Bank of America Gasparilla Marathon - RunMarathon


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Tampa Bay, Florida
United States
Gasparilla Distance Classic Assoc.
58F / 14C
Sunny
 		Total Time = 4h 06m 53s
Overall Rank = 453/980
Age Group = M 35 - 39
Age Group Rank = 80/132
Pre-race routine:

Got up around 4:30, took a shower. Had a cup of coffee and ate a bowl of Smart Start cereal and a banana. Got dressed and went down to the race. I live less than a mile from the start, but we drove. We had Courtney's bike because she is the #1 cheerleader and kept popping up at various places to cheer me on.
Event warmup:

Stretched. Did not want to jog around too much, figured I had plenty of miles ahead of me, did not need to add more.
Run
  • 4h 06m 53s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 09m 25s  min/mile
Comments:

I can analyze this to death. Some will say I went out too fast, but I really do not think so. Looking at my splits, it was the fact that I had never run farther than 20 miles in my life. I was doing fine until mile 20. I was amazed at how good I felt. I actually could have run faster, earlier but did hold back. Was at 1:00:07 at 7 miles, 1:52:40 at 13.1 and 2:01 at 14, so my pace was very consistent until it unraveled. The only time problems occurred was around 18 when my left knee started hurting. By 20 the knee felt like somebody stuck an ice pick in it. I was not gassed, my legs still felt OK, right knee was strong, but could not put any weight on left knee. Overall, I think I made the right decisions and feel very good about the way I ran the race. I learned alot about myself physically and mentally.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing really. Better times will come with more long run training. Pushing my body past 20. Going to try yoga to increase flexibility, stretch more and add some leg strengthening excercises (knee bends, lunges, squats with no weight) to try to strengthen the support muscles.
Post race
Warm down:

Sat down, stretched. Was S-O-R-E!!!!!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

More long runs.

Event comments:

They did a good job with the race. Lots of aid stations, lots of GU and Gatorade and water really helped.




Last updated: 2007-12-26 12:00 AM
Running
04:06:53 | 26.2 miles | 09m 25s  min/mile
Age Group: 80/132
Overall: 468/980
Performance: Good
Mile 1 - 8:33 (172/179) Mile 2 - 8:30 (173/177) Mile 3 - 8:26 (173/176) Mile 4 - 8:40 (173/176) Mile 5 - 8:35 (173/175) Mile 6 - 8:34 (173/179) Mile 7 - 8:26 (175/180) Mile 8 - 8:41 (175/178) Mile 9 - 8:23 (175/178) Mile 10 - 8:27 (175/179) Mile 11 - 8:24 (176/181) Mile 12 - 8:26 (177/183) Mile 13 - 8:59 (174/178) Mile 14 - 8:58 (176/180) Mile 15 - 8:28 (181/184) Mile 16 - 9:03 (178/182) Mile 17 - 9:11 (179/182) Mile 18 - 9:18 (179/181) Mile 19 - 9:39 (179/184) Mile 20 - 10:09 (178/180) Mile 21 - 10:04 (179/181) Mile 22 - 10:38 (175/182) Mile 23 - 11:04 (174/180) Mile 24 - 11:15 (171/181) Mile 25 - 11:56 (167/179) Mile 26 - 11:45 (165/182) Mile 26.2 - 3:28 (9:19 pace) (181/184) GPS Watch actually showed 26.37 miles, so last ".2" is actually ".37". Continues to amaze me how when you hit the farthest you have ever run, the body starts to break. Clearly had no problems through 21, then quickly and steadily declined. Enourmous left knee pain made last 5-6 miles very challenging.
Course: Started by downtown, around Davis Islands, up through downtown past UT and across the river a few times, back down through downtown and across the river to Bayshore, down Bayshore past the fishing pier and MacDill AFB to Interbay Park, around the lake and back up Bayshore.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4