Marathon Trainers

Race Reports (Read 688 times)

    Use this thread for your race reports. This way they wont get lost in the weekly threads.


    Bugs

      Race calendar link can be found on the group's home page.

      Bugs


      Bugs

        Race Report My family makes a weekend get-away-out of this race. We stay at a hotel casino and pig-out at the buffet. Friday night is Italian night, and I think I carb-loaded enough for all the runners. Weather was 15F, 10mph wind, with some light flurries. Real feel of -1F. The course is mostly flat, very slick ice the first two miles, and completely out in the open. It's the longest cold race I will do. I wore a underarmor tights and a new pair of underarmor pants I had never worn before but frankly I look HOT in them, underarmor shirt, and columbia jacket. Last year I really struggled with the cold, this year I felt really good. This is a competive race, the top three winners get cash, people come from miles, etc... Knowing that, my mileage is down, and I have a sinus infection I wasn't even going to try and beat last year's time of 65 minutes. The first two miles felt so easy. Could start feeling tired at mile 3. But I start passing runners. First three splits were 9:10 on the dime. 4th, 9:33, but fighting some wind here. Here I passed the last female runner I would pass. My breathing was VERY comfortable, everyone I was passing sounded like they might do a Shay. When I pass people I always try to act like it's just an easy run. Psychis them out. Smile I am proud to say NO ONE passed me in this race. Most were passed going up a slight hill, think this a good time to get ahead. My legs were tired though, and by mile five I was calculating what my finish time would be if I walked. I thought for sure that last girl would be passing me soon, I could hear her now and then.I stopped for water at about mile 5.5 and thought, "here's your chance to pass me", but I kept her behind me. The race was not without issues. First the front of my ankle hurt, this had started yesterday. Probably too much TM this week. By mile 4 my sinus headache was starting to hurt, but it didn't get worse. (Head sure hurts tonight though.) The race finshes in an indoor track, the track feels so good, and the last .2 miles indoor is a blast. My friends from the 6K are cheering me on. Finish time: 1:08, avg pace 9:08. I was 2nd AG, and 2nd in my weight division. My weight was up just enough this year to get me in the higher weight group. Had I not ate all those chocolate covered peanuts at Christmas I would be wearing my metal so proudly today. Smile BTW, there was not as many people this year, take the metal just the same. The best part of the race was my friend. We were talking before the awards and she said, "I'll never win anything, fifth is the best I ever do." When they announced her name for 1st in her AG, she started walking up, stopped and turn around and say, "I won????" We all screamed "YES!!" and we cheered REALLY REALLY loud. Everybody all around was so happy for her. It was great. My post race thoughts are. Last year I ran much harder, my breathing was much more labored, but you can pull that off if you got good miles in. Considering my training, think I ran it smart. I need to stop with all this biking and swimming and giving running a chance again. I really just want to run, it's so much easier on my family, and I enjoy it more than all the other stuff. And that extra weight, I'll get rid of that starting tomorrow!

        Bugs


        Oh Mighty Wing

          YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Big grin


          Dave

            Here's the link to my half. Great race and a huge PR for me (1:44:36). http://www.runningahead.com/forums/post/8d6b26141cb143ea8e75742008b6d2c4#focus

            I ran a mile and I liked it, liked it, liked it.

            dgb2n@yahoo.com


            Oh Mighty Wing

              That sounds like a great time!!! And you did Awesome!!! And BAH to you and your thoughts of running slow!! To me you are a total speed demon!! Big grin
              Mr Inertia


              Suspect Zero

                Spring Classic HM Race Report This was my second time running this race, both times the drive there was poor visibility (last year snow - this year fog). Weather was decent, mid to upper 30s at start time. I went with shorts, light shirt and a $.50 pair of gloves. It was the perfect choice. Start time was 9:00 and by then the fog had burned off but it was still a bit chilly. And we're off - Mile 1: 9:08, a little faster than I wanted but a decent first mile. Mile 2: 9:01 feeling relaxed (as relaxed as I can be in a race) and trying to hold back. Mile 3: 8:48, faster than I wanted but feeling strong. Decide to reign it in but try to keep it sub 9:00 Mile 4: 8:54, nearly perfect Mile 5: 9:03 perhaps a slight loss of mental focus but not an unsatisfactory mile Mile 6: 8:57, another perfect mile Mile 7: 9:00 starting to have to dig. I've never raced a HM really well. I start to wonder at what point it's supposed to get tough because it's starting to get a little tough right here. Running past the finish line was a double edged sword - people cheering always helps but running past the finish line blows. I toss my gloves as I pass the finishing chute. Mile 8: 8:55, I give myself permission to ease up just a tiny bit (9:00 would be just fine) until mile 10 and then try to pick it up on the last 3. Mile 9: 8:52 and starting to dig. Picking up the pace at mile 10 is highly unlikely at this point. I decide to finish the race with nice even splits. Mile 10: 8:58, trying like the dickens to just hold on and not let my miles bleed out. Mile 11: 9:18 - allowed myself to walk through a water stop and am having doubts about sub 2:00 Mile 12: 10:11 - Things are starting to unravel. I walk for one minute, plus a walk through a water stop. Hurting and frustrated, I feel the race slipping away from me Mile 13+: SCREW THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think of Bugs and how it would be nice if she could run this race. My mom's at the finish line. Her health is poor. She has a hard time walking, let alone running. It's a gorgeous day by now, low 50s and sunny. I have no right to feel bad for myself. I HTHU and run this mile in 9:08. It wasn't until I was about 200 yards from the finish line that I was sure I was going to make it. I still had a half mile to go and the devil on my shoulder said "You know, you're ahead of the game. You could walk for 20-30 seconds and still break 2:00. It hurt pretty bad. I was about 200 yards from the finish line when someone said "2 hours! You're under 2 hours!". It felt great. As a bonus, my training partner got a second and third opinion on her leg and both of them said the first opinion was mach ado about nothing. She finished in 1:50:12. I even got my gloves back.


