- A goal was to simply finish and not have to DNF. ✅
- B goal was to finish under 4:15. ✅
- C goal was to finish under 4:00 🔴
Training
I followed a version of Hanson's advanced. My main problem was I got into peak marathon shape in late summer, so by the time this marathon came around I was kind of stagnant. Looking back, I should have just restarted the plan and peaked on time. First-timer mistakes.
I came into the race a few pounds heavier than I would have liked given some strength training blocks I'm in the middle of. Again, speed wasn't the first goal for this race so I wasn't concerned about carrying a few extra pounds. I was also much stronger in my legs after strength training my legs for a couple of months, so it was a bit of give and take.
Overall, it's never a bad thing to be a short twig when racing, something I'm just not gifted with.
Pre-race
Carbed up the day before with honestly far too much spaghetti. I ate it for lunch and dinner and I couldn't have been happier with the results on race day. I had oatmeal and PB2 for breakfast 24 hours before the race and that tasted like cheeks. Should've just gone with the three-peat spaghetti day.
Ate a
nice PB/Banana toast combo on race day morning with some coffee to take care of the number two. Hydrated
well and overall I'm very happy with pre-race nutrition. Plenty of mostly clean carbs and salt. Felt great.
Gear
Race
In terms of goals, I was within range of my C goal of sub 4 hours till about mile 18, that's when the quad and calf locking up came into play. I believe this was due to dehydration. I had plenty of salt/electrolyte tabs and had taken a good amount of gels.
I had prepared to take on course hydration but was not prepared for the bottles on course to be the tiny baby bottles. That sucked and was a massive mistake on my part. I didn't start grabbing two of them till around mile 18 and by then it was too late. I was able to stretch it out and recover from the locking up with a ton of water late, but the initial locking up was brutally painful and I felt it the remainder of the race.
Stats
- Chip time: 4:12:45
- Total Ascent: 1,947 feet
- Calories burned: 3,386
- Est. Sweat Loss: 1839 ml
- Temperature 35 ℉
- Humidity 80%
Splits and Heart rate data
Mile | Pace | GAP Pace | Elevation | AVG Heart Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9:25 /mi | 9:16 /mi | 5 ft | 150 |
2 | 9:30 /mi | 8:59 /mi | 76 ft | 157 |
3 | 9:14 /mi | 9:12 /mi | -13 ft | 158 |
4 | 9:21 /mi | 9:13 /mi | 0 ft | 159 |
5 | 9:07 /mi | 8:58 /mi | 5 ft | 159 |
6 | 9:10 /mi | 8:44 /mi | 22 ft | 162 |
7 | 8:57 /mi | 8:53 /mi | -45 ft | 159 |
8 | 9:11 /mi | 9:24 /mi | -73 ft | 155 |
9 | 8:56 /mi | 8:59 /mi | -35 ft | 157 |
10 | 9:02 /mi | 8:40 /mi | 40 ft | 163 |
11 | 9:18 /mi | 8:53 /mi | 68 ft | 163 |
12 | 9:02 /mi | 8:49 /mi | -13 ft | 164 |
13 | 9:06 /mi | 9:04 /mi | -36 ft | 169 |
14 | 9:06 /mi | 8:42 /mi | 53 ft | 172 |
15 | 8:55 /mi | 9:08 /mi | -83 ft | 175 |
16 | 9:17 /mi | 9:02 /mi | -30 ft | 169 |
17 | 9:14 /mi | 8:51 /mi | 52 ft | 171 |
18 | 9:06 /mi | 9:16 /mi | -96 ft | 167 |
19 | 10:04 /mi | 10:04 /mi | -9 ft | 165 |
20 | 10:15 /mi | 10:15 /mi | -4 ft | 166 |
21 | 10:08 /mi | 10:03 /mi | 12 ft | 163 |
22 | 10:11 /mi | 9:44 /mi | 43 ft | 163 |
23 | 10:45 /mi | 10:21 /mi | 35 ft | 163 |
24 | 11:45 /mi | 10:58 /mi | 81 ft | 157 |
25 | 11:10 /mi | 10:46 /mi | -11 ft | 155 |
26 | 10:33 /mi | 10:39 /mi | -52 ft | 160 |
0.26 | 14:34 /mi | 14:23 /mi | 8 ft | 165 |
By the end of the race, I was covered in salt and my legs were dead from the dehydration taking its toll. I finished a bit slower than I wanted on the hills but it is what it is. Happy with the time for this given course. The marathon and dehydration wall hit me hard, and I pushed through it like an idiot.
Post-race
Took a nice ice bath about two hours after the race. Hopped on the bike for about 10 minutes in the afternoon. Then took a warm Epsom salt bath in the evening. Overall, my knees were the only thing killing me. Part of it is the tightness in my hammys, part of it is was just soreness.
The next couple of days were full of mostly short bike rides and attempted walks. Going up the stairs on all fours and stretching even though it sucked. As of now, about 55 hours post-race, I feel about 70%. I'm still really sore but walking isn't a challenge and I can bend over to pick something up without grimacing.