Des Moines Marathon - RunMarathon

I started out with the 3:40 pace group, thinking (hoping) they would start out at a slow pace since that was originally my strategy - to go out nice and easy, hold back until around mile 18, then kick it up and try to run a negative split.

That strategy went out the window at the start. Our pace group went out at around an 8:20-ish pace. I wasn't too concerned since I would have probably started at no worse than 8:40. It was extremely crowded the first 3 miles. I wish some people would leave the damn ear buds at home so they could hear when someone is behind or next to them. I stayed with my pace group through about mile 4 which was the first very long uphill. I'm a weirdo that loves hills, but only because I have train on them where I live.

After the first climb there was a nice long descent, and that's when my eye's popped at the 7:56 split at mile 5. I would run low 8's and another sub-8 split over the next 7 miles. But I also started experiencing a new discomfort around mile 8 - some soreness/tightness in my upper inner thigh/groin area. It wasn't painful, just an annoyance. It started becoming a bit more of a nuisance around mile 13, so I decided to give myself a brief break and walk one aid station, take some ibuprofen, and visit a porta-potty (a 3-for-1 pit stop).

When I came back out, the 3:40 pace group had just passed me, but they were only 50 feet ahead so I knew I was still on track. The break helped, but that discomfort never really went away. I took some more ibuprofen around mile 20 when it started flaring up again, and decided not to take any more after that point.

I tried to get some good karma when one of the female racers in our pace group was in dire need of a GU pack. I had two left, and knowing I wouldn't need both I ran up to her and gave her one. She kept asking if I was sure, and I said yes - I always have an extra just in case one falls out. Well guess what happened when I was getting hers out? Yep - dropped my last one! I didn't even realize it until 2 miles later. But I didn't regret it - I could tell she needed it more, and she was genuinely appreciative. I grabbed a banana at the last aid station to substitute.

I also decided around mile 20 to pick up the pace to have a strong 10k finish, and possibly catch up to the 3:35 group - or at least get to the point where I could see them. I could only keep up a pace of sub 8:20 through mile 22. After that I couldn't keep pressing. I could hear the pace group leader behind me, and she was great at encouraging me. Apparently we had lost a majority of our group, except for our leader and my GU-pack friend. With less than 2 miles to go I heard our pacer say we were 1:20 ahead of pace. When we were coming down our last 1/2 mile I tried picking it up again. I wasn't going to settle for 3:40 - now I wanted to be under that, even if just by a bit. I crossed the line in 3:38:11.

Being my first marathon, I'll be analyzing this for a while. One thing to keep in mind is I only had one true long run in the 6 weeks leading up to this (an 18-miler). But I had done 2 half-Ironman events over the summer, so I had a pretty decent base. But more volume would have been helpful. I also was battling PF and an ankle tweak. Add it all up, and I think with proper training I could run sub 3:30.

My friend (who also ran, finished 4 min ahead of me) was waiting for me at the finish, along with his and my families. He and I got our pictures taken, then went to get some food. We sat down for about 5 minutes, then met our families at the beer tent before heading home for some recovery pizza. The walk back to the car was rather difficult - that upper/inner thigh soreness was rearing it's ugly head, and my PF was definitely making itself known. After getting home I popped some more ibuprofen, got some ice on my heel, elevated my legs and watched football.


Again, lack of proper training, mostly volume. The PF and thigh pain didn't help at all either.


I'll definitely be back, hopefully running with my wife :) This is a really well-done event with great volunteer support.