I ran my first (and possibly only) marathon of 2014 last Sunday! I signed up for the race back in February, and after waffling about whether or not to run the race, I decided to commit and run the race.
The Race
I don’t know if the weather could have been more perfect for the race. The temperatures varied between 55 and 60°F, for the most part. It was a bit windy, but I was hoping that the wind would keep the bees away. (Small victory: I hardly saw any bees! Except a dude dressed in a bee costume around Mile 3.)
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Waiting to start the race.
My plan for the marathon was to run at long run pace, which for me lately had been around 11:00-11:30, sometimes a little quicker than that. I thought running at an easy pace would allow me to get in more miles before my legs started to feel tired.
Some of the leaves had started to turn.
The course was absolutely gorgeous! We ran through several beautiful neighborhoods with lovely houses and then moved over to the Fox River Trail.
Peepin’ at the fancy houses.
I made a friend to chat with for a few miles around mile 9, a combat vet who was working up to his first marathon in January. It was nice to be able to distract myself for a few miles by chatting with someone, and I was able to make sure that I was running at a conversation pace. We said our goodbyes at the split between the 20 mile and marathon races.
Mile 15
My legs started to hurt around mile 15, which I thought was a little early. I started to take some walk breaks. My right calf kept feeling like it wanted to cramp up on me, so I’d take a walk break when I felt like it might start cramping, or when my legs were really hurting.
The Mile 20 marker. At this point, I found myself jokingly wishing that I’d run the 20 mile race instead of the full marathon.
My legs really started hurting around the 18 mile mark, so I decided to walk for a while. I was walking at a brisk pace and often I was able to keep up with people running at a very slow pace or runners doing run/walk intervals. My ultimate goal was just to finish the race, and if walking was going to get me across the finish line without a huge calf cramp, I was going to do it.
I started texting Scott to let him know where I was so that he wasn’t waiting at the finish line wondering where I was and worrying about whether I was okay. I was very surprised and excited when he found me around Mile 24. (And about a mile after that my Garmin died–low battery. Womp womp.)
He’s the best hubby ever.
He walked the final few miles with me, which really helped me a lot, mentally. Soon I was at the finish line, finishing my third marathon!
A second after Scott took the photo, the blanket blew over my face. Sad he missed that photo op.
My splits, up to the point where my Garmin died:
Side note: I really need to invest in a 220.
And here’s the elevation I recorded:
Course elevation through Mile 25, according to my Garmin.
What Went Wrong
- I guess I got a little cocky about my training. When I ran the Illinois Marathon in 2013, I had less training under my belt than I did for this race, but I still finished in 4:50. I thought for sure after running 20 miles 2 weeks ago I could at least get through 20 miles at long run pace, which wasn’t the case.
- I didn’t eat well the day before. I didn’t eat breakfast on Saturday morning and we didn’t have time to stop for lunch if we wanted to make it to my friend’s wedding on time. I had some candy in the car, which although it’s got lots of carbs, isn’t the best source of energy. Dinner was great, but one good meal can’t make up for a day’s worth of crummy eating.
- I didn’t do a great job of fueling on race day. We didn’t have any easy snacks like bananas that I felt comfortable eating before the race, so all I had to eat before the race was some Gatorade or a gel. I probably should have had more calories during the race, too. They had orange wedges at one station and that helped me feel a lot better, which makes me think fueling might have been a problem.
- I know there are a lot of reasons that cramping can occur, but I can’t help but wonder if my angry right calf muscle had something to do with electrolyte balance, since it wasn’t very hot and I wasn’t running at an incredibly fast pace.
Would I run this marathon again?
Absolutely! The course was beautiful and the race was well-organized. I’d sign up again in a heartbeat.
What’s next?
I was thinking of running the Prairie State Marathon in three weeks, but was waiting to sign up until after Fox Valley, which I’m glad I did. I don’t think my legs will have a marathon in them in three weeks. I may still sign up for the half–I’d like to run one or two more half marathons this fall.
I think for the near future, I want to focus on the half marathon distance and getting a little faster so I can build up some speed before I train for another full marathon. I get so inspired by all of my blogging friends who are marathon runners, but it takes a lot out of me to train for and run a marathon. I can still be an awesome running blogger and run half marathons!
When is your next race?
Marathoners: how many miles a week do you average during training?
Ever have a bad race? What did you learn from it?
You did it! I know it wasnt what you wanted, but like you said, you got a little cocky. I think sometimes we do not respect the distance, and think it is going to come easy to us. There is so much emphasis placed on the adrenaline of race day, and tapering, that we feel like it will be a (very long :p) walk in the park. But you did it, and you realized where you went wrong so you can learn from it 🙂 Be proud of yourself, a marathon is no easy feat 🙂
I have made countless mistakes, I am sure you read about most of them in my post on mistakes I made in the Philadelphia marathon last year. Mistakes only make you better, and those bad races only make you appreciate the good ones even more. You know my mileage is around 80 a week, but I am a special case. I think as long as you have a long run, and a longer workout each week, it does not matter too much 🙂
Thanks, Tina. Hearing you say that (well, write it, technically) honestly does mean a lot to me. You’re absolutely right–we do learn a lot from our mistakes and I certainly learned a lot in this race. In the end, what’s important is that I crossed the finish line and that I took away some lessons. That makes the entire race a success. 🙂
Congrats on finishing your 3rd marathon! Focusing on half marathons will be a fun challenge. Looking forward to following your training!
Thanks, Tina! I think it will be a good challenge, too. Higher intensity but a little easier to deal with on a daily basis because I won’t have to be out there for 3 hour long runs!
