Trained hard, tapered well, ran poorly. My official time of 3:04:21 (7:02) was good enough for fifth overall and first in my age group in a field of just under 200 marathoners, but I am a little disheartened after another undisciplined and underwhelming performance.
Again, like the Country Music Marathon back in April, I started too fast, running with a large group of halfers at between 6:10 and 6:20 for the first 10 Miles or so. At some point early in the race, enjoying the company of the younger halfers, I convinced myself I could hold my tempo/half pace for the entire race, but my pace started sliding at Mile 14, and I could not get it back after both shoulders tightened up badly (this has never happened before, and I'm still at a loss). With a 15-20 mph headwind during the last 6 Miles, it was challenging physically and mentally.
That said, my Dad, wife, and I had a great trip up to lovely Cotter, Arkansas, near Mountain Home, where we stayed in a charming little rent house 1.5 miles from the starting line. My wife headed to Branson, Missouri for some shopping on the morning of the race, and Dad and I enjoyed homemade potato soup, chicken enchilada soup, and chilli after the race before watching the first part of the Razorbacks game on TV back at the rent house.
My Dad, in his second full marathon, ran a PR of 3:43 and finished fourth in his age group. And this despite some pretty significant soreness in his back during race week. He's a fighter, and he ran hard and strong on a day when he didn't feel his best.
Wesley
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