"MadCity Marathon Race Report" or "How not to run at 90 degrees F" (Read 780 times)

I ran the MadCity marathon in Madison Wisconsin on May 28th... and it turned out to be the most difficult race I've ever run. This was my second marathon, my first was Chicago last October where I was very pleased to push out a 3:13 on that flat course in cool weather. Training this spring for Madison, I had set my sights on 3:10 or better. The course has more hills, but I figured I might be able to improve enough to compensate for that. I started the race a little too fast (nerves), but soon brought myself down to a reasonable pace that I thought I could manage for the long haul. Even through the hilly portions in the first half I managed to maintain, although I was really starting to feel the heat. By mile 13, however, I realized that something was wrong... I was overheating, feeling nauseous, and losing energy fast. I decided I had better pull back significantly or I wouldn't make it. I considered dropping out entirely, but convinced myself that it's more about finishing than about any arbitrary time. So I abandoned my 3:10 goal and focused instead on keeping hydrated and keeping running. By the high teens, however, I was having trouble even keeping my legs going. I started to walk/run alternatingly, walking mostly in the shade in order to maximize my time out of the sun (it's amazing how different the sun can feel when its become your worst enemy). This was perhaps the worst part of the race, as the course wound through an arboretum (which is usually quite lovely), where the humidity was particularly intense due to evaporation from recent rainstorms. Also, Madison is a relatively small field of runners so there were very few around for company (or commiseration). At times, I couldn't see another runner in either direction. Finally I came upon another runner (Pete?) and we stayed together, partly to keep an eye on each other, as we soon passed an unfortunate runner who was being loaded into an ambulance (presumably for heat shock). Pete and I stuck together for the next 5 or so miles, walking and running. However, I had to let him go after I started feeling particularly nauseous after each waterstop. It probably should have dawned on me that I was consuming too much fluids but I was exhausted, not thinking clearly, and felt desperately that I needed to avoid dehydration. The last few miles are a blur. I drank often and was particularly careful to watch out for any dizziness or other signs that I might be in bad shape. I ran and walked, passing family and friends who cheered me on. I hit quite a few garden hoses and sprinklers, which probably account for one particularly large blister I discovered later on, but which also were the only things keeping me going. Interestinly, many of the guys I started out with (at a fast pace) were right there among me, struggling to keep it going. At mile 26, I threw up all the liquid which had been filling up in my stomach (I wasn't absorbing it as fast as I consumed it) which was an awful lot! With only that last stretch to go, I managed to run through the final straight and across the finish. My final time was 3:48. I learned later that even the top finishers were 15 minutes behind last years leading times (The top 4 were the only ones who broke 3 hours at all) and the officials eventually closed the course early (at 5:15) because a number of people were needing medical attention. I suspect we were all caught a little off guard as it has been a particularly cool spring in the upper midwest and this was literally the first hot weekend of the year. Amazingly, my recovery has gone rather smoothly. My stomach settled relatively quickly (losing all that volume must have helped) and, though quite sore, I'm not as exausted as I was after my first. This wasn't my fastest marathon, but it might be my most memorable one... and my most educational. I'll certainly never again underestimate the dangers of heat and humidity, and the need to adjust my pace accordingly. I'm also determined to work harder on learning the balance between liquids consumed and liquids absorbed/used up. In any case, I look forward resting for at least a couple weeks and then getting started again on the slow buildup toward Chicago again this fall.

WTG--I know it can get VERY hot in Madison, as there's nothing but cornfields surrounding that awesome little city (Go Badgers!). I am very impressed that anyone can run in that weather...I felt really weak and a bit chilled running this past Sunday--and that was a mere 4 mile jog, not a marathon at race pace. My hat is off to you for finishing! k

vicentefrijole, I can commiserate with you when it comes to running a marathon in high temperatures. The 2004 Boston Marathon was in 87 degree temperature. It was one of the 4 hottest days for the entire year! The spectators opened up their sprinklers and the kids handed out ice cubes all along the way. My legs locked up by mile 17 and I resorted to run/walk the rest of the way in. Congratulations on completing in such tough conditions. On the bright side, it's one of those races that you'll never forget, that you can always brag about. And good luck with your training for Chicago!

I used to take one or two salt tablets during my marathons, and my legs locked up by mile 18. For the last two marathons, I upped the dosage. I would take 1 salt tablet an hour into the marathon, then one every 45 minutes after that. That seemed to have helped a lot. My legs still cramped a little, but never locked up. When compared to the previous marathons where I would stand completely motionless in the middle of the road because every muscle in my leg locked up, I say the salt tablets worked great. The sports drinks do not contain enough electrolytes to replace what you lose in sweat. If you're a heavy sweater, you should weigh yourself before and after a long run on a hot day, and determine how much water you lose. Be sure to factor in how much you took in during the run. I need to dig up the amount of salt you lose per unit of sweat. I have it in my log some place. Once you get that, then you can determine if you need salt tablets.

Oh, that is great information! Now I'm curious as to how it would be to make my own electrolyte drink mix. I would think I could use sugar-free Kool-Aid or even just a really low-sugar version (maybe something like half sugar, half Splenda). Perhaps running potassium tablets and other minerals through the blender or crushing them with a mortar/pestle. That would probably be cheaper than Gatorade, too....

Vincente and Mike, Congratulations on running 26.2 (and 24) under very difficult conditions! You guys have proven you're worth your salt (pun intended - sorry). Good luck as you prepare for Chicago and Grandma's.

I was also at the Mad City Marathon.... Hopefully for Grandma's it'll cool down a little.

WOW! Small world! By time, it looks like we were pretty close together. I wonder if we stumbled past each other at some point. Are you living/running in the Madison area Mike? (Wait, I see that you're from Indiana) I'm down in Chicago but I grew up in Madison and I love to visit/run there. It sure would have been a beautiful course, too, on any other day. Be glad you didn't make it to mile 26 to see the mess I left behind. Best of luck at Grandma's.

Yeah, it is a small world. We probably did cross paths at some point. The later it got in the race, the less anyone would look familiar to me, though. My parents live in Milwaukee, so I thought this would be a good way to break the monotny of the long run. I figured I'd run the first 20 as my training run and finish in whatever time. I really never thought I wouldn't finish. Oh well, it's not the first and I'm sure it won't be the last time I'm humbled running a marathon. They always seem to have a way to bring you back to earth when you start feeling good about your fitness level and running ability. Your post at least let me know I wasn't alone. Good luck in Chicago!