Why do I think I can run marathons? I set huge PRs at a
2 mile and 5k distance in February with
no speedwork other than 2 mile races and just very slow easy runs on pavement
and on trails. Huge lifetime PRs. 22:03
in the 5k was a 50 second PR. I was delighted.
Those PRs plugged into various race predictors made me hoot with
laughter. The range was 3:36 (for 5k) to
3:45 (for 10k last fall). I’ve not raced
a half in a couple years but even recent times predicted 3:45. That’s not my marathon pace.
And yet I really want to run one more solid marathon. My
first marathon in 2006 is my fastest (3:53) and I have no idea how I did it. I
was much slower in the shorter distances then, didn’t run any more miles than I
do now overall and am just a stronger runner overall now. So? How do I train for a marathon then? What
pace do I set as goal pace/training pace with this huge range?
I’ve liked the hanson plans because they do not beat me up.
You run marathon pace (what marathon pace would that be based on?) on tired
legs with a lot more solid midweek running. With my coach’s help, I did modify
this plan and ran 3 18 milers in solid long run pace . I hit hilly marathon
pace workouts trained faster (8:35) with no problems. Everything was pointing the right way and my
goal even a couple weeks ago was 8:45.
And then I tapered and felt like crap just like usual. 8:45 didn’t seem so very reasonable and
really what was my goal? I’d love to BQ which is 3:55 for me in 2014. Even that
was feeling out of reach. Main goal?
Just finish the fucking marathon without a death march and with a solid long
run pace.
It was a great weekend. Eugene is really beautiful and I say
that coming from Seattle which is just as beautiful. Met up with indie, slowstarter, rob and david
(can’t remember forum handle...as he’s been off the forum for a while I think)
for a very tasty, chatty dinner.
I slept pretty well although woke up early again for the
third morning in a row very nervous. The weather was excellent. It 50 at the
start and overcast and temps would probably rise 10 degrees or so over the
course of the race. It’s the first marathon I’ve lined up for in a while where
I felt a little chilled. Found rob and indie and nagesh and chatted until
portopotty lines called. Dh was running the half and went off to run a short
warm up.
The short speech and moment of silence for Boston was
touching. It would’ve helped if they’d been able to turn off the music though.
So goal was just under 9:00 miles and keep running dammit.
My last two marathons (seattle 2011 & Dallas 2012) were horrific death
marches where I came in an hour over goal time. 3:55 was the dream goal but I
was going to be delighted with a time under 4:00 and happy with anything
between 4 & 4:15. NO death
march.
1st 5k – 27:42 – 8:56 pace I didn’t worry about how crowded it felt. I
just tried to stay relaxed and enjoy the chitter chatter of people around me.
It felt easy but I didn’t feel good.
10k – 54:58 – 8:51. There’s a little uphill section right at
mile 4 and then a nice downhill. I figured that IF 3:55 were going to be
possible, I’d try picking it up here.
Again, this felt easy but wasn’t feeling great.
Half – 1:56:59 – 8:56 I was happy with this and really just
focused on going for that sub 4 overall time.
Any downhill, I’d try switching up my stride to stretch a bit as
everything was so tight and I just wasn’t feeling very good. I figured I’d feel very poorly from about
mile 10 – 16 and just put it out of my head and ignored it.
I made it to 18 right on pace. I wasn’t happy about anything
in general but just working through and trying to trust my training, staying
focused on form and moving. I gave
myself permission to walk and (probably) use an inhaler sometime between mile
18 and 20 and to get just water and a gel. I’d been monitoring breathing and
could feel lungs starting to tighten. It
came sooner than I expected at 18.4 and
as I grabbed some water at an aid station, took a gel and got out my inhaler, I
realized my hips (ie the butt muscles) were aching and almost cramping with
random shooting stabs. Ooh. That’s not so good.
20 miles – 3:02:07 9:07 pace
I started running again after using inhaler (better!) and
worked on changing up my stride. And it didn’t work. That was it, the hips shut down and I was
reduced to using all hip flexors/quads to move my legs. Calves started twinging and it must change my form enough so that
then my feet started killing me.
Ugh. I nearly bailed right there. Really? You can’t run another 6 miles? I
think I should just be able to power through but no, I cannot. I was reduced to quick walk breaks and
running but barely moving when when I was running.
So quick. Just like that.
But I knew that I was close enough that if I just kept at it, I could
still come in under 4:30 and maybe before 4:15.
I was barely catching up to people who were walking but it was still a
bit faster to “run” and I did my best.
Any little dip or bump in the road was a major issue as I felt like I
was going to fall right over. I laughed
because I’m a very good trail runner and prefer single track with lots of
rocks/roots and even downed trees to leap over but the path we were running on
couldn’t have been smoother and I was having issues.
4:14:07 overall 9:42
So I made that under 4:15 time and had a solid marathon at
basically my long run pace. Truly that
was my most basic goal and I burst into tears just as soon as I finished in
relief. Whatever happens with hips, well, I can’t quite imagine I can do
anything differently. I’ve been able to
run better than ever at shorter race distances and trails and that will be my
focus going forward. I have one more
marathon scheduled soon but that race may or may not happen for various reasons
and that is ok either way.
I happened to run into indie and slowstarter who were just
leaving the finish area. They had great
races as I knew they would. Rob of
course knocked off another state in style. K saw him finish looking like it
was easy as pie. Rob was probably chatting. K had had a tough day as well but still ran a very solid half
marathon. We met up for some very tasty
food and drinks after the race. Great
weekend overall as I knew it would be.
Eugene itself is a wonderful event. Eugene, the town, has a lot to offer with easy access to the Oregon Coast, Willammette Valley, Portland etc. it's a really nice size race. Not too small and not too large. when the half marathoners turned off, I was happy that there were still many marathoners around me. The city turns out and supports it's event and they are knowledgeable. The course is a little tougher than what I expected. A sneaky uphill start for a while which if you aren't controlling for that can take it out of you. You then follow the river for a long portion of the event. Nice when you are going downstream but the turn to come back puts you upstreat (ie subtly uphill) for the last miles of the race. Tough. The weather was perfect (that is saying something amazing) and if it gets sunny or warmer than expected, the course can get hot the last miles as it is exposed. I'd do this event again in a heartbeat.
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