I only run on days that end in a "y."

Steamtown Marathon

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Location:

Austin,TX,USA

Member Since:

Feb 02, 2009

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

2008 Austin Marathon - 4:12

2008 Dallas Marathon: 3:30 (8 months later)

2010 Austin Marathon - 3:24 (bonked at 25 - 12 minute last mile run/walk)

2010 Steamtown Marathon - 3:27 (quads killed on the down hills)

2011-Feb   Austin Marathon - 3:17 (finally BQ'd!)

2011-June   Marathon to Marathon, IA - 3:07 (BQ'd by 13 minutes!)

2011-Dec  CIM - 3:02

2012-April  Boston Marathon - 4:03

2013-April  Boston Marathon - 3:06

2008 Austin 3M half marathon: 1:43:00

2009 Austin 3M 1/2 Marathon: 1:29:50

2011 San Antonio Half - 1:25 (100% humidity fun fest)

2010 Chuy's 5k - 19:19

2011 Chuy's 5k - 18:23

2012 Chuy's 5k - 18:25 

2012 RFTW 5k - 18:05 - PR! 

2009 Austin Capitol 10k: 41:50

2011 Austin Capitol 10k: 38:57

2012 IBM Uptown Classic 10k - 37:52 - PR!

Short-Term Running Goals:

BQ at Austin Marathon - 2/20/2011 Tough course, warm and humid - but I did it.

Break 3:10 in a fall marathon (TBD) 3:07 at Marathon to Marthon

Break 40:00 in a 10k 38:57 @ Cap10k 2011

New: Break 3:05 @ CIM on December 4th, 2011  3:02

Break 38:00 in a 10k - Done - 37:52 @ IBM Classic 

Break 18:00 in a 5k - 18:05 @ RFTW - October 2012 - getting close!

2011 RACES:

Run for the Water 10 mile - 10/30/2011  1:04:06

San Antonio 1/2 Marathon - 11/13/2011

California International Marathon - 12/4/2011

2012 Fall Races

IBM Uptown Classic 10k - 37:53

Run For the Water 5k - 18:05

2013

Boston Marathon - 3:06

2014

Boston Marathon - April 21 - 3:11

2016

Rookie Tri - May 1st

Peak to Creek Marathon - Oct 29th

 

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run a sub 3:00 Marathon

Personal:

Der Hammer is a nick name I picked up from my German friends while living in Germany. My real name is David. 

 I have been running seriously since March 2007.  I started with a local running group called "Gilbert's Gazelles".  Before that I had run a couple 5k's (26:00's) and never run more than 3 miles at one time.  I have lost about 40 pounds in a little over 2 years. 

I am 45 years old, married and have 2 children, ages 5, girl, and 10, boy.  I try to keep my running from interfering with my family as much as possible, e.g. getting up at 5 am.  However, Saturdays are long run days and I don't come home until around 9 am or so.  I owe my family a debt of gratitude for allowing me to pursue this passion. 

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Hoka One One Lifetime Miles: 152.00
Saucony Ride 7's - Blue Lifetime Miles: 345.97
Hokas Red Lifetime Miles: 127.25
Brooks Launch Lifetime Miles: 151.75
Race: Steamtown Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:27:10
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
4.0022.200.000.0026.20

As far as the race I am still at a loss at explaining what happened.  I had put in consistent 60 mile weeks since April.  I trained hard but smart for the marathon.  I had run 4 – 5 long runs over 20 miles, etc., etc..  I was pretty sure with all the work that I had put in that I would BQ this time around.  At the very least I would PR.  In the end I ran 2-3 minutes slower that I did at Austin which was in warmer weather and a tougher course. 

Steamtown is billed as a PR course with an 800 elevation drop over the first 10 miles and flat until 23 when the first of three hills comes.  I had trained on a lot of hills and did quite a bit of downhill running.  I thought my quads would be fine but in the end they took quite a beating.  The advice from past runners was to go out slow and don’t run down the hills too fast – bank energy not time.  I thought I did a good job of this except for mile 4 but was able to slow back down after that.

