I'm just not sure what to say about this race. I finished 13th overall, 5th Masters, and 2nd in my age group with a time of 3:11:49. So I met my goal of getting an award but I should have done much better and thus left happy but not fulfilled. Of course any marathon you can start is a good one and any one you can finish is even better!!!
The course seemed to have a bit more elevation than I anticipated and a sub 3 would have been nearly miraculous but I should have been close. I felt fine at the start. One fast guy took broke away right from the start. Next was a group of about 10 runners on a sub-3 pace. Then there was the group I fell in with. There were about 5 of us and I think we were all geezers. As my goal was to finish within top 3 for my age or masters, I decided this was a good group to run with even though the pace was a bit slower than planned. The first 6 miles were uphill and the pace felt just fine. Many of these miles were passed in conversation. In mile 5 I decided to pick up the pace and our group dropped to 3, and then 2 on the subsequent downhill. I was still feeling carefree and great through the half. Still pulling up the hills on miles 14 and 16 but not picking it back up on the flats and downs. I really slowed on the hill of mile 19 and could never pick it back up.
My legs felt shot by mile 19 and then they cramped up good enough to crush my stride. The cramps migrated around my right leg, then my left, then went to a side stitch, and even my shoulder. Weird, I usually don't get cramps, especially this early. The cramps went away but I was just shot. My pace just kept getting progressively slower. (Even before the cramps my pace was slowing.) At mile 20 I figured I only needed a sub 8 pace to keep it under 3:10 but I couldn't even keep that and I got passed by a couple of runners.
At mile 25.5 was a sign that said "full marathoners" with an arrow to turn left. I took the turn and then realized that the sign was only meant for when we ran this section earlier on the course. Luckily I didn't get far before my fogged brain realized something was wrong so I stopped and then turned around. Unfortunately while on my detour I got chicked! :) To add insult to injury I latter found out (from one of my friends on the course) that the chick had missed a turn and cut off a 1/3 mile out and back piece of the course. Doh! (She won by 10 minutes so this short cut didn't change her placing. I heard other runners talking about how then got lost on various parts of the course.)
I'm not sure what did me in. The temps were not ideal but ok, 53° at the start, 67° at the finish. I could have gotten a bit dehydrated??? I'm just not sure. Some of the aid stations seemed far apart and my stomach didn't want much more fluid, but???
On the plus side I went to Boise with my kids and we stayed with long time family friends. They all came out to cheer for me at several places on the course and at the finish. This was great! As was our whole trip.
I picked up my 2nd place medal with the announcement that, "yes he did run the whole race with that Hawaiian shirt!" :) Also, this race was not only on a Sunday but there was beer at the finish line. I think the one I had may have helped my muscles relax a bit and maybe aided recovery? Even if it did not, it sure tasted good. :)
Splits
6:57 6:52 7:05 7:21 7:07 7:05 6:33 6:44 6:49 6:47 6:59 7:02 7:01 1:31:06 at the half 7:05 7:04 7:19 7:06 7:14 7:47 7:39 7:55 7:54 8:08 8:11 8:23 8:24 3:11:49
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