I had to take a quick moment to describe the wonderfully, exhausting moment I had this morning. Yes, I can run a 2:45 marathon but I have my limits just like every human being. A few friends from Marathon Sports invited me up to Walden Pond this morning for an early morning swim. I thought, why not. I only have to work till 4 today so I can get in my run after work and make it a double work out day.
For those of you who know me best, you know I am a runner and not a swimmer. I spent all my summers growing up on Cape Cod and love the water but I don't just wake up and go swimming, I run. I arrived this morning at Walden and walked down to the waterfront with a few fellow Marathon Sporters. They described to me the different swimming routes I could take and how far each one was. I began the swim with the intention of swimming about a 1/2 mile and in my runner's mind thought no problem. How far can a half mile feel swimming when I can cover a 1/2 mile running in about 2:30 minutes.
Well 10 minutes into my swim, I discovered exactly how hard it is to cover a half mile swimming. I had made it about halfway to my goal point and thought to myself I better turn back now if I want to actually survive this swim. On my way back towards the shore I had started at I realized exactly how tired I was. I felt like the shore would never come but fortunantly for me it did.
Some may look at this as a failed attempt but I believe it was a huge success. The fact that I had the courage to show up and swim with people who had done many triathlons was enough for me. If I had to make an educated guess on how far I saw, I would say 1/4 mile in just over 20 minutes. Not bad for my first attempt and I will be sure to make it back again.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Grandma's Marathon Recap
It was just one of those days. I came to Grandma's Marathon knowing that I had physically and mentally prepared for the race of my life. Even with that said, I know race day can throw everything and anything at you and it did. At the start line, I was surprised at how calm I felt. I thought with all the thoughts of sub 2:50 in my head that I would be more nervous than ever. I cleared the first mile at 6:30 and then the second at 6:20 and began to find my groove.
When racing a marathon, it is so important for me not to get caught up in the moment early because that is usually when I take it out to fast. When I saw my splits rattling off around 6:20 - 6:25 pace I knew I was in control of the race. The first half of the course had a few rolling hills but no huge elevation changes. I was greatful of the rolling hills because it kept me in control early. I went through the halfway point (13.1 miles) in 1:23:32. It was a comfortably fast pace but still a little bit slower then I thought I would be.
Despite, the slower pace early I knew I had a great race going shortly after the hallway point. I didn't panic halfway through at the pace and that alloweed me to run my race in the second half. I honestly believe that the old Dave would have seen that pace and instantly thought I really had to go after it now to achieve my goal time. It was not the case on this day. On this day, I gradually picked it up and got stronger as I went. I reached 20 miles at just past 2:06.
From 20 on I reminded myself of how much I had put into this race. I thought of where I had come from when I first began running the marathon, how I had come to Minnesota to run 26.2 miles and not a foot less, and I thought of my late friend John who would have been 57 this past week. John believed I was great, even when I doubted myself and I know he was watching in on me race day. By the time mile 23 rolled around and I was over the worse hill on the course, I entered that zone that only a true marathoner can experience.
I was exhausted, totally spent, and honestly was just trying to hold on. It is in these moments that special happens. Special moments are made from great opportunities. Not just dreaming it but doing it. I was just running on anything I had left and let my legs do the talking. That meant a 6:15 24th mile, 6:11 25th mile, and 6:08 (my fastest mile of the whole race) 26th mile. After that it was a sprint to the finish and the thrill of what was a victory. 2:45:47.
2:45:47, an hour a half master than my first marathon. 2:45:47, an 8 minute PR. 2:45:47, the time I will beat in New York City. This time is not the finish line, it is just the start. I now believe that anything is possible. More to come soon friends and thanks for reading!
When racing a marathon, it is so important for me not to get caught up in the moment early because that is usually when I take it out to fast. When I saw my splits rattling off around 6:20 - 6:25 pace I knew I was in control of the race. The first half of the course had a few rolling hills but no huge elevation changes. I was greatful of the rolling hills because it kept me in control early. I went through the halfway point (13.1 miles) in 1:23:32. It was a comfortably fast pace but still a little bit slower then I thought I would be.
Despite, the slower pace early I knew I had a great race going shortly after the hallway point. I didn't panic halfway through at the pace and that alloweed me to run my race in the second half. I honestly believe that the old Dave would have seen that pace and instantly thought I really had to go after it now to achieve my goal time. It was not the case on this day. On this day, I gradually picked it up and got stronger as I went. I reached 20 miles at just past 2:06.
