Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Marathon before the Marathon had been completed the Wednesday before, as I went for one last 45 minute run. The next step was carbo-loading with baked potatoes, rice, etc. (in other words eating better than I usually do). This was coupled with rest. Driving to work instead of walking, doing my best to stay off my feet, and just taking it easy. To aide relaxation I soaked in an Epson Salt bath on Friday night and went to bed at 10. Saturday morning I got up early enough for a Saturday and made cinnamon rolls for the apartment. After enjoying a couple and visiting with my roommates, I checked my bags one last time then headed out. The drive down to San Antonio was, Praise the Lord, uneventful. However, nostalgia could not stay away. Memories of the former drive to soccer practices and games, long weekends, heartache and happiness, flooded my thoughts. When I reached the expo, the overwhelming fact of a sold out 30,000 participant Marathon experience rang true. After picking up my packet, I walked through the expo and sat through a panel which included Khalid Khannouchi and Frank Shorter. I met up with marathon veterans such as Danny Gribbon and Jon Korte. The plan was for me to run with Jon as he was pacing a young woman named Amy Matasso, to a 3:35 ish marathon. My personal best was a 3:53:45 but I thought I would give it a go. The rest of the day I rested. Baked potato for lunch, chicken and rice for dinner, bed around 9:30. Sunday morning I had wanted to get up around 5:15 but when I awoke at 4:45 I stayed awake. Out of bed and got ready, had a banana and 8 oz of gatorade. Left hotel @ 5:30. Encountered race traffic and took an alternate route (faster too) to get to the AT&T center for parking. Then shuttled to Start. I had planned to meet up with Jon, Amy, and Danny at the gear check/bag drop @ 6:30 but was delayed to 6:40. On the shuttle over, we noticed stand-still traffic all along the way. Amy was stuck in that very traffic. I decided Jon should wait for her and I would go out alone. My starting corral was #5. As they started late, 7:45 compared to 7:30, my corral a little after 7:50. the race temperature was in the 40's (perfect). I started race with gloves, hat, long sleeve shirt, and shin splint sleeve. I had the option of sneaking away with the 4th corral but decided I would rather be at the front rather than the back of a starting group. I was indeed, it felt good to be out front, almost to good though as I went out too fast. The splits recorded are below...
23:37 - 5k
48:07 - 10k
1:18:26 - 10 mile
1:43:45 @ Half
2:15:47 - 17 mile
2:42:43 - 20 mile
3:19:32 - 24 mile
3:38:13 - Marathon
I took nourishment throughout, alternating water and gatorade, took GU every 45 ish min, skipping the last one that would have been taken @ 3:15. Hips and thighs felt most of the day's efforts (which is good b/c they are the larger muscles) so I will work on strengthening them for next time. Shin splint gave me no to minimal bother. On my wrist/forearm, I had written (besides the fact that I wore long sleeves until the last 4 miles when I took my shirt off) 2 verses... Isaiah 40:31 & Joshua 1:9 along with "Anima Sana In Corpore Sano" and "Toughen up; you aren't doing this alone". Though I finished 15 minutes ahead of my personal best, i could have paced a better race. My first half was considerably faster than my second. I am happy to have made this much progress, but know what I need to improve.
Jon and Amy ended up running a 3:35:31, qualifying her for Boston.
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