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
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
13.0026.200.000.0039.20
Kinvaras - Black Miles: 26.20Kinvara's Lime Green Miles: 5.50Vomero 5 Orange Miles: 7.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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(14)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
5.500.000.000.005.50

First day back since the marathon.  I happened to pick up a copy of little magazine called Marathon and Beyond at Barnes and Noble.  Serendipitously it had a well researched and written article about marathon recovery.  Specifically about biopsies that have been performed on marathoners immediately after completing a marathon.  What they found is some serious stuff going on.  The full article can be read here: http://www.marathonandbeyond.com/

In light of the article, I took 5 solid days off.  I finally got the itch to go running again today - 5.5 easy around the soft trail near the office.  8:20 overall pace.  It felt good, a little stiffness but no major soreness.

Kinvara's Lime Green Miles: 5.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(4)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
7.500.000.000.007.50

Met up with a running buddy and we did 7.5 recovery/easy miles on the soft town lake trail.  Wonderful morning for a run. First few miles very slow - 9:30 and gradual increase to 8:30's or so for the last couple.

Vomero 5 Orange Miles: 7.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
13.0026.200.000.0039.20
Kinvaras - Black Miles: 26.20Kinvara's Lime Green Miles: 5.50Vomero 5 Orange Miles: 7.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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