                Oh Mighty Wing

                  AWESOME JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to HTFU through the end!
                  evanflein


                    Half the race is in your head. You did an awesome job, congratulations! Big grin


                    Dave

                      Really great job and a very nice race report as well. Always sweeter when you push through like that Yes

                      I ran a mile and I liked it, liked it, liked it.

                      dgb2n@yahoo.com


                      Beer Drinker

                        sweet! good job mri!
                        Start off easy, then slow down.


                        Happy Camper

                          St. Louis Marathon: Prologue: Arrived Saturday parked and headed to the expo. Traveled and stayed with DW and friends, one of which was running the 1/2. Spring had arrived with baseball this weekend. First warm and sunny day we've had in forever it seemed. Downtown was teaming as it was a 12:00 game with the Senators that was letting out. The Downtown Hyatt (Old Adams Mark) is popular for Cardinal Fans, many of which decided to view the run & fitness expo as well. (ie. happy for the Cardinal win and celebrated with many $8 beers at the park). Checked into the hotel, made a quick run through Macy's for DW and then had a very nice carb loading session at Charlie Gitto's downtown on 6th street. Neat, narrow Italian resturaunt with a very cool wooden, mirrored bar that AB use to provide in the 30's for establishments serving their beers. My how times have changed. Many runners and baseball fans created a 3 hour dining and drinking experience. The evening was warm and pleasant. Headed back to the room, watched a little basketball and off to bed. Race Day! Morning temps were low 40's and zero rain chance, fast warmup was expected after sunrise. Walked to the start at 13th and Market in anticipation of the 7:00 am start. The crowd filled the street and there was an excited vibe as you could imagine. Runners line up facing east as the sun rises over the Mississippi and shines through the Arch directly ahead. A giant American flag held high by two cranes, fluttered magnificantly in the breeze. I snapped on the trusty garmin as our Governor prepared to speak only to see the low battery alert briefly before it shut off. Refusing to believe anything could go wrong on such a perfect day I turned it on again, only to see it dutifully repeat itself and abandon me. I wondered what the heck I would do as the National Anthem played. Fortunately I had printed off a pace band for the course that was posted on a RW's forum. Another runner told me that there would be clocks at every mile marker. My goal was a sub 4:00 and I now would be running it old school, clock and paceband with a dash of zen thrown in. I lined up at the tail end of the 8:00 mm group. Well behind of the 3:50 pace group and just ahead of the 4:00 pace group. My band was printed with target pace and time for a 3:55 finish and medium fade. (Just can't thank gmaclin from RW enough for the custom spreadsheet.) Gun fires and the throng starts. It takes a shade over 4 minutes to hit the start mat. It was warming nicely as we headed down Market street towards downtown. Early land marks include running by the ballpark and AB Brewery. Mile 6 begins a gradual uphill where 1/2 splits off and returns downtown just past mile 10. At mile 7 a crowd roar starts at the top of the hill that progresses in a wave down the hill. The leader of the 1/2 is approaching mile 11 in the oncoming lanes and is flying. At this point I'm running a little over minute under the pace band targets. I work to hold form to the split off as the 1/2er's pick up their pace with just a shade over 3 miles to go for them. We split off and the field thins out. There are 1,600+ marathoners and it is nice to have a little more room at this point. We run past Washington University and make our way into Forest Park. Open pathways to run. Much more crowd support than I remember 2 years ago. There are cowbells and drums and even a drill team. Just before the 1/2 Mark the leader of the Marathon approaches in the oncoming lane, looking fast and very strong. I hit the mat in 1:57 feeling good. It is warming nicely now and I am working harder, holding pace and keeping about 1:20 in the time bank. At mile 22 I start to make a few withdrawals. Nothing major. Perceived effort goes up. At mile 23 I'm even with the paceband. By mile 24 I'm :20 behind. I don't really feel a flameout coming on, it's just after finishing in 4:02 last September, I'm starting to feel concerned but not panicked. Mile 24 is a good uphill and at mile 25 I arrive at the clock to find I'm now nearly 2 minutes behind the paceband target. Time to cowboy up! My legs are heavy and quads are sore. I'm determined not to live through another miss so I start the final mile speeding up the foot turnover and then increasing the push. Its' a downhill return to 13th and Market with a slight uphill to the the turnoff. The sun is high over head. The flag waves in the wind as I push and pump and churn and strive to the corner near the Soldiers Memorial. I hit the mat with gun time of 4:00:42. Chip time of 3:56:35. PR of over 5 minutes and first sub 4:00 in 8 attempts. Finally a finish time that starts with a 3!

