Comments later today--here is the tremendously boring race report for those interested.
My hotel was perfect location for the race—it was actually where the elites staged. I left the room around 6:40 and made my way down to the start corrals since the course information said the corrals closed at 7am (which didn’t make sense for a 730 race). There were only 4 corrals for 18,000 runners between the full and half so I wanted to get there early anyway and stage at the front of Corral A so I didn’t start in too slow of a group.
I got to the front of corral A and was thankful I remembered sweats to donate as the temps were cold—41 at the start. Perfect for running though although I could have used about 5 degrees colder;). I just relaxed for 30 minutes and listened to the band and/or DJ. I ended up finding a teammate just before the start and also chatted with him for a few minutes before the national anthem and start. The start of the race was pretty crazy with fireworks and insanely loud music.
For the race, I decided to disable the autolap feature on my watch and would just press the lap button myself at each mile marker.
Mile 1 – 6:05 (1.02) my goal was to go out by feel although I would sneak a peak to make sure I wasn’t too fast. There was a slight uphill right at the start and given the masses of people I just tried to run straight and not fall victim to weaving and/or getting caught up with the half marathoners in paces I could not sustain. The first mile of any race is always interesting with the people who start at the front and that don’t belong there causing havoc for everyone. I stayed away from this commotion though and fortunately could just run.
Mile 2- 6:02 (1.03) mile two took us down Broad St and I knew I would be seeing my family at the mile 2 MM which always makes for a quicker mile when you have something to look forward to. I also passed a lot of runners in these first two miles who were at the front of the corral but should have probably started a little further back.
Mile 3- 5:41 (.98) slightly downhill mile and this was on an out and back portion of Broad St so of course I was already dreading the back portion as I knew it would be a slight uphill There weren’t really any groups to run. My goal was to take water every water stop and I stuck with this strategy.
Mile 4 – 5:58 (1.03) – Miles 4 and 5 were back through residential areas and really nothing to write about running and trying to keep the running rhythm.
Mile 5 – 5:54 (1.01)
Mile 6 – 5:45 (1.01) – took my first Roctane right before the mile 6 water stop. My strategy coming into the race were Roctanes at 6,11,16 and 21. My time on the 10k mat was 36:41 and I knew I was right around where I needed to be as I was shooting for 36:xx
Mile 7 – 5:59 (.99)
Mile 8 – 5:51 (1.00) – Saw my family here again and gave them the gloves I was wearing. Definitely starting to sweat and glad I hadn’t worn the arm sleeves like I planned on the prior evening. At this point, I was still feeling pretty good as we ran through German Village.
Mile 9 – 5:53 (1.02)
Mile 10 – 5:51 (1.00) – the runners around me had really thinned out at this point although there were a few here and there.
Mile 11 – 5:58 (1.02) – nothing in this mile except I did eat my 2nd Roctane right before mile 12
Mile 12 – 5:54 (.99) – I knew I would see my family on High St right before the half marathon turn for the finish line and after seeing them with the turn I was completely on my own. There were 2 runners about 20 seconds up the road after the half marathon turn.
Mile 13 – 5:59 (1.02) – I kept telling myself just make it to OSU stadium. These next few miles were straight up High St and were pretty desolate. I was running completely by myself and there were few spectators so it was really like a tempo run. My half split was 1:17:23. I knew I was still on track but in the back of my mind had hoped for sub 1:17 and knew running a dead even or negative split would be tough with the upcoming section from 15-19 consisting of turns and hills.
Mile 14 – 5:54 (1.00)
Mile 15 – 5:57 ( 1.00) – I think we entered the campus during this mile and thus started a slew of turns.
Mile 16 – 5:59 (1.01) – unfortunately here is where the wheels came off the bus slightly. There were so many turns in this section of the course and we also ran through OSU stadium. It was a cool experience, but was not ideal for a race when you are trying to hold a pace and PR. They had you do an out and back before entering the tunnel to go into the stadium. The tunnel was a downhill-then you ran across the end zone track and then of course uphill tunnel out of the stadium. Just a lot of turns in this section in general and it really got to me for some reason.
