View Workout (Michael Grese)

Return to Log

DNF

November 27, 2010 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Was going to run the full today, but I dropped out after half. I am really disappointed in myself for not finishing, but I don't think today was the day.

I was really nervous going into this, and I think I put a lot of pressure on myself to PR. I think I definitely could have PRed today, but I ran really stupid and aggressive. Immediately at the start the top 4 runners broke off, and I led the next pack through 1. It felt really easy, but it was way too fast at 5:50. I could still see the top guys after 2 miles, and I thought that I could keep up with them b/c I thought we were gaining on them. I left the group I was in and closed the 150m gap between the groups, and I put myself with the top group. After I got there I realized it was a mistake and that they were actually running pretty quick (sub 6 pace). After a mile I let them go. This left me way ahead of the 2nd pack and off the 1st one alone. I spent the next 9 miles running by myself, which was really tough.

The reason I only made 13.1 is that I went too fast. My first 5 miles was a 30:07 (6:01 pace). The second 5 miles was a 31:52. That is more reasonable. However, I think the first miles took too much out of me and I was pretty tired by the turn around.

Although I am really disappointed, I do think I learned something from this race. I know that I need to force myself to feel like I am walking for the first miles (maybe even 10). Although this may seem like I am digging a hole for myself, I will probably still come through at 6:20 pace and not feel too winded. This is how Toledo went and how some of my longer runs have gone. Since the marathon is so long I need to be extra patient because I can really make up ground later. This course was set up for that. Miles 2-13 were either flat or a slight uphill the entire way. If I was smart about the pacing, I still could have run the first half in 1:13:00 and then negative split the downhill/flat next 11 miles. It was just the first several miles that threw everything out of a rhythm.

Note to self: read this before next marathon!