If you just curious about the race report jump down to Race Report. Otherwise, on your own risk read a little background about my motivational issues and struggle first.

It has been a while since my last blog post, while this is not the first race since my last Ironman I didn’t feel like writing about my 5k and half-marathon. Furthermore since last Ironman I had various motivational issues which by itself could make an interesting blog post. Maybe I’ll write something up if I can find the “motivation” 🙂
In short, after not qualifying for Kona last year I was seriously debating to give up on long distance races and just focus on short/medium distance. But I quickly realized that I didn’t even have the motivation to train for shorter distances. This paired with more stress at work, allergy treatment (Immuno-therapy) and Vitamin D deficiency (because I stopped taking my vitamins, after all I’m not training that hard anymore) didn’t make for a fun couple months.
Last year I had made up my mind, that I wanted to qualify for Boston, based on my Ironman Marathon time, that shouldn’t be too hard. Besides it is a time based goal, which means it is up to me to get the job done (unlike Ironman). But training was a real crap shoot. I walked 10+ min in most of my long runs and did not have the mental strength to push myself in the hard workouts. I’m normally a VERY positive guy and have almost limitless energy to push myself. The constant reminder that I was struggling in every other workout (even on easy runs) was really tough to deal with! Once I did my blood work and figured out that I had Vitamin D deficiency I started doing better and at least could do my longer workouts without walking too often. But this was only part of the puzzle, the 5k and half-marathon were below expectations. While they correlated with my fitness level, they were nowhere close to where I was in the past (the new HM time was 5min slower than my PR). Leading up to the race I knew I put in the mileage, but was missing my confidence. In previous years I knew I was willing to push my body and didn’t have any doubt in my mind if I can get it done. This time all the marathon paced runs felt hard and I had the hardest time to run a consistent pace even for a few miles. Originally (last year), I was very excited to do a stand alone marathon, but now I wasn’t excited. The training didn’t go as planned an no matter what I would do, it wouldn’t be as good as I could do when I am in my best shape I could be. Additionally, the allergy shots interfered with my sleeping and recovery. Combined with work stress and not having a “real goal”. (The big Motivation for me was always Kona, and now that I wasn’t focusing on that anymore and I didn’t see the point in training that hard for something else).
I had a couple talks with my coach where he assured me that I’m ready and that he believes in me, I wished I could have said the same about myself. It was kinda surreal compared to all my previous races where I knew that I was ready (at least mentally). Furthermore, in the days leading up to the race  I didn’t seem to care at all about the race. I didn’t get nervous nor was I worried when we almost missed our flight to Arizona. They already had the gate closed, well apparently I didn’t want to race.

Race Report:
In any case the race plan called for a 6:40min/mile and even if it felt easy the first couple miles I should save energy for later and just run consistently my pace until mile 18. Thereafter I was allowed to pick it up a bit. A Boston Qualifier time for my age group is 3h 5min. But since starting places are handed out based on time I figured I need a sub 3h marathon to be in a safe spot. Based on my coaches plan, I should be able to run a 2:56. While this was fast enough in my mind I wasn’t too happy with that time since based on my half-marathon PR, I should be capable to run faster. But I had to remind myself that I should focus on my current fitness and be realistic on what I can do now, and not how fast I could have been when I was in top shape. It is just hard to realize that not every race/year is an improvement over previous years. My coach had a really good comment: “Focus on where you are right now.” He also added that there is no good and bad, it is simple where I am right now.

Amy and I both happy at the finish line

On race day Amy and I got up a 3:30am for breakfast and drove over to the bus pick up. After waiting in traffic jam at 4am in the morning to get to the parking lot and a 30min bus ride we arrived at the starting line in the dessert. It was cold and the race organizers had made some fires to keep the runners warm. I had bought some “throw away clothes” from goodwill to keep us warm right up to the start. I lined up and started talking to people to figure out that I was in the right spot. As it turns out I had to make my way all they way up front into the first few rows until people told me that they were aiming for a similar time.

The race started and as I had learned from Ironman, I was calm. Despite many people sprinting past me and I just let them go. It was downhill and the pace was fast but I wanted to run the first mile easy. Based on my watch I was running my pace perfectly. To my surprise the 3h10min pace guide overtook me and I and some of the other runner poked fun at him that he was going way too fast. Well he didn’t listen to us and we reached mile 1 together in exactly 6:40min. His comments was “Well we put some time in the bank”. I felt sorry for the people who relayed on his pacing which did the first mile 30sec faster than they should have. After the first mile marker various people slowed down and I started catching people with out even trying to. Soon enough we were spread out and small groups were forming. I focused on running efficiently and just on a 6:40 pace.
After a few miles the first long hill came and I slowed down to whatever felt comfortable. People were passing me again but I did not care since I knew I was saving energy for later parts in the race. Note: I think I caught every single one of them who overtook me on this hill.
After that hill there was a long downhill where the group I was running with was pushing a 6:30min/mile and I decided to back off a little. But a quick check over my should revealed that there was a 100yard gap behind me and considering the mental benefits of running with a group I decided to stick with them. This was a great decision since soon there after we turned into the wind which was much stronger than I anticipated. The next few miles into the wind were hard ones. Pace lines formed and only a few people where willing to lead. This lead to constant power surges and people falling back and other runners running around them and catching up to catch a break from the wind. This went on for several miles. A few times I knew that I was burning some matches, but I figured it was worth it because running alone would have been slower and much more strenuous. Besides the pace was still 10 seconds slower than planned and I felt like most of the people around me were good runners and also going for a similar time. This went on for several miles.
I was my old self in the race, I wasn’t worried and even if that 10 sec a mile slower meant that I would be slower than a 2:56 marathon, my overall goal was a sub 3 marathon and a spot for Boston. So I just went with it. I also enjoyed reading all the cool signs the spectators had written.
Here are my favorite 3:
* Yeah, Saturday morning long runs are now over… that means Friday night sex!
* You run better than the government!
* If my twins catch you, you can keep em!

