Today was the Ogden Marathon! After looming on the horizon since training started in January, it was finally here.
The day started by getting up at 3:40am in order to get ready and down to the bus loading zone by 5am. I was only operating on about 5 hours of sleep, but my body was rested from the off-days this week, and I was feeling confident. Once dropped off at the starting line, I met up with Trever, Paul, Brent, Kerry, Lorin, Ryan, and Trina. We had about an hour and a half until the start and it was only 28 degrees. Everyone was bundled up trying to stay warm. When we weren't standing in line for the porta-potties, we used the little chairs we brought with us to rest our legs.
As it neared the 7am start time, we got out of our warm up clothes and headed over to the starting line. Most of us lined up in the 8-minute mile staging area and tried to stay warm for the few minutes remaining. The gun fired and, finally, we were off!
The first few minutes were slow and crowded, which was fine as I was hoping my toes would thaw out. It seemed like it took a good half mile before the crowd thinned enough that you could stride normally. The downhill start felt great though and Brent, Lorin, and I ran together comfortably. However, within the first 3 miles, each one of us had to peel off course for a potty break. All that hydration, combined with race-day jitters, make this a common problem. We were keeping well within our target pace though.
I had my Garmin set for overall average pace, and Brent had his set for average lap pace. His job was to act as our governor, which he had to so several times over the first half of the race as we kept creeping our pace up beyond our plan.
By mile 8, the downhill grade leveled off into the long, flat stretch of the course that works its way around Pineview Reservoir. As we reached the 13 mile mark, we were still on pace and feeling pretty good. The only significant hill on the course is at mile 14, and it was on this hill that I felt the first of creeping fatigue. As the hill leveled off, we resumed our race pace to the dam at just past mile 17. Once past the dam, the course starts downhill again through Ogden Canyon. It was here that I'd hoped to build some cushion for the tough later miles. However, I was really starting to feel it by around mile 19, even going downhill. Brent and Lorin gradually pulled away from me and I knew I couldn't risk trying to close the gap.
As I neared the bottom of the canyon my legs felt like lead and were absolutely pounded from the downhill. It was also getting pretty warm. I started doing the mental math, knowing I no longer had a shot at 3:35, but figuring I could get 3:40. This would still be a PR, so it was worth shooting for. However, as I entered the greenbelt stretch in town, I felt like I was in slow motion and watched my overall pace continue to drop.
At the aid station around mile 25, I was surprise to see Lorin just ahead of me. He appeared to be having as much fun as I was. With about half a mile to go, I caught up to him and tried to encourage him to finish it would with me, but we were both completely out of gas.
As the crowd got heavier near the finish, I dug deep to try and at least appear to be finishing strong. I saw Holly in the crowd on the final stretch and a few seconds later I was across the finish line! My time was 3:45 and change. Not my goal, or a new PR, but still 12 minutes better than last year on this course, and at that point, I couldn't have cared less either way.
Lorin and I grabbed some water and joined Brent and Ryan to watch for the others coming in. Paul and Kerry came in just a couple of minutes behind, and everyone else came in in good shape. Ryan, Paul, and Kerry each had PRs (hopefully I didn't forget if anyone else did), and Ryan barely missed his Boston-qualifying time. Several of the Lady BFRs did either the 5K or the half marathon, and they did great too.
Punishment of the marathon aside, there is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment afterward. It's also nice to now be able to focus exclusively on the IM, about 3 weeks away. I have some work to do there!
Later that evening, we had an awesome dinner and drinks at Mona and Connie's. It was a great way to cap off the months of training and the fun trip with the BFR gang!
The day started by getting up at 3:40am in order to get ready and down to the bus loading zone by 5am. I was only operating on about 5 hours of sleep, but my body was rested from the off-days this week, and I was feeling confident. Once dropped off at the starting line, I met up with Trever, Paul, Brent, Kerry, Lorin, Ryan, and Trina. We had about an hour and a half until the start and it was only 28 degrees. Everyone was bundled up trying to stay warm. When we weren't standing in line for the porta-potties, we used the little chairs we brought with us to rest our legs.
As it neared the 7am start time, we got out of our warm up clothes and headed over to the starting line. Most of us lined up in the 8-minute mile staging area and tried to stay warm for the few minutes remaining. The gun fired and, finally, we were off!
The first few minutes were slow and crowded, which was fine as I was hoping my toes would thaw out. It seemed like it took a good half mile before the crowd thinned enough that you could stride normally. The downhill start felt great though and Brent, Lorin, and I ran together comfortably. However, within the first 3 miles, each one of us had to peel off course for a potty break. All that hydration, combined with race-day jitters, make this a common problem. We were keeping well within our target pace though.
I had my Garmin set for overall average pace, and Brent had his set for average lap pace. His job was to act as our governor, which he had to so several times over the first half of the race as we kept creeping our pace up beyond our plan.
By mile 8, the downhill grade leveled off into the long, flat stretch of the course that works its way around Pineview Reservoir. As we reached the 13 mile mark, we were still on pace and feeling pretty good. The only significant hill on the course is at mile 14, and it was on this hill that I felt the first of creeping fatigue. As the hill leveled off, we resumed our race pace to the dam at just past mile 17. Once past the dam, the course starts downhill again through Ogden Canyon. It was here that I'd hoped to build some cushion for the tough later miles. However, I was really starting to feel it by around mile 19, even going downhill. Brent and Lorin gradually pulled away from me and I knew I couldn't risk trying to close the gap.
As I neared the bottom of the canyon my legs felt like lead and were absolutely pounded from the downhill. It was also getting pretty warm. I started doing the mental math, knowing I no longer had a shot at 3:35, but figuring I could get 3:40. This would still be a PR, so it was worth shooting for. However, as I entered the greenbelt stretch in town, I felt like I was in slow motion and watched my overall pace continue to drop.
At the aid station around mile 25, I was surprise to see Lorin just ahead of me. He appeared to be having as much fun as I was. With about half a mile to go, I caught up to him and tried to encourage him to finish it would with me, but we were both completely out of gas.
As the crowd got heavier near the finish, I dug deep to try and at least appear to be finishing strong. I saw Holly in the crowd on the final stretch and a few seconds later I was across the finish line! My time was 3:45 and change. Not my goal, or a new PR, but still 12 minutes better than last year on this course, and at that point, I couldn't have cared less either way.
Lorin and I grabbed some water and joined Brent and Ryan to watch for the others coming in. Paul and Kerry came in just a couple of minutes behind, and everyone else came in in good shape. Ryan, Paul, and Kerry each had PRs (hopefully I didn't forget if anyone else did), and Ryan barely missed his Boston-qualifying time. Several of the Lady BFRs did either the 5K or the half marathon, and they did great too.
Punishment of the marathon aside, there is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment afterward. It's also nice to now be able to focus exclusively on the IM, about 3 weeks away. I have some work to do there!
Later that evening, we had an awesome dinner and drinks at Mona and Connie's. It was a great way to cap off the months of training and the fun trip with the BFR gang!
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