Ogden Marathon 2013 I had a decent day today. Given my current fitness, my training, and the weather, the result was actually better than expected. In assessing my fitness going into this race, I felt that mid-to-low 2:30's was doable. Considering I hit low 2:30's with the weather conditions, I'm happy. For my level of training to this point this year, it's what I deserved. As many others have commented in their posts, it was a little windy and very soggy. Definitely a run that tested character. Pre-race stuff: One of the highlights of this run was being able to do it with two of my best friends: Scott Tasker and Corey Leavitt. Neither are what I would consider real regular runners, but both are definitely physically capable and could be great runners if they decided to commit real time to it. Back in September, Scott got the idea that we needed to run the Ogden Marathon. He committed about 10 of us to do it, including Corey and my wife and I. My wife was really looking forward to doing it (it would be her first full marathon since 2001). It was to be Scott's second marathon and Corey's first. Long story short, many of the folks ended up dropping out due to injuries or whatever. My wife included. About two months ago, she jacked-up her ankle and was forced to take a bunch of time off. She made the smart decision to forgo both the SL Half (which she had also signed-up for) and this race. Friday afternoon, I picked up Scott and we drove up to Clearfield to get Corey. We got up to the expo about 5:30 got our packets and hit-up the restaurant that was in the same building as the expo (can't remember what it was called). I was surprised we got right in (the food wasn't bad). We headed a few blocks east to the hotel (Hampton Inn) on Washington. We got settled in the room and watched a movie. I peered out the window a few times and there were times when the rain was just pouring down. Around bed time, it was drizzling. We watched the weather and I was convinced our morning was going to be full of rain. We finally hit the sack around 11. I slept pretty good. Got up around 4:20, got ready, made breakfast, and we were walking to the buses (which were just a block or two down the street) by 4:50. It was drizzling, but not too bad. We met up with a few more of our friends (Sheila and Abe) and didn't have to wait long to board the bus. We got to the top and deboarded onto a wet, muddy, cow-pie ridden pasture. We didn't have to wait long to use the johns. We met up with a couple other folks (Russ, Jason, and Andrew) and just sat around in our ponchos and chatted until there was about a half hour to go. Then Corey and I made our way over to the road to start warming up. Got down to my shorts and tank and decided to keep the arm warmers on for the race (which I think was a good choice). I opted for my tight shorts for a couple of reasons: (1) enough storage room for 3 GUs (without them flopping around; two in the back zipper pocket, one in the inside pocket); (2) I figured the compression on the quads and hammies would be good for the marathon, especially given the weather conditions. I didn't intend to keep my compression socks (sleeves) on, but by the third mile, I realized I hadn't taken them off (not necessarily a bad thing though given the weather). I had worn some older shoes and socks up to start in order to keep the race shoes and socks as dry/clean as possible. It was sad to see my LunaRacers get tarnished with mud and rain almost immediately after I put them on. All of my best marathon experiences have been when I've been strict about taking in ample calories during the race. I'm talking 4 to 5 GUs and sips of gatorade/powerade at most stops. There weren't any special aid station tables for elites to stash their special mixtures and I didn't have anyone who could be out on the course to give me what I wanted when I wanted it. The race would be providing Cliff Shot's at about miles 5, 9, 17, and 23. My plan was to carry three onboard, take my first at mile 7, second at about mile 12, take the race-provided Cliff Shot at 17, take my third GU at Mile 20 (or defer and keep for insurance later), and probably take the race one at 23. This strategy pretty much was executed as planned except that I missed the one at 23. If that aid station had them, I missed it because I was more concerned dodging the congestion of half-marathoners. Looking back, it would have been nice to have had that GU. Race. At the start, I saw Riley, Brett, Bryant, Walter, Steve, and Jason Holt. My money was on Riley. With the season he's been having, if he was going to have a good day, he'd be laying down the law on everyone. I joked with him "Sub-2:20 today?" Walter told him to take down the record. Being modest, he played it down citing the weather. The rain had been coming down all morning. Not too heavy yet. The race started about on time. Riley, Bryant, Brett, and Jason went out of the gate fairly modestly and formed the lead pack. They looked smooth and relaxed. Me and Walter and a few others were a few seconds back. Walter and I hit the first mile. I heard Walter comment that it was a fast. He immediately dialed back. It didn't really feel like we had ripped-it, but I looked at my watch and thought I saw 5:11. Yes, too fast. I ratcheted back as well. As a result, the second mile split was substantially slower (5:45). After the race, I saw that the first mile was really 5:27, which was good (not sure what I was seeing when I first looked at it). By mile 2, Walter had dropped back and I was sitting in 5th place. That's how it would stay until about the 15 mile mark. The first 8 or 9 miles are cruising down the canyon at a nice modest grade. Riley led for most of these miles, looking fantastic. The others were right behind him and looking good. They had at least 30 seconds on me and that gap seemed to stay pretty consistent. The wind wasn't super strong, but noticeable and probably adversely affecting speed a little. My splits for 3 through 9 were: 5:29, 5:28, 5:32, 5:27, 5:34, 5:32, and 5:36. Fairly consistent as far as I'm concerned. I felt just fine. Just trying to stay smooth and relaxed and keep some of the guys in front of me within striking distance. Right before we made the right turn off the Canyon road (about mile 9), I saw Riley pull off to the side of the road and tie his shoe. It only took a few seconds, but he went from 1st to 4th place. Bryant and