A Passion for Running

Time: 3:30:35
Placement: 53 out of 430
Results can be viewed here.
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When you look at the splits, keep in mind that I was expecting to run the first 20 miles of this marathon between 150 and 160bpm and the last 6 miles at 165 to 170bpm. 150 to 160bpm was the middle aerobic effort I had very comfortably done my all my long runs at.

But, on September 9th, my heart rate did not want to be consistent with what it had been during training. Not even close!

Splits

1 - 8:05 minutes/mile @ 151 average heart rate: The first mile felt very slow and easy. I was quite surprised to finish it in 8:05. Even so, I knew I was running easy so I was not concerned.

2 - 7:56 @ 165: The second mile also felt very easy but I was surprised to see my heart rate shoot up so quickly. I chalked this up to race day jitters.

3 - 8:10 @ 167: Not wanting to take a chance, I backed off a bit in the third mile but was not rewarded with a lower heart rate. I continued to run by perceived effort.

4 - 7:54 @ 170: Heart rate is now at 85% of max - a pace reserved for harder, 90 minute training run efforts. Not good. I decide to back off again for the fifth mile.

5 - 8:09 @ 169: I am now running at slower than a 3:30 marathon pace STILL just shy of 170bpm.

At the end of the fifth mile, I have to make the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make during a marathon:

1. Keep my heart rate under 170bpm knowing it undoubtedly means running a slower marathon. Now, I am remembering Andrew’s advice - to run the marathon without a goal. But I’m balancing that with the fact that - even though I had no specific goal - my expectation from training was that I should, at the very least, be running a 3:30 marathon. Now, I was confronted with CHOOSING to run slower than that. I did not like this choice.
2. Allow my heart rate to stay above 170bmp for the duration of the race. Even though the effort FELT good, I was worried - really worried - that I would not be able to sustain a 170 heart rate for another 21 miles!

In essence, I had to decide whether I would play a safe 3:45 marathon, or risk imploding while attempting a 3:30 marathon at a very high heart rate. Well folks, I’ve run a 3:38 marathon and a 3:45 marathon. Been there, done that. Bought the t-shirt.

I decided to go for it.

6 - 7:58 @ 170

7 - 7:50 @ 169: At mile seven, my calves loosened up (they had been tight - not unusual for me). I was now feeling much looser in my stride. Perceived effort still felt smooth and easy.

8 - 7:53 @ 172
9 - 7:52 @ 171
10 - 7:58 @ 171

11 - 7:50 @ 170: I’m feeling really loose by mile 11 and my paces are showing it. Things feel great. I’m passing lots of people (nobody has passed me since mile 2).

12 - 7:50 @ 170: Smooth and steady.
13 - 7:47 @ 171: Smooth and steady.

14 - 7:47 @ 174: A bit of a hill here sends my heart rate higher. At this point in the race, I pass a group of about five runners. The last runner in the bunch decides he does not want me to pass him. He begins to draft off me. I resist the urge to surge. I keep running steady. By the end of the mile, he’s driving me a bit batty - his feet are slapping loudly against the pavement, and his breath is like a steam engine. He tucks himself two steps behind me and a bit to the right - making it very difficult to cut the many tangents I have to cut on the paved running path we are now on.

15 - 7:49 @ 173: Smooth and steady. But tag-along is still there. And he’s bugging me. I slow down a few times to try to get him to pass - but he slows down too. I resist the urge to tell him to get lost. Physically, I still feel smooth.

16 - 7:11 @ 173: I am ASTOUNDED to get to the end of this mile in 7:11. I am so mad I let tag-along get to me and I express out loud how upset I am. I am really mad. What have I done?! This is going to cost me - that’s for sure. Tag-along hears me and asks what’s wrong. I say, “We just ran that last mile in 7:11. I have to slow down”. I hear a grunt and am about to tell him to piss off but, I don’t have time as he seems to disappear. Perhaps he got the hint.

17 - 8:12 @ 171: I slow down during this mile. I know, at this early stage in the marathon, that 7:11 minute mile is going to hurt me. I need to get things back under control.

18 - 8:29 @ 172: Mile 16 is starting to take its toll.

19 - 8:40 @ 171: ugh. I feel like hell. During this mile, tag-along and I meet up again. I’ve just done a two mile loop and returned almost to where I last saw him. He’s two and a half miles behind me now and walking. Part of me feels sorry for the guy and part thinks “serves him right”. Update: Tag-along finished in over five hours. He must have walked the rest of the way. Poor fella.

20 - 8:14 @ 172: Fighting. I remember Coach’s words - “The secret to good marathon times is not running fast - it is not slowing down”. I’m trying like HELL not to slow down. I tell myself to just get to mile 21 and then run like hell.

21 - 8:28 @ 175: Some uphill here. Not too bad, but enough to slow me down and drive heart rate up. Still, I am happy - now, it’s a race!

22 - 7:44 @ 175: I am digging DEEP. I invoke the spirit of Steve Prefontaine who said, “I’d like to work it out so that at the end, it’s a pure guts race. If it is, I’m the only one who can win it”. I tell myself, I have more guts than everyone around me. Everything is hurting like hell but I am still passing about one or two people a minute. The passing spurs me on. And not one person has passed ME since mile two so - even though I feel like death warmed over - I think I must be doing something right.

23 - 8:41 @ 175: Some more inclines. Tough going. I’m not happy. I’m in a WORLD of pain but grit my teeth and battle harder.

24 - 8:24 @ 176: I am doing math in my head and it doesn’t look good. I know I’ve got to run eight minute pace or kiss 3:30 good bye.

25 - 8:03 @ 176: I’m still passing people. In fact, passing people becomes my number one thought as I realize it is the motivation I need to hit eight minute miles. I think I might make it. There is still hope!

26 - 8:00 @ 179: Passing lots of people! I’m going anaerobic.

385 yrds - 7:12 min/mile @ 180: RUN RUN RUN!

The last two hundred yards were glorious. As I made my way up what they call “Heartbreak Hump”, and turned the bend, I flew past several runners including a relay team. Then, I sped up and put distance between me and the people behind me. I wanted one thing: ALL EYES ON MY FINISHING. I had worked for it and I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to ham it up.

I roared at the crowd: “YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!!!!!!!”. I motioned for them to cheer and pumped my fists in the air. The crowd cheered! “YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!!!!!”

3:30:35 - an 8 minute PR - @ 171 average heart rate. It wasn’t pretty, and it made no sense but - I did not lie in my previous post - I had big balls of steel at that race!