I was excited coming back from my shattered leg and titanium rod placement in 2010 and other injuries from being hit by a truck to run a 2:54:56 marathon and get 6th place overall. First marathon for a while was exciting.
The anxious wait for my first marathon comeback was here. Over two years not running one was a long time and a test of where I was after my accident compared to what I ran them before.. I trained hard doing several 80 miles weeks and one 90 mile week. But most of this was endurance and not a lot of speed training. I was okay with that because I didn't want to comeback and bust myself and get injured. I've learned this lessons from past experience.
I adapted Ryan Halls training program in mine let God decide what to do every day. Probably why I was never injured because I alway tried to push too hard.
Race Day cloudy about 50 degrees some wind. I got up at 4am and ate oatmeal and half of a granola bar. I was pretty much energized with the rice egg bagel sandwiches for dinner last night. Topping off the carbs the next morning is always good.
My wife and I picked up Jeff Shadley from his hotel and we rode to the bus location to ride up the hill. Always a great pleasure to sit by a champion and a wonderful friend.
Talked with friends and warmed up a bit at the start line and was ready to go. I said hi to Justin Parks before we took off. I knew that would be the only time I would be right near him.
To really be honest to myself and feel what I thought was somewhat of a good strategy for the first marathon back I was going to be conservative on the downhill.
Mile 1 -6 (Downhill) 6:33, 6:49, 6:33, 6:38, 6:31, 6:32 (these miles felt like a walk in the park very easy and conservative but I think very smart). I passed a few runners around mile 5 that just gunned down the hill at the start. Running a marathon is different every time because your fitness is always going to be a little different going into each one. Really the first few miles of a race is not always a good idea how your going to do in a marathon. I believe its around 6-7 when you really know.
Mile 7 (downhill) 6:35 At this point if I was counting placement I was in the top 15 runners.
Mile 8 6:37 (uphill for half and downhill rest) This mile you turn up and then back down making a loop in the road and running back down the hill. Makes it nice because you can see the lead runners. Saw Jeff and he looked really good and at least a mile ahead of me. I felt good and passed two more runners at this point.
Mile 9 6:46 (downhill and uphill) I wasn't really watching my garmin for pace so I did really know I slowed down but that was the plan to run by feel.
Mile 10 6:29 (downhill) Feeling good had a runner that was behind me for a while and I was basically running alone since almost at the 9th mile.
Mile 11 6:40 (downhill) Feeling good same as last mile. I did purposely slow down because the little hill turning into Inkom also kills my pace for some reason and its not that steep.
Mile 12 6:31 (flat, Hil) Turned on Inkom road and the pace that I dropped to in the last mile seemed to make the little hill feel easy. I will have to remember this next year. Took my first Acetone Gel (blueberry).
Mile 13 6:47 (flat) I hit the half at 1:27:13. Felt good easy steady mile. Now the race begins hitting Inkom
Mile 14 6:27 (flat) felt good heading into Inkom. I was still running alone but a runner was behind me for about the last 5 miles. I would have been nice to pace with someone. Little accident dropped my small Nathan 6oz water bottle that I carried in my hand and had to turn back just a second and get it.
Mile 15 6:50 (flat) I was carrying a small water bottle (as I mentioned) the whole time so I met my wife at this point and throw my old one on the ground and see handed me another one on the run. This was a 8 oz bottle.
Slowed down a bit to wave to the family and get the water bottle. The 6 oz bottle was still half full. I only drank about 8oz the whole race with only 2 gels.
Mile 16 6:55 (Uphill) Met a guy named Richard from Salt Lake City who was right behind me the last several miles and he finally decided to run along side me. I was feeling good. I was a little conservative on the first rolling hill in Inkom.
Miles 17 7:03 (flat and uphill) Richard passed me. Once we got on the flat I was wondering why this mile was slower. I wasn't really feeling fatigued maybe negative not sure. But when I saw the split "really" first mile at a 7 minute pace.
Mile 18 6:46(downhill flat) I picked it up a bit and ran along side Richard and passed him going on the downhill. This point I was 8th place. Felt good
Mile 19 6:46 (flat) Richard pulled along side me again but I expected that because I kept the same pace because I was saving it for the gap hill at mile 21. We also caught up to the runner in 7th place. Basically, we were all three running side by side. But the other two were breathing at a very rough rate.
Mile 20 6:53 (flat) Kept the same pace but I pulled ahead of the other two guys a bit. Not very much but I really was feeling good just saving energy.
Mile 21: 6:41 (flat and rolling) I pick it up a bit and started to get a bigger lead and was heading towards Century Gap hill which is between mile 21 and 22. It's a modest hill nothing bad. I saw the 7th place runner walking and jogging and passed him
Mile 22: 6:57 (hill) Up the hill I went gapping the other two runners and passing the one walking so I was in 6th place. I did encourage the running that "you got this the last hill".
Ok before the race I knew my daughter would be at the aid station between mile 22 and 23. I told my family I promised them I was going to make the last 4 miles my fastest and it really a tough part on the course because mental you been rolling but the last 4 are flat.
Mile 23: 6:28 (talked to my daughter at the aid station and I asked her XC team if he wanted to pace me (jokingly).
Mile 24: 6:10 Good flow and felt my form was moving well with the faster turn over on the legs.
Mile 25: 6:21 Good mile. I was analyzing the race at this point wondering what would have been if I took the top faster.
Mile 26: 6:25 Trying to caught 5th place but ran out of distance. I was 12 seconds behind crossing at 2:54:57
Look at that I accomplished the prophecy I wanted for the last 4 miles. I almost caught the 5th place runner at the end. I just came 12 second short. I came along way to get close to him and thought I could on the straight way but he picked it up at the end.
Met Justin Parks at the end of the race what a great gentlemen and gifted runner. I enjoyed the company of talking with him. He blew his own course record with a 2:26. Nice
job Justin and congratulations. Jeff Shadley strong again at a 2:39 good job Jeff.
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