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Bluffing my way to Boston

Allan

Oct 5, 08 13:37

Post #1 of 17 (918 views)

Bluffing my way to Boston	Can't Post

Today I did the Prince Edward County marathon which is a really nice little race where they close the entire route to all traffic. There were just over 200 finishers in the full marathon and about 450 in the half. If you're ever in southern Ontario in early October I would recommend it as a great venue.

Some of the guys from my training group were planning on doing the race all year and working really hard towards it. For me, I didn't really plan on it but decided a few weeks ago that I might do it and entered on Tuesday. I haven't done any long runs like I would if I was really getting ready for a marathon but figured I could bluff my way through it based on overall fitness and years of running. I was a little worried the past few days since my throat has been sore and I figure that I'm coming down with something. After running it I'm sure that I'll get really sick this coming week :)

I went out too fast (5:58 first mile .... oops) and found myself running completely by myself. I figured that I'd be hitting the wall big time sooner or later whether I went out hard or slow so what the hell. I cruised through the halfway mark in 1:22:08 feeling surprisingly good and still all by myself. I started to slow a bit around 25k and went through 30k in 1:58. By 33k I was feeling lightheaded and dizzy at times and my quads and calves were starting to really hurt which was what I suspected would happen. I got passed by 2 runners at 34k so I was in 4th (one was a woman that I train with and she rocked winning the women's division in just under 2:48 and breaking 2:50 for the first time ever so I was 3rd male). I got caught for the final money position (prize money 3 deep and 1 Kenyan runner way ahead in 1st) with 5k to go and was feeling awful but the fact that I'd been running solo for so long and the opportunity to win cash in a running race for the first time must have motivated me :) I passed the guy back for a few seconds then he went flying back by me and I couldn't respond immediately but then we go a downhill and I caught him and surged and broke him. I ended up putting 43 seconds on him in the last 3k for 4th overall and 3rd overall male and a 2:51:26 time so it looks like I may be heading to Boston in April.

Lesson learned today: bluffing your way through a marathon without adequate preparation can be done but really hurts for the final 12k :)

It was a great way to finish my season after flatting and having a crappy race at the Muskoka 70.3.

Herbert

Oct 5, 08 13:39

Post #2 of 17 (914 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

That is awesome. Congrats on a very fine marathon.

TriToy

Oct 5, 08 14:03

Post #3 of 17 (874 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

congrats!!!

I am sure I will volunteer at the marathon again - if I am in the med tent I hope I DON'T see you!
---

cat formerly CatIsTriing
Sponsored by Suntheanine, Lycored and Celadrin really I am sponsored - not a joke!
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tigerchik

Oct 5, 08 14:13

Post #4 of 17 (849 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wow - congrats on (1) the 3rd place, (2) the fast time, and (3) the BQ.

recover well, get lots of sleep, hopefully you won't get sick.
_________________________________________________________
"You should know what you stand for, not just what you're against."
-Speak

perfcctionist

Oct 5, 08 14:31

Post #5 of 17 (795 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Congrats. That's cool. Shows what a great base and mental toughness can do... it hurts, but you got it. Thanks for sharing...

mikedonia

Oct 5, 08 15:02

Post #6 of 17 (740 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Congrats Allan!

Michael S. Donia, D.C., QME
Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician
http://drdonia.blogspot.com/

Vagabond

Oct 5, 08 16:13

Post #7 of 17 (672 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Congrats. that is not "bluffing" your way through a marathon. your sorta making a mockery out of almost everyone else if you call it "bluffing" if you didn't train hard for it, then I am gonna say that you are in fact, potentially world class. either way, your a badass.

Jack
------------------------------

I smoke black cigarettes.

Daremo

Oct 5, 08 16:21

Post #8 of 17 (659 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Vagabond] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ummmmm, you can't "bluff" your way to a 2:51.

Congrats on the accomplishment! That is a fantasctic time, and a great overall result!
_____________________________________________
Rick, USAC Level 3 coach

'09 registered races - Columbia, Eagleman
Proud member of '08 Team Zoot Gu

fred_h

Oct 5, 08 16:57

Post #9 of 17 (613 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

[If you're ever in southern Ontario in early October I would recommend it as a great venue. ]
I did it last year and it is indeed one of those very fine small field marathon.
Will run Green Mountain Marathon in Vt in 2 weeks & cannot wait to enjoy the scenery!

