Toronto Marathon Race Report
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 10:11 pm
I had seemingly been training for this one for a long time - after overestimating my capabilities coming off injury in a November Marathon I declared a February do-over in which I was placed in a sauna.
So a Doo-Doo-over was on. It was evident from the consistency in printed date on the only two items handed out race morning that this race would be flawlessly staged:
I found a spot at the start line - with the volunteer holding the sign for the 3:35:00 second/third corral split standing with the four other corral signholders (and no runners) on the course side of the start line, I took a spot in the disorganized mass of runners close to where the 3:15:00 and 3:40:00 pacers were standing next to each other. That's right, the corral signs were on the course rather than in the corrals - just like pictured below but with Marathon times, fiddling with cell phones and timing mats between the signholders and runners:
My goal for this one was 3:35:00 or 5:06/K. This was a group of only 2,000 on wide roads so the pack ironed itself out quickly and the 3:30:00 pacer went by in the first K as expected. This was a downhill first half, from Mel Lastman Square to the Distillery District, so I would be able to keep this pacer within view for a while.
1K to 7K Splits - 5:00, 4:52, 4:47, 4:44, 4:50, 5:27, 4:59
8K to 14K Splits - 5:05, 4:50, 5:12, 5:02, 5:15, 5:04, 4:52
14K to 20K from Casa Loma to Corktown on Davenport, Rosedale Valley and Bayview was a one long downhill. I had been increasingly on the 3:30:00 pacer group's heels on each flat and downhill for 45 minutes and at 18K I made the seemingly ridiculous decision that I had been considering for a while to pass this large group despite their aggressive target.
15K to 21K Splits - 4:49, 4:57, 4:52, 4:57, 4:59, 4:58, 5:04
+ 0:09 GPS 21K to Race 21K
Official 21K (not 21.1K) Timing Split - 1:45:04, 469th place of 2130
I was still feeling good and started to pass runners that had taken the first half too quickly. Ks 24 and 25 saw me blazing as if Mr. Goshdashditar was with me:
22K to 28K Splits - 5:01, 5:02, 4:37, 4:38, 4:54, 5:03, 4:55
As we passed Ontario Place at 28K to start a westbound leg to Humber Bay Park, the runners I was passing were in a worsening state of disrepair. This was surprising on a course with such an easy first half, though I had been dumping water over my head each aid station from 15K to keep cool as it was sunny throughout. I knew a PB was in the works, I just needed to keep it together.
I consciously slowed it down to my goal pace of 5:06/K and then to my PB pace of 5:11/K to make sure I wasn't the one out of gas mid-course later on.
29K to 35K Splits - 5:02, 5:10, 5:07, 5:05, 5:11, 5:11, 5:13
- 0:22 GPS 35K to Race 35K
Official 35K Timing Split - 2:54:51, 353rd Place of 2130
The closing 7K eastbound on Lakeshore Drive had the only headwind of the day and the warmest temperatures. The last four Ks of this stretch saw me slow - the gel I ate at 32K was almost one too many for my stomach so no gel for energy at 37K and consecutive aid stations at 36.5K and 39K had run out of cups - so no Gatorade for energy and no water for hydration or for cooling. I drink just enough to stay ahead of the need so I started to have hydration issues to compound the stress a PB pace was having on my body. My sides felt like one big cramp the last 20 minutes of the race and I got it done without a lengthy slowdown but there was no sprint finish in me Sunday.
36K to 42K Splits - 5:15, 5:17, 5:17, 5:27, 5:41, 5:36, 5:43
1:01 for last 0.195K (5:12/K Pace)
+ 1:16 GPS 42.195K to Race 42.195K
Official Result - 3:35:24 (5:06/K Pace), PB by 0:03:27
Gun Time - 3:35:36, 338th Place of 2130, 54th of 175 M35-39
I was thrilled to find Lisa at the finish line as she had been saving a medal for me, even if I was going to be real slow.
The 3:30:00 Pacer never caught me, worst pacer ever.
I liked this race. Clearly it had some imperfections that come from being the Mayor's favourite whipping target and having dates and finishing locations yanked from it. But that's a big reason I considered this race for the first time. If the Boss Man keeps picking on it I'm sure to be back as long as he's in office.
