my MMM recap/splits

[dan]

1: 5:40
2: 11:40.70 (6:00)
3: 17:50.90 (6:10.20)
4: 24:13.55 (6:22.65)
5: 30:13.68 (6:00.13)
6: 36:22.80 (6:09.12)
7: 42:53.20 (6:30.40)
8: 49:04.57 (6:11.37)
9: 55:20.16 (6:15.59)
10: 1:01:31 (6:11.17)
11: 1:07:45 (6:14.07)
12: 1:14:05 (6:20.41)
13: 1:20:20 (6:14.24)
14: 1:26:28 (6:08.91)
15: 1:32:23 (5:54.46)
16: 1:38:25 (6:02.36)
17: 1:44:39 (6:13.55)
18: 1:50:37 (5:58.23)
19: 1:56:47 (6:09.64)
20: 2:03:01 (6:14.50)
21: 2:09:16 (6:14.90)
22: 2:15:36 (6:20.00) ouch
23: 2:22:21 (6:44.43) Ouch
24: 2:28:50 (6:29.46) OUch
25: 2:35:32 (6:41.54) OUCh
26: 2:42:37 (7:05.17) OUCH
26.2: 2:44:09 (1:32.11) Relief - finally!

So, believe it or not, I managed to positive-split this race. I felt pretty solid through about 14-15. Then, I got some minor "hitches" in the form of calf cramps that I knew were about to become very serious. It's one of those things where I knew I couldn't stride out any more than I already was or I would go into lockdown. I made it to about 19-20 before things started getting grim. Both calves were in various states of rebellion for the last 10k, and my hammy locked briefly between 22-23, causing me stop and almost cry in disbelief that it was happening AGAIN as it had in Chicago.

Anyway, it helped a lot to see Jeremy and Dennis out on the trail (and Smitty, too). You guys all know what it's like and I'm sure my face didn't look to pleasant. It is clear after this race that I need to do some more research as to what does/doesn't work for me in terms of keeping my legs moving and fresh in the last part of the marathon.

I had hoped to run 5:40-5:50's over the back half of the race and approach the 2:35:00-region, but I can't really make any excuses. I may have gone out a little hard, but I felt pretty good until I got to the turn and realized I was only halfway done.

I also want to thank my wife, my parents, my brother, and my mother-in-law for their on-course support and photography skills. It was great to run a local race, close to home, and still feel like it was a big event. Kevin and his crew did a good job with the resources available to them and I am glad I was able to participate and come out with a satisfactory result. The trail is nice for a race, though the blacktop from the trestle bridge in to the finish is NO picnic, especially when your shins are seizing so much your foot can't strike flat!

Up next for me is a week of rest (+/-) and then the start of a slow and thoughtful buildup on the way to Marine Corps on 10/31/2010.

See you guys out and about soon!

On an interesting note - I weighed myself last night before the race, and after puking at my in-laws house this afternoon, the scale said I had lost 12.8 pounds since last night. Then, once I had some food and drink, I was up another 8.6 pounds. The scales could have been off, but what a huge drop it was!

[brucedenton]

Good run Dan, you were looking strong when I saw you. I figured you eased off when the race was in the bag, sorry to hear it wasn't so much by choice as necessity, but the marathon can do that to you, for sure. I will post my splits and thoughts tonight...I felt terrible for several hours after the race but feel amazingly good today at work. Nice recap and good work keeping the title local!

[wvrunner]

Congratulations to Dan, Brad, Jason, Mary Jane and Rick on great races. I enjoyed watching the race and watching many of you finish. Dan, I know you were hurting when we saw you at Cash Valley and Dakota but you hung in there and finished strong. Brad Paye ran a strong stretch from Dakota to the finish, almost taking the runner-up spot.

Jason looked great at the finish, but I didn't recognize him without his beard (I thought you grew it in preparation for the new Mountaineer mascot tryouts). Mary Jane pr'ed big time and so did Rick in the half. It was a great day for our area runners and a lot of fun to watch.

[frojoe23]

Looking at the results, Brad Paye had a fantastic race! You better be punching that ticket to Boston next spring - keep that up and you are definitely looking at running somewhere in the mid 2:30's.

[bsp]

Thanks very much Dennis and Jaron. I'm not sure about 2:30s, but I will be aiming to set a new PR (< 2:45) over the next year.

Overall, I was happy with my race, particularly in light of the fact that I had some stomach issues the night before, and for a few hours I wondered whether it was prudent to even run!

Since Kevin posts the list of registered runners, I had done a bit of research on the field (mostly using Athlinks). I knew that Striggles was a talented 2:35-2:40 marathoner, but I really thought that Dan would be the strongest man in the race. I felt that if some of the other contenders tried to run with Dan early, they would be hurting late. My tactic was to stay out of any early fireworks and focus on a strong second half. I executed the gameplan well, although for once I might have been a bit too conservative in the early part of the race. It was a little disappointing to come so close to catching Striggles at the end. I didn't realize that I had any realistic shot at catching him until about 2 miles to go, and I just ran out of real estate.

The true highlight of the race for me was seeing family and old friends (Dennis Mickey, Smitty and others) out on the course. It was a great feeling to tell Smitty to "get a cold one ready for me" at mile 25.

Dan: congratulations on a great win! Your best marathon times are well in front of you. I look forward to following you, Jaron and the rest of the gang this summer and at Marine Corps.

[Justin]

Brad,

Are you running Marine Corps?

[bsp]

Justin: Unfortunately, no. I would have loved to join the QCS crew for that race, but my schedule this fall makes that impossible.

I'm almost certain to enter the Chevron Houston event in January. I'm not yet sure whether I'll run the half or full. Perhaps I can entice a few QCS folks down for that race. The half marathon course is very fast (Ryan Hall's record was set on the course) and the field is deep (it has been the USATF half championships the last couple of years). In addition, Houston was awarded the 2012 marathon trials, so my guess is that some of the top US men may run this year to preview the course. Perhaps I'll post more information under a separate thread in a few weeks.

Hope you are well Justin,
-Brad