Feasibility study for Cottonwood marathon. I've been dancing around commitment like a nervous bachelor for months. If this 20 miler went well, I would plan on doing the next one. Price goes up for the race on August 15th, so that will give me one more look in a couple weeks.
I got up at 5 am, ate some toast and got out the door by 5:30. I carried powerade and jellybeans to drop at the 2.5 mile area, and carried fruit strips for fuel. My course was out and back to Farmington City Hall 2 times. It is exactly 5 miles from my door to the drinking fountain in the park near the pool.
Garmin A died 3 miles in. The first 10 miles were around 8 minute pace, probably rarely dipping under. The course is nonstop rollers, and with 20 miles to go, I didn't want to start out too crazy.
I got home after 10, drank some powerade and grabbed a different garmin to try. It held out for the remainder of the run, which was really the litmus test. I ran the 5 miles to the fountain again, just over 8 minute pace.
15 miles into a run is a great time to start some MP miles. 16-19 were 7:39, 7:02, 7:54, 6:59. Cooled down for a 9 minute mile to wrap up the 20.
Signals are mixed from this workout. Yeah, I got 20 in. But only 20% of the miles averaged marathon pace, the rest were 40-60 seconds slower. My pacing is horrible, but that's kind of understandable on a rolling course.
In two weeks, I'll find a long canyon to run down. That'll give me a better idea on comparable terrain.
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