|
|
|
Houston Marathon January 18th, 2009 See Results What an awesome Marathon! This is the best organized marathon I have ever run- I know I've said that before but today just put the icing on the cake. I approached this marathon with very little expectations because my lack of training was weighing heavy on my mind, however I convinced myself with a little guts and determination I could salvage a decent time. After a blistering first mile (9:20) I settled into a comfortable pace and let the race unfold. One thing I was not going to let happen was let dehydration problems slow me down. It was evident by having to stop 4 times before the 1/2. My pre race weight was 185 and post race was 183.6 so I accomplished that goal. It also showed in my time in that a progressively got a little faster throughout the race. I was around 1:51:30 at the 1/2 and finished the last 1/2 around 1:50 for an overall time of around 3:41. I saw Ginny and Chad, she set another PR and Chad had a great run- he hasn't been able to train and still ran a 19:15 5K. I never saw Kily. Deborah had a good run averaging 9:40/m in her 5K. We really need to get a big group together next year like we did once before. This race fills up fast so we need to discuss it in the next couple of months. There is something for everyone, 5K, 1/2 marathon and Full marathon. See ya back in Hattiesburg soon! ****************************** Race report by Ginny Dufrene Short report today - I will decide on Monday if I am happy or disgusted. Today, a lot of both. Happy to PR - again it's ridiculous, 3:59:04- today, previous - around 3:59:54 or something (they had me at 3:59:20 at Stennis, but I don't know about that, but I'll take their word for it????) Anyway, how can you run 26.2 miles on 2 different courses, over a year apart, and and run within seconds of your time?????? Obviously, I am pleased that I didn't run slower, but really, it's ridiculous. That's all that I can say for now, too tired, too disgusted, too happy, I have to let this sink in. On the VERY GOOD side. I have accomplished a BIG GOAL to PR in all of my race distances at the age of 40. Tomorrow, I will focus on this accomplishment, I hope. Tonight, I wish I was a beer drinker so I could "cry in my beer" instead pizza and cookies - that makes everything better, right? (except your marathon race times - more on this in a later report). On the good side - as Amber and Margie have said, and it's very true, any time you finish a marathon under 4 hours, that's a great thing.   Ok - I have had plenty of time to think, reflect, and of course, over analyze the race. First of all, the race was fun and as Keith mentioned, they did an excellent job in hosting the marathon. Toward the end of my training, I felt that I could run a 3:55 marathon. I also decided that I wanted to try a pace group this time. They did not offer a 3:55 pace group so I had to decide 3:50 or 4:00. Prior to the race, I kept going back and forth. Even race morning, I stopped at the 4:00 group, and then waffled and decided to move on up to the 3:50 group. I decided "I have trained hard, I've had great training the last month, I'm going for it." Looking back (now it's so clear) when I found out the low for Sat night was 56 degrees, the 4:00 group should have been the final decision, but I got race fever at the start, and lost my head. (dreaming of Boston instead of being realistic for the conditions for the day) I started falling off of the pace at mile 15, which is early, so obviously I went out too fast. My pacers were a little fast too, that didn't help. We were supposed to run 8:46 pace. 9:02, 8:37, 8:45, 8:39, 8:47, 8:35, 8:53, 8:38, 8:41, 8:45, 8:24 (trying to catch up with my pacers who are going too fast, but I want to stay with them in site - my demise only 4 miles later.) 8:46, 8:45, 8:51, 9:06, 9:11, 8:48, 9:25, 9:16, 9:15, 9:46, 9:37, 9:43, 9:40, 9:40, 9:25, 9:19, 4:04 (.5 instead of .2). Good things - I am sure this is the first marathon that I had all miles under 10:00, finished under 4:00. Bad things - apparently I did a BAD job of running the tangents. My Garmin had me at 26.5 - that is at least 2 minutes extra. Normally, I do try to run the tangents, but this race, I was concentrating so hard on staying with the balloons (pacers) and also I was trying real hard to stay relaxed in the early miles, I never even thought about tangents until later in the race when the pacer group was out of sight. In the early miles I just keep thinking stay with the group, relax and run smooth. The