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Race Result
| Racer: |
David Glover |
| Race: |
Myrtle Beach Marathon |
| Date: |
Saturday, February 21, 2004 |
| Location: |
Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Race Type: |
Run - Marathon |
| Age Group: |
Male 30 - 34 |
| Time: |
2:53:31 |
| Overall Place: |
4 / 1148 |
| Age Group Place: |
1 |
| Comment: |
Great race; fast course; lots of wind! |
Race Report:
SUMMARY
I had an unexpectedly fast race (new PR!) all things considered. For me, the challenge of this race was was to push through a reasonably fast time without having a solid running base due to a nagging achilles injury.
13.1 Mile Split: 1:21:42
Final Time: 2:53:31
Place: 4th OA, 1st AG
Total Finishers: 1,148
PRE-RACE
This year had not started out too well for training due to injury and weather. I had been nursing a sore left achilles for many weeks which I think was caused by overstraining my achilles tendon while running on ice/snow. It was a nagging injury that never seemed to get worse but just would not go away. I had backed off my running volume quite a bit.
Weather this winter was similar to last year - very cold with lots of snow and especially ice on the bike trail and roads. This kept me off the bike (aerobic base building) except for an 40-60 minutes on a Lifecycle 2x per week.
The decision to do this marathon and the associated road trip was last minute. About a week and a half before, I decided to go and tried to sign up for the 1/2 marathon which was full. Since I had committed to the 7 hour drive, I figured that I should probably at least run something which meant the full marathon.
Trip down was uneventful except for a late night arrival. We stayed in Murrel's Inlet, just south of MB, with Hope's mom. Hope, Jen, Cindy and Lindsay ("Tator Tots") were doing a marathon relay with Gary ("Velvet Elvis") running the 1/2 marathon.
THE RACE
The best thing about not really focusing on a race and having no real expectations meant little pressure and low expectations.
Race morning was windy and relatively warm...probably in the high 50's at start then quickly warming up to high 60's, low 70's. I opted for DeSoto running shorts and a tri tank.
Race start was somewhat relaxed as I did not experience the close in jostling and pushing at a larger race as everyone typically tries to squeeze closer to the start. I placed myself about 2 rows back from the front.
BANG! I took off. I ran with my heart rate monitor (HRM) with the intent to hold a 6:30+/- pace with a HR in the low 170's (constant effort). I felt reasonably comfortable at the start. My pace and effort were fairly consistent for the first 18 miles with pace dropping slightly lower in tail winds and creeping up higher in headwinds.
Course was very flat and basically consisted of two loops in a figure 8 (1st loop was 1/2 marathon). Running along the beachfront was nice and scenic although windy.
I carried a gel flask of Raspberry HammerGel with me that I "sipped on" every mile or so. I also carried a couple of Carb-boom packets in my shorts plus there was some HammerGel on the course. Maybe a little overkill on my part, but I'd prefer the extra weight vs. running out of fuel.
My split at the 1/2 was 1:21:42. At this point, I was thinking I could possibly break 2:45 and almost certainly break 2:50 even if I slowed down a little which was inevitable. I also thought that the smart thing to do would be stop now since my left achilles tendon had been hurt since about mile 6. I decided to keep going.
In the end it was not the "runner's wall" or "bonking" that slowed me down, but general muscular fatigue, a very sore achilles tendon, and the associated discomfort of running 20+ miles on an inadequate volume base. Since the last 6 miles was in a head wind across a desolate highway of ugly asphalt and strip malls, the scenery did not help.
There were a few runners gaining on me toward the end which I managed to hold off (the 5th place finisher was only 23 seconds back).
I somehow managed a vertical jump to touch the timing clock as I crossed the finish line. Another finisher's medal!
POST RACE
Yes, I was sore for the rest of the week. I think the last 6 miles of that race probably hurt more than any other race I have ever done.
Post race meal was Mexican (the best!).
I also wonder if I had not stopped at the port-a-john at mile 18 and had to mess with a brand new roll of toilet paper whether or not the extra 1.5 minutes would have brought me close enough to push myself just a little harder to bring my time in under 2:50.
Cheers,
David
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