I wrote an actual race report

[runaways]

So I could talk about myself some more. You know. I like writing these because it makes me reflect on what I'm taking away from my races, so here's yet another long-ass race report, by runaways.

I finished my training with a very solid 22 on top of a great half, so in theory I was in good shape but I was feeling a little unsure after crashed in Chicago. I lined up right at the 9:00 mile pace sign to start today, thinking I would go out pretty conservatively. I wasn't paying super close attention to my splits, but my garmin was gradually creeping down from 9:00 where I started to 8:55. I wanted to keep it slower for the first half, but not too slow, but I wasn't sure what too slow was exactly so I just kind of let my legs do their thing and cruised for 1-13.

My half split was 1:57:33, so pretty much right on track. The course runs a block from my house just past the half, so I saw my husband, mom, sister, and dog there and that was a great boost. I was still feeling fine. Miles 14-16 were rough. I started feeling a little tired, there was still a solid chunk to go, and I wasn't completely sure I had it in me to keep my pace. I got a second wind a little past mile 16, when I realized I was under 10 miles. It's a substantial distance on tired legs, but I was doing that as a normal weekday run. I knew I was capable of running 10 miles.

I hung on til mile 21, where I started feeling a little rough again. I did stop briefly for a beer here, and it was borderline miraculous. Miles 21-24.5ish are a blur. It was a little warm, no shade, and I started having some vague thoughts of walking so I tried to stop thinking and just run. I do remember looking at my watch 3 miles out and realizing that I could do 10 minute miles the rest of the way in and still go easily sub-4. That was nice.

Mile 25 hurt, but I was THERE. So I just ran a tenth of a mile at a time and sprinted in the last quarter mile or so. I expected to feel a lot more emotional when I crossed, but I really wasn't. I think it's because even through I ran much faster than last time, there wasn't that agonizing death march run/walk to the finish. I didn't walk at all this time, apart from water stops. Honestly, it was a just an "easy" race, to the extent a marathon can be one. I felt great overall, I never truly hit the wall, and I feel better now than I have before post-marathon. I am a convert to the idea of high-mileage training. I got a huge PR, albeit partly because Chicago was a bad day. But I'm so happy, I finally nailed my sub-4 and then some.

It's likely going to be a few years before I get to do this again, so I'm so happy I was able to do it justice. I'll be working on speed as much as I can during that time. And when I get back to it, my next goal is to be Boston-bound.

Random thoughts:
1. finallykrisb and katinthehat, I'm sad I didn't see you guys! I was so zoned in by the time I hit mile 20 that I didn't notice much around me.
2. I was 40 sec off from the McMillan prediction based on my half time, which was run in much cooler weather. So that's good to know for the future.
3. This race is awesome. The course changed this year and I loved it. It's extremely well run. Houston's not exactly a destination city, but if anyone is looking for a good solid big-city race I would definitely recommend it.
4. Someone told me after Chicago that it really takes until your third marathon for your body to figure out what's going on and how to deal with such a long race, and that was absolutely the case for me.

ETA: Oh right. I ran a 3:51:30 for just under a 32 min PR.

[texassmith]

Great recap! I love reading them, especially for races I did too!

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using proboards

[runaways]

Jan 19, 2014 16:05:36 GMT -5 texassmith said:

Great recap! I love reading them, especially for races I did too!

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using proboards

I hope you write one too because I'm very interested to read it!

[clseale]

I love this report!! I'm so proud of you, and so happy that you had the kick ass day you deserved. So amazing . You earned it!

I also love that you stopped for beer. Everyone always thinks I'm crazy, but it is the BEST thing EVER at that point in the race.

Congrats!

[hannahb]

Great job!

[texassmith]

I'll definitely write one. I should do it soon while the experience is still fresh. I passed on the beer but grabbed a handful of Starburst from a random stranger at like mile 24. That hit the freaking spot. I was craving sugar sooooo bad.

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using proboards

[fdcritt76]

Congratulations!'

[libbygrl109]

Great job!

[G22]

Love your race report! Congratulations on finishing well!

[katinthehat]

You were so awesome! We only saw you at mile 21 because we were running a little behind your pace but you weren't so zoned out that you didn't hear us. You looked strong even then!

[katandkevin]

Congrats!

[labbie]

Congratulations! Glad you had a great race!

[runaways]

Jan 19, 2014 16:15:13 GMT -5 clseale said:

I love this report!! I'm so proud of you, and so happy that you had the kick ass day you deserved. So amazing . You earned it!

