Final Place Bib Halfway
Place In Sex Place In Division No. Split
954 601/636 M 71/77 Male 30-34 852 2:27:14
Gun Chip KM
Time Time Pace
5:30:35 5:26:29 7:45
Well a while back Coach said lets do an experiment. I was a bit shocked to hear it was a Marathon, but I have learned that when coach Mike has an idea he is already 3 steps ahead of of where I think I am. I stopped doubting his suggestions a LONG time ago, he says go, I go.
Since this was an experiment I am going to write as much as I can remember so that I can learn from this adventure.
I should start on the Taper as this was an interesting thing to go through. I admit I messed up one thing, I should have done a 2hr bike & 30min run but I was sleeping in and lot and not leaving enough time to get it done before my shift started at noon. A bit better planning on my part and it would have been done. Friday was my first day off from work and also It was an off day of exercise. It was payday so I did errands and I was getting a bit jittery as I can't remember when the last time I got to chill out that much. Oh I went to East Side Mario's for supper and I realized I go there too much when the lady behind the counter almost had my Rum pored for me when she saw me.
Saturday I went to Tristin's 3rd birthday party in the afternoon it was interesting to watch the pack of children interact with each other. I then did my pre-race run that kinda wakes up the legs but it's not a tough run.
Sunday woke up at 5:00 had my breakfast (2 eggs and Green Peppers) drank some Nuun. Now I have learned it's very important for distance athletes to take care of a certain activity before the race starts, I was a bit worried because my first trip to the bathroom didn't produce the needed results. Drove myself to the race site because in the back of my mind I didn't trust Calgary Transit. Did the bag drop and wondered over to the race start area a bit early but it felt good to walk around. I couldn't believe what I found, a porti-pody that had never been used it was absolutely clean, it was a great find.
I lined up and saw the 4:30 pacer ahead of me and someone said the 5:00 pacer was behind us a bit so I was where I wanted to be. In my head I new the plan was to take it easy and only walk the aid stations, so that was the experiment would it work? The race started and it was packed and somehow in the first km a Jeep was allowed to drive towards us from a parking lot. A couple thousand people coming at you dumb ass maby you could have waited. Next thing I know the 4:30 pacer runs past me, odd? The course twisted and turned and for a moment I wasn't positive how we were getting to 17th ave from where we were. I noticed the KM markers were off from my Garmin, it would beep and I would look up and the marker was a block and half away. I wan't too fond of the first 6km felt like each block we were turning and the pack would try to cut the corner but there was not enough room on all.
17 ave was nice and straight and people were out cheering us on it was great. I had noticed at this point my pace was 6:30-7:00 but my HR Zone was 2ish, I was banking on a pace of 7:15 so I was going faster than I had in training. I remember hoping this would not bite me later on. Then we turned onto 14th street and the pack was thining out or maby the road was just wider because we had more than just one lane. We ran along Memorial and at about 13km the half Marathoners turned and went back towards the finish line. I had watched Garath's videos and he said this would be a lonely stretch and he was right. I lost all my friends that I had been keeping pace with. Couple more blocks and the start of the hill was on us. Now I knew this hill wasn't that bad, Natalie had been reminding me that we are on the prairies so there are no true hills. Plus the hill repeats on Edworthy has taken any fear of a hill left in me till I do Vancouver or something :) so I ran all the way up and got to the aid station. I got a gel around k-16 but I didn't use it till 21k mark, it felt good to have it in my hand. We shared the course with the UofC Triathlon, they got the sidewalk and we the road. It was nice to see some tri kits, made me smile. Somewhere around here I had the 5:00 pacer go past me, I looked at my watch and I did the math and he was on pace for a 4:30 run. good job Wally.
I paused at 23k for a potty break and as I went past I heard a volunteer call out that she had Vaseline. It took me 100feet to realize that I could have used that as my thighs were chafing a bit and I knew it would annoy me shortly.
At about the 24km mark my Garmin started beeping like crazy. I looked down and it said that "Lap Database full delete oldest laps" to my horror it locked up on me. I couldn't even turn it off, it still sits next to me in that state as I wait for the battery to drain. I was just entering the zone of unknown and I was upset for a few moments that I would not have data to show. But was quickly pushed outside the box of things I can control and I kept on running. The terrain kept rolling , I was glad for the people putting out sprinklers, I was starting to get a bit tired at k-27 and looking at the race map that was the highest point in elevation. A lady that I had been yo-yoing with put her hand on my back and pushed me up the last little incline, my mind was a bit gooish so I couldn't figure out how to tell her to stop it.... I finally thanked her and she stopped, I then slowed down as she was a bit fast for me at that moment and watched her go. I was in shock and couldn't believe what just happened, I had grumbled at her earlier as she had headphones in rather loud and didn't catch what the volunteer had told her at this little turnaround.
So I am going down the "hill" and about halfway my Right Calf was not liking this anymore. I should have walked part of the downhill but who does that. I think my legs was trying to slow me but gravity was not having that so they battled and Gravity always wins (kinda like trains). so the bottom of the hill is K-33 and I felt like a gimp. From K-33 to the end was a battle of will and I was gonna force march myself if I had to. My memory kinda blurs this part as I was in a bit of pain, I do remember the CBC clock saying 11:45 and I did math on my fingers to figure out how many hours I had been running (4:45 @ 36.75km) I was playing mind games to convince myself I didn't have that far left. I felt better around 38k but it was in short bursts. I was counting bridges and new I had a bit left in the tank if my legs would let me. I saw the 1 mile left to go sign and ran 80% of that last mile. I turned that last corner and put my head down. I heard Jacqui call out my name but I was focused on that banner across the road.
I crossed the line and I thought it said 5:05 I was happy! I tried looking for anyone I knew, don't know where Jacqui went, I saw her truck later so I know it was her. I found the food tent by pure luck and it could have used some volunteers pointing at it from the finish line. It was picked over pretty good and so I grabbed some oreos, a bag of chips and an apple juice box. I laid down in the grass and had a few people ask if I was alright so I sat up and chowed down on my food.
Bumped into the Pink Lady, she was in charge of the volunteers this year. It's always fun to see Dawn at an event dressed head to toe in pink. Found the bag trailer and got my backpack, I have now figured out that when I was digging in for my phone to call my sister to see if she had her baby or not. I think my Ipod touch fell out then and I didn't notice it or I didn't zip up the pocket and it fell as I walked to my car. My luck with Technology hasn't been too hot this summer.
Dragged myself to my car and sat for a moment and asked myself can I safely operate this machine? I was tired and my legs were sore so I was worried about reaction time to the brake. Took a chance and drove off.
Coach was christal absolutely clear that I was to hop on the bike for a 30 min spin so the legs would not stiffen up on me. I am glad I did that as I can barely walk right now and stairs are not my friend at all, I am scared how bad it would be if I didn't spin. I even had a 1hr nap this afternoon, but now the Detroit/Pittsburgh game is on so I am done typing :)
half 2:27:40 - 6:56
cbc 4:45:00 - 7:42
chip 5:26:29 - 7:45
Two water cups at each aid station until K-33 where I grabbed 1 water and 1 Gatorade. I thought with the salt stains in my shirt it was time to ride the sugar train to the end. I had a Gel at k-21, k-30, k-35.
Next day update: Wow my legs are feeling very good right now and I am not cussing at the 3 steps to the kitchen. I had weighed myself yesterday morning and this morning and there was a 3.5lb difference. All the weight I gained in the Taper week is gone so I must have needed it for the race.
