Okay, that title may be a little over-dramatic, but in hindsight it holds weight. Many of you know that I decided to concentrate on my training for the last 3+ months and take a go at running a “fast” marathon. I targeted the Phoenix Marathon with high aspirations of a BQ and had to scale that dream back significantly when training didn’t go as well as I had hoped. I still thought that I was in position for a PR and to finally break that 3:30 mark.
What I didn’t tell you was that I tweaked my hamstring at some point during training. I don’t remember exactly what I did or when I did it, but I remember it being “tight” during my runs towards the end of January. I still had some solid speed sessions and could knock out sub 8 min miles and hold pace for long runs, it just didn’t feel 100%. Since I was still training well, I just kept moving forward never taking the proper steps to address it. “If I ignore it and taper well, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Like I said in the title, it was over before it started.
Let’s dive right into the race. After catching a shuttle to the start line and easily finding the #ItsGoingDownAtPHX crew, we snapped a couple of pics, wished each other luck, and were on our way.
Mile 1: 8:12
Mile 2: 7:56
Mile 3: 8:13
Mile 4: 8:02
Perfect. I was right on pace and jumped into it rather nicely. Based on the course profile, I expected the downhill to be a bit steeper. I initially wanted to keep these comfortable so I didn’t trash my quads, but it was more of a gentle downhill that was rather perfect.
Mile 5: 8:44
Mile 6: 9:06
These were the 2 miles that were a gradual incline the entire way. I expected these to be around a 9 minute pace and didn’t want to push it to maintain pace. I knew that I would be able to make up the couple of minutes I would lose across the next 20 miles.
Mile 7: 7:58
Mile 8: 8:16
Mile 9: 8:13
With mile 7 being a downhill after the 2-mile incline, I eased right into the 8 minute pace. Miles 8 and 9 felt more labored than they should have been. I was a little over pace, nothing drastic, but I just felt like I was trying to hard to hold what should have been an easy pace.
Mile 10: 8:20
Mile 11: 8:30
Mile 12: 8:18
Mile 13: 8:32
Half Marathon: 1:49:13 (8:21 avg.)
Over these last 4 miles, my right hamstring felt extremely tight and it was causing me to adjust my stride. I knew something was wrong around mile 9-10 and I wasn’t able to find that 8 minute pace that felt so good early on in the race. I just kept moving forward and hoped that it would feel better over the next few miles.
BUT IT LOOKS GREAT
Just by looking at the avg. pace and splits, it looks like I’m running a solid race. What it doesn’t show is that the last 4-5 miles were “labored” miles. I’m putting in too much effort to hold what should be a comfortable pace. It feels like I’m at mile 20. It’s at this point I realize my race is slipping away. I’m trying to fight it because I know I can hold the pace, but the tightness in my hamstring is affecting my stride and causing me to overwork everything. Although my pace was slowing, I would run the first 18 miles without stopping trying to fight what would happen eventually: walking.
Mile 14: 8:37
Mile 15: 9:07
Mile 16: 9:28
Mile 17: 9:15
Mile 18: 9:50
Toast. During long portions of this 5 mile span, I felt like I was running straight into a headwind and it didn’t help the hamstring situation that I found myself struggling with since mile 9-10. What was once a smooth, low 8-min pace had turned into a short-stride shuffle. I was taking one mile at a time just trying to hold whatever pace I could to keep moving forward. I had entered full survival mode and was just trying to make it to the finish line.
Mile 19: 11:27
And just like that, my left side quits the race. I had been overcompensating on my left side for the last 8-9 miles and it finally just cramped up. I knew it was coming. I could feel the range of motion getting less and less. Wifey and the First Lady were waiting for me at 20 and I knew I had to get there as quickly as possible. Get to your family.
Mile 20: 14:28
Wifey: Are you okay? Me: (fighting back tears) I’m hurt.
I was so glad to see them. I knew wifey was immediately concerned. She knew what I wanted from this race and how much it meant to me. I tried my best to reassure her that I was going to be ok and that I needed to finish. I swooped up the First Lady and gave her all the hugs. I answered her questions “You running daddy?” Yes. “You are all sweaty.” I held her and put my big head against hers and was trying to send her all the thoughts and emotions.
Mile 21: 12:00
Mile 22: 12:18
Mile 23: 11:49
Mile 24: 11:52
Mile 25: 12:05
From 21 on, it was run as fast as I could and as far as I could without putting myself at risk of cramping again. When I hit a water station, I would walk and take in both electrolytes and water just trying to keep myself moving closer and closer to the finish line.
