sub-3 or blow-up trying

Boston Marathon

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Location:

Mooresville,NC,

Member Since:

May 01, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

2007 Highlights:  Litchfield Road Race (7.1) in 58:36

2008 Highlights:  New Jersey Marathon in 4:12, Bay State Marathon in 3:10:30

2009 Highlights:  Boston Marathon in 3:13:26, Litchfield Road Race in 49:30, New Haven 20k in 1:25:03, Bay State Marathon in 3:09:09

2010 Highlights:  Bradley 10k in 39:58, Litchfield Road Race in 48:06, New Haven 20k in 1:23:59, Ghost Trail 1/2 Marathon in 1:29:12 (trail), Philadelphia Marathon in 3:06:59

2011 Highlights:  Litchfield Road Race in 47:44, Ghost Trail 1/2 Marathon in 1:28:35, Goshen Turkey Trot in 40:46, Jingle Bell 5k in 19:05

2012 Highlights:  Finished Boston Marathon in 3:41:59 in 89 degree heat, broke the top 100 in Litchfield Road Race (82nd), 1st Place (overall) in Solstice 5k, Hogsback 1/2 in 1:29:36, and bq'd in Bay State Marathon (3:14:20).

Personal Records

1-mile:  5:39/track (2008)

5k:  19:05/Jingle Bell (2011)

10k:  39:58/road race (2010)

20k:  1:23:59 (2010/New Haven)

1/2 marathon:  1:28:35 (2011/Ghost Trail)

marathon:  3:06:59 (2010/Philly)

 

 

 

 

Short-Term Running Goals:

Sub-3:05 marathon in Fall

Sub-1:23 in New Haven 20k

Sub-46 min in Litchfield RR

Sub-19 in 5k

Sub-5:30 in mile

Upcoming Races: 

     TBD

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

sub-3hr marathon

sub-5:15 min mile

become a competitive master's runner

win age division in smaller marathon

 

Personal:

Married w/six daughters (9 year age span)

Pastor a church in NC

Enjoy travel and recreation with family

Began running in November of 2007

 

 

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Miles:This week: 16.00 Month: 151.00 Year: 363.00
Barefoot Lifetime Miles: 114.25
K12- Black Lifetime Miles: 401.00
Kinvara 13 (blue 1) Lifetime Miles: 327.00
Kinvara 13 (blue 2) Lifetime Miles: 363.00
Kinvara 14 Neon Lifetime Miles: 384.00
Kinvara 14/teal Lifetime Miles: 315.00
Kinvara Blue/red Lifetime Miles: 64.00
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
45.600.000.000.0045.60
Saucony Tangent III Miles: 26.20Trigons (3) Miles: 19.40
Weight: 0.00
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.00

rest...less time walking around today.

Weight: 0.00
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Race: Boston Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:13:26, Place overall: 3319
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
26.200.000.000.0026.20

I'd like to start by saying this was one of the most mentally challenging events I have ever experienced in my life.  I'm not sure how I finished today, but thank God for helping me through this race.

Started the day by taking a shuttle to town at 5:30 am and then connecting with a bus to Hopkington.  Big surprise in arriving there (should have read the material)...we wait outside for 2 1/2 hours.  I was underdressed and spent the entire time shivering. 

By race time my legs were blue, but the adrenaline in my system started to help warm me up.  Began to feel great!

The starting gun when off and we were on our way...I began in corral #5.  I'll do my best to give race details...

Mile 1:  6:55 (probably did a little too much dodging, but felt very comfortable with the pace)

Mile 2:  6:30 (definitely a little fast, but still felt very comfortable)

Mile 3:  6:30 (new I should slow down and made conscious effort to do so)

5k average:  6:39 (Remembered people saying be careful, so thought I should adjust)

Mile 4:  6:44 (Thought I could hold this comfortable)

Mile 5:  6:50 (Still felt fine)

Mile 6:  6:48 (Uh oh, my legs were beginning to stiffen)

5k average:  6:49 (Recognized this pace would not work long-term and decided to adjust to more like a 7 minute pace)

Mile 7:  7:05 (wanted to pick it up just a tad)

Mile 8:  7:08 (thought I ran faster, but guess not)

Mile 9:  Whoa!  Can't remember exact time, but way off...decided to quit looking at my watch and concentrate on stride.  Legs were already cramping...this has never happened to me in a race since mile 20 of my first marathon...I was determined not to panic and began doing my best to stay as relaxed as possible...maybe I could regain legs and surge later.  Breathing was effortless, but legs were totally shot.

