"By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail"

2011 St George Marathon

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Location:

Springtown,TX,USA

Member Since:

Feb 02, 2009

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

Firsts:

  • First marathon - White Rock, Dallas, December 2005 (4:01)
  • First BQ - St George, 2007 (3:20)
  • First Boston - 2008 (3:30)
  • 1st Place Clydesdale - Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon - 4/2007
  • 1st Place Ultracentric 6-Hour Champ 2007 - 38.75 miles
  • 1st Time Leading Pace Group, Cowtown '09 (3:39:41)
  • 1st Place Overall, Porcupine Promenade 5K (20:10) - 4/2011
  • 1st Trail Race. Grasslands Half Marathon. 1st Overall Masters (1:53) - 3/2013
  • Leadville LT100 MTB '16 - on a mountain bike, but the toughest challenge, so far!

Marathons Run (27):

  • Dallas White Rock ('05, '07,'09,'14)
  • Chicago ('06, '08)
  • OK City Memorial ('07)
  • St George ('07,'09,'11)
  • Waco Miracle Match ('07)
  • Ft Worth, Cowtown ('08, '09,'10,'11,'12,'13,'15**)
  • Boston ('08 '09*, '10, '13)
  • Park City ('08)
  • San Antonio Rock 'n Roll ('08)
  • Steamboat ('09)
  • Utah Valley ('10)
  • Houston ('12)
  • * - PR

Ultras (3):

  • Ultracentric 6-Hours ('07 - 38.75 mi)
  • El Scorcho 50K, Ft Worth (('08, '09)

PRs:

  • 5K - 19:27 (6/2008)
  • 10K - 41:49 (5/2008)
  • 15K - 1:04:14 (9/2011)
  • Half Marathon - 1:33:12 (1/2011)
  • Marathon - 3:19:47 (Boston 4/2009)
  • 50K - 4:35:53 (7/2008)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Keep injury-free.

2016 Races

Ft Worth Cowtown Half Marathon

Long-Term Running Goals:

Be age-group competitive for many years!

Have fun running!

Make some great friends along the way!

Personal:

Married to the same wonderful woman since March 1988. 3 adorable kids.

Look for me at www.facebook.com (I'll be your friend)

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Asic Nimbus 8 Lifetime Miles: 502.00
VFF Trek Lifetime Miles: 98.10
Kohls Asics Lifetime Miles: 234.74
Asic Trailshoes Lifetime Miles: 82.36
Nike Air Lifetime Miles: 10.00
Saucony Lifetime Miles: 508.16
Brooks Ravena Lifetime Miles: 117.75
Asic (orange) Lifetime Miles: 83.75
Race: 2011 St George Marathon (26 Miles) 03:21:43, Place overall: 544, Place in age division: 62
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
12.2014.0026.20

St George Marathon  Oct 1, 2011

 

Pre-Race

Flew to Vegas Friday morning. Ronnie and his wife, Candi, were kind enough to let me hitch a ride with them to St George. Got to expo around noon. Met up with Tom Slick at the expo. Also ran into Mark (Fly on the wall) at the expo and went with him to lunch at Taste of Asia (had sweet and sour shrimp w/ rice). 

 

Went to the Pasta dinner at the convention center around 4:30. Ran in to Runnin’ Ute (Brad) and Pron8r (Don) at the dinner. Chatted for a bit, went to the expo, again – walked around a little and bought nothing (I think that’s a first).

 

Was in bed by 7:30pm. Watched some TV and dozed on and off until getting up around 3:00AM. Showered, dressed, grabbed my cinnamon pop-tarts, went searching for a cup of coffee (but none was to be found). Ronnie picked us up at 3:30, and we drove the 3 blocks to the buses. Got in line for the first 4:00AM bus. The temperature was 80 degrees in St George at 4:00AM.

 

Riding to the starting line, it definitely go cooler. By the time we reached the top, I needed to put on my sweats. I’m guessing it was about 50F at the starting line.

 

Hung out at the fires for a few hours. Mingled with some old friends (most I had met 4 years ago when I ran my

first St
George Marathon).