Jason seemed to surge a bit. Uh-oh, I thought to myself. As little as that was, I bet its going to disrupt his rhythm (not a good thing in a marathon). I was still a ways back. For miles 10-15 you hit some rollers and the biggest ascent of the race (which isn't terrible) at 14 or 15. As a result, my slits started slowing: 5:37, 5:43, 5:40, 5:49, 5:44, 5:56 (hill). Bryant really seemed to be stepping on the gas here and building time on the rest of us. Jason looked pretty good too. Brett was in third and slowly building the gap on me, but still within sight. Bryant and Jason were out of my sight by mile 12. Riley was starting to come back to me ever so slowly. It was becoming obvious it wasn't going to be one of his stellar days. Either that, or he was really holding back and was going to rip it the second half. But that probably wasn't the case because I couldn't imagine him willingly let Bryant get such a lead. I came through the half in the high 1:13's. Not shabby. Maybe just maybe, I could go sub-2:30 if I can hold it together on the hill and take advantage of the descent down Ogden Canyon. Just after the 15-mile mark, I came up along side Riley and ran along side him for a bit. I asked how he was feeling. He said he feeling good cardio-wise, but that the legs just didn't have it today. He asked how I was feeling and I responded, "so-so" which was an honest assessment. I pulled ahead and hit 5:37 for mile 16. The canyon would be coming up soon, I was looking forward to that part. A nice gradient down, but not killer like SGM. I really wanted to capitalize. Mile 17 was when I first started noticing fatigue in my quads. Uh-oh. The split was 5:48. Kind of surprised that Riley didn't catch back up with me here. I had no idea how far back he was. I thought he was right there. I wasn't sure who else might be close behind either. I wasn't going to look back to find out though. Right about the dam, someone tells me the leader (Bryant) is about 3 minutes ahead. Mile 18 has some good descent and I hit a 5:30. Okay, good. Give me some more of these. However, it wasn't meant to be. For the next several miles, the congestion of half marathoners just continued to build. Not terrible, but enough to be annoying. The course is beautiful through here and fast. Unfortunately, this is where my under-training caught up with me. I was feeling my quads. I thought I had been responsible enough on the descents. I just couldn't get it rolling. I felt fairly strong, stable, and steady, but not fast. No top gears. No more sub-5:40s. Splits for 19 through 23 were: 5:44, 5:48, 5:46, 5:40, and 5:47. With every split over 5:43, the possibility of sub-2:30 fades. Really wished I could have been about 10 seconds faster on each of these miles. I periodically catch glimpses of Brett up in distance. At some point, a dude says, "the guy in second (Jason) is struggling, go get him!" I couldn't see him though. During mile 23 or so, you come out of canyon and get on a paved path. The congestion of half marathoners is pretty bad from here on out. A lot of weaving in and out and yelling "on your left." Some hear it and move respectfully. I wanted to take the race-provided Cliff Shot at 23, but being overly concerned about dodging half marathoners, I never end up seeing it. Would have been nice to have taken one, but it may not have helped much. The course winds and rolls and really slows me up. I hit a 6:00 flat for mile 24. Ugh. 25 is similar, but even slower: 6:15. Ugh. I know sub-2:30 isn't happening today, but I can still pull out 4th place (assuming Riley doesn't assassinate me from behind) and a respectable low 2:30's time. Surprising, I still feel good. Still pretty decent, but no leg speed. My body had defaulted to race survival mode speed. Now on the longgggggggg... home stretch (Grant street). The finish line is way up in the distance several stop lights ahead. I trudge along. At some point I look down at my watch and see 2:26:45, :46, :47. Is 2:30 still possible? No, the finish is still too far off to make it in time. With about a quarter mile or so to go, I see Ben VanBeekum off to the left yelling me on. Mile 26 is also 6:15. I come into the shoot and see the clock ticking up to 2:31 and crossed at 2:30:59. Good enough for 4th place. 1st place in the division also defaulted to me. I see Brett and Bryant and congratulate them on their races. Bryant won with a 2:23...Freaking amazing! I see Corey's wife, Rachel, and their kids on the other side of the fence and talk with them for a minute. Then I saw Scott Keate and learned that he dominated the half marathon, despite being led off-course for a half mile, he still pulled out a 1:11. Amazing. Ate some Great Harvest bread and got right into a massage. IT bands and calves were really tight. At one point while the girl was working my left IT band, it shot a cramp down my calf that hurt like a mother. I never get cramping. I'm glad it didn't happen on course. A result of the cold I guess. She got it worked out though. By the end I was freezing. I had to wait forever to get my drop bag. Fortunately, Riley, the saint, was there and saw me and let me take off my singlet and where one of his shirts. It was a life-saver while I waited more that 15 mins in the rain for my stupid bag. It was awesome talking with Riley. I was sorry he didn't have a good day (by his standards; 2:39), but the dude is a class act. Such a good attitude. Has more talent in his toenail than I have in my entire being. He's going to figure-out the marathon soon and be a huge force to reckon with. After awhile, I regrouped with my friends and made it back to the hotel to shower and pack up. Scott was hoping for a Boston Qualifier (3:05). Given the conditions, that wasn't meant to be today. He did great though with a 3:22. Over an hour and 10 mins better than his first marathon (also Ogden) 3 years ago. Corey blasted his goal of sub-4 hours posting a 3:53 and feeling great. Sheila was hoping for a 3:40, but had a bit of a rough go with the weather finishing in around 4:05. We were on the road home a little after 1. So much fun to have done this race with my friends. Wished Lindsay (wife) could have joined us. Next time. I'm pretty sore. Going to take it easy for the week. Maybe try and spend some more time on the bike. Congrats to everyone on the blog who soldiered through this race today.
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