Turning a bad Marathon into a good one, even with no PR, is still fun!

 

I didn't PR a week ago, but still nailed a 3:25:24. And that's part of the journey--even if I'm never going to break 3:20 that may just be what God intended. I'm faster at shorter distances too!

Training

After a car hit me July 21, 2022, I never thought I’d run again. A few months later, I struggled to a 4:03:05 but was just grateful to complete the 2022 Columbus Marathon. Took time off and began Irish Dancing and base-building in early January. The first time I tried to run three miles it took me 31 minutes. Over the next few months I kept at it, and built a 1,395-mile base between January 10 and October 14. Ran a tune-up half at 80% effort in 1:37:07 on Aug. 6 (48^th of 486 runners). Didn’t go all-out because I was Irish Dancing at the Dublin Irish Festival later that day. During training I peaked at 60 miles twice but averaged between 40-52 mpw most of the time. Did my last workout (5x1600m) on Oct. 5, 10 days before the race, with the last mile in 6:30 and feeling strong. Practiced gels and fuel and consistently had long runs between 14-18 miles, with two 21-milers in late August and late September, respectively. Was shooting to break 3:20:01, my PR, set in the 2021 Columbus Marathon.

Pre-Race

The week before the Marathon I worked on getting more sleep, hydrating and stretching better than I did in 2021. I made sure to get a good night sleep TWO nights before the race, as well as the night before (not as successful). Focused on more water and more carbs. My calves were tight and I battled PF quite a bit, plus had an ear infection from Oct. 2 to Oct. 12 (due to hot tub during a weekend vacation). Luckily that cleared up before the race but I don’t think I was 100%. I knew it might be a tough call to hit 3:20 but I would do my best.

Race

Made it to the Marathon early and parked. Columbus is cold and fast, and the race was unusually windy as well, but thankfully not rainy. Calves were still tight but I stretched and walked/jogged a little bit. Used the bathroom and had no issues. Could not find my team’s tent and lost some time getting back for team pictures. But was still on time to start the race easily. After the fireworks, the national anthem and Columbus’s trademark playing of Born to Run (Springsteen) and Thunderstruck (AC/DC) we were off. This is as close as I will ever get to the Olympics...

First three miles were solid. The 3:20 pacer went out super-fast and I let him go. I could not catch up with him and he had told me early on he’d try to go out at 3:16 pace. I was fine—7:50, 7:59, 7:33—but then hit the bathroom. Had to use it a second time due to some cramping, which thankfully went away afterwards. Calves were tight and when I tried to resume the watch it saved the run instead of resuming it! So I had to start re-calculating it from where I was (mile 3.27) and guessed my paces. The 3:40 group went by. I knew I’d probably not PR but wanted to just at least finish above 3:30. Calves were not loosening up. Because I had mis-timed my watch I had to work like hell and run 7:10s to 7:15s to get to the 3:30 group, which I caught up with at Mile 7 or so. Stayed just ahead of them so I would not burn out. Took gels every 4 miles (4, 8, 12, 16 (and a banana, too), 20), and water every 2 miles, along with Gatorade every few miles. Fueling was not an issue, as I had experimented with taking more on my runs and my 2022 Marathon. When I ran my PR marathon I only had three gels at 7, 14 and 21.

Made it through 15k in 1:13:52, so just under 8:00 pace. Was working steadily and closed the first 10 miles in 79-ish, based on my watch. Kept pulling through Mile 11 (a subtle, but nasty grade) and made it to the halfway mark in 1:42:50 (although at the time, I thought I was around 1:44). I had stopped my watch at Mile 11 deliberately so I could reset it and have the third and final segment record the last 15 miles of the race, to make it even. Made it through OSU fine, although it was windy. Went around the stadium and through Beekman Park. Legs were starting to tighten up but surprisingly felt good. Stopped at the med tent at 17 to get BioFreeze and two Advil tablets to be safe—I knew I would not PR that day but I wanted strong legs to see if I could finish a marathon fast for my last 6.2 miles.

Hit mile 20 in 2:37:56, although I thought I was around 2:40-ish due to the watch issue, and was going to struggle to hit 3:30. But I felt strong and salvaged what could have been a 3:40 marathon and made it work. I picked up the pace, saw some friends at Mile 21 and pushed home. The last 6.2 felt strong and my tight calves were loosened for the most part. I got twinges at 22 and 24, but I was able to pass people. As I made it onto the final turn I just felt relief in that I knew how to pace a strong marathon and come back from a bad start. I came through in 3:25:59 (gun time) and later found out my chip time was 3:25:24. I had some cramping but kept drinking electrolytes. Unlike the year before, I didn’t have to wind up in the medical tent—running out of fuel at 3:15 (mile 22) the year before and jogging in them in at 10:00 miles.

Post-Race

Ate a big breakfast, I stretched out the cramps, and kept walking and drinking electrolytes. Unlike the past years, my legs had recovered by late afternoon (as opposed to a few days later, on Tuesday). I could have pushed a little bit harder but with my PR being out of reach early on I decided to just run smart, pace smart and learn how to finish the last 6.2 strong. This wasn’t my fastest race (3:20:01) or my second-fastest (first marathon in 3:24:33) but despite cramps, tight calves and cold wind, a 3:25:xx is still very good for me. I think Irish Dancing helped me stay strong in the last half of the race because it worked different muscles and I didn’t fatigue. I am proud because I salvaged what could have been a really disappointing race and made it a fun one that I’ll remember for a long time.

Conclusion

I know what I can do better in training next time. More hills, strength exercises like monster walks, weight training and plyometric routines, as well as more mileage. I think I’ll need to peak at 70-75 and average 50-55 to have a shot at sub-3:20. I don’t have a ton of talent at the longer distances but am much better at the short ones (18:33 5k, 44:23 10k, and 1:33:45 13.1). The shorter races allow me to race faster without having to worry about gel intake or timing nutrition as well. After surviving a crash, just being back to near-2019/2021 shape a year after is a miracle. For that, I’m truly grateful…and I’m hoping to do the Columbus half next year instead!