Running out of mistakes!
Hi folks,
It was great to see some of my online running friends at Robin's get together. I haven't been here or KR and definitely miss hearing what everyone is up to. Btw, apologies for posting the same RR here and KR, but not sure if many people read both.
Anyway, I thought I'd give a quickie RR of my Boston this year.
One liner RR:
Marathon PR, Sub-3, beat Boston '09 by 6 mins, woohoo!
Slightly longer:
My goal was to try and dip under 3hrs in Boston, which seemed like a stretch, but training has been going well this year. I did a Half a month ago (1:25) which indicated it is possible if the conditions were good. While the sun was a bit hot at times, today's conditions were indeed good.
My 'plan' was to start close to 7:00 for a few miles and then speed up. Like so many previous marathons that plan is rewritten in the first 1K :-) I thought I was holding back but with the downhills I ticked the first few off at 6:30. (Glad I didn't have to apologize to KSrunr for going out too fast with him again) I figured I would just run a comfortable pace, which seemed to be about 6:30. I didn't have a pace-band (first time!) or obsess about things. I eased back on the uphills and didn't go crazy fast down.
I started to lose energy at about 23, and felt the first signs of cramping at 24 and slowed to 7:30s. I was on vapors up to the final turn onto Boylston. When the finish banner is in sight, I can easily calculate how much energy I have left and squeeze it all out. I wasn't sure I was under 3hr so I pumped away. The clock wasn't visible until I got to the final block and it still started with a '2'.
Overall it wasn't the smartest way to run a marathon, but I'm _extremely_ happy with my time. Things to improve/avoid: I only ate 2 of the planned 5 GU, drank less than called for, and had to visit a mid-race portolet for 45 seconds (of course I watched the time). Things that went well: I ran by feel and ignored my splits, HR, and any other data. It was very freeing to not fret about a specific pace.
2:58:46, 6:49pace, OA 1168, Div 82
I'm looking forward to hearing how the other RA masters did as I didn't get to catch up with people there.
Craig
Full pic
Marathon Iowa 2014
Hi Craig,
It doesn't get much better than running a marathon PR at Boston - congratulations! You had a beautiful day for the race, and lots of speedy company and cheering crowds to keep you going. It must be very satisfying to have run by feel and done so well. Greta job!
Jay
Without ice cream there would be darkness and chaos.
Awesome........Way to gut it out. Nice race !
denise
i'm lovin' it... MM#1949
Perch's Profile "I don't know if running adds years to your life, but it definitely adds life to your years." - Jim Fixx "The secret is to make in your mind possible what was not possible before. The secret is to make easy what was difficult, instead to make difficult what really is easy." - Coach Renato Canova
Carolyn
I hammered down the trail, passing rocks and trees like they were standing still.
"During a marathon, I run about two-thirds of the time. That's plenty." - Margaret Davis, 85 Ed Whitlock regarding his 2:54:48 marathon at age 73, "That was a good day. It was never a struggle."
SteveP
WOW!! sub 3hours even with a port-a-potty break . . .
I thought the exact same thing! Congratulations!!!
Leslie Living and Running Behind the Redwood Curtain -------------
Trail Runner Nation
Sally McCrae-Choose Strong
Bare Performance
Wow! That is a great day.
Congratulations on the all the work this must have taken to get you there and on successful--if a little unconventional!--execution.
And drop by more often.
Be safe. Be kind.
Overall it wasn't the smartest way to run a marathon, but I'm _extremely_ happy with my time. Things to improve/avoid: I only ate 2 of the planned 5 GU, drank less than called for, and had to visit a mid-race portolet for 45 seconds (of course I watched the time). Things that went well: I ran by feel and ignored my splits, HR, and any other data. It was very freeing to not fret about a specific pace. 2:58:46, 6:49pace, OA 1168, Div 82 I'm looking forward to hearing how the other RA masters did as I didn't get to catch up with people there. Craig Full pic
I am so glad you did not listened to traditional wisdom. You ran with the heart and you got your PR.
Great race. Kul picture too
"Champions are everywhere; all you need is to train them properly..." ~Arthur Lydiard