I ran for a few miles with a guy that had run 14 Steamtowns and was going for a 3:20.  I said, "Great, I will stick with you."  He retorted that of the 14 he had only run 2 of them correctly.  I was worried.  As it turns out the course is indeed tricky. 

The weather at the start was low 30’s – perfect. I remember seeing 38 degrees at a bank that we ran by at about mile 5 or 6.  It could not have been any nicer.  I had disposable gloves, hat and long sleeved shirt that were all tossed by mile 3 or so after I warmed up.  The course itself was beautiful and runs through a few small towns, each with great crowd support.  All of the fall foliage was in full color as well.  There is a great section around mile 15 that goes off on a trail and runs by a river.  This is about 2 miles long and then joins the road again.  Miles 19 – 21 were quite desolate as the course ran by a industrial park.  The last few miles head into the city and ultimately downtown.

I ran the first 3 miles 25 seconds off pace to warm up and to avoid taking off on the decline.  I got into a grove after that and crossed the half way point at about 1:38 ish – right on target.  I was running really good until mile 20 came along.  This was to be expected though - it's a marathon afterall.  By 22 though I walked a couple times and by the hill on mile 23 my legs were pretty much toast.  I kept pushing – walking a bit and then running.  It was not good.  The hills at the end killed me.  I was about 30 feet from the finish when my legs dropped out from under me and I landed on my knees.  Immediately I felt the arm of another runner reach down and grab me, he put my arm around his shoulder and would not let go.  He helped me across the finish line with my noodle legs trying to run.  Recounting this story still brings a tear to my eye – that someone would be selfless enough to reach down and help another runner.  Pretty amazing.  I will never know his name but will always remember what he did for me. (Yeah, I am a softy.)

Here are my splits:

7:48, 7:49, 7:50, 7:19, 7:39, 7:31, 7:36, 7:28, 7:34, 7:29, 7:35, 7:29, 7:24, 7:25, 7:21, 7:35, 7:26, 7:36, 7:31, 7:41, 7:49, 8:04, 8:41, 8:35, 9:32, 9:45, 2:19.

My only reasoning at this point is lack of calories at the end.  I had my fuel belt of Cytomax with me which amounted to 3 GU’s and had a 16 oz disposable bottle that I drank from the first couple miles that was another GU.  I drank water at every stop but ran out of my bottled supply of Cytomax at around 18 - 19 I think. I remember drinking one cup of Gatorade after that but not sure when.  I had GU’s with me as well but forgot about them.  I don’t think I drank any water or Gatorade past 21 or so – I was struggling so much mentally that I just did not think about it.  I am sure this contributed to some of my problems at the very end, but I can’t say it was the complete cause.  Next time I think I will tape a couple GU’s to my forehead so I don’t forget.  Other than that I can't figure out what went wrong.  I am pretty let down but I am sure I will get over it. 

Brooks Black 2 Miles: 26.20
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From flatlander on Tue, Oct 12, 2010 at 08:52:44 from 76.31.26.153

I was hoping one of us would get a good race! At least yours wasn't a total meltdown but I certainly feel for you. You can search for reasons but never sure exactly what happened, I guess. My sister has been on my case big time about bad fueling habits, as in none. I train hungry and that is the way I race because I am more afraid of a sick stomach than running out of gas. But I am going to have to re-think that. It is possible you were seeing similar issues. As for the angel at the end, you are no more a softy than any of us. One of the great things about running. Great training, you are a good runner.

From Dan on Tue, Oct 12, 2010 at 20:06:41 from 24.209.83.20

I agree man. You are a great runner and some of your training runs have inspired my training. I think fueling could have held you back or some days we have it better than others. Do not let it keep you down - I know, easier said than done, but look at the volume of training you have done. Impressive.

From jtshad on Wed, Oct 13, 2010 at 11:54:07 from 204.134.132.225

Sorry that the race did not go as planned. It does sound like you ran out of fuel at the end. You started off well, but probably didn't get enough fuel in early and once you are past the point of true need, it is too late.

Your training was great, keep it up and the BQ will come. Practice the mental apsect of the race on your long runs and focus on the fueling to avoid the bonk at the end.

The running community is awesome, the people are one of the best reasons to run and race in my book!

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