_Standards
PR (3:28:17) December 2010
Apolo Ohno's NYC time (3:25:12) November 2011
Qualify for Boston (3:20:59)
GPS pacer (3:16:30 if GPS agrees with mile markers)
Runner's World Smart Coach plan (3:16:17)
Practiced Yasso 800 (x 10) (3:15:00)
_Script—aka hopeful thinking
Healthy, fresh, nervous, and 138-lb at the start.
7:30 virtual partner (Garmin Forerunner 305)
1 gel every 4 miles for 20 miles.
Bleed 2 min between mile 20 an 22.
Sub 7-min final mile. 3:20 finish.
_Cloth
Tri top
Nike combat shorts
Zoot Compression shorts
Compression calf sleeves
Perl Izumi bike socks
Brooks Green Silence
Disposable:
old jeans
T shirt
cut socks arm warmers
garden gloves with tips removed
fragile no-name sunglasses
_Race report
The perfect weather failed to materialize. I decided to stick with the pace. For weeks I wished I was more aggressive at A2A. I chose not to risk the same regret.
4 am. Wide awake
I took my time tailoring trash bags: 1 outside of T shirt, one outside of sweatshirt. I had no experience running wet in cold air and wasn’t sure how much to put on.
The drizzle wasn’t bad at start. I threw away outer trash bag and sweat shirt.
I gambled at mile 4--threw away inner trash bag and T-shirt that made me sweat.
Rain started a few miles later. Core temperature dropped. Legs felt good and were able to waste energy by jumping over water.
Mile 8
Half and full courses split. I wanted to say thanks to the 1:40 half pacer but didn’t want to waste energy talking. The only words I used that morning were to encourage the 1-leg runner.
I had problem seeing things through sunglasses in the rain. Todd Hunter shouted my name. I tossed him the cheap glasses in hope he’d bring it in to work Monday.
Mile 9: Numb fingers dropped a gel.
Mile 13.1: Just over 99 minutes. Felt happy and wished the teeth chattering would stop.
Mile 17: Legs stiffened. Decided on 8:30 pace 'til mile 22--I could still beat Apolo.
"HTFU!" Biff urged me to keep it together.
Mile 22: had problem with 11:00 pace.
Mile 23
I had problem with 20:00 pace. The deeper I dug, colder I felt. A pre-cut trash bag tossed by another runner helped a great deal.
For the first time I was unable to feed off the crowd’s energy. Some spectators actually avoided eye contact. That was new.
I was passed by 1700 marathoners + countless half marathon walkers.
A medic tried to pull me off the course:
"Are you ok? You don't look so good. Do you want to sit down?"
"I'm cold. Do you have a car?"
"No, but I can call for help?"
"Can you get me to finish faster than walking? I don't want to pay for an ambulance."
He had to think a bit, "no"
Do you have coffee?
No.
Do you have any hot drink?
No.
Do you have a dry T shirt?
No.
OK, thanks.
I kept walking. I probably made him feel a bit useless.
I crossed the line under 4.5 hrs. It felt longer.
_aftermath
The medical tent was filled with shivering runners. The guy next to my bed had thicker under-skin layer than a seal. He whined about upset stomach and didn't even look cold. I wanted to slap him.
I headed home as soon as fingers gained enough dexterity to untie the double knotted laces
Several strangers congratulated me on beating Oprah.
Bodily functions mostly recovered during the 40-minute drive home. I felt well after the hour soak in hot tub.
Days after the race, I didn't conjure up negative feeling. Taking off the trash bag was a calculated risk. Somehow failures are easier to swallow when one errs on the side of aggression.
The hypothermia is an experience I'd cherish. It might come in handy in the mountains one day.
I'm not convinced my fitness was enough for 3:20 finish and am unclear whether I over- or under-trained. Not finding out the answer is probably the most disappointing aspect of this race.
In contrast, the decision of not chasing Bruce Belden at A2A still haunts me. Little surprises life throws at us....