Mile 26: 10:33
I spotted @RunEMZ at this mile. She had finished and was running back to find a friend (Sara) to help run her in… yes, she is that amazing. I also came across Gregg and told him what was going on. He had finished the half and was helping cheer people in. He ran with me for a couple minutes and wished me well. I also spotted Jeremy and Corrine who were snapping pictures of runners approaching the finish line. Who knew, all the cool kids were partying at mile 26.
Just before the finish line (from @runner_blogger_az); 2014 Finisher’s Medal
Marathon: 4:12:44
It is not lost on me that there are three 4’s at @RunEMZ’s home race. #totallyintentional #myplanthewholetime #forgetsub330
All 3 pics taken by The First Lady
These were not the results that I had envisioned. It was not the race that was giving me chills during training. But it was the race that my body had on that particular day. I should have known that in order for me to have the best race of my life, I needed to be at 100%. I was foolish enough to think that since I had been training for a FASTER race, that if I scaled it back I could still pull it off.
Don’t get me wrong, I did not start this race injured and I did not injure myself further by continuing on after mile 10. I honestly didn’t think that a tight hamstring would throw off my race as badly, more importantly as early, as it did. I thought that I would run a strong race and was pretty settled on walking out of PHX with a PR, even if it wasn’t a sub 3:30.
All the way from the NYC: Greg
The First Lady takes her cow bell game seriously.
I’ll save my “next steps” for a future post, but I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that sent well wishes before and after the race. It wasn’t the race I was hoping for, and many of you sent incredibly kind words that further solidify my belief that the running community is truly built on love.
Posted Wednesday
Phoenix Marathon: Let’s Get Social
I love that the First Lady’s cowbell is decked out! Bummer you didn’t get to run the race you wanted. Maybe your suffering can help teach other runners an important training tip.
The worst part of the marathon is that ANYTHING can happen in between miles! Great time, even with your walking! Congrats!
OH man. I know EXACTLY how you feel. I sucks when we have races like this. But, races like this really help you appreciate when everything does click. I think this is also what keep us runners motivated. Motivated to keep pushing, keep chasing that goal. I know you’ll nail it and it will probably happen when you least expect it. I LOVE that picture of you and the First Lady. She’s absolutely adorable!
First off – that photo of you holding The First Lady at mile 20 made me choke back tears. Such a beautiful moment captured. Thank you for bringing her and wifey. They are both so incredible and I was so happy to meet them.
Second – I’m sorry that you had a rough time out there but I’m so proud of you for pushing through. You still pulled off a great time considering the setbacks you experienced. Way to push through and get it done, Pavey!! You will get that sub-3:30. Keep on keeping on. I know it’s in you.
Can we hit the rewind button now? Seriously one of the best weekends ever.
Sorry it wasnt your day in terms of race plans, but kudos for making it to the finish and setting such a great example the First Lady
The marathon is such a tricky race and has taught me to be prepared for anything but most importantly to enjoy the journey and be proud of the results no matter what they are. You can have a perfect training cycle and a bad race day or a not so great training cycle and a great race…that is just the way it is. You worked hard and stayed strong. You finished a rough race with some tough circumstances and are an awesome example for your daughter….AWESOME job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Besides all that it looks like the whole trip was a BLAST! Such great people and fun times…memories!
In my books you rocked it! My first marathon I had bloody, blistered feet, an oncoming IT band injury, and ended up w/ 6:10 – I want to redeem myself one day! I admire your perserverance! Move forward!! Heal up! The Forst Lady so cute! Best cow bell ringer!
Every race is it’s on beast, you did your best and finished! Plus, you got to see your family at mile 20, that is priceless.
IM sorry things didn’t go as you wanted. Like I was telling you, it wasn’t the exact race I wanted either. My hamstring ended up seriously hurting and it looks as if I popped my hip somehow. I’m wondering if the uneven terrain did it!
Way to not quit and persevere. your determination and drive are such an inspiration.
Great recap, way to keep your head up. Your an inspiration and will get that PR very soon. Heal up and come back stronger than ever! Your little first lady is adorable and that cow bell.. is freaking awesome!!
That BQ will come. Stay strong brotha. Great seeing you and cant wait until the next one!
I’m sorry that it was “ova” before starting, but you did the right thing. There is discomfort and there is pain/tightness when you know something is wrong, and you were smart about it. Hamstrings are not to be trifled with–I was out for 5 weeks with one last year, and it took me out for a few weeks over the next year. It is part of the reason that I didn’t do as much speedwork during training this time around. In my mind, you should always plan on there being a next race, not that being your last!
