I haven't really wanted to relive this experience but it was a good serving of humble pie. Apart from a long drive the night before complicated by an hour long traffic jam and a 1 am bed time things went well was hydrated and carbo loaded. I did miss a shake out run as well but didn't really stress about any of it. Weather was good maybe a little warm if anything. Got to the start fine and did a short half mile warm up with strides. T-bake hooked me up with the garmin which provided awesome data and splits. The race started out great opening mile we were on 6:40 pace and I was running with a small group of 3 which included the women's winner. It felt too easy and I wanted to be at 6:10 pace at least so I went to the front and then Jason came up along side me and we started to clip. I stayed side-by-side for about 3 miles and after a pair of 5:45's decided it was too quick and let him go on the big hill. Hit 10k in goal time for a low 2:40. T-bake got me my first bottle and I actually caught back up with Howe on the down hill and just let my legs go with the decline until mile 10. I started to notice a little pain and tried to ease up a bit as 3rd place was way back. I hit halfway in 1:22 but could tell the opening downhill had taken its toll. It was damage control time but I didn't panick yet. By mile 15 it was over. I couldn't keep it under 7 min pace and had to stop or vomit. I limped on for another couple of miles near 7 min pace but the quads were shot and I had a bad pain in my R glute that didn't feel right. I was passing half marathoners at this point and was embarrassed to be in second place jogging 8 min pace and stopping every half mile. I finally called it as I could hardly walk my legs were super trashed and with 4 miles left I was looking at 40 min of walking and possible injury. Never DNF'ed before but I think I made the right call. Still really frusturating as second place ran just over 3 hrs. I could have jogged 7 min pace from the gun and collected $200. Jason was 2:40 flat and there was no way I was going to beat him today.
Splits 6:11, 5:42, 5:55, 6:16, 6:33, 7:23, 6:17, 5:52, 6:04, 6:03, 6:21, 6:20, 6:14 for 1:21:17 for 13 miles
6:47, 6:55, 7:11, 8:17, 7:06, 7:04, 7:55, 9:09, 9:22 f or mile 22
I don't feel like I was overly ambitious I knew the distance was hard and my training sub par. I had gone sub 1:20 on half the milage. I had run a solid 18 miler at 6:30 pace with a stroller and felt good at the end of the run. I felt I could keep things under 7 min pace for the last 8 even though I realized they would hurt a lot. I just don't think my muscles were ready for the downhill. I have always had calf pain with the half but the full absolutely shredded my quads and glutes as well. I don't have any nearby hills to run on so all my flat land training might have done me in. The pace was still the biggest problem and I learned that the hard way. Definately want to tackle one in the future but we will see if time allows.
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