Post by jbrown on Dec 5, 2011 17:05:26 GMT -6
Recap---
Rain, wind and cold all in one nice little package. Started day out good and loose. Not nervous at all, a little pissed about gps though but I knew what I needed to do. Race start Shane and I paced each other first 1.5-2 miles. We both talked and knew we needed to keep each other loose thru first couple because of traffic. Great plan. Eventually we got separated in traffic and I told him to go on and kick ass. I settled in and spotted a couple of people that were running roughly same pace (which I had no idea what it was) and committed to staying within reach of them. Started watching heart rate to get feedback. Noticed I was good at a 190 bpm for 1/4 mile but took longer to recover. 185 better for longer and less recover time. 175-178 was comfortable pace and effort so I knew I'd stick it out there as much as possible. Hit the water stops and got gatorade and water both early and only one or other later alternating. Mile 4ish (I don't know for sure, never saw marker till mile 9) Noted a sluggish feeling. Knew something nutrition wise wasn't right and I had to fix immediately. Kept pace same but at a higher effort level. Tried my little chocolate trick for a fast boost. No good. Next thought was a gu but waited till next water stop to be able to get it down. I know it helped but lost track of time it took to kick in. (Handy to know) Back on decent pace and increased my effort slightly on uphills because everyone is fast down hill. Things were going well and i had heard people randomly mentioning mileage to them and their friends so I have a very vague idea and related that to the time on my watch to get a rough idea of how I was progressing. I had a goal and I'll be d**ned if I don't get it! We split from marathoners about mile 8 maybe, and I knew that I was almost to where I consider the race start. Get thru 8 in decent time then push for home. Found one guy I had been near for quite a while. This idiot had no shirt on (if I was his size I probably would have wanted to show it off too) and screamed at mile 9 it was time for the race to start. Almost in a seeming manner to motivate himself. I knew he was going to be my goal man to pull me to the end and I would smoke his ass in the finish chute as I have tried to make my little signature move. I knew my pace had quickened and I got one last water shot 2 miles out. Face so cold I wore most of it because I couldn't get my mouth to operate. I increased my turnover rather than stride distance to increase pace and rolled on. Then I saw a pacer and I HAD to see what the pace was. 1:40:00! I was on pace to meet my goal! Passed her but not before asking if she would slow down so I didn't have to try so hard. Problem 1 Jeremy has, I like to talk and joke and high 5. It gives me a burst of energy every time I thank a cheering supporter or high 5 a little kid or anything like that. Rolled on past pacer smiling knowing I had it and all that did is make me want to push harder. For the 2nd race in a row I felt good enough right at mile 8 to have to force myself to pace and not push. Had an itch to run a little harder there again but the fear of bonking scares me so I hold back. Final mile of the race I knew that I couldn't make up a lot of time there but I could fall flat on my face if I went too hard so over that last mile I tried to gradually increase my pace and push my HR up to 183 ish. I looked at mile 10 ish and my HR settled down to a 165 with no loss in pace. I am no doctor but that has to mean something right? I could hear the crowd at the finish not far ahead and noticed some strong surges but I was not about to let ANYONE pass me so I waited for the perfect moment and made my surge. The closer I go to the line the harder I was pushing. Passed a guy on the inside in one of the final turns who passed me 100 yards earlier and continued to eat them up in the chute. I do recall thinking during this tear that I was not sure where this surge came from but my legs were literally doing there own thing and I was not mentally in control of them. Had to be the crowds effect and I wasn't gonna ruin a good thing so I tried to hang on for the ride.
Great race, great venue and great turnout. Only a couple of regrets from me. I wish I would have ran a little slower and enjoyed the sights as the run through downtown that I recall nice. I do not remember much of the course as I must have been dialed in and doing work. Unfortunately I do not possess the ability to slow down and enjoy and to me that is like the just finish attitude. Nothing wrong with it, just not me or my thought process. Second regret is that I didn't go harder. I met my goal yes, but being "type-a" it could always be better. I honestly think I was/am capable of faster and realistically could see a 1:30:00 soon. The main thing that keeps me from going a little harder is the thought of walking/bonking. I will enjoy my achievement for the week but I am already hungry for more and ready to push myself a little harder, faster and farther. I am proud of what i did, but it leaves me wondering every time, what if....
