On Thursday, Martha and I and the kids, along with five friends from The Life, headed up to Ohio. We left the kids with my parents and went on to Ginghamsburg for a church change conference for two days. The conference ended on Saturday at 5:00pm, and Martha and I made it into Pittsburgh around 10:30, Saturday night. Fortunately, my parents had already travelled to Pittsburgh earlier in the day, checked into the hotel, and put Nathan and Amy to bed. Therefore, all Martha and I had to do was fall into bed just after 11:00pm.
Start 0:17
This year's race has a few more runners than previous years. The weather is cool around 55 degrees with the high supposed to be in the low 70s. The start this year is at 7:45am, and I feel nothing great, but nothing bad either. I wonder if the excitement of the conference has tired me out any or if my legs have fully bounced back. I ate a bagel when I got up at 6am, even though I was not at all hungry. I ate my Access Bar at 7:25. I am wearing shorts, Oakleys (even though they won't sponsor me), Asics DS Trainer '00, and an old t-shirt that I will take off soon. Unfortunately, the sun screen didn't get packed, and with mostly sunny skies, my fair skin will probably be a little red before I am done.Mile 1 7:54
Shortly after the start, I toss my t-shirt to my dad on Grant Street. I am running very conservatively as I try to figure out how my body is going to work today. About three-quarters of a mile into the race, I hear a lady telling someone else that we are on about an 8:15 pace. My thought is that there is no way I am running that slow. However, with the start delay, we hit the one mile mark right about 8:10. I know I am running easy, but the first mile is supposed to be faster than this!Mile 2 7:29
I pick the pace up some, but I am surprised that my time is not faster. Oh well, it is still early, and my legs might be just warming up.Mile 3 7:18
Ah, a mile somewhat close to my usual goal of 7:15/mile. My best marathon is a 3:10, and that equals about a 7:15/mile. However, it is always better to start off slower and have something left at the end. I am still surprised that my mile times aren't faster, though.Mile 4 7:28
This mile is somewhat downhill, and the time still wants to drift closer towards 7:30. I know that this is probably not going to be a personal best time today, but I don't know better than to keep running.Mile 5 7:28
Up and over the 16th bridge--I head over to the north side. I guess I will have to be happy with these miles, but I am still working quite hard to even get these split times. I am drinking a lot of water because I know the temperature will only increase, the humidity is low, and dehydration can occur very quickly.Mile 6 7:26
Okay--another 7:20 something mile--I wonder if I am not exerting too much effort in my attempt to run decent mile times. I hope this race doesn't get really ugly before I am done.Mile 7 7:18
When I really push I can manage a mile like this one, but I know I can't push that hard this early in the race. The 3:15 pace group is close with me. The leader of this pace group seems to be keeping a really consistent speed, unlike some past pacers I have observed (see Hartford 99).Mile 8 7:29
I cross up and over the West End Bridge and into south side. This is a neat stretch because I can see back over the river to Point State Park where the finish will be. My legs feel pretty dead, and I wonder how bad things are going to be around mile 20.Mile 9 7:16
I am not running these splits out of a conscience decision. It is more like a terminal velocity that I can maintain without exerting too much effort for a marathon. However, I continue to drink one or two cups of water at every water stop, and I don't think things will get too ugly if I stay hydrated.Mile 10 7:25
This mile is in the heart of the south side where there is a nice strip of bars. Usually there are several patrons out in front of the bars, drinking beer, and cheering on the runners. However, I don't notice many beer drinkers out this year.Mile 11 7:56
All of the water I have been drinking finally catches up to me, and I have to make a quick stop. I duck in between a few buildings and only waste about 30 seconds or so. It is now time to cross the bridge and tackle the steepest climb on the course.Mile 12 7:04
Two years ago when I had my breakthrough run, bettering my personal best by eight minutes, I charged up the hill into Oakland. Last year, even in the sweltering heat, I still charged up the hill. It is now in my blood, so I cross over the Birmingham Bridge and charge up the hill towards Oakland, throwing caution to the wind. One of the reasons this mile always looks so good on my watch is that there is a nice downhill coming off of the bridge, and at the 12 mile mark, the hill into Oakland is only halfway done.Mile 13 7:55
