The Plan- The Execution

I think you know my plan.  Hit 13.1 comfortably.  Click off miles, and finish strong.  I wasn't going to look at the time too much, just listen to my breathing.  Mile 1 was 8:18 with the brakes on, and at mile 4 my average was 8:30's.  This was easy, and I did not look at my watch til mile 13.  I was at 1:51.  I felt good, and I felt good about my marathon.  I may have made a mistake at mile 14, but I don't think it really mattered.  I picked up the pace a bit for a couple miles, and clicked it back down.  I got my breathing under control, and everything was fine.  Something happened though.  I'll call it mile 18, and the legs turned to cement.  I was mentally fatigued, and I knew the rest of this day was going to suck. 

I don't think I ran a bad race.  I stuck to my plan pretty well, it just didn't end up being my day.  Those 8 miles were soooo  freaking long.  Really it seemed the miles clipped off every 2-1/2 days.  I was like SHIT!!!  Is it Christmas yet??   :)

Jerry was with me from mile 18 on.  Poor guy.  I was able to draw on experience.  I knew from my first marathon that a slow run is better than a fast walk.  I kept running.  I learned from Bob's marathon too.  I walked the aid stations.  I don't normally do that.  On this course from now on I am bringing music.  I don't care what the fast people do.  This course has paved trails basically, and 14-25 miles is very low spectators.  Hard to be in your head that long when you are mentally fatigued, and still trying to move your legs.  :)  I was crabby toward the end.  :)   I made the final turn.  I looked at my clock, and realized I could still break 4 hours.  I kicked it the final whatever, and broke 4 hours.  You know before I started reading blogs that would have been my goal.  I am better than that now, but not on race day this time.

My final 8 miles were slow, so I can probably get my recovery run in tomorrow, and get back to training this week.  I have a 5K coming up, and I need to train for that.  This is a good time of season for me. 


I won't lose any sleep over this.  The thing about running, FOR ME, is there are always other races, and I love love love the training for the races.  I'd love to p.r., but it didn't happen for me this time.

The Sun always rises the next day.  Usually after I finish my blog entry.  :)


That is it for today!!!   :)

Thanks for reading!!!   :)

Hope Everyone has a Great and Awesome Day!!!  :)

xo's!!!   :)

Love You All!!!   :)