Back to the drawing board to continue to design and mold this machine to do better things faster! ;D
Rain, wind and cold all in one nice little package. Started day out good and loose. Not nervous at all, a little pissed about gps though but I knew what I needed to do. Race start Shane and I paced each other first 1.5-2 miles. We both talked and knew we needed to keep each other loose thru first couple because of traffic. Great plan. Eventually we got separated in traffic and I told him to go on and kick ass. I settled in and spotted a couple of people that were running roughly same pace (which I had no idea what it was) and committed to staying within reach of them. Started watching heart rate to get feedback. Noticed I was good at a 190 bpm for 1/4 mile but took longer to recover. 185 better for longer and less recover time. 175-178 was comfortable pace and effort so I knew I'd stick it out there as much as possible. Hit the water stops and got gatorade and water both early and only one or other later alternating. Mile 4ish (I don't know for sure, never saw marker till mile 9) Noted a sluggish feeling. Knew something nutrition wise wasn't right and I had to fix immediately. Kept pace same but at a higher effort level. Tried my little chocolate trick for a fast boost. No good. Next thought was a gu but waited till next water stop to be able to get it down. I know it helped but lost track of time it took to kick in. (Handy to know) Back on decent pace and increased my effort slightly on uphills because everyone is fast down hill. Things were going well and i had heard people randomly mentioning mileage to them and their friends so I have a very vague idea and related that to the time on my watch to get a rough idea of how I was progressing. I had a goal and I'll be d**ned if I don't get it! We split from marathoners about mile 8 maybe, and I knew that I was almost to where I consider the race start. Get thru 8 in decent time then push for home. Found one guy I had been near for quite a while. This idiot had no shirt on (if I was his size I probably would have wanted to show it off too) and screamed at mile 9 it was time for the race to start. Almost in a seeming manner to motivate himself. I knew he was going to be my goal man to pull me to the end and I would smoke his ass in the finish chute as I have tried to make my little signature move. I knew my pace had quickened and I got one last water shot 2 miles out. Face so cold I wore most of it because I couldn't get my mouth to operate. I increased my turnover rather than stride distance to increase pace and rolled on. Then I saw a pacer and I HAD to see what the pace was. 1:40:00! I was on pace to meet my goal! Passed her but not before asking if she would slow down so I didn't have to try so hard. Problem 1 Jeremy has, I like to talk and joke and high 5. It gives me a burst of energy every time I thank a cheering supporter or high 5 a little kid or anything like that. Rolled on past pacer smiling knowing I had it and all that did is make me want to push harder. For the 2nd race in a row I felt good enough right at mile 8 to have to force myself to pace and not push. Had an itch to run a little harder there again but the fear of bonking scares me so I hold back. Final mile of the race I knew that I couldn't make up a lot of time there but I could fall flat on my face if I went too hard so over that last mile I tried to gradually increase my pace and push my HR up to 183 ish. I looked at mile 10 ish and my HR settled down to a 165 with no loss in pace. I am no doctor but that has to mean something right? I could hear the crowd at the finish not far ahead and noticed some strong surges but I was not about to let ANYONE pass me so I waited for the perfect moment and made my surge. The closer I go to the line the harder I was pushing. Passed a guy on the inside in one of the final turns who passed me 100 yards earlier and continued to eat them up in the chute. I do recall thinking during this tear that I was not sure where this surge came from but my legs were literally doing there own thing and I was not mentally in control of them. Had to be the crowds effect and I wasn't gonna ruin a good thing so I tried to hang on for the ride.
Great race, great venue and great turnout. Only a couple of regrets from me. I wish I would have ran a little slower and enjoyed the sights as the run through downtown that I recall nice. I do not remember much of the course as I must have been dialed in and doing work. Unfortunately I do not possess the ability to slow down and enjoy and to me that is like the just finish attitude. Nothing wrong with it, just not me or my thought process. Second regret is that I didn't go harder. I met my goal yes, but being "type-a" it could always be better. I honestly think I was/am capable of faster and realistically could see a 1:30:00 soon. The main thing that keeps me from going a little harder is the thought of walking/bonking. I will enjoy my achievement for the week but I am already hungry for more and ready to push myself a little harder, faster and farther. I am proud of what i did, but it leaves me wondering every time, what if....
Back to the drawing board to continue to design and mold this machine to do better things faster! ;D
