Came back from Europe and had the small matter of dealing with my Permanent Resident Card. After two years you apply to get the conditions removed so we filed the paperwork/fees and I went for more fingerprints just to check I'm the same person and we're still in a valid marriage! Hopefully that will come through okay anytime soon.
Fine tuned my marathon training. The long runs finishing with marathon pace went well, I was managing 6.50-odd for the last 7M of the last key session and 7.46 for the lat 20M run.
I then had to decide on a race pace strategy. For this I was peer pressured into pushing myself!
The guys and girls around me on the Tuesday speed sessions ran 2.53, 3.01 and 3.03 in the Chicago and NYC marathons in the previous couple of weeks. So in theory I should be around the 3 hour mark too!
Everything was great in Philly. The weather was cold but sunny and good for running. Our AirBnB place was 0.5M from the start/finish and less than 15mins walk from the race expo.
First race I've done where I stood in the coral in warm clothing (and with handwarmers inside my gloves) that I could throw off just before the start.
I was able to get into my own race pace very quickly, none of the shuffling and jumping about to avoid other runners that I had feared given the 30,000 entrants and combined half marathon race.
I knew 6.52 pace was the three hour time but as they had 10K, 13.1M and 30K splits (timing mats) I tried to remember that 42.40, 1.30 and 2.08 were my guiding times rather than obsessing over every mile split especially as there were a couple of short moderate inclines and descents along the way.
I stayed relaxed and well in control. Went through 10K in 43.12 and reached the turn off at halfway in 1.30.47. I knew the last few miles were mildly downhill and also remembered a good quote/advice I'd read before my marathon debut that 20M should be considered halfway in a marathon, not 13.1M.
I was through 30K in 2.08.57 so roughly guessed I'd need 10secs under the 6.52's for the last 10K+. There was a run out to a township at about 19.5M then a turn around and after a slight downhill, a good run all the way to the finish so I picked it up after the turn. 6.38, 6.37, 6.29, feeling good, reeling in a lot of runners.
6.35, 6.29, I knew I had this when they had a clock with 2 miles to go and I had 15mins to play with even with a .2 after that!
A 6.27 last mile meant I covered the last 12K in just over 50mins and I crossed the line elated with my 2.59.09 (6.49 average pace). 280th position and 23rd in my age group for what it's worth AND a high-five from the Philly Mayor who was waiting on the finish line.
It was only the last mile when I really went for it that my body just wanted it to be all over.
But when I crossed the line and stopped running I was both so cold and ached all over. My calves and quads were the worst but even my biceps and back were aching.
Most pain passed and I was just left with really tight calves and sore quads for a week or so.
But I had that sub-3 glow!
Fine tuned my marathon training. The long runs finishing with marathon pace went well, I was managing 6.50-odd for the last 7M of the last key session and 7.46 for the lat 20M run.
I then had to decide on a race pace strategy. For this I was peer pressured into pushing myself!
The guys and girls around me on the Tuesday speed sessions ran 2.53, 3.01 and 3.03 in the Chicago and NYC marathons in the previous couple of weeks. So in theory I should be around the 3 hour mark too!
Everything was great in Philly. The weather was cold but sunny and good for running. Our AirBnB place was 0.5M from the start/finish and less than 15mins walk from the race expo.
I was able to get into my own race pace very quickly, none of the shuffling and jumping about to avoid other runners that I had feared given the 30,000 entrants and combined half marathon race.
I knew 6.52 pace was the three hour time but as they had 10K, 13.1M and 30K splits (timing mats) I tried to remember that 42.40, 1.30 and 2.08 were my guiding times rather than obsessing over every mile split especially as there were a couple of short moderate inclines and descents along the way.
I stayed relaxed and well in control. Went through 10K in 43.12 and reached the turn off at halfway in 1.30.47. I knew the last few miles were mildly downhill and also remembered a good quote/advice I'd read before my marathon debut that 20M should be considered halfway in a marathon, not 13.1M.
I was through 30K in 2.08.57 so roughly guessed I'd need 10secs under the 6.52's for the last 10K+. There was a run out to a township at about 19.5M then a turn around and after a slight downhill, a good run all the way to the finish so I picked it up after the turn. 6.38, 6.37, 6.29, feeling good, reeling in a lot of runners.
6.35, 6.29, I knew I had this when they had a clock with 2 miles to go and I had 15mins to play with even with a .2 after that!
A 6.27 last mile meant I covered the last 12K in just over 50mins and I crossed the line elated with my 2.59.09 (6.49 average pace). 280th position and 23rd in my age group for what it's worth AND a high-five from the Philly Mayor who was waiting on the finish line.
It was only the last mile when I really went for it that my body just wanted it to be all over.
But when I crossed the line and stopped running I was both so cold and ached all over. My calves and quads were the worst but even my biceps and back were aching.
Most pain passed and I was just left with really tight calves and sore quads for a week or so.
But I had that sub-3 glow!
 |
| A good meeting place |
 |
| Best medal EVER |
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