I've thought for a few years now that I was capable of a sub 3:00 marathon, but just didn't know if my body could get through the training required for such a performance. According to my 5k and 10k PR's over the past 3 years, I should be running 2:56. But the longer the running race, the further I would be from what the race calculator predicted. I wondered if maybe I was just a 'middle distance' runner. Maybe my body wasn't made for long distances. I'm so glad I was able to prove myself wrong ;)
When I ran the Baystate Half Marathon 7 weeks ago in 1:23:27, I knew I was well on my way to that sub 3:00 goal. All I had to do was stay healthy and consistent with my training. After the Half, my hip injury popped back up and I immediately backed off. One thing I've finally learned after 20+ years of competitive running and it's related injuries... listen to my body and stop before a pain turns into an injury. I've learned to differentiate between a 'good' pain (soreness from a hard effort) and a 'bad' pain (stop now or you'll be stopped for a lot longer than just today's workout). I took a full week off running and continued to swim and bike. I sought medical attention- Active Release Technique and Physical Therapy. After a week of no running, I was able to pick back up where I left off and completed almost every prescribed workout until the marathon (with a few shortened sessions due to GI issues). I felt good about the work that I had put in and I was getting pumped for the big day!
As race week approached, I was paranoid of anything that would compromise my race. I cut out sugar, alcohol and caffeine for a full week before the race. I tried to steer clear of every sick person (which is not easy to do when you travel for a living and also for the holidays). Walking down the street, I would have visions of myself tripping and breaking my leg or falling into the "L" tracks. Yeah, I was pretty much crazy. But, I like to just think of it as 'cautious'... or paranoid. Whatever.
Race day arrived and I was healthy, yet slightly under slept. The nerves must have gotten to me because I struggled with insomnia for the 3 nights prior, getting 5, 4 and 5 hours of sleep. This coming from a person who NEEDS her 8 hours. I would fall asleep just fine at the same time every night, but would wake at an ungodly hour (like 1am) and not be able to fall back asleep. Throughout each day, I had plenty of energy and my body felt great... but my brain was mush. Conversations were tough, as I would get stuck on very simple words and then just give up. Luckily, my little sis was the only one that really had to put up with me during that time.
At the starting line, I had my plan and I was ready to take action. Temperature was perfect at ~40 degrees with light wind. I started at about 6:50 pace. The terrain was the definition of rolling hills to start. Nothing big, but constantly a gradual up then a gradual down. My pace fluctuated from ~6:30 on the downs to just over 7:00 on the ups. This continued for the first 16 miles of the race. No big spikes in heart rate/perceived exertion and it was nice to have the slight variations.
Mile 1- 6:58
Mile 2 and 3- 6:46 average (13:33... never saw the 2 mile marker)
I warmed up pretty quick and shed my 'throw away' long sleeve after just 2 miles. Now just wearing my shorts, sport top, compression calf sleeves and mittens. I could feel the slight headwind... I'm guessing probably about 5mph. Not bad, but I was thinking about how staying in a pack would save me a little energy. Problem was... there was no pack around me. There were scattered guys and I was able to tuck behind this one man for a mile or so before he surged ahead.
As Coach Dan directed, I started taking in gel at mile 4. I tore the top off my first Kona Punch-flavored PowerBar Gel. It took me from the 4-mile mark until the 11-mile mark to finish it. Fairly tasty, but I needed a lot of water with it. I would take in a mouthful before each aid station and chase it with water. My stomach felt perfect. Empty, but not hungry or thirsty. I kind of had to pee, but not really. I knew I could hold it for 3 hours and it would not affect my race.
Mile 4- 6:44
Mile 5- 6:52
Mile 6- 6:49
Right around the 6-mile mark I came up to a HUGE pack and realized it was the 3:00 pace group. I was kind of surprised because I thought my pace was ahead of 3:00 at this point. But, I guess it makes sense that they would pace it slightly faster because people don't want to finish in 3:00... they want to finish SUB 3:00. I noticed a very slight difference in effort level when I was in the pack. It was nice to be shielded by the wind, but as we approached the 3rd Aid Station I wanted OUT! Trying to get water at the same time as 100+ other runners was not cool. At this point, my goal was to get ahead of (and stay ahead of) this group. But, I wasn't about to sprint so it took me a couple miles before I was able to separate myself.
