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| Race Report - My first marathon (Read 276 times) |
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posted: 7/1/2008 at 8:40 PM
modified: 7/1/2008 at 10:16 PM |
After training through the Seattle winter and spring and running in rain, hail, snow and cold temps race day was a blistering 90F. It usually is cool in the morning and warms up during the day but because the day before was also 90F it was a stinker from the start. The first 4 mile stretch was over a bridge running into the sun so there was no protection and I could feel my mouth/throat drying out already. I was so thankful I was wearing my fuel belt as the advertised aid station at 2.5 miles wasn’t there! (MTA - actually now I pause to think about it it was there afterall!) The first water stop was after the 4m mark and it was chaos.
I was on target at the 6.5m mark and felt OK – the first ¼ was mainly flat with only a few hills. After leaving the bridge the road was mainly shaded which was great as the temp was still rising.
The second ¼ was by far the hilliest – one huge steep hill that just kept on going with no respite following by another 3-4miles of rolling hills. Non-stop up and down but mainly up and by this stage I was using the water stops for water over my head more than to drink! By the half way point I knew I wouldn’t make my pre-race goal time – the heat was so not what I was used too but I was still running strong and hadn’t had to walk.
The third 6.5m section of the course was another set of hills over 2.5m – a set of 4 hills with a ‘flat’ in between them. They were gradual climbs and I thought we were done but we turned a corner and there was a short hill but way steep – I think I even swore at that stage. To make it worse the aid station at the corner had run out of cups and energy drink so could only pour water into bottles – once again I was extremely thankful I had my fuel belt.
After getting up that hill it was mainly flat going for the rest of that 6.5m stage but was in full sun with little respite. I had to dodge in to get a water around the 17m mark and a muscle in the back of my ankle/lower calf cramped up at the unexpected move. Luckily it eased itself out as I kept on running. At around 18.5m mark we had to cross a bridge over the major interstate freeway which was at a hugely steep incline and I had to walk the last 1.5metres of that – the first time I had walked on the course. The last ¼ of the course was mainly flat with a few smaller hills until we reached the 23m mark and hit a long steep incline. Everyone was walking up that hill by the time I reached it so I joined them. I should add that my quads had started to cramp at the 19m mark and didn’t let up for the rest of the way. It was painful but I was still able to run with it (at least on the flat/downhill sections) whereas if it had been a calf cramp it would have been all over. After that long steep incline there were two other shorter but steeper hills then a gradual downward slope to the finish line. Thank god for that.
I was so glad I had my fuel belt as I was able to fill up my bottles at each station and drank so much energy drink/water but never needed to make a toilet stop. My clothes were drenched as I had been pouring water over my head and taking advantage of every kind citizen who was offering a shower from their garden hose but they never felt as though they were weighing me down which was good.
By this stage my very expensive garmin305 had stopped working so I wasn’t sure about time, pace or miles and kept hanging out for the yellow mile markers and was very happy each time I passed one. My hubby was waiting for me (his relay team finished in 3:31) at the last aid station around the 25m mark and ran the last section with me – the temp was 90F at this time. I finally finished in 4:18:38 and swore that I would never do it again.
So all up I was disappointed with my time as I had expected to do much better than that. The heat got to me though and with my legs cramping I couldn’t go any faster than I was. I came in the first half of the marathon field and the first third of the females so that’s OK. It’s just disappointing not knowing if I could have done better in cooler weather or if that is all I could have done. My training runs (20milers) had gone so much better but were both run in about 40-50F. Am debating whether or not to try the Seattle marathon course which is held in November and almost guaranteed to be cool or to stick with a shorter distance. I enjoyed the training and could easily put up with that again but I have no interest in running another marathon in 90F heat.
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Second half 2008 goals:
PB 10km (Aflac Iron Girl Sep 7)
Under 4hr in 2nd Marathon (Seattle Marathon Nov 30) |
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posted: 7/1/2008 at 8:53 PM |
| 90 degrees is brutal. Too bad you had such tough conditions for your first marathon. Nice work pushing through it. |
| "Good-looking people have no spine. Their art never lasts. They get the girls, but we're smarter." - Lester Bangs |
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posted: 7/1/2008 at 9:16 PM
modified: 7/1/2008 at 9:18 PM |
Congrats! Thanks for sharing your report.
Quote from runlouierun on 7/1/2008 at 8:40 PM:...I have no interest in running another marathon in 90F heat.
I can't imagine 90F for any length. Isn't it humid there too?. I think I did 10 miles last summer at that temp and wasn't too enthused.
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09-20 Tour Des Fleurs 10k (20k)
Focus on breaking 1000 miles for the year.
22:00-23:00 for 5K (maybe)
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posted: 7/1/2008 at 9:57 PM |
Great effort on a tough day and a tough course.
