Notes
Chicago Marathon, DNF at mile 19
Splits: 5k- 16:54, 10k- 34:10, 15k- 51:00, 20k- 1:08:09, Half- 1:11:57, 25k-1:25:47, 30k- 1:43:49
Welp, we went for a 2:24 and I guess I just wasn't ready for it on this day. Chris, Will, and I got out a little quick, but it felt easy and we settled into just under 5:30 pace. The wind was out of the north so the whole first 8 miles we were running into the wind, a little past 10k I started getting a feeling that I was maybe working a little bit too hard for how early it was but my training indicated I should be fine at this pace so I stuck with it.
We found ourselves in a decently sized pack somewhere around 7 I think it was and I was content with just chilling in the back of the pack as long as the pace was right. Around 10 miles I felt the pack getting a little too quick for me, I dropped off the back to remain right at 5:30 pace, Chris and Will came back with me. At 12 I let them go and I was content remaining in the low 5:30s, but I still knew something was off. My glutes felt way overworked and I wasnt confident in them getting me to the finish at this pace.
I went through half way just under 1:12 and at that point I kinda knew a PR would be a good day, so I set my sights on just trying to run in the 5:40s the rest of the way. Chris came back to me from Will at 14 to tell me he was dropping out, and from then on I just focused on not letting Will get any further away from me. I was able to hold a respectable pace from 14- 18 but once I got past 18 the wheels really fell off. My 19th mile was a 6:10, and at that point I did the math and figured out I would need to run sub 6 the rest of the way to PR and I didnt think that was realistic. Rather than trash my legs fighting for a 2:30+ time I just decided to drop to allow me to get back to training and hopefully a good marathon at CIM.
I took 4 Maurten gels, one at 5k, 10k, 15k, and 25k, and also took water from at least 75% of the aid stations. My stomach handled the gels well and I had no GI issues. So nutritionally I should have been fine, I think I just had one of those days where my body didn't have it.
We will try again at CIM where I just want to go out smart, hopefully 1:13-1:14 then try to neg split and have a positive experience. I need a positive marathon experience just to feel like I have some momentum going into 2019. I have been racing so well at other distances, but still need to figure out the marathon