Another TOU under my belt. I love this race. The organization , the course, the spectators, and the volunteers are top notch. The medal this year was also the best medal I have received at a race. Very nice!!! As always the expo could have been bigger but it was better than last year. As to how I did, my goal was under 3:45, my challenge goal was under 3:40. I achieved 3:42:52. So I am happy but wish I could have pushed a bit harder. I decided to go all out this marathon and see what would happen. The splits say it all:
Mile 1 - 7:51 Lots of people to make my way around. Just barely made it to start time.
Mile 2 - 7:28 Feeling great
Mile 3 - 7:28 Feeling great
Mile 4 - 7:28 Steady Eddy
Mile 5 - 7:31 Still doing good
Mile 6 - 7:38 Starting to feel the effort
Mile 7 - 7:26 Feeling better
Mile 8 - 7:20 Loving life, enjoying the scenery
Mile 9 - 7:31 Starting to feel a bit of discomfort on my left hamstring (like last year)
Mile 10 - 7:36 Excited to have the first 10 done with
Mile 11 - 7:45 Feeling the effort and starting to feel some stomach distress. Not a good sign.
Mile 12 - 7:35 Trying to run through stomach pains and discomfort. Doesn't help that there is a dude in front of me who is farting all the way. He actually farted out lod with every step. he was killing me!!
Mile 13 - 7:45 Feeling ill but impressed that I finished my first half in 1:39 (mind you my half marathon PR is 1:36)
Mile 14 - 7:36 Running to the porta pottie as soon as I come out of the canyon
Mile 15 - 10:07 Spend 2:30 minutes in the porta pottie (1st time this has hapenned to me in a race) and speed off to mile 16
Mile 16 - 7:56 Definitely feeling the effects of my early pace. Hard to keep pace under 8.
Mile 17 - 8:18 I am feeling TIRED. Can't keep pace below 7 anymore.
Mile 18 - 9:01 The spectators help but I have totally lost it. I start taking walk breaks
Mile 19 - 926 I continue with the walk breaks and start the turns leading to Logan.
Mile 20 - 9:29 I get a second wind wind and feel better but don't go any faster.
Mile 21 - 9:16 I see Jolynne for third time and she gives me a boost. Feel better.
Mile 22 - 9:14 I am feeling better and excited to be getting closer. Dedicated to getting under 3:45
Mile 23 - 10:19 I am dying. Start taking lots of walk breaks.
Mile 24 - 10:23 Ditto from above until I get to the main street hill and I decide to run up it. The hill will not defeat me!!! I get a pat on the back from a fellow runner that tells me "c'mon lets make it under 3:44". I respond "absolutely!".
Mile 25 - 9:45 That pat on the back helped and I am back in the 9's.
Mile 26.2 - 9:25 I do all my best to run to the finish. The marathon will not defeat me!!! It doesn't. I raise my arms in victory as I see the run says 3:44 as I run through the finish chute. My chip time was 3:42:52.
Definitely not smart to go out so fast but hey, I wanted to see what it felt like. I feel I probably would have been in the mid to low 3:30's if I would have put in an even effort and if I wouldn't have had GI issue. Oh well, we will see those times next time.
Overall very happy with my experience and my progress. My first marathon was TOU last year and I achieved a 4:34 in that race. So I have improved a lot and I am grateful to be healthy enough to see the progress. My goal now is to qualify for Boston at a race during 2010. Congrats to all who finished TOU. Especially Paul and Nan who put up incredible performances. I'll be back next year!
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