Next time set your Garmin to record once every 7 seconds (the battery will last 10 hrs), instead of once a second in which case the battery lasts only about 3hrs. |
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posted: 7/1/2008 at 10:19 PM |
| Quote from backstretch on 7/1/2008 at 9:57 PM: Great effort on a tough day and a tough course.
Next time set your Garmin to record once every 7 seconds (the battery will last 10 hrs), instead of once a second in which case the battery lasts only about 3hrs.
Thanks - I didn't know you could do that! |
Second half 2008 goals:
PB 10km (Aflac Iron Girl Sep 7)
Under 4hr in 2nd Marathon (Seattle Marathon Nov 30) |
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posted: 7/1/2008 at 11:42 PM |
Congrats on your first marathon. 
Where was it at? |
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posted: 7/2/2008 at 6:28 AM |
"So all up I was disappointed with my time as I had expected to do much better than that"
I think thats great you finished. I'm only dreaming of being physcially fit enough to run a marathon. everytime I read a story of success it inspires me to quit complaining about the measley 10-20 mpW that I am just starting to run.
I just finished my first 5K, and i had the "If I only woulda, shoulda" thinking also. I accomplished my goal, as have you and hold your head up high.
I 've learned more here at RA from real life experience reports than just about anywhere else.
Thanks for your enjoyable report. |
Goal:weight to healthy range to 155-160# (work in progress)
5K 27:14 June 28,2008- first race (3rd in age group)
5K NEW PR:25:30 - Aug 16, 2008
10K PR:56:53 Labor Day 2008 (First 10K race)
HM PR: just a fleeting thought right now
26.2 PR: maybe in 2 years? |
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posted: 7/2/2008 at 7:12 AM
modified: 7/2/2008 at 7:20 AM |
Great job Lou... I admire your tenacity to tough it out in those conditions.
Given the weather had been cooler what time were you hoping for? |
A challenge in which a successful outcome is assured is not a challenge.
-Christopher McCandless-
Email
Chat with John |
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posted: 7/2/2008 at 1:22 PM |
To respond to two questions...
It was the Seafair Marathon in Seattle and I was hoping for sub 4hrs. |
Second half 2008 goals:
PB 10km (Aflac Iron Girl Sep 7)
Under 4hr in 2nd Marathon (Seattle Marathon Nov 30) |
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posted: 7/2/2008 at 2:57 PM |
Good report and good result despite your disappointments. Way to go.
D |
~ Dave ~
clubhouseleader 'at' gmail 'dot' com / www.daddyo.ca
Success is sweet and sweeter if long delayed and gotten through many struggles and defeats.
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posted: 7/2/2008 at 3:24 PM |
WOW! With 90 degree heat?! You did great! What happened to your garmin? Not enough battery?
I couldn't even muster up a 3m run yesterday, it was almost 90 and the humidity was disgusting. Great job on finishing a full in that weather.  |
~Liz, single mama to K, L & C
Pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit. |
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posted: 7/2/2008 at 3:33 PM |
Quote from SeeLizRun on 7/2/2008 at 3:24 PM: What happened to your garmin? Not enough battery?
I don't know. I noticed about the 14m mark that it wasn't keeping correct track of the miles then it just stopped working - not sure exactly when as i stopped looking it at but it was dead by the 24m mark. There is no record of the run on it all when I tried to download it post race. It is also no longer syncing with my computer or recharging. Some sort of major failure I guess - I'll have to see if I can return it!
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Second half 2008 goals:
PB 10km (Aflac Iron Girl Sep 7)
Under 4hr in 2nd Marathon (Seattle Marathon Nov 30) |
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posted: 7/2/2008 at 3:42 PM |
| Quote from runlouierun on 7/2/2008 at 3:33 PM: I don't know. I noticed about the 14m mark that it wasn't keeping correct track of the miles then it just stopped working - not sure exactly when as i stopped looking it at but it was dead by the 24m mark. There is no record of the run on it all when I tried to download it post race. It is also no longer syncing with my computer or recharging. Some sort of major failure I guess - I'll have to see if I can return it!
ack! that stinks outloud! I hope you are able to get it fixed. |
~Liz, single mama to K, L & C
Pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit. |
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posted: 7/2/2008 at 4:24 PM |
| Great race!! Considering the heat you were so close to your goal. I have run 2 marathons in 90+ heat and it is never fun. Hope your next one is cooler for you!! |
Genipher
CW-220.0
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posted: 7/2/2008 at 5:03 PM |
I've had the miserable pleasure of running a marathon in those temps (Chicago 2007) and I can tell you with no hesitation that finishing within 19 minutes of your original goal is a fantastic accomplishment. In those conditions, even an experienced marathoner can easily lose 30, 40 or more minutes off the time that they could achieve without the crushing effects of the heat.
Your disappointment is natural, but as you note, your impressive field placements prove that you had a strong race despite Mother Nature's obstacles. |
| How To Run a Marathon: Step 1 - start running. There is no Step 2. |
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