The plan was to use this as a learning and training experience for my first ever Marathon (Chicago) in 4 weeks. So, I wanted to stay in Z2 for the first 7 miles, and then try and do my marathon pace (~8m/m) for the rest of the race. I pretty much nailed that philosophy, however, my HR was so much higher than I expected for those last 6 miles. I haven't lost full confidence that I could still do 8m/m for Chicago, but its not re-assuring. OTOH, I did not taper, and this course is kind of hilly, and it will most likely be cooler in another month, so those things should help.

I went out and really had to be patient. I let a bunch of people pass me. I was expecting to do about 8:45s, but my body wouldn't go that slow with all the other people around. This was good practice, b/c I know in Chicago, that feeling is definitely going to be there. I need to make sure and stay on that even pace.

So, the first 5 miles were pretty uneventful. I talked to a ton of different people, many of whom were doing Chicago, as well. Around mile 4 this guy hooked up with me, b/c he saw my Garmin. I was around an 8:30m/m pace at that point and that is what he wanted to run at. I told him of my plan to pick it up the last few miles, and he said that would be cool when I did. This was his first 1/2 mary, and he is doing Chicago, too. He was also going up to Madison to watch the IM, and then sleep in his car, to get up to sign up for IMWI in '08 (what a coincidence...except for sleeping in the car). Then I saw my wife and kids at the same point they were last year. I told her not to come out b/c I wasn't racing, but the kids were all up and it was a good excuse to go to Dunkin' Donuts! That was pretty neat. At mile 5, I saw a lady running in her socks...which is crazy, but she was moving very good. And she wore them over that hard packed gravel, too.

At mile 7 I gradually started to pick up the pace, and was in full marathon mode pace by mile 8. It felt good, but not as good as I wanted it. The last couple of miles my HR was way too high. The great thing about once I started to go at pace, no one passed me, and I was passing people like crazy. Very cool to do.

With about 1 mile to go, I saw the last two dudes I wanted to pass. They were still 200m in front, but I knew I could get them. I passed them both with about .2 miles left, however, they both had gas in their tanks b/c they passed me back. Well, that teed me off enough...And I threw out the training run mentality I had had for the last 1:45 and went to get them back. And I did pass them back. It took everything I had, though. My HR hit 182. First time over 180 since I started this madness. The garmin had my top speed at 3:49m/m (probably only for a couple of seconds, but pretty neat anyway). Fun finish.
1m: 8:25, 136
2m: 8:24, 145
3m: 8:33, 144
4m: 8:16, 148
5m: 8:41, 148
6m: 8:34, 149
7m: 8:25, 154
8m: 7:48, 160
9m: 8:00, 161
10m: 8:02, 164
11m: 7:56, 166
12m: 8:02, 168
13m: 7:46, 171
0.1m: 6:14, 175

Not much. I wanted to wear my shoes and shorts that I planned on using for Chicago and did that. I wanted to run with my gel bottle and did that. I wanted to work on pacing and HR in a race atmosphere and did that. And I wanted to walk through all the aid stations and did that (w/ the exception of the last one...had to catch those guys!).

Got some food. The food was great for such an inexpensive race. Then stretched and drank my endurox.


My overall goal of saving myself for Chicago.


This race is very well done. Inexpensive, but very nice goody bag, technical long sleeve shirt, and done on a nice course. Would do it again.