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Marine Corps Marathon 10K - Run10k


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Arlington, Washington, D.C.
United States
50F / 10C
Sunny
Total Time = 56m 5s
Overall Rank = 572/2692
Age Group = 25-29
Age Group Rank = 58/342
Pre-race routine:

Ok...this story begins with me realizing I had forgotten my RUNNING SHOES. With my prescription orthotics in them. In my foyer. Seriously. What. a. Clown.

So, I was forced to buy a brand new pair of Brooks Adrenalines (got the trail version since I've been wanting a pair of trail shoes) and Spenco arch support inserts at the expo. I put the shoes on as soon as I got them and walked around in them the rest of the day.

Had a little trouble falling asleep but still got a few hours of good sleep. Woke up at 5:30, ate PB on a WW english muffin and a mini Kashi GoLean Crunch bar. Headed to the Metro and rode that in to the start.
Event warmup:

Hung around the marathon start area with Travis until the race began, then walked over to the 10K start. Ate 2 orange shot bloks and drank some water. No warm up, really, other than fidgeting in place to try and keep warm during our like 25-minute delay.
Run
  • 56m 5s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 09m 02s  min/mile
Comments:

Start was slow, as I expected. This year I didn't waste energy dodging and weaving around people; just started slow and waited for the crowd to thin out a bit before I started gaining ground. My feet hurt from the tight new shoes but that was to be expected.

At mile 2 I was around 19:30; I realized I'd have to make up some serious time if I was going to PR (though, admittedly, I was not expecting to really do so with everything going against me - the brand new shoes & inserts, the ITBS flareup, and the wind). Picked up the pace a little and then stuck it in cruise control for the next 2 miles. By mile 4 I realized I was getting some SERIOUS blisters on my arches. The pain was ridiculous, but seeing some of the amputee Team Semper Fi Fund 10K runners and handcrank wheelchair marathoners kept me going - my blisters were NOTHING compared to that!

Also around mile 4 I ate 2 more shot bloks. I took Powerade or water at each stop except for the first one, so I felt pretty well-hydrated throughout. Everything was hurting by the time I reached mile 5, but I kept moving forward at a pretty good clip, picking people off along the way. Finally, I made the sharp turn up the hill toward the finish and heard the announcer say the clock time was 56:19 - I knew I was between 45-60 seconds behind the clock, so I couldn't believe it - a PR was easily within reach!!!

I opened up my stride and crossed the finish line with a huge grin on my face - somehow, with new shoes, huge blisters, wind, and a bum knee and nasty ITBS flareup, I smashed my previous 10K PR (57:22) with a 56:05!!!

Got my medal and then the pain in my arches really started to set in. Later I would find I had half-dollar size blisters on each of my arches. YEOW. But it was absolutely worth it!
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. Well...remember to bring my shoes.
Post race
Warm down:

Staggered around and into the massage tent since there was no line. Boy did that feel good! Then got some bandaids for my blisters and wandered around the finish festival until my mom and I decided to relocate to Crystal City to see Travis pass by (unfortunately, the text messages that were supposed to help us track him didn't work, and we missed him). Headed back to the finish line to meet up with Travis, who finished his first marathon in 5:04:19!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I think I've covered this already. Hopefully next year none of those factors will be present so I can run the full marathon too!




Last updated: 2007-09-10 12:00 AM
Running
00:56:05 | 06.21 miles | 09m 02s  min/mile
Age Group: 58/342
Overall: 572/2692
Performance: Good
Course: Started in the Pentagon North parking lot, looped down through Crystal City, then back up the highway to the edge of Rosslyn and back to the Iwo Jima memorial. Some hills, but nothing at all intimidating compared to what I train on at home.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? No
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2007-10-30 9:09 PM

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Extreme Veteran
393
100100100252525
Columbia, South Carolina
Subject: Marine Corps Marathon 10K


2007-10-31 8:57 AM
in reply to: #1030758

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Champion
7542
5000200050025
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon 10K

Congrats on a PR! 

25-29?  What a kid

2007-10-31 8:59 AM
in reply to: #1030758

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Master
1588
1000500252525
San Francisco
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon 10K

Congrats on your 10K PR.  Geez, those blisters (on your arch...yikes) sound really painful, but you did an awesome job sticking with it.  I'm sure you'll double check and triple check that you have your shoes the next time.  At least, you now have a pair of trail shoes

Congrats again and congrats to Travis on his first mary; the first is always a special one!

2007-10-31 9:52 AM
in reply to: #1030758

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Master
2411
2000100100100100
Goodyear, AZ
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon 10K

WooHoo! Congrats on the PR- I knew you would do it! Just think how fast you will be when those knees heal up.

Well Done!

2007-10-31 11:45 AM
in reply to: #1030758

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Champion
7704
50002000500100100
Williamston, Michigan
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon 10K
great job and congrats on teh PR
2007-11-02 4:14 AM
in reply to: #1030758

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Veteran
117
100
Newark, Delaware
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon 10K
Congratulations on the PR!  That's some serious mental fortitude...awesome job!


2007-11-05 10:41 AM
in reply to: #1030758

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Veteran
168
1002525
Acworth, Georgia
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon 10K
A PR in new shoes with off-the-shelf orthotics.   Congratulations on a job well done.
2007-11-05 3:53 PM
in reply to: #1030758

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2007-11-05 6:39 PM
in reply to: #1030758

Extreme Veteran
393
100100100252525
Columbia, South Carolina
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon 10K
Thanks everyone!! I'm still amazed, myself. I think I need to run in brand new shoes and OTC orthotics more often!
2007-11-06 12:05 AM
in reply to: #1030758

Champion
8903
500020001000500100100100100
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon 10K

Sorry I didn't get to meet you there, I guess I should have gone into the massage tent and looked around for someone with painfull feet!  You're right, those wheelchair athletes and the 3 guys I saw with artificial legs were really motivating!  Congrats on the PR!

 

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