The Reality of Missing Your Marathon Goal by 45 Minutes...

When I turned 30 I set a goal to run a marathon in every state by the time I'm 50. I had run only one at the time - and it was going to count, even though I had completed it 4 years before making this goal. I would need to run 2 to 3 a year for the next 20 years. It didn't seem feasible that I would be able train to PR at each of the races, so I figured I'd pick one a year to focus on, and train enough to just get through the other ones (time goals were not part of this mission).

My training for my Florida marathon started the first week of November, right after SwimRun NC. It was a pretty aggressive schedule that would hopefully lead me to a sub-3:45 marathon on February 11th. However, beginning this training program on tired legs did not feel like a great idea. Luckily Monday was a rest day.

Just because you're near water, doesn't make it scenic

I had never actually followed a training plan this closely before - I had typically run the appropriate distances per week, but never really concerned myself with paces and training zones. Plus, I can usually get away with running 25-30 miles a week without my body deteriorating. This plan had me running 30 miles in the first week. I had been able to run a couple of 30 mile weeks before my official training started, just to see if my legs fell off. (They did not).

I filled my calendar with 5,10, and 15k road races, just to get used to racing again. The other half of my weekends were spent hiking in the woods in preparation for my other upcoming adventure. The course in Florida was flat, with the exception of running up and over two causeways (totaling 4 'hills' on the two loop course). Typically my past training plans would peak with one 20 mile run (which I would probably complete with a little bit of walking). My plan had three 20s and a 22. My first 20 miler was on a treadmill because of the bitter cold. My two other 20 mile runs turned into 17 milers, but I was encouraged after my 22 miler which I ran on the C&O Canal Towpath.

I saw improvements in my runs at all distances. My easy runs were around 9:00 min/mi pace, steady runs were 8:45-50s, and race pace training runs were at 8:30 min/mi (obviously, although I found these rather hard to accomplish). Faster efforts (5k, 10k, and half marathon paces) were thrown into my workouts, but I wasn't very good about actually distinguishing between these paces - they would typically be between 7:30s - 7:45. Usually my training times and paces are very inaccurate indicators of my ultimate race day pace. But I did know that I had never put in this many miles, and certainly never run so many of them at my goal race pace (or at least attempted to). I was not confident that I could run a 3:45, but I felt I had an excellent chance of at least setting a new PR (my previous was 3:51:46 in Philly in 2011). However, the last two weeks of my training were basically ruined from a sore quad and a bad cold. 

Looking ahead at the weekend weather I began worrying about the heat and humidity. I knew it was going to be hot, but I was expecting low 70s. However, Melbourne was expecting record highs over the weekend...which meant mid-80s both Saturday and Sunday, with high humidity. I had been training in nice 40 degree weather, and plenty of my runs had been indoors on a treadmill. I ran the 5k on Saturday which was when I really began to dread the marathon on Sunday. The 5k started at 8:15 - by that time it was already pushing 80 degrees. I decided to take it easy, which led me to my second slowest 5k ever. My only hope for Sunday was that the 6am start would give us at least an hour of relief before the sun came up. 

1st loop, heading over the Mel Causeway

My original race plan was to start with the 3:45 pace group and just hold on for dear life for as long as possible. But after Saturdays race I thought I would start with the 4:00 group instead to be conservative...ha..

2nd Loop, Top of Eau Gallie Causeway

I was dripping with sweat almost immediately. By mile 2 I started questioning myself. This was definitely the earliest during a marathon that I started feeling doubts, and I knew it was going to lead to a long day. There was fog in the area Sunday morning and the air felt heavy, even though the sun hadn't even begun to rise. We had a tail wind the first few miles running north on US 1 which made it feel really hot, without a breeze to cool us off. I ran relatively comfortably with the 4:00 pacer until around mile 6 when we ran over the Eau Gallie Causeway for the first time. He started pulling away and I knew that it wouldn't be smart for me to push to keep up this early in the race. I kept the pace group in sight for the next 4-5 miles but was getting further and further behind. I was still keeping an ok pace, so I thought I would be able to run the whole thing, just slower than expected. I'm not sure how many started, but less than 200 runners finished the marathon. The marathoners started 45 minutes before the half marathoners (~1,200 runners) which meant everyone was pretty spread out. After I dropped behind the pace group I pretty much ran by myself the entire rest of the race, there just weren't that many people around and it got kind of lonely. 

Ending 2nd Loop, still smiling!

Running down Riverside Drive on the first lap the heat actually didn't feel that bad. There was a breeze in our faces and the sun wasn't quite high enough to shine on us yet. I drank some pickle juice and a gel and for a few miles felt a little better. Running up the Melbourne causeway around mile 12 was the first time we felt the sun, but the air felt slightly lighter with the sunlight burning off any of the remaining early morning fog. The first half marathoner passed me as I was running up the causeway, and the second place half marathoner passed me at the top. Damn - and I had a 45 minute head start! The announcer at the bottom of the causeway was directing the marathoners to start their second loop, but reminded us that we could turn towards the finish line if we no longer wanted to continue. I considered it. But I turned right up US 1 and began lap 2. 

Finish line, glad to be done

Around mile 18, just before running over the Eau Gallie Causeway for the second time, the 4:15 pace group passed me. I knew it was coming, but it was still discouraging. I was able to run consistently until mile 21 when I had to start walking through aid stations. Because I had been dripping with sweat the entire time I was experiencing some pretty bad chaffing - I did not know the full extent of it until I got into the shower later. Running south on Riverside Drive on the second lap I started passing a lot of walking half marathoners. Spectators got excited when they saw a marathoner run by so they would cheer a little louder for me (since I was really the only marathoner around). I had to walk up the Melbourne causeway on the second loop. With about 1.5 miles to go the 4:30 pacer ran by me and I really felt the disappointment set in. She was all alone - I heard later that most of the pacers lost their entire groups because the conditions were just so miserable. 

Once I hit the top of the causeway I picked up speed and ran down and all the way to the finish line. At the last turn, with about 0.10 mile to go, I saw the group of Florida Tech Alumni who ran the half marathon. They all cheered loudly for me - I know they had been standing there for awhile waiting for me, I felt bad. But it was nice to hang out with everyone afterwards, even if all I wanted to do was collapse and take a cold shower.

I finished in 4:31:55. I knew I was capable of a PR, but my body just could not handle the heat and humidity. I've learned a valuable lesson though - don't expect to race well when you've trained in 40 degrees for an 80 degree race. It's just not going to happen.

Marathon #7 is in the books - I'll be heading to Georgia for marathon #8 in 5 weeks. Hoping for better weather and a better outcome!

Florida Tech Alumni

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