sub-3 or blow-up trying

Boston Marathon

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Location:

Mooresville,NC,

Member Since:

May 01, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

2007 Highlights: Litchfield Road Race (7.1) in 58:36

2008 Highlights: New Jersey Marathon in 4:12, Bay State Marathon in 3:10:30

2009 Highlights: Boston Marathon in 3:13:26, Litchfield Road Race in 49:30, New Haven 20k in 1:25:03, Bay State Marathon in 3:09:09

2010 Highlights: Bradley 10k in 39:58, Litchfield Road Race in 48:06, New Haven 20k in 1:23:59, Ghost Trail 1/2 Marathon in 1:29:12 (trail), Philadelphia Marathon in 3:06:59

2011 Highlights: Litchfield Road Race in 47:44, Ghost Trail 1/2 Marathon in 1:28:35, Goshen Turkey Trot in 40:46, Jingle Bell 5k in 19:05

2012 Highlights: Finished Boston Marathon in 3:41:59 in 89 degree heat, broke the top 100 in Litchfield Road Race (82nd), 1st Place (overall) in Solstice 5k, Hogsback 1/2 in 1:29:36, and bq'd in Bay State Marathon (3:14:20).

Personal Records

1-mile: 5:39/track (2008)

5k: 19:05/Jingle Bell (2011)

10k: 39:58/road race (2010)

20k: 1:23:59 (2010/New Haven)

1/2 marathon: 1:28:35 (2011/Ghost Trail)

marathon: 3:06:59 (2010/Philly)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Sub-3:05 marathon in Fall

Sub-1:23 in New Haven 20k

Sub-46 min in Litchfield RR

Sub-19 in 5k

Sub-5:30 in mile

Upcoming Races:

TBD

Long-Term Running Goals:

sub-3hr marathon

sub-5:15 min mile

become a competitive master's runner

win age division in smaller marathon

Personal:

Married w/six daughters (9 year age span)

Pastor a church in NC

Enjoy travel and recreation with family

Began running in November of 2007

Click to donate

to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	17.00	Month:	29.00	Year:	1233.00
Barefoot Lifetime Miles:						114.25
K12- Black Lifetime Miles:						401.00
Kinvara 13 (blue 1) Lifetime Miles:						341.00
Kinvara 13 (blue 2) Lifetime Miles:						366.00
Kinvara 14 Neon Lifetime Miles:						388.00
Kinvara 14/teal Lifetime Miles:						509.50
Kinvara Blue/red Lifetime Miles:						377.00
Kinvara 15 (blue/grey) Lifetime Miles:						184.50
Kinvara 14 Green Lifetime Miles:						153.00

Mon, Apr 20, 2009

Race: Boston Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:13:26, Place overall: 3319

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
26.20	0.00	0.00	0.00	26.20

I'd like to start by saying this was one of the most mentally challenging events I have ever experienced in my life. I'm not sure how I finished today, but thank God for helping me through this race.

Started the day by taking a shuttle to town at 5:30 am and then connecting with a bus to Hopkington. Big surprise in arriving there (should have read the material)...we wait outside for 2 1/2 hours. I was underdressed and spent the entire time shivering.

By race time my legs were blue, but the adrenaline in my system started to help warm me up. Began to feel great!

The starting gun when off and we were on our way...I began in corral #5. I'll do my best to give race details...

Mile 1: 6:55 (probably did a little too much dodging, but felt very comfortable with the pace)

Mile 2: 6:30 (definitely a little fast, but still felt very comfortable)

Mile 3: 6:30 (new I should slow down and made conscious effort to do so)

5k average: 6:39 (Remembered people saying be careful, so thought I should adjust)

Mile 4: 6:44 (Thought I could hold this comfortable)

Mile 5: 6:50 (Still felt fine)

Mile 6: 6:48 (Uh oh, my legs were beginning to stiffen)

5k average: 6:49 (Recognized this pace would not work long-term and decided to adjust to more like a 7 minute pace)

Mile 7: 7:05 (wanted to pick it up just a tad)

Mile 8: 7:08 (thought I ran faster, but guess not)

Mile 9: Whoa! Can't remember exact time, but way off...decided to quit looking at my watch and concentrate on stride. Legs were already cramping...this has never happened to me in a race since mile 20 of my first marathon...I was determined not to panic and began doing my best to stay as relaxed as possible...maybe I could regain legs and surge later. Breathing was effortless, but legs were totally shot.

5k average: 7:17 (never looked at my watch again, so base the rest of this report upon race results from website)

Miles 10-12 (held concentration)

5k average: 7:09...20k= 1:25:32

Half Marathon time: 1:30:18 (negative split nowhere in site...mind over matter)

Miles 13-15 (Legs really cramping bad...feet beginning to hurt as well)

5k average: 7:23...25k= 1:48:28

Miles 16-18 (Thought going uphill would be the end of me, but actually it seemed easier on my leg...almost a relief...much less steep than I had mentally prepared for)

5k average: 7:47...30k= 2:12:35

Miles 19-21 (This was the most mentally challenging part of the race...wasn't sure how I could keep moving my legs...1 mile at a time...I asked someone when we were going to hit Heartbreak and he said, "we already did"...what?)

