_Oscillating goals
It’s tempting to think 8:00 pace marathon implies easy 9:00 pace 50k. I decided to give a shot, ignoring that my marathon PR was set under ideal condition on an flatter course. After gaining 1 lb/week for 7 weeks following White Rock, I started training. I was quickly injured.
“Injury is runners’ best friend. It prolongs a runner’s career.”
I felt unready at a humid warm Cowtown 4 lb heavier than 3 months ago. Can’t stay light all the time. I needed to pick a pace between 9:00 and Oprah speed. I entered 9:38 into GPS for a sub-5-hr finish time.
I was under deadline pressure for a Cigna AFP-to-PDF project; work week stretched to 3am Sunday. I didn’t studying the course. This is a “C” race.
Goals:
1. Injury free
2. Even-ish splits
3. Under 5 hrs
_Logistics
VPN got pissed off at 3am on race day and refused to reconnect. This led to my early arrival at the race. I got a great parking spot. It's a super relaxing pre race. I sat in the car replying email on Galaxy Tab 'til 10 minutes before the race time. I remembered to mark the parking spot on GPS.
There was a McDonald on the way to the start. No line at the very clean bathroom.
I decided to be late on purpose. The mass start was a mess last year. I treated this like a "C" race. Not too surprisingly, the start was delayed, and I ended up warming up with the fast guys, most of them didn't appear East African.
I packed 7 gels: 1 every 4 miles. Each of the 2 tri shirt pockets held 4 gels comfortably. No SportLeg this race; I didn't anticipate anaerobic threshold to be a factor.
Getting water at rest stop cost significant time before the half marathon split. I watch my lead on Garmin's virtual partner shrank with every water station.
GPS agreed with mile markers almost exactly at mile 6 and 7. The difference grew by 10~30 feet per mile. Maybe I cut the tangent overly aggressively the first few miles.
_Running form
I started to train with running flats to focus on forefoot landing. This creates more demand on calves. Half way into the race, I sense more use of heel cushions. I had a long way to go before Vibrams and sandals.
My calves were more sore than previous races. Felt good about that.
For this race, I chose Brooks Axiom instead of heavier Asics Nimbus that served me well in last 4 years. It was tempting to use racing flats; fortunately I didn't have enough motivation to risk it.
_Off course
By mile 20, I started to wonder whether I missed the marathon-ultra split. I wished I studied the course. False alarm. The course split was close to the finish.
I was off the course briefly. Other runners quickly corrected me. Strong wind blew down the turn marker.
_Erratic pacing
I always felt slow first 3 miles and overly confident at mile 18. I decided to switch to a more natural speed half way into the race. I averaged 9:11 pace and felt in control. Everything felt apart by mile 27. You can postpone but not ignore the wall.
Trinity River trail was windy. I was unable to hold Oprah speed for a stretch of 800 meters--mental weakness. An ultra-newbie asked me to pace him at this time. I ran much better trying to meet a stranger’s expectation.
There are lots of factors a runner can blame: temperature, humidity, missing course marking, weight, sleep deprivation, injury.... None of the excuses seemed legit at mile 28 of a 31-mile race. I only felt how much I sucked.
It took will power to accelerate to 8:00 pace during the final mile. Last 400 meters were 6:39 pace at 181 bpm HR. I failed to dose my effort. I was such an amateur….
_Post Race
My legs were stiff from the fast finish. I literally got blown around inside the finishing chute. I walked to Kimbell Art Museum to stare at paintings. Females in the paintings--including Venus--didn't look to be in shape to run a marathon.
Legs' functionality mostly returns after 1.5 hours touring Fort Worth art district.
The finisher's shirt grew in size this year much like Nike U. S. sizing. Small is the new medium now.
The drive home was pleasant on the 1-year-old section of 161. TSX did well at 120 mph.
Aunt Sherry cooked me a big dinner.
Life is good.
#’s
Course official: 50k
Course GPS: 31.17 mi
Avg/Max HR: 153/182 bpm
Avg/Fastest pace (quarter mile interval): 9:27/6:39
Potty break: 1
Shoes: Brooks Axioms
Gels: 9
Time: 4:54:15
Pace: 9:29
Splits:
10k: 59:34
half: 2:05:27
30k: 2:57:20
marathon: 4:07:53
Official result says I missed the top 10 finish in age group by less than 1 second. Things you don't expect in life....
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