Louisville Derby Marathon, April 24 2010
Clock time -- 3:01:03
Chip time -- 3:01:00
10K split -- 39:03
15K split -- 58:49
25K split -- 1:39:27
30K split -- 1:59:53
Overall -- 18
Gender -- 16/889
Division -- 7/116
Considering, I was pleased with my Louisville Derby Marathon in 2010. Leading up to the race I had the goal of under 3 hours and possibly a new PR of faster than 2:58. I felt in decent shape but had not done the necessary long runs and therefore was not properly prepared for the 26.2-mile distance. My only long runs were part of the 24-hour race and a 21-miler at General Butler State Park. I was nervous for past 20 miles, and for good reason.
The morning of the race, I woke up at around 4:45 a.m. and stretched out. I ate a granola bar and a banana while drinking plenty of water. I arrived at the start line at around 7 am. with the race starting at 7:30. I jogged about four minutes, did some easy stretching and ran one short strider. I felt fine waiting for the start.
I started towards the front of the field and felt good at the beginning. I went past the mile marker in 6:23 (right on my desired start pace of 6:20-6:30). I started to run in the 6:15-range, despite the early hills, and had a few miles around 6-flat. I came through the first 10K in 39:03 with my first mile slower then 6:30 being the mile through Churchill Downs at around seven. My pace felt fine at the time but I knew I was in trouble because of the fast early start.
I came through halfway in around 1:24:00, about three minutes faster than my goal time of 1:27:00. In the second set of hills at around 15 miles, I went through my first drought of the race, struggling on the up and down hills. The long downhill coming out of the park was really tough on me.
I started to feel a little better when I got back on the flats, but going over the bridge into Indiana was another tough stretch for me. I took gel packs at mile 15 and mile 23 (I dropped one going through the tunnel into Churchill Downs so only had two to take). The final few miles were really rough on me. My target splits were the 3-mile splits, wanting to keep them all under 20 minutes. I was on pace for each one except for at 24 miles. After turning left over the bridge back into Kentucky, the marathon runners and half runners converged into one group for the rest of the race, about 1.2 miles. This was particularly tough since I was running with the walkers in the half, zig-zaggin in and out. I had to jump on the sidewalk once to get around a group of walkers and could not run a straight line to the finish. My hamstring really started to tighten in the final mile and I was forced to stop and hobble most of the rest of the way in due to the cramps. My last 1.2 miles were slower than 10 minutes, which costed me a chance at under 3 hours and a possible PR. I did not enjoy the final 1.2 miles while running with the half walkers, and felt like that made a big difference in the cramps.
Considering my lack of long runs and too fast of an early start, I was still happy with a 3:01:00 on what I consider a very tough course. I know with proper training and better pacing, I can run much faster. Now it's time to get ready for the Louisville Ironman in August, and then I'll pick another marathon to go after a fast time. I have a lot of changes to make for my next one. It's changes I look forward to!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Week of April 19-April 25
Monday -- 6 miles steady
Tuesday -- 2 miles with plenty of stretching
Wednesday -- 5K at 19:15 on track = 5 miles
Thursday -- Off
Friday -- Off
Saturday -- Marathon = 27 miles
Sunday -- Off
Total -- 40 miles
Took it easy in week leading up to the race, backing down to feel fresh for Saturday morning. MOnday was six miles at around 7-minute miles at the new park in New Castle; Tuesday was easy jogging with plenty of stretching; and Wednesday was a 5K run with the track team on the track in 19:15. I took Thursday and Friday off. Felt good on race day.
