Route 66 Marathon

Tulsa, Oklahoma

April 19^th, 8:00 AM

Age: 53

Weight: 147
13^th Marathon since 1999.
Bib#: 1500

Primary goal is to have fun.

1^st Goal, 7:50 pace, 3:25 finish

2^nd Goal, 8:00 Pace 3:30 finish

3^rd Goal, Sub 3:35

4^th Goal…just finish…..

I arrived in Tulsa late Friday evening about 9:15 PM, tired and ready to eat. After a very reasonable room service meal I tried to relax. Lights out at 11:10 PM.

Saturday morning I was up and out for an easy 2 miler. It was about 32 degrees with a breezy north wind. I ran about 25 minutes and everything felt as if all systems were a go.

I returned to the room for a quick shower, headed to the expo, at the same Hotel, picked up my Bib and stuff and was ready for a nice breakfast of pancakes, grits, water and orange juice.

I headed back to the hotel room for a rest. No plans today accept a tour of the course.

About 2:30 PM I headed out for a quick tour of the race course which is mostly flat. I didn't’t see the first 3 miles since I got terribly lost. The course runs south along the Arkansas River to the half way point at Jenks Oklahoma., then back along the same route to about 31^st street where we turn right into some nice neighborhoods then back north to the finish line. The last few miles, from mile 22 to the finish are hilly and appear to be very challenging.

As I was driving along Riverside Drive I saw the finish line for the Oklahoma Marathon which was still in progress. I have heard some people were going to run both the Oklahoma and the Route 66 marathon. Go figure…hehe

I prepared for this marathon with the Piftz 18/70 program. Basically it peaked at 70 miles during an 18 week/6 day schedule. It was by far the most challenging training program I had ever attempted. About half way through I appeared to be over training so I backed off my mileage for a few week and reduced my weekly mileage for the remaining of my training by about 15%.

Most of my training runs went great and based on my experience I was prepared for Sunday’s race.

But, I just didn’t feel mentally or physically prepared. My last run on Tuesday went well, but my legs felt dead.

I wasn't psych'ed up. Usually I am very excited , pumped up and ready to go the week leading up to a race….but not this time. It will be a difficult day tomorrow.

It surely didn't help that my mom had surgery and was having a difficult recovery.

I told my wife that I just wasn't with it and would just as soon not be here, but I signed up, trained 20 weeks and would give it a shot. Maybe I could find some way to concentrate, to focus, maybe even find some mental relief through the physical strain.

After a great Pasta party we returned to the Hotel room and witnessed a Oklahoma Bi-centennial Fireworks display from the hallway window. We also had an opportunity to visit with a first time Half Marathoner. She was excited and ready and will do great.

The 6:00 AM wake up call sounded and I was up and chowing down on Power Gel and Endurance Gatorade. After a nice shower I was dressed and heading out the door at 7:15 AM. The Hotel is just a few blocks from the start which was very convenient

The weather was 32 degrees with a slight north breeze. I wore my Dallas 26.2 cap (I have worn it in the last 12 Marathons); yellow t-shirt, blue shorts and red Asics 2110's with 32 miles on them.

The atmosphere of the race seemed to work on me and I was feeling a lot better and felt ready to tackle the distance. I guess it gave my mind something to think about.

My plan was to start at an 8:20-8:30 pace for a couple of miles than try to home in on an 8:00 pace. Since the course was flat I might try to speed up for a mile every now and then. I need an even 1:45 split at the half. If I can do that I will speed it up or slow it down depending on how I feel.

Kevin lined up with me, after the National Anthem, and an antique plane fly over, the gun went off and we were off.

Splits:

Mile 1 – 7:51, Hilly, a bit fast, so I will try to slow down a bit.

Mile 2 – 8:05, Hilly as we cross the river, I still need to slow down some.

Mile 3 – 8:05, Hilly as we cross back over the river to Riverside drive.

Mile 4 – 8:03, I am still to fast, maybe I can slow down a mile then pick it back up.

Mile 5 – 8:21, Good, an easy mile. Now I will get back on pace.

Mile 6 – 8:02, Felling good and trying to remain focused, legs tingle but I am not concerned yet.

Mile - 6.75, First Power Gel

Mile 7 – 7:58, The 3:30 pace group has caught up with me, I will run with them for a while. The half Marathoner's have turned back and things are thinning out.

Mile 8 – 7:58, I am still with the 3:30 pace group, but it is too crowded.

Mile 9 – 7:56, I decide to pass the 3:30 group so I can get some leg room.

Mile 10 – 8:07, I am still feeling good, splits look great and I am on schedule.

Mile 11 – 7:48, A nice quick mile to stretch out the legs. This course is really flat.

