Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Dealing with failure

"The one who doesn't fall doesn't stand up."


I am massively disappointed in myself for the Seattle Marathon (State #16/Marathon #21). I've put in a lot time and mileage this year than any time in the past, still failing to PR.
I'd like to blame the course but I won't use it as an excuse, it was much tougher than New Orleans where I last PR'd. I knew it would be a tough day when I hit mile three and saw the first hill because the first noticeable hill according to the course elevation map was at mile four. And there were a number of long tunnels that were draining mentally. Nevertheless, I thought that the preparation could overcome these factors, I was wrong.

Split Time Moving Time Distance Elevation Gain Elevation Loss
1 0:08:11 0:08:12 1 0 7
2 0:08:12 0:08:08 1 3 0
3 0:08:35 0:08:33 1 44 0
4 0:08:35 0:08:32 1 25 26
5 0:08:41 0:08:37 1 110 0
6 0:08:07 0:08:05 1 0 135
7 0:08:23 0:08:22 1 14 20
8 0:08:31 0:08:31 1 62 29
9 0:08:37 0:08:31 1 37 33
10 0:08:19 0:08:20 1 16 67
11 0:08:29 0:08:29 1 22 14
12 0:07:29 0:07:48 1 60 11
13 0:10:13 0:03:33 1 56 29
14 0:08:28 0:08:28 1 24 109
15 0:08:55 0:08:47 1 89 83
16 0:08:53 0:08:46 1 107 0
17 0:08:34 0:08:17 1 37 63
18 0:09:45 0:09:39 1 129 0
19 0:09:03 0:09:04 1 181 295
20 0:09:57 0:09:50 1 238 191
21 0:09:18 0:09:14 1 0 92
22 0:09:06 0:08:41 1 53 36
23 0:09:36 0:09:31 1 0 74
24 0:09:42 0:09:38 1 0 8
25 0:11:09 0:10:46 1 2 0
26 0:10:54 0:10:41 1 3 0
27 0:05:03 0:04:58 0.59 11 0
Summary 3:58:59 3:50:01 26.59 1,322 1,323

Weather was perfect, 50 at the start and overcast the entire race. Like Calvin suggested, I trailed the 3:45 marker from the start... keeping it about half a football field in front. Going very easy in the beginning and eventually passing the 3:45 marker group at mile 8 with a steady state pace. At mile 16, the group passes me and I can feel myself slowing down going up each of the multiple hills. I was still confident to PR until mile 23 when both quads just seized. I literally had to stop and stretch until I can manage a walk… after about a minute or two started to run again but in serious pain. Mile 25, yet another hill/bridge. I looked at the watch and did a very fuzzy math and thought that hope of a significant PR was gone. Then my thought went to just finishing sub 4. As I rounded mile 26, I looked at the watch again and to my surprise, I was looking at yet another 3:58ish finish. So I put it down as hard as I could (8:37 pace) to the finish. Looked at my watch after the finish line and it was 10 sec slower than New Orleans. I am crushed.

Trying to find some positive from this has been difficult. Only thing I’ve come up with is this:

Seattle NO
Overall% 25.25 26.86
Division 32.94 35.97
Gender 34.11 36.97

So some slight improvement compared to the rest of the population. I am still processing the failure in my mind... and now I have to wait until next year to push for a new PR…
Next up is that monster double in Oct. oh boy…

Monday, June 6, 2011

Sleepless before Seattle

Only 19 days to go! Is it time to panic yet? The pre-race jitter has set in… its not unusual but I have put a lot of pressure on myself for this race. I think I’ve said this to myself at least a thousand times (no exaggeration) “ I MUST PR.” Hopefully the amount of training has readied the body as well as given me the mental toughness needed for those last few miles. I think having a few friends running with me is going to be a big (positive) factor as well. ~good luck to Mike & MariAnne C., Tito N., Larry C., David L., and my sister Chris~ Looking forward to hanging out with all of you for a day.

Ran my last V02 today and discussed the results with Ironmen co-worker and Yoda. Things are looking pretty good. Just need to taper off properly and watch my nutrition and amount of sleep over the next 2.5 weeks. Speaking of sleep, or the lack of… I think I am permanently sleep deprived. I sure miss sleeping in on the weekends. Weekend long runs don’t really help but the biggest obstacle for my sleep has obviously been the kids. They seem to always wake up extra early on the weekends (but wants to sleep in on school days).

Big thanks to my lovely wife who has been positively extra supportive through the past 15 weeks. I hope you survive the kids on the 25th. I’ll be home right after the race… (after a shower of course).

One race, one mile, and one step at a time,
Jeff