#runnersmarathonofreston

[missylizzylucy]

Finally back to posting and I (@missylizzy) took some time to write up my race from the weekend! Check it out!! {link in bio} . . #runner #blog #racerecap #runnersmarathonofreston #reston #teamsparkle #saucony #playgoodr

[13milestogo]

Runners Marathon of Reston

March 24, 2013

My goal for 2013 is my first full ironman.  I’m not too worried about the swim.  I’ve biked over 100 miles before.  However, I’ve never run more than 13.1 miles.  I’ve never been the fastest runner, and the run at the end of a triathlon provides a few challenges.  So this marathon was my early season gut check.  Coach Claudia’s theory is that you don’t have to do the extremely long runs, but rather put in the total miles during the week.  We’ll see how that shakes out.

Having never done that distance, the goals were to 1) execute a good nutrition plan, 2) not walk except through water stations, 3) properly pace myself for the second half, and 4) finish unconcerned about the time.

The weather had been cold all winter, and the race started around 33 degrees.  Clothing was the first question, as it was expected to be about 40 degrees by the end of the race.  I ended up with shorts, a long sleeve Under Armour cold gear, long sleeve technical, throw away gloves, and a visor.  I also jerry rigged a fuel belt pack onto my tri race belt.  Four Gu gels.

After a five minute warm up, the race started at 7:30.  Not too cold.  For the first few miles I kept checking my Garmin.  I wanted to keep my heart rate and pace in check, and slowed it down a few times.  

The first few miles seemed like a nice jog.  At about mile 3.5, after a long downhill on Twin Branches Road, we entered a trail with a steep downhill followed immediately by a steep uphill and on and on.  As the entrance was surrounded by trees followed by the drop, I nicknamed it “the Entrance to Hell.”

10K – 57:49 (9:18 per mile)

So far so good.  Around miles 8 or 9 I noted that my usual hip pains weren’t there, but still held back the pace.  Ankles started to get a little sore, but no worries.  I think I went off into La La Land for a while.  Off in the woods, I finally noticed South Lakes Park around mile 11.5, and knew it would get easier.

13.1 miles – 2:01:39 (9:17 pace)

Started the second loop not feeling too bad.  Time to pick up the pace.  I hit the Entrance to Hell and started feeling the hills.  Not only the ups and downs, but the fact that the trail was on angle. 

20.0 miles – 3:02:34 (9:07 average pace)

Definitely feeling it in the muscles, but aerobically I was fine.  Wasn’t pushing it.  Heart rate couldn’t have gotten over 160. 

Miles 22 to 24 ended up being the hardest.  The ups and downs of the trail were taking a toll on my legs.  I never had problems with by calves or glutes before, but now they were feeling fatigued and tight.  I made the rookie mistake of stopping for a second and stretching.  The calf stretch went fine.  When I went for a quad stretch, my left hamstring popped.  I became that guy: “I pulled a hammy!”  I thought I was going to hit the deck, and the day was over.  I could barely walk.  So I started limping, then walking, then speed walking, and was able to get back to a jog.  After a half mile, the pain faded, but the damage was done.  My legs were toast.

Fortunately miles 24 and 25 were downhill along South Lakes Drive.  Making the turn onto the uphill of Ridge Heights Road was painful.  The only other time I felt like this was the Culpepper International Triathlon.  My leg muscles were beyond fatigued and heading into muscle failure.  I have no idea how I got through the last half mile as every step I thought I was going to drop, but I finished.  I had to give my son the Heisman at the end.  His hug would have put me on my tail.

26.2 miles (4:09:58 – 9:33 pace)

1.  The nutrition plan worked well.  Gu’s every 30 to 45 minutes.  Water and/or Gatorade at every stop, whether I wanted it or not. 

2.  Almost made it not walking.  Considering the hills, I’ll call it a victory except for the hammy.

3.  Pace worked well, considering the hills.  The second half was on track to be faster than the first.  Aerobically, I never had any issues.

4.  Let’s face it, time matters.  I thought the hills would put me in the 4:15-4:30 range.  Under 4:00 seemed achievable except for the muscle pull.  Anything with a 4:0x was perfect for my first marathon.

First box checked.