Long Island Marathon
-
No new posts
Long Island Marathon - Run
View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Run
Comments: Overall, I am very happy with today's race. I had set a goal that I did not reach, time wise, but it was still a great effort and 13 MINUTES FASTER THAN MY PREVIOUS PR (NYC 08). The race was really like a tale of three different runs for me. The first eight miles were easy, I went out conservatively and then really settled into a comfortable rhythm. I pushed the pace at times, maybe not enough, but felt great. When I got to mile nine, I felt as if I hadn't run anything at all. It got a little cooler at around mile eight and from mile 8- 17 I was doing unbelievably well. Every mile was around 10:10 which I was very happy with to say the least. I said to Bobby later on that I wish I could have bottled up that feeling and put it in a gu flask for all of my future long runs. I think that those 10 miles were emblematic of all of the hard work I did throughout the entire winter. My training was great and I think that is what made those miles feel so good. And my splits show that... for those 11 miles I did: 10:11, :21, :11, :03, :09, :11, :14, :01, :04, :11, :19 I was passing people, running with people who looked like they were far better athletes than me and I just felt so good. At about mile 17, things started to get very difficult. I started to get very hot as the sun was going overhead and the temps rose significantly. People started dropping off to the side and I knew we were all in for a long nine miles. I kept plugging away though, but as splits show, it was laborious at best: 10:49, 11:08, 11:41, 12:12, 13:16, 12:52, 11:59, 11:38, 10:56... There are tons of reasons why this happened. Perhaps I forgot just how hard a marathon is, especially the last 7 miles. Also, something I can't control... I trained outside throughout one of the coldest winters I could remember, doing all of my really long runs in sub 30 degree weather and many in temps in the teens... only to race on the warmest day of 2010 so far. I think that the heat definitely had something to do with my decreased energy towards the end. Bobby met up with me at about mile 24, and thank God he did. He ran alongside me and having him there helped push me to the end. I finished very strong, much stronger than I would have had he not been with me. Bobby is a true friend. I remember saying when I was younger that all of the best friends I'll ever have, I met through lacrosse... it is nice to know that the same holds true for triathlons. Bobby ran a hard half marathon narrowly missing a sub 1:30 performance with anything close to a taper and he still ran 2 miles out to meet me and two miles back to the finish with me. Much thanks Bobby. Nutrition wise, I think I nailed it. I walked through every aid station taking a cup of Gatorade and a cup of water at each. I had a gu at mile 4,8,12,16,19,22,24. I got a little bit of a headache at mile 17 and started feeling a bit dizzy so I had some extra Gatorade with me and drank that up... much better after that. I cramped at mile 22, pretty badly, but pushed through it, it was nothing compared to the cramps I suffered in the HIM in Oct 09. And I think the crap was a direct result of the heat. Once again, at the end of the race I found myself looking at the people around me... rail thin, muscular, and overall great specimens and I thought to myself... is this real" Am I really running in a marathon next to these people? Am I really PASSING some of these people? Five years ago, this Summer, when I started this nonsense, I don't think I could have ever even walked a marathon let alone run an entire 26.2 miles (no walk breaks of any real significance) and now, I have finished my second marathon and I don't think I will slow down any time soon. What would you do differently?: Not much... I did the best I could in the conditions and the best I could have done today. I am very, very pleased with my effort. Post race
Warm down: Walked back to Bobby's car. Last updated: 2010-02-28 12:00 AM
|
|
{postbutton}
2010-05-02 8:01 PM |
|
2010-05-03 8:30 AM in reply to: #2831996 |
General Discussion-> Race Reports! |
{postbutton}
United States
Long Island Marathon
77F / 25C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 335/521
Age Group = M 30-34
Age Group Rank = 40/50
Got up at 5am, had two mini bagels, one with peanut butter and one with honey and two cups of coffee.
Hitched a ride with Bobby to the race sight at 6am. Got there and got ready for the race with him, Bill and Adam.
Not too much of a warmup, just walked to the starting area.