Overview

Well it's all over, 4.5 months of training and it paid off well.  My goal was 4:30 and I crossed the finish line right around 4:25:17!

I started the race with the 4:30 pace group but found myself about 50 yards ahead of them around mile 4.  I felt strong and relaxed so decided to keep my current pace and plow ahead.  I was soon running with Kate from Ohio State and a man from Maryland; we kept each other engaged in conversation and encouragement for a couple miles until we lost Marlyand man at a water stop.

Kate and I kept at it running side-by-side through mile 20 or so.  Running next to her was a HUGE help as she kept our pace up (running a couple of 9 minute miles) and we passed time talking about fmaily, friends, and passing encouragement back and forth.

While on the bike path, there were some rather narrow parts to squeeze us all through, and while spreading out from one such part, I looked back for Kate and didn't see her.  It was her first marathon (I'm sure her first of many more) and I could only guess that the proverbial wall was taking it's effect on her.  I tried to look up her results and I beleive she came in around 4:27, which is a GREAT time for a first marathon!  KATE, if you ever read this, THANK YOU for pushing me throughout the race, you are a HUGE blessing!!.

From about mile 20 and on, it was just me and the un-godly wind in my face.  My pace started to drop to 11 minute miles as it was all I could do to keep one foot in front of the other.  I was so happy to see the finish line and finally be able to "stop"!!

Some Race "CONS":  (1) seemed a bit unorganized at the start, actual corrals for people to start in based on estimated finish time would have been great. (2) Police NEED to get some control of the traffic.  At mile 12 a pickup drove through us runners with no regard for us at all.  One runner actually punched the window of the driver door and I'm surprised the window didn't shatter.  Can't they just close roads until noon or so?? (3) Hand out GU earlier than Mile 19.  If they should improve anything, it should be number 2.  Paying participants deserve to be able to run without haveing to be concerned about vehicle traffic (we worry about that enough during training!!)

Race "PROS": (1) Mile markers and time clocks were very visible and clearly shown.  (2) Albeit the fan support was light (cold wind and heavy rain had to keep some people away), those that were out there were GREAT encouragement in those last miles.  (3) Water stations were plentiful, well-staffed, and knew what they were doing!!

Hope you all had as much fun as I did.  Good luck with your future running goals.  It's time for me to go switch out the Icy-Hot wrap around my knee!!

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Tags: pain, slow

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I was about 7 or 8 miles into the 19 miler I was trying to squeeze in Sunday morning before church last week and I thought "I feel great!  I wish I had an extra hour or so to spare and I'd try to run a full 26..."

At mile 13 I thought "Yep, starting to get tired..."

Mile 17 the thought was "wouldn't mind stopping right now"

And at the end of mile 19 I thought "i sure am glad I don't have that extra hour of time!!"

All-in-all the run went well, I kept close to a 10 minute pace, just faster than where I want to be on marathon day to bring me in at 4:30.  Taking into account that I had run 21 miles between the Monday and Friday prior to the 19 miler, I think I'l be in good shape after the taper.

But THANKFULLY my last long run of 20 miles is this weekend and I can begin to rest.  I have really started to feel the fatigue in the last week or so and the pains in my legs and knees seem just a little bit sharper than normal.

My plan is to jump on the bike in the mornings of the taper for "low-impact, light-effort" workouts just to keep my legs moving and stretched out, does anyone think thats a bad idea?  The key would be the light-effort as the taper is obviously meant to rest. But after  falling apart at mile 21 in my previous marathon, I really want to make sure I'm in the best condition possible to get to the finish line with a strong finish this time around.

Please let me know what your taper plans are or if you think I should skip the morning workouts.  Enjoy the rest and the "carbo-load" :-)

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Has anyone else found that no matter how long the run is, you just don't get winded anymore??  It seems for me that when I'm done running now, I may be out of breath for a couple of minutes at the most, but then all is well.  With the breathing down, the two main obtsacles I face while running are overcoming pain/discomfort and keeping my mind entertained.  Anyone agree??

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How is everyone doing?  I have to admit, the last thing I want to do when I get home from work now is go out and run from 4-8 miles AND then wake up early on the weekend to run 17-20!  But lately it seems that no matter how much I don't want to go out and run, once I do everything seems to be clicking. 

My Garmin batteries died tonight and I had no idea how far I had gone or still needed to go.  I gave the clock the benefit of the doubt and determined I was running no faster than 10:00 minute miles.  When I passed an area I knew was 1.5 miles from home I told myself I'd run 25 more minutes (I still had my cell phone) and then turn around and take the same way home.  When I hit that mark I ran home and beat the first 40 minute run by 4 minutes!  So that was my exciting run of the week!!

What is everyone doing for their diet??  Are you already cutting back and trying to watch what you eat/drink?  Are you going to wait to "clean" your diet up until the last week or so?  Let me know!!

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Saturday was my first "shorts" run of the year.  Here in metro Detroit, the sun was shining brightl without a cloud in a sky.  The air temperature was around 29 and there was only a slight 5-10 mph wind from the west.  I had to break out the shorts and enjoy the sunishine; I also shed my jacket and stuck with the long sleeve tech-shirt.  It was a "recovery" week so my long run was only 9 miles, not too far of a distance to go in the cool air. 

The first mile or so was definitely COLD and of course i was second-guessing my decision of skipping on the gloves and jacket.  Of course by the time i was at mile three and had worked up a little sweat with the sun shining in my face, everything was great.  It felt so good to ge out there with out the longjohns, sweat pants, three shirts, hat, gloves, and jacket.  i felt lighter, faster, and more energetic. When I got home, Garmin told me I was actually 40 seconds/mile faster than my 11-miler last week (which I know isn't the best thing).

But i love that sunshine and cannot wait for Spring to get here, bringing another 30degrees with it.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE TEMP IS ANTICIPATED TO BE ON RACE DAY?  CAN I GET AWAY WITH JUST SHORTS OR WILL I NEED A T-SHIRT??

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After running the Detroit marathon last fall, I picked up a book titled Chi Running that presents methods that lead to "pain-free and effortless running".  While I've never experienced total freedom from pain and effort, I did notice an "ease" that came with running soon after reading the book..  I read that book last November and then sent it on it's way around my circle of friends who were intereted in reading it. 

This past Saturday (yesterday), I was about 1 mile into the scheduled 11 and was discouraged by how I felt and the level of effort it felt like I was giving.  Then it hit me, CHI RUNNIG, and just like I had read the book that morning, the key Chi running techniques came flooding back.  I incorporated the lean, picked up my feet, and took small steps on the inclines.  I ended up running the first 5.5 miles in about 57 minutes.  I ran the second 5.5 miles in about 53!  I actually felt myself getting stronger (and faster) though miles 6,7, and 8. 

Not sure if anyone else has read Chi Running, if not I HIGHLY recommend it.  Skip the first 3 chapters and go straight to chapter 4 (where they begin to teach the techniques and methods).  As I  look back to the changes I made in my form (therfore the changes in effort) yesterday, it "amazes" me that I ever steered away from the Chi running techniques.  My goal is to make a habit of evaluating my form at every mile I run and to adjust my form as needed to take full advantage of the Chi run.

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