Overall Time: 2:20:03
Pace per mile: 7 minutes, 0.2 seconds
Overall place: 38/443
Age group finish: 22/81 (male 39 and under)
Splits (5-mile): 33:24, 35:00, 36:08, 35:32
It's amazing what a little favorable weather and a little extra confidence can do.
I stormed out of the gate hard and kept the pedal down as much as I could. There was no reason not to; even with the similar start to last year, I knew I wasn't going to hit the same wall that I did before. I finished 5 miles well under 34 minutes knowing all this banked time would be important later in the race.
The next 5 was even and steady. The goal for the rest of the race was to maintain a sub-7 for as long as I could and I was confident I could hold it through most of the race. It was only after 14 that I started to feel the weight bear down on my legs, but once I hit 17 I was able to find the final surge and push hard to the very end.
There were a few places - namely the start and finish areas - where I could have shaved time. They're really just minor details. I set a personal best by over one minute (2:21:13) and beat my best time for this course by over 5 minutes. I'd say that this was a huge success.
With less than 8 weeks to go I stand at a great position for the elusive 3:04:59 time at Sugarloaf. I need to continue to be at that position, however, to make it.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Eastern States 2012 Preview
Easily the windiest race of the year (Hyannis is likely second), the (typically) 3-state run is a challenging midpoint race that bridges the Hyannis and Sugarloaf Marathon most years. Even if I don't excel at the race, it's a necessary linchpin to the long-distance racing season.
The direction of the wind is always important. The day chooses one direction and sticks with it. If it's at my back, I'll have an easy day, and if it's in my face...let's just say that all sorts of fun will happen.
2009 - 2:26:53 - 103 overall - 49 age group
2010 - 2:25:56 - 53 overall - 31 age group
2011 - 2:30:33 - 65 overall - 36 age group
The times I'm up against aren't difficult to beat with most other courses - in fact I have beaten 2011's time in most 20-mile splits of marathons - but weather will play a very major factor and why this race is particularly challenging.
Temperatures are expected to be around 50 degrees with light rain. So far they're not expecting a lot of wind but that could change. We'll see what Sunday brings.
The direction of the wind is always important. The day chooses one direction and sticks with it. If it's at my back, I'll have an easy day, and if it's in my face...let's just say that all sorts of fun will happen.
2009 - 2:26:53 - 103 overall - 49 age group
2010 - 2:25:56 - 53 overall - 31 age group
2011 - 2:30:33 - 65 overall - 36 age group
The times I'm up against aren't difficult to beat with most other courses - in fact I have beaten 2011's time in most 20-mile splits of marathons - but weather will play a very major factor and why this race is particularly challenging.
Temperatures are expected to be around 50 degrees with light rain. So far they're not expecting a lot of wind but that could change. We'll see what Sunday brings.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Hyannis 2012: What Went Up, What Went Down
Overall Time (Net): 3:24:44
Pace per mile: 7 minutes, 49 seconds
Overall place: 34/403
Age group finish: 8/46
Splits (5-mile): 37:13.6 (0-5), 36:47.9 (5-10), 37:12.7 (10-15), 40:25 (15-20), 52:23.3 (last 10km)
Splits (Half): 1:36:55.5 (1st half), 1:47:48.5 (2nd half)
With consistent temperatures in the 50s right now, it's difficult to recall how bitter that wind on Cape Cod was just two weeks ago but make no mistake: the conditions were what one would expect on the Cape in the middle of winter.
Unfriendly.
This was a race that started with a bit of self-doubt. In addition to the bitter weather, the lack of speed workouts (including no other road races in the month of February) and getting stuck near the back of the pack with the 12-minute pacers made the opening minutes frustrating. I knew that I had to push it all aside - dwelling on it was pointless.
The first mile was spent caught behind a sea of runners, but once I broke free the pace was much easier. One thing I did notice early in the race was that my upper legs felt heavy (I guess that's the best way to describe it) which may have been a blessing in disguise. Though it kept me from posting anything below 7 minutes in a single mile, it kept me focused on keeping a slightly slower but more even pace. I stayed around or under a 7:30 pace through the first 15 miles, stayed under 8:30 for 23 of the 26 miles, and managed to avoid a 9-minute mile entirely - especially at the end where I returned to under an 8 minute pace in the last 1.2 miles.
Though far from my PR (3:08:21) and BQ (3:04:59) goals, I was proud of my endurance both during and after the race. There was significantly fewer sore leg muscles the next day which is a testament to my winter workouts this year. It was my best for Hyannis, beating out last years time by about 2 1/2 minutes. Which means if I can keep this up I should be in great shape (literally) for the rest of 2012.
Pace per mile: 7 minutes, 49 seconds
Overall place: 34/403
Age group finish: 8/46
Splits (5-mile): 37:13.6 (0-5), 36:47.9 (5-10), 37:12.7 (10-15), 40:25 (15-20), 52:23.3 (last 10km)
Splits (Half): 1:36:55.5 (1st half), 1:47:48.5 (2nd half)
With consistent temperatures in the 50s right now, it's difficult to recall how bitter that wind on Cape Cod was just two weeks ago but make no mistake: the conditions were what one would expect on the Cape in the middle of winter.
Unfriendly.
This was a race that started with a bit of self-doubt. In addition to the bitter weather, the lack of speed workouts (including no other road races in the month of February) and getting stuck near the back of the pack with the 12-minute pacers made the opening minutes frustrating. I knew that I had to push it all aside - dwelling on it was pointless.
The first mile was spent caught behind a sea of runners, but once I broke free the pace was much easier. One thing I did notice early in the race was that my upper legs felt heavy (I guess that's the best way to describe it) which may have been a blessing in disguise. Though it kept me from posting anything below 7 minutes in a single mile, it kept me focused on keeping a slightly slower but more even pace. I stayed around or under a 7:30 pace through the first 15 miles, stayed under 8:30 for 23 of the 26 miles, and managed to avoid a 9-minute mile entirely - especially at the end where I returned to under an 8 minute pace in the last 1.2 miles.
Though far from my PR (3:08:21) and BQ (3:04:59) goals, I was proud of my endurance both during and after the race. There was significantly fewer sore leg muscles the next day which is a testament to my winter workouts this year. It was my best for Hyannis, beating out last years time by about 2 1/2 minutes. Which means if I can keep this up I should be in great shape (literally) for the rest of 2012.
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