Mile 12 – 7:57, We cross over the bridge in to Jenks Oklahoma. I expect the crowd will be larger here

Mile 13 – 8:03, Mile 12 to 13 seemed really long. It is not time for the miles to feel long. I talked to a guy for a while then left him at a porta potty stop. Second Power Gel. The crowds are not large.

Half Split 1:45:13….RIGHT ON THE MONEY……GOAL IS 1:45, YOU CAN’T BEAT THIS WITH A STICK…HEHE

Mile 14 – 8:03, Okay the run thought Jenks is weaving around and it seems to take forever to get out of here. They need to modify this part of the course.

Mile 15 – 7:59, We are back over the bridge and man, the wind is cold from the north. The running crowd is getting thin. I need someone to draft me.

Mile 16 – 8:00 – The wind is really tough. I am definitely not hot.

Mile 17 – 8:06 – More wind, I am looking forward to mile 21 when we turn off of Riverside Drive.

Mile 18 – 8:22 – There is hardly any more crowd support. My legs have started aching, nothing bad yet.

Mile 19 – 8:14, The 3:30 pace group catches up with me and they are doing great; I try to stay with them hoping that they can block the wind and help me get though the aches and pains. Third Power Gel.

Mile 20 – 8:04, The 3:30 group surges ahead as I try to get fluid after consuming my third Power Gel

Mile 21 – 8:17, I lost pace while trying to beat the wind. My legs are staring to complain. As the pain sets in I am thinking more about my Mom. If I can overcome the pain, somehow, maybe it will give her some motivation

Mile 22 – 8:24, My right leg is killing me. It has never hurt this way before. It is painful all the way up to my right hip. It is not killer pain but I have certainly felt better before. I think I saw Aamos….Is that really her, I didn't’t know she was going to be here. I also see Kevin, my local running buddy, he is looking good and should catch me soon, since I feel I will be struggling as the hills approach. My thoughts continue to rest on my mom and her current ordeal.

Mile 23 – 11:25, Whoa, what the heck happened???? When I looked at the clock I couldn't I believe that my pace had slowed down this much. It worries me that I felt like I was running fine, no one was passing me, this is not a good sign. My right leg is really fighting me. Since my 3:30 goal is shot, I quickly calculate that a 3:40 might also be difficult to achieve. Man this really sucks. I gotta pull everything back together. I have to find a way for me and my mom….somehow.

Mile 24 – 9:05, The downhills are torture for my right leg, so I do not race down the hill. If I do so, I may really mess up and have to start walking, so I concentrate. Surprisingly the uphills feel fine. DON'T WALK......

Mile 25 = 8:57, One last big hill and I know I will finish now……I am felling a little bit better. Amazing how your viewpoint changes as you approach the final stretch. I look at my watch and realize that I may get under 3:40…no more 11 minute miles in the forecast. Ok, mom, if I can pull thought this, so can you…

What is the deal, the pain in my right leg is GONE…..I have a second wind and I am picking up my pace; I feel great….pain free….I see 15^th street, the finish is at 6^th….the last hill is gone…I see a big banner that says “Finish Strong”. I am hauling; no one is even close to my pace. I am whizzing by. I see my daughter at the 26 mile mark and it gives me one more surge of speed. I hear the crowd......

Final 26.2 mile split 7:31!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, thats a 7:31 for the last mile.

I look up and see 3:35 on the clock; I look at my watch for my chip time and see that I came in just under 3:35. Whew…wow, what a finish. I feel awesome. And to think it looked like a 3:40 was not even possible at mile 23.

And to top it all off….this gives me a 2008 BQ……of which all I needed was 3:45….. (I already have a 2007 BQ)

UPDATE: We now know that the mile markers from mile 23 to the finish were incorrect. 

Ok Mom, your turn…..

Final stats…

Clock time 3:35:10

Chip time 3:34:53

Overall 118

Male Division 104/779

Age Division 13/118

Summary.

I learned a lot during this training period….I will adapt what I have learned and make adjustments so that I am less likely to over train next time. I may return to a 5 day schedule: I think 6 days was too much. Also, the frequent speed work and weight training seems to have made an improvement to my right hamstring problem that has plagued me.

My main goal is to always have fun which almost alluded me this time.

I missed my primary goal of 3:25, which was a stretch; however I really wanted to break 3:30.

I really wonder if this body can get there, but I will try again.

I was very pleased to have found a way to conquer those final miles that were such a struggle. Experience and confidence and motivation led me through those miles. With less experience, I might have walked off the pain, rather than slowing down and trying to "run-it-off". But, who would expect such an astonishing finish. Not me…..

Mom update, while I was running she had her best day since surgery; she was able to walk assisted to the nursing station, slowly but surely and she had here best night of rest with less hallucinations.

So, after all was said and done, my day went great.

Thanks for all your support for all of you helped me get to the starting AND finish line