim! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>This was a brutal summer for training.  What an awesome accomplishment to come out with such a great race.  Congratulations!</p>

 

[JohnnyB]

<p>Nice work tim!  You really managed pace very well through the half and really not a major drop til 18 or so.  I think without dealing with all those people slowing you down and maybe taking that last gel you could have knocked another 2 minutes off. </p>

 

[2oh]

<p><strong>timmy</strong>...nice pr man.  way to go.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>one more banana pancake, that would have done it for you.  i just know it!</p>

 

[Floridaboiler]

<p>Great job Tim!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>You do an unbelievable job at maintaining a steady pace!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Good Luck this fall!</p>

 

[bard73]

<p>I really do want to run the HM at USAF in Dayton one of these days.  Should you also be racing that day, I promise to stay well over to the side as you overtake my slow self. <img alt="" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//wink.gif" title="">  Congrats to you and your dad on your great races!</p>

 

[Jensparks]

<p>Congrats on your shiny new PR Tim!  <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/hello2.gif" title=""> </p>