MikE
10-29-2005, 12:26 AM
My story actually begins in the days after I'd just completed the 2000 Columbus marathon - in over 5 hours. This result prompted me to "retire" from the marathon. If that was the very best I could do than that simply wasn't good enough. So I set as a goal to qualify for the 2007 Boston marathon. Sort of a 50th birthday present to myself. Given that my [then] last two marathons were hovering around the 5 hour mark that seemed like a challenging, if unrealistic, goal at the time. So the long and winding road back to Boston began as little more with a dream, a wish, a promise to myself.
My thoughts were to shot from the Fall of 2006 as my qualifier, thinking it would take that long to rebuild, assuming my injury would heal and my body hold up to the abuse of sustaining a full training schedule. After a few years of rehab and spotty training I began focusing on getting my half time down to a range that even suggested a BQ. If the speed wasn't there where was I going to pull it out of? Then I ran 1:39:53 last Fall and after completing my "rehearsal" marathon at the FlyingPig in 3:44:54 I knew I was ready! After a bout of mild tendonitis the 1st 4 weeks of the 18/70 Pfitz schedule all went well and I entered the taper phase fit and good to go.
After a restless night I awoke race morning suprizingly feeling pretty good as forum member "afh" and myself jogged down to the nippy start. And just as we approach the throng I see a familiar face veering over toward us - it's Mike Cerrato, my old training buddie. I know that Andrea has nothing left to prove and hoping to get under 4 whereas Mike told me pre-race that he's "looking at 3:15" but I know better! So we have our seperate agendas and after wishing one another well we go our seperate ways.
As I shared with Team Four member, Bruce [The Beast] my pre-race plan was to lock onto the 3:30 pace group and "see" how I feel, then adjust pace / goals accordingly. But as Mike Tyson said, "everyone has a plan - till they get hit". I was just hoping not to be knocked the "F" out before I crossed the finish line on Nationwide Blvd! I'd never run a marathon like this before and the pace group made me feel so secure running in the pack. I was on cruise for 10 miles. It helped that the 7:50-8:00 pace felt sooooo EZ and that one of the team leaders [George] was a familiar face from Front Runner [local running store]. The karma was very good indeed! He and the entire group of [approx] 50 runners did an awesome job of keeping the us tight and on target. We sailed through miles 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 without so much as one speed bump. I then decided to leave the pack, thinking "damn, this is too EZ" and if I wanted to hit my ultimate goal [3:25] I'd better giddy up. Mistake #1. While my splits didn't reflect it I suddenly felt vulnerable and alone as I surged ahead. I also found myself "thinking" about the race rather than just letting it happen before me. My 1st half splits:
01 8:04
02 7:59
03 7:38
04 8:01
05 7:45 [39:32]
06 8:19 [pit stop]
07 7:26
08 8:00 [pit stop]
09 8:04
10 8:05
11 7:52
12 7:48
13 7:47 [13.1 / 1:43:46]
Between mile 14 and 15 I stopped to greet my family. It was inspiring to see my oldest reconize "daddy" and at the same time my youngest, who was celebrating his 2nd birthday, cheer on Pops. The actual celebration was on ice till I could get my butt home so that was another incentive to shake it! At this point the exhuberance of the early miles was over and the race was just beginning to take form. I still felt "good" just not "as good"!
14 7:51
15 8:43 [pit stop & family reunion]
16 7:47
17 8:13
18 8:14
19 8:14
20 8:09 [2:40:10]
I'll blame the drift in pace on the slight NW headwind and the slight upgrade as we traversed High street and made our way westward toward Upper Arlington. I would be less than truthfull if I didn't also reconize the fact that I just didn't want to go any faster. But I still felt good about my chances. The 3:30 pace group swallowed me up around 18 and I made a concerted effort to not let them get away. I drifted back no more than a 50 yards and occationally moved closer. With the "hills" behind us I began to focus hard for the 1st time in the race. I didn't expect to blast off at this point but I desperately wanted to hold on to the 5-6 minute cushion. I wanted to maintain my position and come home in 3:30, if not a shade under, not hang on for dear life with a 3:35:59.
21 7:48
22 7:43
23 8:02
24 8:11
25 8:12
26 8:13
.2 1:37
We'll that was the plan and I suppose the marathon gave me a few body blows along the way but I never touched canvas and was able to hold it together enough to do what I could only dream of 5 years ago. I saw the kids again at the 25 1/2 mile mark and that was the only time I got emotional.
3:29:59 watch time
3:30:00 unofficial chip time
3:30:51 approx. clock time
I placed 609 out of 3789. 73 of the gentiler sex smoked my a$$ as did 74 gentlemen in my age group. How do I feel? I feel releaved it's over. The training was challenging but very enjoyable though toward the end of my taper I just wanted to get it on. Did I learn anything? Sure, my 15th marathon taught me a few things that I hope to address. I like to think of every race as an adventure... on the road to find out. For all of my other BQ efforts I never felt confident till the very end. Today, I pretty much knew I was going to make it from the gun. Don't ask me why, I just knew. The only real disappointment I came away with was not pushing the pace a bit more the last three [3] miles. I used the excuse of my hamstrings cramping but that was more convenient than real. Till the very last turn. As I began to sprint downhill toward the finish I felt it grab and had to back off telling myself to just cruise in... that the goal was to BQ, not be a hero. Thanks for letting me share my success. I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge all the support I've received from family, friends, my Team Four mates and the entire readership. A heartfelt thank you is in order.
