ING Georgia Marathon - RunMarathon


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Atlanta, Georgia
United States
The ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon
87F / 31C
Sunny
Total Time = 4h 53m 30s
Overall Rank = 2579/
Age Group = 40 - 44
Age Group Rank = 583/841
Pre-race routine:

Got up, took a shower, got dressed, and ate my bowl of cereal. I was ahead of schedule, when my cell phone rang and a fellow runner's car wouldn't start. I had to take a brief detour and pick her up. In the process, I forgot my boost drink but no harm I had an extra Gu with me.
Now, I had run the marathon in my mind several times and I had my plan. The first 6 miles I would run at a 10:30 - 11:00 pace and then pick it up. My goal was to reach the half at 2:05 and finish somewhere below 4:15 and if things were going well try to sub 4. I would check myself every 6 miles and either maintain the previous speed of pick it up. At mile 24 it was all out for the remaining miles nothing left on the course. I would also GU every 5 miles but I knew that was going to be difficult for the first portion because the water stops didn't match my plan. NO PROBLEM, I would adjust the GU plan at first then pick-up every 5 miles.
Event warmup:

Bobby has a place that literally overlooks the start line. I went up to his pad on the 12th floor, had some water, used the restroom (cool), and did some light stretching on his floor. I felt like an elite runner at this point everything was going a okay. We then all went downstairs and his friend who works for CNN as a photographer took our picture. I was really felling like an elite runner right now. I kissed Anica and wished her good luck on her first marathon. We then went our separate ways to conquer ATL.
Run
  • 4h 53m 30s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 11m 12s  min/mile
Comments:

My goal was somewhere below 4:15 with the possibility of a sub 4 if I was feeling good. My concern was the heat since all my training runs were in the mid 20's through 30's. But I had done a recon and the course appeared to have enough water/powerade stops. Planned to drink a little bit at every stop and alternate. Then later pour water over my head to cool down.

Miles 1 - 6
I thought I was going to fast, but I had made this same mistake on a previous short race (KEY WORD "short"). So I just listened to my body and kept on going. I hit the 10K split at 57:34, 5 minutes ahead of schedule. I was already worried about the water/PowerAde stops. Mile 2 was W/P stop but they only had three tables and none on the left side and no Powerade. Mile 4 was missing the W/P stop.

Miles 6 - 13.1
I hit the half way point at 2:04, right on schedule and I was feeling pretty good but still worried about the lack of PowerAde and the water was warm and the day was getting hotter. The next W/P stop was just short of mile 7 so I did my GU without water and later chased it down. Somewhere around mile 7 or 8, I met up with JOE and we discussed our frustration about the lack of liquids on the course. We did this several times. Somewhere around mile 10 or 11, I found a lone standing Porta John and took a quick leak...OHHH what a relief. At the half, I made another check of myself. I would hold this last pace for the next six miles and then turn on the after burners. I was feeling good but still worried about the lack of PowerAde. I did get some PowerAde in this portion of the race but it was self dunk and watered down.

Miles 13.1 - 20
Mile 15, I felt myself slowing down a bit so I thought okay I'll just pick up the pace in a little bit. The course was getting more challenging in the hill department. At mile 16, I felt my right calf start to twinge with a cramp feeling. Then my heart rate shot up and I started to worry about the rest. I had just entered the single digits, this couldn't be happening to me. It took me 14 minutes to complete mile 17 and I was worried since my left calf was feeling funny also. I wasn't going to allow dehydration to ruin this race. I started looking for a medical tent for some salt but no luck. At mile 18, I entered Freedom Parkway and I knew it would be tough. I had run this section before on the trail and it was tough on semi fresh legs. I was praying for a medical tent or Powerade but no luck on this section either. Thanks to the people with hoses spraying us down during this section. After the Water stop at Mile 14, it was drink one, one over the back, and one over the front the rest of the way.

Miles 20 - 26.2
I must say Freedom Parkway, FREAKING AND MOTHER-FUDGING sucked. At his stage of the game, I was re-thinking my plan. Try to beat you Chicago time and maybe 4:30. I tried another surge around mile 21 and the cramping feelings returned, so I slowed it down in order to not cramp. I took bottled water and ice from strangers on the course. I even took some Powerade from Team in Training. The run through Piedmont Park was so short but I knew what was ahead. The climb to Piedmont and of course the final 2 miles up hill to finish line. As I turned onto Peachtree, I tried again to pick-up the pace to try and make it a 4:45 since everything else was out the window. Tears rolled down my face, when I heard someone say "Oh no he's cramping up with so little to go". I wan't going to make it for sure but 5+ was out of my league that wasn't happening. I had to bear down and gut it out, at mile 24, I saw my first course supporter and little angel (BIG H). She cheered me on for what seemed like half a mile but it was all worth it. THANKS HEATHER - 143
This section of the race had been run by legs before, but not in this condition. I don't think, I looked at my watch after leaving H but I just kept moving. At Mile 26, I saw Jeanne and Corona and this was another pick me up section. I just didn't have anything left in the legs so I settled for a jog down the last .2 mile to the finish. I also made sure that I was ready for the picture and nobody was in the way. I got my medal, dumped 3 little bottles of water over my head, and then drank one. Might I say they were FREAKING warm, and who drinks warm sprite or coke after running a marathon...How about a COLD BEER?



What would you do differently?:

I will probably carry my fuel belt next year but hopefully the water stops will be manned better. I was probably undertrained since, I missed a few long runs. I didn't taper down correctly. The last week I did nothing, probably not good. I will run this again and the goal will be to sub 4 next year.
Post race
Warm down:

Chip removed, 2 bagels and 1 apple, and another hot water to chase. NOTE: The apple was cold. Got my bag at the UPS trucks and gave my feet a rest with the Crocs. I then found RT and A near the finish line. I later visited with Jeanne at Mile 26 and waited for Anica to finish.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I think my plan was good, but I might've gone out to fast the first 6 miles. Lack of fluids on the course and maybe undertrained although I felt I was ready for this beast. I did have to struggle a couple of times with the stop demon but I won that battle.

Event comments:

When I compare this race to Chicago and New York, it's below average. I was worried about the water stops and they did a fucking horrible job. They even mentioned the Powerade stops at the start line. Where were they? The course was great with amazing neighborhoods, good specators, and the Expo was kinda small but so was the overall number. I think this will be a good race after they work out the kinks. I will conquer this course again next year.




Last updated: 2007-03-27 12:00 AM
Running
04:53:30 | 26.2 miles | 11m 12s  min/mile
Age Group: 583/841
Overall: 2579/
Performance: Below average
1 - 9:42, 2 - 9:01, 3 - 9:11, 4 - 9:09, 5 - 8:40, 6 - 9:20 7 - 10:02, 8 - 9:16, 9 - 10:07, 10 - 9:54, 11 - 9:28, 12 - 9:49 13 - 10:05, 14 - 10:31, 15 - 11:06, 16 - 11:08, 17 - 14:00, 18 - 12:28 19 - 13:24, 20 - 13:02, 21 - 14:07, 22 - 13:43, 23 - 13:14, 24 - 12:29 25 - 14:25, 26 - 13:48, .2 - 2:16
Course: Starts off in Downtown Atlanta near the Underground. The course takes you through Little 5 Points, Decatur, N. Decatur, Emory University, Druid Hills, Virginia Highlands, Piedmont Park, through Midtown, and back to 5 Points. This is a hilly course with the back-end being much harder.
Keeping cool Below average Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Ok
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? No
Plenty of drinks? No
Post race activities: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 3