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Whidbey Island Marathon - RunMarathon


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Oak Harbor, Washington
United States
Pro-Motion Events, Inc
50F / 10C
Overcast
Total Time = 4h 43m 29s
Overall Rank = 278/381
Age Group = 50-54
Age Group Rank = 21/26
Pre-race routine:

Up 3 hours before race start. Oatmeal, coffee and a good hot shower. Doodled around on BT while having breakfast.
Event warmup:

Couple of stretches.
Run
  • 4h 43m 29s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 10m 49s  min/mile
Comments:

Had thought about this event early in the year, but, right after finishing Yakima RCM, told my wife, I wasn't doing it. Two days later, got online and registered for it. Temptation of doing Marathons in back to back weekends was pretty strong.

Plan was to take it easy and not stress pace or time to just finish. Of course when the horn goes off, went out at a comfortable pace in the mid 9s. Was carrying a water bottle filled with NUUN. Wanted to stay away from having crampy feeling like last weekend. Except the bottle leaked as the water sloshed around with each step. Not sticky though (good thing).

Mile 6-8 is an uphill grind that slowed my time down and put the first serious crimp in the body. But got back into a mid 9's pace till about 13 miles. Body was just doing the natural slowdown and adjusting to the wear and tear.

Once we got near Oak Harbor HS stadium (finish and start for the Half) had to go up a half mile hill and on the opposite side the Half Mary, runners and walkers were going down the hill toward the finish. Mental gymnastics had to be done to get motivation going for the last 9 miles. And it started to rain alittle. Pavement was slippery, and made my shuffle more like a slide (think it helped with less pounding on feet). Had a couple long gradual climbs and my speed had really slacked off. Just had no pep. Kept catching Half Mary Walkers, not that was much of a stimulation.

Main mantra was not to walk, only at the aid stations to get water drunk and eat gels/pretzels. The last mile was another gradual climb with a quick downhill and 3/4 of a lap around the track. Saw the wife at the entry way to the stadium and said "sorry I took so Long".

Ok so now I'm on the track and these Half Mary Walkers decide that they need to show off to their families in the stands and around the track (these are walkers not runners) so they are picking up there pace like it's the olympics. So I'm thinking no way I'm going to finish (walkers and runners cross the same timing mat) so I dig down pull around these neophytes and put some distance between me and them....

What would you do differently?:

Weight on morning wake up was 219....Oh to run at around 205 again.
My half time was around 2:09 and I was ok with that, since there are a couple climbs at the beginning. Long training runs would help stop the collapse around mile 16+

Post race
Warm down:

Grabbed a banana and some water, if there was much else, it was probably pilfered by all the half marathoners. Walked about a half mile back to the truck.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Weight, training, and a marathon the week before.

Event comments:

I'm getting bored with expos and pre and post race stuff. All I saw was Bananas, water and another table had wheat rolls and a box of oatmeal package with no more hot water in the container. In years past they had all kinds of Natures Path goodies and bags to put it in (that was when I did the Half in 06)(don't remember the full in 05).

Just happy to say that I've done two marathons on back to back weekends. Another challenge checked off the list.




Last updated: 2008-04-08 12:00 AM
Running
04:43:29 | 26.2 miles | 10m 49s  min/mile
Age Group: 21/26
Overall: 278/381
Performance: Below average
(1) 9:34 (2) 9:21 (3) 9:39 (4) 10:00 (5) 9:10 (6) 9:08 (7) 10:38 (8) 11:57 (9) 9:50 (10) 9:16 (11)9:23 (12) 10:58 (13) 10:36 (14) 9:57 (15) 11:04 after this I missed a couple mile markers and the couple splits I did get were in the high 11s and 12 minutes...The wheels had fallen off around mile 16.
Course: Rolling countryside roads. Very scenic.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
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? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 3

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2008-04-14 1:22 PM

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Champion
6931
5000100050010010010010025
Bellingham, Washington
Subject: Whidbey Island Marathon


2008-04-14 3:05 PM
in reply to: #1336785

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Expert
853
5001001001002525
Fort Worth, Texas
Subject: RE: Whidbey Island Marathon
Nice job on back to back marathons!
2008-04-14 8:03 PM
in reply to: #1336785

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Master
2314
2000100100100
Gulf Shores, AL
Subject: RE: Whidbey Island Marathon
Great job, you are a machine!
2008-04-14 9:00 PM
in reply to: #1336785

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Master
2235
200010010025
Pacific Northwest
Subject: RE: Whidbey Island Marathon

Congrats!  Finishing one marathon is great, two is either insane or incredible or a little of both!  When's the next one? 

2008-04-15 6:27 AM
in reply to: #1336785

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Expert
1535
100050025
Coeur D'alene, ID
Subject: RE: Whidbey Island Marathon
Back to back!  You are the man Spence.  Strong work.
2008-04-15 2:26 PM
in reply to: #1336785

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Extreme Veteran
487
100100100100252525
Spokane, WA
Subject: RE: Whidbey Island Marathon
Another milestone in the books! You're one tough hombre Spencer!


2008-04-15 2:50 PM
in reply to: #1336785

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Member
20

Subject: RE: Whidbey Island Marathon
Back-To-Back?? You ROCK!!
2008-04-16 6:05 AM
in reply to: #1336785

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2008-04-16 5:10 PM
in reply to: #1336785

Pro
6520
50001000500
Bellingham, WA
Subject: RE: Whidbey Island Marathon
Congrats!! You are an inspiration.
2008-04-16 6:09 PM
in reply to: #1336785

Melon Presser
52116
50005000500050005000500050005000500050002000100
Subject: RE: Whidbey Island Marathon

You are an insane marathon maniac!

Well done.

2008-04-19 12:05 PM
in reply to: #1336785

Champion
9430
50002000200010010010010025
No excuses!
Subject: RE: Whidbey Island Marathon
Great job you maniac, I've always had that one on my radar. Sounds cool!


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