2009
MDI Marathon Experience
19.October.2009 08:56 AM Filed in: Running
My MDI Marathon
Experience
It was cold, 40's, good for running - rain held off, not too windy except for mile 15-16 when running along the mountainside sandwiched between beatific rock and endless water, the whipping wind let you know you were alive.
I started the race strong and stayed that way, much to my own surprise. An It-band ache on right leg activated about mile 16 (LOTS of inside left curves on up & down hills - the gutter running was plentiful) but otherwise I was strong and consistent throughout.
The hills, wow, the hills! Equally as Beautiful as Brutal! Now, I had checked the elevations online with the computer generated mapping and sure, I knew I was in for a challenge, heck I picked MDI with the premise this was to be my 1st and likely only marathon and I wanted to make it a 'good one'. HOWEVER -driving the course the day before left me feeling I was truly in over my head! Very intimidating! Sh*t, who am I kidding -I was scared! But in the end, the training paid off. I give credit to my Chirunning techniques for helping me to keep it together technically and the support from so many for just 'keeping it together'.
So I got to about mile 20-21, my initial plan was to make it there in one piece and well, I about did so, minus the It-band issue I had been nurturing for about 5 miles, but I was still as ready as I could hope to be for this portion. I got to 20 at a 10 minute mile pacing, and the inertia knowing I had shaved an entire minute off my training pace was motivating. But this is the point at MDI where the last surge of hills comes on -AND for 5 miles of them -all rolling uphill! Ouch! At about mile 23 my hamstrings on both legs began tightening -something that has never happened to me before. I refocused, checked my posture, relaxed, and continued on! Constantly listening to my legs so as not to injure, but needing to balance going on, I persisted. At around mile 25 the MDI began to downhill and a downhill very welcomed! I hit the gas as hard as I could and finished my 26.2 , without injury, at 4:42:47!
My wife and 8 year old were there, excited and proud as could be to greet me, just as they were at 4 earlier junction points along the way! -always cheering me on and yeah, if needed, to give me a tissue to blow my nose.. -the race of a lifetime! Sm.
It was cold, 40's, good for running - rain held off, not too windy except for mile 15-16 when running along the mountainside sandwiched between beatific rock and endless water, the whipping wind let you know you were alive.
I started the race strong and stayed that way, much to my own surprise. An It-band ache on right leg activated about mile 16 (LOTS of inside left curves on up & down hills - the gutter running was plentiful) but otherwise I was strong and consistent throughout.
The hills, wow, the hills! Equally as Beautiful as Brutal! Now, I had checked the elevations online with the computer generated mapping and sure, I knew I was in for a challenge, heck I picked MDI with the premise this was to be my 1st and likely only marathon and I wanted to make it a 'good one'. HOWEVER -driving the course the day before left me feeling I was truly in over my head! Very intimidating! Sh*t, who am I kidding -I was scared! But in the end, the training paid off. I give credit to my Chirunning techniques for helping me to keep it together technically and the support from so many for just 'keeping it together'.
So I got to about mile 20-21, my initial plan was to make it there in one piece and well, I about did so, minus the It-band issue I had been nurturing for about 5 miles, but I was still as ready as I could hope to be for this portion. I got to 20 at a 10 minute mile pacing, and the inertia knowing I had shaved an entire minute off my training pace was motivating. But this is the point at MDI where the last surge of hills comes on -AND for 5 miles of them -all rolling uphill! Ouch! At about mile 23 my hamstrings on both legs began tightening -something that has never happened to me before. I refocused, checked my posture, relaxed, and continued on! Constantly listening to my legs so as not to injure, but needing to balance going on, I persisted. At around mile 25 the MDI began to downhill and a downhill very welcomed! I hit the gas as hard as I could and finished my 26.2 , without injury, at 4:42:47!
My wife and 8 year old were there, excited and proud as could be to greet me, just as they were at 4 earlier junction points along the way! -always cheering me on and yeah, if needed, to give me a tissue to blow my nose.. -the race of a lifetime! Sm.