BI-LO Myrtle Beach Marathon - RunMarathon

I write these recaps mostly for myself - more of a record of what I did right and wrong so that I can learn from my mistakes. Being only my 2nd marathon, MB provided a world of insight into what I need to do to get better.

An easy trip down midday on Friday and I checked into the Sheraton, home of the race expo. This made life so much easier - I parked the car and was able to walk to everything and try to focus on the race. The expo was uneventful but well organized. I had set a goal to break 4 hours in MB (roughly 9 minute miles) - the course is almost completely flat and with the half marathon breaking away at mile 11, I was sure I could do a negative split and meet the goal. I ran a 4:24 in Thunder Road back in December and with the lessons learned there (including never to stand in line again at a port-a-jon), I was ready to go.

The weather for race day was forecast to be perfect - low in the morning of 52, high of 63. I woke up at 4 AM, checked the temp and saw it was 59 outside - hmmm - a bit warmer than expected but no big deal. Being solo at the race (the kids had a make-up day at school and therefore stayed back in Charlotte), I had to plan to carry everything with me and not have the luxury of picking things up from them along the way (ie - gels, liquids, etc). Everything was ready to go and I headed out to walk the 1/2 mile to the start.

MB runs a great race - the startline had no less than 100 port-a-jons - never a line, no waiting. To non-runners, this may not seem like a big deal, but it was great. With the half starting on the left side of the road and the full on the right, there was plenty of room to spread out.

Okay - so far, things seem great. Well - here is where I made mistake number 1. As I was waiting for the start, I struck up a conversatoin with another runner - his name was Kyle and he's from out east in NC. We were talking race strategies, he was telling me about a half-ironman he had just completed, etc. He said he was shooting for 3:30, I told him I was going for 4 hours. The race started and for the first mile, it was a bit congested so we just ran together. Mile 1 - 9:06. As Kyle and I spoke, he said he was going to stick with me for the first 10 or so miles and then open it up - in my mind, this seemed like a bad plan as running 9 minute miles and then opening it up for the next 16 isn't going to work.

So - we're running along and the next 9 miles ticked away pretty quickly - 8:55, 8:54, 9:01, 8:58, 8:36, 8:24 - wait a minute - 8:24 - that's too fast - I haven't trained for this and this is a bad idea - I should slow down, yet, I'm still chit chatting and sticking with Kyle. At the 8 mile water stop (not to be personal, but this is a race report) I ran off into some woods and took a quick pit stop - no waiting in lines for me anymore during a race! By the time I was back on the road, Kyle had moved on - that's probably best, as I couldn't have kept his pace all that way. Little did I know that the damage was already done...

Now I'm in a groove, feeling pretty good and just clicking off the miles - I feel indestructible - as we come out of the market common area and onto Kings Drive, we smack right into a head wind. We've got the shade of the buildings keeping the sun off of us and nice northerly breeze - suddenly it's cold and I can feel myself getting a bit tired.

The way the MB marathon is setup, you basically run miles 8 - 17 up Kings Drive - it's a long, boring stretch - nothing but hotels and tourist shops. At mile 11 we said goodbye to the half marathon people and it got lonely - marathoners were spread out a bit, crowd support thinned, and I could feel the effects of going out too fast (and that damn wind) getting to me. I hit the half marathon at 1:57 (14 minutes faster than my best half time). With a 6 minute buffer in the bank (assuming an even split), I felt pretty good about breaking 4 hours.

At mile 14.5 the road veers from the hotel corridor to running along the beach. This is where the wheels started to fall off. Mile 14 - 8:47. Just watch the change coming up - Mile 15, 9:11. 9:32. 9:37. 9:56. 10:12. Crap - What is going on here - My legs are moving - high cadence, shorter stride, breathing under conrol. Mile 20, 10:06. Mile 21 - my goodness, it sure seems hot out here - no shade from the bulidings anymore, we've turned and are heading south, I've got a tailwind - 10:57. Mile 22, I see my running friend Richard Hefner, one of the most motivational people that I've ever met - he had run the half marathon and was already driving home - I ran by his car, shouted out a big hello. He said on facebook this morning that I looked strong - either I was faking it or, well, I just don't know.

At mile 22 you veer off onto a greenway area near Rt. 17. I was expecting a water station at 22, but it wasn't there. I've been solidly drinking throughout the race, but I am parched - just dying of thirst. I meet up with a nice lady from Ablemarle - she's running her first marathon and was trying to break 4 hours - even though I know I'm cooked, I try to encourage her to keep going. She looks at me and says "You are an angel - they should call you Coach Tom." Well, I do coach two soccer teams and have for years - maybe I have a little of that motivational spirit in me, but it's definitely not doing me any good. I hang with her for 2 miles - Mile 22 - 10:15. Okay, if I can keep this up, I can meet my secondary goal of 4:10.

FINALLY, mile 22.6, water - the volunteers are so friendly, so peppy - i just want to be sick at this point. I know it's only in the low 70's but it might as well be July in Charlotte - I'm dying. Mile 23 - 11:25. What!? 11:25 - what the heck is going on here. The next two were at 11:16 and 11:55. Well, 4:10 is pretty much gone. Dig deep buddy - do something - get moving. Mile 26 - 9:53.

Chip time at the finish - 4:13:15. Sigh. I'm not happy with myself. This is almost a 12 minute PR over Thunder Road, but I am very disappointed in myself. I down 3 gatorades within 5 minutes. As I'm wandering around, Ann from Albemarle comes up with her husband and family, says "This is the angel that helped me finish", and gives me a huge hug. Thanks Ann - I'm very happy for you. I stagger back to the hotel, clean up, and drive the 4 hours back to Charlotte (by the way dummy, next time leave the manual transmission car at home - dumb mistake).


So - it's 24 hours later - what have I learned?

- My long training runs - I need to step it up a bit there - sure, I can do a 20 miler - no problem. They need to be run at a better speed though - not always at that "Sunday Drive" pace.

- Long Runs - more of them - I had followed a beginners plan for Thunder Road, modified it for MB. I'm definitely ready to step it up - it's not about finishing anymore, it's about getting faster.

- Hydration - I didn't do a good job of hydrating in the days before the race. Sure, I was drinking, but not on any specific plan. I need to work on that.

- Know your limits - I had a plan - 9 minute miles. I had no business cranking out 8:24 so early in the race - I should know better. This isn't a 5K and I'm not 20 years old. I always laugh at the people that go out too fast - "They're going to regret that later." Ha - the joke was on me.

Surprisingly, I feel pretty good today - not nearly as sore as after Thunder Road. Skip this part if you are queasy - I did lose one toe-nail - it's pretty bad and hurts, but that's one of the badges of being a runner.

I've got got 10 weeks until the New River Marathon in the NC mountains. I'm looking forward to that one - complete opposite from MB - total country roads, small race, just me, my mind and the mountains.

BTW - Kyle from out east - I looked up his time last night - he came in at 4:30. What?! Did I hear him wrong or was he just crazy - that's one hour longer than he said he was shooting for. Clearly I passed him at some point, but I don't remember it. Again - I should have known better - run your own race, run to your plan, be smart. Okay - I'm glad I wrote this out - live and learn, don't be down on yourself - it's all good!