Carmel Marathon number 7 - a welcome change to the date this year - usually April 2X, this race was moved to The first Saturday closest to the begining of April. Training consisted of about 12 weeks of semi-structured lower volume blocks with several quality LR. I had a lower volume total mileage than what I know to put me in my top fitness, but, decent volume of quality training coming in to the race. More importantly, a realistic assessment of fitness level prior to toeing the line, and executing in the actual race, really paid off. In previous years, I had come to the start line in much better shape, but, with unrealistic goals (or geting sucked in to a group in the actual race too fast for fitness level).
It was a partially cloudy, and cool morning - about 35 degrees up to about 45 degrees. Good marathoning weather. I settled in to the massive pace group for 3:00 for about 8 miles and had to leave them behind. The fella pacing was very chatty, almost tolerable, but, the absolute cluster at the aid stations could not continue.
First half felt very relaxed, and even more so once split away from the group: 6:45, 48, 43, 44, 52, 47, 49, 49, 44, 51, 48, 53, 44 -- Through the half in 1:29:00
Second half was a loop and new part of the course for this race, but, was not much of a surprise. It was all on the Monon Trail, with a couple of ventures off in to some familiar looking parts of the old course. More of the same up through mile 16. A small group of us (about 4-5) have joined and 2 younger guys are breaking the wind for me. At 16, it feels like I am stepping on their heels and need to go ahead and start a gradual increase in pace. That prooved to be a couple miles too early. Mile 14-22: 6:44, 48, 39, 40, 42, 32, 36, 38, 38
And it is here that I feel my mistake and pay the price. The miles go by much slower mentally, and legs start to really lock up: 6:48, 7:03, 7:18, 7:40, and 7:31 pace for the partial. Literal limp over the finish line for 2:58:49.
Previous results at this race (probably largely weather dependant) were much less favorable even with a higher fitness level.
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