From 20 on I reminded myself of how much I had put into this race. I thought of where I had come from when I first began running the marathon, how I had come to Minnesota to run 26.2 miles and not a foot less, and I thought of my late friend John who would have been 57 this past week. John believed I was great, even when I doubted myself and I know he was watching in on me race day. By the time mile 23 rolled around and I was over the worse hill on the course, I entered that zone that only a true marathoner can experience.
I was exhausted, totally spent, and honestly was just trying to hold on. It is in these moments that special happens. Special moments are made from great opportunities. Not just dreaming it but doing it. I was just running on anything I had left and let my legs do the talking. That meant a 6:15 24th mile, 6:11 25th mile, and 6:08 (my fastest mile of the whole race) 26th mile. After that it was a sprint to the finish and the thrill of what was a victory. 2:45:47.
2:45:47, an hour a half master than my first marathon. 2:45:47, an 8 minute PR. 2:45:47, the time I will beat in New York City. This time is not the finish line, it is just the start. I now believe that anything is possible. More to come soon friends and thanks for reading!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Count Down
9 days from Grandma's and I have a lot on my mind. To many, the marathon distance is incomprehensible. 26 miles and 385 yards is further than most people like to drive in a day but on June 16, for the 18th time, I will attempt to run that distance as fast as I know how. I can't remember a training cycle that I was so committed to and in truth that is because I have never put in this many miles.
In the marathon, anything and everything can happen on race day. The marathon distance is so unique because it challenges the human body to push harder and faster then it should be capable. I mean no disrespect to ultra runners but their is a huge difference in mind set between running a marathon well and completing an ultra race. The marathon takes the unique patience of mixing distance with speed. Go out to fast and you can forget about finishing strong. Go out to slow and you will scramble at the end for your goal time. However, taking it out at that perfect pace. The pace where you go this feels easy but you are still working hard, that is what it is all about in the marathon.
Last night, one of my good running club friends had a shirt on that read, "It is not about how hard you can hit. It is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." This sums up the marathon in my mind. Once again you have a unique aspect of the marathon because you are not physically getting hit by anyone. Rather, it is an object (the course) which is taking it blows against you. Even worse is when you realize the course has won and you didn't even realize you were getting hit. However, where their is defeat, their is also victory. Their are the strong, who push through and persevere no matter what the course throws at them.
I have done everything right in preparing for this marathon. Thousands of miles run, huge mile weeks, long runs, speed work, tempo work, and the commitment to get out their no matter how motivated I was. I have mentally prepared to push myself beyond the invisible wall and to keep running even when things become challenging. I have run a variety of distance races and completed them in times that I could only dream about 6 months ago. This does not equal success on race day and I know it. What equal success is taking all this preparation and knowing that no matter how hard things will get, I will keep moving forward towards that finish line.
In the marathon, anything and everything can happen on race day. The marathon distance is so unique because it challenges the human body to push harder and faster then it should be capable. I mean no disrespect to ultra runners but their is a huge difference in mind set between running a marathon well and completing an ultra race. The marathon takes the unique patience of mixing distance with speed. Go out to fast and you can forget about finishing strong. Go out to slow and you will scramble at the end for your goal time. However, taking it out at that perfect pace. The pace where you go this feels easy but you are still working hard, that is what it is all about in the marathon.
Last night, one of my good running club friends had a shirt on that read, "It is not about how hard you can hit. It is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." This sums up the marathon in my mind. Once again you have a unique aspect of the marathon because you are not physically getting hit by anyone. Rather, it is an object (the course) which is taking it blows against you. Even worse is when you realize the course has won and you didn't even realize you were getting hit. However, where their is defeat, their is also victory. Their are the strong, who push through and persevere no matter what the course throws at them.
I have done everything right in preparing for this marathon. Thousands of miles run, huge mile weeks, long runs, speed work, tempo work, and the commitment to get out their no matter how motivated I was. I have mentally prepared to push myself beyond the invisible wall and to keep running even when things become challenging. I have run a variety of distance races and completed them in times that I could only dream about 6 months ago. This does not equal success on race day and I know it. What equal success is taking all this preparation and knowing that no matter how hard things will get, I will keep moving forward towards that finish line.
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