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2011 Morgan Hill Marathon

October 23, 2011 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Personal best, so no rants, but many observations. The prep work was the same mileage wise, 50-55 miles a week, with everything being easy (7:30/up pace) and no strength/speed stuff. 3 days no running up to race day (which I took from NorCal Marathon because I might have went in not fully rested with plenty of hard workouts going into the race). Also slept 7 hours (compared to 4.5 for NorCal) and carried 16oz. of Cytomax (as well as Ollie giving me Cyto on the course at mile 21).

Race day morning weather was great, cool air and shaded areas to run on the course (at 8am). No 'race plan' really, the goal was not to walk any of the final miles. Started with the 3:15 group for the first 6 miles, relatively easy as at times I would take the headphones off to chat. Beautiful course from start to about mile 16 when it heads back to the main road and into town, where the full once again meets the half marathon. The course rolls with hills, with the steepest descent around miles 14-15.5. Stopped along the course for a much needed bathroom break and ran solo behind a group who decided to pick up the pace. Mile 19 slight twitch of the right calve, had me worrying a little, downed my last gel and sipped some Cytomax as well as slowed the pace (7:28 split). Twitching went away around mile 20.5 and at this time I had passed 2 runners who left the 3:15 group at mile 6. By mile 21, I had passed 3 other runners, (2 being from a break away at mile 17) and mile 23 another runner who probably had cramped as he walked with his hands on his head. I passed giving words of encouragement, as I am familiar with his situation. Mile 25 was the last climb and in my mind I was questioning who would be cruel to put a hill at this stage of the course (?), but I had hoped what went up would soon descend. Left turn and it was a descent down a neighborhood! I figured I wouldn't mind a cramp now, so I pushed the final mile pace to 6:45 and the final .2 (.44 according to Mr. Garmin) to 6:28. It felt good to be able to finish the final 4 miles in the 6:5x pace range (with exception to mile 25).

Happy with the results, a lot of learning again and of course plenty of fun. Nike Streak 3