Be warned; this is probably my longest entry yet. I wrote it Sunday night while the thoughts were still somewhat fresh, but now (Monday afternoon) I'm on a computer for the first time in 4 days. Here goes:
So I'm hoping this is therapeutic, or something like that anyway :)
I'm pretty disappointed right now. I just finished my second marathon in Lincoln, Nebraska and needless to say, it didn't go as planned. First, a little background; just after returning from my first army deployment in September 2003 I ran in the Santa Clara Swiss Days 5K and won the race in 16:20 or so. As I was standing around waiting for the awards I was approached by Santa Clara Heights resident George Graff. We discovered we were both in the Army Guard and he told me about the 'All Guard Marathon Team' and said I should look into running with him and the state of Utah on their marathon team. At the time I was more interested in returning to SUU and running another year of cross country and track, so I passed on the opportunity.
While on my second deployment from 2005 to 2006, my running focus changed to the marathon distance as I ran loops around the base in Ramadi. Injury prevented me from running the 2006 St. George marathon, but I ran a number of half marathons in 2006 and 2007, all between 1:13 and 1:15. I figured I could handle a marathon pretty well and was very pleased with a 2:44 at the St. George marathon in 2007. Training had been off and on throughout the summer of 2007 and most weeks I ran only 25 miles (I ran something like 10 miles in June 2007). During the St. George Marathon I ran very casually the first 10 miles, then sub-6 the last 16 and ran an 8 minute negative split and it felt so easy doing so. Anyway, I figured with some disciplined training and slightly faster opening miles I could easily run in the 2:30's in Lincoln.
After finishing SGM, I was reminded about the opportunity that had presented itself with running for the Guard. I made a few calls and the Utah team captain was happy to sign me up with the team. I continued to train with a May marathon in Lincoln as my focus. I had some great training runs. Twice I ran 20 miles at a faster pace than my first 20 @ St. George. 3 weeks before Lincoln I ran 24 miles in Cedar City (elevation 5900 ft) in 2:27, which was 6:09 pace. I thought for sure going to Nebraska, with an elevation around 1300 ft, I would run fast and it would feel easy. After a long opening, that leads me to today where I ran like garbage. Pure garbage.
I slept horrible for the 2nd straight night. After a restless night I was wide awake at 4am (3am Utah). I laid there for 30 minutes, realized sleep was hopeless, and got up for breakfast at 4:40. Then pretty much just sat there waiting for the clock to tick by and get started.
I jogged the quarter mile to the starting line around 6:30 and saw my wife. The weather, after the previous 3 days of 30 mph winds and very cold, was perfect at the start. No breeze and 39 degrees. There were 6000 runner's lined up, but probably less than 2,000 were going the full 26.2. The majority ran the half marathon. Anyway, my goal was to run the first 8-10 miles right above 6:00/mile, then the rest all sub-6 with a finishing time 2:35-2:37. These splits are coming off my garmin, so like always, they are off slightly. I'm going to just run with a $10 watch from now on :)
I started out by drafting off people for the first 4 miles. 1) 6:10, 2) 6:15 on a very slight uphill, 3) 6:34 slower, but I was drafting, so I kind of took what the group was doing, 4) 6:00, 5) 6:07 on one of the steepest hills, so I was happy my time didn't get out of control.
Mile 6) 5:39, I'm sure not this fast, but it was downhill, so easily sub 6. My official 10K split was 38:18, so I figured I was moving along nicely. Right after mile 6 we made a hard right turn and got on a bike trail for the next 3 miles. I moved up to the next group during this mile 7) 5:48, 8) 6:09 on a pretty good incline, 9) 6:04 on another climb and 10) 5:56 and feeling really good. There was some confusion at the aid station at mile 10 and I didn't get any fluids, but figured I'd be okay. This time doesn't add up from the previous one's listed, but I remember them calling out 1:01:14 @ 10 miles, so I felt like I was right on goal.
