I had a great time running this race,
The short report for now - I ran a 3:19:13 this morning, things went very well up to mile 21 and just had a hard time holding pace for the last 5 miles but I am very happy with everything. I made the top 10 in my age group and that is one of my goals for every race.
More later
Pre race Eat just alittle to much the night before and just had some stomach issues before bed and woke up with the same issues that had me concerned. Had some oatmeal and a banana with PB and just made it worse. Drove to the bus pick up and waited for a friend to showup so I walked over to the Marriott to get a bagel andeat half of it and thankfullty it helped as the cramps went away and felt fine after that with no issues even during the race.
Turned off my garmin to soon and lost my splits
Got to the start line and felt fine and stomach had settled down and the race got started, went out alittle faster then I wanted it to be but for the first 5 miles it is a down and just ran with it and by mile 2 Mike Taylor ( friend of mine) came flying by me and by mile 4 he was out of sight and was alittle concerned for hime as this was his 3rd marathon and wanted to BQ on this one and needed a 3:10 or better. I know it was going to get warm over the last few miles and I wanted to focus on making sure I get enouth fluid in me but not to much, I got to the 2nd AS and went to the very end person to get the poweraid and she turned and I missed the cup and just kept running on, (dang it) I don't think I will wait for the last person anymore. Got to mile 7.5 and started the up hill portion and just wanted to make it an even effort run and just held back some not wanting to spend the energy yet but didn't remember the hill being this long last year but got to the top and felt I maybe held back just alittle to much and lost some time but was not to worried about it as this course has some good down hills to makeup for it. Wanted to hit the half at 1:37:00 and came across it at 1:37:24 or so and was happy with that, got to an AS just befor mile 15 and was surprised to see Mike just in front of me and as we went through the station he must have stoped to walk as I never seen him again. But knowing what happend I bet he will not forget that ever as I have been there also and have gone out to fast and will never forget how it felt over the last 6 miles. Got to around mile18 and could feel the hamstring starting to flare up just alittle (not sure why this hamstring does this, but the same one in the same spot around the same milage seams to start acting up a bit, any ideas are welcome) so I stopped to rub some performance gel on it and it helped alot and didn't get any worse but was aware of it. After that stop I just didn't get back into the groove of it and never back to the pace that I wanted and just lost my mental toughness over the last 8 miles as the second half splits was around 1:41 ish but was OK with it as and just wanted to do the best that I could to the end. Finish time was 3:19:13 and was happy with it as one goel for the year is to BQ every race and to get still 10 min under is great. I love the UVM as it is very well put together and the course is wide and scenic, and some awesome big metals and a BQ shirt to boot makes me want to come back every year.
I will be going in to get my shoulder operated on for the second time next week and will not be able to run for a few weeks and may miss the (will miss) Des News Marathon but hope to be back for the Park City Marathon in good shape. | 