Masters Running

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Race Report: Carmel Marathon, April 9, 2022 (Read 26 times)

Joe618


    Late getting all this processed mentally, but here's a race report from what was a significant event for my running.   You can read it below or on my blog here .   Thanks

     

    Joe

     

     

    *********

    ORN:  26.2 miles, 4:54:32, 11:15/mile; 6/1, then 3/1 R/W; 696 of 842 overall, 456 of 520 men, 6 of 10 M65-69

    First 13.1:   2:13:28      Last 13.1:   2:41:04

     

    Summary

     

    The Marathon proves, once again, it is a master teacher.   The lesson this time?  The six-month plan I’ve been on failed.   Thus, I pivot my running trajectory.   

     

    Gory Details

     

    When I finished the Monumental Marathon last November, I knew something had to give.   It went poorly, I felt awful and didn’t want to repeat a marathon in that manner.    5:07:32, when I had targeted 4:45, just didn’t cut it.   

     

    I set out to discover if I could run a marathon at something approaching the qualifying time for the Boston Marathon one more time.   The BQ for me, starting in the fall of 2022, will be 4:20; to actually get into Boston, I’d likely need 4:18.   

     

    How to get to 4:18?   How would I know?    I set out a plan.   Fundamentally, it was about a) increasing my weekly miles and b) building in speed work to those weekly miles.    I set up a plan and started in mid November.   

     

    How would I test if it was going to work?   It seemed wise to set intermediate milestones.   The first of these was this race, the Carmel Marathon on April 9, 2022.

     

    Logic said if I was to run 4:18 by this fall, I’d better be able to run  4:30 this spring.   I worked hard through the winter weather and was encouraged by my weekly mileage and the speed sessions.    Two weeks before Carmel, I ran a 2:08:50 at the Sam Costa Half Marathon...VO2 max calculations said that effort was equivalent to what I’d need for a 4:30 full marathon.   So, I thought I had a shot but I knew the proof was in carrying pace through the final 8-10 miles of the marathon. 

     

    Race day weather was not kind.   Temps steadily dropped in the days leading up and the forecast came true; temperatures in the low 30s at the start with a west wind increasing from 10mph at the start to nearly 20 by the finish.     It was darn cold as we gathered and set off right on time at 8:10am.   

     

    My aim was to run a 6/1 run/walk sequence, running at a 9:40/mile pace when I ran, which would yield an aggregate pace of 10:18/mile.  This worked well for the full first half of the race.   I felt comfortable and held up in the portions of the course that faced the wind head on.   Around mile 6, we ran in full-blown snowfall for about ten minutes...yikes, springtime in Indiana 

     

    Check the snow here on my sleeve

     

     

    I came across the half marathon timing mat in 2:13:28, about right for my 4:30 target.   Mentally, though, it was tough to run through the finish area, zig-zag around the half-marathoners finishing and then head out for the second loop.  It knocked my rhythm a bit but I regained composure and got going again, south on the Monon Trail.   The wind was quartering from the right rear and the heavy tree cover over the trail broke it up.   Visually pleasant, quiet, mild.   It proved the “shelter before the storm”.

     

    We turned left and then north at mile 16.5 and entered what I knew ahead of time would be the determinitive portion of the race. 

     

     

    Up through Mile 23 was in a wide-open commercial district with little wind break and commercial buildings and parking lots to observe.   Into the teeth of the wind, I could feel my energy lagging.   At mile 17.5, the 4:30 pace group caught up with me, showing me just how much I was lagging.   I fell in with them for a while and that helped. 

     

    Until...

     

    At Mile 19, the course turned west across a long overpass traversing busy US31.   We went uphill, into the wind, completely exposed.    And it broke my effort for the day.   I was struggling and the attempt to stay with the pace group simply wasn’t there.   I didn’t think that bridge woud end.   It did, of course, and we turned back north, 3 more miles open wind tunnel.   I admitted the 4:30 wasn’t there, backed off to a 3/1 run/walk and determined to just get the race done.  

     

    Yet, further insult awaited.    Around mile 22, I detected what we’ll delicately call “intense lower abdominal cramping and distress”.   Yeah.   In all my years of marathoning, I’ve never had this happen.   I was looking around for trees or bushes, fearing I’d need an emergency stop before the next aid station.   Thankfully, I made it to an aid station with an empty porta potty and resolved the issue.   Yikes.   And the clock kept ticking. 

    I finally made it to mile 24 when the course turned back south onto the Monon Trail.  

     

     

    The wind once more at our back and with the trees diffusing the wind, it was just a matter of getting back to the finish line.   With a half mile to go, I allowed myself a look at my watch; I was relieved that I’d finish under five hours. 