I also love that you stopped for beer. Everyone always thinks I'm crazy, but it is the BEST thing EVER at that point in the race.

Congrats!

That beer was fucking amazing. I will definitely be putting it on my agenda during future races.

[kams]

<)YAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! <)

You have worked your ass off and it paid off! What a tremendous job! Ahhh what a great way to kick off the next season of your life. Really impressive!

[Deleted]

What an amazing job!! Very proud of you.
When you say high mileage helped, how high are we talking?

[kayakjenn]

Congratulations! I don't even run but I love reading these recaps.

[runaways]

Jan 19, 2014 17:30:56 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

What an amazing job!! Very proud of you.
When you say high mileage helped, how high are we talking?

I peaked at 52 miles (weekly) for this race. Was meant to be 54 but I backed off on a 10 miler. I guess the best way to put it is when I trained for Chicago in October, my weekly average mileage was 29.8 for 18 weeks. For this race, it was 38.8 for the 12 weeks between Chicago and Houston. I read the Pfitzinger book (advanced marathoning) and basically used a modified-by-me version of his 12/55 plan to allow for some travel that I had to do. Next time I will likely do his 18/55 plan.

[clseale]

I knew there was another thing I meant to comment on! Higher mileage, yes! I became a huge higher mileage believer during my third marathon as well. I love when others see the benefits of it first hand. The only thing I did different for that marathon (25 min PR) was to peak at 50 miles, and I still have never felt as strong during training or on race day as I did when I peaked at 62.

I only had time for 3 50+ mile weeks these past 12 wks, but it makes such a difference. I want to build up to 65-70 for my next race. I'm so glad it made a difference for you!

[Deleted]

Jan 19, 2014 17:42:21 GMT -5 runaways said:

Jan 19, 2014 17:30:56 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

What an amazing job!! Very proud of you.
When you say high mileage helped, how high are we talking?

I peaked at 52 miles (weekly) for this race. Was meant to be 54 but I backed off on a 10 miler. I guess the best way to put it is when I trained for Chicago in October, my weekly average mileage was 29.8 for 18 weeks. For this race, it was 38.8 for the 12 weeks between Chicago and Houston. I read the Pfitzinger book (advanced marathoning) and basically used a modified-by-me version of his 12/55 plan to allow for some travel that I had to do. Next time I will likely do his 18/55 plan.

Wow, that is some serious mileage! I'm impressed! Not sure I'll get in the fifties. I think 40 is my peak. Glad it worked for you.

[sadlebred]

Congratualtions!!!!

[ebeth]

Solid work girl. Congrats on your sub 4! Sounds like pfitz and marathon #3 was the winning combo for you!

[MrsE]

That's awesome! Congratulations!!

[enfuego23]

Awesome job!!1 I was so excited to read your race report:) I'm so happy that you had a great race!!!

[runblondie26]

Way to go! Congrats on breaking 4 hours!

[jene]

Awesome job! Congrats on breaking 4!

[clseale]

Hey, runaways. Add your kick ass time to your race report, silly.

[cole]

Congrats! Great report, and amazing pr!

[clseale]

Jan 21, 2014 8:56:09 GMT -5 @mn06 said:

Congrats on PRing! You had an awesome finish time!

And I have to ask since the farthest race I've done are half marathons, this beer thing... Did someone just hand you one from the sidelines?? Is this typical during races? This would only add to the perks of signing up for a marathon one day.

In my experience, this is typical for most marathons. The only one I don't remember beer at was a smaller, local, race...and that might have just been because it was in the 20s.

There are always spectators with a beer table. It's usually in smaller cups (think more along the lines of a few gulps of beer). At RnR SD, there's someone every year set up around mile 18. For Surf City, there was a group between 18 & 19 w/a bacon and beer table. lol Bacon in cups on one side of the table, beer in cups on the other. At Chicago, there was someone around mile 6 or 7 (Too soon! Don't take beer that soon.) But there was also a group around mile 23, and that was perfect timing. It is always my favorite part of the race. There is something about that ice cold carbonation in the least few miles that gives me such a lift. 

[shauni27]

I loved that recap, and CONGRATS on such an epic PR!

[runaways]

Jan 21, 2014 8:56:09 GMT -5 @mn06 said:

Congrats on PRing! You had an awesome finish time!

And I have to ask since the farthest race I've done are half marathons, this beer thing... Did someone just hand you one from the sidelines?? Is this typical during races? This would only add to the perks of signing up for a marathon one day.

I'll just ditto clseale.