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Race Result
| Racer: |
Corey McDaniel |
| Race: |
Shamrock Marathon |
| Date: |
Saturday, March 19, 2005 |
| Location: |
Virginia Beach, VA |
| Race Type: |
Run - Marathon |
| Age Group: |
Male 35 - 39 |
| Time: |
4:59:59 |
| Overall Place: |
1240 / 1494 |
| Age Group Place: |
161 / 185 |
| Comment: |
5-hour pace runner |
Race Report:
Great race! Excellent weather, flat/fast course, enthusiastic volunteers, creative water stops - highly recommended.
I signed up to be a "pace runner" for 5 hours (~11:20 min/mile) to jumpstart my base building - everything went as expected - I got in a good training run, met some nice people, and I was able to help bring some folks across the line under their 5 hour goal.
I chose to be a pace runner because (1) it would keep me from pushing myself too hard, (2) it allowed me to collect some useful heartrate pacing data, (3) I got into the race for free - which justified running it as a training run rather than as a race, and finally (4) it allowed me volunteer to help others get through the day as they struggled to meet their 5 hour goals. Basically the only qualification to pace was that I felt that I could comfortably run faster than the pace, which I did, kinda. Of course I was nervous I'd explode at mile 20 and embarrass myself in front of the pace group, but luckily I felt strong all day and I was actually able to shift gear with ease - and my heart rate was very well behaved and predictable throughout. Unfortunately, my 5 hour pacing partner's hamstrings cramped up at mile 16, and I ended up trying to pace him back to the 5 hour group. After almost 5 miles of ~13 min/mile walk/running, he gave in and I took off to catch up with the 5 hour group again. For about a mile I was flying past many broken hearted walkers who must have be scratching their heads wondering why the 5-hour pacer was running so fast, and with nobody in tow. Over the final 4 miles I started to collect a rag-tag group of 5-hour hopefuls, most of them stayed with me, so it was nice to get to the finish line about 2 minutes before 5:00 and continue to escort folks across the line. Using my watch clock time I eventually walked across the mat and hit my stopwatch... at 4:59:59 - my goal exactly :)
Pacing is something I would do again if given the opportunity, it was nice to be able to relax and focus on everyone else rather than just beating myself silly to finish under a certain time. An awesome training day setting up what I hope will be an awesome season. I feel ready now to focus on my "A" races this year, beginning with Columbia, then Alcatraz, then Ironman USA - later in the fall I plan to run a lower-profile Ironman with 3~4 IM virgins who I am trying to corrupt... er, recruit! I registered for IM-Phx, and had been feeling way behind on my training all year - then last week I was offered some tix to go see a buddy play in the Masters that same weekend, so I'm taking this as a sign of fate and bailing for Augusta over Phoenix this year (but plan to do IM-PHX next year). Looking forward to some RAT rides and TDSkyline, see ya'll soon.
Picts:
http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=6218&BIB=1601&PWD=
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