Miles 11 and 12 were both 5:58 and then the half marathoner's peeled off and the full marathoner's had another loop to go. I asked my place at the next aid station and was told 12th, so I was looking forward to moving up to a top-10 place overall. From mile 12 to 17 I ran in no-man's land, completely by myself. I could see a group of 3 guys ahead, but they were a solid 600 meters ahead of me. Again at mile 14 there was confusion and I didn't get any fluids. Here I started to get worried that the lack of water/Gatorade twice was going to cause a negative effect on my performance. Mile 13) 5:50, (Official split @ 13.1 was 1:20:26). 14) 5:26 (again, nowhere near this fast--I'm done with my Garmin on race day). The wind had really picked up at this point and from 14 to 21 we were running into a mix of headwind/crosswind, easily 15-20 mph. Mile 15) 5:49, 16) 5:49, 17) 6:00 uphill and finally caught a guy from Alabama.
The two of us ran together for 3 miles and picked off a guy, so I was sitting tied for 10th, ready to collect prize money, set a pr and cross the finish line around 2:36 and a sub-6 average. 18) 5:59, 19) 6:01 and really fighting the wind, but feeling pretty good and still joking with spectators and other runners. The pace still felt easy and very doable. Mile 20) 5:51 and a total time of 2:01:07. I was right on pace and thinking that a sub 2:40 was going to be no problem. Mile 21) 6:01, Mile 22) 6:05 and I start to get a little winded. Both of my calves were feeling like they were going to cramp and I could tell that both of my big toes had been bleeding for a few miles already.
Mile 23) 6:11 and people are passing me occasionally, guys that I had passed back around miles 8-12. Mile 24) 6:31 and I can tell I'm falling apart, but can't figure out why? I had missed a couple water stops and it was slightly windy, but I have had training runs at 6,000 ft where I have maintained 6:00/mile pace with zero issues. Oh yeah, and my nipples hurt something fierce :). So I'm bleeding out of my toes and blood blisters have developed on my nipples. Good stuff. At some point I say 'screw it' and walk for a few steps during mile 25) 7:13. When I start walking, my vision goes blurry and I start to feel woozy. I realize I can't even compute simple digits and figure out a new goal to shoot for. On a strange note, from this point on, I was craving an ice-cream sandwich something fierce! Nothing sounded more appetizing, so very strange.
Mile 26) 10:10. Yup, that says 10:10. I walked multiple times through here and people kept yelling "looking good" and other such nonsense. I had nothing. I guess I experienced 'hitting the wall' only I think I hit more like 3 or 4 walls. I was fine to walk the remainder of the race, only to realize that if I ran, I could finish the misery sooner, so I jogged it in to the finish. I could see the clock at about 2:46:47 and could have easily made it under 2:47 but I was ticked/disappointed and couldn't be bothered to exhort the effort necessary and basically walked/jogged across the line in 2:27:08. Pure garbage :)
So that was my Lincoln experience. I just couldn't figure out what went wrong, what I didn't do or what I should have done instead. Still don't know. The group I'm with (most of whom run here each year for the past 10+ years) rattled off 20+ individuals who ran slower than they usually do at this race each year, so for whatever reason times were a little slower, although I'm sure there were plenty that pr'd as well.
I took 2 hours or so to feel bad for myself, but I'm feeling better now. I was still able to qualify for the "All-Guard Team" and will have the chance to run in Detroit, Memphis, Dayton, Washington D.C. and New Orleans during the next 12 months, so that should be fun. And if I'm still in the Guard, I'm sure I'll come back next year and try and redeem myself in Nebraska.
These are my official splits:
- 10K - 38:18
- 13.1 - 1:20:26
- 20 Mile - 2:01:07
- Final 10K - 46:01 How freakin sweet is that bad boy?!?!!
- Total Time 2:47:09
- 6:23 Average pace
When it's all said and done, I guess it's not so bad to come here and run slow. If I hadn't, I would have spent the weekend playing Army in Dugway, Utah. This was better.
Y2 (120)
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