                          Determination: The feeling you get right before you try something incredibly stupid.


                          Dave

                            Marine Corps Inaugural Historic Half Marathon Garmin time: 1:50:48 Chip time: 1:51:59 Garmin measured the course closer to 13.25 miles. Race Report here: http://www.runningahead.com/forums/topic/e83a93641ed84fc296d438975e98693b

                            I ran a mile and I liked it, liked it, liked it.

                            dgb2n@yahoo.com


                            Happy Camper

                              Berryman Trail - 50 miler Berryman Park in the Southeastern Missouri Ozarks was the setting for the St. Louis Ultrarunners’ Group (SLUGS) Berryman Trail Marathon and 50-Mile Race. Part of the Mark Twain National Forest, the trail is single track, open to hiking, horses and mountain bikes. Surface is a combination of mud, large rock, both loose and embedded, roots, and switchback sections with steep uphill climbs and descents. Springs feed into lowland streambeds making for the flat sections. Rain has been heavy this spring so the creek at mile 13 was full and water crossings were plentiful. Mud areas were roughed up in the equestrian way. The race began promptly at 6:30am with a nice 60°F. Temps would rise into the mid 70’s with sun and light winds. Being my first run beyond 50k, I decided to break the two loops down into 5-mile increments. It was the best way I could imagine running the distance since I couldn’t relate to the thought of one 50-mile run. My supplies consisted of a 20-once handheld, two gel flasks, two cliff bars and about 30 Endurolytes. Aid stations were four miles apart, more or less. The SLUGS do a great job of hosting runs. The first two hours were the best of the day. The morning air was fresh and cool. It has been a cold, rainy Spring and it was pleasant to be out in the warmth and sunshine. Since the trail is just short of 25-miles, the run begins with a short out and back on park roads for the 50-milers and a longer out and back for the marathon runners. This helped spread the field a bit during the early portion of the day. I used the HRM to manage effort in the early going. I ran all sections slowing down for the uphill portions and trying to keep the HR from spiking. Two hours in I begin the Endurolytes. With the rising temp I think they were a key factor in keeping the cramps at bay. I had a comfortable loop through the creek crossing past mile 13 and throughout the first 20. Around mile 22, I thought how perfect of a day it would be for a trail marathon and walked my first uphill section, wondering what the second loop would bring. I finished the first loop in just under 5 hours. The finish line support was a real boost as the campground was well attended with enthusiastic supporters. I loaded up at the aid station and headed back to the trail. It was now nearing noon and the dynamics of the run were starting to change. I was drinking more and the handheld was now a managed resource. My mile splits were 15-minutes and rising. Aid stations were taking an hour to reach. Energy wise I was fine. Legs were strong. My feet and toes were another story. I had enjoyed my trail shoes when I got them. They were great on the training runs. The plastic shank support was not enough on the pointed rocks and my feet ached. My toes were taking a beating from the downhill runs and switchback turns. Eventually, I tried leaning back more to spare the toes but the expense to the rest of my feet became to great. As the distance progressed beyond 40-miles it was necessary to slow and walk some of the downhill portions to keep running the flats. Mileage splits increased in time. I now rewarded myself with a “good-split” comment for anything faster than 18 minutes. It was a beautiful afternoon. I love how the sun’s movement in the sky changes the lighting and the appearance of the woods throughout the day. The new growth, dust and dead leaves were choking at times. My allergies flared and I had a few coughing fits, but soon enough I was away from the culprit and kept moving. I managed only two falls throughout the day. Sticks too small for firewood, fetch or walking with caused both. Each time I managed to kick them just right so that they swung into the other foot and tripped me down. My goal now was aid station to aid station. Mile splits were 18 – 20 minutes in length. Mile 44 and change won the “station of the day” award from me. The freezer pops were worth their weight in gold. They were frozen solid even though it was now after 4:00pm. I savored it to the last trickle. I nearly laughed aloud at the irony of a “brain-freeze” while I was encrusted in salt sweat and trail grit. There still remained slightly more than 5-miles and hopefully not much longer than an hour left. I was so ready to complete the day that at the last station I filled my bottle, mumbled thank you and moved on. Toes throbbing, feet aching, I ran what flats I could and pushed up the hills. Ever so faintly, bells rang and cheers could be heard as another runner finished. The last rush of the day came at the clearing when the line came into view. 11:36:20. The last number in a great day.

                              Determination: The feeling you get right before you try something incredibly stupid.


                              Oh Mighty Wing

                                What an awesome RR!! Almost makes me want to run 50 miles...Almost! Truely an accomplishment which you should be proud of!