And your daughter and family are just beyond adorable.
Oh, and my tag is @the_suzlyfe for IG and @suzlyfe for twitter (jsyk) no worries ;) I’m following your daughter now lol
You finished, you did not hurt yourself more than what was already going on, you had great support from friends and family, and that is the important part. You mentioned your goals so many times and failed to reach them in several races. I think you should take a step back and relax more about it and chill. You will reach your goal eventually, but sometimes when we want something so bad and try so hard we never reach our goals. Take time to heal and relax. Run for fun and re-adjust the goals and you will be surprised – when you least expect it you will BQ ;-)
Sorry to read that your race didn’t go as planned. But it looks like your daughter is still proud of your daddy, and I’m sure you can’t help but smile because of her.
You stI’ll Rock in my book and are an inspiration.
The picture of you and the First Lady hugging says it all. We all have those races that don’t go as planned, and trust me I know how it is to have an awesome training cycle and then deal with an injury before the big show. Just knowing that we have loved ones cheering us on and don’t care what kind of race we have, puts everything in perspective. You are an awesome role model for your daughter to keep on keepin’ on and to never give up. I love following your adventures, and I look forward to seeing what’s next. All the best!
So sorry it didn’t go the way you had hoped. Chin up and keep moving forward rockstar. The pictures of you and the First Lady are just beyond adorable. Love the Frozen cowbell!
Oh that picture of you hugging. Seriously tears. I know you will get your race. I’m so sorry it wasn’t phoenix. I understand your frustration well, it was not at all the race I wanted to run either. So we pick ourselves back up, lean on our amazing friends, and try again. Can’t wait to watch your journey. Can’t wait to see you and all the phoenix crew again!!! *hugs*
Your tone in this post sounds sad and I just want to say it’s going to be A-OK and give you a big pat on the back!! It may not have turned out as you expected, but you still conquered 26.2 and I’m sure you have learned some valuable things from your training and this race. No matter what your next steps are, you will head into them with more knowledge. I think it’s smart to not focus on them quite yet however. Marathons require a little decompressing time. :)
I remember after i completed my first marathon I said i’d never run another. But deep down I was so disappointed with my 5:28 finish time. It was the NYC Marathon too….but i had an ankle sprain in the middle of the summer right when I was supposed to be doing 16 milers…I missed some training thought the world was over. A week after the race I had dinner with a friend of mine who has run over 50 marathons. I asked her why? She said it’s like those books where you choose your own ending. Each time the story will end differently. I’ve since run a total of 5 marathons and every single one was a completely different experience. There have been highs and lows. Races that were canceled. Injuries, PRs, walls, no walls. Races with no friends or family on the course, races with my niece and nephew cheering for me. They ALL mean the world to me and I have embraced that running is what I love. And each race is an opportunity to run. That.is.all. You might have carved out an idea of what you wanted your race to be….but guess what? you’ll have that chance for the story to end differently at another race. There will always be another race.
It’s tough when you have such high hopes for a race but you carried on and finished that race with a smile which I think is important. Rest up and you’ll get your PR.
You + First Lady pic = perfection! So thankful to have met you and your fabulous fam last weekend. It was a tough day. If I had seen my kids on the course, I would have been done. Next year is going to freaking rock!
I’m sorry it didn’t go as you hoped and as you worked for. I’m so glad your family was there and that you were surrounded by friends. next time, it’s yours.
I’m sorry that it wasn’t the race you envisioned. The picture of you hugging The First Lady is so wonderful! Her pictures of you are amazing.
So so sorry. We have all had that marathon and it sucks. You just never know how your body will react come race day. Hoping your next one is so much better.
Congrats on another marathon Pavey!! Love the little pep talk from the First Lady! She wise wee one!!
(Hi Wifey!! Sending the whole fam hugs and love from Toronto!
Brian you ran an amazing race!! Good for you for listening and knowing to back off and finish. Great job! Your little lady looks very proud of her dad <3
C’mon B. BQ? Break 3:30 first. You’re becoming the blogger that takes goofy selfies but can’t break 3:30. And you trained for this one too instead of running a million races? C’mon Paveman, you can do it. I haven’t checked on this site in a while, hoping you’d overcome that 3:30 bugaboo. Hoped PHX (dreamy course) would help. Guess not. The audacity to think you could go from 3:37 to sub 3:05?