other big reason I didn't run faster is because of the extra lbs that I have not been motivated to lose. I am 7 lbs. heavier than when I ran the 3:59 at Stennis. Other thoughts: More and more, I realize that I am a trainer, not a racer. Most of you guys get to race day and you turn on the best day. I get to race day, and it's normally NOT my best day. I can train harder than most, but come race day, I can run ok, but not great - ???????? I enjoyed the pace group. It was like leaving the driving to someone else. (It is risky, when you let someone else drive, they can cause a wreck.) The pacer that kept going too fast finished behind me. I passed him in the last few miles walking. The other pacer in our group did finish at the correct time 3:50. Yesterday and today - I am more determined than ever to run faster in the marathon. I do NOT believe that 3:59 is my best and I will currently even more possessed to run faster. Today, I am ready to resume running, but I will not - not yet. I might run on Sunday, but only 2 miles if I run then. I am not satisfied, and will continue to try to figure out how to run faster in the marathon. Super motivated and ready to run. I hope I keep the strong desire! ******************* Race Report by Kily Garcia The Houston Marathon was one of the best running events that I have ever attended. It was a very well organized marathon. This was the perfect race for me, except for the results. I trained so hard for this event that I am not sure WHY I failed. Of course, I am aware of my mistakes at the race. What I don’t understand is WHY I made the decision of starting out too fast, too early. Well, my story goes this way; I drove with my family on Friday afternoon and stayed at my brother’s house for the weekend. I remember being really excited and positive about the race, I was day dreaming about finishing the race with the clock stopping at 3:39. I knew that I could do it. On Saturday, we all went to the expo, I got my personalized bib number; I was weighed in (197 lbs) and enjoyed everything around including playing the new WII FIT with my son David. During the afternoon, I received a voice message from “Coach” Becky Ryder encouraging me to do my best, and giving me all the support that a “real runner” can give to a “newbie” like me. That was a really nice thing for her to do. Later, we had dinner with pasta and a lot of carbs, then went back home to rest and prepare for the next day. Even when I over slept and got the start later than I thought, I was ready five minutes before the gun went off. After a little prayer, I aligned between the 3:30 and 3:40 pace teams, and began running stronger but faster than normal, I was thinking that running at that pace I could save some time to slow down during the second half…well, my body didn’t respond to my thinking…by mile 5 my heart was going so fast, that I was obligated to stop and walk a few steps. I kept going fast, and at the 10k point I was caught by the 3:40 pace team. I ran with them until mile eight where I made a technical stop, to the potty! I remember taking off so fast again trying to get them, but my body was not cooperating; my heart was pumping fast again, and this time I was telling myself “listen to your body”… ”something is wrong “… “You cannot keep going fast” so I slowed down until I felt comfortable again...That was my half way point. I kept running a slow pace until I notice I was running with the 4 hour pace team, so I realized things were not going well. I remained running with the group waiting for a second wave of energy, but at mile 18, there was not a second wave of energy, but a totally burned out feeling. I never gave up but it was hard for me to run a nine minute pace. So, I decided to run/walk to the finish and happily receive the 14th state marathon medal. Amazingly, I never felt frustrated; actually I was very happy to finish in one piece. After crossing the finish line, I was weighted, and I had lost eight lbs. in the process… the medical staff sent me directly to a Gatorade station to drink as much I could handle, and then I walked for a delicious hot meal. To my surprise, after eating, I received a nice finisher glass mug and a finisher technical shirt that I will be proud to wear. Later I tried to look for my fellow pacers, but was unable to see them in that ocean of runners. I am sure they had great time too. As a normal runner, on my way back to Hattiesburg, I was thinking about my next race…, so be ready to hear a little bit more. I Run, Therefore I Am Kily |