Tuesday -- 2 miles with plenty of stretching
Wednesday -- 5K at 19:15 on track = 5 miles
Thursday -- Off
Friday -- Off
Saturday -- Marathon = 27 miles
Sunday -- Off
Total -- 40 miles
Took it easy in week leading up to the race, backing down to feel fresh for Saturday morning. MOnday was six miles at around 7-minute miles at the new park in New Castle; Tuesday was easy jogging with plenty of stretching; and Wednesday was a 5K run with the track team on the track in 19:15. I took Thursday and Friday off. Felt good on race day.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Week of April 12-18
Monday -- track workout of 1600 (5:15), 1200 (3:57), 800 (2:30), 400 (1:10) = 5 miles
Tuesday -- 6 miles steady
Wednesday -- Track, 3 miles in 19:00, 2 miles in 12:10 = 7 miles
Thursday -- 4 miles easy
Friday -- 30 minutes steady on treadmill = 4 miles
Saturday -- Off
Sunday -- Off
Total -- 26 miles
Tuesday -- 6 miles steady
Wednesday -- Track, 3 miles in 19:00, 2 miles in 12:10 = 7 miles
Thursday -- 4 miles easy
Friday -- 30 minutes steady on treadmill = 4 miles
Saturday -- Off
Sunday -- Off
Total -- 26 miles
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Week of April 5-11
Monday -- Track workout 1600, 3 x 800-400 (5:21, 2:33, 69, 2:34, 67, 2:35, 69) = 6 miles
Tuesday -- 9 miles steady
Wednesday -- Track workout 5x200, 3 x 200-100, 5x100, 300 = 6 miles
Thursday -- Off (back hurting so took off for precautionary reasons)
Friday -- 21 miles at General Butler State Park, 20 on the trails and 1 mile hard on the road, closing in 5:27 on measured course
Saturday -- 2 miles easy
Sunday -- Off
Total -- 44 miles
Not wanting to jump my mileage in the few weeks leading up to the race, the total was low but got in some quality work. Monday's track workout was with the Henry County distance runners, Wednesday's track workout was with the Henry County sprinters, and Friday's long run was partially (60 minutes) with Travis Farmer at General Butler State Park. The 21-mile long run was a great run as I slowly increased the pace as the run progressed on the up-and-down trails. Felt good. Closed with a final mile, measured on the roads, in 5:27. Pushed really hard to the finish. Overall, week was what I needed. Still a little nervous though with limited long runs. Not sure how 6:30-6:50 miles will feel past the 20-mile point.
Tuesday -- 9 miles steady
Wednesday -- Track workout 5x200, 3 x 200-100, 5x100, 300 = 6 miles
Thursday -- Off (back hurting so took off for precautionary reasons)
Friday -- 21 miles at General Butler State Park, 20 on the trails and 1 mile hard on the road, closing in 5:27 on measured course
Saturday -- 2 miles easy
Sunday -- Off
Total -- 44 miles
Not wanting to jump my mileage in the few weeks leading up to the race, the total was low but got in some quality work. Monday's track workout was with the Henry County distance runners, Wednesday's track workout was with the Henry County sprinters, and Friday's long run was partially (60 minutes) with Travis Farmer at General Butler State Park. The 21-mile long run was a great run as I slowly increased the pace as the run progressed on the up-and-down trails. Felt good. Closed with a final mile, measured on the roads, in 5:27. Pushed really hard to the finish. Overall, week was what I needed. Still a little nervous though with limited long runs. Not sure how 6:30-6:50 miles will feel past the 20-mile point.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Week of March 29-April 4
Monday -- 20-minute progression into tempo run, 10x20-second hill sprints, cool down = 8 miles
Tuesday -- 9 miles steady
Wednesday -- (treadmill) 15 minutes steady, 3xmile at 5:59 each = 6 miles
Thursday -- 6 miles steady
Friday -- 1 mile easy
Saturday -- Papa John's 10-Mile Race (1:01:37)
Sunday -- Off
Total -- 42 miles
Mileage still low but it was a decent week of training and ran well in the Papa John's 10-Miler. Monday started with a 20-minute progression run and finished with hill sprints; Tuesday was a steady run on the roads at around 7-minute miles or under; Wednesday was mile repeats on the treadmill but legs really tired so just did three; Thursday was another steady run; Friday was an easy mile with the high school runners; and Saturday was the race.
Papa John's 10-Miler breakdown -- I started out slower than normal in this year's Papa John's 10-Miler, feeling really-really relaxed through the first mile in 6:07. I stayed relaxed through the first 3.5 miles, then the course got hilly through six miles with plenty of ups and downs. I passed two miles in 12:20 and three miles in 18:37. The halfway point was reached in 31:22 (6:16-average), which gave me a second half of 30:15 (6:03-average). I finished off with the last three miles at sub-6 miles and felt strong all the way to the finish line although I obviously started to tire. My final time of 61:37 was an average mile of 6:09. I think, after a few more weeks of training, that 6:30-6:40 miles should be my target pace for the marathon. That'll bring me through 10 miles in around 1:05-1:07, a pace that should be manageable. Though it wasn't super fast and I didn't push 100-percent, I was still pleased with the Papa John's 10-Miler. It should be beneficial to me. Now, I'm in desperate need of a hard long run this week.
