2006 Freescale Marathon - Technical
My goal for the day was simply to go out with my buds in the 3:45 pace group, with one major proviso. I knew that I wasn’t really ready for a marathon today, my training has been spotty since NYC (at most 25 miles a week, and that’s on a good week) and I’ve been really focusing on letting my tendonitis heal. That being said, I promised myself that I wouldn’t do anything stupid, and that finishing happy and healthy would be my primary responsibility.
As it was I felt really, really great for the first 15 miles or so. I actually forgot to Gu until mile 8 because they just flew by. For a while I truly believed that we were getting 2 waterstops in some miles, because they were coming at me so quickly. We were having a blast, just chatting and enjoying the sub-freezing weather. At around mile 16/17 I’d backed off pace a little to ease up a long hill when I saw an open porta-potty. After I came out, my group was out of sight, and I realized that I could really take it easy and still go sub-four without much difficulty.
From then on I walked the hills - the one just before the Capitol and all of the ones in the last couple of miles. I slowed down and spent even more energy trying to cheer up people who were cratering, and yelling to the crowd. I high fived little kids, and just plain had fun. By mile 23 or so I was feeling pretty tired - not doing any speedwork or hills since October was mostly to blame, as was staying out of the gym - but my spirits remainded high. After the final turn I had plenty of energy left for a nice fast finishing kick (7:14 pace in the quarter, and the kick was only for the last 100M or so).
Even better, I had no issues from my tendonitis either during or after the race. My feet were a little sore, and I’ve had migrating muscle stiffness, but those are pretty much expected. I’m taking the next two weeks off from running, but will try to get some biking in once the weather gets back to normal. Oh - and I’ll do one more race report in a day or two about the personal side of the race, but I wanted to get this one out here at least.
| Mile | Time | HR | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:19 | 164 | 9:19 | (crowds and ice) |
| 2 | 8:40 | 172 | 17:59 | |
| 3 | 8:17 | 178 | 26:17 | |
| 4 | 8:21 | 180 | 34:38 | |
| 5 | 8:24 | 173 | 43:04 | |
| 6 | 8:32 | 171 | 51:36 | |
| 7 | 8:34 | 177 | 1:00:10 | |
| 8 | 8:43 | 175 | 1:08:54 | |
| 9 | 8:24 | 173 | 1:17:20 | |
| 10 | 8:27 | 177 | 1:25:47 | |
| 11 | 8:32 | 177 | 1:34:19 | |
| 12 | 8:35 | 179 | 1:42:56 | |
| 13 | 8:29 | 179 | 1:51:25 | (perfect half at 1:52:30) |
| 14 | 8:40 | 178 | 2:00:06 | |
| 15 | 8:32 | 181 | 2:08:40 | |
| 16 | 8:51 | 181 | 2:17:31 | (hydration adjustment) |
| 17 | 8:45 | 183 | 2:26:17 | |
| 18 | 9:22 | 181 | 2:35:39 | (saw Stephanie, got a kiss and a picture) |
| 19 | 9:00 | 181 | 2:44:40 | |
| 20 | 8:53 | 179 | 2:53:34 | |
| 21 | 9:41 | 179 | 3:03:15 | (walked the hill) |
| 22 | 9:15 | 179 | 3:12:31 | |
| 23 | 9:23 | 179 | 3:21:54 | |
| 24 | 10:33 | 177 | 3:32:28 | (more hill walking) |
| 25 | 10:08 | 174 | 3:42:37 | (ditto) |
| 26 | 9:55 | 181 | 3:52:32 | |
| 26.2 | 1:35 | 189 | 3:54:07 | (7:14 pace) |
All data above from my trusty 301
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Feb 21st 2006
11:24 AM
Congrats. It looks like a pretty good marathon to me.
Feb 21st 2006
1:26 PM
Richard– Great job. Very consistent and professional. Those stats look great!
Feb 21st 2006
1:30 PM
Great marathon, Richard!! Coming in comfortable and happy is the best!
Feb 21st 2006
8:59 PM
Hey Richard-
Great job on your first sub four. You inspired me, and I started a running blog again. I posted a race report for freescale too: here.
Feb 21st 2006
9:01 PM
Oops, I guess the comments don’t take html…my race resport is at http://www.runningblogger.com/jeff
Feb 27th 2006
10:33 AM
Congrats! What an accomplishment!
Feb 27th 2006
10:07 PM
hey! congratulations on a smokin’ time, richard! you can’t beat a race where you get to just enjoy yourself and you feel sweet the whole time. well done! i’ll say it again, well done!