St. George Marathon 2009 (26.2 Miles) 02:51:33, Place overall: 69, Place in age division: 11
Easy Miles
Marathon Pace Miles
Threshold Miles
VO2 Max Miles
Total Distance
0.00
26.20
0.00
0.00
26.20
I have to say, for someone who spends most of his time on the treadmill and elliptical, I am thrilled. I will say, compared to last year, I did make an effort to get outside for one longer run a week and I think that helped my legs quite a bit.
Prerace, I was fairly confident I could hit 2:55, and the race predictor had me just under 2:53. I thought I would just run by feel and see how things went, of course having some idea of where I hoped to be along the way, but no specific spits or pace chart. I have to say, it was a good omen that even the portopotties freed up right before the race so I could have a last minute second visit. I love seeing so many friends before.
1
6:20
Very comfortable, a good sign as I was 45 seconds faster than last year.
2
6:35
12:55
Again, trying to run within myself and it was dark so I waited until the mile marker to know my split.
3
6:23
19:18
I tried to not get too excited here, it is easy to get caught up with other runners.
4
6:17
25:35
Miles are going by fast.
5
6:25
32:01
Feeling good. Breathing is good.
6
6:05
38:06
Maybe I should have dropped to 5:xx just so I could have had one. :)
7
6:05
44:11
Look, matching splits.
8
7:14
51:26
I didn't want to push too hard up Veyo, as i still consider myself better on the downhills. My uphill treadmill running, however, has helped.
9
7:02
58:28
Hard for me to be too aggressive on these uphills.
10
6:43
1:05:12
Some headwinds, but not too bad. I still have not settled into a group with anyone, just sort of running my own race.
11
7:14
1:12:27
Perhaps a bit slow, but I know I am ahead of goal pace.
12
6:45
1:19:12
Still feeling good on the rollers.
13
6:22
1:25:35
Getting steeper
Half in 1:26:30 !
14
6:31
1:32:06
Didn't want to really gun it, still a long way to go.
15
6:05
1:38:11
Nice fast downhill, maybe too fast.
16
6:10
1:44:22
Still feeling good, though can feel the last two steep downhills.
17
6:31
1:50:53
Too early to celebrate, but no crash and burn.
18
6:27
1:57:20
Same old.
19
6:55
2:04:16
Last of the bigger uphills. (Probably too slow, since it is a different pounding on the legs.)
20
6:32
2:10:48
Don't quite have the legs to just open it up and still 10k to go. Looking back, probably should have dug a little deeper without opening up and tried to go 5- 10 seconds faster pace for the next few . . . oh well.
21
6:12
2:17:01
Wondering if 2:50 is within reach.
22
6:33
2:23:34
Doubting sub 2:50 since this was not closer to 6:00. Again, my math was off.
23
6:12
2:29:49
Why do my math skills go away this late in a marathon? I was loser than I thought.
24
6:37
2:36:24
Just couldn't hold 6:00 with 3 to go.
25
6:30
3:04:43
Felt like I was going much slower than I was.
26
7:18
2:50:13
I admit, sort of rested with 2:50 slipping away.
26.2
1:20 (6:04 pace)
2:51:33
I did manage to come down the stretch strong (not blazing) and passed my loving family with a real smile and one guy to move up a spot.
Overall, very pleased, 9:27 minute PR and feeling great. 69th overall. 62nd male.
Post race thoughts: I probably did not open up enough on the second half since I was so far ahead of 2:55 pace. If I had more confidence in how I felt I could have flirted with sub 2:50, by going a little faster a little earlier. Still, very satisfied.
