A Passion for Running

Welcome to the home of Mark aka The Running Blogfather – a 40 year-old dad, husband and marathon runner who’s beaten injury and is on the comeback trail!

so many positives – red deer marathon report part i

passion for running category: running on Sunday, May 20 2007

Finish Time: 3:38:28 (a four minute PR)
Overall Placement: 37th out of 227
Placement Among Men: 30th out of 122
Placement Among Men in my Age Category (30-39 yrs): 13th out of 28

The finish time is 11 minutes slower than the pace I targeted (3:27 finish) and eight minutes slower than the time I expected would make me happy. But, ya know what? I’m ecstatic with this time. Why?

This course was brutally hilly. The hills were never-ending. They just kept coming and coming. But…

  1. I executed my/Andrew’s plan almost to perfection. I ran the first two miles nice and slow all the while watching huge numbers of half marathoners, and a large number of full marathoners pass me.
  2. At the three kilometer mark (1.86 miles), I started finding my race pace rhythm and felt awesome there. If not for the numerous hills I had to deal with, I’m pretty certain I would have ran that race at, or at least close to my target. However, as there were so many hills, it was difficult to hit pace. Enough about the hills.
  3. From 3k on, NOT ONE SOUL passed me.
  4. In fact, from 3k on, I passed runners continuously. I passed runners from that point right to the finish. It was the most powerful feeling in the world to pass runner after runner after runner. I passed them going up hills, going downhills and on the hard to find flat sections of the course (did I just mention hills again?).
  5. I stayed at the extreme edge of my aerobic zone throughout the race – except during the last kilometer of course.
  6. The wall: Things got really tough at around 35 kilometers/22 miles but I forged on. I slowed from this point forward all the while continuing to pass other runners. By the last few kilometers, I was struggling to keep under a 5:30 min/km (8:50 min/mile) but I held on and kept running to the finish.

It was a tremendous experience. Even though my time is not what I would have liked, I’m really pleased with it given the difficult course.

I’ve got no injuries and recovery is the best I’ve ever experienced.

Lydiard was good to me today. Thank you, Coach.
——-
One last thing: Wanna know how I fueled during the race? I had water. No gels. No powerbars. No gatorade. Just water.




38 Comments

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Comment by Jon (was) in Michigan

Sunday May 20, 2007 @

Hmmmm. 4 minute PR on a hilly course after a long marathon hiatus? I’d say you totally kicked ass today, Mark. Nice job! Sounds like you are a little disappointed in your time, but given that you walked away from this without injuries, I think things are going to get even better from here. I’ll be interested so see how your recovery plan goes.

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Comment by Mark

Sunday May 20, 2007 @

Jon,

I know this will not sound very humble but, when I compare how I held up against the rest of the field, and remember how I passed everyone in sight, I know I had a kick-ass day.

I would have liked to get sub 3:30 but I also know that was a tall order on this course. :)

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Comment by Andrew Seeley

Sunday May 20, 2007 @

Excellent execution. 39k of no one passing you as you climb to the 37th spot is a job well done. Also, it sounds like you managed your hills well. A job well done.

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Comment by Pamalamadingdong

Sunday May 20, 2007 @

You are my new God.

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Comment by Robb

Sunday May 20, 2007 @

That’s a heck of a run Mark! Good on you…congratulations on the PR – and, it’s great to hear that you are injury free.

Hills are a bugger – I thought I was prepared for the hills of Halifax but not so. I too hit the wall hard at the 35 K point and dribbled home to the finish – what a battle.

Again, hats off to you. Be proud of your excellent effort today.

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Comment by 21stCenturyMom

Sunday May 20, 2007 @

Excellent run – just fantastic. Congratulations.

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Comment by jank

Sunday May 20, 2007 @

Mark – congratulations – the race sounds thrilling. Man, I want that feeling…

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Comment by jeff

Sunday May 20, 2007 @

congratulations, mark!

inspired, proud and excited! well done, blogfather.

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Comment by Andrew

Sunday May 20, 2007 @

Well done on the race Mark, quite jealous and impressed! Quick question, you say you drank only water, how much water did you drink? And how often? Did you follow these new guidelines of only drink when you’re thirsty? Just interested, thanks.

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Comment by Thomas

Monday May 21, 2007 @

You ran a PR, so don’t expect any sympathy from anyone, even though it might have been slower than expected. Hilly marathons are tough, no doubt about it, but swallowing up victim after victim is great fun, isn’t it?

Congratulations on a PR, especially after such a long break.

P.S., I’m relieved you didn’t break my PR. Hehe.