Great job Beth! Anytime you finish a marathon (good or bad), it’s worth celebrating all the work and that you are able to do it! It’s a big deal! You’ve got a honest perspective about what may have gone wrong and that just makes you stronger for the next one. It took me at least 4 marathons to feel like I was figuring out how to run and fuel them, and I still don’t think I’ve got it right. Well done!!
Thanks a bunch, E! I’m glad to hear you say that–I do really value your opinion and experience. Here’s hoping I can apply these lessons the next time I decide to run a marathon!
Congrats! I have never run this race, but have spectated it a few times and it’s so beautiful!
Yay for no REAL bees! Hee hee! And awesome weather! I am sorry that you cramped and had fueling issues – I hope that is all it was and not something more! 🙁
You can be an awesome runner/blogger if you didn’t race at all. Or only raced 5Ks. Or whatever you want to do 🙂 Don’t feel pressured to do the marathon! (sorry, little pet peeve of mine from back in the day when I was training my butt off for a 5K and everyone was all “ONLY A 5K?!” when I was running 30 miles a week for it, lol)
Thanks, Kim! I completely agree. I’m so bad about judging myself for things that I would never judge anyone else about, and I’m trying to be very mindful of that and to be okay with just doing what I do. Anyone who says “Only a 5K?!” is a huge jerk, anyway. 🙂 5Ks are a big effort, especially in terms of intensity!
Awesome job lady! What an amazing accomplishment and the pictures are gorgeous!!
You’re a runner no matter how fast or slow and whether you choose to race or not. The thrill of just lacing up shoes and getting out the door is just as wonderful as racing in my opinion. My running goal above races is simply to just be a life long runner.
You are brilliant no matter what race or not you choose. For now, get some rest. You’ve earned it!
Thank you so much, Angela! I completely agree that you don’t have to race or run a particular distance to be a runner. I just have a hard time saying those things for myself, which I’m continually working on. 🙂 I’m definitely indulging in some R&R!
Congrats on finishing! this sounds just like my May marathon this year when I started slowing down by mile 18 and was hobbling to the end. AND my husband met me around mile 24 to run me home, too! A marathon is a marathon and be happy you stayed out there and finished it. Great work!
Aw, you have a great hubby, too! I totally agree that a marathon is a marathon. I finished and I’m proudly wearing that medal! Thanks for your kind words, Amy!
Congrats on finishing your 3rd marathon! Such an accomplishment 🙂 Some days are just not good run days no matter how well your prepared. Best part is you took how your body felt in strides and still finished. Good job!
Thank you! It’s been a long time since I had a race day that didn’t go well, but you’re absolutely right, we all have days when our bodies don’t want to do what we need them to. I’m proud of myself for knowing when it was time to switch to a walk and finishing up the race without injuring myself.
Congrats on finishing! It’s a huge accomplishment to have made it across the finish line, no matter what the clock (or your mind) says.
Thanks! I completely agree. Even though I had to walk several miles of it, I still covered 26.2 miles and earned that finisher medal!
Go girl!! You should definitely be proud of what you have accomplished. What a beautiful course!
Thanks, friend! The course was definitely worth it! Maybe even worth a trip up from Texas in 2015… 😉
Congrats on the finish! You know it lots of ways I bet it’s harder to run a marathon for five hours than three hours. I don’t think I’ve ever run 5 hours in a row ever! Anyway,I spent my first eight years of running running only 5ks through halfs. Once I got the marathon bug, I was hooked. I love to read about people training for all distances, however. So keep on keepin’ on! Congrats again!
Thanks, Pete! Yeah, running long marathons is tough! I think I read a quote by Kara Goucher once about how she has mad respect for the back of the pack marathoners who are out there for 5 or 6 hours or even longer and I wholeheartedly agree. All those 5Ks must be why you’re so speedy now! I hope your marathon goes really well for you! Less than three weeks now!
Wow, fall leaves. Beautiful.
Sorry the race did not go as you had hoped.
It happens to the best of us. 🙂 I think I’m content now with finishing and am glad that I learned more about marathoning from my experience.
WTG sticking with it and finishing! I’m guessing all runners have had bad races. Lessons learned. I have a half in Oct and a full or half in Nov (still not sure).
Looks like a beautiful place to run!
Thanks, Jill! I’m definitely taking this as a “lessons learned” race and am glad to have the experience under my belt. Good luck with your races!!
Great recap. I think it’s important to take the time after a not-so-stellar race to look at “what went wrong,” or else we are doomed to make the same mistakes over and over again.
Thanks! Indeed! And I think it helps to know that even if you had a bad race, you did get something very valuable out of it (i.e. experience and lessons learned).
Congratulations!!! I almost came out to cheer ya’ll on but wasn’t feeling well. It did look like the perfect day!
Thank you! Hope you’re feeling better now!
Sorry that I am sooooo late on responding to this–blame it on a case of marathon brain, haha. I really think that it is amazing the difference in training from one year to the next, and how what works for one year might not for the next. A) congratulations, you are still a rockstar. b) I too am glad that you aren’t pushing another. The night before TCM, I actually contemplated the fact that I felt like I would be able to do another in a month or so (because I was feeling peachy, and hadn’t had too many problems after my other long runs), but I’m glad I didn’t get too cocky–I really ended up running my ass off, and my body deserves the rest. Especially because I think that I will try for either a big race or an even better time at my next go.
This might sound trite, but I think that the bad races are what make you a “real” runner, and they definitely are what make you a better runner–you learn wwwwaaayyyyy more from them. But I also think that they can make you a little gun shy moving forward, and I hope that isn’t the case for you. Fueling is so important, and can cover a multitude of sins, but it can also expose them. Next time, you’ll make sure of having your plan in line leading up to it.
Still, you should be beyond proud of yourself, maybe not for having a stellar marathon, but for sticking with it to the end. So, so many would have given up.