They changed the course up a bit this year. We basically ran last year's course in reverse except the high point this year was higher than last, THEN we ran over last year's high point! So this year was definitely a little harder despite a mostly downhill finish.
I got to the start a little later than I'd hoped, but then I don't really need a lot of warm up for a marathon. Still, when doing the clothing drop 5 minutes before the start I realized I'd left my racing jersey in the car and had to sprint back and get that. In retrospect, that wasn't a great warm up for the race and my time would have been better spent stretching. Oh well, the gun sounded and we were off.
Only after I was running did I start my iPod only to find out it had died! I had created a killer playlist to pull me along and charged it up, but forgot to switch it off and the battery was dead! Not a great start to the race!
So, with no tunes I got to focus on running. I was aiming for 9/min miles which would get me a 3:56 or so. I knew I could run the first few a little faster than that and hoped to run the last few faster so I could take it easy on the hills in the middle of the course. I set out at what felts like a conservative pace and was averaging about 8:50 for the first few miles but my IT band was already a little sore, so I was kinda worried. My pace started to slow as I hit 11 miles and that was just the start of the uphills! But I knew I had to run smart -- push it too early and I'd die in the last few miles like last year. So I tried to listen to my body (without stopping completely!) and took it easy up to Deer Valley even though I saw a few 10+/min miles on my Garmin.
(Under Swede Alley, near mile 14.5)
Fortunately, that bit of conservation helped me feel ok when we turned back down and I felt decent crossing the Town Bridge and heading up to Empire Avenue. But on the downhill past the resort and the golf course I was feeling tired and not making the time that I'd hoped to. And my IT band wasn't getting any better.
(Brandon & I passing the White Barn about mile 21.)
About the white barn I realized I was off my pace by about five minutes and decided I was going to push it to the end, even if it killed me. And the way my legs were feeling I was afraid it might! :) Fortunately, my legs held up and I ran a great last 6 miles and got close to four hours (officially 4:01:26). It was 15 minutes better than last year, but still a little slower than I had hoped to run so I was a little disappointed. Still, I was impressed with how hard I was able to push myself, especially at the end when I wasn't feeling so great. In all, it was a tough race, but I'm already looking forward to next year.
(Finally finished!)
Thanks to Brandon for running with me and helping set a great pace those last few miles. And thanks to mom and dad for coming out, cheering us along, and taking some great pictures.
'til later,
- Jeff