[Lesson learned today: bluffing your way through a marathon without adequate preparation can be done but really hurts for the final 12k :) ]
I agree with you. For me it was during Ottawa marathon. Definitively not as fast as you (3:15) but same bluffing and pain in the last 12K and then the next 2 to 3 days after :)

Fred.

Allan

Oct 5, 08 17:41

Post #10 of 17 (575 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Vagabond] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Not world class by any means. I do have a 2:32 marathon pb but that was many years ago. I put in some good weeks of training getting ready for the Muskoka 70.3 but I wasn't doing the progression runs, long tempo runs and heavy miles that some of my training buddies were doing for the race so my lack of preparation was in those areas. If I was actually planning to race a marathon my training would be much different. My overall fitness is pretty good but my legs were definitely not ready for a marathon with the minimal run mileage for the past few months and the extra 10lbs that I'm carrying over my ideal race weight.

One thing that motivated me to run was that yesterday was my 42nd birthday so I thought it would be cool to run 42k on my 42nd birthday even if it was off by one day :)

(This post was edited by Allan on Oct 5, 08 17:43)

Allan

Oct 6, 08 13:57

Post #11 of 17 (419 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

"Post Bluff" workout was crazy today. I did intervals with my cross-country team at school. I can't walk down stairs yet but by the 5th interval today I could manage to keep up with the lead group ...... maybe I wasn't as dead as I thought those final 8k yesterday :)

redtdi

Oct 6, 08 14:02

Post #12 of 17 (405 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

My wife was the second female at a 3:05. Unfortunately she didn't break 3 hours but she did a 3:01 in Boston and hopes to break 3 hours at Boston next year. It's a great area for sure.

Ken

devashish_paul

Oct 6, 08 14:06

Post #13 of 17 (391 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Congrats....you positive splitting poser....1:22 + 1:29...most people would take either half marathon splits!

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Allan

Oct 6, 08 19:12

Post #14 of 17 (280 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [devashish_paul] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dev

Definitely a positive splitting poser yesterday. I went out knowing that the wheels were going to fall off sooner or later with the run training that I've done I figured that a 1:22 first half would not mess me up any more than going slower :) I might actually spend a winter doing specific marathon prep and go and do Boston in April since that will serve as a good base builder for IM KY next summer.

DawnT

Oct 6, 08 19:30

Post #15 of 17 (266 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Congrats Allan! Must have been hard to do all those miles by yourself. Enjoy Boston.

I am determined to do PEC marathon one of these years. It sounds absolutely perfect.

devashish_paul

Oct 6, 08 21:20

Post #16 of 17 (222 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [Allan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Allan, if you go to Boston, my key workout was a weekly "downhill 10K" on my treadmill. I just put an encyclopedia on the back end and after my warmup, I'd run a downhill at ~2-4% @ sub 4 min per K. This way I got used to all the fast downhill running in the first half without much cardio load...aside from that, all my other runs had hills. If you look at the elevation profile, realistically from the halfway onwards it is more or less net zero elevation. Also, don't spend any time pushing your own wind in Boston, plenty of guys to draft off even at sub 2:50 speed and since you are running towards the Ocean, in spring when the land gets warmer than the ocean, there is always a headwind for 30-42K depending on the day.

I do hear what you are saying about banking some time without "damage" if you know the back half is going to be no faster than 1:29 anyway due to lack of mileage.....you could have left time on the table, and ran 1:29 in the first half and even split and come out looking like a hero who knows his pace :-).

Wanna come up to Ottawa to run the fall colours half marathon this weekend? I might enter if I don't feel too cooked and jetlagged after the current business trip that I am on assuming it fits into our family schedule on Sunday.

Dev

Allan

Oct 7, 08 4:47

Post #17 of 17 (170 views)

Re: Bluffing my way to Boston [devashish_paul] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm not into the Dev Paul mega-distance racing this close together. I still can barely get down the stairs even though I did some "speedwork" yesterday. This weekend is reserved for Turkey and getting some items on the "honey-do" list completed :)