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Columbus Marathon

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Location:

Upper Arlington,OH,Franklin

Member Since:

Apr 18, 2006

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

1:28:50 half marathon, 3:15:55 marathon Also Completed the Ironman Triathlon ( Ironman USA Lake Placid).

Short-Term Running Goals:

Knock 16 minutes off my marathon time and go sub 2:59:59 in the Flying Pig marathon May of 2010.  Maintain at least 1 bike and swim per week while training for the Pig and resume tri specific training mid-May to compete in a couple half Ironman distances over the summer of 2010.

Long-Term Running Goals:

To maintain good health have fun , travel to some cool placs to race and hopefully get a little faster in the process. Qualify for the Ironman World championships as an age grouper and compete in the HAWAII IRONMAN!!!

Personal:

Married to a beautiful woman and have two great kids fortunatley they look like their mother !!

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Total Distance
27.20
Race: Columbus Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:15:55, Place overall: 288, Place in age division: 49
Total Distance
27.20

First attempt to run a Boston Qualifying Marathon, qualifying time for me is 3:15:59 or better.

I have run 2 marathons prior 1st was the Columbus in 2004 (my first was more to say been there done that did it in a semi respectable 3:52:50) The other was at Ironman Lake Placid which was a 5 hour shuffle & suffer.

I thought I had a decent shot as my half marathon time 4 weeks prior was 1:28:49. All the running calculators told me I was capable of a 3:07 marathon. Only problem was my foot blew up with a bad case of PF after the 1:28 half, so I saw a Sports medicine Podiatrist, Rested the foot for 8 strait days got a shot of cortisone and skipped my last scheduled long run. This had me concerned because my last long run was 7 weeks before the marathon and was only a 20 miler. Also I drastically reduced my mileage in the 4 weeks leading to the marathon with my foot acting up.

Race Day. Typical pre-race ritual for me... diarrhea, not sure why this always happens it is not like I am going to beat anyone, I must put to much pressure on myself or anxiety gets the best of me? so 2-3 sit & squirts later out the door and on my way to the start line.

Show up 25 minutes prior to the gun do some light stretching and a mile VERY EZ warm-up.

I fall in with the 3:10 pace group at the start line, my plan was to go out with the 3:10 group and hang until mile 15-20 If it was tooo tough I would back off the pace, if I felt good I would turn it on at mile 20.

miles 1-5: so ez & smoothe hitting the splits and enjoying the run, drinking Gatorade at every aid station.

miles 6-10: little side stitch at mile 6 went away after a few minutes, I pass up on drinking at an aid station as I think I may be drinking to much with he side stitch still with the 3:10 group and the pace is comfortable.

mile 10-15: still hanging with the 3:10 group, I am starting to feel the pace taking it's toll now. I get another side stitch so I skip another aid station and am alternating Gatorade / water.

mile 16-18: still hanging off the back of the 3:10 pace group..I have had to relieve myself for quite some time so I make a break for a big pine tree at mile 18. stop and do my business in about 20 seconds. hamstrings and calves do not like the fact that I stopped Uh-OH, legs do not respond kindly to me when I start running again, the uphill on mile 17 did not treat me well. I can see 3:10 pace group up ahead, I just want to keep em in sight.

mile 19: mile 19 I am about a minute behind the 3:10 pace starting to really hurt. I employ the 20 second walk break at every mile marker strategy.

mile 20: I get to mile 20 and am 1:30 off the 3:10 pace. No 3:10 group in sight, I am on my own, still hurting and walking 15-20 seconds at the aid station.

mile 21: I see my family low five my kids and put my best doing good face on : ) off the 3:10 pace by two minutes.

mile 22: ughhhhh everything hurting after the long downhill walk the aid station for 30 seconds. have no now I am really worried that I can break 3:15:59. slowing down and taking it ez is sounding real good. Breathing is pretty labored.

mile 23: same deal walking the aid station for 30 seconds, pouring two cups of cold water on my head and sucking wind, I don't know if I will make it but I still have a shot. I keep telling myself 2 more miles to go( my math stinks)

Mile 24: really feeling it now, I have fallen way off pace and am suffering, I think I need to average 8:00 minute miles to get there in time ( whoops I forgot about the .2 told ya my math stinks) I say a couple prayers, so again status quo, I walk the aid station for 30 seconds douse myself with water.

mile 25.2: I have exactly 8:00 minutes to bring it home, I skip my walk this time I grab a Gatorade two cups of water pour em on my head and start to think of anything and everything to motivate myself. OK, I promised my 8 yr old daughter a trip to Boston, I told family & friends I was going for a Boston Qualifying time in this race, I have trained way to hard to quit now. I kept saying push until you fall do not stop or slow down unless you are on the ground, this I repeated several times, it rhymed and was motivating. I am Breathing like I was a 90 yr old.

