Columbus marathon recap:

I'll make this brief. Went out for a 3:15... ended up with a 3:28. I was right on pace until mile 18 and then the wheels fell off. Started getting cramps in my hamstrings that required me to stop and sit down to loosen them. Ended up walking/running the last 7 miles. My running pace was always right on target but the walking just killed me. Oh well, I'll get 'em next time.

Hopefully mailbox has a better story.

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Well that wasn't so fun...

Got out to run the Columbus marathon this morning. Even though it ws my first, I felt pretty confident going in. i had put in some pretty solid training and all of my tuneup races indicated that I should be able to hit my time.

I stayed back a little from the pacer because I felt like he went out a bit too fast, and I was right on my splits through 5, 10, 15 20 miles and feeling great. My dad popped in and ran with me for a while which was cool. I asked him if he'd be here with me next year with a bib on, and he said he did kind of catch the bug again being there this morning (he's run Columbus 3 times), so that'd be pretty cool for next year. My little brother Kreg is also talking like he wants to try a thon, so that would really be awesome if all three of us run it next year.
I honestly felt like I was just warming up through 17 or so, no problems at all. Starting to feel the fatigue a little through 20, but no wall.
Then it happened. Even though I had never had any issues with my quads or hamstrings in any training runs, they just went. Not cramps because my muscles weren't contracting or anything, just excrutiating pain any time I took a step I was in agony. This was a little before 22. In any long runs that i started to feel fatigue in my legs, it was always my calves, never anything in my hammys or quads. I have never in my life walked in any training run or race, but I just couldn't go. I could muster about a .1 mile walk run split, but this was the worst pain I can recall.
This was so frustrating because everything else felt fine. My energy level was there, but I couldn't use it.
I was a little concerned about doing long lasting damage to my quads, but no way I was quitting. Dad came back up and found me with a mile to go and at that point I decided that I'd rather just risk bad injury and tough it out for a mile. I was able to "run" the last mile, but it was pretty bad.

I'm suprised in reflection that I'm not more ****** than I am. Obviously I didn't sniff my goal ( I ended up with 3:39:30 ugh) but I did show a lot more guts than I knew I had, so I liked that. I can also claim the best marathon time in the family.

Here's where I need your guys' expert help.

What do you think went wrong, and what could I have done differently. I really think my training was solid and i executed prefectly through 22. Think I should try to add some light leg weight lifting, or do you think it could have been caused by me being short on something nutrition wise race day?

Sorry about the length, but I couldn't bring myself to create a seperate race report.

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Sorry to hear about your experience, Mailbox Head. Sucks when you have trained hard, everything seems to be going great, and then, boom, something breaks that never broke before. That happened to me at my first Boston... in retrospect, I went out too fast for the heat. But that pattern (calf cramps late) has recurred... doesn't seem to matter how hard I train, calves are always fine, except that late in a marathon, especially if there are late hills, they will cramp.

But the pain you describe, without cramping, that sounds unusual. It wasn't hot, was it? I thought the forecast looked good... sunny, though, which can also take its toll.

Looks to me like you did everything right. Great effort on bringing it in. That's so much harder than just running a marathon when everything works. When my legs stopped working at that first Boston, if it hadn't been Boston, I would have DNFed.

The only advice I can offer is to see a physiotherapist to try to debug your legs, maybe get some new exercises or stretches.

Wow - some great running out there.

eyates - Great time even with the walks in there. congrats on the finish.

mailbox - It happens. Great effort out there. The only thing I can think of is your hydration plan throughout the run and the day prior. Did you have enough water & gatorade/powerade throughout the marathon. Even skipping one water stop will affect you. I have never had my quads/hammys cramp up on me, usually the calves. Great job completing your first marathon.

Happy running all.

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David[/URL" target="_blank">


"..because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope." - Romans 5:3

Got my run in! Felt really good to stretch my legs. Garmin numbers are way off. Known route of 3.8m in 34.59. Looking forward to a rest day tomorrow!

Almost got shut out for the weekend, but got a four-miler in at 7 p.m. Sunday. The wife had two 10-hour shifts so I was on kid-duty. I don't mind. The rest probably did me some good.
Mailbox, that was your first thon? I think you're being a bit hard on yourself.
You midwesterners are an impressive bunch...

Good runs, all

Another quick post just under the midnight wire for me. It's been a busy weekend. Maybe it will be slow at work tomorrow and I can catch up on all the weekend posts...

Soccer day for me today. Unfortunately, the big match of this morning was a dud. We came out flat and got pounded 4-1. Very disappointing performance all around. Then I ended up playing indoor with a men's team this evening. Lost that one too, but I didn't care about that as much. I really wanted the morning game because that's the team I run and I'm annoyed we played so badly.

Oh well, off day tomorrow to get over it. Then back to running on Tuesday.

Have a good night...

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