After missing bike goal this year, I made White Rock the "A" event. I wanted to focus on long runs for next 4 years; this could be my last shot at PRing marathon. I arbitrarily set the goal at 3.5 hrs. Round numbers are easy to remember.
_Training
I've had good luck with Runner’s World Smart Coach. I followed the 16-week program. I was unable to finish 3 long runs at 8:40+ pace. Confidence wavered. “What are the chances of finishing the entire race at sub 8:00?”
For the first time I stopped biking for the December foot race. I practiced downhill. I acquired cadence sensor. I prayed for a cold and dry race.
_Expo
Luke's and Run-on had their usually pre-race deals; I stocked up on equipment and nutrition. I bought an overpriced fenny bag alleged to hold any cell phone produced after World War II.
The most important thing I got out of the Friday trip was how bad the traffic could be for the new race location Fair Park.
_A good start
I got the correct weather and a good parking spot.
The layering went as planned. I took off the long pants during national anthem. The sweatshirt came off 5 seconds before triggering the timer. T-shirt was tossed 2 miles in the race. Arm warmers made of old socks went into mile 18 trash bin.
I vowed not to repeat the 2009 mistake when I followed the official pace balloon:
Super slow first mile;
Running around people first 3 miles;
Surging up climbs;
Massive slow down toward the end;
GPS distance ended up 2% longer than certified distance.
I lined up between 3:20 and 3:30 balloons. I made a point of taking every tangent even at the cost of speed. I kept my HR up going downhill.
_13
I enviously thought of Shelley and Doug’s water break.
Everything operated within reasonable range when I reached half marathon. I moved 2 blister-free feet in 3-year-old neural Asics marketed toward fat men. Weak left ankle and pronated right ankle induced no pain this morning. I fantasized running barefoot. GPS and mile markers almost synced.
_Overly optimistic
Mile 18: felt good. I was on pace for 3:25 finish. I wanted to attack the hills. I wanted to fly by people going up hills. Vainty.
Boston qualifying time was 3:21. Cutting 4 min in 8 miles seemed unrealistic. I decided to hammer if I felt strong on first nipple. Theoretically I could finish last 5k in 21 min.
I wondered if they'd rename the hill "Kim Kardashian" after Dolly passes away.
_20 miles of hope + 6.2 miles of reality
Biff showed up to pace at the proverbial wall. I lost enough steam I barely kept up with the electronic pacer. Biff reminded me next 3 miles were hills. Avoiding bonk was the primary task.
I ignored heart rate. Legs were the weak link. Speed bled as we climbed out of the lake. I increased the cadence and shortened the strides--I ran like a skater at A2A hills.
I heard jingle bells. I wanted Lance’s acquittal for Xmas.
_Super power
A petit girl in front started to limp. I watched her form deteriorated prior to turning 180 degrees and ran backward.
I caught up with a barefoot marathoner. Runners around me informed he's the famed Barefoot Mark. "Hey, that guy has no shoes!" I wondered whether spectators would be more surprised if Mark were naked. I talked to him after race. His name was Eric and had no idea who Barefoot Mark was.
I had run with familiar faces for 3 hours by now. We kept passing each other; speed was a function of grade and body mass.
_Weight control 2010
I overshot the 139-lb goal this year and had to get new pants. The body handled the new weight without significant issue. Perhaps I lost muscle mass by not swimming. I was 3 lb overweight based on Alberto Contador’s BMI but was obese compared to Rasmussen.
_Dolly Parton Hills
Like Heart Break, strategically placed Dolly wasn't steep. I was 200 meters behind pace at first peak. Meltdown felt impending. I slowed further to reach the 2nd peak. Biff was supportive of the unmanly decision; he's bonked here before.
"Don't challenge the hills;"
"Trust your training."
Keeping up with the virtual partner felt like racing against Herb Gail. I changed the Garmin display to non-pacer mode. I pondered the risk of lose 2 kg.
_ McMillan got the last laugh
Plan A:
First 3 miles: Conserve energy and be willing to sacrifice 30 seconds per mile for better paths.
Average 7:51 GPS pace at mile 20.
8:00 pace climbing.
Fly down hills.
90% max HR after 2nd nipple.
Sub 7:00 final mile.
Plan B:
Stay with GPS' even pace for a 3:30 finish.
Biff's email that I tried not to follow:
"McMillan running recommends SLOWER pace 1st 5 miles; FASTER next 16; and SLOWER (fade) last 5 miles."
There was no hammering after Dolly. The final miles were surreal: my life had 1 clear objective. I kept losing the runners I tried to follow; I accepted reality. There was no bitterness, no regret, no pain, no what-if's. My body was pounded by the pavement 96 times a minutes; I had little control over my limbs. The feet moved toward the finish; I let them carry me. Time slowed down; each mile became more vivid.
_Friends
Casey finished so strong, he wondered if different pace could've got him a 100-minute finish for half.
Terence's knee didn't hurt enough to stop him. His first long race made him want to race Cow Town in 3 months.
Stephen had a smooth race 'til final mile. He finished a few minutes before his brother.
I was looking forward to break 3.5-hr at the same race with Andy this year. His Achilles’ tendon led him to skip 2010 marathons.
Mark decided 2011 would be his out-of-retirement race. Maybe.
_Post season
I parked at different lot than I thought. The hour walk looking for TSX was nice active recovery.
No training was scheduled 'til 2011. The most important remaining sports activity in 2010 was enjoying the post-marathon sushi buffet. I also saved a Dunkin Donut coupon for Tour de Donut training run.
#'s
Chip Time 3:28:17
10K Time 48:20
Half Time 1:41:47
20 Mile Time 2:37:04
Total Pace 7:57/M
breakfast starting 2.5 hrs before the gun:
1 banana
1 trail mix bar
1 energy bar
1 Gu Chomps
2 coffees
on course nutrition:
Gel every 4 miles.
sip of water at every station that wouldn’t slow me down too much
SportLeg 2.5 hours into race
