(copied and pasted by Holly because if Timbo's webtv editing difficulties)

 

Thank you everyone for sharing my journey over the past couple of
years.....a journey that was trying to accomplish a good Marathon for
me. I had the injuries last Fall - the heart related stuff this Spring -
then a calf injury trying to push a stranded Gal and her car......ok,
Women seem to get me in trouble I know (smiles)

You all are a true inspiration to not only me, but everyone here at RA.
It is soooo neat that we don't really care about pace, and how fast we
run. But we all care because we are runners......people the love to run.
What's the hurry.....just run!

I know this person does not want me to say this, but I really have
to.....I really do or I would feel bad. I have had some really good
coaches in my life......my High School Football Coach, and my High
School Track Coach made a HUGE difference in my life. I got really bad
grades till my Coaches saw potential in me, and told me I would do great
if I got my grades better. I went from a D student to a B to A student
because my Coaches believed in me......I will never ever forget that. My
own parents could care less, and they never helped or supported me one
time.....not one time to be honest. But my High School Coaches were like
the Father I never had.....I am still in contact with them still (what
wonderful role models they are)

Given that, I would like to say a big thank you to Coach Ribs! Last
Spring he saw a person with some speed and talent, but who's training
was kinda stoopid.....or at least not being smart about the way I tried
to approach running a Marathon. Sure, I pissed him off to know end
sometimes, but I always thought I was doing the right thing....I really
did. But to be honest, the only thing I did wrong was my track workouts,
because I always thought they were too easy. He kept trying to tell me
that they weren't meant to be all out, but with controlled speed and
good from. I really did gradually except this and do better, and I came
a better runner because of that.

I will have to say, that I would have never never ran this Marathon I
did without his guidance and help.....no way. Modestly he told me later,
that it was ME that had to do the work, and really didn't try and say
that he is taking credit for anything......that really touched me.

Ok to the race....

My goals were 3 things - 3:20 would be my biggest goal (was not thinking
that would happen) - 2nd, 3:30 which I thought was somewhat doable - 3rd
- 3:45 which I "think" is still a BQ for me at my age.

During the past few months I kinda settled into a perfect MP, and it
seemed like 7:45 pace felt about right. Ribs had me at 7:55 pace last
year for my Indy race, and for 16 miles that was good. But he later told
me my MP was faster than that, but was trying to keep me from being
injured.

But as time went on, my runs became quicker, and my wave runs were more
like 7:45 for my MP and 7:25 or so for my 1/2 MP miles......wave runs
rock BTW.

So, going into this race, I determined that 7:45 was a good pace for me
to strive for and feel comfortable with.

The Indy race was 2 weeks ago, but felt like I needed the extra time to
prepare to race the best I could. Boy....am I glad I waited, because 2
weeks ago it was to warm out and it was very very windy.

Race day was a perfect day.......partly sunny - start at race at 40
degrees - and really no wind to speak about....swwaaeeet. I was up early
and had  good breakfast of whole wheat waffles - honey - and 2 eggs. I
am not a great morning runner what so ever.......I don't know how some
of you guys jump right out of bed and run, I really don't. I am a early
bird, but I really enjoy night time running a lot more.......but to each
there own I know.

Steve (perch), this was a very small race that was limited to 400
runners. Lets just say, it was like a Sat morning Club Run......really.
I will have to say that this was not a BQ race - not sanctioned by
anyone - and the results were very simple with a time clock and someone
writing your time down your race bib and a big board so you could see
your AG placement.......I was very very happy with that!

I was not that intersted with qualiflying for Boston, but rather run a
BQ time given I was behind in my training. BQ on a certified course or
not, I really didn't care. I am still looking for work, so the money I
would spend going to Boston seems sooo mute to even think about to be
honest. I ran a BQ time that I am darn proud of.....very much so.

At the start of the race I finally settled down  as I had not slept very
well the night before......very much like Indy last year. At Seattle I
slept great because I was up talking to Erika's Hubby Peter till like
2:00 or 3:00 am, and was drinking a lot of Wine that night (grins)

Fast foward.....

The horn sounded and we were off, and I knew I had to run the first
couple of miles easy. After a few minutes I looked at my Garmin and it
was on SPEED, not pace.....how did that happen I wondered? I then tried
to figure out in my mind what speed translated into pace.......was not
very good at that at the time. I kept asking others  - as I was going
through my menu on my Garmin - how do I get it back to pace. No one
really knew, so I started doing math in my head......lol, that didn't
work out so will. I finally caught up with my running partner Auggie,
and he said to press and hold the mode button, then it will display
pace.......it worked (thank you dude......but still beat cha)

My first mile ended up at 8:58 pace, and mile 2 was at 8:05 pace which I
was happy with (ok Ribs, my $10.00 Buddie) Then it was time to settle
into my MP. Mile 3 didn't feel so great as I am slow at warming up
running in the morning, but I brought it down to 7:45 pace. At mile 5 I
had a plan if my Garmin acted up, to be at around 40 minutes which I
was.

Ok, I have to say this.........Karin and others, I really don't know how
you race by feel, as I really can't do that yet. I could have been at
6:30 pace, or 8:00 pace and I wouldn't know the difference. I really
don't like that, but I am still learing I guess.

