Calgary Marathon - RunMarathon

Well I started out, the field was pretty dense, I took my time, tried to run the tangents, didn't jump around a lot, just took it easy, I knew the field would thin and then I could find my pace. The half and the full share the course to the turnaround for the half, so it was fairly busy.

Anyways, after about 3k it thinned out and I noted I had gone about a 5:48 pace. So, I figured, okay, drop it to 5:40 for the balance of the race and I will have my 4 hours, no problem right. I did okay, hit the hill at 14k and kept the pace for the most part. Made it the halfway point (not the turnaround mind you) at 2:03 so I am thinking the goal was out the window but I am wondering if I can make it up going down the hill. Don't know what happened, at 18k just started losing the pace.

Anyways, run around forever in the residential it seemed, wind was picking up, but not too too bad, I was just getting so tired of running around the residential, and there was some up and down, not a lot mind you, but after running for 2 hours even a little up and down is more than I wanted to deal with. I was feeling mostly good though, still passing people who started before me, pace was slowing but not too too much.

At 26k though I had the old return of the fiber, bad. Stopped me dead in my tracks, man was I pissed. Then, fortune smiled on me and 10 seconds later there is a guy, in front of his house, cheering us on, and I am like, "can I use your washroom" and he is like, "sure, don't even worry about your shoes it is all tiled." Dude saved my race, turns out the porta potties were another 3.5 k ahead, that would have sucked.

So, left buddies house, feeling good about life, thinking, this really is awesome, not worrying about my goal, because, dang, this fun. At this point I am averaging 5:50, and I am thinking I can hold that so I start going. No, can't hold the pace, end up going 6:30 pace for 30 minutes. I walk an aid station, take stock, 31 k down. Finally at the top of the hill. (cool course in that the wall is on this hill so really, you don't feel it). Note that I have a 3 minute cushion for a 4:12, that is not so bad.

So I start down the hill and I hear what sounds like a heard of buffalo or something behind me. AHHHH, it is the 4:15 pace group guy (I passed him around 10k), I figure he started about 3 minutes ahead of me so I figure I will stick with him, get home, things will be fine.

Well I made it about 5 k with him, average 6:05, it was good, I just couldn't keep it up. Interesting story, so I am running with him and this guy catches up, has a marathon maniac jersey on, they chat for a bit, turns out my 4:15 pacer is earning his jersey today, oh why you ask, because the crazy SOB ran a 50k ultra the day before. Nutty.

So, made it to 37 k. Wheels fell off pretty good at this point. Don't really remember what happened except the 4:15 guy kept getting away from me, and I had to sprint to catch up and I was thinking, dude you are going to fast, but my garmin was telling me the pace was actually slowing, lol. Last 5 k took 37 minutes.

I had nothing left at the finish, I had no kick. Okay, well a little kick, but ever so little. So Marj and Brielle after the finish, was really nice that they came out to see me.



Start slower. But I had to try you know. I thought I had the training in place to do a 4 hour, clearly I did not. Hydration was spot on.

I never really felt good on this race. I did a 17k 5:21 training run and I did a 18k MP run after running 10k in training, in crappy windy conditions. I should have been able to hold that marathon pace longer. They say that the first half should be easy, it never was, I mean I wasn't straining, just not sailing like I expected to. I may have screwed up my taper with a pretty hard run on Tuesday, I don't know. I did miss a number of mileage goals during training. I had a tough time getting consecutive 55 mile weeks. I did a couple, but really tough to string them together. 3 20 milers, really not enough.

Well the weather sucked throughout, but at least the wind was down for the most part. Picked up near the finish, which was okay as gave me a tail wind, not so good when you stop. Cold, sore.

No dense carbs and the finish either, just fruit, cookies and juice boxes. Oh they had jerky too, which was cool.

Wandered around, picked up my drop off bag, hang out with some buddies.

My walk to the car took forever, seriously considered lying down for a second.

Oh, met a girl in line at the porta potties who suggested that I go to the running room to get my shoes as they were 59 bucks (regular 169) so I did, bought 2 pairs, tough to go wrong.


training, lack of base. However, I should not be too hard on myself. In February at my 50k my marathon split was 5:05, and I hit the wall hard at 30k on that one, even though my pace was slower. First half marathon I did 2 years ago took me 2:18, which is longer than my second half split, so good there.

I mean I have run 1500 k this year, that isn't too shabby. I doubt I could have trained more. Although I fell well short of my goal I am having a tough time not counting this as a victory.

Oh yeah, bonus, they weighed you at the expo, I came in at 191. Unbelievable. Last weighed myself beginning of February and I was 201. Cannot remember being under 200. We are talking at least 14 years.


really a good race, lots of support on the course. Crappy weather, so no real post race stuff going on.