Boston Qualifier. Certification #: TX13063ETM
I dismissed the event when first learned of it: weather was unlikely to be ideal; things tended to go wrong at inaugural events; I didn't want to give up spring long run and Texas Road Rash.
_Decision
Casey emailed me 2 days after the 100k day, "The Irving Marathon got certified as BC qualifier."
Peaking for a marathon 20 days after 100k was out of question. My 2008 12-hour and 24-hour skates took over a month to recover.
“Can I PR by 8 minutes without marathon specific training?” I thought I had a chance if weather cooperated. According to VO2-based calculator, my theoretical marathon time was 3:14:06. I need 3:19:59. Minimally, I had a chance for another meltdown, which would become fun memory. Scott Jurek won Western State and Badwater 2 weeks apart. Sometimes bodies would rise enough for the occasions.
_2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. 4/15/2013
My brain couldn’t process a friend’s text that Monday; he thought I was in Boston.
For days running 2014 Boston felt like a calling. I wasn’t the only one. The interest to qualify skyrocketed that week.
_Preparation
Recovery from 100k and tapering for marathon coincided.
Things within my control
1. staying skinny
2. minimum training
3. rest
4. carbo load
_Condition
Forecast was on the money: 67F, 84% humidity at 7:30am.
Casey called 11 hours before the gun: south end of the course was on utility road with sharp rocks. WTF.
_Race
Garmin 305 paced me at 7:33 for a 3:17:57 finish. This leaves 1% margin.
4 distances started at the same time: 5k, 10k, half, full. I loved the timer's expression when he saw the 2 barefoot runners without shoe lace for his disposable chips. He seemed to ponder over the no-shoe-no-service policy but finally approached the 2 runners, "come see me when you finish."
The utility road wasn't bad during the first loop. I avoided the bigger rocks by picking landing spots. A barefoot runner ran gingerly on grass; the other disappeared.
The course was 7 miles of trail; 2 loops; 2 U-turns per loop. I didn't anticipate half marathoners’ moral support when I started loop 2. I also didn't anticipate 7:33 pace would put me in 7th place. I overtook 1 guy at 3rd U-turn and started to fantasize 43-minute final 10k to get on men’s podium, "I just need 1 guy to falter."
14 miles flew by. Legs' unhappiness became noticeable. I increased cadence to make up for stiffness. This worked for another 5k. I started to lose time. I burned a match at every hill. I was hopeful of 3:19:59 finish. I prepared myself to go anaerobic. "Last 10k is gonna hurt."
_"20 miles of hope and 6.2 miles of reality"
I expected 2nd wind or the wall; instead, I got cramps. Left calf and hamstrings shrank the moment I grabbed a Chick-fil-A cup. I kept the pace and ended up limping. I walked a bit then started jogging. Boston was out of reach.
2 guys passed me before the levee. I didn't respond. Footing was difficult on the unpaved surface. Hot spots formed inside of shoes. The laces bit. I walked the final U-turn and saw an Indian dude catching up. I resumed running. “I can still finish top-10.”
A smiling Kristen Rains caught me on the pavement. I stayed with her. She smiled, "we're almost done." She high kicked then sped away. I was Wile E Coyote.
Mile 22 was a funny state of mind. With each step, the finish became farther. I resorted to Ironman shuffle. "Just keep moving."
Half marathoners took breaks from their phone conversations to make eye contacts: "You can catch her!" "You're almost there!" "Looking strong!" I appreciated these lies from complete strangers. I was surprised those hairy Indian legs hadn't caught up.
The last 4 miles felt like 4 hours. I crossed the line within a minute of 2 other guys. We placed 9th ~ 11th behind 2 girls.
_#’s
time: 3:35:06
pace: 8:12
place: 10/220
blister: 2
black toe nail: 1
In addition to $450 prize, Joe Beislver’s 6:25 pace won him 366-day supply of Chick-fil-A.
_Pre-race physical activities:
-20 days. 100k run in 24 hours.
-13 days. 28-mile skate at Road Rash. 5-mile cool down run.
-12 days. 6x800. Sluggish during warm up. Smooth sailing after first rep.
-9 days. 5k tempo. Leg sore throughout the run. I skipped the last 1k.
-7 days. Long run at 8:44 pace. Legs didn’t like it. I shorten the run to 10k and questioned my ability to finish marathon at any pace.
-3 days. 1-mile tempo. The weather and my body peaked for this low-humidity 40F day: I woke up 135.8 lb and pain-free. 6:55 pace felt like jogging.
_nutrition
I carbo-loaded for 3 days and gained 2.0 lbs by race morning. I stapled 4 gels to waste band in addition to the 2 gels in the hat pockets. This worked well. I wasn't even hungry after the race. Gel and liquid went well at 7:33 pace heart rate.
2 lb felt like a stiff penalty for a full tank of glycogen.
_things for organizer to improve
1. The course map was based on a visually pleasing rendering of the trail with weird orientation. Outlines of the river were, err, beautified. I visualized a graphic artist who's never good at reading maps.
2. It was unclear whether racers could sign up at packet pick up. Many wasted $7.5 on active.com.
3. It was unclear whether the trail would be closed to non-event traffic.
4. Volunteers received insufficient training. At one point an aid vehicle impeded my progress. Another volunteer expected me to come a complete stop for water.
5. 1 water station ran out of water the first hour.
6. 300:1 racer-to-porta-potty ratio.
7. Parking. The race was delayed half hour.
8. The delay was announced late.
9. The announcer had different instructions for the start than official literature. I was among "fuck it, I'm starting from the front."
10. It’s uncool to advertise “The course is a paved, 12’ wide trail” when sharp stones on unpaved road were involved.
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