Off to the Races - Seattle Marathon Report

[colby]

Back in 2006, this was my first ever marathon, and in fact it's the only marathon I've ran other than Ironman. We enjoy the weekend in Seattle, my in laws come out and cheer with my husband.

Last year, I got sick before the race. Lame. I ran with the 4 hr pacer as long as I could, but truthfully, I felt like poo and my heart rate was way too high at mile 9 to keep going. I actually still had a decent race and finished around 4:35ish (4:34 and change). This year, I haven't been able to devote as much time to running and training basically all year, so I was willing to settle for "better than last year" - 4:00 would be a reach. My 20 mile run felt AWESOME and I really feel pretty good, so I was cautiously optimistic for 4:15 and knew I'd knock time off last year. We arrived on Friday, skipped the Expo and opted to do it on Saturday after seeing the Harry Potter exhibition (tons of movie props).

Expo, race bag, tshirt: pretty decent. I like the tech tee (saucony this year, blue and green). Race bag has the usual stuff in it. Expo had decent stuff, cheap shoes if you're into that, lots of races from the area (and beyond), tasty Erin Baker granola and Clif stuff, nuun (banananuun - YUM), lots of clothes (no gloves for small hands, dear running companies, unisex small is not small enough - small hats yes, but no small gloves?). I love One More Mile, and coincidentally had my "Sorry, I've got to run (with my dog)" shirt from them on. This year, I picked up "I know I run like a girl, try to keep up."

Weather: Uh, so, last week was NUTS in Seattle with several inches of cold snow. I was prepared for anything - cold rain being the most likely case. Forecast actually got tightened down to around 40 and.... no rain! A miracle! Best weather we could have asked for.

Pre-race: A couple of days before the race we picked up some single serving peanut butter and matched up a couple of bagels the night before. Got to bed early, but the race doesn't start until 8:15 (awesome) so I got a full night's sleep. Woke up after dreaming about triathlons (seriously!? hello, brain, one thing at a time). Made it halfway through the bagel and pb before giving up. Should have eaten it a bit earlier to let it, uh, cycle through the system, but it was a white bagel so at least it wouldn't rumble. Wore my CW-X pro full length tights, brooks 6"ish compression shorts over the top, CW-X semi-insulated top (a steep and cheap purchase), and a brooks t-shirt. On the feet went the Flows - only 12 running miles in them, but they were definitely more broken in and I preferred more dry feet since it had rained overnight. Headed down to the start line with plenty of time - we had really good timing, which helped.

The full/half walkers and half runners start in advance of the full runners. We lined up at 8:05-8:10 (after the national anthem). Here is where I debated the pacer. I could have pushed my way through or caught up, but I decided to just go it alone and not feel pressured to stick with a group, considering I wasn't sure of my real plan.

The course: The first mile is pretty flat, then a roller, then you climb up onto the reversible freeway express lanes (which they close for various races). Continue for about 6 miles. Then, a flat stretch starting around mile 10 to 17, which for some reason just never feels right. I guess it's just the marathon dead zone. There's a timing mat at 13.1, then somewhere around 19. 17 to about 20 are semi-rolling, some decent stretches. After 20, a big hill and then a slow gradient to the mile 21 mark (ugh). Then, my favorite part of the race, lots of green rollers for about 3 miles. Toward the end of that, you can see the finish, and there's a downhill/flat stretch to 25, flat/downhill then uphill (ouch) to 26, then you're home! You finish on a football stadium, which is pretty neat. My fam usually shows up at miles 10/16, 20ish, and the finish. Gu at a couple of places later in the race, otherwise water/gatorade, a family giving out about 2oz beer at mile 20.5 (best beer ever, and I don't drink beer), and krispy kremes at mile 24 (no. just, no).

I felt great, basically until mile 20 (BFH - big hill). I had to stop and use the bathroom somewhere in the middle which took 3-4 minutes off my mile (sigh) and walked a fair number of aid stations to take in some gatorade/fuel. The mile with the hill took another 2-3 minutes off my mile (walking, mumbling, eating, beering). I basically ran 9:00-9:30 miles, and dilly dallied another 30-45 seconds if I walked aid stations. That pacing actually was true most of the race, so I feel pretty good about it over all - this is a great base for running next year. I had a knot in my right calf starting early in the race that never really went away. The VFF flows went well, though running downhill crammed my toes into the end of them (weird sensation when they all cram individually at different rates) and my feet are a little wider than they are so I had rubbing where the shoe meets the liner. They still need a little break in time but my feet actually feel great (best of all the marathons and Ironmans to date)! I'm sore where you'd expect to be sore, wearing my Zoot CompressRx.

Mile 1: 9:31
Mile 2: 9:10
Mile 3: 9:08
Mile 4: 9:08
Mile 5: 8:44
Mile 6: 9:29
Mile 7: 9:22
Mile 8: 9:44
Mile 9: 9:25
Mile 10: 12:36 (pit stop)
Mile 11: 9:33
Mile 12: 9:30
Mile 13: 9:30
Mile 14: 10:02
Mile 15: 9:34
Mile 16: 9:58
Mile 17: 9:43
Mile 18: 10:27
Mile 19: 9:58
Mile 20: 10:09
Mile 21: 11:52 (BFHill)
Mile 22-23: 21:28 (missed mile 22, prob slow mile 22 fast mile 23)
Mile 24: 10:43
Mile 25: 9:55
Mile 26: 10:38
Mile 26.2: 1:45 (8:45)
Total: 4:21:14

So, it's not exactly 15 minutes off last year, and it's not 4:15 OR 4:00, but hey, I'll settle. Obviously I should work on my second-half dilly dallying. I really just think it will take more focus and dropping some weight to get faster. I did not at all focus this year and basically ran primarily on guts, built up endurance, and a few long runs.

ETA: Post-race food at this race is meh. Water, bananas, dole mandarin oranges (tasty), chicken and rice soup, hot chocolate. No bagels, no granola, no energy bars. I do like the recovery area and they have massage/acupuncture/chiro, but... I'd like more places to sit and something to fill the tummy.

I will probably just run the half next year assuming Ironman Florida goes as planned (they are 3 weeks apart and I think that'd be hard on my body). I'm not sure when my next full standalone marathon will be. I had an amusing moment when I was combing my hair afterward where I thought "oh, better check for wetsuit chafe"... I guess you can take the marathon out of the triathlon, but you can't take the triathlete out of the runner. Maybe I'll do something in the winter.