I was feeling super good.....and mentally I was feeling better about Mr
Garmin......my best Friend.

I plodded along and since this was a small race, I was running alone a
lot of the time. But I run by myself all the time, which I guess I
prefer to some degree. I almost brought my I Pod with me, but I have
never raced with one before, and really didn't want to start that now. I
had some good conversation along the way, but it was sparce and not much
activity going on. This race was ran mostly on rural roads, and not much
in the City. But I thought it was the mort beautiful sceanery I could
imagine. The smell of harvested corn and soy bean fields - running by
Country homes with little one's out playing - how great is running by
Omish Famlies and how they live.........they seem soo happy actually.

Ok, now I am writing a book....

Mile 13 through mile 20 went through like  a breeze.......what happens
during those miles, and why do they seem to fly by? I mean really, it's
like a zone I get into that feels really greta.....do you all go through
that too?

At mile 16 there was cold Coke and warm chicken broth to drink.....and
every mile after that. I knew Coke tasted good running so far, but the
chicken broth tasted soooooo good, after all the nasty tasting and too
sweet gels and Power Aid.... all the stops were great, and the fine
people who voluntered were the greatest.

Heck, after mile 20 this Gal was so nice.....she asked if I wanted to
have sex in the woods.......how is nice is that

Ok, made that one up (grins)

At mile 20 I still felt really  really great. I peeked at my Garmin and
it had me at 2:35 which I was happy with......I had 3:40 or so planned
before hand.

Now, I really didn't know what to do......speed up - maintain - what? I
had a average pace of 7:46 at that time......then I was doing silly math
in my mind.....don't ask about that, LOL

I then remebered Karin last year telling me to run the first 20 miles
with my head, then the last 6 with my heart.......thank you Dear.

I was ok till mile 24 when my nose got all runny, and was going into my
throat and it was very VERY hard to breath. I had to stop for a few and
blow my nose out real good, and I drank some of that chcicken broth and
Coke and chucked down 2 gels......yuck. But that did give me life back
in my legs as my quads were killing me....big time. At mile 25 my mind
was talking very stronly to me.....WALK, just walk awhile and you will
feel better. Again, I listened to what Karin and others have said about
walking, and once Ya do that it is very hard to continue on at what pace
you were on.

Very happy to say my last 10K was 47 minutes and some change, and it by
far the hardest 6.2 miles of my life.

I may have had this sound some what easy, but this BY FAR was the
hardest race of my life.......but the most fullfilling though.


3:22:36 - 7:44 ave pace - 1st in my AG - and a very happy camper.

I will say at mile 25 I was hurting really bad, and my trick was to say
eveyone's name here at RA over and over and over.....it really worked. I
also know at mile 25 that is was really only like 8 times around the
track doing speed work. When running at Seattle, I told Larua...Tammy's
Friend the same thing......it really does make the end seem a little
easier (ok, not really......but playing with our mind is cool sometimes)

I beat my running bud Auggie, and he gave me my $25.00 we bet. But now I
wonder if Ribs will pay up (smiles)

Thanks to everyone......really, I mean all of you.

Was this too long.......well, it took me over 2 hours to write.

Your best Fren TimBo

PS: Ribs, 3:15......I'm game if you are!

Wow, Tim. That's a hard way to win $25! You ran the perfect race - and did it at a BQ pace. This is the first of many successful marathons for you, I'm sure. Congratulations!

In one way it's a shame that such a good race was done in a non-sanctioned event, but on the other hand it was good that you finally have run a race to your potential.  And as you know there is a bit of a performance curve involved such that as you reach your potential and learn to run on pace you know you can do, eventually you will run your fastest times, which I believe are somewhat faster than 3:22.

 

I was intrigued by the chicken broth and coke aid stations.  I wonder how they came up with that.  Frank Shorter always drank defizzed Coke in his marathons.  Interesting.

 

This was a fine effort Tim, and congrats to you on your performance. Spareribs

Unorthodox to the end!  A tiny, uncertified course (with coke and broth stations, no less) and a smoking marathon debut!  (Cue Frank Sinatra..."I did it my way..."

 

This has got to feel good after all the hurdles you've had to overcome to get here.  Excellent race; congratulations.

 

What next?

TimBo, Way To Go.  With all you've been through, you deserved a Great Run and you got one!

 

But let me say right now, you have a lot more in those great legs than even this excellent run showed.  Once you run one or two more of these, get the feeling of the Pace dialed in (a 6:30 feels like an 8:00 pace?), you're going to nail one of these bigtime.

 

And Ya know, with your love of speed and with your tri-athlete endurance, an HM might be a really great distance for you.  You would seriously rawk one of those.

 

Bill

Congrats Tim!

I kinda figured if the wheels didn't fall off you would "rock" this one. Your training has been excellent coming into this race.

TimBo- great job! (greta doesn't cut it today) I'm glad everything that you went through paid off. Sanctioned course or not that is a fantastic run. The distance is still the same and your sense of accomplishment must feel very good.

AWESOME!!!! What a great race Tim....You deserve it...You worked hard and are in great shape...Congratulations!!!