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Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon - RunMarathon


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Cincinnati, Ohio
United States
Cincinnati Marathon, Inc.
63F / 17C
Precipitation
Total Time = 4h 11m 35s
Overall Rank = 1417/4110
Age Group = M45-49
Age Group Rank = 117/298
Pre-race routine:

Drove to Indy Friday night, played with my nephews Saturday morning, then drove to Cincy. Watched Derek (Boyddr) do the pump part of the Pump-n-Run. Checked in, met up with Kevin (Wallico) and then Natalie at the expo. Bought a few things then went to dinner with Natalie, her family, and Derek.

Woke up Sunday morning about 4 to thunder and rain. Ate a bagel with peanut butter and went back to bed. Got up at 5:15 and ate a banana, orange, and a cup of coffee while it rained outside. We're on the 16th floor (out of 21) and waited for 4 elevators before one had space. Met up with Kevin, Derek, Bob Stocks, and Natalie to walk 6 blocks to the start of the race. Derek offered me a trash bag, which would have kept me dry for an additional 32 seconds (not taken).
Event warmup:

Just walking over to the start. Steady rain and a large crowd and we were running late (hah!) so barely got seeded with the 3:50 pace group before the start.
Run
  • 4h 11m 35s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 09m 36s  min/mile
Comments:

The "plan" was to start with the 3:50 pace group through the hill and then try to gain a minute or two on them before the half. This would set Natalie up for a shot at 3:45. I'd hang on as long as possible (hopefully somewhere between 13-20 miles) before fading. I figured I could probably hold on for <4 even with the hills. It was raining and people were dancing around the puddles on the road. I kept thinking "you need to run an ultra...you're gonna have wet feet sometime during those..." We stayed with the pace group for the first 3 miles when I lost Natalie at a water station. The pace group got ahead of me in mile 4 and I knew I was working way too hard at that point. I held on for 2 more miles, at which time they were probably 45 seconds ahead of me at the start of the climb. I'd already lost Natalie, so I switched gears a little and continued up the hill trying to keep my HR between 170 and 180 (so I'd run until it hit 180 and then walk until it was down around 170 before I started running again). This gave me 20-30 seconds of fast walking every 3-4 minutes. I made it to the top without seeing Natalie. I had to pee, and when someone exited a porta-pot and nobody was between me and the empty loo, I stopped. Hit mile 7 at 1:03 (1-2 minutes behind "the plan"). Felt the start of a hot spot under the ball of my left foot around mile 10, but otherwise cruised through miles 9--16 without much drama. Same strategy as the hill, walk if my HR hit 180 and run again when it dropped. Drank some gatorade about miles 7, 12, and 15 and walked during those breaks too. About mile 16-17, Natalie comes up behind me while I'm walking up a hill and asks if my plan included walking. I told her "yup" and ran some more. She dropped back. Somewhere around mile 18 or 19, the 4:00 pace group passed me and I thought "I'll hang with them." That thought lasted a whole 10 seconds, but I did manage to stay with them up through mile 20. My legs were starting to tighten up and the walk breaks started to occur outside the hills and water stations. Around mile 18 or 19, I start to get cold during a walk break and the rain has almost stopped. I hit mile 20 at 3:03 or so and knew I'd need a 56-minute 10K to hit 4 hours. The pace group was ahead of me and slowly pulling away and I just couldn't move my legs fast enough to catch or keep up with them. I let them go and a mile or so later, as I'm walking, I hear "Mike...Mike???" and I look back and see Natalie, Bob, and Derek behind me. I start to jog again and they start laughing (I know...they're going to catch me...) They catch up to me and we run together. They say they're walking the water stations which sounds like a plan to me. I walk through the next aid station and when they catch up to me, they explain that "walk" is "walk slowly..." We walk and run the last 4 miles. I want to run the last mile, but meet gravity on a small but horribly placed hill, so we walk a bit more before running in the last quarter mile or so. I see Natalie's family a couple hundred yards from the finish and Derek and Natalie take off ahead of Bob and I. I see Beth about 100 yards from the finish. Bob and I manage a feeble jog across the finish line, but I'll take it!
What would you do differently?:

I knew going in that 3:45 was going to be a real stretch given our lack of long runs and the weather. Would I have been able to hang with the 4:00 pace group for the whole race? Maybe. That (and a cool-weather venue) will be part of my next marathon strategy.
Post race
Warm down:

Stood around in the recovery area with Natalie, Bob, and Derek until I was completely stiff. Got finisher pictures taken, hobbled back to the hotel for an ice bath and shower.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Lack of long runs (I missed 2 weeks of running in March with a trip to India and my long run 3-weeks out). Race-day weather (the rain helped keep me from overheating, but made for heavy feet). The extra 10 pounds of "winter weight." Race strategy to support Natalie's quest for <3:45.