Mile 26 to 26.2: I turn the corner for a downhill dash on bricks mind you, I do not hear the crowd, kind of strange I was seeing black spots the last half mile, not sure if it was sweat or I was a little loopy? Anyway clock is 3:15 could not see how many seconds. I had to look like I was a special Olympics athlete the way I was sprinting (I mean no disrespect as I have worked with the mentally handicapped and care a great deal for them) but I know I looked ridiculous. I actually do the lean forward thing the last few yards / feet. I think I cross in 3:15:59 (unfortunatley I was looking at the clock and I do not know where the tape / chip timer is in relation to the clock) that would get me to Boston by the bare minimum qualifying standard, but I am not sure.

I am done I go in to the chute get the mylar and get to the chip removal. They take off my chip and I stumble around delirious try to eat a bagel, spit it out, try to eat an orange, spit it out, can't drink. Someone asks if I need medical. I say sure.

Go to medical I could barley move my legs on the way there they want to give me an IV. Wait I hate needles. (not one for being penetrated), not sure how I made it through my military service with my fear of needles). They take my temperature. I am at 93.5 degrees, off with the wet clothes and they wrap me in blankets like a baby. Doc tells me if I can drink he won't give me an IV. I drink and I drink some more, then I drink a little more :) I have never been this wiped out after any race???

half an hour later I go meet the family, everyone is congratulating me on qualifying. I tell them I do not think I did.

I go home look up the results on the computer. Final time 3:15:55. I made it by 4 seconds. I guess I made it exciting for my little group of spectators. I almost feel guilty qualifying by the bare minimum, not sure I deserve to run with the best that 3rd Monday in April. I think I could have possibly run a minute or two faster if my last 4 weeks of training would not have been interrupted by the foot, maybe I need to work on endurance more, my calculator said 3:07.... I run a 3:15:55 I figured I would at least be 3:12 ish... I have looked at my results 5 or 6 more times to make sure they did not change, I look at the qualifying standards on the BAA site 2 or 3 more times to make sure they give you the :59 second buffer.

this morning I still feel like complete and total dookie, I am really wiped out today at work, lunch time will be a nap.

I did decide to register for the 111th running of Boston this A.M. so I signed up : )~

Comments(6)
Total Distance
0.00

rest today...

I want to thank everyone for the post race congratulatory comments, but more so for the constant comments throughout my training. Frankly I searched the internet via google for any and every tip on HOW TO qualify for Boston and I came across this site.

Once I joined the sight and started logging my runs. I held myself accountable to this sight and more so the other members of this sight. I made it a priority to log my run or lack of running regurally to keep myself on track.

Sahsa. Thanks, not much more I can say other than the fact that I sincerely thank you for your'e advice throughout my training. You are obviously an individual who cares a great deal about not only the sport but peoplethat is evident by the time you dedicate to helping others.

Funny that my professional career just so happens to be in the Sales in Marketing feild, so I am going to sit down in the next few days and do some brain storming/extensive researchand look at some things that may work for you to acheive your goals for this web-site.

I think I may have a few ideas that will help you increase revenues / drive increased membership.

I will be sending you an email with a list of things that may be worth looking into by the end of this week.

Personally-my running is going on a 1-2 week hiatus for the foot, then I head to Panama city to sign up for Ironman Florida.

I have 1 major life / fitness goal left to accomplish and that is to qualify for Ironman Hawaii.

Running wise I will reduce overall mileage but should hopefully maintain fitness through the additional cardio of cycling / swimming. I plan on continuing my blogging on ths sight although some of my blogs will be cycling / swimming related for daily mileage..

Thanks again.

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Total Distance
27.20
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