Cleveland '08 Training by Bib808

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!!

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" :-)

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??