Clyde's Comeback!

Teton Dam Marathon.

After we arrived in Rexburg on Friday we drove sections of the course and I quickly changed my goals for the race. I feel like I’m in PR shape and ready to run a 2:32ish marathon but it wasn’t going to happen today. There is a hill… Goals changed from wanting to PR to just wanting to win. Sasha had told me during the Del Sol Relay to just go run it and win  but not push it hard, and I thought that was a good approach. Although I didn’t know exactly who would show and what would happen.

So we get to the bus and I meet Jeff and Kory. Jeff and I sit together on the bus and talk about race. At the start it was a beautiful crisp morning. Perfect race conditions-low temp, little to no wind. So I’m pumped for that.

The Teton Dam web page shows an elevation chart and also has a description of the course. Both are very inadequet. It shows the first 16 or so with a slight downhill if anything level. Then it shows the hill and then a drop down to the finish. Well here’s the real story.

1. 6:13 Nice warm-up mile. Little uphill then a little downhill
2. 5:50 Pretty level. Starting to get warmed up. Running with Jeff.
3. 5:43 Some gradual drop and I start trying to reel in the relay team in front of us.
4. 5:46 Jeff and I catch and pass relay and both of us beat all the relay teams.
5. 5:47 Cruising by a little town of Newdale
6. 5:45 Feeling good. Nice and level for a few.
7. 5:45 Jeff not too far back. Everyone else long gone.
8. 5:49
9. 5:47
10. 5:55 First mile of a not shown climb (gradual) Now I’m out in front and running solo.
11. 5:52 What are we doing going up?
12. 5:51 Long straight shot
13. 5:52 Right after half we finish the small climb
14. 5:52 Feeling good, but can see the big hill coming
15. 6:00 Trying to relax before the climb
16. 6:09 This mile drops down and then starts at the base of the hill. The only aid station with sports drinks, everything else just has water.
17. 6:46 Kill me!
18. 6:40 Just pull the trigger! At the aid station I take a GU and drink. About .2 miles later I start dry heaving and stomach is doing crazy things. Still going up!
19. 6:43 Training for Ragnar. Uphill style.
20. 6:23 Still going up but not as steep. At 20 miles my time is 2:00.30 not too bad for really not pushing it, and all this uphill stuff. I start thinking about trying to run down a PR anyways. If I could only pound out this last 10k in 35 something.
21. 6:23  This mile changes my mind back pretty fast. Some rollers that are pretty steep up and down.
22. 6:25 So I’ve finally crested all the hills and am hitting the downhill I’ve been dreaming about all race. Only now I can’t get going. In fact I’m done trying. The cop tells me I have a solid mile lead on anyone else (I later find out that wasn’t true, Jeff was hunting me down and I was there for the taking). But his words tell me to go into survival mode and just finish.
23. 6:12 Downhill here but I was hoping for 5:40 pace on this section. Who cares though. I see my wife and I see her lips moving but I can’t focus on anything she is saying.
24. 6:12 Some good downhill I’m not cashing in on.
25. 6:36 Here is the really frustrating part. The course description says it drops from like 21 down to the finish. That’s funny because I felt like I was on a gradual incline here. Nothing too serious but I wanted cruise control all the way in.
26. 6:39 Ready for it to be over as I make my way down main with the crowd and stuff the only thing I can think of is “I wonder what pace I’d be running on this mile if it was a decline?” Speaking of pace I should pick it up here and break 2:40… na it doesn’t matter.

.2   2:40 Last little part was fun. Kind of a little arch to run under and “I just won a MARATHON”

Finish time 2:40:11 at the time I couldn’t care less but now I’m mad I didn’t push it  and run 2:39:59 or something.

Fast running blog goes 1. Me, 2. Jeff, 3. Kory!!!

Good race, New course record by 10 mins although they didn’t say anything about it. I’d never run it again but I’m glad I went up. Very challenging course. Awards were…Well lets just put it this way I’m glad I wasn’t running to win something. Bad news there. It was good to meet Jeff and Kory. They are both really nice guys. I enjoyed talking and running with Jeff (who ran a very good race considering Ogden was just a few weeks ago).

 At Boston I took my heart out of my chest and ran with all I had, and then paid the price by being trashed for a month and a half. Today I never really pounded any of the miles out. Not the best effort but I really don’t feel that sore tonight. So I’m glad it turned out that way- hopefully I really will be ready for RAGNAR! Anyways that’s about it I could go on forever.