5k average: 8:02 ...35k= 2:37:30 (Have no idea how I held an 8 min pace, but felt greatly encouraged to have made it through the hills)

Miles 22-24 (This was a complete blurr...my calves and quads felt like they were being stabbed with knives...maybe not that bad, but you get the point...also, my body was actually begininning to shiver a bit...passed my family which gave me a little more inspiration to finish)

5k average: 7:54 (Wasn't any faster, but the downhill helped improve my split)

Miles 25-26: Just concentrated on form...didn't stop for fluid because I knew if I were to stop, I would not be able to start again.

Finish= 3:13:26...Didn't achieve any of my goals, yet felt a deep satisfaction in having dug deeper both mentally/physically than any athletic performance done in my life. My finish (3,319) put me over 2,000 spots in front of my starting position (5,550). I tried to tough it out afterwords, but ended up in the medical tent with a low body temperature. People there were wonderful and a couple bowls of broth eventually got my body temperature going the right direction. Still shivered for another 2 hours as I attempted to connect with family. Very sore, but no injuries or concerns. Energy level was fine at the end... never breathed hard at any point throughout the race- just had no legs and was very cold.

Lessons learned...

1) pre-race schedule- do not spend as much time in the city on my feet. Yes, I've read it from numerous reports, but when you're with your family- easier said than done.

2) early morning wardrobe- dress warmly...2 1/2 hours of shivering takes it's toll.

3) don't shed too much clothing- dropped a long sleeve shirt, gloves, and arm sleeves...regretted these decisions as I approached the city...very brisk wind!

4) respect the downhill- I felt very prepared for running uphill, but underestimated the affect of downhill running. Hills are subtle, so take you by surprise. Next time I will do much more downhill training.

Overall, a tremendous experience! I learned a lot and hopefully will continue to mature as a runner. Unfortunately, I did not meet any bloggers, but I look forward to reading their reports.

Saucony Tangent III Miles: 26.20

Weight: 0.00

Comments

From Burt on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 01:00:53 from 98.167.151.26

Great report. I liked the part when you found out you had already passed Heartbreak Hill. Way to tought it out.

From smally on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 06:47:19 from 68.236.123.203

Your legs and my stitch.

I was done at mile 10

I'll let you read my blog when I get to it tomorrow.

I have never been more proud of the effort I put forward to finish that race, the stitch was terrible.

I am also so proud of you because went through something so similiar.

we will meet one day. I wonder how close we were at different times and in the coral.

Todd

From rattletrap on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 07:41:49 from 24.19.93.139

Sorry things didn't go as well as you hoped for. 3:13 is an awesome time! 3 marathons in less than 12 months is pretty amazing too.

From JimF on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 08:35:06 from 68.58.92.142

Good job hanging tough and still finishing with a great result. I read a report on a running site that said the wind had around a 4 minute effect on the runnners so it was definitely a tough day. Also, very tough to be hanging around that long in the cold. You have made incrediable progress over the past year and I'm sure this is a race that you can build off and see further improvement!

From Kelli on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 09:33:08 from 71.219.75.228

That was an amazing report! Wow, you toughed that one out from very early on. I have not heard anyone mention the weather yet, wondered what it was like. I can barely stand shivering for 10 minutes before a race, let alone 2 and a half hours. I am sure that took a toll on you! But you finished with a very good time, and YOU FINISHED. In our running group this morning we were all talking about how thankful we are just to be able to run when so many can't, so we thank God every day for the ability to be out there!

Recover well, Thanks for the report and the lessons learned, I will remember them for next year!

From Lucia on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 09:52:04 from 74.9.147.114

I'm with Kelli, great report, thank you for the recommendations! And congratulations, that's a fabulous time and you can always go back to do better next year!

From Bonnie on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 10:03:10 from 71.210.125.219

What a job! I was tracking you and though I knew you were a little over your goal it was amazing to watch you gut it out. It was a good race and you are definately taking the right approach in learning all you can from it.

Did you at least enjoy the mass of humanity that was out cheering you on?

Rest well.

From Harris on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 10:04:10 from 205.125.50.198

Nice report. I had a tough second half too. I probably saw you in the medical tent. I was sitting down in the chair wrapped up for about 45 min. They wouldn't let me leave for awhile.

From RivertonPaul on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 12:16:42 from 67.42.27.114

I enjoyed following your splits yesterday. Sorry it didn't work out as ideally as you would have hoped, but you still did a great job and I'm very pleased for you.

From jona on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 13:09:06 from 69.27.13.147

Great report! Thank you!

Congratulations on your race. Awesome job!

From wheakory on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 13:09:20 from 134.50.89.33

You did the best you possibly could in this situation. Your faith and strength carried you through the finish and that's a big accomplishment.

Look at it this way Robert Cheruiyot the men's winner the last three years dropped out. You can look at your mental toughness and know you succeeded.

