Notes
Downhill marathon, 5,300 feet of descent except for the .8 mile hill at mile 24. I lost 1 minute at mile 12 for an aborted bathroom break, another 30 seconds at mile 21 for shoe tie, but the real issue was never ending descent. It felt like a 3 hour wall-sit exercise. If i do this again in April, I will need to train relentlessly on hills constantly. My heart rate was low the whole way, but my legs felt the strain. Came in perfectly tapered, light, feeling good. Despite having only 5 weeks to get ready, I didn’t bonk or cramp up. I was physically ready for a marathon, just not this one with the downhill. Morning routine was eat 80 grams of carbs 2 1/2 hours before race, then 30 grams 15 minutes prior, along with some Gatorade electrolyte packet water. Weather was 30 degrees up on top of Mt. Charleston, finished a little warm the last few miles in the flat desert, but temperature was not a big factor at any point. Dry, so I was thirsty quite a bit, but also not a factor. I really pushed hard to move my legs for my 7th BQ that was 44 seconds under my BQ, but i could not reach the PR I wanted. Nice downhill finish the last half mile.