Going into the Salt Lake Marathon I really was not sure how I would
do since
I decided to run the full rather than the half. I really wanted
to run
with Adam Wende (which he did awesome), and that's why I changed my decision. I wanted to really get the
training in
for the Ogden marathon and prepare big for it. I didn't think I was
totally ready to run the Salt Lake Marathon as I would like to be, but
I
thought that I had some good weeks of training from the Achilles issue. I thought my fitness and health was good
going into the marathon, and this could be a good tune-up for the
Ogden marathon. First marathon of the year, and this would tell where I was at.
First off Barry (on the blog) and I traveled to Salt Lake City, and we settled
our room at the Marriott City Center Hotel. Then we went to the Expo at
the Convention Center and picked up our race packets. We talked with
Sasha for a bit, and he gave Barry some wonderful advice for the race.
It's always great to talk with Sasha his knowledge and course detail is
amazing, and he's a great person to be around. Then I met Adam Wende
there and talk with him for a bit as he picked up his race packet.
Barry and I left for the Salt Lake Running Store, because I needed to
purchase some Injinji toe socks. My other pair had a hole in them and
their the only kind of socks that I've found that work for me in long distance runs. The other types cause one of my toes to bleed.
Race Details:
Going into this race I was thinking that 2:40 would be a good goal, but once
I knew we were running in a headwind I was doubtful. The first few miles
the wind wasn't bad, but I think it was about at my 5 when the wind started
really becoming a devil.
Mile 1 - 5:49 Felt really good running with Adam, and was really
holding back to not explode out of the gate. Sasha and Dave were up
ahead of us too.
Mile 2 - 6:01 Still felt good and holding back, because I knew that
I would really need to save some strength for the tough wind miles.
Mile 3 - 6:08 Here's where I started falling back from Adam at mile
3. I dropped the aid station water and it slowed me down because I
slowed down to grab another one. I wanted to make sure I was hydrated
well.
Mile 4 - 5:29 Good downhill mile, and it felt comfortable and easy.
Mile 5 - 5:37 I really should have picked up the pace here and the
mile before, because I the wind that would pick-up from miles 6 -14.
Mile 6 - 6:10 Wind was starting to be a issue and made you push harder, but I felt good here.
Mile 7 - 6:21 Felt decent should again have pushed harder, but I
think in the back of my mind I knew a hill was coming up, and I would
need to push more there. But it was a foolish mistake being so early
in the run.
Mile 8 - 6:27 Starting to ascend upward and the three ladies that
chicked me were drafting on me at this point. I was really feeling
good and feeling comfortable even though the mile was slower.
Mile 9 - 6:30 I don't know why this was so slow, but lost time in this mile.
Mile 10 - 6:09 I started pushing more into the wind to get a decent
pace, but it was so strong. I really should have pushed harder here.
Took my first Gel at this point, and I think looking back at the race I
should have maybe taken one sooner.
Mile 11 - 6:11 Still maintain a decent pace in the wind, this mile I should have tried to make up more time, but the wind was still very strong.
Mile 12 - 6:22 Wind gusts seems to really pickup on this mile, and it was starting to make my pace inconsistent per mile.
Mile 13 - 6:47 I came in on the half way point right on 1:21:00,
and I thought I should be able to easily negative split the second half
(wishful thinking). Why so slow... I do remember some heavy wind gusts, because I was still feeling great at this point too.
The next four miles I felt comfortable and things were feeling good, and I took another gel at mile 16.
(6:04 , 5:51, 6:05, 6:07)
Up to this point I was feeling good, but than things started changing.
I started feeling the need to do a brown code at mile 18, which slowed me down a bit because of the discomfort, and put negative thoughts in my head. One: I
didn't want to lose time, Two: if I stopped how would my legs feel
starting again, and trying to get back into a nice flow. I slowed down a
bit because of this issue from miles 18 -20 (6:21, 6:21, 6:22). I
started to pray and ask the Lord what I should do, stop or just keep
pushing through. Amazingly, after mile 20 the pain went away
and I was fine, but my pace was slower and I started feeling fatigued.
I don't know if it was the early miles from the wind that started being
a factor or the fact that I slowed down, because I needed to brown
code.
Mile 21 - 6:39 Terrible just shoot me. The fatigue factor was beginning to settle in.
Mile 22 - 6:36 Where's the bullets I'll shoot myself. I was hoping I could drop the last four miles at least under 6:30 pace. I remember thinking about this at this point in the race. This would at least give me a shot at 2:44.
Mile 23 - 6:47 Started weaving in and out of half marathoner's traffic.
The last three miles I really lost my focus and just wanted to
finish. I really should have thought more positive here because I
really believe your training should come out and help you finish strong.
(6:51, 6:58, 6:58). Maybe I made the mistake of only taking
two gels, because after the stomach issues from miles 18 to 20 I
thought it might not be the best thing to take another gel. I did drink plenty of water through the course and didn't feel any
dehydration. I think you can second guess a lot of things, why didn't
you do this or that. I believe the wind took its toll on me early
trying to fight through it, and showed the result towards the last few
miles. It is a little upsetting when you have high expectations, but mother nature has it's own plan. But no excuses... I could have been stronger and more positive in the later miles, and that's a big key to success.
I do feel good going into Ogden as long as I take it easy the next three weeks, and have fun and be confident I should do well. I really need to decide how to prepare for Ogden so close. This week of course will be recovery miles and just taking it easy. Not sure what my plan will be for long runs. I know I should at least get one MP long run in even if it's only for 6 miles.
All the splits
Mile 1 - 5:49
Mile 2 - 6:01
Mile 3 - 6:08
Mile 4 - 5:29
Mile 5 - 5:37
Mile 6 - 6:10
Mile 7 - 6:21
Mile 8 - 6:27
Mile 9 - 6:30
Mile 10 - 6:09
Mile 11 - 6:11
Mile 12 - 6:22
Mile 13 - 6:47
Mile 14 - 6:04
Mile 15 - 5:51
Mile 16 - 6:05
Mile 17 - 6:07
Mile 18 - 6:21
Mile 19 - 6:21
Mile 20 - 6:22
Mile 21 - 6:39
mile 22 - 6:36
Mile 23 - 6:47
Mile 24 - 6:51
Mile 25 - 6:58
Mile 26 - 6:58
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