 

People I saw at the fires: Tom Slick (aka Lloyd Hansen), Ronnie Dunn,  Kimmy and Kathie, Mark (fly), MarkO (Huans32), Jeff (RdRunner) and Meg, Runnin’ Ute, Lark, Hawkeye, Brent (Bdz), Julie Ann (BeMo),,,and I’m sure a few others I’m forgetting.

 

The Running

 

I had no definite plan for today. My stretch goal was to run a PR (3:19:47), but I knew I hadn’t put in the mileage to make it a certainty. My happy goal was to BQ for 2013 (3:25). My satisfied goal was to finish upright.

 

Around 6:45 the crowd started shuffling forward and soon we were walking, then jogging, then running…into the cool darkness.

 

I wanted to run the first 3 miles easy, then try to maintain a 7:30ish pace for the rest of the race. As is always the case for me – I didn’t pay much attention to my watch..and just went with what seemed like a fairly easy, maintainable pace. Kind of fast down the hills, and slower up the hills.

 

I looked to my right and saw a familiar runner – Teena. I waved to her, wished her luck and was off (I think she was battling a cold or something…she sounded a bit horse.) That’s the last I saw of Teena (similar to what happened at Boston in 2010 when I saw her running down the middle of the road near Hopkinton).

 

Around mile 5 I came up behind Ronnie. At that time my average pace was about 7:14 (according to my Garmin). Ronnie said his was about 7:24 (he crossed the start line about a minute before I did). I knew that even though we run similar paces overall, we attack the ups and downs differently. So, I ran on by myself – as it was a downhill section – and I always take advantage of the gravity aid when it’s available.

 

I walked through every aid station (every other mile) and made sure to drink 2 cups of Gatorade or water at each. This worked out well. I kept passing the same people over and over throughout the race. I  saw Ronnie a few more times throughout the race, and walked with him for a few steps as we crested the hill at mile 19.

 

At the 20 mile mark I still felt surprisingly good. I was still on track for a PR. Calves were a bit tight, but no cramping.

 

With 4 to go, I didn’t feel quite as good, but I was still OK.

 

With 3 to go, I started that sinking feeling. The urge to walk was getting too great…and I gave in to the temptation. I walked a little every ½ mile. With about 2 to go, the walks become more frequent. My PR chances were blown with 2 miles to go…but, I could still BQ, if I didn’t fall apart completely.

 

As I rounded the last corner, I took one more short walk break, then made my way down to the finish line. I heard my name called as I go close, raised my arms as best as I could, in case anyone was watching on the live feed, and crossed the line with a 3:21:43. I qualified for the 2013 Boston Marathon by 3:17 (I hope that’s enough to get me in, if I decide to sign up…it’s such a long ways off.)

 

Post-Race

 

I limped around Worthen Park for a while, looking for familiar faces. I saw Brent, Mark M, Mark O, Susanna (I’m sorry we didn’t get to visit long, and I missed seeing Larry this trip), Lloyd, Lark, Brad, Bradley,  and Hawkeye.  I ate an ice cream, drank a coke, and a couple bottles of water. Sat on the grass, and had a tough time getting back up. J

 

Later on, after showering, I walked back to the park in time to see Lloyd collect his award for winning his age division in the Grand Slam (Congrats, Buddy! – you have had quite a year of running. 60 isn’t slowing you down)

 

After an early dinner at Chili’s with Ronnie and his wife, we drove back to Vegas. Spent a low-key night at the Stratosphere (avoided “The Strip”), and flew back to Dallas on Sunday morning.

 

It was an excellent weekend!

 

Lessons learned:

  • St George is brutal on the muscles. Maybe not during the race, but in the days following – especially if you try to run fast, and don’t have quite the mileage base needed. Make downhill running part of the training plan.
  • Flying to Vegas then driving to St George is a good way to go. Even better would be to fly to St George.
  • Don’t get on the early bus to win a prize – it won’t happen! J Get on the early bus to mingle with friends..and contemplate the 26.2 miles ahead.

