Very pleased with this race, especially off of zero taper. I was shooting for 1:29:59 and made a good push for it. I think I might have made it if I didn't put myself in too big of a hole in the middle miles. I actually ended the last 1.5M @ 6:46/mi pace. I probably waited too long to make that push but then again maybe I would have crashed if I started the push w/ 3 miles left?
Picked up my buddy John at 615am. He lives one street over. We drove to the finish line at Ann Morrison Park, got on the bus and arrived at the starting line at the base of Lucky Peak Dam an hour and a half before the start. Unlike Utah, they don't have fire barrels to huddle around in Idaho marathons. Next year I'm bringing kindling and kerosene. It was downright cold with people hiding behind every conceivable structure looking to get out of the wind, at least until the sun finally peaked over the top of the rock and earthen dam. Got in a half-mileish of warm-up looking for place to pee w/o lines and trying to get the GI system to evacuate. No dice.
That said, conditions were near perfect for running early on, w/ a slight tailwind and very cool temps (40's) through the Canyon at Lucky Peak to Barber Park. At the starting line I told John that I would try to keep him in sight for as long as possible (he ran a 1:24 PR) and we were off.
Paced the first few miles very effectively. Started at 7:00/mi pace and tried to increase it from there. Unfortunately, I think all the speedwork and tempo work @ 7:00/mi pace has trained my legs to lock in that pace. I stayed right near there all race, but for a couple of blips navigating the neighborhoods and the slow 10kers near Park Center. Then, around mile 10.5ish (near the zoo), I realized that I would have to pick it up significantly to get in under 1:30. Shortly thereafter, I was passing a youngster and he started chatting me up asking if I was a half marathoner (at this point there were tons of slow 10kers and really slow marathoners everywhere). I responded in the affirmative and asked him what his goal time was. He was shooting for 90 mins too. I said, "Giddyup, let's do it." We picked it up a bit. When we got to the aid station at 12 I told him that there was no reason or time to stop for water/gatorade, just run through it. I could sense his disappointment and about a half mile later he stopped, stated "I'm going to throw up. Good luck."
Apparently, I'm not above leaving a man behind and continued my push. I think I already knew that the math wouldn't work but I pushed forward anyway, leaving it all out there. I ended with my last mile being my quickest (6:46/mi). Had my usual stomach issues around mile 9-10 but I was able to hold them off until after the race. All that translated to almost a 4 minute PR off of what I ran in this race last year.
Returned home in time to get showered, dressed and coach my son's T-Ball team to another great performance- we're doing coach pitch now and the kids are raking. After that, Quin and I went to DQ. I got a PB Parfait and he got an M&M Blizzard that was way too big for a 6 yr old. I graciously offered to finish what he started. :) A pretty damn good day.
Splits: 7:00; 6:55; 6:49; 6:56; 7:00; 6:55; 7:02; 6:59; 6:59; 7:05; 7:11; 6:58; 6:46.
| 