I kept it off social media. Maybe for selfish reasons. Maybe for the fear of putting it out there (again) and falling short (again). Maybe I thought that if no one knows about it, I can go out and finally reach this goal. Maybe I was fooling myself.
Rewind back to the end of November 2014 — I decided to take a few months off from racing constantly and focused on trying to train myself. February came around and 8 miles into my attempt to break 3:30, hamstring blew up and hopes and dreams were shattered. Looking back, I had set myself up for failure.
After that, I decided I needed some help. I started working with a strength trainer to figure out why the right side of my body was falling apart and how I could become a much stronger runner. Angela Tieri was recommended through a friend and she quickly broke down some problem areas I needed to focus on and built me a regimen, along with exercises to help that hammy issue. CHECK!
I then started working with a running coach, Daniel Clayton, co-leader of November Project San Francisco. (pictured below as we discuss race strategy days before). He put me on a 16-week plan and I was secretly-not-so-secretly training for a marathon. Honestly, I’ve never been on an X-week plan since my very first marathon back in 2006… I’ve sort of just been winging it this whole time, and it’s amazing how I’ve made it this far considering the work we put in.
Okay. Background story covered, now onto race day.
The plan: 8 min splits the entire was to a 3:29 finish.
The back-up plan: keep it faster than 8:15 to a PR.
mile 1: 8:04
mile 2: 7:52
mile 3: 8:03
mile 4: 8:03
mile 5: 7:58
mile 6: 8:00
mile 7: 8:10
mile 8: 7:56
mile 9: 8:01
mile 10: 8:04
mile 11: 8:08
mile 12: 8:10
mile 13: 8:21
1:45 at the half way point, feel good. There were some unexpected climbs the last couple miles that I wasn’t expecting. Those splits are strong tho, exactly on pace for 3:30. It’s funny because at this point, unlike any other race I make a note of how good I’m breathing over the last few miles… how I’m keeping a really consistent pace and I don’t fell like I’m putting in a strenuous effort. Much different from previous races.
mile 14: 8:10
mile 15: 8:02
mile 16: 8:20
mile 17: 8:49 (stopped to tighten up shoes, blister formed, but didn’t bother me the rest of the way)
mile 18: 8:16
mile 19: 8:28
Since about mile 16, I haven’t been able to take a deep breath. I wasn’t working hard, legs felt pretty good, on par with what you would expect at this stage in the race… not really a side stitch, but I just couldn’t take inhale/exhale properly. It had been bothering me for the last couple miles and I was trying to power through, but it just really started to mess with me. I had to shorten my stride and as you can see the pace slowed since 16.
At mile 17, the 3:33 pacer passes me, but I feel like he is going a few minutes fast, but I’m still holding onto a PR pace, around 3:30-3:35 range, through 19 miles.
mile 20: 8:59
mile 21: 9:50
mile 22: 11:06
mile 23: 10:26
mile 24: 11:48
mile 25: 12:22
mile 26: 11:57
26.2: 3:54
At mile 20, I had to pull up. I still wasn’t able to breathe and I had been battling trying to catch my breath for the last few miles. If I walk, take a minute, maybe I can catch my breath and salvage the race for a 3:45. Sadly, that wasn’t the case, once I stopped, my focus and mental strength just called it quits. The last 6 miles were made up of running/walking. I basically went from an 8’s to 10+
Hindsight:
Throughout the training cycle, I never had a strong long run over 16-17 miles. They sucked. Flat out. Sometimes it was the heat, sometimes it was fatigue. It was the one thing in the back of my mind that I was concerned about and it played out on race day. I was KILLING my speedwork. Repeats, progression runs, tempo runs, Yasso 800s, all were solid, exactly on par (if not faster) than what I was supposed to be doing. It was just those darn long runs that weren’t playing nicely.
Positives:
- Hamstring. ZERO issues. Although I know I still have some work to do in the strength game, but it gave me zero problems and was never a factor on the course. I actually forgot about it after the first few miles.
- 20 miles at PR pace. Considering my long runs were well above 9 min miles on the average, I’ll take a strong 20 miles and look to build on it. I’ve always said that your overall marathon time is decided in the final 10K and that was clearly the case.
Keep moving forward:
I hit the wall, I bonked, call it what you will. But this is the closest I have been to 3:30. Although my overall time might look like some of my other attempts, this one felt different. I felt stronger. I felt more confident that this was something that I can do. I had some missteps in the training cycle, but now I know where I need to improve.
My apologies for keeping this one off social. I guess me and marathon number 29 needed some alone time.
That being said, marathon number 30 will be at CIM in Sacramento in December. It’s where I set my current PR of 3:37.