MikE
My thoughts were to shot from the Fall of 2006 as my qualifier, thinking it would take that long to rebuild, assuming my injury would heal and my body hold up to the abuse of sustaining a full training schedule. After a few years of rehab and spotty training I began focusing on getting my half time down to a range that even suggested a BQ. If the speed wasn't there where was I going to pull it out of? Then I ran 1:39:53 last Fall and after completing my "rehearsal" marathon at the FlyingPig in 3:44:54 I knew I was ready! After a bout of mild tendonitis the 1st 4 weeks of the 18/70 Pfitz schedule all went well and I entered the taper phase fit and good to go.
After a restless night I awoke race morning suprizingly feeling pretty good as forum member "afh" and myself jogged down to the nippy start. And just as we approach the throng I see a familiar face veering over toward us - it's Mike Cerrato, my old training buddie. I know that Andrea has nothing left to prove and hoping to get under 4 whereas Mike told me pre-race that he's "looking at 3:15" but I know better! So we have our seperate agendas and after wishing one another well we go our seperate ways.
As I shared with Team Four member, Bruce [The Beast] my pre-race plan was to lock onto the 3:30 pace group and "see" how I feel, then adjust pace / goals accordingly. But as Mike Tyson said, "everyone has a plan - till they get hit". I was just hoping not to be knocked the "F" out before I crossed the finish line on Nationwide Blvd! I'd never run a marathon like this before and the pace group made me feel so secure running in the pack. I was on cruise for 10 miles. It helped that the 7:50-8:00 pace felt sooooo EZ and that one of the team leaders [George] was a familiar face from Front Runner [local running store]. The karma was very good indeed! He and the entire group of [approx] 50 runners did an awesome job of keeping the us tight and on target. We sailed through miles 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 without so much as one speed bump. I then decided to leave the pack, thinking "damn, this is too EZ" and if I wanted to hit my ultimate goal [3:25] I'd better giddy up. Mistake #1. While my splits didn't reflect it I suddenly felt vulnerable and alone as I surged ahead. I also found myself "thinking" about the race rather than just letting it happen before me. My 1st half splits:
01 8:04
02 7:59
03 7:38
04 8:01
05 7:45 [39:32]
06 8:19 [pit stop]
07 7:26
08 8:00 [pit stop]
09 8:04
10 8:05
11 7:52
12 7:48
13 7:47 [13.1 / 1:43:46]
Between mile 14 and 15 I stopped to greet my family. It was inspiring to see my oldest reconize "daddy" and at the same time my youngest, who was celebrating his 2nd birthday, cheer on Pops. The actual celebration was on ice till I could get my butt home so that was another incentive to shake it! At this point the exhuberance of the early miles was over and the race was just beginning to take form. I still felt "good" just not "as good"!
14 7:51
15 8:43 [pit stop & family reunion]
16 7:47
17 8:13
18 8:14
19 8:14
20 8:09 [2:40:10]
I'll blame the drift in pace on the slight NW headwind and the slight upgrade as we traversed High street and made our way westward toward Upper Arlington. I would be less than truthfull if I didn't also reconize the fact that I just didn't want to go any faster. But I still felt good about my chances. The 3:30 pace group swallowed me up around 18 and I made a concerted effort to not let them get away. I drifted back no more than a 50 yards and occationally moved closer. With the "hills" behind us I began to focus hard for the 1st time in the race. I didn't expect to blast off at this point but I desperately wanted to hold on to the 5-6 minute cushion. I wanted to maintain my position and come home in 3:30, if not a shade under, not hang on for dear life with a 3:35:59.
21 7:48
22 7:43
23 8:02
24 8:11
25 8:12
26 8:13
.2 1:37
We'll that was the plan and I suppose the marathon gave me a few body blows along the way but I never touched canvas and was able to hold it together enough to do what I could only dream of 5 years ago. I saw the kids again at the 25 1/2 mile mark and that was the only time I got emotional.
3:29:59 watch time
3:30:00 unofficial chip time
3:30:51 approx. clock time
I placed 609 out of 3789. 73 of the gentiler sex smoked my a$$ as did 74 gentlemen in my age group. How do I feel? I feel releaved it's over. The training was challenging but very enjoyable though toward the end of my taper I just wanted to get it on. Did I learn anything? Sure, my 15th marathon taught me a few things that I hope to address. I like to think of every race as an adventure... on the road to find out. For all of my other BQ efforts I never felt confident till the very end. Today, I pretty much knew I was going to make it from the gun. Don't ask me why, I just knew. The only real disappointment I came away with was not pushing the pace a bit more the last three [3] miles. I used the excuse of my hamstrings cramping but that was more convenient than real. Till the very last turn. As I began to sprint downhill toward the finish I felt it grab and had to back off telling myself to just cruise in... that the goal was to BQ, not be a hero. Thanks for letting me share my success. I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge all the support I've received from family, friends, my Team Four mates and the entire readership. A heartfelt thank you is in order.
MikE