Tuesday -- 9 miles steady
Wednesday -- (treadmill) 15 minutes steady, 3xmile at 5:59 each = 6 miles
Thursday -- 6 miles steady
Friday -- 1 mile easy
Saturday -- Papa John's 10-Mile Race (1:01:37)
Sunday -- Off
Total -- 42 miles
Mileage still low but it was a decent week of training and ran well in the Papa John's 10-Miler. Monday started with a 20-minute progression run and finished with hill sprints; Tuesday was a steady run on the roads at around 7-minute miles or under; Wednesday was mile repeats on the treadmill but legs really tired so just did three; Thursday was another steady run; Friday was an easy mile with the high school runners; and Saturday was the race.
Papa John's 10-Miler breakdown -- I started out slower than normal in this year's Papa John's 10-Miler, feeling really-really relaxed through the first mile in 6:07. I stayed relaxed through the first 3.5 miles, then the course got hilly through six miles with plenty of ups and downs. I passed two miles in 12:20 and three miles in 18:37. The halfway point was reached in 31:22 (6:16-average), which gave me a second half of 30:15 (6:03-average). I finished off with the last three miles at sub-6 miles and felt strong all the way to the finish line although I obviously started to tire. My final time of 61:37 was an average mile of 6:09. I think, after a few more weeks of training, that 6:30-6:40 miles should be my target pace for the marathon. That'll bring me through 10 miles in around 1:05-1:07, a pace that should be manageable. Though it wasn't super fast and I didn't push 100-percent, I was still pleased with the Papa John's 10-Miler. It should be beneficial to me. Now, I'm in desperate need of a hard long run this week.
Week of March 22-28
Monday -- track workout 4x500, 1200, 800, 400, 10x150, 300 = 8 miles
Tuesday -- 4 miles
Wednesday -- 2 miles
Thursday -- 8 miles / 5 miles = 13 miles
Friday -- track workout 5K (18:57), 4K (15:27), 3K (11:24), 2K (7:30), 1K (3:41) = 12 miles
Saturday -- 2 miles
Sunday -- Off
Total -- 41 miles
Starting to feel a little better, shape-wise, my mileage was still down this week but I got in two solid track workouts. The first one, on Monday, I ran with the high school runners. After a warm up, I ran 4x500 with the first 400 at a cruise speed (around 73 seconds per 400) and the final 100 all out. Took a short break, then ran 1200 meters, 800 meters and 400 meters. Took another break, and then ran 10x150 at close to all out and 300 meters close to all out. Finished with a cool down. Tough workout since I'm not used to that much speed. Then, on Friday, my next track workout was by myself on the track and included kilometer cut downs. It was a very-very-very windy day so I decided against my pre-workout plan of running 1:30-second laps all the way through. Altering my pace, I ran the 5K in 18:57, the 4K in 15:27, the 3K in 11:24, the 2K in 7:30 and the 1K in 3:41. This seemed to be a very beneficial workout for the upcoming 10-miler and marathon with intensity and duration. OK week but I need more miles, and in a hurry. Time is running out.
Tuesday -- 4 miles
Wednesday -- 2 miles
Thursday -- 8 miles / 5 miles = 13 miles
Friday -- track workout 5K (18:57), 4K (15:27), 3K (11:24), 2K (7:30), 1K (3:41) = 12 miles
Saturday -- 2 miles
Sunday -- Off
Total -- 41 miles
Starting to feel a little better, shape-wise, my mileage was still down this week but I got in two solid track workouts. The first one, on Monday, I ran with the high school runners. After a warm up, I ran 4x500 with the first 400 at a cruise speed (around 73 seconds per 400) and the final 100 all out. Took a short break, then ran 1200 meters, 800 meters and 400 meters. Took another break, and then ran 10x150 at close to all out and 300 meters close to all out. Finished with a cool down. Tough workout since I'm not used to that much speed. Then, on Friday, my next track workout was by myself on the track and included kilometer cut downs. It was a very-very-very windy day so I decided against my pre-workout plan of running 1:30-second laps all the way through. Altering my pace, I ran the 5K in 18:57, the 4K in 15:27, the 3K in 11:24, the 2K in 7:30 and the 1K in 3:41. This seemed to be a very beneficial workout for the upcoming 10-miler and marathon with intensity and duration. OK week but I need more miles, and in a hurry. Time is running out.
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