Of Mice and Marathons

Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

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Location:

Lake Orion,MI,

Member Since:

Dec 28, 2011

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

PRs

16:52 Phillies Charities 5k (2016)

35:52 Beach to Beacon 10k (2015)

58:10 Broad Street 10 Mile (2016)

1:16:02 Philadelphia Rock and Roll Half Marathon (2015)

2:46:54 Philadelphia Marathon (2015)

Personal:

I live in Michigan with my wife, Megan, and our boys, Charlie and Sawyer. I started running in September 2010.

(Please note that Strava links might contain blog inappropriate langauge)

 

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 17.80 Month: 188.40 Year: 510.50
Miles With Megan Lifetime Miles: 613.75
Nike Zoom Streak LT2 White/Orange Lifetime Miles: 189.95
Saucony Kinvara 5 Viziglow Lifetime Miles: 530.45
Kinvara 10 Lifetime Miles: 186.30
Kinvara 10 II Lifetime Miles: 137.80
Miles With The Boys Lifetime Miles: 99.90
Nike Zoom Streak LT4 Mr. Pinks Lifetime Miles: 21.60
Saucony ISO Freedom 3 Lifetime Miles: 609.15
Saucony ISO Freedom 3 #2 Lifetime Miles: 154.30
Altra Rivera Lifetime Miles: 337.95
Altra Rivera (Dark Blue) Lifetime Miles: 121.50
Saucony Kinvara 5 (2023 Vault Shoe) Lifetime Miles: 263.15
Saucony Kinvara 5 (2023 Vault Shoe II) Lifetime Miles: 228.00
Saucony Kinvara 13 Lifetime Miles: 188.90
Saucony Endorphin Pro Lifetime Miles: 170.00
Saucony Freedom 5 Lifetime Miles: 43.70
Saucony Kinvara 13 #2 Lifetime Miles: 20.30
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
23.0926.440.120.0049.65
Saucony Kinvara Miles: 4.00Newton Trainers 3 Miles: 10.85Newton Trainer 4 Miles: 5.08Newton (Marathon Racer) Miles: 29.72
Weight: 0.00
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
4.000.000.000.004.00

North side - 4 miles very easy, averaged 8:45

Saucony Kinvara Miles: 4.00
Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
6.750.000.000.006.75

9th to Heritage Trail, turning around at the 52 bridge and went up the trail to downtown and then back home - 6.75 miles, averaged 8:16

I made a cowboy boot on my Garmin map. 

Newton Trainers 3 Miles: 6.75
Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.00

Day off. I somehow lost 4 lbs since yesterday and I am not sure what I did differently. Weight was a bit high yesterday so the drop isn't to anything unprecedented in terms of where I am at. Maybe my eyes weren't working correctly or the alcohol is leaving my system and my plan is working (of course I know the benefits, I just don't listen to them).  

Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
4.720.240.120.005.08

North side - 4.5 miles, averaged 8:21 + 6 x 100M strides (4 @ MGP and 2 @ HMP)

Feeling pretty good. I should be all set for Saturday morning. Few showers in the forecast, but I'll take that over wind. I've only had one sub-optimal weather day on race day, so I guess I am due for one. 

I think I am 10 or so lbs lighter than last year, which has and will make a big difference.

Newton Trainer 4 Miles: 5.08
Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
4.100.000.000.004.10

North side, tapering, wandering - 4.1 miles, averaged 8:28

Looking over data from last year. Did fairly well pacing myself according to plan and without any help. Mile 18 I thought I had to go the bathroom, but I didn't and I wasted a good minute there. Mile 22 and 23 my calves were tight (were from the halfway point). Mile 25 I got hit with a hamstring cramp that left me stretching against a building.

Last year I peaked at 50 miles, but I am not sure what my average was. Peaked at 85 miles this year and averaged 65 miles per week for the 16 week buildup.

