Winning Back What I Lost

Utah Valley Marathon

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Location:

Meridian,ID,US

Member Since:

Mar 31, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

PR's:

5K Beat Coach Pete Fun Run Boise, ID- 21:13(2009)

Meridan Barn Sour Days 10k, Meridian, ID- 41:32(2012)

Famous Potato Half Marathon, Boise, ID- 1:30:40 (2012)

Utah Valley Marathon, Provo, UT- 3:20:14 (2011)

Athlinks profile here.

Garmin Connect profile here.

Short-Term Running Goals:

2014 Racing Schedule and Goals: 

-Get healthy

-St. George Marathon, October 4, 2014, St. George, UT

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run at least one marathon every year until I buy the farm.

Qualify for Boston Marathon.

Personal:

Started running in November 2007 to get fit. Now I'm back almost to square one after back surgery. I did it once and I'll do it again.

"In truth, runners don't race other runners. They race against themselves: to conquer their wills, to transcend their weaknesses, to beat back their nightmares. And while a runner can't actually beat himself, he can beat his time. Even years into running, he can get better."  Running for His Life by Michael Hall. 

 

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
New Balance MR 1400 Lifetime Miles: 392.77
Saucony Kinvara 2 Lifetime Miles: 424.41
Saucony Kinvara 3 Lifetime Miles: 438.89
Saucony Ride 5 Lifetime Miles: 235.68
Brooks Launch (Blue/Yellow) Lifetime Miles: 282.52
Hoka Rapa Nui Tarmac's Lifetime Miles: 181.17
Hoka Clifton (Blue)(2) Lifetime Miles: 164.15
Race: Utah Valley Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:20:14, Place overall: 137
Total Distance
26.30

If anyone happens to be near the 22 mi. mark on Univ. Ave. in the next couple of days and happens to stumble across my dignity and self-respect I'd appreciate it if they'd drop me a message so I can forward my home address so they can mail it back to me, COD of course. K, thanks in advance. 

This was my sixth marathon and while I'm no expert by any means, far from it, I'd like to think that I've acquired some general knowledge regarding these sufferfests.  That's what I'd like to think. In the end, I feel like the only thing I really know about marathoning is it ALWAYS exposes your weaknesses. It's like that schoolyard bully who points and laughs and then tries to get others to join in the mocking and public shaming.

It is well-known, to those who know me, that my goal was a BQ (3:15).  As was the case in St. George, it looked as if that goal was within reach until I suffered my customary GI distress.  This time it hit me at mile 20- where I went into the POP 44 secs ahead of pace and left the POP 2:30 behind goal pace. 

More than that, it knocked me off my rhythmn and forced me to play catch-up. I came out firing w/ a really good mile at 21 (7:19) but in hindsight I think I worked a little too hard during the remainder of mile 20 and the next to try to get it back all at once.  That really cost me as the downhill became less pronounced and I was forced to generate more speed from quicker turnover.  When I hit mile 22 at 7:47 and mile 23 at 7:44 I was quite literally devastated.  I mean it really destroyed me mentally.  Never felt more despair during a marathon.  Looking back, that's really an interesting point to me because the last 10k of my first marathon in '08 I was running much slower, walking more and not quite sure that I would even finish.  I guess it's all a matter of perspective. As we begin to demand more out of ourselves, the disappointments become more heightened. I guess the hope is that the other side of that coin is that the eventual success will offer a commensurate amount of joy and excitement.  However, I think I posses enough self-awareness to acknowledge that this is decidedly not the case.

Back to the race: Miles 24 and 25 I walked a fair bit, beating myself up for lacking the fortitude and will to fight for my goal. That's what this cruel, contemptible mistress does to you. Wallowing in this existential pit of self-loathing, I came across my family in the middle of mile 25.  That helped pick my spirits up a little bit. Not enough to push for sub 3:20 but enough to avoid a total meltdown at the end. Got back under 8:00 for the last 1/3 mile (I had the course .1 long).  A new PR by 9+ mins but it wasn't it all like I had imagined.

Note: I loved the race itself.  Only 3 yrs old and it ranks right up there w/ Ogden and St. George, IMO.  Definitely a lot more uphill packed into this course than I had estimated from the course profile.  The hills aren't huge but they seemed to keep comin', at altitude, in the middle miles (9-17). As many better-conditioned runners showed today, it really is set up for negative splitting. 

