Last Saturday, I ran my 7th Marathon, the Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth, TX. I selected this race for a few reasons. First, I wanted to race another marathon in Texas before the weather started turning warmer. Second, after my 3:23 PR in Houston in mid-January, I knew I was close to a BQ, and I couldn’t wait to give it another shot. Third, my friend Mike, the very friend that convinced me to run my first half and full marathon, wanted to run it and was looking for a travel companion.
I had 6 weeks in between Houston and Cowtown, which according to everything I read, did not give me enough time to recover and train before tapering would begin. It was widely suggested that I would actually be less fit for this race than for Houston. Of course, I refuse to believe anything I don’t want to believe, so I basically followed a schedule that allowed about 2 weeks recovery, 2 weeks of training (50 mile and 40 mile weeks), and 2 weeks of taper.
The weather in Ft. Worth was perfect! Temps in the mid to upper 30s to start, with no rain and light winds. I wore 3 short sleeve tech shirts, gloves, and stocking cap. Physically, I felt OK. I don’t know if it was mental or not, but my legs didn’t really feel “fresh.” (Perhaps the 7 marathons in 54 weeks was starting to catch up with middle aged me!) Regardless, I was confident I could run a good race. I decided to run my negative split strategy, which helped me achieve a PR in Houston. I also decided to not focus on my watch or mile splits. Instead, I would have a 10 mile goal (1:17), a 20 mile goal (2:32), and a finish goal (3:20:59), and would try to only focus on those times. I had also decided I would run behind the 3:20 pace group for the first 8 miles or so, run with them through mile 20, then try to beat them to the finish. One problem, when I picked up my packet, I noticed there was no 3:20 pace group. Oh well!
The start of the race was straight downhill, with a drop of about 100 feet. So much for a slow start! The first few miles were pretty uneventful. I started in corral B, and I didn’t find the crowds tough to maneuver through at all. I guess that is one benefit of running a marathon with so many half marathoners - they all go out fast so I’m not having to run them over. The first mile was straight downhill, then we began climbing gradually through mile 3. One thing I knew going into the race is that this course is not flat, so especially in the early miles, I tried to relax and not attack the uphills and burn precious energy. I took my time, and tried to make sure I got the full benefit of the downhills. The course rose about 200 feet from mile 4 through mile 8, which I was definitely feeling in both my legs and energy level. The good news was from miles 8 to 13, it was a net decline of about 200 feet, so I knew relief wasn’t far away.
- Mile 1: 7:43
- Mile 2: 7:58
- Mile 3: 7:41
- Mile 4: 7:40
- Mile 5: 7:49
- Mile 6: 7:40
- Mile 7: 7:52
- Mile 8: 7:51
It was somewhere around mile 8 where the half marathon runners split off the course to head back to the finish. However, with no signage to mark this turn, I decided to follow the pack. Just as I turned I heard someone yell something. I looked around and saw that all the bibs around me were half bibs. I turned my head to the right and saw that the full marathon runners were not supposed to turn! I quickly U turned and made my way back on course. I turned around to look back just in time to see my friend Mike make the same mistake. I know it is the runner’s responsibility to know the course, but a little more help on this intersection was definitely needed. I just hoped the 10-15 seconds wasn’t going to be the difference between a BQ and disappointment.
The race started to get a little lonely here. At any given time, I could usually only see 5 or so runners ahead of me. At one point, I thought I was alone on the course, and I asked a spectator is I was winning. It was wierd to come from a race like Houston, with plenty of runners and spectators, and run a smaller race, with not many of either. I checked my watch at the 10 mile point, and I was pretty much right on my goal time of 1:17. I was feeling pretty good through mile 16.
- Mile 9: 7:35
- Mile 10: 7:21
- Mile 11: 7:26
- Mile 12: 7:27
- Mile 13: 7:38
- Mile 14: 7:45
- Mile 15: 7:45
- Mile 16: 7:41
I think at this point, the hills were starting to take their toll. I wouldn’t say there were a bunch of long, steep inclines, but there were definitely shorter, rolling hills throughout the course. In fact, I’m not sure if there is a flat part of this course, as we always seemed to be going either up or down (mostly up). My little brothers, who both attend TCU, actually woke up bright and early to root their middle aged brother on. On a course with so few spectators, their presence was much appreciated. I saw them first around mile 17.5, then again a few minutes later as the course proceeded through campus. Thanks again guys, you have no idea how helpful it is to have some support at that point in a marathon.
As I approached mile 20, I thought things were going pretty well. I felt OK, and I knew there was another downhill part of the course coming up. However, when I crossed the 20 mile mark and looked at my watch, my time showed 2:34 - two minutes slower than I wanted to go. With “the wall” looming ahead of me, as well as a monster hill coming up at mile 24, I began to get worried. Could I run the last 6.2 in under 47 minutes, or would my BQ dream have to wait for another race?
- Mile 17: 7:42
- Mile 18: 7:57
- Mile 19: 7:34
- Mile 20: 7:36
It was at this point that I noticed I was running alone. I kept looking ahead to try to find someone to catch, but with all the turns of the course, it seemed like there was nobody in front of me. Just past the zoo around mile 22, an extremely tall runner came from behind and attempted to pass me. I locked in right behind him and decided he would help get me to the finish. He was running a pretty good pace, and I thought if I could just stay in his shadow he would help me achieve my goal. In what in hindsight looks like a sign from above, he turned off the marathon course to run the course extension the organizers created for the Ultra marathon. I was alone again, and would have to finish this race that way. I thought this BQ stuff was going to be easier!
The last few miles were a bit of a blur. I know I had music playing, but I couldn’t tell you one song I listened to during the last few miles. My mind was playing tricks on my, and I kept thinking I was not going to make it. We had merged with the half marathoners, which at this point were all walking 2-3 wide. Being the only one running, I had to continually dodge them as I grunted and wheezed. The hill at mile 24 was not fun, but I pressed on, only occasionally looking at my watch. Between the sweat, tears and mental anguish I was going through, there was no way I could compute whether I was going to make it or not, so I just kept running (and dodging).
When I reached the 26 mile mark, I looked at my watch and it showed 3:18. Now, I had no idea whether it was 3:18:00 or 3:18:59, which at this point was kind of important, but oh well. I turned the corner and saw the finish line. For whatever reason, there were no more half marathoners in front of me. Actually, I didn’t see any runners in front of me, just a street lined with people, the finish line…and the clock! As I approached the finish line, I saw the clock. Thank goodness it still said 3:20:55. As I crossed the finish line, I saw the clock click to 3:21:00. Since I started in corral B, I knew my chip time would be faster than that. I immediately stopped and tried to control my tears (For the record, I don’t think I was tearing up because I qualified, for some odd reason, I always get choked up when I run marathons. Wierd). I had done it. A BQ!
- Mile 21: 7:24
- Mile 22: 7:23
- Mile 23: 7:17
- Mile 24: 7:20
- Mile 25: 7:35
- Mile 26: 7:34
- Mile .2+ Garmin Bonus: 2:09
My official chip time was 3:20:37. And just like that, I get to run a goofy little race in April of 2011. I managed to negative split this race, with a 1:41:24 first half, and a 1:39:13 second half. I really think this strategy works for me, and I will continue to utilize it in upcoming races.
Cowtown marked my 7th marathon in 54 weeks, which some might say is a little crazy, while others would call me a slacker (you know who you are!). I don’t know what my next marathon will be, but for now I am going to recover, run a few shorter races, and enjoy myself.