 

Saucony Miles: 26.20
Weight: 185.00
Comments
From Tom Slick on Mon, Oct 03, 2011 at 18:45:45 from 69.171.160.105

Oh Marc, your are fabulous. You really got it going and turned in a great marathon showing for yourself at a very tough marathon. Congrats on getting that BQ too!!!!!!

From MrsFIT on Mon, Oct 03, 2011 at 19:48:30 from 24.10.158.43

I missed seeing you @ aid station #1

From MarcE on Mon, Oct 03, 2011 at 22:13:53 from 204.16.82.120

Thanks, Slick. Not too bad for walking 17 times! :) The Garmin doesn't hide the truth. See ya in December!

Kristy-what? Had someone told me, I would have looked for you. Smack your hubby for me. He never mentioned that you were at Station #1 when we were at the fire. Missed seeing you, too! (If I ever run this thing again, I hope to see you out there running :)

From timp on Tue, Oct 04, 2011 at 10:26:15 from 144.188.24.33

great report and race, Marc! That is so close to a PR, expecially with the walk breaks. Very well done

From MarcE on Tue, Oct 04, 2011 at 11:28:42 from 204.16.82.120

Tim - I give myself an A- on this one. Had I gotten in more miles of training, I have no doubt I could have PRed. Two 20-milers and a peak weak of 40 miles just isn't quite enough training...it's not easy training in the hot Summer for an early Fall marathon. You could really rock this marathon if you ran it..PR for sure for you.

From timp on Tue, Oct 04, 2011 at 11:36:38 from 144.188.24.33

mark this one up to smart race tactics I think

I'll have to get out there one of these years.

From Rhett on Tue, Oct 04, 2011 at 12:54:33 from 74.32.213.84

Marc, congrats on a great race. Sounds like you ran it just right. All your past marathon experience definitely helped you BQ that one. Way to go.

From DaleG on Tue, Oct 04, 2011 at 14:21:09 from 71.199.57.238

You did awesome, as usual. Sorry we never got to meet up.

From Kelli on Thu, Oct 06, 2011 at 13:18:44 from 71.219.83.151

Congrats on the BQ. Those last 3 miles, man they are hard!

It was nice to see you for a second at the awards ceremony while I was LOST! I ended up walking back to my hotel. ;o)

From MarcE on Thu, Oct 06, 2011 at 23:09:22 from 204.16.82.120

Tim - you would like it. You already know a lot of the runners.

Rhett - it wasn't quite the same without you. I thought about doing the "airplane" down the final stretch in your honor! :)

Dale - Thanks!

Kelli - I didn't realize you were lost! Congrats on your great race! 7th in your AG is pretty amazing!

From Kelli on Fri, Oct 07, 2011 at 09:50:01 from 71.219.83.151

My husband had gone to get the car...and never returned. They had gotten stuck in traffic. He called when i was almost back to the hotel. It was only a mile walk. ;o)

THANKS. I was actually 9th in my AG, but they removed the top 10 women from the AG standings so I got a little plaque.

From Smooth on Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 17:58:53 from 174.27.208.222

Hey Marc buddy!!! You did AWESOME!!! CONGRATS on the nearly PR (it sure was tough training thru the hot hot TX summer with record heat this year) and the BQ. You never cease to amaze me!

So bummed that I didn't get to visit with you. After I saw you briefly, I had to tend to Karen and help her find her family. I was super bummed that I missed you at the Expo. I stayed with Teena till 5:15 and got to the pasta table where Running Utes, BeMo, the Blacks and Waits were; but never walked around the expo this year.

I can't remember, are you running Boston 2012? Please tell me you are! :)

Again, GREAT race and performance as always! I love reading your report.

From MarcE on Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 19:51:59 from 204.16.82.120

Smooth - Thanks! For some reason Slick, Ronnie, and I thought the meet and greet was at 4:30 at the Expo pasta thing. Nobody was there. We must have walked out as you were walking in. Nope, I didn't get in to Boston this year. I only ran 2 marathons last year, and wasn't BQed. But, I'm set for 2013 -- I'm not sure if I'll run it for sure, but it's nice to know I can sign up. My next marathon I'm signed up for is Houston, but leaving my options open for a couple between now and then - depending on how my recovery, ramp up goes.

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