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Comment by Jack

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Congratulations Mark, a well deserved PR. I’m sure you’ll fall below 3:30 next time around.

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Comment by jeanne

Monday May 21, 2007 @

my hero!!!

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Comment by Mike Power

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Well run race mark. I knew it would be ‘easy’ for you. Great to hear you had such a strong race. congrats!

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Comment by Rus

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Hilly and brutal. You did it Great anyway. Congratulations!

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Comment by Anne

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Excellent job, Mark (not that we expected anything less)!

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Comment by Jennifer

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Nice job, Mark. I’m glad you are so satisfied with your race.

I was very curious to read of your “nutrition” plan for the race. So many people make such a big deal about how much carbohydrate and salt they take in. For me I think that what I consume during a long run or race doesn’t matter as much for during the race, but it does affect my recovery. I’m curious if you had any particular pre-race plan? There’s lots of talk on a message board I’m on about carbo-loading, but I’m not sure that’s all it’s cracked up to be, either.

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Comment by deene

Monday May 21, 2007 @

yay, Mark!!

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Comment by Linda

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Great job!

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Comment by Nancy Toby

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Your time is not what you would have liked??!!??!!

A PR is a PR!! You just did the distance faster than you ever have before! Well done!! Congratulations!

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Comment by Dawn - Pink Chick

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Wow Mark! Awesome job. Hopefully Mark’s advice works as well for me in 12 days.

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Comment by Dawn - Pink Chick

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Ooops that should have read – Wow Mark! Awesome job. Hopefully Andrew’s advice works as well for me in 12 days.

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Comment by Susan

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Way to go Mark! Is there a Lydiard book?

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Comment by edinburghrunner

Monday May 21, 2007 @

great stuff!

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Comment by Aaron

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Nice, nice, nice! Way to go Mark – I knew you’d do great! How about we plan on meeting for Grandma’s Marathon next spring? Wouldn’t that be fun?

Later!

Aaron

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Comment by Sten

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Congratulations Mark, great race!

I am curious to know how much hill training you did prior to the marathon.

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Comment by Runner (aka La Lynx)

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Great job, Mark! Do you think you might have run faster if you had taken in additional carbs during the race? Is that part of the training program? The first time I took in additional carbs during a long run was in my first 20-mile training run and it seemed to make a difference.

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Comment by Lara

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Mark that’s really terrific! Way to smoke those hills! Congratulations!!

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Comment by beverly

Monday May 21, 2007 @

Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Comment by Anonymous

Monday May 21, 2007 @

You always have to be happy with a PR. That is a rule. Not a soul passed you in a marathon after the 3K mark? Did I read that right? Holy cow. I’m gonna try that next time, lollygag to the, what, 4% mark then start beatin’ up on everyone else. My last M. it was high tide flowin’ past me in the last half. Nice job.

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Comment by Peter

Monday May 21, 2007 @

You always have to be happy with a PR. That is a rule. Not a soul passed you in a marathon after the 3K mark? Did I read that right? Holy cow. I’m gonna try that next time, lollygag to the, what, 4% mark then start beatin’ up on everyone else. My last M. it was high tide flowin’ past me in the last half. Nice job.

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Comment by Susan

Tuesday May 22, 2007 @

If I were to get a Lydiard bood, which would you recommend? And what’s up with the no fuel thing – es su loco?

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Comment by Elizabeth

Tuesday May 22, 2007 @

congrats! The water method is sounding real good after my gatorade debacle at pig!

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Comment by A

Wednesday May 23, 2007 @

Congrats! It sounds great.

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Comment by yip wt

Wednesday May 23, 2007 @

wow…refuelling on water only?….the last marathon I had was 100plus (sth like gatorade)..again and again.

I think i’ll follow your strategy.

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Comment by Donald

Wednesday May 23, 2007 @

Congratulations Mark! I’ll bet it feels great to get another marathon under your belt.

I don’t know about the water-only thing, though – I’ll just take your word for it.

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Pingback by A Passion for Running » red deer marathon report part v - pictures

Thursday May 24, 2007 @

[...] is part v. Part one is here Part two is here Part three is here Part four is here [...]

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Pingback by A Passion for Running » red deer marathon report part vi - a personal best = joy + anxiety no more

Thursday May 24, 2007 @

[...] is part six Part one is here Part two is here Part three is here Part four is here Part five is here ———- [...]

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Pingback by A Passion for Running » red deer marathon report part vii - my two biggest thrills

Thursday May 24, 2007 @

[...] is part seven Part one is here Part two is here Part three is here Part four is here Part five is here Part six is here [...]

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