Congrats Zelanie!  You are officially a marathoner now!

RR to come later after I've had a chance to collect ideas and info.  For now, here is the quick post-mortem:

1. I think I trained too hard for my current level of fitness.  This mostly showed up as my inability to hit my paces during easy runs, as I stubbornly did all my quality runs at pace.  And, as a newbie, I didn't have the experience to know how the various paces should feel, since I had no point of reference.

2. I went out too fast for my current level of fitness and the conditions.  I only know a couple of other runners who were there, but both of them were also 15+ minutes off their goals.  Also, my Garmin wasn't that accurate with all of the buildings around.  There is one small chunk that the marathon lists me as running essentially HM pace between two mats.  My Garmin showed me on pace or even a tad slow through that same section.  So either the mat wasn't where they said it was, or I ran waaaay too fast through that section.  But I still can't believe I would have been running that fast through there, it doesn't make sense.

3.  (And this is the main one) Things were going well, I was feeling good and comfortable, and then out of nowhere my throat closed off and I couldn't breathe.  And that was like mile 11-12ish, so I had a long hard day of suck where I could not get full breath of air into my lungs.  It kind of felt like you do when you're about to cry, and your throat closes up and you can't breathe in very well.  It sounds a lot like this, and the anxiety thing makes a lot of sense.  I had a moment after the HMers split off where I got super nervous, and I wonder if that was enough to just set the whole thing off.  I've never experiences anything like that before.

Is it normal to be really hoarse after a marathon, or is that part of #3?  I could barely talk at all, my throat was still closed and it was really hard to talk for quite a while afterwards.  Now I am feeling a lot better, but am still hoarse.

Zel, the hoarse throat does not sound normal to me. And the not being able to breathe normally at miles 11-12 either... Damaris knows someone who has that. Her name is Robin, she's on RWOL. Maybe you could contact her. It's interesting what you say about hitting the right paces for speedwork, but not for easy runs. I was always told that there was no such thing as too slow when it came to easy pace. I'm constantly chastised for running too fast on easy days. Maybe it was something else? How did you pick your goal? I agree that you may have gone out a little too fast. For now, rest. You will have the opportunity to sort all this out as you write your RR. 

I get hoarse after runs, sometimes. I think it's from breathing through my mouth when I cannot breathe well, so that could be it.  Also, if the race was windy.  I had no voice after my marathon PR because it was very windy.

First marathons are hard, don't beat yourself up.

+1

Or at least don't beat yourself up too bad.  You ran 26.2 fuckin miles girl, who would have dreamed that a few years ago! 

Zel, you don't think you're coming down with strep or something do you? The flu, or something respiratory? I am hoping and praying that I keep staying healthy.... at least until after my marathon.

104.3 miles for the week, new weekly PR, and all on a treadmill  (can't wait to get back to the real world at the end of the week and be able to run outside again, especially with the cool weather!).

 

 

Zel, hope your throat feels better soon!

You, crazy!  Do you need me to post?  Let me know!