Marquette Marathon in Marquette, MI. This is about a 10-12 hour drive North of where Nathan and I live in Indiana. Nathan drove the whole way, while I was along for the ride. His awesome 2 kids and wife in the back. We also were meeting another of my good running buddies, who is also going for a BQ. I was really looking forward to this, as it was my first attempt at pacing somebody in marathon. Our carefully calculated planned pace is 6:50-7:00/mile range. Nathan is going for 3:10 for BQ35-39, while our other buddy is going for 3:05 BQ-U35.
We're looking good for about 18 miles on this 2-loop course. Right around there, there is a healthy climb for about 1.5-2mi. It was right around here that Nathan unfortunately got a hamstring cramp. So we really started pumping the fluids in to him at the next waterstops. Amazingly, Nathan toughed out a very painful last 10k and hovered right around 8 minute pace, literally hobbling and visibly limping at some points. What a ballsy effort! We wound up a little short of the BQ 3:10, but Nathan ran a 5 minute PR, nonetheless!!
Splits really tell the story:
6:57, 6:59, 6:51, 7:03, 6:57, 6:49, 7:00, 6:48, 6:52, 6:55, 6:51, 7:15, 6:54, 6:51, 6:55, 7:06, 7:09, 7:18, 7:39, 7:37, 8:08, 7:54, 8:15, 8:40, 8:11, 7:14, 2:42 for 0.3mi.
26.3 mi. - 3:11:49
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/368660879
Congrats to Tim, who BQed - 3:04:40 !
Wonderful trip with a couple hours at the beach along Lake Superior after the race, and eating dinner in Green Bay - right next to Lambeau Field!! :)
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