I had written a RR for a FB group I'm in and wasn't going to post it here since I don't really come on here super often! But I've had a few people ask so here it is:

Short version:

Finished in: 4:18:48

Overall: 1122/2610

Age group: 86/222

Gender: 374/1194

Background: I started running 13 months ago and in those 13 months I have ran almost 2200 miles, several 5Ks, 2 10ks, a 15K and 2 HMs. I followed Pfitzinger's 12/70 training program and had a rocky start due to illness and calf pain/shin splints. But things got better and I ended up having a pretty good training cycle. I peaked with 2 consecutive 70 mile weeks, ran a couple 17/18 mile LRs and 3 20+ mile LRs. But due to intermittent illness/calf/shin issues I didnt' go into this race with any grand illusions. I'd do the best I could, then plan to do better the next time.

The day of:

We got up at 5am and while I got dressed Michael went down to grab me a bagel from the continental breakfast the hotel offered, but then realized they don't start breakfast until 6:30. I'll be in my corral at 6:30!  Okay. I figure we'll be at the race way early so I'll grab something there; it's RnR, surely they'll have a bagel.

No. No they do not. But they did have bananas so I ate one of those at 5:45 and then we just hung out until I needed to be in my corral.

I used the portalet right before I needed to get in my corral and was relieved that I was able to go; I'd been having GI issues for every run all week and I was so worried about it!

So I get into corral 6 and and the race is due to start in 30 minutes; 10 minutes before the start I realize I need to go to the bathroom again, NOW. I get out and make it to the portalets to find lines at least 10 people deep. Well, better to miss my corral start and start with a slower one than to have to stop during the race.  But the line moved very quickly and I made it back into my corral just as they were finishing the national athem.  Then the first corral left and they started each corral in 1 minute increments.

Race time:

I had decided that I wasn't going to worry about weaving in and out, passing people those first couple of miles; it's just not worth the extra energy. I also knew I wanted to try to see how well I could run the tangents- more to keep my mind occupied than anything. I planned on taking a GU every 5 miles and take water at the next station after a GU.

Miles 1-5: 9:09, 9:21, 9:29, 9:39, 9:29

The first mile felt awesome and our corral was moving well; I had to restrain myself a lot to not go too fast. Then midway through mile 2 my stupid calves started their familiar tightness/burning. I was determined to run through it, even if it meant slowing WAY down. So that's what happened there.

Miles 6-10: 9:29, 9:14, 9:17, 9:19, 9:17

My calves suddenly loosened up in mile 6 and these miles felt fantasic. We had planned for Michael (dh) to be on the route at mile 9, then at the finish so I saw him here and he gave me a high five .

Miles 11-15: 9:19, 9:17, 9:22, 9:33, 9:36

Still feeling good. The HM'ers split off from us mid way through mile 12 and I had a moment of "You could end this now, you know. Just follow the HMs and you'll be done!".

Miles 16-20: 9:45, 10:15, 10:42, 10:28, 10:20

This is where things start going bad. As we know, elevation charts lie. There was no little bump in mile 9 like the elevation chart said, it was flat as a pancake though mile 16. The race description boasts "No hills!" and technically they didn't lie; what they don't tell you is that you go over 4 overpasses from miles 16.5-19. Then you turn around at mile 19 at run back over them again. So from miles 16.5-21.5 you have 8 climbs. At this point I can't even gain time back on the downhills because they hurt worse due to the pounding on my quads.

Miles 21-26: 10:57, 11:15, 10:38, 10:56, 10:30, 10:19

Ugly, ugly, ugly. Part of those first 2 miles were hitting those overpasses again, but in mile 22 I came up on a girl (in her 20's I think) who was walking and crying. I stopped and asked if she was okay and she just broke down. I gave her hug and some encouraging words and asked if she wanted me to stay with her for a while. She said no, that she would be okay, and that I should go on.

I felt bad here. My breathing was absolutely fine, but my legs just wouldn't go. I wanted it to be over but the miles were going by so slowly. In my head I had it broken down into 1/2 miles..."okay, you're at 21, just make it to 21.5. Yay, you did it, now get to 22....etc".  There were people all around me walking, bent over, vomiting. Compared to them I was doing great.

I was tired but not injured, I tried moving faster but just couldn't hold it. I was discouraged, even though I knew that this was going to happen. Suddenly, at mile 24.5 I hear my name. Michael surprised me here! I saw him and burst into tears. He ran with me a little ways and told me he'd see me at the finish.  That little pick me up was just what I needed. I smiled the whole rest of the race.

.24: 8:12 pace.

You enter the chute right at the 26 mile mark so it's a looong chute with people along both sides. I just pushed hard and was smiling and felt like I was flying (although I'm sure it looked more like a gramace and a shuffle :P).

That's my race. It was disheartening seeing my overall pace drop as the race progressed; at one point I felt like I could come in under 4:10; then 4:15. But obviously I couldn't hold it together and managed a 4:18:48.

I'm choosing to be happy with it

Here's a pic a few minutes after I finished:

Thanks T-Rod, SIAR, and Scrape!

I learned a TON this race and will definitely be set to do better next time. I'm just glad it was a positive experience vs a miserable one.

Congrats on your first.  Sounds like you learned a lot with this one (first one I always call it the dress rehearsal).  Good luck on your next.

Thanks for the RR.  As someone who is registered for a November marathon, I'm always interested in reading about someone's first experience with the distance.  I know there are a lot of possible outcomes, and they aren't all that predictable.  I love that you said, "I'm choosing to be happy with it".  So many race reports about first time marathons focus on what went wrong, and they forget, "OH YEAH, I JUST COMPLETED MY FIRST MARATHON".  I don't expect my first to go perfectly.  I'll be elated if it does, but imagine there will be some struggles along the way.  You overcame yours, and have a race under your belt that you can be proud of.  Congratulations!  Awesome job.

Nice race!  I'm VERY impressed that you used Pfitz 18/70 for your debut.  That's a tough training cycle.  Congrat's!

Sorry it didn't go the way you had hoped. You still did very well, but I understand your disappointment. Your photo is great, you look like it is a before picture not an after! congrats on finishing even if it didn't end the way you'd dreamed.

Thanks everyone!!  I hope I didn't come across as overly disappointed- I'm not! I know I didn't finish in the time I "should" have based on other race times but all things considering, I'm thrilled! I learned a lot and I'm so glad to have my first under my belt so I'll know what to expect for the next one

Heidi, you are the best! Seriously! :smooch: