Overall result of 2:39:20 (28th overall, 4th is age class according to early results). Final results now show 30th male.
Got up at 4:00am to get ready for the race. Hit the road by 5:30 and get to the start at about 6:15. Rachel and I head the starting corrals amidst a big crowd. Hit the porta potties, do some warmups on the side streets, ditch the clothes in the gear bag and head to the Preferred corral. Thoughts of a top 10 finish evaporate after seeing lots of fast Russian runners and half of the Hanson Brooks distance running team in the elite corral. Watch the wheelchair athletes go off, move to the start. Here we go.
1 - 5:40 Running easy, right in between two groups by myself but feel good.
2 - 5:44 More of the same, looking for someone to run with but still solo.
3- 5:49 Still solo, but the support truck is next to me and yelling encouraging words.
4 - 5:48 Hook up with another runner, but he takes off at a pace that I am not ready to run. Let him go.
5- 5:55 First 3 women catch me with their pacesetters. Run with them for about a mile. Another runner named Sean hooks up with me and we decide to run together for the rest of the race to a 2:35 goal. Nice to have the company.
6 - 5:51 Still running strong and feeling good. Take my first GU.
7 - 5:56 Still feeling good, but we decide to back it off to 6:00 to save some energy and just cruise for a few miles.
8 - 5:54 Right on 2:35 pace and feeling good.
9 - 6:00 Start of our cruise miles and feeling good still.
10 - 6:05 A bit of a hill, but still in cruise mode with Sean. Another couple of runners run with us for a while but take off as we keep to plan.
11 - 6:05 Still feeling good, just taking it easy in the middle miles.
12 - 5:51 Second GU. Push the pace back down to keep us on track.
13 - 6:03 Feeling good and just moving at an easy pace.
14 - 5:56 Right on target still.
15 - 6:07 First slower mile (sign of things to come) as my legs start to feel a bit heavy in my quads.
16 - 6:07 Still ok, but taking it easy but legs are feeling it.
17 - 6:17 Slower mile as legs are feeling the lactate build up. This mile is "up" hill and into a headwind, so we don't worry too much. Third GU to try and help with the legs and make sure no cramps come on later.
18 - 6:05 Reach the peak of the course, pass a couple of runners in this mile. Still feeling ok.
19 - 6:08 4th gel as I take a few at the Powergel stop. Feeling ok on the curves in this section.
20 - 6:11 Slowing now as my legs/quads start to feel the lactate acid building up. Slowing up Sean but he is trying to drag me along.
21 - 6:23 Tell Sean to go for it as my legs are burning and I start to feel the onset of going anaerobic. Take 5th gel pack. Sign of things to come.
22 - 6:22 Try to push the pace, but no speed left. Now looking for sub 2:40.
23 - 6:27 6th gel pack to stave off cramps as the lactate is killing my quads. Just hang on for 2:40.
24 - 6:31 Just hang on and finish now! Legs are trashed... but I can see the stadium.
25 - 6:28 Pushing to try and catch the guys who passed me and make dang sure the guy I passed at 18 does not get me back...this will not happen!
26 - 6:22 Push hard to get done fast. Crowds are picking up and this helps, as does seeing my family at 26.1 to get me the support for a kick at the end.
0.2 - 1:20 (5:41 pace) Finish with all I have left to stay under 2:40. Damn am I glad that is over.
Overall, feel pretty good with the result. I learn that I probably went out too fast considering my winter distance training (nearly none of quality) and not training for this long and flat of a race. I am used to hills and the ups and downs to give the muscle groups a bit of a rest.
Head off with family and friends to watch Rachel finish the HM (1:59, beat her stated goal by over 10 minutes!!!). Home for some lunch, time in the pool with the kids, beer and football games before dinner of Mexican food and margaritas.
Do I really have to head back to wintery Idaho on Tuesday!?!?
(Tangents - 126 miles) | 