From Sasha Pachev on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 15:42:47 from 64.81.245.109

Of all things, I think the biggest factor was #1 - pre-race site-seeing. Very few runners are able to run a PR in Boston for that reason. In other words, you need to decide if you are running for a fast time, or to celebrate making it to Boston, and if celebrating pace yourself for a slower time, you will actually run faster. To be within 3 minutes of a PR after sightseeing and pacing yourself in a non-celebratory manner is actually a very good outcome, shows the potential. Your splits indicate than on another day sub-3:00 is in your shooting range.

Regarding Robert Cheruiyot. The reason he dropped out was not the lack of mental toughness. His prize money supports his own livelihood as well as that of his family. If he toughs out a marathon that does not pay, he cannot run another for a while. This means somebody does not get to eat.

From wheakory on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 16:03:20 from 24.116.153.110

Sasha, I understand about Robert Cheruiyot dropping out because of the pursuit of prize money and saving is body for another race. I wasn't suggesting he lacked the mental toughness. I was just specifying an example of where he's in it for the money and that's it.

Where in it for our heart/soul a life experience and don't look at the money just a personal goal to finish or succeed a certain time.

From Robert on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 17:55:46 from 65.101.167.195

Good hard run Dave and congrats on capturing the unicorn! Celebrate your accomplishment and the blessing.

From josse on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 19:17:17 from 70.193.203.69

Great job!

From MichelleL on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 20:49:19 from 71.35.250.102

Man I feel your pain. It stinks to have your legs give out on you so early in the race and to think of ALL the miles ahead. You stayed strong. Was it weird to be able to cheer on the people passing you because you aren't breathing hard but not being able to speed up? That was notable from my last marathon. I could talk up a storm but my legs were screaming.

From Barry on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 23:08:30 from 75.174.17.125

Good job, you did awesome! Also, just look at this like a learning lesson. Some time we have to go through hard lessons, but the lesson we learn will help us to be stronger next time!

From MarcE on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 23:37:27 from 206.225.68.108

Congrats on a fine Boston performance. It's amazing you finished as well as you did with all the cramping you went through. Great job!

Your race sounded a lot like mine from last year (my 1st Boston)-- only you're a lot faster! You need to attack it again next year...you'll be much wiser with all your lessons learned.

On a side note, I see you're from Litchfield, CT. I spent the first 12 years of my life in Litchfield, CT -- I've got many fond memories of that place. Your'e so fortunate to have all those hills to train on. I'm curious as to how long you've been in the area there..I was born in 1965. I'm a few years older than you. I'm very curious is you grew up in Litchfield or the area.

From rockness18 on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 23:43:49 from 65.96.197.9

Thank you fellow bloggers for the encouragement and feedback. It was fun to read through the responses and connect with those who ran yesterday as well as appreciate those who followed us running. It's helpful to hear some of you identify with my learning experience and I'm glad the report was helpful for a few of you future Boston runners.

Sasha, you are probably correct in factor #1. I found myself being too polite. It was my desire to make this a family trip, yet I failed to set pre-race boundaries which led to two days of catching up with family friends (8-10 hours of walking). My family wants to do this again next year and my wife has agreed to help me set pre-race boundaries.

From rockness18 on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 23:49:41 from 65.96.197.9

Mark, very interesting. I've only lived there for 3 years. Previously lived in CA, Chicago, FL, and Boston. Our family loves the community and yes, the hills are tremendously helpful for training.

From edrickt on Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 00:26:22 from 64.2.220.135

You logged all you miles as "slow miles," but they weren't all that slow to me. You've accomplished a lot of stuff since you started running and now you've done Boston. Congratulations! I really appreciate you race report and admire the way you hung in there. Great job! You're my hero.

From Michelle N. on Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 09:55:46 from 75.162.252.159

I was laughing while reading your report because I felt very much the same. I cramped at 15. I walked for a minute going up Heartbreak not realizing it was Heartbreak. I thought I still had 1 more to go. I also was a little disappointed with my time but felt good that I had reached the finish line. I was mentally spent at 20. Way to go though on a great time considering all your obsticals. It was an amazing experience even with it being so tough.

From jtshad on Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 11:37:09 from 204.134.132.225

Great job...great time and hope you had a good experience.

Boston was a great race and a great place to visit with all the energy.

Way to go!

From jtshad on Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 18:37:12 from 204.134.132.225

BTW, I nearly went into the medical tent too. Glad you are ok and they treated you well. The guy next to me when I was picking up my bags was shivering still and they were leading him off for treatment, tough day all around.

From rockness18 on Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 18:49:06 from 69.183.233.81

thanks Jeff. Body temperature was low, but nothing all that serious. I was on my feet all weekend, yet if I were to do it all over again, wouldn't change a thing. My girls had the time of their lives!However, lessons have been learned for next go round.

From Richard Borget on Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 22:31:06 from 71.199.12.164

Nice run, I think these runs teach us the most and help us enjoy the fun ones more. If they were all easy we wouldn't appreciate them.

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