Colorado Marathon Report

I think all of the people that know me are aware, but I did the marathon in 4 hours, 25 minutes, and 21 seconds. I am quite happy with my time. From last year, I was faster by 1 hour 24 minutes and 38 seconds. I had aspirations of going a bit lower, but I wanted under 4:30 and I got it. So here is my report....


I ate at Carrabbas for my pre-race meal. I had a fantastic meal of Chicken Marasala, spaghetti and a dinner salad. It was absolute perfection. I had the pleasure of eating with my sister, just the two of us, which is nice. We rarely just get to hang out.


After dinner we went back to her home in Windsor and basically hung out. I got all my clothes together and went to bed around 11:00. I knew I was not going to be able to sleep, so I decided not to fight it. I think I fell asleep a little after midnight.


When my alarm went off at 3:00, it was very difficult to get up...but the energy of the day soon got me up and moving. I took a shower and went downstairs and grabbed all my things and left for the bus pick-up. After getting all parked and to the buses, I walked on the first bus that had an opening, and heard a voice and saw it was David from the dailymile.com. We had met the day before and it was cool to have a whole bus ride to talk about all things running. It really channeled my energy....


Once the buses made it to the start, we debarked and kind of went out separate ways for a little bit. Like last year, I was underdressed for the wait, but it is better to be cold than warm I always say. You could feel the buzz in the air and people looking both excited and a little anxious. Race days have a tremendous aura and I always love feeling it.


I decided wisely to line up at the almost end of the line. I figured many people would go out too fast and if I stayed in the back I would have a better chance of not getting pushed by the throngs. I ran into an old student and we chatted for a bit. I knew he was going to be there and it was good to see him. He looked like he was in amazing shape and when the gun went off he quickly took off down the mountain.


I felt myself going a hair faster than I had wanted, it took my a few minutes to get the downhill and my desired pace to line up.I ended up a few seconds behind my pace band after the first mile, and I think that was a good thing.


Second mile in I pushed a bit more, but could not quite get to 6.3 mph, it didn't feel right quite yet, so I went with it. By the end of the 4th mile I finally felt like I was in a groove. The weather was perfect, the scenery was amazing, and I wasn't feeling great, but things were going well so I just enjoyed the run. I tried to pick up a little lost time when the mountain felt like it was shuffling me along.


I was using a strategy to not stop at water stations, it is always tough for me to get my rhythm back and since I was carrying water it seemed redundant. This enabled me to just keep doing what I was doing. The miles were starting to lock in:


Mile 1 - 11:05
Mile 2 - 9:51
Mile 3 - 9:47
Mile 4 - 9:13
Mile 5 - 9:15
Mile 6 - 9:35


I was really starting to feel good around mile 6. I had entered some fun music on the play list and was just really digging the run. "I'm on a boat" by Andy Samburg and his group is a hip-hop song that cracks me up. You should check out the youtube video....but I digress...think I listened to it 6 times in a row....


My only real complain about the marathon was around mile 6-7. There were a group of women...probably early twenties that were all running together. 6 people....in a row....foot and a half apart. The one on the far left was running on the gravel and they stretched all the way the the graded middle. I am all for working together....but damn....not cool. It took so much energy to get all the way around them and then back to where I was trying to run (the most level ground either on the road or the side) that it gassed me a little. After a couple of miles I slowed my pace down to take a gel and they passed me again and then I just stayed behind them until the got off to use the port-o-potties at mile 10. It was very frustrating....


On a side note...I think I may finally have the gels figured out. I swish it in my mouth with the water, until the consistency is very water-like. This helps them go down. It is not an easy trick to master while moving, but totally worth it.


Things stayed pretty good for the most part the rest of the way down the mountain to the half-way point. I was feeling very strong and pleased with my times:


Mile 7 - 9:17
Mile 8 - 9:25
Mile 9 - 9:46
Mile 10 - 9:47
Mile 11 - 9:33


Around mile 12 there is a decent sized hill that is the first kind of test to how the legs are feeling. It felt very smooth and I was really thinking I was going to be in for a solid day. I decided to take a chance and not use the toilets at the start of the half- marathon. I had a little bit of an urge in my stomach, but thought I would just try my luck. For future reference, if any of you are thinking about Colorado, this is the place to stop. There are a lot of them, so the wait would be limited, if there was one at all.


When I finally hit the half-way point I was a little annoyed that my watch said I had gone over a tenth of a mile farther than the 13.1, but that is the way it goes. I was still incredibly pleased with my times....


Mile 12 - 9:24
Mile 13 - 9:40
HALF - :59


At that point I was a little over 25 seconds off based on the pace band time of 2:06:16. I was still feeling very strong though and was not panicking at all...just taking what the course gave me.


I felt like things were going well the next few miles. I was anxious to see my parents and Beth at Ted's Place which I think was near mile 17. As I was approaching 16.5, I hear someone talking to me over my Ipod, and I turn to see who it is and I just see a really tall guy. He was asking about my hydration pac k. I have never had a conversation while running, and to have it happen in a marathon was a little odd. He was nice, but kind of got me out of my rhythm. I didn't really get to talk to my cheering section as I passed and I felt bad. I did hand off my arm warmers and gloves so it was good to get that out.


My plan had always been to get rid of the hydration pack after the hill on that goes to mile 19. This would become important...because after I turned the corner onto 287 to head towards Ft. Collins, I could tell the pace this guy was going was going to run me into the ground...I apologized and told him I had to slow back down and wished him luck. Maybe a minute or two after that, I hit the wall....HARD.


