Houston RR from a new member

[Strider]

Seeing I am the new kid on the block, I thought as part of introductions I would post my Houston Marathon RR. My wife was with me and ran the 5k. We had just the best weekend... This was posted on Trirudy too, so it may be a repeat performance for some of you.....

Houston Marathon RR


Summary:
1st Half - (1:43:44)
2nd Half - (1:42:45) (1 minute negative split)
Finish: (3:26:29) (PR by 23 minutes and a BQ)

Well I guess this report really starts back in September, when on one fateful morning, I was forced to walk 3km home at 5:00 in the morning due to a re-occurring injury. It was then that I decided that I need to change things. So I hung up the shoes and called for help. After about a month I was back running again, however things were different. I was strengthening, stretching, doing proper warm-ups & cool downs, my distance and speed was returning.

A late October 10k, where I set a PR by 1 minute was the icing on the cake and it was then that I decided to run Houston. I put together an aggressive 10 week training schedule and hit the streets. Thanks to our warm late fall/early winter I was able to get in all the training and finished December with my both my longest week and month of training.

So off to Houston, my wife accompanied me down, and was running the 5k. We arrived on Friday around noon, doing the expo that afternoon. We loved the expo – really well organized, nice freebies / deals and a fun atmosphere. Saturday was spent eating bagels and drinking water and watching TV. We did the Pasta Dinner, not too exciting, but met a couple of nice guys from London, Ontario

We had been watching the Ice Storm hitting the mid-west and were praying it stayed away. Race morning did not disappoint, cloudy and cool (mid-50’s), light winds, perfect day for a nice long run with a few thousand friends.

My plan was to run the way we are all told to run a Marathon, start slow, pick up the pace, hit the 20 mile mark and push to the end. I ran the first two miles, about 30 seconds/per off my goal pace, and then started to get into the grove. The course was perfect as far as I was concerned. Little ups and downs, rights and lefts, enough to keep the legs interested, but not enough to really trouble you. The crowds were everywhere, I got blessed, high-five’d people, danced to YMCA, basically had a ton of fun. I wore a shirt with the Canadian Flag on it and got more “Go Canada” yells than I could ever hope to count. The wall never came. I hit the 20 mile mark feeling pretty much the same as at Mile 13. Gel’s and Hydration were spot on and no stomach issues. At around mile 24, I knew I was going to get my goal of Sub 3:30 and my BQ, the question was by how much. I just stayed focused and kept the leg turn-over going.

In all my training I have tried to visualize what I would feel, and how I would react when I crossed the finish of a race like this. Having known I would hit my goal a couple miles before the end, I wasn’t quite feeling that elated until I saw my wife, just before the finish. She had been getting the updates, and knew I was on pace, but after 20 mile as we know anything can happen. When I saw her, she was screaming and jumping up and down, “You did it, You did it”, it was then I knew deep inside what I had accomplished. I crossed the finish line, did a little dance, and let the recovery and the celebration begin.
I was so overjoyed, and then after meeting my wife I found out she had run a 3 minute PR in the 5k, placing 4th in her age group (I am so proud), we both really had something to celebrate.

Split Times..
M1: 8:26
M2: 8:23
M3: 7:58
M4: 7:54
M5: 7:49
M6: 7:31
M7: 7:46
M8: 7:44
M9: 7:44
M10: 7:48
M11: 7:53
M12: 7:59
M13: 7:56
M14-15: 15:39
M16-17: 15:38
M18: 7:55
M19: 7:45
M20: 7:46
M21: 7:41
M22: 7:45
M23: 7:50
M24: 7:56 (YMCA Dance)
M25-26.2 17:38

For me this was the Perfect Race on the Perfect Day. I could not imagine ever running a better and more enjoyable Marathon – This one is a keeper. Boston 2008, I will be there.

[Robbie-T]

Great report!! Thanks

[scrumhalfgirl]

I thought your intro was familiar - I'd read your report on TriRudy earlier!

Congrats on the race!

[turd ferguson]

Great report - Thanks!

[Ed Fizz]

Great report!!!

[MINITEE]

Nicely done Strider...

Wow to be able to run that consistently.. (even throwing in a little Village People ) Is a dream for me.

Congrats to both you & your wife for what seems to have been a very good trip for both of you!

[La]

Congrats on the BQ and the PB!

[Jo-Jo]

What a joyous report. One I can relate to because when I ran Toronto International I had an unusual (for me) calm feeling throughout the race...I had a strategy to BQ for 2008 and I carried out the plan...sounds very much like your approach.

But...I didn't dance at the Finish Line...I cried...and had to reassure two volunteers I was crying with joy...not pain

Congrats to your wife on her PB...awesome!

Happy trails to the two of you

[waynerdog]

Awesome report, and congrats on the BQ!

[Nicholas]

It's nice to know someone had a "perfect" marathon. That's great, especially when all that training just falls into place and the finish line clock says what it should!!! There'll be a bunch of us maniacs in Beantown next year.....

Congrats on running a smart race and meeting your goals.

[RA.]

Wow, great job!

[braveheart]

Awesome job!

[SusanD]

Fantastic! Congrat's on your BQ!!

[Stella]

Congrats Strider! Great report for what sounds like the ultimate marathon experience! Best of luck in your training and run of Boston 2008!