Mile 17 – 6:00 (1.02) – I knew these were the uphill miles and “uphill” is relative because they were rollers if you even want to call them that. The elevation profile of this course is flat but I knew 16-19.5 were the “uphill” portions and they put me into a bit of a discomfort. My legs were starting to scream a bit and I was mentally having trouble staying focused.
Mile 18 – 6:06 (1.00) – You ran on a paved trail in this section and through a corn field. We exited and were back into the neighborhood and I was starting to get really worried about the next 7 miles.
Mile 19 – 6:11 (1.01) – I had a guy pass me here at a decent clip and when I looked down I realized he was probably running the pace I needed to be running as I was well over 6. I brought the mile back down to 6:11 and this mile was a turning point for me. I knew the hill was ending and also knew I would see one of my wife’s friends who lived right on the course around 19.5 for a bit of a energy boost. I was aware my pace had slowed considerably and figured my 2:35 was gone but was determined not to let a PR slip away on a perfect running day with so much work over the summer.
Mile 20 – 5:54 (.99) – I had waited all day for the final 10k to see what I had and it was time for the marathon to start. It helped that there were some downhill miles here as well. I just tried to stay focused on my running and at this point I had switched to Gatorade and decided against my last Roctane. My 20 mile split was 1:58:51 and at this point I was resigned to not running a sub 2:35 as I knew I needed a solid 1:58 or 1:57 to have a shot.
Mile 21 – 5:52 (1.02) – This mile was almost a disaster. I was looking at the ground and just kind of zoned out when I heard someone yell you need to turn—I had missed a right hand turn and fortunately the street marshal caught me after only a few feet to tell me. I would have kept running for sure and this would have been absolutely embarrassing way to ruin my marathon. Also in this mile was a square type loop that included a nice downhill followed by unfortunately another uphill.
Mile 22 – 5:57 (1.02) – my family was here again in this mile around 22.5 and seeing them helped to rejuvenate my spirits. I was able to pass a runner here and although 2:35 wasn’t happening I wanted a solid PR.
Mile 23 – 5:51 (1.01) – These are the miles where you keep telling yourself just get to the next mile sign and see what you have. Then you get to the mile sign and negotiate with yourself to say one more mile before you let loose. Unfortunately for me I compromise way too easily in times. I also stopped looking at my watch entirely during this mile and said I would just run hard for the finish.
Mile 24 – 5:55 (1.00)
Mile 25 – 6:05 (1.01) – the best sign on the course in my opinion is the Mile 25 banner. We made our way back onto Front st during this mile and I knew the course from walking to dinner and running it the day prior. A downhill stretch before an uphill finish after the mile 26 sign.
Mile 26 – 5:52 (1.00) – I felt like I was running fast in this mile and I guess compared to the previous mile I was I was a little worried about the finishing stretch as I knew the last quarter mile would contain a lot of half marathoners and I prayed I wouldn’t have to dodge them.
Mile 27 – 1:11 (.23) – I just ran hard up the small uphill to the finish line and could see the clock read 2:35…
My GPS had 26.44 miles at 2:35:33. So I guess with perfect tangents I would have had my sub 2:35. No complaints though from my side and was pleased with a personal best and a top 15 finish. A little disappointed, yes but just means I need to work harder next time. Being 5lbs heavier from Boston probably didn’t help either!
One of the cool features is that it tells you how many runners you passed and that passed you. In addition my pace ended up being almost dead even except for the middle section of the course. Also pleased that I was able to finish strong and move up over the final 10k.
Here are my stats:
10k: avg pace 5:55, passed 51 / passed by 0
Half: avg pace 5:55 passed 7 / passed by 0
16.3: avg pace: 6:07 passed 0 / passed by 0
20 mile: avg pace: 5:56 passed 2 / passed by 2
Full: 5:56 passed 5 / passed by 1