Waterloo Marathon...my first 42.2!

[West Grey Runner]

Garmin time for my first Marathon was 3:48:16. Not sure of my placing yet as results haven't been posted!


Race day started at 3:00 am after 6 hours of sleep! Besides putting a pot of coffee on I fired up the PC to check the weather. It was going to be wet , either +20C or +10C. No one was saying for sure ... how to dress? Did my usual breakfast , Oatmeal , OJ, English Muffin with PB and a Coffee. Jumped in the hot tub with another brew and I was off at 5:15. Temp leaving home was 6C , upon arrival in Waterloo at 6:45 it was 14C ... would the cold or warm air win out? Started with my Shell over top of a compression shirt , in an hour the temp had dropped to 11C and a stiff breeze accompanied the change. I added a semi fitted long sleeve tech shirt and I was comfortable , after all you can always take it off.


Race started at 08:00 , there was a pretty good crowd for the full ... probably close to 150 folks. First few K were through the city , 1K in a fellow in front of me jumped over the 1K marker. All I could think was he is going to regret that little energy outburst later. I was rock'in to my ipod and trying to run as relaxed and efficiently as I could. My pace goal was 5:00/K for as long as I could, no pace band required! I quickly settled into the race , first 3K were 5:08, 4:46, 5:02 . At 3K sweat strarted rolling down my face , the Shell came off and it was tied around my waist. At 45min I did my first Gel , avg pace was 5:04! The wind was really strong from around 8K to 20K we were either into it or it was at a 45 degree angle. I was comfortable , wet but not sweating too much. After the Gel at 9K I caught myself speeding up to a 4:36 pace .. put the breaks on that turned out to be a 4:52 pace for that K! 9 through 18K were uneventful ... nice country roads , not too many hills. I concentrated on being relaxed and efficient and tried to breath deep and easy. Gelled again at 19K , 1:36 in , again I picked the next K up a bit... 17K was 5:08 , 18K 5:07, 19K 5:10 20K 4:58. At around the half way point we changed directions and headed down a 5K Gravel Road... wind at out backs. Picked up the pace a bit , 21K 5:06, 22K 4:52, 23K 4:57 , my average pace dropped to 5:03 , I started to think that maybe a 3:3X:XX may be possible. From 24-30K I started to slow a bit , 24 was 5:18, 25 5:10 , 26 5:16, 27 5:43. 27K I did another Gel and then had my first aid station stop , I had only consumed 700ml of Gator Aid that I was carrying. I filled my bottle back up , half water/half accelerade. After the brief aid station stop and the Gel I was able to pick it up a bit and 28K was done in 5:14. I was really starting to feel fatigued and continued to fade , slowly but steadily. 29K was 5:19 , 30K I cramped for a few minute , rather acute but short lived and I ended up with a 5:51 pace. The next 12K would see 6:00 +/- 10 second pace .... it was really hard but managed to push on and keep running all be it at a pace 1 minute slower then the planned 5:00 At around 33-34K we were back into the wind and it was stronger and I was cold. I put my Shell back on and this really helped me to be more comfortable in the last stretch. The last 8K were down a really busy road . I felt at risk with the wind pushing me around and cars whizzing by at 80K with only a few feet of clearance. I could have moved to the gravel shoulder but it was really soft due to all the rain and besides I wasn't up to the extra effort. I may think twice before I do this run again because of this hazard. The other 34K was awesome , little to no traffic and scenic. An out and back would have been better!


Things I would do different to improve time would be....
1) Slow the pace down a little , say 5:10.. anything left the last 5K giver er!
2) Increase my weekly long runs to 35K. Max has been 25-30K
3) I have dropped from 183 to 176 lbs , I have would like to get to 170lbs ... hold the beer!


This was my first Marathon , I have done 2 50K Tails races but the road Marathon is a totally different beast. The Marathon is a cross between a speed and an endurance event ... now I understand! I am looking forward to doing the forty two two again , probably Socita Waterfront in the fall!

[Sir Crashalot]

Congratulations on your first marathon!
3:48:16 is smoking fast!

[scottp]

Congrats on your first one!

Hope you learned a few tricks to apply on the 2nd...

Cheers,

Scott

[ian]

Garmin time for my first Marathon was 3:48:16. Not sure of my placing yet as results haven't been posted!

Results online: http://www.sportstats.ca/display-results.php?lang=eng&racecode=44691

40/117 OA, 36/79 M, 14/26 AG, perfect debut

The Marathon is a cross between a speed and an endurance event ... now I understand!

Only an ultra runner could say that with a straight face...

[Marg]

Way to go, well done!
The car part sounded a bit scary though... but overall sounds like a great time/race!

[BaldGuy]

What a great first marathon -- congratulations!

[cgraham]

Nice job for your first marathon. Sounds like it went pretty well and you learned some great lessons to apply next time around. Congrats!

[HCcD]

Congratulations on losing your marathon v*rginity in Waterloo and, yes, a nice smokin' time, as well for your first ...

[Doonst]

Sounds like you learned a lot. You'll master this beast yet! Nice first try.

[Lightning]

Awesome job and report! Glad you enjoyed it. Rest up now; looking forward to hearing how you do in the fall with a result like this one!

[dgrant]

Atta go Ron. It's funny - with all your longer distance experience - to think of you as a marathon newbie, but it sounds like your debut went well.

Too bad about the cars. That was a problem several years ago too... unfortunate it hasn't been resolved.

[Robbie-T]

solid first marathon Ron, yeah this course isn't the best for safety, but then Scotia Bank, doesn't have the same excitement either.

[Darth Tater]

Wow, great first marathon! Way to go!

[UltraQueenga]

Congrats on your first marathon!! 3:48 is a great time and you can see that time drop as you get into ultras more. Also, training on trails gives you that secret weapon that makes you fast on pavement on race day. Way to go, Ron!!

The Marathon is a cross between a speed and an endurance event ... now I understand!

True.

[VeloCarrie]

I am surprised this was your first! Congratulations! It certainly doesn't look like your first!

[blank]

Congratulations Ron! Great marathon debut, really enjoyed your report.

[bigguy]

Congratulations on your first road marathon. It seems strange to say that you shortened your race from 50km trails to just a marathon. I was up in Aurora timing the Hartwell Half. It rained and was about 8 degrees for most of the day. Keep up the miles.

[HCcD]

... Also, training on trails gives you that secret weapon that makes you fast on pavement on race day. Way to go, Ron!!

:think:

[pts]

Congrats! Great race!

[Robinandamelia]

Congratulations!

[Strider]

Nicely pulled off. Congrats that was a really good solid effort. And let's not tell Andy the secret of the trails.....

[scrumhalfgirl]

congrats on your marathon debut - well done! glad to hear you're already looking towards #2!