Split Time Moving Time Distance
1 07:57.6 7:57 1
2 08:14.8 8:01 1
3 08:12.8 7:12 1
4 07:59.5 7:59 1
5 08:08.3 8:03 1
6 08:09.6 8:10 1
7 08:04.4 8:00 1
8 08:15.4 8:13 1
9 08:09.4 8:10 1
10 08:13.3 8:05 1
11 08:01.9 8:02 1
12 08:02.1 8:02 1
13 07:51.8 7:53 1
14 07:54.8 7:53 1
15 08:09.3 7:59 1
16 08:13.9 8:14 1
17 08:04.9 8:02 1
18 09:00.6 8:20 1
19 08:06.4 8:07 1
20 08:04.0 8:04 1
21 08:18.2 8:13 1
22 08:37.6 8:32 1
23 08:47.5 8:40 1
24 08:16.2 8:14 1
25 08:33.0 8:19 1
26 08:10.1 8:07 1
27 02:53.7 2:54 0.38
 Summary 3:36:31.0 3:33:25.0 26.38

Newton Trainers 3 Miles: 4.10
Weight: 0.00
Comments(4)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
3.100.000.000.003.10

Ran to the train tracks and back - 3.1 miles, averaged 8:31 w/ a few low intensity pickups. Have a feeling 7-minute pace is going to feel easy tomorrow . . . until mile 23 and 24. 

Gained 2+ lbs. Yeah carbs! Boo weight gain!

Newton (Marathon Racer) Miles: 3.10
Weight: 0.00
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Race: Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:09:11, Place overall: 168, Place in age division: 25
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.4226.200.000.0026.62

The short story is that I was on pace for 21 miles for sub-3:05 and had a tough time in the last 5+ miles. As I said in my comments, I am disappointed but not devastated. I trained harder than I thought I could and I moved my time goal from 3:20 to 3:05 in the middle of August. The progress this year is something that has been wonderfully surprising.

Longer story. I decided to warm up since my usual pace is lower 8-minute range for easy runs and I usually don't break 9 minutes in my first mile (rarely below 8:45). I ended up doing 5 minutes, which seemed reasonable beacuase the pace was super slow with 1 or 2 low intensity, short strides. Did some dynamic stretching in there too, but nothing serious. I entered the corrals looking for the 3:05 group, but could only see the 3:10 and the elites just ahead. The 3:10 pacer asked me if I was looking for the 3:05ers, and he pointed them out (strange how a 3:05 pacer, and much faster marathoner wouldn't be super visible in the still-dark morning). I stayed between the two pace groups. I couldn't hear much because of the corral noise and my hat, but we finally got to the start and got moving. Took a bit to navigate for position, even for a smallish race, but I settled in after 3 or 4 miles okay.

Mile 1: The pacers were moving a bit fast. I hit the hit the first mile in 6:50 and I wasn't really gaining on the 3:05 group. Before the second mile, the 3:10 guy was breathing down my neck, and I think he said he hit 7:00 for the first mile (too fast for a 7:17 goal time I think). Throughout the race I felt like the 3:05 group was surging, especially on a flat course, but it was likely my novice sense of pace and pacing, but I found it hard to stay with them, even though I didn't feel a lag in my own pace.

Mile 2: 7:11. I could see the 3:05 group about the same distance as we were at the start, so I figured I would be fine as long as I didn't get too much of a gap that I couldn't close at the end (I was only a few seconds behind them at the start and they weren't much back from gun time).

Mile 3: I passed through Monument Circle and threw my hate to Megan. At this point I think I was sitting right on the 3:05 group. Still 6:47. I realize it was faster because I was trying to get right behind them and had to cover some ground, but we still shouldn't have been too far below pace on a flat course (Obviously each person is the only one responsible for his or her own pacing).

Mile 4 (7:17); Mile 5 (7:08); Mile 6 (7:03) 10k split was 43:47. Right on 7:04 pace; Mile 7 (6:59) Took a gel here; Mile 8 (7:12); Mile 9 (7:15); Mile 10 (7:13); Mile 11 (6:58); Mile 12 (7:03); Mile 13: (6:59) First half split was 1:32:41, which was right where I was hoping to be roughly (1:32:20-1:32:40); Mile 14: (7:01); Mile 15: (7:01) Took another gel, and started to realize I would need to feel really good at mile 20-24. I missed a water station somewhere because they didn't have enough volunteers and weren't prepared for a big, tightly packed group. I asked a guy if he would mind if I had just a sip of his water if he was going to toss it. He handed it too me, which was kind. I can't remember but I think I was still pretty much behind the group at this point. I would be close to them and fall back or they would push ahead.

Mile 16: (7:07) Just a 10+ mile tempo run to go!

