We arrived at the finish line at 4:15AM to take the 45 minute bus ride to the start line for the St. George Marathon. The weather was very mild and expected it to be a great day for the race as it never rains in St. George. It started to rain on the way up the mountain and the wind was blowing and didn’t stop for the next several hours. We arrived at the start line about 5:15, so we still had 90 minutes before the race would start. They were handing out garbage bags to be used as ponchos. We spent the next hour with a bag over our head and another as sleeping bag covering our legs curled up in a ball trying to stay dry.
The race started at 6:45 and I went across the start line with the 3:50 pace
group along with three others I had met the day before. I started the race wearing a garbage bag over a sweatshirt, t-shirt and my running shirt. I felt pretty good starting the race and was ahead of my pace. I gradually shed the other layers and was down to my running clothes by about mile 5. At mile 7 there is a long hill that lasts for over a mile. I made it up the hill, but it took a lot out of me and my pace started to drop. By mile 10 my shoes and socks were completely soaked, but I was feeling OK. I hit the 13 mile mark and was at 1:57 so I was still on target for four hours. The next several miles were tough and the hill from mile 18 to 20 my pace really slowed where for mile 19 it was over a 10 minute mile. The last 6 miles I thought my legs were going to fall off and at mile 22 I just wanted to quit. At this point we entered the city 
and there were people cheering, but I thought the dream on being under four hours was over. At mile 23 I heard someone tell another runner “at this point your legs are shot so it’s all guts to the finish.” I didn’t feel like I had any guts left. With about 1.5 miles to go the 4:00 pace group leaders caught me and I thought it was over as I crossed the start line at least a minute ahead of them with the 3:50 group, but I heard one of them say they were about a minute and a half ahead of pace. I somehow hung on and stayed with them and with 1 mile to go knew if I didn’t stop I could be sub 4:00. I crossed the finish line at 3:59:41. My legs are still very sore three days later. I feel like I am walking around like Fred Sanford from Sanford & Son. Energy wise I don’t think it was tougher than the 70.3 series, but the pain from the constant 
pounding on your legs for 26.2 miles was something I have never felt before. It was a great experience, but makes me wonder how are we going to do this after a 2.4 mile swim and 112 mile bike.
The race started at 6:45 and I went across the start line with the 3:50 pace
group along with three others I had met the day before. I started the race wearing a garbage bag over a sweatshirt, t-shirt and my running shirt. I felt pretty good starting the race and was ahead of my pace. I gradually shed the other layers and was down to my running clothes by about mile 5. At mile 7 there is a long hill that lasts for over a mile. I made it up the hill, but it took a lot out of me and my pace started to drop. By mile 10 my shoes and socks were completely soaked, but I was feeling OK. I hit the 13 mile mark and was at 1:57 so I was still on target for four hours. The next several miles were tough and the hill from mile 18 to 20 my pace really slowed where for mile 19 it was over a 10 minute mile. The last 6 miles I thought my legs were going to fall off and at mile 22 I just wanted to quit. At this point we entered the city 
and there were people cheering, but I thought the dream on being under four hours was over. At mile 23 I heard someone tell another runner “at this point your legs are shot so it’s all guts to the finish.” I didn’t feel like I had any guts left. With about 1.5 miles to go the 4:00 pace group leaders caught me and I thought it was over as I crossed the start line at least a minute ahead of them with the 3:50 group, but I heard one of them say they were about a minute and a half ahead of pace. I somehow hung on and stayed with them and with 1 mile to go knew if I didn’t stop I could be sub 4:00. I crossed the finish line at 3:59:41. My legs are still very sore three days later. I feel like I am walking around like Fred Sanford from Sanford & Son. Energy wise I don’t think it was tougher than the 70.3 series, but the pain from the constant 
pounding on your legs for 26.2 miles was something I have never felt before. It was a great experience, but makes me wonder how are we going to do this after a 2.4 mile swim and 112 mile bike. Mile Pace
1 9:21
2 8:55
3 8:45
4 8:17
5 8:56
6 8:15
7 8:20
8 8:57
9 8:57
10 8:49
11 9:26
12 9:21
13 9:11
14 9:20
15 8:56
16 8:32
17 9:16
18 9:37
19 10:08
20 9:53
21 8:59
22 9:55
23 9:28
24 9:01
25 9:36
26 9:15
26.2 2:03
Total 3:59:41
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/1024755
2 comments:
Great Job! That is a great accomplishment to finish a marathon; it is amazing the mental challenge that it is and the pain that you feel because you are doing the same discipline for such a long time.
I have asked myself the same dreaded question a few times, how am I going to do a marathon after the swim and bike; the only answer that i can come up with is that it will take guts and balls... maybe that is why only a few of us have committed to do the Vineman:)
Happy Training everyone!
Congratulations! I certainly wish I was in shape to be able to run a marathon right now.
I've been lazy and feel like I'm basically starting over at square one on the training side. We still have time right?
Post a Comment