What are you planning for the fall (or winter) race season?
I’m impressed you kept this off social media but I absolutely get your need to keep it on the down low. Sometimes the “pressure” of putting your goals out there can shake you mentally. I’m so proud of you for getting the right people to help you reach those goals. I have no doubt in mind you are going to get the BQ someday! 30 feels like a lucky number ;)
Congrats on having another marathon under your belt for sure. You mentioned your long runs all being 9 minutes+ for the pace. All the speed work is wasted if you do not incorporate at least one or two longer runs close to expected race pace. The speed work is done for a reason, but you also need to train on implementing it correctly. Your last 6-7 miles show exactly that in my opinion. You were out of your league with your pace.
I think you need 2-3 training cycles and races while continuing your current training plan before you will be able to see the benefits. Implement at least one faster, longer run 5-6 weeks before the next race to check on your progress. You never really checked your training’s progress with the slow runs in my opinion.
Hang in there – you have a fast marathon in your legs. Just put all the pieces together correctly and then you got it. Also look at your eating and overall diet to see if you can make changes.
I hear you on keeping some runs on the DL. You are very close B. You can do it!
I get why you kept it secret and I think you did a fantastic job. Marathon’s are tough…end of story. HUGS!
Dope. Thanks for sharing the story. You’re gonna own CIM! Bring it on brother!
Those last 6 miles are a beast. That’s what killed me at Marine Corp Marathon last year. I’m training for MCM again and hoping for a 29 minute PR. I WISH I had kept it off of social media though. I know I’m not doing it for anyone else, but I definitely feel that added pressure. Love that you had a smile on your face crossing the finish line though. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger right?!
Wish I had known you were there so I could have cheered! Way to persevere with those last miles – that’s such a hard place to be. I see a 3:30 in your future!
Right, so a little perspective…sure, you didn’t finish with the time you wanted. I’m also willing to bet the Santa Rosa course wasn’t exactly the ideal course to PR on due to the weird hills (not that they are huge) and the humidity. (I wasn’t there this year, but the last two years I’ve been crawling out of my skin sticky at the end of the race.) Just think how much awesome you will pour out at CIM!
Better yet, come join me in Buffalo over Memorial Day weekend. You can take the First Lady to see the falls (pack a passport, it’s better from the Canadian side). There’s a family 5k. The course is flat as a pancake. Plus, I’m going! You know I’m not a speed-chasing demon, and most of the time I stop to pet the cute puppies. This will be my 8th (well, actually, at that point it will be my 9th) marathon and my entire goal is to finish in under 6:00 (because that is the course time limit). I’m more of a half-er than a marathon-er, and my marathon PR is around 6:30. :)
Those last 6 miles always seem to be a fight for me. My training has kind of been going the same way. My long runs haven’t been so great. I’m sure it’s the heat and the fatigue from training. I have to say that you ran a very strong race and you were on track to hitting your goal. CIM seems to be a good course for you and I’m sure that is going to be the thought playing through your mind on race day. Keep pushing and never ever give up!!
So awesome how you’re focusing on the positives of the race. Shows so much about your character.
This sounds like one of my race reports. I love that you can see the positive in it and you’ve been running the marathon long enough to know that it’s unpredictable and anything can happen after mile 20. That stinkin 26.2 — oy! it drives us all crazy, yes? I made this DIY tray with the RnRLA bib that we ran… I missssssss you! I would love to run another race again someday.
So sorry it did not work out, but it sounds like you are making smart moves with working on strength training and hiring a coach.
I completely understand the feeling of wanting to keep it off social media. I’m wishing I had done that for my first because I feel all this pressure now. Congrats on the finish! Good luck in December!
20 miles at pr pace is amazing. You are getting smarter and it will pay off. The take aways from this race show exactly that. Stronger, smarter. It’s coming. That 3:30 is coming.
And keeping it off social is awesome. Sometimes you need to have that intimate connection to a race before sharing.
I love your candid honesty with your training and race recaps. I know that it TOTALLY STINKS that you bonked after mile 20… BUT you had a great first 20 miles. Now you know what to improve upon for CIM! :)
PLUS from MY standpoint… I love seeing how much you have grown as a runner over the years since your very first marathon overseas. That gives middle/back of the pack marathon runners (like me) hope… that one day I will see a 3:xx:xx marathon ;)
Totally makes sense to keep a run on the down low. You already put so much pressure on yourself, you don’t need the added.
Sorry it didn’t go how you planned but I think you learnt some valuable lessons. It will take some more work but I’m sure you’ll get your 3:30.