Race Report – Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon

[keweenawlove]

Marathon #3 is done! I had a particularly frustrating training cycle so I wasn’t sure what to expect going it. I started Pfitzinger’s 18/55 wanted to make a hard go at a BQ. About 4 weeks in, my calves started giving me trouble and felt too similar to an injury that took me out of a marathon a few years ago so I started PT and while my calves started getting better, I started having issues with my hamstrings and hip stabilizers so I missed a lot of training runs, especially some of the longer tempo runs which I feel like have been the key workouts for me. My legs finally started feeling better about 2 weeks ago so I figured I’d start close to a BQ pace and see where it went.

First – running a marathon where you live is awesome. I’ve never had this option before. No travel, got to sleep in my own bed the night before, it was awesome. It was a point-to-point race so H dropped me off at the start. He parked at the finish, then biked to the halfway point to watch the 2nd half. At the start, I felt really good. My first 2 miles were right around 8:05 and they felt really easy, miles 3 and 4 were uphill and into the wind and were more around 8:20 but I wasn’t too worried yet. I just kept telling myself to keep at that easy feeling pace. Then my hamstrings started feeling like they were working way too hard and my pace dropped a ton. I knew if it tried to hold BQ pace, I was going to crash hard in the middle so I had to slow down. For awhile, I thought I could maybe PR (3:40) but after a few more miles, I realized my legs didn’t have it to keep up the speed. Not too surprising with the training I’d missed but still frustrating. When I saw H, he biked alongside me for awhile and I thought about not finishing. He was a little concerned about making an injury worse and I felt like I wasn’t going to do more damage if it kept it at that pace. I told myself that I would at least make it through the whole course without walking and I was able to do that. It didn’t slow down too much in the 2nd half and the last 6 miles felt good because I was able to pass a ton of people. I finished in 4:03. My slowest time yet so a hard one to take.

Overall, the Lakefront marathon was pretty good but not my favorite. There weren’t enough porta-poties close to the start and the ones they had were at least a 5 minute walk away. I was also surprised that almost none of the streets were closed which made for a very narrow running lane and a lot of tight turns. I’d think about doing it again. Milwaukee also started another marathon in early November which I like the timing of a lot more – less hot weather running! I’m just frustrated with marathons right now and trying to evaluate how I can get through a training cycle uninjured. Of my last 4, one was canceled due to heat, I got a stress fracture 3 weeks before one, had one great one, and now this one. I’m going to take 2 weeks off PT and then start back and it and hope strengthening some of those key muscles and switching to a higher intensity, lower mileage plan will help. That darn Boston standard just keeps getting faster and faster! When I started thinking about it, it was a 3:40 and I’m guessing it’s going to be a 3:30 in the next couple years.

I hope that wasn’t too much of a Debbie downer post. Here’s some happy race pictures.

H ran with me for a little and took a selfie. He was a champ and biked a full marathon to watch.

Post race in Wisconsin so of course there's beer!

[irene adler]

Having a race that is different from what you wants SUUUUUUUUUUUCKS. Congrats on finishing, even if it's frustrating.

[sadlebred]

Congratulations on your finish!!

[Wines Not Whines]

I'm sorry you didn't have the race you were hoping for, but congratulations on finishing under less than ideal conditions. You're still a kick-ass marathoner.

[cinco]

Congratulations! I'm sorry for the injuries and that you didn't have the performance you wanted, but you are still a rockstar! The pictures are awesome! That is so sweet of your DH to ride along with you. I'll be pleasantly surprised if my H makes it to the finish line in time for mine.

[bostonmichelle]

Congrats on finishing! I'm sorry that your injuries got in the way of you running the race you wanted to race.

[jamalynn]

Ugh, I am sorry it didn't go as plan but I am glad to finished (and finished strong). That is so cool. Love the pictures.

[Brit]

Congrats on finishing even though it wasn't a PR. Marathon training is tough, it sucks to get injured during training, especially because there is so much that goes into training for a marathon.

ETA: Thank you for sharing your story. I think sometimes we only read the perfect stories, but it is really common to have big setbacks during training.

Also, you killed it from most people's perspectives even with some setbacks!

[kams]

I'm sorry it wasn't what you had hoped for, and that you had some setbacks during training. I'm still very impressed by your finish! Congratulations!