Mile 17: (6:57). I knew that these were the splits I needed to hit to be on pace for sub-3:05 and I also knew they were getting a bit difficult to hit.

Mile 18: (6:57). Split was dead even like the last one. 30k Split was 2:11:43, still on 7:04 pace.

Mile 19: (6:49) I think this was about where I passed a guy and he asked how I was doing and I said "fine," which was meant to be an hopeful and not arrogant response. May have been the next mile because I took a gel and really did feel better, but not super fresh. I was trying to close in on the group again by mile 20 so they could drag me to the finish line.

Mile 20: (6:58) Took a gel. Hoped some of my faster miles at the end of long runs would save me, but they didn't. I think this is where we entered the park through a narrowish gate. I was off the 3:05 pack, and missed my goal of catching them slowly over 2-3 miles.

Mile 21: The group was visible I think, but I can't remember. I knew I wasn't going to hit 3:05 for sure. I just hoped to come in the 3:05 range (the removal of the 59-second grace period being pushed aside for pride). I still managed 7:12. Oh yeah, and it started to rain a bit. Cold, almost sleeting, rain. Hands and arms were cold (I tossed my gloves because they got wet).

Mile 22 "Somewhere around mile 22 the cramps began to take hold . . . ": Let the geezer games begin (me being the participant)! Little bit of walking to see if the legs were just playing me. Got a few Cliff Bloks that some nice folks had. They had opened the package to help I guess, but I spilled a bunch. I took part of a Cliff gel somewhere in here too hoping it would be miracle fuel. Split 7:55 for this one. Ouchy.

Mile 23: I did some more walk/running here I think and managed a 7:35. I tried to fight the cramps in my side, but I did a good bit of clutching, growling, and grimacing.

Mile 24: More of the same. Tough mile, especially with 3-hour half marathoners walking and covering most of the road. Okay, that was what I was thinking at the time because I was really cursing myself. Growl, grab side, grimace. Repeat. Who is that hunched over geezer in the shop window? It's me . . . 8:09.

Mile 25: 7:48. I tried to tough it out, but I couldn't. I tried to push through the discomfort, but it wasn't helping. Just finish the race, Jason, and don't let that 3:10 pacer mow you down.

Mile 26: The point in the marathon where your eyes should light up and your legs magically find just a small spark of fuel. Again, I tried to push and I did okay but I didn't have anything in my legs either. By this point I had perfected my old man shuffle. Saw a guy on the sidewalk with volunteers. They were trying to stand him up but he was very, very unsteady. Always makes me nervous, especially since I had a friend at Chicago get life-threatening heat stroke (at 37 degrees this other fellow had other issues). 7:24.

Partial: .34 (.04 better than last year): No 5:30-pace kick down, but I did manage 2:34 or 7:02 pace. I also managed to pass one guy just before the turn off from New York into the straightaway to the finish line. Nothing fierce. More like a barely audible purr. Too many people in the finishing area. I got a water and got into an open area. Wasn't until later that I realized I missed my medal.

I walked a bit and drank some water, picking up random abandoned ones as I was leaving. My legs didn't feel too tight or sore even if they weren't in any shape to run. I wasn't that sore in the afternoon/evening and I actually ran a short piece when we went to lunch. A bit sore this morning, but NOTHING compared to my first marathon last year when I couldn't really walk down stairs for 5-7 days. I feel it a bit in my hips because I was such a geezer at the end, but I am pleased I don't feel super trashed and I can run earlier than Thursday (the first day I ran last year).

I am so happy to be a part of the blog. I try to follow and read as much of all your races and training as time will allow. I have learned a good deal from the blog, while better being able to push myself because of it. I have no doubt it has helped with my successful year with 9 races and a PR for every one (one of the many perks of being a newer runner for sure). My first half split was faster than my April half marathon PR by 1 minute and my overall pace wasn't much slower than my half marathon pace at that point. Many of my splits for the marathon were at what I was running the half marathon in June, just two weeks before I started my 16 week marathon buildup.

 

Cheers.


 


Newton (Marathon Racer) Miles: 26.62
Weight: 0.00
Comments(9)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
23.0926.440.120.0049.65
Saucony Kinvara Miles: 4.00Newton Trainers 3 Miles: 10.85Newton Trainer 4 Miles: 5.08Newton (Marathon Racer) Miles: 29.72
Weight: 0.00
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