Can I just say I don't do well in the heat.
The day started off ok, I was awake about 4:00, and wanted to sleep more. I layed there contemplating what material make up a pillow and how they impact how well I run. Just kidding, I was trying my hardest to lay there and get more sleep. :-)
I was ALMOST late to the busses. I got on the LAST bus! Bus 333. When I got off the bus I had enough time to throw my coat that I wasn't wearing in the bag pickup bag and throw that into the drop off truck, get to the line and 3-4 minutes later the gun went off. No waiting in the freezing cold hudled up next to a fire for me. Oh wait, I don't think anyone had to do that, because it was 10000 deg out there.
First few miles went as planned. 8:26, 8:25 for the first two, then 7:50-7:55 for the next few. Got to Veyo feeling ok, worring a lot about the hill section that is ahead. Tackled Veyo hill slower than I would have liked. Hills have been a BIG mental problem for me this training year. I've found myself giving up easy on hills that I used to go up without problem.
That was in reality the beging of the end. I hear people talk about the "death march" in the final 2-3 miles, mine started about mile 17.
My plan was to take the first part easy and try and let the momentum of the hills on the second half take me to a good negative split. About mile 17 I could tell I was NOT gonna make good on the plan.
A friend of mine found me about mile 17, he was strugling and I was strugling so we just finished together.
I think this was a good race from the point of view that I learned. And what I learned was that I need to train better. I have been a huge slacker in the training. Running 4 days a week at most, weekday miles of 3-7, walk breaks = poor performance on race day. I guess I have been learning (last year and this year) that I can't be upset with my performance on race day if I don't put the effort in with training.
I really enjoyed seeing Tyler and Kellie, Scooby, and another friend of mine Troy out on the road, Kelli and Scott in the finisher area. I enjoyed the sprayers/mysters and the wet towels.
I finished a marathon. One of these days I will be serious about training. And then I'm sure I will be joining a lot of you guys in Boston!
Have a great day!
:-) | 