The last two marathons I could slowly feel my body going. I just started going a little slower and a little slower and then I just was at a zombie-like pace. This was very different....the legs started to ache and I was getting some serious stomach cramps. It was just a sudden and instant wham. I was not ready for it.... I just kept trying to tell myself to push on. Once I got to the top of the hill....it was downhill to the end. The legs were still working and that was all I could ask....


Getting up the hill was hard....I was really hoping to hit that 5.5 mph pace...but was ready when I was coming in at 5.3....I started passing a couple of people and was getting my wits back about me. About part way down the hill I met up with TEAM Sean and handed off my hydration....within a couple of minutes the cramps went away (I have to keep that thing pretty tight or it bounces. I will be so happy to not use it at all in New York City). In my haste to get rid of the pack...I must have done something to the Garmin...I looked down and it was completely off....BUMMER! As predicted by my wiser running friends...it was hard to get the speed back up....BUT....by the bottom of the hill I was at 6.1 and feeling alright again.....


Mile 14 - 8:34 (short mile because of halfway mark)
Mile 15 - 9:40
Mile 16 - 9:27
Mile 17 - 18:47 (miles got messed up) and after this the Garmin was not of much help accept to help me not lose my mind not knowing where I ended up distance-wise....


Once I got to mile 20 and on the bike path, I could really start to feel the downhill and uphill taking its toll. I finally stopped at mile 21 and walked for a second to try to shake them out....it didn't really help. I met a fellow Laramie runner that was having some bad quad issues and walked with her for a minute or two and then dropped off to try and stretch my legs....surprisingly it didn't help at all. I kept trying to trudge on...


After I caught up with Tina again, I wanted to try and help her get through...I don't really know runner etiquette, it just seemed like the right thing to do. I like the two running couples I have met in Laramie and want everyone to finish. I am not sure if it is bad or annoyed her....I think she understood. Unfortunately I could only stay with her about 6 or 7 minutes....I knew if I didn't try to make some hay that I was done....so I told her and she told me to go ahead and do what I needed to do....so I went on....


About 5 minutes after I went on my left calf felt like it exploded on me....it was the same one that seized up last weekend and I had a feeling it would come at some point....I made peace with the pain and pushed forward...the next time it shocked me there was also a lovely sensation in my inner thigh that I learned is the vastus medialis oblique as explained by my therapist. I had never EVER felt pain there before. It freaked me out to be honest. Every step I took felt like I was going to fall to my left...I knew at that point any chance I had to make up time was done...I could barely more forward....


So at the remaining aid stations I told myself I would walk as I got water....then for a few tenths of a mile afterward then try to jog to light run as much as possible....the biggest bummer for me....was that I still had quite a bit left in my tank...and that makes it hard to accept. 


With the Garmin not on track I estimated that between my start at the beginning and the Garmin stopping I was probably off by 10 minutes...so I kept just pushing when I could....


By the time I was on the final stretch there was no more running, at all. It felt like I was moving in slow motion, which sucks when you see all the people around the finish line...I always get a rush....that left leg just wouldn't work....I had to focus just on not falling down...


When I saw the clock, I saw that I was around 4:27 in change...I knew I was ahead of 4:30...but also knew I could not have bit 10 minute miles...I really wasn't upset about it...only the fact that I had energy left...I am not sure I could have done more....honestly....I almost tipped over three times in the finishing corral with every left step I took...I think I did the best I could....


I still have that after marathon glow today. I am in a lot of pain and the massage was brutal...but I am just so amped it is hard to describe. I wish everyone could experience this in some form...the sensation...the feeling of self-actualization....of just knowing you achieved something physical that you thought you couldn't....


I have been toying with the idea of doing another marathon in the beginning of June....still not sure....Casper Marathon asks for no Ipod and Casper isn't attractive enough to run that long without one. I might -mail the race director...but I am not sure I don't just want to heal and start slowly adding some speed work to a solid base...we will see. I feel like I could get my 5K time under 24 minutes if I worked at it so I don't know...we will just see....


As far as New York City is concerned...I don't think I have sub 4 hour marathon in me for that one. It is a substantially more difficult course. I have read that many people think you should add 10 minutes to your regular marathon time for NYC...and to be honest...I would have to agree....that being said...I am thinking 4:10 would be a good next step for me. I want to get better and doing my runs for their intended purpose....Hills, Tempos, Intervals, and slower on the long runs....these things will help me improve...I am still not sure I feel like a real runner...but I also don't feel like someone pretending anymore and that feels wonderful....


Thank you once again to all the people that helped me get here....


Jon - Sage advice keeps me in the game mentally and always looking to improve. You truly inspire
        me.


Ria - I have really enjoyed this new friendship, and thank you so much for the massage gift, it              
       made a HUGE difference.


David - Thanks for reaching out on dailymile....I look forward to learning from you and sharing the  
           runner "experience".


DMrs - It helps so much to have the support and to see the efforts you churn out...


Jenny PC - For keeping me honest with doing the blog and making sure I share what is going on. It 
 is also very inspiring to see someone so busy put in the time....


Diane - The massages help soooo much. Thank you!


Beth - Thanks you for coming out and helping my folks yesterday...but more importantly for all the 
support you give me. You have no idea how much it helps...


All Friends and Family - Whenever you ask me how it is going it means a lot to me and helps push
me out the door or out of the bed on days that I might not want to get out there...


Everyone else - Not sure if there are others that read, but thank you whoever you are!