So a Doo-Doo-over was on. It was evident from the consistency in printed date on the only two items handed out race morning that this race would be flawlessly staged:
I found a spot at the start line - with the volunteer holding the sign for the 3:35:00 second/third corral split standing with the four other corral signholders (and no runners) on the course side of the start line, I took a spot in the disorganized mass of runners close to where the 3:15:00 and 3:40:00 pacers were standing next to each other. That's right, the corral signs were on the course rather than in the corrals - just like pictured below but with Marathon times, fiddling with cell phones and timing mats between the signholders and runners:
My goal for this one was 3:35:00 or 5:06/K. This was a group of only 2,000 on wide roads so the pack ironed itself out quickly and the 3:30:00 pacer went by in the first K as expected. This was a downhill first half, from Mel Lastman Square to the Distillery District, so I would be able to keep this pacer within view for a while.
1K to 7K Splits - 5:00, 4:52, 4:47, 4:44, 4:50, 5:27, 4:59
8K to 14K Splits - 5:05, 4:50, 5:12, 5:02, 5:15, 5:04, 4:52
14K to 20K from Casa Loma to Corktown on Davenport, Rosedale Valley and Bayview was a one long downhill. I had been increasingly on the 3:30:00 pacer group's heels on each flat and downhill for 45 minutes and at 18K I made the seemingly ridiculous decision that I had been considering for a while to pass this large group despite their aggressive target.
15K to 21K Splits - 4:49, 4:57, 4:52, 4:57, 4:59, 4:58, 5:04
+ 0:09 GPS 21K to Race 21K
Official 21K (not 21.1K) Timing Split - 1:45:04, 469th place of 2130
I was still feeling good and started to pass runners that had taken the first half too quickly. Ks 24 and 25 saw me blazing as if Mr. Goshdashditar was with me:
22K to 28K Splits - 5:01, 5:02, 4:37, 4:38, 4:54, 5:03, 4:55
As we passed Ontario Place at 28K to start a westbound leg to Humber Bay Park, the runners I was passing were in a worsening state of disrepair. This was surprising on a course with such an easy first half, though I had been dumping water over my head each aid station from 15K to keep cool as it was sunny throughout. I knew a PB was in the works, I just needed to keep it together.
I consciously slowed it down to my goal pace of 5:06/K and then to my PB pace of 5:11/K to make sure I wasn't the one out of gas mid-course later on.
29K to 35K Splits - 5:02, 5:10, 5:07, 5:05, 5:11, 5:11, 5:13
- 0:22 GPS 35K to Race 35K
Official 35K Timing Split - 2:54:51, 353rd Place of 2130
The closing 7K eastbound on Lakeshore Drive had the only headwind of the day and the warmest temperatures. The last four Ks of this stretch saw me slow - the gel I ate at 32K was almost one too many for my stomach so no gel for energy at 37K and consecutive aid stations at 36.5K and 39K had run out of cups - so no Gatorade for energy and no water for hydration or for cooling. I drink just enough to stay ahead of the need so I started to have hydration issues to compound the stress a PB pace was having on my body. My sides felt like one big cramp the last 20 minutes of the race and I got it done without a lengthy slowdown but there was no sprint finish in me Sunday.
36K to 42K Splits - 5:15, 5:17, 5:17, 5:27, 5:41, 5:36, 5:43
1:01 for last 0.195K (5:12/K Pace)
+ 1:16 GPS 42.195K to Race 42.195K
Official Result - 3:35:24 (5:06/K Pace), PB by 0:03:27
Gun Time - 3:35:36, 338th Place of 2130, 54th of 175 M35-39
I was thrilled to find Lisa at the finish line as she had been saving a medal for me, even if I was going to be real slow.
The 3:30:00 Pacer never caught me, worst pacer ever.
I liked this race. Clearly it had some imperfections that come from being the Mayor's favourite whipping target and having dates and finishing locations yanked from it. But that's a big reason I considered this race for the first time. If the Boss Man keeps picking on it I'm sure to be back as long as he's in office.