[sweetiesparkles]

Congratulations!

I was there yesterday at Lakefront cheering on 2 of my girlfriends who were running their first. They finished around five hours 11 minutes.

The weather was great, a little cool though for spectators.

If I run a marathon next year, it would be either that one or Fox Cities.

[keweenawlove]

Oct 5, 2015 11:57:26 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

1. You are freaking adorable. I could not muster your smile after running a marathon healthy, let alone with what you dealt with.

2. Your hubs is awesome. I'm sure his presence helped a lot on the course!

3. Congrats on completing #3! It wasn't the race you signed up for but you made the best of it, which I think is just as awesome!

It's definitely something I'm grateful for. He gets marathoning so he was actually excited to get up at 5:30 to follow me around the course. I've followed him on a bike for 2 of his marathons now so we've got in a good groove of how to spectate a marathon on a bike.

[chw57]

It sucks so much when things start to feel rough that early on but you didn't give up and quit, and finishing a marathon is impressive no matter how long it takes! You will get that BQ!

[shauni27]

I'm so sorry the race did not go as you had hoped; but I am so proud of you for finishing despite the tough race!

[hannahb]

Sorry it didn't go as planned. you never know how you're going to end up on race day. Next time!

[cole]

Congrats on finishing! Sorry it wasn't the race you were hoping for.

You and your H are adorable

[clseale]

I'm so sorry it didn't go as you had hoped. I know you have that BQ in you! Didn't you get the 3:40 PR at NYC? In that god awful wind?? When you figure out what is going on with your injuries, you are going to have a BQ/PR & it will be spectacular. Don't worry about the BQ time. It's definitely not changing for 2017, and really, unless they et close to a BQ-5:00 cut, they don't really stand anything to gain by tightening the standards.

Also, as someone who has/is still seriously considering bailing on her race (for reasons that are 100% MY fault; I'm not even injured,) I find your report pretty inspiring. I'm not sure I have the mental toughness to push through a full when it's going so differently than it should be. I think you're pretty awesome!

[taratru]

You're awesome for seeing it through. Knowing it's not what you wanted early is the hardest mental battle ever. Congrats on finishing another (in its own way) amazing race!

[hurricanedrunk]

Congrats on finishing #3!! Sorry it didn't turn out quite as planned for you. Love the photos and high five to your husband's cheerleading skills!

[wanderlustmom]

I agree, you are adorable and did great! I am so sorry it wasn't your dream race but you definitely delivered

[jene]

Congrats on finishing #3! Thank you for posting this recap, it was so honest, I love reading them. You and your H are adorable!

[keweenawlove]

Oct 5, 2015 19:10:26 GMT -5 clseale said:

I'm so sorry it didn't go as you had hoped. I know you have that BQ in you! Didn't you get the 3:40 PR at NYC? In that god awful wind?? When you figure out what is going on with your injuries, you are going to have a BQ/PR & it will be spectacular. Don't worry about the BQ time. It's definitely not changing for 2017, and really, unless they et close to a BQ-5:00 cut, they don't really stand anything to gain by tightening the standards.

Also, as someone who has/is still seriously considering bailing on her race (for reasons that are 100% MY fault; I'm not even injured,) I find your report pretty inspiring. I'm not sure I have the mental toughness to push through a full when it's going so differently than it should be. I think you're pretty awesome!

That was the one. I feel like I would have had it on a different course that day. One of these years. Maybe having babies is the answer with the way some of these ladies times have been dropping

I bet you're more ready for your race than you think! It's been a "hot" summer here and I can't imagine trying to train what you guys do.

[gt7301b]

Congrats on your finish. I'm sorry that it wasn't the race you wanted, but proud of you for sticking with it. A 4:03 finish is still fantastic!!

[brooke77]

Great race report and inspiring finish. Injuries suck! Hope you heal fully and get the next one!

[emilyj]

I think you did awesome considering your training was impacted so much. Congrats!

[mrshandy]

I'm sorry you didn't have the race you wanted. Congrats on finishing !! I have no doubt with your dedication and general kickassness you will get your goal someday!.

[PatBenatar]

Sorry it didn't turn out the way you wanted. I love the pics and you should be damn proud for overcoming all those obstacles!