Confidence was solid. I actually struggle to remember the last time I felt so “ready” for a race. Training runs were solid. I was nailing my long runs with the faster miles coming at the end. Speed work felt good. In my middle distance runs, I often drifted to sub-marathon pace and felt reasonably comfortable. Everything was posed to go right.
Until it didn’t.
Rain was forecasted for the race. I brought a poncho and planned accordingly allowing myself to shed clothing along the way if needed. I stayed off my feet most of the day before and even at the start of the race, stayed on the bus until about 30 minutes to the start. Used the bathroom one last time, chatted with friends, and tucked in with the 3:30 pace group. Felt ready to go. Felt good.
Mile 1: 8:05
Mile 2: 7:56
Mile 3: 7:45
Mile 4: 8:01
Mile 5: 7:50
Had the poncho on as it was sprinkling on and off. I decided not to look at my watch the entire race and keep with the 3:30 pacer. He jumped a little in front of me after mile 3, but I kept them in sight and stayed with in range, knowing I didn’t want to push it in the early miles.
Mile 6: 8:02
Mile 7: 7:56
Mile 8: 8:04
Mile 9: 8:07
Why do these miles feel so hard. I thought my legs may have still been heavy from the first few miles. At this point, I should feel nice and loose and my stride should be opening up nicely. It’s early for me to have the “Mile 18” feeling. As you can see, these miles are on the wrong side of 8 and feeling tired, fatigued with 17 miles to go is NOT something I should be feeling.
Mile 10: 7:59
Mile 11: 8:04
Mile 12: 8:19
Mile 13: 8:19
13.1: 1:45:26
That is perfect. Look at that. Exactly on pace. But those numbers are lying. As you can see, I’m toast after mile 11. Think about that. Mile 11? How are my legs calling it quits at mile 11? I’ve had better training runs that have gone longer!
Let’s continue.
Mile 14: 9:30
Mile 15: 8:30
Mile 16: 8:38
Mile 17: 9:25
Mile 18: 10:12
Mile 19: 10:09
Mile 20: 10:05
Mile 21: 9:46
I basically wanted to quit. I walked at mile 14 of a freaking marathon. If wifey had been on the course cheering (as early as 14), I would have walked off and said “let’s go home.” No joke. Every Starbucks I passed, or shopping center, I considered going inside, asking to use someone’s phone or taking an Uber back to the hotel.
Someone along the course asked the runners “are you guys having fun?” And I blurted out NO, without even a hesitation. I was upset. I was disappointed. I was confused. I didn’t say it in a mean way, everyone laughed, but I was kind of serious. But we’ll get to that later.
With @fueledbyfrosting at the Oiselle cowbell corner.
Mile 22: 11:10
Mile 23: 10:59
Mile 24: 10:26
Mile 25: 9:10
Mile 26: 7:37
26.2: 3:52:07
I stopped at Mile 22 and chatted with @FueledByFrosting. We had never met in person, so it was nice to see a smiling face and chat for a bit. She knew it wasn’t the race I was hoping for and it was likely written all over my face, but her energy made me feel better. I have no idea how I made it from wanting to quit at mile 11 to mile 22. It really is a blur, but I knew I only had a few miles to go.
On the last two miles, my legs finally started to open up a bit and I decided to run the last mile — it actually felt really good. I felt energetic. Maybe it took me 25 miles to FINALLY warm up, but that 7:37 felt reasonably easy and pretty good. Actually, after mile 22, I got faster each mile (hey, just like I did in training — go figure).
In all honesty, I’m trying to wrap my head around what happened. At Santa Rosa, I wasn’t trained for the distance, and the first 15-16 miles felt good. After that, I bonked because my legs weren’t ready for 16+ miles at an 8 minute pace.
This time? You bet they were. I nailed a 23 mile run at just barely over an 8 minute pace in training. I even hit an 18 miler at an 8:09 pace as well, and felt pretty solid afterwards. I tapered well, my legs shouldn’t have been over-trained. If I had run 20 miles at an 8-minute pace and bonked, THAT I would be able to grasp. If I had got a cramp at mile 23, I would have understood that. But bonking at mile 10? At pace, not going out too fast, at pace? C’mon! The first half has some rolling hills, but not enough for me to crash in the first quarter of the course.
The only thing I can think may have happened was my legs never warmed up and my stride was too constricted because of the rain/cold — possible. But it really wasn’t “THAT” cold. I was layered up well, but not overheating. I peeled off the layers as the time went on and think I was down to my tank top by mile 14-15. I should have been able to loosen up once the rain stopped before the half way mark.