Race stats: 1:37+ 1st half; 1:42+ 2nd half. Not too bad considering the POP stop at mile 20 cost me 3 mins + an unquantifiable mental penalty. 

Splits:

1- 7:31 (gradual uphill to start the race; ran strong but was mindful of holding back)

2- 6:58 (tried to stay ahead of 3:20 pacer)

3- 7:28 (short pee stop on the side of the road to burn off the pre-game jitters)

4- 7:13 (saw a girl pull of the side of the road (10 ft) in plain view and do her business; 200 commando pts!!)

5- 7:17 (making a conscious effort to stay between the 3:10 and 3:20 pace group)

6- 7:22 (began to realize that the 3:20 guy was going way too fast)

7- 7:18

8- 7:57 (1st gu stop and the first significant uphill; tried to relax and not burn too much glycogen)

9- 7:42

10- 7:07 (strong mile; leaned forward and began to cruise w/ the hills behind me, for now)

11- 7:09 (actually a decent hill here but the downhill was even bigger)

12- 7:44 (course flattened out)

13- 7:12 (pushing hard to get to the half in the 1:37's)

14- 7:56 (2nd gu stop and more uphill)

15- 7:18 (Garmin shows the most total elev gain & elev loss in this mile)

16- 7:51 (I think this is where I started walking through the aid stations every other mile to make sure I got enough fluid)

17- 7:28

18- 7:24 (big downhill here but the little roller offset it and then some)

19- 7:07 (some decent downhill and, more importantly, no uphill)

20- 8:55 (last gu stop) (emptied the chamber in the POP) (kicked it in gear to get pace under 9 for the mile)

21- 7:19 (last of the downhill; worked too hard to get it back on track)

22- 7:47 (this is where self-doubt crept in)

23- 7:44 (more of the same)

24- 8:21 (this is where it took over)

25- 8:21 (this is where I began to curse like a sailor w/ Tourette's Syndrome)

26- 8:18 (would have been 9+ if I hadn't seen my family here) (not sure if they could read my lips; to their credit they didn't say anything)

26.3- 7:41 (finished solid but nothing left for a kick)

Saucony Kinvara Miles: 26.30
Comments
From SlowJoe on Sun, Jun 12, 2011 at 16:00:31 from 184.79.24.255

Congrats on the PR. Maybe not what you wanted but those small steps have set you up to do it next time.

From Court on Sun, Jun 12, 2011 at 20:48:20 from 204.228.205.14

That was a good race. You should bask in the PR and not let it ruin your day. Congrats!

By the way, how long were you in there? What'd you do, bring a magazine?

From Neil on Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 00:52:18 from 97.121.46.204

Thanks guys. 36 hrs later I feel much better, physically and mentally. I'm already planning my assault on a BQ time in Pocatello in 11 weeks.

BTW, I figure I was in POP 3 mins. Why so long? Without getting too graphic, I'll just say that I emptied the chamber rather easily but the cleanup was a little more problematic.

From jtshad on Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 08:45:30 from 69.20.183.178

Congrats on the PR but sorry about the GI issues...I had some too about mile 15 that cost me some dearly desired time. You ran well and would have had the BQ but for the GI distress. Keep training and it will come. Sorry that I did not get to bump into you in Provo, I will have to make my way to Boise and we can get a run in. If not, see you at Poky!

From Neil on Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 02:49:07 from 97.121.46.204

Thanks Jeff. These GI issues are really disheartening. I've yet to have a marathon where it wasn't an issue. I think I may just have to avoid eating anything past 5pm the night before and fuel as I go during the race. That seems risky though.

I'm sure we'll cross paths in Poky. I'll just ask around if anyone's seen the 2 time champ. ;)

From Steam8 on Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 03:00:40 from 166.70.55.77

Ahahaahaa! I loved your race report! The port-o-poo-potties are time destroyers! I get so siiick when I race that all I want to do is hit every POP I see during those last few miles!

I just qualifies on my last marathon....and the reason why....I didn't hit one POP the entire race. I had a great run day and didn't get sick.

I feel for you. It is so frustrating! 5 minutes! You had a great run and good time. I have one friend that runs and he had the same problem. He is a Boston Qualifier. He just ran Boston this year. He takes Pepto Bismol or Imodium (SP?) before every long run and he thinks it helps him. I don't know if it will work for you...but, maybe give it a try.

From Neil on Wed, Jun 15, 2011 at 00:29:58 from 97.121.46.204

I actually took some Immodium about 20 mins before the start. Maybe I need to take it throughout the race? Who knows?

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