I only run on days that end in a "y."

Austin Marathon

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Location:

Austin,TX,USA

Member Since:

Feb 02, 2009

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

2008 Austin Marathon - 4:12

2008 Dallas Marathon: 3:30 (8 months later)

2010 Austin Marathon - 3:24 (bonked at 25 - 12 minute last mile run/walk)

2010 Steamtown Marathon - 3:27 (quads killed on the down hills)

2011-Feb   Austin Marathon - 3:17 (finally BQ'd!)

2011-June   Marathon to Marathon, IA - 3:07 (BQ'd by 13 minutes!)

2011-Dec  CIM - 3:02

2012-April  Boston Marathon - 4:03

2013-April  Boston Marathon - 3:06

2008 Austin 3M half marathon: 1:43:00

2009 Austin 3M 1/2 Marathon: 1:29:50

2011 San Antonio Half - 1:25 (100% humidity fun fest)

2010 Chuy's 5k - 19:19

2011 Chuy's 5k - 18:23

2012 Chuy's 5k - 18:25 

2012 RFTW 5k - 18:05 - PR! 

2009 Austin Capitol 10k: 41:50

2011 Austin Capitol 10k: 38:57

2012 IBM Uptown Classic 10k - 37:52 - PR!

Short-Term Running Goals:

BQ at Austin Marathon - 2/20/2011 Tough course, warm and humid - but I did it.

Break 3:10 in a fall marathon (TBD) 3:07 at Marathon to Marthon

Break 40:00 in a 10k 38:57 @ Cap10k 2011

New: Break 3:05 @ CIM on December 4th, 2011  3:02

Break 38:00 in a 10k - Done - 37:52 @ IBM Classic 

Break 18:00 in a 5k - 18:05 @ RFTW - October 2012 - getting close!

2011 RACES:

Run for the Water 10 mile - 10/30/2011  1:04:06

San Antonio 1/2 Marathon - 11/13/2011

California International Marathon - 12/4/2011

2012 Fall Races

IBM Uptown Classic 10k - 37:53

Run For the Water 5k - 18:05

2013

Boston Marathon - 3:06

2014

Boston Marathon - April 21 - 3:11

2016

Rookie Tri - May 1st

Peak to Creek Marathon - Oct 29th

 

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run a sub 3:00 Marathon

Personal:

Der Hammer is a nick name I picked up from my German friends while living in Germany. My real name is David. 

 I have been running seriously since March 2007.  I started with a local running group called "Gilbert's Gazelles".  Before that I had run a couple 5k's (26:00's) and never run more than 3 miles at one time.  I have lost about 40 pounds in a little over 2 years. 

I am 45 years old, married and have 2 children, ages 5, girl, and 10, boy.  I try to keep my running from interfering with my family as much as possible, e.g. getting up at 5 am.  However, Saturdays are long run days and I don't come home until around 9 am or so.  I owe my family a debt of gratitude for allowing me to pursue this passion. 

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Hoka One One Lifetime Miles: 152.00
Saucony Ride 7's - Blue Lifetime Miles: 345.97
Hokas Red Lifetime Miles: 127.25
Brooks Launch Lifetime Miles: 151.75
Race: Austin Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:17:20
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.0026.200.000.0026.20

It was warm - 64 degrees at the start, humidity at 75-80% - and a hilly, tough course to boot.  I had pretty much told myself I would run 13 as a training run and drive up to Ft. Worth next Sunday for a chance at better conditions and a better course.  Still, I prepared for running the full just in case the conditions were not too bad.  I did the Aussie carb load plan on Saturday and had packed enough blocks and gu's with me Sunday morning.  I loaded up with electrolytes all day Saturday and then Sunday morning.

A runner from our group had offered to give a couple of us a ride to the start.  While driving to his house and about a mile away I saw a runner and thought "who the heck is that out here at this time?" It was another runner from our group who was going to pace a friend.  She was running to the same place I was driving.  I stopped and picked her up and on the short drive she told me to just run with no pressure as I had a back up plan.  Run to 13 or 14 and if I felt like a million bucks to keep going.  It was sage advice.

The three of us lined up in front of the 3:20 group.  We knew that because of the conditions we would need to run the first half - which is also the hilliest - conservatively to save up energy and run a negative split on the second half.  We stayed just in front of the 3:20 group until mile 12 or so and started pulling away a bit.  At 13 I still had not made up my mind but I was feeling strong.  At mile 14  I picked up the pace and the others started to fade a bit.  I ran the rest of the way alone. I pretty much gave up on hitting the lap button on my watch at each mile.  I just my ran what I felt was the right pace.  I looked down occasionally but was not obsessive about it.  I knew I was well ahead of the 3:20 group so I was confident that I would BQ running my pace.

From mile 14 on I was in a zone.  I really can't explain it.  Everything just flowed.  In my past marathons at mile 18 I would say something like "oh no, 8 more to go" and today I was thinking - "8 to go, bring it on!"  Instead of thinking "gosh, still 30 something minutes to go"  I was thinking, "only 4 miles to go!" 

