Long Island Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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East Meadow, New York
United States
Long Island Marathon
80F / 27C
Sunny
 		Total Time = 1h 34m 43s
Overall Rank = 119/4073
Age Group = M35-39
Age Group Rank = 18/312
Pre-race routine:

Got up at 4:30 AM. Ate a banana, 1 packet of oatmeal and drank 2 cups of black coffee. Picked up Bill, Mike and Adam.
Event warmup:

Jogged forty yards to pee behind a dumpster and my quads felt sore. Uh oh. While I was peeing I smelt something really bad. Someone took a crap behind the dumpster and my right foot was in it. Double uh oh! First time I ever stepped in human feces. Me and the guys had a good laugh, and my gag reflex got an early workout.
Run
  • 1h 34m 43s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 07m 14s  min/mile
Comments:

I had taped onto my Garmin splits for a 1:29:00 marathon, starting at 3 miles, then 6, 8, 10, & 12. I started with a 6:41 opening mile, followed by a 6:47, and 6:53. By the 3 mile mark I was already straining to hold the pace and I knew today was not to be my sub 1:30 day. Wisely, I backed the pace off and averaged a 7:30 for the next three miles. Runners began passing me, my avg dipped into the 8's for short while, I really felt the accumulated Ironman training fatigue affecting me -- For a moment I began to worry if I could even Run 13.1 miles. In the next moment, experience thankfully kicked in.

After 3 miles of pulling back on the reigns my stiff body loosened up, I reminded myself that I'd run 8 prior half marathons, and my running base I'd built since November all combined to create an surging energy within my muscles. I instantly felt renewed and fresh, the fatigue and strain melted away. I focused on my form and smooth breathing and I began pcicking off runners, all the way to the finsh line, not losing momentum even once. Mile 13 was a 7:04 and the final yards were at a 6:25 pace.

A month earlier in windy, harsher conditions I ran a 1:31:08 half marathon; but I learned A LOT during this Race.
What would you do differently?:

Bottom line is I learned I have to keep my expectations realistic. When the time comes and I concentrate on a sub 1:30 and specifically train for it, I know I will get it. I also learned to look where I step when peeing behind a dumptser.

I am VERY proud of myself for overcoming an early set back, realistically readjusting my goals on-the-fly and thus avoiding possibly BLOWING UP and DNF'ing.
Post race
Warm down:

After my friend Bill and Rick came in from the full marathon, I jogged out and found my buddy Mike Hall and he helped bring me back to the finish line. Mike had a TREMENDOUS PR!! Today was all about Mike and his PR; and my buddy Bill running his first Marathon and blowing away Sub 4 by 8 minutes.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Hammering out 43-miles at 21+ mph pace two days prior. :) The accumulated Ironman fatigue, 613 miles on the bike for the month of April, no Taper, etc...

Event comments:

This was a phenomenal event. From the Expo to the Post-Race ativities, and hundreds of volunteers, this is the Marquis Race for Long Island!




Last updated: 2010-03-02 12:00 AM
Running
01:34:43 | 13.1 miles | 07m 14s  min/mile
Age Group: 18/312
Overall: 119/4073
Performance: Good
Course: Start at Nassau Colliseum and then run a small loop, head down Main Street, then turn onto the Wantaugh Parkway, then back to Eisenhower Park. Flat and Fast.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5