Notes
Quick trip to Houston to secure a BQ time. I didn't like the feeling of not being qualified. Had some time since Oct Boston to get some higher mileage in and stayed somewhat healthy. Mentally was a bit of a wreck as usual this week - low confidence. Confused why I didn't feel fresher, etc.
Trip was very transactional - went alone - checked in the hotel, walked to the expo (surprised that there even was an expo during the height of Omicron surge), then had some fried rice delivered for dinner.
It was chilly at the start low to mid 30s but a bitter north wind was still hanging around which really lowered the wind chill. Saturday it was crazy windy, glad it calmed down a little Sunday. There were a couple of spots on the course (heading west, Westpark, etc.) where the wind was an issue but they did not last long. I think it was still in the 40s at the finish - just really nice weather.
Houston is so easy logistically, walked over to the start, took a quick pee, then walked over to the corral. Took off my throw-away shirt(s) right before the start. Kept on the hat and gloves and had a short sleeve. Ended up keeping those on for most of the race.
I had decided to focus on the pace - 7:25 - it would get me the 3:15 with a solid BQ (7:25 is my official time). I even had the watch screen set to pace just to be sure.
Started off a little slow (7:50) because of the crowds but then settled in quite nicely. Everything was feeling easy. By mile 4 my pace lowered too much so I had to slow down. For the next 10 miles or so 5-15 it took a lot of focus to slow down - I kept wanting to go more like 7:10. Most of the spits I remember from that time was 7:19.
By the late teens the legs were starting to get tired and I had to focus back the other direction and not let the pace fade.
Once I got into 19/20/21 I felt a couple of muscle twinges but realized a hard crash and burn was not going to happen. I just kept lifting the knees and trying to go as fast as I could for the final stretch.
They had us run through the new Memorial Drive tunnels still under construction. No people out there but they had installed some speakers for a few miles and it was great. I really enjoyed listening to the music and not feeling the fatigue. Then you have the crowds along Allen Pkwy for the last few miles. I was playing a couple of games in my head with runners around me - that also helped the distraction.
Lost a little focus mile 24 and slowed down a few seconds or so but otherwise was able to keep up the speed or even faster. I was working hard and the form was not pretty (hard foot plants) but was able finish pretty strong. Kept focusing on my new found core strength.
I was a little surprised at the finish time - I expected just breaking 3:15 but I depended too much on my watch and not the official time / mile splits. My watch was tracking longer - ended up with 26.75 total.
Next time focus on official time and mile splits (or get a better watch and run the tangents).
So a BQ with a 9 minute bonus. Feels good to be a BQ runner again. It's been strange with the pandemic and no racing and thinking maybe marathons are over but not ready to retire.
Gu in the start line, then Maurten at mile 5,10,15. Caffeinated Maurten at mile 20 and another caffeine "Gu" I picked up on the course about mile 22/23?
Alternated Gu endurance and water most stops - made sure to get water after I popped a Maurten.
Left foot was really not an issue, hips felt okay. I got a blister on the right foot about mile 20 which I'm blaming on some new socks I bought this week (official Houston Marathon 2022 space shuttle). Not really an issue though - gave me something else to think about besides the legs.