In Conclusion...
The race was a month ago, and it is time to put some final thoughts down.
How I feel
I've completed the Recovery Mesocycle, and when I run these days, I feel just fine. Saturday, I ran with the K-Stars and did a pretty fast 12-miler with Meredith (8:09/mile). It is starting to feel a bit like it used to, before all this attention to a schedule and specific types of runs, though I do throw in a Recovery run every now and then.
In my head, though, I'm still divided. Deep down, I'm still disappointed that I didn't meet my goal, and there is no escaping that. I worked very hard in preparation, and my memories of the race are not of triumph, but of the pain of bonking and the self-doubt of not meeting my goal. I know that much of that attitude, especially for being down on myself for walking so much in the final miles, comes from my cross country days. But knowing that in my head doesn't mean I don't feel that way: when people ask me how it was, I have to dig deep to not react with that disappointment.
On the other hand, it was an ambitious goal, tough conditions, and I had no experience upon which I could draw. Finishing any marathon is a tremendous achievement, and doing the first one in 3:44 is nothing to be shy about. I know this, I just don't feel this.
Why I didn't reach my goal
Which brings me to the list of hypotheses I put at the end of my marathon report. I can't just work so hard for something, not get there, and not try to figure out why. Without any scientific basis, I am resting on the following beliefs:
The future
So what next? I must be completely insane, because in my mind, I will run another marathon one day, perhaps as soon as next year. In this case, it is to prove to myself that I can beat the time I sought this time under better conditions, and perhaps, also, because I like the feeling of training for and accomplishing something this big.
What will make this more difficult in the future is that I will have two children to raise, so the time I spend training will be more difficult to find. That said, I can see, perhaps, starting up in time to run the 2007 San Francisco Marathon, and may even follow that up with an attempt for a Boston Qualifying Time in the California International Marathon in December, 2007.
In the meantime, I am likely to focus on my 10K time, and use track workouts with the K-Stars to help get there.
Final thoughts
Overall, I enjoyed this journey. The running, the companionship I found, the things I learned, the writing of this blog, and even the feeling of accomplishment.
I don't know how many people were reading regularly, but even without the readers, it is great to have a record of what I did, and it was a great creative outlet during the training.
• • •
This is my last original-content post on this blog. Thanks for being there!
How I feel
I've completed the Recovery Mesocycle, and when I run these days, I feel just fine. Saturday, I ran with the K-Stars and did a pretty fast 12-miler with Meredith (8:09/mile). It is starting to feel a bit like it used to, before all this attention to a schedule and specific types of runs, though I do throw in a Recovery run every now and then.
In my head, though, I'm still divided. Deep down, I'm still disappointed that I didn't meet my goal, and there is no escaping that. I worked very hard in preparation, and my memories of the race are not of triumph, but of the pain of bonking and the self-doubt of not meeting my goal. I know that much of that attitude, especially for being down on myself for walking so much in the final miles, comes from my cross country days. But knowing that in my head doesn't mean I don't feel that way: when people ask me how it was, I have to dig deep to not react with that disappointment.
On the other hand, it was an ambitious goal, tough conditions, and I had no experience upon which I could draw. Finishing any marathon is a tremendous achievement, and doing the first one in 3:44 is nothing to be shy about. I know this, I just don't feel this.
Why I didn't reach my goal
Which brings me to the list of hypotheses I put at the end of my marathon report. I can't just work so hard for something, not get there, and not try to figure out why. Without any scientific basis, I am resting on the following beliefs:
- Given the warm weather, I did not drink enough water along the route. Dehydration can lead to bonking, and I know I was fooled by the morning light (or darkness, rather). I didn't realize it was warmer than it should have been until I was out of the park, but the sky was a clear blue instead of the anticipated fog.
- Another strong possibility is that I did not carbo-load properly. Again, lack of fuel can lead to bonking, so it is possible that I didn't have enough fuel stored in my system from the start. While I did feel like I was eating rice, pasta and bread all day long, and while I did feel a bit bloated, it isn't clear that I ate the recommended levels of carbohydrates in those three days.
- Lastly, I may not have tapered enough. The training regimen was pretty hard, to the extent that while I was completing the final couple of 50+ mile weeks, I was feeling a bit sluggish on just about every run (I didn't have a day where I felt great all the way). Even running a 16 miler two weeks before the event might have been too much.
The future
So what next? I must be completely insane, because in my mind, I will run another marathon one day, perhaps as soon as next year. In this case, it is to prove to myself that I can beat the time I sought this time under better conditions, and perhaps, also, because I like the feeling of training for and accomplishing something this big.
What will make this more difficult in the future is that I will have two children to raise, so the time I spend training will be more difficult to find. That said, I can see, perhaps, starting up in time to run the 2007 San Francisco Marathon, and may even follow that up with an attempt for a Boston Qualifying Time in the California International Marathon in December, 2007.
In the meantime, I am likely to focus on my 10K time, and use track workouts with the K-Stars to help get there.
Final thoughts
Overall, I enjoyed this journey. The running, the companionship I found, the things I learned, the writing of this blog, and even the feeling of accomplishment.
I don't know how many people were reading regularly, but even without the readers, it is great to have a record of what I did, and it was a great creative outlet during the training.
• • •
This is my last original-content post on this blog. Thanks for being there!
posted by Brent at
10:43 AM
3 Comments:
Don't give up on your goal! My husband ran his first marathon in Las Vegas and was less than thrilled with his performance. Sounds like you were well prepared and took your training seriously. I know how hard it is to find time for training with a family, but afterall, they are probably a big part of the reason you took on the insane goal in the first place. I like your post about high school cross country. I ran, way back in the day and loved every rolling hill my feet ran upon. The smell of fall and leaves (i'm from the southeast) always make me think of CC. Good luck with your next race...whatever distance it is.
By
Anonymous, at 7:05 PM
Oh, I meant to mention that my husband later signed up for the Big Sur Marathon and ran an incredible race. Maybe the second time around is easier in that you still have the base from your first marathon and you know what to expect for the next one. BTW, I ran the Rock-n-Roll marathon in San Diego some years back and understand what the wall is all about.
again...happy running
By
Anonymous, at 7:55 PM
Few people run *great* marathons (let alone on their first try). In retrospect, I'm actually glad that my first marathon went so "disasterously" awry. The second time around, the experience alone will buy you ~10 minutes. It's been a lot of fun watching you (and reading along with you) on this journey. Congratulations again, and see you on a Saturday run sometime.
By
Anonymous, at 3:33 PM
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