I wouldn't trade the trip for more long runs. I still set a PR (since it's my first marathon) in spite of the race strategy designed for Natalie. I can't control the weather, so the only thing I'd really change is the 10 pounds.

Event comments:

Lots of volunteers and spectators in spite of the wet weather. I don't know what else they had post-race as most people weren't hanging around very long.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2009-10-05 12:00 AM
Running
04:11:35 | 26.2 miles | 09m 36s  min/mile
Age Group: 117/298
Overall: 1417/4110
Performance:
Official Splits: Mile 6.8 1:01:58 Mile 12 1:49:00 Mile 13.1 1:59:06 Mile 19.7 2:59:45 Mile 25.2 4:01:57 Mile 26.2 4:11:35 HR/Lap data Mile 1 9:16 169 2 8:23 183 3 8:44 183 4 8:15 183 5 8:39 183 6 8:36 181 7 9:46 178 8 9:50 174 (potty stop) 9 9:01 176 10 8:30 176 11 8:33 174 12 8:54 175 13 9:17 173 14 8:50 171 15 8:59 175 16 9:08 178 17 9:21 177 18 9:30 174 19 9:32 174 20 8:49 179 21 9:57 176 22 11:28 165 23 11:24 160 24 10:19 167 25 11:14 164 26 11:24 158 0.64 5:58 174 (HRM was about 1.5% too long, but I didn't recalibrate the settings after moving the foot pod to these shoes. )
Course: Start downtown, cross the Ohio River into Kentucky and then back into Ohio. At mile 300' climb between miles 5.5 and 8.5 and then "gently rolling" hills along the top of the river bluff. Wander around the bluffs for 8-10 miles before starting the decent back towards downtown. The "gently rolling" hills get a bit more malicious in the last 5 miles.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
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: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2010-05-03 11:32 PM

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Champion
7542
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bronze member
Subject: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
In the first pic, it's Bob (Rstocks3), Derek (Boyddr), Kevin (Wallico), Natalie, and myself

In the finisher pic, Kevin had finished and long sense left, so it's Derek, Natalie, Bob, and me.

Last pic has me splashing through the puddles and rain at about mile 3. 

Edited by McFuzz 2010-05-03 11:36 PM


2010-05-04 6:05 AM
in reply to: #2835062

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Regular
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Cincinnati
Subject: RE: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
Once again congrats on Marathon #1!

You all look great with your medals! It was a fun time even with the weather!
2010-05-04 7:57 AM
in reply to: #2835062

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Bob
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Binghamton, NY
Subject: RE: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
Great report Mike! It was fun running with you the last few miles. I have learned that setting time goals in marathons when you're a little undertrained leads to very sore legs. Congrats on the PR and I may take you up on the long run in Dec!

Recover well!!
2010-05-04 8:20 AM
in reply to: #2835062

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Veteran
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Sunny Binghamton
Subject: RE: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
Great job and report Mike, how many times did Stocksie have to go to the bathroom in those last few miles? Wink
2010-05-04 8:25 AM
in reply to: #2835375

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Champion
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
jcc - 2010-05-04 8:20 AM Great job and report Mike, how many times did Stocksie have to go to the bathroom in those last few miles? Wink


Thanks!  I don't recall any stops after they swept me up. 
2010-05-04 9:44 AM
in reply to: #2835062

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Elite
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Muskego, WI
Subject: RE: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon

Good work MM.  You put together a nice race given the semi-random training you did leading up to it.  Nice work!



2010-05-04 11:59 AM
in reply to: #2835062

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Master
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Surprise, Arizona
Subject: RE: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon

That is a great first (standalone) marathon - congratulations!!!

2010-05-04 4:25 PM
in reply to: #2835062

Champion
8903
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Subject: RE: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
Nice job!  I can't imagine that 180 heart rate, I couldn't even get that running up Mt Washington!  Then again, when you hit my age your maximum HR will be lower anyway.  The weather sure was crummy but it'll be good training for an ultra (or an Ironman)!
2010-05-05 6:56 AM
in reply to: #2835062

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Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
Great race!  it was fun meeting you and Beth.  :-)
2010-05-05 7:59 PM
in reply to: #2835062

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Regular
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Horseheads, NY
Subject: RE: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon

Nice report.  It was lots of fun running in the rain.

2010-05-08 12:08 AM
in reply to: #2835062

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Veteran
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Denver
Subject: RE: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon

Nice run my friend! Congrats!



2010-05-08 9:14 PM
in reply to: #2835062

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Expert
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WA
Subject: RE: Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon

Great job Mike!!!  Congratulations on your first mary!!  Very happy for you .

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