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Another peep's first marathon report..... (Read 406 times)
nj joe
posted: 11/24/2008 at 1:49 AM
Philadelphia Marathon- 11/23. Clear , dry , temps 25*- 35*.Wind 6-10mph. 18,000 runners.

Number 1 is now in the bag. Not quite as good as it could have gone but not bad either. Despite having great training leading up to it, it was the toughest thing I have ever done.
Went into this one after graduating the C25K 1 ½ yrs ago. I had been lucky to be averaging 205m per month in the preceeding 5 months. Three training runs past 20m,the last one being a 21.2 at 10:00 per mile, and feeling like I could do more.

The day started well and was really going just the way I had hoped. Despite missing them in the starting coral, after only ¾ of a mile along I spotted my pace group. My goal was to hang with the 4:15 group, and hopefully have something to left in the end to move up a little. That’s just what I did too, for the first 19 miles. Then a wheel fell off. It started with tightness in my left quad. It left there and moved up to be a pretty good strain in my left hip flexor. I tried keeping pace but I knew I had to shorten my stride. The pain was manageable when I slowed down. I never stopped the entire race (no potty stops either) but I walked quite a bit after the pull. I still had energy to walk at a real good clip so that’s what I did. Walking also loosened up the hip by getting the leg way out in front. For the next six miles or so I alternated run/fast walk at about a .2m to .1m ratio. The last mile I think I ran (slowly) the entire way.

Km Splits went really fine then slowed down -

3.1m- 9:57 per mile
6.2m- 9:53
9.3m- 9:46
12.4m- 9:41
15.5m- 9:41
18.6m- 9:43
24.8m-10:06
26.2m-10:42

Finished at 4:25:03 Avr pace 10:06. Overall- 4898. Gender- 3172.

I am glad I was wise enough to be able to pull up when needed and not try to force the issue with my hip. That was,to a large part, attributable to what I learned at this site. All that knowledge (ok what I can remember) went that 26.2m with me. It’s what makes this place so cool. I could have been a knucklehead and kept pounding it, but I thought that might be enough to stop me. About9 hrs laterI’m sore, but I think it was just a strain.

Other than that, I’m feeling quite fine with a cold beer and a warm fire going. Certainly there will be a second and third marathon for me, if I’m fortunate enough. But in the near future , more slow , long runs through the woods with my dog will suit me just fine.
I wish the real world would just stop hassling me
AmoresPerros
"Idiot"
 posted: 11/24/2008 at 2:13 AM
Congratulations on your finish. I say, better to finish with less body damage, and leave more space to PR next time Smile
RA calculator
cewickbe
Happy Howl-idays
 posted: 11/24/2008 at 8:12 AM
Great Job! I can't believe you were able to run a marathon in such a great time after only graduating from C25K not even 2 years ago!

p.s. I'm still waiting to "run into you" out there someday, but at my slow speed, you'll probably zip right past and I won't even have time to ask if that's you! I usually stay around Cattus Island, but I sometimes make it out to Brick Reservoir b/c my parents live right up the road. I'll still keep an eye out!
flajewels
posted: 11/24/2008 at 11:52 AM
Awwwww Joe.......what a great race report. I kept track of your splilts and then at the 30k mark I posted on the 40's + thread saying wooohoo, he's running at my 5k pace and then........nothing, no more splits were shown for about an hour and a half. So I thought, crap, I just jinxed him. He's pulled out, he stopped, what happened. But then a couple of hours later your time was posted, and I was like phewwwww, I didn't jinx him after all.

Way to go! May you have many more long runs thru the woods with Buddy.

Jewels
But in the end, I'm more afraid of not trying, than failing.

JJJessee
evryday
posted: 11/24/2008 at 12:50 PM
modified: 11/24/2008 at 12:51 PM
Quote from nj joe on 11/24/2008 at 1:49 AM:

I am glad I was wise enough to be able to pull up when needed and not try to force the issue with my hip. That was,to a large part, attributable to what I learned at this site. All that knowledge (ok what I can remember) went that 26.2m with me. It’s what makes this place so cool.

Certainly there will be a second and third marathon for me, if I’m fortunate enough.



Congratulations, marathoner! You did awesome. Nice strong even pace up to mile 24.

Joe, I second what you said here. The experience and knowledge on this board is so valuable. And yes, I'm glad you see the point about how this first marathon is just that....the first. And the first one is such a wonderful milestone that it's sometimes difficult to see the rest of the picture. The first marathon can serve as a training race for the next marathon.

But for now, enjoy this one. And enjoy it for the rest of your life. You deserve it!
Quit being so damn serious!

