Monday, April 23, 2012

SLC 26.2 Race Report


Up at 4:45 immediately ate a banana with almond butter
Got ready
Start line by 6:15
Ate some of a Power bar and some of an orange

Got in line

Going into the race Coach Teresa and I had decided:
-         Go out very conservatively.  Where I did not get many long runs in I needed to make sure I did not blow up
-         She told me my race did not start until about mile 20 so I needed to make sure to have mantras in mind when people were passing me to continue to keep my pace slow.  


Usually I turn my Garmin on when I hear the anthem, didn’t hear it this time, so the race was starting as my Garmin was searching for satellites!  First mile I think my time is messed up because of it.  I had planned to stick with the 4 hour pace group the first half of the race but I never found the pacer.

Mile 1-6
9:03, 9:03, 8:42, 8:49, 8:50, 9:02
-         Pace felt VERY easy and controlled.  I felt like I was just jogging along.
-         Most of these miles were downhill
* *Took first GU at mile 5, grabbed water at mile 6 and spilled it everywhere!

Mile 7-13.1
9:13, 9:06, 9:38, 9:08, 9:07, 9:02, 9:18

-         Pace still felt very controlled and easy.  Small hills felt easy to get up.
-         Started to get hot in this section.  Every aid station from here I poured water down my head.  People were handing out Popsicles at mile 9, I grabbed 2 and held them in each of my hands to try to stay cool. 
-         Mile 10 a police man started running with me and asked me for my number! Ha :)
-         Turned music at mile 11 
-         Crossed 13.1 at 1:57:XX Was really happy at this point, thought I’d make it under 4 hours, everything was downhill from here until state street at mile 25.
**Took GU at mile 10 then water at 11
**Took GU and water at mile 13.1

Mile 14-18
9:02, 8:54, 9:06, 9:06, 9:02

-         I was trying to interact with the little kids along the street during this section and it really made the time go by so fast 
-         Mile 16 I got to see Julia and Rachelle!  The whole race I was on the look out for Julia and gave me such a boost to see her sweet face!!!
-         14-15 was beautiful running by those expensive houses and lots of tree cover.  Mile 16-18 was SUPER hot along Van Winkle and no tree cover at all.
-         I really wanted to speed it up here but I kept telling myself, ‘your race does not start until mile 20’
** Took GU and Water at 16
** Took Power Aid at 18

Mile 19-21
9:38, 9:38, 9:18
-         Pace started to slow...I was getting HOT.  Up until this point I felt amazing – not tired or sore at all.  I still felt good here but was loosing some energy.  Now that I write this down I stopped taking GU’s at mile 16 which was probably why.  
-         Somewhere along mile 20 I saw a house that had a ‘temptation station’ with a whole table filled with alcohol and shot glasses… really? Just thinking of taking a shot right then made me want to throw up!

Mile 22
15:05
-SUCKED!  I don’t know what happened but right after I left Liberty Park my hamstrings cramped up so bad I couldn’t even walk.  I had to completely stop and stretch them out.
*While I was stretching I drank a full cup of Power Aid and poured about 4 cups of water on my head
Mile 23-26
9:14, 8:42, 9:27, 9:00,    1:47

-         After I started running again I knew that the sub 4 was out of the picture so I really just tried to enjoy the rest of the race
-          
    Coming around the corned and looking up State Street at mile 25 is humbling for sure! During this whole incline I was saying out load ‘I Run This Body – BTM’ over and over and over…
            Last .2 had a nice kick at 7:21 pace
 4:06:09
14/519 AG
87/2799 Female


-- I really like taking a GU about a half a mile before an upcoming aid station, then washing it down with water.
-- The last portion of the race I stopped taking GU and replaced it with Power Aid – shouldn’t have done this.
-- Starting of conservatively is key!  Those first miles were very downhill but I still might have started out too fast for what I was pacing for.
-- Took an ice bath right after and it seriously felt sooooo good.
-- My body was so salty after the race.  Maybe this is why I cramped up so bad at mile 22? Maybe I should try taking those salt tablets. 
-- After the race until today I have been very thirsty but no appetite. Been forcing myself to get down some protein.


So happy that I even got to run this race! 
2 weeks ago I thought I was going to have to sit this one out and 
I ended up getting a 24 minute PR.   
If I can decrease my time that amount again marathon #3 will be a BQ! :D


13 comments:

  1. Way to go, Christie! That was an awesome marathon, and you executed perfectly! Way to go out conservative and then finish strong. I feel like this was a perfect performance. Great job, and LOOK OUT BOSTON!

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  2. Congrats on the finish AND! HUGE PR!!!

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  3. From what I can tell, it looks like you run such a smart race! It was SO HOT. We haven't been running in temps like this for months, so I'm super impressed by your last miles. Great job!!!!!! Imagine what you can do in cooler temps and with no previous injury- sky is the limit!

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  4. I've been waiting for this report! :) You executed this very well. Nothing makes coach happier than listening and executing your game plan. Lots to build on here, which is so exciting. I think with more training and putting fuel in your body regularly then the cramping would have been minimal. You did phenomenal, especially based on all the little road bumps you had leading up to race day! Way to be POWERFUL and get 'er done. tn

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  5. seriously. loved this report. loved every second that i got to see you! i was just so relieved and excited that i didnt miss you!! i keep saying this but you really looked SO strong, controlled and consistent. I definitely could tell it was getting hot but you just had the biggest smile and looked GREAT!

    Congrats on an incredible PR! i am taking some notes reading this...i really want to start out easy next full and remember that I dont need to race till the final 10k! so smart.

    also. you came back strong after the leg cramping! that amazes me!

    overall you ran a very smart race. so happy for you!!

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  6. It was kind of funny reading this because I related it to my past running experiences. I just liked to run & bike a lot vs. race. 20 miles was great and at 9 min miles even with hills was fine. But just 2 or 3 miles after the 20 mark, accckkkk. That's why I had to laugh a little about mile 22. I bet I know some "secrets" that could help you a Lot with recovery, but I want to know you in person first. I study health a great deal. Reality is we can all live forever in this body.

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  7. Congrats on the huge 24-min PR!! you were SO CLOSE to that 4-hr barrier, you will definitely crush it next time! :)
    SLC-marathon sounds like an awesome one to do!
    I hope you've healed well and are not sore at all~!
    xoxo!

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  8. Awesome job! You battled through so many obstacles to get to this point you should be ecstatic.

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  9. Oh my GOSH! You did So well Christie! Looking at all of your splits and fueling, i think you had a great race. The mile with the hamstring trouble stole your sub4, but you still came away with an ENORMOUS PR!!
    Fantastic, Chicka! Can't wait to see where this takes you :)

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  10. I'm so happy for you to push through that! Great Pring and I'm feeling a BQ for you. Love your blog girl!

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  11. Congrats on your HUGE PR Christie!!

    When I did my first marathon in November 2011 (Richmond), I had a huge cramping issue, very horrible, I had never had anything like that before...so I know what it's like to be shocked out of nowhere with something so paralyzing!

    But that's wonderful that you pushed on and finished STRONG!! Congrats!!

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  12. I'm a little curious. What happened to your friend 'zombie' {Bekki Rogers}. She could use a real friend like you, if you have the time.

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  13. Oh my gosh, lady, that is absolutely fantastic!!! That heat can zap every ounce of energy out of you yet you hung in there and didn't give in to that nasty heat. Sorry about the hammie cramp, but you worked it out and got a PR!! So very proud of you....congratulations!!!!! :)

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