5k average:  7:17 (never looked at my watch again, so base the rest of this report upon race results from website)

Miles 10-12 (held concentration)

5k average:  7:09...20k= 1:25:32

Half Marathon time:  1:30:18 (negative split nowhere in site...mind over matter)

Miles 13-15 (Legs really cramping bad...feet beginning to hurt as well)

5k average:  7:23...25k= 1:48:28

Miles 16-18 (Thought going uphill would be the end of me, but actually it seemed easier on my leg...almost a relief...much less steep than I had mentally prepared for)

5k average:  7:47...30k= 2:12:35

Miles 19-21 (This was the most mentally challenging part of the race...wasn't sure how I could keep moving my legs...1 mile at a time...I asked someone when we were going to hit Heartbreak and he said, "we already did"...what?)

5k average:  8:02 ...35k= 2:37:30 (Have no idea how I held an 8 min pace, but felt greatly encouraged to have made it through the hills)

Miles 22-24 (This was a complete blurr...my calves and quads felt like they were being stabbed with knives...maybe not that bad, but you get the point...also, my body was actually begininning to shiver a bit...passed my family which gave me a little more inspiration to finish)

5k average:  7:54 (Wasn't any faster, but the downhill helped improve my split)

Miles 25-26:  Just concentrated on form...didn't stop for fluid because I knew if I were to stop, I would not be able to start again.

Finish= 3:13:26...Didn't achieve any of my goals, yet felt a deep satisfaction in having dug deeper both mentally/physically than any athletic performance done in my life.  My finish (3,319) put me over 2,000 spots in front of my starting position (5,550).  I tried to tough it out afterwords, but ended up in the medical tent with a low body temperature.  People there were wonderful and a couple bowls of broth eventually got my body temperature going the right direction.  Still shivered for another 2 hours as I attempted to connect with family.  Very sore, but no injuries or concerns.  Energy level was fine at the end... never breathed hard at any point throughout the race- just had no legs and was very cold. 

Lessons learned...

1) pre-race schedule- do not spend as much time in the city on my feet.  Yes, I've read it from numerous reports, but when you're with your family- easier said than done.

2) early morning wardrobe- dress warmly...2  1/2 hours of shivering takes it's toll.

3) don't shed too much clothing- dropped a long sleeve shirt, gloves, and arm sleeves...regretted these decisions as I approached the city...very brisk wind!

4) respect the downhill- I felt very prepared for running uphill, but underestimated the affect of downhill running.  Hills are subtle, so take you by surprise.  Next time I will do much more downhill training. 

Overall, a tremendous experience!  I learned a lot and hopefully will continue to mature as a runner.  Unfortunately, I did not meet any bloggers, but I look forward to reading their reports. 

 

Saucony Tangent III Miles: 26.20
Weight: 0.00
Comments(26)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.00

Went to Red Sox game...rained out.  Still ate hot dogs at the park and had a great time with family.

Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.00

Rest...hoped to go to the Red Sox make-up game, but a person in our church died which led us to come home early. 

Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.00

Still resting...tempted to run today, yet still quite a bit sore.  Decided on one more recovery day.  By the way, pretty much have allowed myself to eat whatever I want whenever I want for the past 3 days.  Running and eating healthy will return this weekend.  Plan on one month of slow, steady running before mixing in intensity/speedwork. 

Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
9.700.000.000.009.70

Legs are still sore, but a very good type of sore.  No sign of injury whatsoever.  Decided to head out on some trails for a good, steady, slow run.  Jogged 1.25 miles to the trail.  Jumped on a 5k course and ran it 2x (9:10 pace followed by 8:23 pace).  Jogged 1.25 back to the gym at about an 8:30 pace.  Spent another 30 minutes on legs.  It's good to be back at it!  I'll be careful not to get too intense, too soon.  I'd love to shatter 3hrs in the Fall.  See no reason why I can't now that the weather is getting nice. 

Trigons (3) Miles: 9.70
Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
9.700.000.000.009.70

Did 30minutes leg work at the gym. Went back out to the trail course. 1.25 down, 5k loop x 2 (9:14 pace- loop 1, 7:15 pace- loop 2), ran an extra mile and then 1.25 back to the gym...9.7 miles total.

Felt good to stretch the legs out a bit. Will try to average 8-10 miles per day over the next month before ramping up and adding a little more intensity. Hope to build a stronger base for the Fall. Already working on choosing my next marathon. This one will be a small town type. "Big races" are fun, yet I prefer the smaller ones with less hype.

Weight: 177lbs (Never got below 175, yet hope to get to 165-70 by Fall)

Trigons (3) Miles: 9.70
Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
45.600.000.000.0045.60
Saucony Tangent III Miles: 26.20Trigons (3) Miles: 19.40
Weight: 0.00
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