Run Run Run

Gate City Marathon - Nashua NH - 3:09:44

I ran a PR and met one of my goals..... get under 3:10 (barely)  It was windy as a bugger out there.  Full report to follow.

I woke up at 4am on Sunday morning after a solid night’s sleep.  My wife had ground the coffee beans and all I had to do was push the button for some heavenly French Roast.  Two cups of Joe, 1 packet of Maple Brown Sugar oatmeal and 1 half of a cinnamon raisin bagel toasted with butter.  I was ready to go.  I double checked all of my race gear and thought that I was all set.  It turns out that I forgot the “Gold” duct tape that I had intended to use to prevent nipple chafe.  I truly believe that the duct tape was the reason I didn’t run the Olympic qualifying marathon “A” standard last Sunday.

Pre-race, I was feeling good and my wife kept insisting that I drink more water.  The last thing I wanted to battle was dehydration, especially with my history of hamstring cramps within the last 10k of a marathon.  I also, for the first time decided to try some “Salt Stick” capsules.  I thought why not….. anything to stave off those evil race ruining cramps.  Being that this marathon was of the shamrock loop variety, I had my wife; girls and mother at the main intersection of each loop to provide me with extra water or needed encouragement.  This was a good idea.  Not only because I am challenged by drinking out of a paper cup while running, but there were only 181 people entered to run the marathon.  I had a feeling that I would be running alone quite a bit.

In the starting chute, I spoke to a younger looking runner and asked him what his goal time was.  He indicated that he wanted to BQ for his age (3:05) and was looking to run a 3:02.  He asked me mine and I said 3 hours followed by any single digit number.  Good lucks were exchanged and it was now just a couple of minutes before the gun.  A man started to sing the National Anthem, but unfortunately, the loud speaker cut out and he was barely audible.  The runners and the crowd picked up the slack and finished singing the second half of the song.  This was a nice touch that gave me goose bumps.

With the crack of a pistol, we were off!  I had a specific pace of 7:10 – 7:15 that I wanted to hit for the first loop of the race.  The first mile rang in at a 7:10, and I was on target.  Then the plan was abandoned and I just decided to go with what my body and legs were giving.  When I read the information packet for the race, it had said that water, Gatorade and gels would be at every two miles.  I call BS on this, and was hoping that there would be gels starting at tables during the second loop.  Thankfully there were gels at mile 8, but it wouldn’t be without the problems that occur when half-awake high schoolers are manning the station.  Coming up upon this table, I yelled out, “Are there Gels at this table!?”  A young girl lazily put her hand into a box and started to hand one to me as I was approaching.  She ended up dropping the gel and her cohort, another youngster, ended up throwing one that bounced off of my chest as I was twisting backwards for the grab.  This gel hit the ground behind me and I had to come to a dead stop to pick it up.  Smooth operation they had going there :)  Lesson learned, bring my own stash.

At this point during the race I was running with 3 guys,  two that were going for a 3:10 and another who was always about 10-20 ft ahead.  It was quite windy in certain sections of the course and I would try to duck in behind these guys as much as possible.  The lead runner eventually separated from our pack looking quite strong in doing so.  During the 3^rd loop which was the same as the first, I pushed ahead as the 3:10 guys were dropping off.  I was now in “no man’s land” and had to carve through the gusty winds alone.  It wasn’t the kind of wind that would stand you up straight as you were leaning into it, but it was definitely noticeable.  

At the half way point, I was fighting the urge to pee, but I knew this was a losing battle.  The water pusher, my wife, is to blame for this.  I ducked into the woods and relieved myself.  I lost about 30 seconds during my mile 14 split.  Still running solo, I started my fourth loop in an off-road trail section called Mines Falls.  This area had loose gravel trails with the occasional root here or there.  I was in this section when the bad things typically rear their ugly heads during my races……. Mile 19 & 20.  I don’t know if it was going from pavement to a looser gravel material this late in the race, but I was starting to slow.  I was thinking “game over” and started to have some negative thoughts.  How could I be losing it after running higher mileage than ever before?  Maybe I’m not built for this distance.  I’m so F’ing pissed right now, and so on…….

Luckily, I hit the pavement after these two miles and was able to bounce back, which has never happened to me before.  I was also hoping that the 3 salt tabs that I had taken at 45 minute intervals would help to hold my cramps at bay.  I pushed up some of the final hills and rollers and couldn’t wait to be done.  I ended up passing the guy who was our lead runner during the first and second loop as he must have been struggling.  I also passed a guy who I never saw until the last 5k of the race, who had been reduced to a walk.  I felt really bad, as I can relate to hitting that wall hard during the final miles.  As I entered the finishing chute to cross the line, the clock read 3:09:44.  One of my goals attained.  My daughter’s Maggie and Paige were screaming…. You did it!  You did it!  Other than a couple of tiny pings in my left hamstring during the final mile, I held it together for a PR.

“Thank You” to my family for the endless support. 

SPLITS:

1. 7:10
2. 7:06
3. 7:03
4. 6:59
5. 6:59
6. 7:03
7. 7:03
8. 7:07
9. 7:01
10. 7:07
11. 7:04
12. 7:15
13. 7:05
14. 7:37 – (Pee-Pee)
15. 7:01
16. 7:11
17. 7:06
18. 7:16
19. 7:40 – (Dark thoughts)
20. 7:56 – (Darker thoughts)
21. 7:18
22. 7:06 – (Positive thoughts)
23. 7:06
24. 7:23
25. 7:08
26. 7:13
27. 6:38 (.4)

At the start checking my watch next to serious beer singlet youngster.  This was the kid looking to run a 3:02 and he did just that!

Running down the road....