San Antonio Marathon 11.13.11

The Tuesday prior to race day was my last quality workout before the big day...three miles at MGP...with about 1.5 warm up and cool down...a small group of us who were still left (as SA is the last of the fall marathons) gathered at our usual spot outside of Rogue to chat a bit before heading out to run...the talk was all about the weather...apparently it was going to be hot on race day...people we chatting about what they were going to do and what was going to be different...now if you are one who races you know that as soon as there is a weather report that touches on your race day you begin to obsess over it...you check it daily...sometimes multiple times a day...you check several different weather sites just to make sure that your trusty bookmarked site is giving you the best predictions...and then you talk about it with your training mates...

for some odd reason...i'm one of those athletes that only half listens to the talk that is going on...i do not check the weather..okay only once a few days out to make sure i have the right amount of clothing planned...but that is it...why you ask? well...there is nothing that i can do about the weather...i can't will it to be colder or warmer or less windy or less wet....i can only adapt to what it's going to throw my way...i know how to do that...

so it was going to be hot on race day...i trained this season through days that were 104 degrees...i ran long runs for 6 months starting at 5.30 in the morning just to finish before it hit the 100 degree mark...humidity was also high all summer...lots and lots of heat....lots and lots of salt pills...and lots and lots of fluid...i had that under control...

my training had been solid...consistent...strong...injury free...and i successfully ran 7 20+ mile runs 19 without pumping gel in me every five minutes... i ran several weeks at 60 miles...several more at 50...i felt really strong...and like i had achieved a new level of running...i was ready to kick butt in san antonio...

i was nervous leading up to the race...i had goals...time goals and other goals...that i had trained very hard for...and i was keeping my fingers crossed that it would fall together come the morning of the 13th...

j and i had driven down saturday morning after my 20 minute shake out run...had an easy, uneventful ride down went right to the expo...spent about 15 minutes there...got everything i needed...and checked in early to the hotel...after a carb heavy lunch...we walked down to the river walk...found some overly expensive mediocre coffee and settled in to some chairs...me to go over my race plan and maps again...j to write some more of book #4 that he had intently been working on the past few weeks...on the river walk it was warm but felt a bit of a chill in the breeze...i was hoping that a cool breeze would stick around...spent some more time reading and relaxing until dinner of takeout pasta from a spot that had a 2 hour wait for a table...takeout was just fine with me...overheard someone say the night before the marathon was their busiest of the year...i believe it...

in bed before 9 and actually got some sleep...not super great...but good enough to feel well rested...morning breakfast...1/2 cup big bowl cereal 1/2 cup oats, almond milk and strawberries...and coffee of course...checked the weather one last time 55 degrees...yeah! i even put on my sweatpants to walk to the start line...it still might be okay...out the door just before 6.30...we walked out the door and i was hit by a wall of humidity...ugh...i looked up and saw a haze hovering around the second story of all of the buildings...we walked though gear check...found my corral...i stood in line for the bathroom...and sat on a curb...by that point i was sweating...so i took my pants off...but kept my sweatshirt on...

hung out on the curb...hit the bathroom a couple more times....drank my vespa...off with the sweatshirt...one more bathroom break...and it was time to go...it took about 8 minutes to get to the start line...they were stopping groups of people letting the group ahead run for a few minutes...then letting the next ones go....there were supposed to be volunteers leading the corrals...but i never saw any...when it was my turn to go i was in the second row...kind of a cool feeling :) and off we went...

i took the first mile super slow...i knew a lot more people were running the half marathon...and coach and i had discussed that a lot of people would pass me at the beginning...i was okay with this...i was not going to go out too fast...was smiling and feeling good...hit mile 1 just over 9.00...a little slower than i had planned but not a big deal at all...i hadn't gone out too fast and that was one check off the list of goals for this race...good!...next few miles were uneventful...i was hitting my goal times and feeling really good...yeah it was humid...but over cast so that was a plus...the miles were ticking along 8.30s...getting a little under 8.30 it was going well...through the split with the half marathoners...at about 11...i was feeling good....

but then felt the chills...grr...not a good sign for this early in the race...i had taken 2 salt tabs at the start and had 2 an hour for the rest of the race...i was taking two cups at every station alternating water and cytomax...dumping some water on my head to keep the core temp down...by this point i was starting to have to battle the sun...the clouds were dissipating and the sun was coming out in full force...the humidity had dropped (i learned later it was at about 96% at the start of the race!)...by the half i was down by 4 minutes...by 17 i was down by 6...my time goal was out of reach...but there were still other goals to reach for..this was going to be a race of mental toughness

at this point a tightness in my hamstring was pretty persistent...my mantra for the next couple miles was loosen up loosen up...i heard quick-light-feet repeat a few times as well...trying to change up my stride...quicken the pace a bit to give some relief to the tired muscles...my splits were getting slower and slower...and the shade was getting smaller and smaller...and it was really hot...the race course was a mess...there were people walking and wobbling all over the place...volunteers couldn't keep their hands full of water cups...i grabbed some off of tables a few times...city buses were placed all over the course for people to jump in an cool off...it was tempting at a few points...people were spraying hoses at runners to try and cool us off...they were handing out salt...not electrolyte tablets...just plain salt...like those packets you get in your fries...that was weird...

i had never seen so many runners so beaten down...the majority of people were walking...i was "running" it was not pretty but i was running...by now we had gotten back to a segment of the course where it was out and back on the same road...i looked at those going out...and felt some sympathy...they had about an 8 mile loop out that way with no shade...i heard a guys say "we must be getting close to the turn around" oh...he had no idea...i was so surprised by how many runners were still going OUT...i was thankful to be headed back IN...

at some point the half and the full joined back on the same course separated by a fence...i think it was about 3 miles to go...i was suffering...i grunted out loud a few times...just that grrrrr keep running...finish this race kind of frustration...then i saw amy, jess and cheryl...amy jogged up along side of me...and i had to do everything in my power to not cry... "keep it together" ...thanks amy..she always knows what to say...i was just so frustrated...sad and angry...i knew i had let her down...and let myself down...but it was not for lack of trying...that is for sure...

got my head back together...and slogged out the final 2.2 miles...getting more and more excited as i got closer...just because i knew i could stop...and get something cold to drink...someone had ice at the final water stop...i could not have been happier with that...turned the final corner...and went UP what felt like a huge hill saw a few teammates (thanks guys!) cheering....and hit the finish line (arms up!) done...4.07.00

not the 3.40 i was going for...but also not my worst marathon...i don't think i could have finished with that time had a not had a great training season given the conditions....of course i'm pissed that the stars did not align for me last sunday...but here are somethings that i am proud of...
-consistancy in my training
-huge mileage milestones
-that one 24 miler matt and i ran together where we had a HUGE strong finish
-running a 4.07 on a really crappy day
-not going out too fast
-hitting my nutrition spot on

so now what...i have some time before i start training for IMWI 2012...i know i will again run a marathon with the goal of a 3.40...i'm pretty fit...and there is one here in Austin in a few months...hmmm....it's a thought...