That’s what I have. That’s what I got. I know I’m stronger than that race. I was damn near tempted to bust out a 26.2 run around my house and prove it. That still might happen. I know my legs have it. I know my mind has it. I know my heart has it. I just didn’t have it on December 6, 2015.
Thank you to everyone that offered well wishes before and kind words afterwards. I read every single one and it meant a lot.
Thoughts?
The marathon is an animal that won’t be tamed if it doesn’t want to be that day. I’ve had more of these types of recaps than I’d like and the best advice I’ve gotten is live to run another day. You finished and you’re still awesome 😊
I’m so sorry! That sucks so much when you’re perfectly prepared and your body just doesn’t perform. What about nutrition? Were you fueling yourself properly leading up to the race and during? That’s the only thing I can think of that could significantly impact your performance.
Some races just aren’t it, for no good reason. And not because that type of speed and training isn’t in you. It is! You know it is! Your training runs say as much. Some days it just doesn’t click. You got this Pavey!!
I’m so sorry that it just wasn’t your race. Sometimes there really is no good reason unfortunately. But luckily there are more races!
I’m pretty sure we have all been there. No explanation, just being humbled by the distance. It’s one of those learning experiences. Know that you finished a marathon and that’s freaking awesome!
I’m not sure what it was about that day, but I’ve heard so many people say they struggled early on as well. At mile 9 I actually told my brother he was going to finish the last half solo because there was no way I was making it. I somehow got to mile 20 and cried for a good half of a mile. All those miles in the 20s somehow flew by and I walked away with my third fastest time on a day I just knew I’d never see the finish line. That’s one thing I hate and love the most about running…it breaks you down to your bare soul some days and will ALWAYS remind you that no matter how much hard work you do beforehand the marathon will always have the power to humble you. And that’s the best part…the ones that don’t go our way make us fight for the next one to be better! :)
Man, it sucks when you work so hard and then it all goes south. What was your average long run pace this cycle? Are you doing speed work and then running long at a “too fast” of a pace? That could be the culprit. I don’t think that 8:09 avg is fast for you, but when gunning for a fast marathon running 18 @ 8:09 after speed work a few days before doesn’t allow for much recovery. When we run too fast too often come race day we have crushed the crap out of our legs and they are like “Bye Felicia.” Once I slowed my long run down to between 8:35-8:45 I finally nailed that 3:30 marathon (included speed and a nice taper). I know it’s different for everyone, but worth a look to see if you have “too many” fast days and not enough easy days each training cycle. Hugs friend. You are going to get it. No doubt. I have NO DOUBT!
Gosh darn it, this sounds exactly like my Chicago Marathon experience. I also was shooting for a 3:30. I had perfect training, felt great in the weeks leading up, but then as soon as I crossed the starting line I could tell it was not going to happen. I just felt tired and off from the beginning. No explanations, and for days I felt so annoyed by it. I even decided I was done trying. But, I eventually rallied and am ready to try again. That’s how we roll.
I think I’m learning that too many 20+ milers leave me over trained. I totally feel your frustration. You’re amazing no matter how you finish. You’re definitely not alone in the struggle. Thanks for always keeping it real and inspiring us all.
I’m so sorry that you didn’t have the race you were hoping for. It really stinks how one race and one day doesn’t always reflect how well trained and strong we really are. You definitely are stronger than this one day.
I’m sorry the stars didn’t line up for you. I know you probably weren’t trying, but your recap gives me hope. I’m a very new runner and there are times I have wanted to cut the course or drop down to a lower distance. I didn’t but it is amazing to hear that people I consider elite runners struggle just like the rest of us! Tomorrow is another day and hope it is filled with easy miles
I’ve been going for sub-3:30 for awhile too, and am hoping to finally hit it in 2016. I think that perhaps your long runs were too fast – they sound like they were basically at marathon pace, so even though you felt great, you were using up your “stores” and fatiguing your legs so that they weren’t ready to kill it on marathon day. I’ve always read that you should be 1:00-1:30 minute per mile slower than your goal marathon pace on your long runs — so that they are true LSD. :) Although I know there are sometimes tempo and pace runs built into longer distances, I think it’s better to run these a little slower. I hope we can both nail our sub-3:30 in 2016!
Sorry to hear you didn’t finish the way you had hoped for. It is true, tomorrow is a new day! :)
So sorry it wasn’t your day or your race. I have to hope that these races make us stronger, both mentally and physically, for the next one!!