The Next Step

Rocket City Marathon

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Location:

New Palestine,IN,USA

Member Since:

Oct 23, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

5k - 18:59 (3/09)
4M - 25:06 (9/09)
10k - 41:01 (11/07)

Half - 1:25:58 (11/09)

Marathon - 3:06:33 (12/09)

Short-Term Running Goals:

1:25 for the half marathon
Sub 39:00 for the 10k.
3:07 marathon
18:30 5k

Upcoming Races



Long-Term Running Goals:

Break 3:00 for the marathon.

Personal:

Married, two daughters (18 and 15).  Masters runner trying to get competitive in my age group.

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Saucony Ride 5 (Red) Lifetime Miles: 372.70
ASICS Excel 33 Lifetime Miles: 152.00
Saucony Ride 7 Lifetime Miles: 249.00
ASICS DS Trainer Lifetime Miles: 212.20
Asics Cumulus 16 Lifetime Miles: 241.30
Race: Rocket City Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:06:33, Place overall: 65, Place in age division: 11
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.0026.200.000.0026.20

First off it was a PR by over 11 minutes so I am very happy with the result.  The weather was pretty good.  It was around 38 at the start but the wind was picking up.  The wind turned out to be a factor as a lot of areas were exposed especially going out.  I ended up running a very even race.  It was the best finish that I have ever had in a marathon. I passed a lot of people coming in and I didn't get passed by anyone after the half way mark.  I felt like I started off with a good pace and just tried to stay patient on the first half and especially in the wind.  At around 18 miles I was feeling good and thought I might actually be able to increase my pace but those miles ended up being about the same as my earlier miles.  Around mile 24 I got a bad cramp in my left calf and I was worried that it might be a big problem.  I slowed down some and tired to relax it and it got better.  I was able to slowly increase the pace again and got back on pace for miles 25 and 26.  This is not a big marathon so it was spaced out very quickly and that made the wind tougher since it was hard to get into a group that could work together.  I found one guy that I worked with for a couple of miles but then he dropped back.  Deep down I thought that I might be able to go under 3:05 today but with the wind it just wasn't going to happen.  I am very happy that I ran under 3:10 because that is the open qualifing standard for Boston so now I don't have to use my age handicap to get in and that is a good feeling.  This got me one step closer to the sub 3 goal but I still have some work to do.  At least now it is in sight.  Here are my splits for the race:

 

1 - 7:13

2 - 7:04

3 -7:02

4 -7:05

5 - 7:01

6 - 7:06

7, 8 - 14:14

9 - 7:08

10 - 7:07

11 - 6:56

12, 13 - 14:08

14 - 7:14 (very windy)

15 - 7:10 (very windy)

16 - 7:09 (uphill)

17 - 7:08 (uphill)

18 - 6:54 (downhill)

19 - 7:03

20 - 7:10

21 - 7:11

22 - 7:07

23 - 7:12

24 - 7:21 (cramp in calf, thought I was in big trouble but it worked out)

25 - 7:11

26 - 7:07

 

Now I have to get in the car and drive back to Indy.  I'm guessing I will be very stiff by the time I get there.

 

Saucony Tangent 3 Miles: 26.20
Comments
From Mark on Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 14:27:42 from 173.64.192.27

Awesome job Jim! You ran a very even race and really held it together. Cramps can be very scary when doing so well, glad it didn't blow up on you, it sounds like the relaxing really helped. You've made a really big leap and now have sub-3 in striking distance.

From rockness18 on Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 14:40:08 from 75.43.130.59

Jim, fantastic race! Your splits are unbelievably even- showing great discipline and control. You earned this one after a very steady year of running and increased training over the past couple of months. Enjoy your rest and I look forward to logging miles together in preparation for Boston.

From jtshad on Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 20:55:43 from 69.20.183.178

Congrats on the big PR and awesome pacing. Your training and approach to this race really paid off. You would have easily got the 3:05 but for the wind! Sub-3:00 is just out there wait for you. Fantastic once again and safe driving back to Indy.

From Walter on Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 02:48:25 from 24.10.169.110

I think the best marathoning you can do is to finish the same pace as your first few miles. Keep up the good work.

From Barry on Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 09:23:41 from 216.83.73.55

Wow, a PR by 11 minutes that is awesome! Now this is just a suggestion, but take some time off and let your body heal, because it will do you a lot of good later on when start training again. I promise.....

From Snoqualmie on Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 16:26:48 from 24.18.192.33

Your splits are so consistent! That is one of my goals in the marathon. Great job.

From JimF on Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 17:07:26 from 76.125.2.230

Thanks everyone! All of you have have pushed me to train harder and shoot for bigger goals this year. I really appreciate all of the support! This is the first marathon that I feel like I actually raced. All the others have been just surviving the last few miles. This time I felt like I was pushing for the time and trying to improve my position down the stretch. That made it a lot more fun. Now take a few days off and then start getting ready for Boston!

From JimF on Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 18:03:24 from 76.125.2.230

Barry, I was looking at the results and Dan Bruner from Pocatello won my age group with a time of 2:48. Not sure if you know him but it was a great run.

From Jon on Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 23:19:31 from 75.169.136.120

Go Jim! Congrats on a big PR. Well deserved.

From josse on Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 11:11:23 from 75.216.99.16

Congrats on a huge PR!!

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