I was passing a lot of runners which was a huge rush.  I think the weather bothered many.  People were dropping like flies.  I never let the weather even enter my mind.  I never felt hot and thought the wind felt great because it cooled me down a bit.  The clouds kept the sun away and that was huge.  I am not sure what would be better - 55 degrees, low humidity, but the sun beating down on you for 3 hours or a bit warmer and humid but no sun.  I am sure it slowed me down a bit but I didn't think about it.

Anyway, the miles just melted away. There were runners from our group all along the route.  With 10k to go 2 of them saw me and ran with me for a while - shouting and encouraging me on.  At mile 23 another runner was there with her dog.  She ran next to me for a short while shouting and cheering me.  At mile 24 our group's coach was out there on his bicycle.  He rode next to me shouting at me for about a 1/2 mile and at 25 a large support group from our club was out shouting and cheering.  The whole run was a surreal and awesome experience.  Yes, I could have gone up to Ft. Worth and probably ran 4-5 minutes faster, but there is no way the experience would have even come close to running my home town marathon with all of the support here, and BQ'ing as well!

Oh, I was about 5 feet from the finish when my legs started to buckle. Come on!  5 feet away!  I always push that last 200m too hard.  I had to walk over the finish line.  As I did I walked to the side to put my hand on the fence.  So my left leg with my timing chip went to the side of the timing mat.  I did not even think about it.  A volunteer wrote my bid number down and my time because he thought it did not register.  He was right.  Now I get the fun of sorting all of that out!  Note to self - make sure your timing chip crosses the mat!


Notes to myself - what I learned:  If you have a big base 12-15 weeks is all you need to train for a marathon. Speed work once a week made a huge difference for me. Strength training at least once a week worked wonders for me, too - it kept me injury free, I believe, and helped me in my speed work sessions.  Nutrition is critical - even during daily training.  I always felt like I had lots of energy for my workouts and recovered quickly.  Doing MGP on long runs helped quite a bit as well.



 


Kinvaras - Black Miles: 26.20
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From I Just Run on Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 16:22:28 from 166.205.12.200

Cool...!!!! Not the temperature but your run..! CONGRADULATIONS....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Karen on Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 16:48:42 from 69.171.160.221

Way to Bq & PR!!! Even when you had an "out" you toughed it out. Can't wait to read your race report. Great job!!

From Rob Murphy on Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 17:14:59 from 24.10.248.6

Great race - PR,BQ - it doesn't get any better! Enjoy your day and your accomplishment.

From SlowJoe on Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 17:37:41 from 184.79.24.255

Wow, congrats to you. To hit your goal in those conditions says a lot.

From Mark on Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 17:41:28 from 173.168.88.68

Great job on the BQ! Enjoy the victory! Looking forward to the full report.

From jtshad on Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 08:58:03 from 184.48.165.195

Congrats on running such a strong race and getting the BQ! Nice job having the physical and mental strength to keep pushing.

From I Just Run on Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 12:12:06 from 67.79.11.242

WOW....Again Congradulations Again...

Your effort and resolve make my Half seem like a walk in the park...:) Sounds very exciting to have so much support...wish I had known you decided to run the Full, I'd loved to have celebrated with you!

From Eckroll on Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 13:01:36 from 67.79.11.242

Yaaaay!!! Congrats on the BQ. It was really crowded down there this weekend. It was so muggy and humid downtown that I was feeling sorry for everyone!!

From daceg on Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 13:43:57 from 74.211.28.51

Congrats to you! Sounds like a great run! I love the zone!

From Bonnie on Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 17:43:14 from 128.196.228.134

Great run!! I ran the half there a few years back and it seems that it is ALWAYS humid for this race! You did great, and it goes to show you, if you are prepared you will execute. It sounds like you also estimated your ability correctly, it was a wise choice to start off with the 3:20 group.

Congratulations.

From flatlander on Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 22:18:37 from 76.31.26.153

That is just great! It is so refreshing when everything clicks, what a day. I would have said wait a week and run Fort Worth, but you obviously made the right game-time decision. Even in cooler temperatures you might not have done as well. It was your day and you took it. Congratulations.

From Dan on Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 22:44:33 from 24.209.83.20

HA! You fooled me!! Had me buying into your switch... glad you listened to your body, it certainly paid off. A HUGE CONGRATS MAN!! WELL DONE!!

If there are any spots left on day 8, me and you are registering for sure.

From derhammer on Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 23:16:33 from 70.113.204.189

Thanks everyone for your kind words.

Dan, I am somewhat optimistic. First, since registration is in September all of big fall marathons, Chicago, etc. won't have been run yet. Second, one of the reasons it sold out so quickly this year is that all of the internationals who could not make it in 2010 due to the Icelandic volcanoes got automatically deferred to this year.

From Burt on Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 16:24:51 from 206.19.214.144

Great job! So many people to cheer you on. That must've been awesome.

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