| 27 |
Arena Attack Series: XL Center Marathon, Hartford, CT |
I'm In!! |
Go for it! |
goal time? You really have been ready for a PR for a LONG time! |
Can I break 4?? |
2 hrs at half way mark? |
1:58 through halfway, including 6 min BR break. Ended up finishing in 3:59:21!!! Heck yeah! |
New Marathon PR: 3:59:21 and 5th place overall! |
Now they have my listed at 3:59:18!
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January 25, 2014
For some the third time’s the charm. In my case, it was the 27th. Yes, you read that correctly. After 27 marathons and ultras I finally broke 4 hours. It was not easy by any means. There have been many late or sleepless nights, countless blisters and chafed nipples, and inner thigh chafing that would rival the infamous Scottish kilt-rub that has been lost to history, most likely to placate the squeamishness of most readers of modern history.
The Arena Attack Marathon at the XL Center in Hartford on Saturday, January 25th was set to be the stage through which all my months of hard work was to pay off. It was the 394th day of my running streak and almost the 10 month anniversary of signing on with coaches Justin and Jake Gillette.
I had a late night the night before, as I watched Union hockey devour Harvard with a minimal yet acceptable amount of fist-flying. After only five hours of sleep, I awoke and donned my warrior gear - Lake Waramaug 50 mile shirt, 24 Hour Around the Lake shirt, green shorts, Vitalsox compression socks, and a new pair of Merrell Road Gloves. The drive to Hartford from Pittsfield was uneventful, but parking was a gem, directly one floor beneath the center. I was parked and in the arena within 5 minutes.
Race Director Scott really put together a great race, with a 5k option at 8am, followed by marathon, 1/2 marathon and marathon relay options starting at 9, as well as a second 1/2 marathon start at 11:15. I was banking on the second wave of 1/2 runners to reinvigorate me as I started to falter and hit the inevitable walls as any distance runner does.
Going into the race, I used Scott’s spreadsheet to determine a goal pace for the 128 lap course (really 127.8 as advertised). At the pre-race briefing this was changed to 130 I guess, though with nerves I completely missed this - more to come on this later. My “A” goal was 4:00:00. My “B” goal was to break my PR from 2013 of 4:07. “C” goal was anything faster than 4:20 which would give me my second fastest marathon ever. I was confident I could make this race count. I have never worked harder in my life both in training and in diet.
The beginning of the race was relatively uneventful. It was nice to hear the music each lap (approximately 5 laps to the mile). There were 3 guys all gunning for the lead. Some drama with marathon relay runners with the batons not registering, but everyone settled into their own rhythm. I ticked off the laps and felt great until about lap 50, the 1.5 hour mark. I took a gel that I had never tried before (rookie mistake), which resulted in a 6 minute BR break for GI issues.
I hit the 1/2 way point in 1:58. Most marathons I tend to fade horribly and end up with 10-15 minutes being tacked on the second half. I was determined not to let that happen. I pushed harder. Despite all my training I hit the wall for the first time around mile 16. *My longest run since the December Palm Beaches Marathon was about that length*. I started to have a little bit of self-doubt, but then I remembered what Jake Gillette told me. “Those last 10 miles focus on light feet, light feet, light feet.” My mantra became “light feet” for the next 10 miles. I made mini goals to pass a person in the next two laps, to put a 1 lap buffer between me and the next guy. To just hang in there for 10 more laps.
Slowly the laps started to tick up. The second round of half marathoners started while I was about at lap 74. Lap 90, 8 miles to go.. “Light feet. Light feet.”. I could feel my sock rubbing on my right pinky toe, but I pressed on. Hugged the corners. Passed on the inside whenever possible.
Lap 100. The moneymaker. Smooth sailing from here. At least in theory. I fed off the energy of the runners I passed. Holding steady. Light feet. Light feet. The toe hurt more. The hamstrings started to tighten. I took two :10 walking breaks.
Lap 120. Ten to go. I had 20 minutes to break 4 hours. Could I do it? I came this far, 24 miles. Can’t afford to lose it now! Dig deeper! Don’t give in now! Cannot afford to go home empty handed. I lapped another Clydesdale in a red shirt - took everything I had. I ended up only beating him by 1 lap!
Lap 125. 5 to go. Should have been 3, but they switched it to 130. I thought I had no chance of making it. Light feet. Light feet. 1/2 marathoners were just chatting, and I gritted my teeth and started grunting like an old man trying to run up a staircase. That’s what it felt like.
Lap 128. 2 more to go.. And I activated the after burners. I took off and felt like I was flying. Realistically probably only about 7:40 pace or so. My last lap ended up being my fastest of the whole race, 1:25.
Lap 130. I crossed the finish line in 3:59:21 (later amended to 3:59:18 officially). I was completely spent, but overjoyed. Scott came up congratulated me and gave me a pint glass and my 5th PLACE MEDAL! I had earned this one. Hard work. Gritted my teeth and fought through it. First time ever breaking 4 hours in the marathon and an 8 minute PR!!
Would I do it again? Most certainly. Did I pay a price? Yes. 6 blisters, including one under my pinky toenail. Ouch! Am I proud of myself. Definitely! Taking out the bathroom stop, I ran 3:53 on course.. My next goal is to get as close to 3:50 as possible at the Circular Logic Marathon in West Lafayette, Indiana on March 29th this year. In between now and then, I have just a little challenge. 6 marathons in 6 days in Goshen, Indiana during February break. Hoorah! Keep on truckin’. We can do anything we put our minds to!
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