When I signed up for this race, back in October of last year with the Runners Series, my plan was to try and run it in 3:05:00 so I could qualify for Boston. In retrospect, I can see that was a pretty ambitious goal. I have run 3 marathons in my life prior to this one. Every one of them has been St. George. My fastest time came in 2006 when I ran a 3:38:09. So, essentially I wanted to take 33 minutes off my best time. This was my A goal. In June I realized that the A goal was out. I sprained my ankle trail running and couldn't run until the first week of August. 6 weeks of no running meant there was no way I would hit 3:05 for the marathon. Oh well, time for a plan B. Plan B was to run a 3:20:00 or better. I don't have a good reason for this number other than I thought it would demonstrate a greater level of fitness than I demonstrated in 2006. As a backup plan, just in case, I decided I would at least try and PR, if even by a minute. That was plan C. For the first time ever since I started running I actually planned what I wanted to accomplish for the splits. I knew that the first 7 miles was downhill, that it started at an elevation higher than Salt Lake, and that I would need to save my legs for the second half of the race. With that in mind, I decided to try and run an 8:30 pace for the first half and a 7:50-7:30 pace for the second half. I managed to maintain something close to that plan for about 2 miles. By mile 4 I was running much faster than planned. Mile 3 was 7:51 and mile 4 was 7:34. I tried to correct the pace but it seemed like I wasn't moving. Consequently, I reached the 10K split in 49:37 (7:59 per mile). In retrospect, I think this was a substantial part of my undoing. All the climbing over the next 5 miles resulted in my half split being 1:47:02 (8:10 pace). By the time I hit the halfway I felt a little tired but I knew the downhill was all that was left. at mile 15 I really took the breaks off and ran a 7:12 mile. Mile 16 was 7:14. I was cruising but it was taking a toll on my legs. At some point I figured that I needed to hit mile 20 in about a 2:40:00 pace in order to finish around 3:20. Turns out that is just bad math. I actually needed to hit 20 in 2:32 but it didn't matter. I wasn't going to make 3:20:00 either way. I hit 20 miles just as the clock hit 2:40 and I was a couple minutes behind the gun at the start. But at that point I had developed what felt like a pretty large blister on the bottom of the ball of my left foot. I've never had that happen before. Each step felt like I was stepping on bubble wrap with the added anxiety of knowing that it would probably hurt more if it popped. By mile 21 my hamstrings, both of them, as well as my quads, were getting very tight. It was all I could do to maintain a 9 minute pace. As a result, mile 22 through 26 were all at least 30 seconds to a minute slower than every mile I had run previously. The last 3 miles were brutal but I managed to keep the pace below 10 minutes. I got a look at the clock at mile 24 and started to worry that I wouldn't even make my C goal. That concern pushed me a little harder, but it was all I could do to make myself keep running. At mile 25.2 the clock said I had about 9 minutes to beat 3:38. It wasn't looking good. I tried to push a little harder and as I crossed the finish line the clock hit 3:38:00. A lady directly to the left of me collapsed about 2 feet from the finish and had to be carried across the line by her running partner and a paramedic. At least I didn't feel that bad. I had forgotten that I was a few minutes behind the clock due to the large number of people at the starting line. This was a pleasant surprise when I went to the wand tent and had them give me my official time. Turns out all the pushing I did for the first 18-19 miles paid off. I finished in 3:36:08. That's good enough for a PR by 2:01. I learned a couple of stratigic things running this race that will be helpful in the future. First, stick to your splits. Had I maintained 8:30 through the first half I think I would have had enough in my legs for the second half. Second, drink gatorade earlier. I started drinking gatorade at mile 18 when my stomach felt sloshy. I knew that meant I didn't have enough salt to absorb the water so I switched from water. had I done that at mile 7 or earlier I may have had enough potassium to keep my legs from cramping. Third, know what pace you are ready to run. I don't know if I will pay that much attention to this in the future because, honestly, it was a ton of fun to push myself for the first 18-19, even with the pain over the last 6. But all the same, I think I could have run this at an 8:30 pace and been just fine today instead of limping and sore. Finally, I need another month to train. I really feel like had I not sprained my ankle and had that extra 6 weeks I could have been ready to run a sub 3:20, if not faster. even just another month I feel like would have made me much faster than I was. I think I have to run this again next year. I really wanted my focus to start shifting to trail races more than anything else, but I feel like I have to beat this marathon. By beat I mean run a sub 3:00:00 and get into boston. This year I learned that I can definitely do it given the right preparation. Hopefully next year I will prove it. | 