Mile 7- 6:46
Mile 8 and 9- 6:49 average (13:39... missed another mile marker)
Mile 10- 6:42
My right hamstring felt a little tight at this point, which I'd never experienced before. Not bad enough to make me worry, but just an awareness and I hoped it wouldn't get any worse. I finished my first gel at mile 11 and opened my second one (same flavor) at mile 12. This one I accidentally tore too much of the top off and it started oozing out and got my mitten all gooey. So, I had to take a big gulp of the goo to stop the oozing and I tossed the messy mitten.
Mile 11- 6:43
Mile 12- 6:50
Mile 13- 6:46
Half Marathon- 1:29:06
At mile 13, I hear two guys chatting about the race. The one guy mentioned that after mile 16 there were no more hills... up or down. I kind of assumed that looking at the race course profile and talking to others who have run the race, but you really just don't know for sure until you see it (some people's ideas of hills are different from others). I was really hoping that was the case though, because my plan was to go out conservative and have a negative split if I felt good. I didn't really want to JUST break 3:00. I wanted mid- 2:50's.
Mile 14- 6:41
Mile 15- 6:46
Mile 16- 6:40
At this point, I'm feeling pretty good about my pace. In the beginning, I just had no idea what I would be capable of. But, more than halfway through and I'm still feeling fresh. In the back of mind, though, I can't help but think about my last 3 miles at Boston when the wheels just fell off. I really hoped that wouldn't happen again. I know it happens to a lot of people and I can't be sure of what's in store for me.
Mile 17- 6:34
Mile 18- 6:33
Right around Mile 18, we ran through a fairly busy intersection of spectators. They had LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem' blaring over the speakers and all of a sudden I just got so emotional. I had this giant smile on my face. After seeing the last 2 splits on my watch and feeling how good I still felt, I was realizing that I was going to do this. I was going to blow 3:00 out of the water! For an entire mile, I could not stop smiling. I literally and physically could not stop smiling. I tried and couldn't. I almost started crying.
Mile 19- 6:29
Mile 20- 6:30
I finished my 2nd gel just before mile 18 and opened my 3rd shortly after. By now I had thrown away my other mitten and my hands were a little chilly and sticky, but not too bad. After those last two delicious gels, I was not stomaching this chocolate-flavored honey stinger gel. I thought I liked this brand, but the PowerBar gels were much easier going down. I took in little tastes here and there to try and get in the calories. I never felt even close to depleted, so I didn't beat myself up for not eating more. And I took in 2 big gulps of water at every Aid Station except for 1, so I felt plenty hydrated. I wondered how Lindsay (little sis) was doing with her gels. Hopefully better than me ;)
Mile 21- 6:29
Mile 22- 6:39
My legs were starting to feel heavy and tired. Only 4 more miles. I can tough it out for 4 more miles. Each mile was going by so fast up to this point. I couldn't even believe it was almost over. About mile 22, I passed my new friend Meshelle (from Chicago). We had chatted a few times trying to get together for a run during taper week, but it never happened. It was nice to see a familiar face out there. We said a quick hello and cheered each other on. Shortly after that, a different girl that I had passed a few minutes prior caught back up to me. We ran side-by-side for a couple miles. Spectators yelled, "work together girls!". She asked me if I had a goal and I told her I had surpassed it and just needed to hang on at this point. She was trying to PR (she ran 2:57 in Chicago last year). I could tell she had more left in her than I did and sure enough, she pulled ahead for a strong finish.
Mile 23- 6:35
Mile 24- 6:31
Mile 25- 6:34
I was hanging on. Just a little over a mile to go and I hear LMFAO's 'Sexy and I Know It' blaring over the speakers. I was hurting, but this put a smile on my face. I still had over half my third gel, but just tossed it. Then, I'm counting down the streets. We turn for the finish at 8th Street. The street signs were passing by quick enough... 15th, 14th, 13th. I know I had a look of horror on my face now. I was digging deep. I turned left onto 8th and started sprinting. I saw the clock still reading 2:55:??. One more quick left towards the finishing chute and I shot passed one more girl to finish in 2:55:38!!!
Mile 26- 6:43
.2- 1:21 (5:51 pace)
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| Two happy sisters! |