     

     

     

    Crossing the finish line, I collected my medal and observed how deserted the finish area seemed compared to most years at Carmel. The cold and wind was so gnarly very few people were hanging around.   Yet, the key volunteers remained, I got some chocolate milk, some granola bars and some hot pancakes.   I lugged them to my car, got out of the wind and started to process what had happened.   

     

    On the one hand, it was disappointing to run so poorly and take so long to get through a familiar marathon on a familiar course.   While the weather didn’t help, that wasn’t the reason...I just didn’t have it.   

     

    So, I shift to simply enjoy running for the sake of running.   Racing now means participating and enjoying an event, more than “needing” to hit a particular time.   I can pivot to try more ultras and trail races.   I’m getting comfortable with this.  

     

    Reality can be jarring.   But it is wise to understand it. 

     

    Thanks for reading.   Persevere.

     

    .

    ________

    I have nothing particularly clever or profound to add as a tag to each message...I just like to run.   

    RCG


    Rose Colored Glasses

      Good honest race report, Joe.

      I've been there. Where the marathon training log looks like the effort should bring success on Race Day. Butt. Then The Day throws everything it can at you. And you are happy to cross the finish line before the clock strikes 5:00:00

      Congratulations on your dedication and perseverance and grit.

      Respect the recovery.

      Run for the love of it

      Worry no more

      Oh, worry no more

      There's an open door for you

      Worry no more

      Oh, worry no more

      There's an open door for you

        Lots of lessons in that race it seems.  You did a great job adjusting your mindset.  That weather sounded very unpleasant.  The marathon distance is simply no joke.  So kudos on finishing a tough race.

        "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."

        MurrayM


          You had a smile for the camera at the finish line...there's victory in that!

           

          Thanks for giving us the nitty-gritty details of your race, and for leaving out the finer nuances in your "golf ball in a fire hose" porta-potty experience 

          RCG


          Rose Colored Glasses

            Murray!

            Worry no more

            Oh, worry no more

            There's an open door for you

            Worry no more

            Oh, worry no more

            There's an open door for you

              Nice, honest report, Joe. It's too bad that you didn't meet your goal, but I think it was at about your age that I had to give up on my dream (or, more correctly, fantasy) of doing a BQ marathon. But believe me, there's still a lot of fun in running (maybe even more) when you're not distracted by a goal that may ultimately be unobtainable.

              Doug, runnin' cycling in Rochester, MI

              "Think blue, count two, and look for a red shoe"

                Even though it wasn't the race you wanted, this is a great report with so much insight.  Weather, as you know, can make a HUGE difference- physically and mentally.  Getting in under 5 hours on that day was a victory.  Marathons are such a crapshoot-  SO many variables.  The intestinal issues probably didn't help- I can't believe you haven't had that before in all your years......    I've been in bushes, under porches etc.  Running puts a real stress on your body systems.      Enjoy the process, even if the result didn't happen the way you wanted this time.

                Out there running since dinosaurs roamed the earth

                 

                Henrun


                  Great report Joe. You learned that running a marathon isn’t always fun but worth the effort of running just to enjoy running. Enjoy it as long as you can.


                  MM#209 / JapanJoyful#803

                    So, I shift to simply enjoy running for the sake of running.   Racing now means participating and enjoying an event, more than “needing” to hit a particular time.

                    Joe - nice. Having done it for 45 years for fitness, fun, camaradie and exercise, there's nothing wrong with running for the joy of running. Nothing wrong with running for the challenge of BQ'ing, either, and it sounds like you would have had it this time except for the adverse weather. For next time, maybe try to get the half back under two hours, include frequent fartleking training runs and upping to a 4:1 ratio or something. Either way, or both, have fun.

                    "Enjoy yourself. Your younger days never come again." 100yo T. Igarashi to me in geta at top of Mt. Fuji (8/2/87)

                    TammyinGP


                      Wow Joe - good for you and a hearty congrats on starting and finishing this marathon with all it's weather obstacles, GI distress issue and overall just not very favorable conditions to get that BQ.

                      Thanks for the write-up. There are always lessons to be learned in every race and your lessons helps others like me also.

                      Tammy

                        I think you are really being too hard on yourself. Weather is a really big factor when you are trying to push it, especially if you are pushing it for 26.2 miles. Forget your description, the photos make clear how awful mother nature made it that day. You did fine all things considered. Plus, you get to live to run another marathon another day. Next time, if the weather is nice, I suspect you will do much better. P.S. The one great thing about running a marathon is that at the end you can consume chocolate milk and feel totally self-righteous doing so!

                        Live like you are dying not like you are afraid to die.

                        Drunken Irish Soda Bread and Irish Brown Bread this way -->  http://allrecipes.com/cook/4379041/

                        dnaff


                          Hi Joe, not the run you wanted but heck, it gets your face back on the forum.   I've missed that trademark smile.

                           

                          Spring in this area has been everything except pleasant running conditions.  Summer is on the way - enjoy the next running season.