Heading into the week, the forecast showed sun and 70s for race day. This was definitely not the case as Saturday's rain just kept hanging around. All too often, I was checking the hourly forecast trying to determine the conditions. Weather.com kept pushing the rain out further and further and the temps did indeed drop to nearly freezing. It is difficult to come to the realization that you have no control over this facet of the race, you never do. MOVE ON, get dressed and get to the start line.
For me, the beauty of this race is the simplicity of the logistics. No travel, hotel rooms or stress regarding race prep nutrition. Sleep in my own bed, wake up at 5 am, ride my bike with my training partner Heath, eight blocks to the start line, lock 'em up and race. Pretty slick set-up.
Start line temperature was right around 37 degrees and a drizzle, bad, but not terrible. The start corral included participants from the half, full and relay marathons; making it hard to gauge who your competition will be. So you have to saddle up to run within yourself and hope for the best. We took off at a solid pace and were passed by so many people right out of the gates, it felt like we were in a 5k. I looked down and we were already at a 6:15 pace, 200 meters into the marathon. I backed off the turbo boosters and let the other racers fly by, telling Heath that they would all come back to us or be handing off to a relay teammate.
The first 9 miles just cruised by and our pace was right on and felt easy. We were joined by another marathoner, Jason Romero and he liked our pace and the fact that I was continually telling stories and trying to keep the mood light. The rain picked up as we neared Invesco Field and the third relay exchange. At this spot we were fortunate enough to see some the Singh family of Garfield St. They really cheered us on and gave the perfect boost for a couple uphills sections.
Then at mile 12, still clipping along, the emotions quadrupled as I saw my awesome wife, Nicole and my two little boys cheering and ringing their cowbells as loudly as cowbells can ring! It was unbelievable to see them on the race course and cheering in this relatively lonely race. Heath was a little bit behind me know, but his wife, daughters and mother were cheering at mile 12 as well, such great support. I picked up my pace with the new breath of running life that my legs had gathered from seeing the family. From there, we did a 6 mile lollipop route through Lakewood and HOLY CRAP, Nicole, Rocco and Sawyer were still there cheering and screaming, braving the rain and cold. I stopped for 4.36 seconds and gave them cold, wet kisses. This was really the boost I needed with 8 miles to go.
I held the moderate downhill pace for another 2 miles and then we hit a steeper downhill back into Invesco. At this point, Heath was a few hundred yards behind, doing unbelievable. But I was also running with two other marathon competitors. So when the hill dropped hard, I took off. Leaned back, got my feet underneath me and let it all hang out for the nearly mile descent. I dropped both of the other competitors and did not look back. We did some running on the Platte and Cherry Creek paths that led us to downtown and only 3 miles to go. I knew I could dig deep and drop my pace instead of fail and slowly gut out the finish. So I did, throwing down 3 more sub 7 minute miles including a super steep uphill out of downtown. My good friend Jeff joined up at mile 24 and gave me the low down of some other runners I could likely catch if I hunkered down. A great boost of energy and I was able to pass two more people within the last half mile. Finishing in 2:59:01, for a personal record and 11th place.
I am quite pleased with my time and progression as a runner. Racing a marathon at elevation and still dropping a half minute. This course also had 1900 feet of vertical gain, yikes. My buddy Heath, finished with a real solid 3:06 for his first marathon and a Boston Qualifying Spot.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/85959283
No comments:
Post a Comment