Matt Gilmartin's 2nd Quarter Group- back in the pool! FULL HOUSE (Page 20)

Great race report - lots of good insight and items for me to consider. What was your prior issue with Vanilla GU? Surprised you used a new energy source (oranges) during a race, but glad it turned out well.

Thanks for taking the time to share with us and your plan for the future.

Bryan

After getting a good nights sleep of over 10 hours, I've had a chance to look back at the Boulder Marathon and analyze how things went. In the words of a wise man, I got what I trained for.

I had originally planned to run 3 marathons in a month, the Denver Rock and Roll, the Monument Marathon in Scottsbluff and the Boulder Marathon. That would have qualified me for the Marathon Maniacs group. I ran in Denver, but family circumstances did not allow me to run in Scottsbluff. Since I wasn't going to get qualified for the Maniacs, I really didn't take Boulder very seriously.

The day started out great. Woke up at 1:00 left the house and drove to Boulder. Realized I left my Camelback at home but wasn't too worried about it. Found a Starbucks that opened at 5:00, got my 6 shot Americano and a Pumpkin Scone (carb loading) and headed to the Boulder Reservoir. It was a beautiful morning and seeing the sunrise at the reservoir was pretty neat. The race started and I committed the first of many marathon sins - I got caught up in the excitement. I was also in a really nice pace group and even though they were going about 30-45 seconds per mile faster than I had planned to pace myself, I felt it was worth it to follow them along.That was also when I committed sin number 2 - I abandoned my run walk plan to go along with the pace group. Unbeknownst to me, their initial pace was their warmup and they began really running after about a mile. I did not attempt to follow them and instead tried to settle into the pace that I had planned to run at. I also learned that I had committed another marathon sin - not knowing the course. The website for the Boulder Marathon stated that it was "pretty flat with a few hills thrown in". My definition of flat is different from theirs. I had tried to run more hills all summer but we don't have too many hills like they had on the course. Add to that the altitude difference and I was not prepared.

I also really struggled to get my heart rate where it needed to be. I'd be at the pace I wanted but the heart rate would be way off. I'd slow down and then the heart rate would drop below the zone I was shooting for. Speed up and it goes into zone 4. That went on for most of the run. I know the hills and altitude factored into that but it was frustrating. I also hit the wall hard and early. Hitting the wall was about the only thing I did well. Overall I finished under the course cutoff but not by much. I think the final time was around 6:35 or so. I haven't downloaded my Garmin yet and the results weren't posted this morning, but that should be close. I learned a lot from this experience though.

First, I learned I can't fake a marathon. I ran the one in Denver a month ago and then really didn't put any training effort into this one. This morning I looked back at my running logs and was somewhat surprised to see I had only logged about 25 miles of running in the last month. Clearly that didn't help me. I also didn't train for the terrain or factor in the altitude. My planned pace was probably good for the altitude and terrain we have around here but I should have adjusted it for the added difficulty. Following the pace group was nice but that early effort killed me in the latter miles. Latter being miles 8 on to the finish. I will say the course was great and the aid stations were well stocked except for 1 that had ran out of cups. That was where I started trying new things. Oranges were great and seemed to give me a nice burst of energy. I should have taken the whole box with me. Bananas didn't set well though. I stayed away from the vanilla bean GU that I had tried before.

Overall this was a fun run but definitely an eye opener. I knew I hadn't prepared like I should have for this run but I felt confident that I could have a good run. I was mostly just disappointed in the end result because I knew I could have done better if I had put the training in. This marathon was a full hour slower than the Seattle marathon I ran in June. I am already signed up to do the Colfax Marathon in May, 2013 and that race will be a lot better prepared for than this one. I had also been thinking of trying to do a full ironman course next year but after this race I am going to take a year to do a lot of base building and shoot for a full ironman in 2014. I might still try to do the Boulder 70.3 if the winter sessions on the bike and treadmill yield the results I am wanting to achieve. Otherwise I'll stick with sprints and 1 Olympic.

This just arrived by carrier vulture into Sufferlandrian HQ.

From Mariah P. LeBlanc:

To the most High Sufferlandrian, Esteemed members of the Federation of Sufferlandria, Noble Members of the Sufferlandria Knighthood and Valiant, Courageous members of the Sufferlandrain Nation,

It is with great humility and honor that I write to you to inform you of my most recent journey to Sufferlandria.

I took a Downward Spiral towards The Hunted, encountering a Fight Club along the way to Hell Hath No Fury. It was a Very Dark Place as I continued onward, utilizing Angles as I went in search of the Local Hero. At several points along the way, I was in search of a Revolver with a few Extra Shots (as well as a Long Scream) to put me out of my misery, however, I prevailed and made it to the Great Nation of Sufferlandria. Never was there so much rejoicing and suffering as there was over the course of several hours!

All proceeds raised ($150) will be donated towards research for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, an inoperable brain tumor that has a 99% death rate within the first 12 months. I have had 3 friends with little boys that have fought this horrible battle, suffering more than I can ever imagine, as it robs them of control of their body while allowing their mind to remain intact. Thank you for the opportunity to Suffer and I look forward to doing so again in the near future...once my sit-bones forgive me!

Sincerely,

Mariah P. LeBlanc

PS - my 7 year old daughter Suffered with me through Revolver and Extra Shot-The Long Scream! She's pretty amazing!

---- By order of the Federation: KNIGHTHOOD GRANTED!!!!! You are now Dame Mariah. Has a good ring to it. (Mariah joins Dame Liz as one of only two female Knights!)

Ran a 5k yesterday and was not too pleased with my performance. Late last night I was searhing articles on how to improve my running and my wife offered me a insightful suggestion. She told me that I run "hunched over and take short choppy strides". She noticed this when she saw me a in a field of other runners. Made me consider what I am doing. I am going to have her video tape me during a run and see if I can get a greater grasp of what I am doing. It is one thing to hear something, and another to see it to begin to change a habit such as running posture.

Also wish that I had used body glide! Gotta remember those details :0

Go Robin!!!

Bryan