 posted May-30-2007 12:04 AM
   
Short version
3:08:45 (7:12 pace) – Over a nine minute PR and a BQ at any age!
127th of 2506
17th of 213 in age group (45-50)
Looong version –sorry for length and any typos...
This was my 7th marathon and 4th VCM. My previous course times were 2005-3:34(1st marathon), 2005-3:17(BQ!), and 2006-3:28 (heat). I also ran Boston six weeks ago (3:19). My weekly mileage was in the 40s, peaking in the 50s.
Leading into the race everything was lining up perfectly. My hamstring injury from earlier in the year was not detectable. The weather predictions were great. After bumping into PBJ and his adorable family I loaded up on Gu. I even opted for a 30-minute massage. I finished the night with a great carbo-loading meal with the family. I’m not superstitous, but was funny how the fickle finger of fate worked in some helpful coincidences. I got up early and had a quick breakfast. We jumped in the van and headed over to the start. My wife dropped us off and I immediately went for one of the portolet lines. I dropped by the swing set, but didn’t recognize anyone. While warming up a few blocks down the street, SkipAZ found me (FFoF#1). We ran and went over each other’s game plans. At the start WRFB and PDR said hello (such a nice couple). It would have been nice to talk without the anxiety of the pending start. Next time I’ll try to rearrange my dinner plans. After the wheelchair group took off, the runners moved ahead to the line. I’m not sure if I missed a gun, but all of a sudden we were off and running. I was relaxed and intent on starting conservatively. We turned the corner and up a long rise (not really a hill). Coming to the top I somehow ended up right behind Skip “Um, either you’re taking it easy or I’m going out too fast.” I think it was a bit of both. We ran down the hill together and chatted about the course. My splits seemed much too fast for how I was feeling. Maybe the markers were wrong? 1. 7:18.0
2. 6:35.0
3. 6:41.0
4. 6:16.0 <-huh?
5. 7:19.0
6. 6:46.0
7. 7:08.0
8. 7:24.0 (slight uphill) We got to the Intervale highway and I backed off the gas so we could each run our own races. This area is a good place to talk with other runners. It is early enough in the race that most people still have a functional brain and there are no crowds to talk over. When we crossed the 4 mile mark a bunch of us looked at each other…must be off. Since it is an out and back section of the course, you can see the rest of the runners. I somehow picked out a number of friends and teammates. The funniest though was when I came up to some guy in a white singlet. I made a remark about a relay runner that just went by us. He turned to me and asked, “Is your name Craig?” (FFoF #2) It turns out (John) is from the Hopkinton Running Club and I had offered to run his wife’s relay segment. I also had his name on a list of three people to look for in the race. He is an accomplished runner and I was very happy to pace with him. His goal for the day was also 3:10. Go figure. We pounded out 7 minute miles one after another. Running back though the center of town is always fun. You’re still in good shape, going down hill, and the packed crowds are loud. We hit the water stop and turned onto Pine Street starting the southern loop. I remembered last year’s heat and the lack of shelter along this section. This year was calm and cool, a perfect setup. We got to the end and looped back into the park maintaining a good pace. The half came and went quickly. I know ‘banking’ minutes is a bad idea, but I felt better knowing I wouldn’t have to chase after my goal. 9. 7:06
10. 6:55
11. 7:09
12. 7:11
13. 7:08
Half 1:31:35 We came up the bike path and I ate another gel. No sooner had we turned back to the main road than that attention-seeking banana relayer passed us. Hopefully there were no cameras nearby to capture that special moment. :-) The Taiko drummers were great as usual, though it is tough not to change your pace to line up with the beat. Looking up at the Battery Street hill it seemed bigger. I repeated the advice I had been dispensing to new runners “keep an easy steady pace up the hill. don’t get sucked into going fast or you’ll regret it.” I backed off slightly and relaxed, soaking in the energy from the crowds. Once we got over the top, I shook off the hill and passed by the last of the crowds. My wife and family were on North Ave (normally quiet) and were a welcome sight. I perked up and took the bottle my wife handed up. I drank some but most went over my head. :-) John looked strong so I let him go, though I kept him in sight. A few times in the neighborhoods I caught up to him. Since this was a lot faster than I’d run before I didn’t want to risk it by trying to keep to somebody else’s pace. 14. 7:04
15. 7:26 <- Battery street hill
16. 7:10
17. 7:02
18. 7:01
19. 7:02
20. 7:01 I was very excited to see the top of the course that links to the bike path and the final run to the finish. I ran on the grass going down a small hill to save my quads. As I jumped to the street again I slipped on some sand, my foot shifted inside the shoe, and I could actually feel a blister start. If that was the worst of the day, no worries mate! Coming down the bike path always feels like one long tunnel. In past years, I was in bad shape by this point and watched many runners zip by. This year I think I passed four or five runners and was only passed by about the same number. Fortunately most of the runners that were passing me were relayers. 21. 7:15
22. 7:21
23. 7:37 I gave myself a short breather and walked through a water stop. I knew if I didn’t keep the press on, that sub-3:10 could easily slip away. A small downhill after mile 25 gave me a boost. Looking at my watch I did the simple math that showed I had a significant PR and a great chance at sub-3:10. I turned a corner and came into the final half mile where the crowds were screaming. The wind was blowing off the water and my mind started to race. I mostly watched the path ahead fearful that I’d trip. As I got to the 26 mile mark I did a quick glace at my watch, but couldn’t do the math “just run!” I guessed it was close so I started pumping my arms and made a final kick, passing a few final runners. I could see the finish line approaching and the clock clearly showed I completely nailed my goal. I crossed with my hands in the air… an amazing feeling! 24. 7:48
25. 7:54
26. 7:53
.2 1:34 I hugged my wife, ate a bunch of food, and managed to duck inside the massage tent just as the skies opened up and poured down. I enjoyed catching up with PBJ and family, WRFB, DoctorWu after the race. (I wished I could have picked his brain before the race) For a number of reasons this race felt better than when I BQ’d. My BQ had been more of a relief that it worked out. I knew I could do it, and it was just a matter of conditions. This race was halfway to my next goal of a Sub-3. (FFoF#3: My time was within a few seconds of half way to sub-3 from my previous PR.) Getting a 3:08 with the training I did makes me more confident that with a reasonable increase in mileage I could Sub-3. Hopefully it won’t take another seven marathons to get there.
------------------
busiman (formerly busyman)
IP: Logged |
