P.F. Changs Rock 'N' Roll Arizona Marathon - RunMarathon

Pace and hr data coppied here for better viewing

1 8:11 140
2 8:09 139
3 8:10 139
4 8:13 140
5 8:35 140
6 8:03 142
7 8:07 142
8 8:16 142
9 8:08 141
10 8:11 140
11 8:32 142
12 8:00 142
13 8:10 141
14 8:09 139
15 8:05 140
16 8:14 142
17 8:12 144
18 7:52 145
19 7:37 147
20 7:38 149
21 7:50 150
22 7:51 150
23 7:46 149
24 7:43 151
25 7:44 152
26 7:37 153
26.2 6:40 159

Plan was to go out with 340 group +/- and run with them for the first half. Decided to go out slightly faster than that as long as my heart rate stayed low. Maintained 335 pace thru the half point.

10K 51:23
First 10 K running a smooth pace. Stripped off my throw away shirt at 1.5 mi point. Focused on mid foot and good turnover. Didn't pay much attention to anything except looking for an 8:12ish pace and a reasonable HR. Tossed my gloves around 4th mi. Had to stop around the 5th mile for a bathroom break. Feeling very good and comfortable.

13.1 mi 1:47:25 Next 6 mi +/- were also good. Finished the perpetium around 9 mi and dumped the bottle. Sun came out about then and it got progressively warmer but still very comfortable. Started having pain in my left first toe that turned into a bloody toe by the end. Decided it didn't matter if it hurt running since I had to finish either way. Had to stop again for toilet in 11th mi.

Dawn said I should run my pace to the half point then pick it up from there. Crossed the half and was on pace for a 3:35. First half executed well but slightly fast.

20 mi 2:42:29
Started picking up the pace but had a slight hill to contend with so my times didn't get faster till the 18th mile when we started down the hill into the finish. 16th mile was the worst mentally even though I was feeling good. I rembered someone saying that Alma School would be a grind, shouldn't have listened to them. As soon as I got past it I started pushing harder. At 17 I realized I was in single digits and got excited. Strange to think that 9 mi was exciting but it was. Still feeling great. Took a gel at 15 and another at 19.

Finish 3:30:33
Final 10 K (48:04) was 3 min quicker than 1st 10 K. This was a really fun part of the race. I leaned into the downhill and let the legs roll. By now everyone who went out too fast was hurting. Lots of walkers and people barely jogging. Started picking runners to run down. Made the mistake of picking a girl who must have started picking up the pace around 22nd mi. I realized I wasn't making quick enough ground so I kept her in sight while picking off other runners. Gel at 22 and another at 24. Approaching mi 25 I decided to see how many places I was making and was surprised to count 60 in the last 1.2 mi. Turning the last few corners into the finish area I stepped up the pace again. Turning the last corner I was surprised to see 3:30 on the clock and realized what a great run I'd just finished. What a blessing. God gave us great conditions, (weather wind and temps) a beautiful course with a downhill finish, absolutely amazing!!!

Try to not overhydrate before and early on in the race....its the fine balance between too much and not enough drinking

sat in the secure zone till I cooled off then walked over to grab gear from the UPS trucks. walked al the way back thru the post race area to the family zone and met Melissa. 5 more blocks to the parking garage


2 bathroom stops. also not looking at my watch for total time in the last 10K. Think this was actually a blessing and not a limitation.


Good R&R branded race. Standard, timely, good support!