City of Trees Marathon - RunMarathon

Goals going into the race:
(original before injury was to RACE this marathon, break 4hrs. and possibly keep pace with my father-in-law)

Goals after injury:
• run the best I could, while having fun and not getting injured
• not walk any during the marathon

Doing race with Nate and Bill (father-in-law). Bill trying to qualify for Boston with a 3:45. Nate running with no training and me just trying to do what I love.

So with those goals in mind I started the race in the rain an planned to run hr/feel. Started out mile 1 a little fast but knew that I had to get into a pace and would slow once the pack cleared out a little. Then at mile 2 I started to feel my calf, which concerned me. Since I have not felt it act up in over a month. So I started to think that I may have to DNF, but I would take it one mile at a time and see how I feel. I ran at a comfortable pace and kept focusing on how the calf felt. At around mile 6 stopped thinking mile to mile and started to think about the next 3 miles. Sometimes the numbers started to race around in my head, but I knew that finishing had to be my main goal as the calf could end my day at any moment if it truely flaired up. The wet roads were very slippery which I think had to do a little with how the calf felt.

Made it to mile 10 and decided that I really was comfortable and just needed to keep running smart. so every 3miles I set the next 3 mile goal and each time was very please to make it to 13, and 16. At this point I knew that I was going beyond what I had trained and the wheels could come off at any time. So I plodded on with caution.

At 19 I started to think that I might actually finish this with a decent time and not walk. So I thought that as long as I came to mile 20 at or before 2:58 I would be able to break 4 hrs. But then I reminded myself that there was the hill to come and that could really set the calf off. So I kept moving on. I was rather cold by this point and wished I had worn the long sleeve shirt and not ditched my gloves at mile 16.

Up the hill I went and passed the 21st mile marker half way up. I didn't feel and the hill went by quickly. but as I moved toward 22, my legs were feeling really heavy and the pace slowed. I kept trying to remind myself that what happens from here on out was what happens. So not to worry about it and not try to push to hard and hurt my self. Hit mile 23 and overlooked the downtown and was happy to know that it was down hill from there. Dropped gel flask around 23.5 but decide not to stop because that would mean that I stopped/walked. Had just taken a hit at 22 so knew I would be good.

Hit the nice down hill at 24 and felt good to move again. Got to 25 and decided I had to pick it up for a nice strong finish. this race takes you past the finish at 25.5 and the you have 10 blocks to do before finishing. grrrrhhhh!!! came down the last 2 tenths and really could not pick it up any as the legs were done. Finished, went in side got some soup, signed up for message, and then went up for a warm shower. Back down to wait for message.

Splits (timex gps has a total distance of 26.5):
mile 01: 8.06
mile 02: 8.34
mile 03: 8.51
mile 04: 8.55
mile 05: 8.51
mile 06: 9.02
mile 07: 8.51
mile 08: 8.44
mile 09: 8.48
mile 10: 8.34
mile 11: 8.37
mile 12: 8.34
mile 13: 8.48
mile 14: 8.23
mile 15: 9.02
mile 16: 8.55
mile 17: 8.48
mile 18: 8.55
mile 19: 9.02
mile 20: 8.58
mile 21: 8.59
mile 22: 9.34 (hill)
mile 23: 9.38
mile 24: 9.49
mile 25: 9.31
mile 26: 8.23
finish: 3:57.05

drank h20 at all water stops (every 2 miles) and had 4.5 gus. gu flask took a hit every 4 miles until mile 20 then smaller hit every 2 until dropped flask. 3 cups of powerade. no potty stops :)


more training, more long runs, not get injured in August.

walked a little, ate, shower, message. Met a man while waiting for message who does 2 - 100 mile races a year, several 50s and several marathons a year. He has been doing the ultras for about 5 year. Interesting man. then walked to drug store for Nate's baby powder for his chaffing issues. Went to lunch/dinner. Iced calf while watching football in hotel.

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overall this was a great experience. I surpassed any expectations I had for performance at this race. I feel relatively good. Slight stiffness after sitting too long, but able to move around with no limp. We will see how I feel tomorrow.


more training, more long runs, not get injured in August. race was at 2850 ft above sea level when I live and train at about 300 ft.


this is definitely a small race, less then 400 marathon runners. the volunteers where limited. there were no spectators, maybe a total of 50 the whole race. but to their credit it rained the whole race. there was no mile 24 water stop as stated. but otherwise an average race. I question the length a little because the course description did not mention a turn and run to a cone and back right before the hill at 21. but then again we all know how that goes.