The Lady I mentioned plus me overtaking some random guy, which seems surprised that he got “chicked”? 🙂

Finally we turned into a different direction (roughly at 10.5miles) and the pace line fell apart. I was leading for a while and some people where drafting me. A lady came by with a slightly faster pace than mine and I decided to stick with her. We ended up running together for about the next 10 miles. Spectators where giving her updates what position she was in. From that I knew that we started running together when she was in 10th place (Women). She was racing a really consistent pace and it was great to run with her. We constantly overtook people. Last update I heard was 6th place for her, which I believe is the place she finished in.
We crossed the halfway point in 1:28:35 which meant I was on course for a 2:57 marathon. I felt okay, but not great and certainly not as good as I hoped for the 2nd half. However, again I wasn’t worried that I was on course to finishing 1 min slower. I just told myself to stick to the plan and finish strong. After all there is so many people who slow down in the later miles which would cost much more time. Around mile 14-16 I hit a couple rough spots. I was feeling tired and seriously questioned if I could finish the race at that pace. But I told myself just to stick to it. At mile 17 the lady made a comment that she would speed up a little. It was one mile earlier than planned for me. I decided to go with her since we had such a consistent pace, and the pace increase was minor.

Around that time we caught a group of about 6 people and ran with them. To my surprise none of them were cutting corners in the turns (running the tangents). A mile 19 there were two big turns which I suggested to the group that we cut corners, but they didn’t listen so I cut the corners and in the 2nd turn where I veered back to them I was in front of the group. However, I felt it was too early for me to make a push, however I was stuck at the front of the group. At least one of the guys came up next to me and we were leading the group together. We crossed the 10k (to go) time mat with that group in 2:17:07. I was a little concerned, at that point my quads were hurting and running at the same pace needed considerable mental effort. I also noticed that the group had slowed down to a ~7min/mile which was 20sec slower than I wanted to run. However, I knew that 6x20sec would only add up to 2min. So all in all I should still be on course for a sub 3h, despite it being a close call.

This is just when I decided to increase the pace, in the background is the group I was just leaving behind.

I don’t remember the exact reason or motivation but at mile 22 I decided it was finally time to push harder.There were only 4 miles left in the race and I did the math and figured the only way to make sure I finish below 3h is to push harder and run closer to my planned pace. I went back to running closer to a 6:40min/mile and quickly dropped the people who were following me, a few tried to hold on but were soon gone. From then on I set my target on the next person in front of me until I caught that person and I had to find a new target. The number of people I overtook ended up being somewhere just over 10, it was hard to keep exact track of them since I was also catching up to the people who were doing the half marathon. They started at the same time at the halfway point. Unfortunately, catching up with the half marathon people was getting annoying they would walk 3-4 people abreast and listen to music and not hear me when I asked them that I could pass them. So I had to run around them, which also cost additional energy at least mentally. At that point I was passing hundreds of people, it was actually shocked by the amount of people I had to pass which were finishing up the half marathon.
Despite that I was in a great place mentally and was able to push on the last couple miles like I used to. I was hurting bad, but I knew I could finish the run. I also knew that I would finish under 3h. When I was on the finish straight I could see the clock be around 2h 57min, and I pushed a little harder but I couldn’t find the extra gear to finish in sub 2:58 and crossed the finish line in 2:58:11.

Conclusion:

Unlike Ironman the pain is more physical and not as draining which can be seen in this picture only a few minutes after I finished.

The result was slower than I initially hopped, but I’m very happy with it. Considering where I was training wise and the conditions I know I did a great race. I was able to push hard to the very end and had a very consistent race. I’m proud of the fact that at mile 22 I was able to go harder and ignore the burning quads and all the doubts. Once I made the decision to go faster, I didn’t hesitate once or question if I could hold that pace. I knew that is what needed to be done no matter what!
I also noticed that I must have had done a good job since my quads were hurting for 4 whole days after the race. As it turns out the fact that the course had a net elevation loss wasn’t as big of an advantage as I thought, especially with the head wind the whole time since it was a point to point race where the finish line was in the direction the wind was coming from.
It has been a while since the race and I found my confidence again thanks to the race. I realized that I can still execute a race plan and stay strong mentally and finish to the best on “where I am right now”. Now I only need to improve the where I am 🙂
It also helped that I overtook many people in the 2nd half. Looking at the results it is kinda interesting how many people do the 2nd half much slower. I was able to keep that gap just to one minute.

Some interesting data from the race organizers:
First half: 1:28:35 ( 6:46min/mile ) – Place 83
Last Half:  1:29:35 ( 6:51min/mile ) – Place 37
20 Mile:    2:17:07 ( 6:52min/mile ) – Place 62
Last 10k:   0:41:04 ( 6:38min/mile ) – Place 29

Net Time:   2:58:11 ( 6:49min/mile ) – Place 47

Division Place (M30-34) 9

Results Page

Pace and HR