When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.
dgb2n
Dave
 posted: 11/24/2008 at 2:08 PM
Really, really nice race Joe. Sounds like you're hooked Big grin

I agree with the others about how far you've come in such a short time. Great job with your consistent training and translating that into a great race day experience.

From your splits, you didn't have any wheels come off, they just wobbled a little bit. Great job!! Smile
I ran a mile and I liked it, liked it, liked it.

dgb2n@yahoo.com
Quint
posted: 11/24/2008 at 4:28 PM
Great job! Way to persevere when things got difficult. I remember seeing a couple of folks shortly past 20 who were horizontal due to cramping or something. Don't know if they made it or not, but didn't look good. At that time, all I could think was that if something like that happened, don't stop because you might not be able to get back up (I'm sure they had no choice). That had to have been tough gutting out those last couple of miles but you kept it going. Good job overcoming in the end by adjusting your pacing. It's inspirational to see people push through something difficult like that, that most people would never dream of attempting.
Mtnchk1
Denver Marathon '08
 posted: 11/24/2008 at 4:29 PM
Congratulations Marathon Joe! Wink

Sitting here smiling broadly for the first 19....nodding @ the wisdom of the subsequent 7.2....& excited for the reinstatement of the Budster training plan! Cool
Remember that doing anything well is going to take longer than you think!! ~ Masters Group
TinaZ
Run the race God set B4U
 posted: 11/24/2008 at 4:33 PM
Wow Joe, nice job, nice report, Congratulations!!!!!
Toad Suck 5K-1999 Women Run Arkansas 5K-2005 Women Run Arkansas 5K-2006 Women Run Arkansas 5K-2007 Women Run Arkansas 5K-2008 Mt Magazine 15K-June 2008 FCA River Valley Run-September 2008 2009 Goal-500 miles :)
srlopez
Guy running in pink
 posted: 11/24/2008 at 5:48 PM
Quote from AmoresPerros on 11/24/2008 at 2:13 AM:
Congratulations on your finish. I say, better to finish with less body damage, and leave more space to PR next time Smile


I agree with leney.

woohoo for #1!
With realistic Pants-on-Fire action!
fatozzig
Anti-Monkey Butt Powder
 posted: 11/24/2008 at 6:04 PM
Way to go, Marathon Joe!! Was thinking about you a lot yesterday, but never had a chance to get on the 'net. You were very wise in your strategy, especially with the quad/hip issue. I agree with dgb, the wheels just wobbled a bit.

The Budster will be very happy to know your future running goals. Big grin
Leslie
Living and Running Behind the Redwood Curtain
-------------
THE PET PRINCIPLE: No matter which side of the door the cat or dog is on, it's the wrong side.

2009 Goals: 3/21-Pirates Cove 30k; 05/03-Skyline Ridge 37k, 7/11-SOB 50k; 10/24-Whiskeytown 30k; 12/06-Desert High 50; 09/27-Crew for Katemd at 100 in the Hood
John A
posted: 11/24/2008 at 6:11 PM
modified: 11/24/2008 at 6:12 PM
Quote from nj joe on 11/24/2008 at 1:49 AM:
Number 1 is now in the bag. Not quite as good as it could have gone but not bad either. Despite having great training leading up to it, it was the toughest thing I have ever done.

Finished at 4:25:03 Avr pace 10:06. Overall- 4898. Gender- 3172.


You say not quite as good as it could have gone....but the way I see it, you ran a first marathon - finished and are thinking about another.......

So from where I set, it was a great job....
2009 GOALs
-30 MPW (MINIMUM weekly mileage)
-5K time of 23:59 or faster -5 Mile time of 42:59 or faster
-Half Marathon - 1Hr 59mins or faster
-Run Bay State Marathon (completion - no time goal)

Favorite Running Quote: Champions are made when no one is watching.
arlahile
posted: 11/24/2008 at 6:49 PM
Hooray, Joe! I'm really impressed with that time! Hey...where's the fashion report? Clowning around

Wonder if the cold temps was a factor in that muscle strain Confused

Arla
Join fellow "40s on the run" in the Masters Group forum
celiacChris
Village Idiot
 posted: 11/24/2008 at 7:28 PM
Great job, especially in some brutal weather (the cold was tough this weekend). Great job, and amazing time so soon after C25K.
Chris
5K PR: 27:22 (1/1/09)
10k PR: 57:34 (12/7/08)
HM PR: 2:09:24 (9/21/08)

2009 Goals Run 1500 miles
Run a Marathon in May and MCM in October
PR at all distances
joe_h
posted: 11/24/2008 at 8:17 PM
fantastic job! congrats on your first. man I was happy to be in my warm bed yesterday can't imagine doing a marathon on a freezing day like that.
Rule #1 for training and racing - If momma ain't happy nobody is happy http://www.athletefocus.com/athlete/Joeh
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