Ernesto's group (5th season) - Closed (Page 98)

Hola team, I'm finally back in Guatemala after a great European trip (work and pleasure) and with a real keyboard, so here is my update.

First, Joe very glad to hear your news and sending good vibes your way so that you may recover quickly!

Barry, Happy Birthday!

E, how is your training going for IMTX?

Here is my update from the Antwerp Marathon 9 days ago!

Antwerp Marathon:  Stretch goal was 3:30, ideal goal was to come in under 4 hrs (PR was 4:08 in Chicago, my only other marathon to date)

Conditions were ideal with a nice cool morning with temps in the low 40’s.  At 9:30, after a minute of silence to honor the Boston Marathon victims off we went.  I started a little slower than my avg. target pace of 8.0 min/mi, as my race plan stated.  After the 2km mark we entered a long tunnel (over 2km) where my Garmin indicated that it lost satellite reception (as expected) and I had my footpod to carry over the pace. However, I hit my garmin’s “enter” button when it gave the message that I had no signal, and that screwed my distance reading.  When I came out of the tunnel, my garmin was showing a higher distance than the actual distance by about 1.5 miles.  I realized that the avg. pace on my garmin was no longer useful and could only focus on instant pace going forward.  So I decided to sprint a little to catch up with the 3:30 pacer and stick with that group till the end of the race if possible.  That meant increasing my pace early on, but I felt good at that point so I went for it.  I took my gel’s every 45 min and endurolyte tablets every hour and felt good nutrition wise.  I also got a great boost from seeing my support crew (wife and baby along with our good Venezuelan friends) at mile 4, mile 18 and at the end of the race. 

However, as I approached mile 20 (the infamous wall) the wheels started coming off as I felt my legs tightening up and all of a sudden not being able to keep up the pace with the 3:30 pacer.  Short story, I started cramping badly and had to stop a good 10-12 times to stretch and fight the pain for the remaining 6 miles.  I was having a total déjà vu from my previous marathon in Chicago and was worried that I was not going to be able to come in under 4 hrs.  However, I kept pushing myself and trying to focus on positive thoughts to forget the pain and was able to finally come in in 3:45, a new PR and under the 4hrs I was shooting for.

Overall it was a beautiful race with great views and decent support (although in terms of crowd support, I found the Belgian crowd to be more on the mellow/cold side compared to the American or Latino crowds!) The highlight of the race was when I crossed the finish line with a Guatemalan flag and the race director was intrigued that a Guatemalan had ran the marathon and I had a 5 min interview on Belgian TV. 

At the end I was so sore that I could not walk and I looked like the tin man from the wizard of oz according to my wife.  I decided to go for a free massage and after waiting for 70 min, I got a 30 min massage sponsored by tiger balm.  The massage along with some great Belgian beers brought me back to life and made me realize how lucky I was to have taken part in such a beautiful race. 

I see we ahve all ben oved to the archives - I am assuming we can still post?

EDIT: yes we can!

x2.  Great month guys!

As I was posting this last night I was trying to figure out if spring has actually come.  This morning I'm starting to believe that Spring is finally here in Michigan.  Tracking food intake and calories is depressing when you go to Red Robin for dinner....100+ calories per onion ring.   UGH!  But, Macca made me feel better.  I don't need to get to race weight (no clue what that really is) until mid to late August.

Has anyone heard from Scott?  He's been MIA for a while?

Joe thats awesome - I wish my 9yo had the same motivation!

Ernesto - are you planning on reopening a 'summer mentor program'? if so, love to join again!

Gabe, great race report - and a great PR. Sounds like you had to dig deep.

I've made the decision a bought a TT bike to prepare for this years goal, Challenge Copenhagen. This is 15 weeks away so I'm starting to knuckle down and get into my training plan.

I got the Giant Trinity. The LBS was great and we spend a number of hours fitting, testing, adjusting, swapping out the tri bars - result: I ride it with a big smile!

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Joe, Glad to hear the good news about your health.  That's awesome for your daughter!

Gabe,  Congratulations on your PR!  Paris looked awesome too.

Barry, Happy Birthday, Barry?

Great race report and picture Gabe!  Sounds like you had a great time there with your family.

Greg, your new bike looks awesome!

Ernesto,

Que pasa?  What is this sick/injured all over your training calendar?  Two weeks to go.  How are you feeling?

Wow Joe! I'm so extremely sorry to read this!  You and your family are definitely in my prayers. I wish your wife a speedy recovery. Did your retriever survive?

Thank You Jackie! And to all sorry I've been MIA for quite a while. I could offer a bunch of excuses but I'll save them. I've decided to take this year off from racing although I am still moderately running. The good news is that my Fiancee' ran her first race this past April and I'm at least in decent enough shape to "sherpa" her. We have a 10K to race at the end of the month. I'll get back on the bike and in the pool soon and plan to give MAF a 100% effort this year.

Joe:

Glad things didn't turn out any worse.  Hope your wife makes a speedy recovery and sorry that your daughter had to witness that.  I can only imagine how terrifying that must be.  Tough day for all of you to go from such a high with your daughter's accomplishment to that.  I feel awful that it happened.  Take care!

-Mitch

BTW, I just submitted my application to the new mentoring group, hopefully I will be accepted...