The second half of the hill comes in this mile, and my time shows. Next year, I will have to try and save something for this 13th mile instead of using it as a recovery after mile 12. My halfway split is 1:38:36. Ironically, this is the same time at the halfway mark I have had for the past three years. Two years ago, I ran the second half in 1:35. Last year, with the oppressive heat, I ran the second half in 1:45. I wonder which way things will go this year. With the ultra long runs I do in training, I always have hope that my legs can snap out of this dead funk they are in so that I can run a negative split (i.e., faster second half).Mile 14 7:44
These couple of miles, 13, 14, and 15, are pretty tough because the legs are no longer fresh, and there is too far to go to really put a lot of effort into the slight uphill. I rip open my Access Bar and begin slowly eating it. My stomach is still full from all of the feasting I did in Ohio and all of the water I have been consuming during the race.Mile 15 7:39
This is always an interesting mile because the crowd is usually deep, but not always vocal. Going up Walnut Street, there are mostly upward trendy people, who aren't the best marathon fans in the world. However, some years a runner will get them pumped up. I am having to expend too much energy focusing on keeping my legs turning over to concern myself with the crowd at all. As I take one turn onto Walnut Street I brush a spectator standing a little too close to the curb. I think he will be okay. No, I didn't knock him over or anything!Mile 16 7:35
This mile time is right where I would want it considering the shape my legs are in as this mile has the last steep uphill on this marathon. Now, with only 10 miles to go, it is time to throw the hammer down and take this marathon home. I only wish I had the legs to really kick today.Mile 17 7:19
Finally, another sub-7:20 mile! I don't think I am going to set any records bringing this one home today. I am running close to another former Marine who got out in '95 after his initial four years. He still wears a high and tight and is obviously motivated.Mile 18 7:23
So much for that sub-7:20 mile. I think this is one of the neat places along the course. I am in the heart of East Liberty (the east side ghetto), but the people come out and cheer for you no matter what color your skin is. They hand you a cup of water just the same and offer encouragement. There are times like these that I forget about all of the racial tension in the country.Mile 19 7:35
Okay, enough day dreaming, I have a race to finish. This mile is mostly flat to downhill, and I feel like I am turning over the legs pretty good, but the times still stay on the slow side.Mile 20 7:46
Well, with another 7:30+ mile, I guess I better just try to keep all of my miles under 8:00. That is always a lofty goal that I have only achieved twice in 16 attempts.Mile 21 7:30
Onto Negley Avenue, I can almost taste the downhill starting in Bloomfield. This really gets fun at Pittsburgh because with the course heading downhill or flat, there is little reason to let up, except of course the fact that my legs and feet hurt.Mile 22 7:29
Wow, I don't think I could have kept these miles more consistent if I wanted. Now, let's see if I can rip a fast mile as the steep downhill is right in front of me. At some marathons (Charlotte) they decide to put the uphills at the end. Fortunately, the Pittsburgh Marathon has more sense than that.Mile 23 7:31
I can't believe (even though my legs hurt) that I can't run downhill faster than this. At least, all of the miles are sub-8:00 so far.Mile 24 7:27
This steep, downhill mile proves that my legs just will not turnover any faster than 7:30/mile today. Two years ago, I ripped a 6:36 going down this hill.Mile 25 8:04
Oh no! The downhill is mostly over, and there is no crowd here because they are all down near the finish. A lonely, flat mile, and I let the time slip over 8:00.Mile 26 7:36
However, there is still a small glimmer of life left in the dead, tired legs that are now 32 years old. My energy level is still relatively high, and I can ignore the pain from the tighs on down for a mile.Mile 26.2 1:24
What a good finish. As more than one writer has written, only one person wins, but we all have the chance to look good at the finish. Fortunately, I can at least look good at the finish on this less than optimal day.Finish 3:17:47
179th out of 2328, overall
36th out of 267, men 30-34
Another marathon in the books. This is actually my second fastest at Pittsburgh in four completions. Furhermore, it is my 5th fastest overall in 17 completions. For the three marathons I have run this year, my times are 3:16, 3:15, and 3:17. They look really consistent, but each race was so different. This is the slowest of the three, but the best race I ran--pacing and taking in water.
Well, now my plans (if all goes well) are to run the Vermont 100 in July and then to return to the JFK 50 Miler in November. This 100 miler in Vermont will be my first, and I think this Pittsburgh marathon has mentally toughened me for the task.
Never stop running,
Darin
