I don't have the kind of memory that can recall mile 4 from 14, most of the time, so I have difiiculty with RRs. Sunday, I ran the Colorado Marathon and while it wasn't a PR, I am really happy that I learned from the mistakes I made when I ran it last year. The lessons, while all too familiar, bear repeating. Overall, I only shaved 3 minutes off my time, but I felt about 30 times better at the finish than last year. This is because I did not go out too fast. Yes, I know, we all know that. I knew it last year. Still, I was an eejit. The race is one of the most scenic ones I've run. Beginning in the Roosevelt National Forest, the first 16 miles are down the Poudre River Canyon. You start just after 6 am and it's a privilege to be in such a beautiful place as the sun rises and sparkles on the water. The air is clear, the birds are calling and everywhere you look is a scene that belongs in a Nature Photography book. Three things contribute to the urge to run fast at the start: 1) it is cold up there--the start is over 6000 feet above sealevel, it is early, and you're in a canyon--you want to run fast just to get some feeling back in your numb feet; 2) it's downhill, and then more downhill; 3) lots of Coloradians run this race--they are notoriously fit AND they are used to the altitude, as they live there--and they start (and finish) fast. I like to run in Colorado. This race is early in the year, and it's easy to forget the effect of altitude. It doesn't bother some folks, but I'm not one of them. I just didn't factor it in enough in 07. Last year, I succumbed. I was on pace to run just under 3:30 and finished with a 3:38:23. I remember hitting the flat (from about mile 16.5 to 20, there's a flat section (with a bit of a hill just before mile 19, I think--see, I truly am not good at these things!) that's in the sun along the road) and feeling rather beat up and spent. By the time I got to the bike path, around mile 20, it was all I could do to hold on to a reduced jog. I wasn't having much fun and I couldn't get my rhythm back at all. This year, I hit the 13.1 marker at 1:47:10 and finished in 3:35:36. I still felt tired, and was ready to stop running--always am at 26.2! Overall, I just felt much stronger than last year. The flat wasn't so bad. I passed a number of folks in the last 6 miles, and only one person, a fellow I'd just passed as we neared the finish, came back to pass me. There was a colorful announcer calling out our names as we finished, and when I came in, he announced my age and then said I looked "way too good" to be finishing a marathon (the half and 10K runners were crossing the same line ). While I did win my age group, the fact that gives me the biggest grin is finishing in the top 10% of all women. I was 21st out of 292. When I'm riding the bus to and lining up at the start of a race, I see all these lovely young women looking confident and strong and talking about their training; it never fails to cause me at least a few moments of doubt and thoughts of "what the heck am I doing here?" or "maybe I have that Peter Pan syndrome only as a woman" or something along those lines. So, nothing new or earth-shattering, just a fleshing out of the old advice that is well worth reviewing. ......if only I can remember it for the next race! grins, A ps: What I wore: blue/gray asics gray RR shorts gray/blue SF Marathon (w/ orange GG bridge) ss shirt, black arm warmers ----top was only revealed at mile 16 or so, as it was covered with white cotton Sioux Falls Half Marathon long sleeved shirt (pre-cut at neck, bottom, and wrist bands to allow for tear-away toss) because I am soooooo tired of being cold!

Congratulations, AMY!! I think it's so cool you did that well. I'm much slower than you, but I do enjoy it when I pass girls who look like they're in high school! It's great you learned from your mistakes last year! I hope you get to celebrate some.

For not remembering details, that was an excellent RR! Did you spend time in the area to help acclimate to the elevation? I was in Denver last December, and just felt wiped out all the time. A friend who lived there said "drink lots of water!" but I don't think it helped much. Sounds like a beautiful course. I always eyeball the other runners at the start, wondering what AG they're in and how fast they are. Glad to hear someone like you does too!

Congratulations on a well-run race and your age group win! You are so right about not going out too fast - it is a hard lesson to learn, but it really is so true. Thanks for sharing!

Great report, Amy, and as a software guy I like the nested parentheses . You are so ho-hum about yet another AG win, but it shows just how strong and marathon-maniacal you truly are. I hope to run into you at an event someday!

Aamos, Great race, a PR for the course and you learnt from the last one...so what else can a marathoner want. A better time and an opportunity to beat it again next year. You are one tough runner Tall

Aamos, I loved that "way to good" comment. You are such an incredibily strong runner....I bow down to you. Congrats!!!

Great report and great race. Wow, you sure are speedy I just love it when people actually make positives out of mistakes. I love hearing when a plan comes together to NOT do what hurt you before. Wonderful race report and Congratulations.