Indianapolis Monumental 2011!
Nov. 6th, 2011 01:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alexr_rwxA version of this might end up on our friend Steph's blog My Race, My Story! (even if it doesn't, that site is pretty interesting)
Upshot!
I had a good race, on a beautiful day. I came in at 3:53:37, which was a PR by about 8 minutes! (see splits!). I was super happy to have finally broken four hours. I took it out somewhat aggressively (with the 3:45 pace group), and slowed down considerably towards the end -- but I kept running the whole way. It wasn't fast in the grand scheme of fast people, but it's progress for me, and I'm pleased.
The BARA running group had a fantastic showing, both in that lots of us came out to race, and some of us were there just to support friends! That's a really beautiful thing.
Context
I've been doing marathons for a few years now -- my first was in Atlanta in 2006, run with my friend Graham. Since 2009, I've been running in minimalist footwear, usually the Vibram Five Fingers, but sometimes actually barefoot.
I had never broken four hours on the marathon, which bothered me. I've been pretty quick on the half, even kicking it at the end, but on the full, I've had a history of falling apart. Unplanned walk breaks, lots of suffering. So this was the day to finally break through!
The race itself
It was a beautiful day for racing in Indianapolis: pleasantly chilly the whole way, clear, with nice fall colors and pretty neighborhoods to run through. The race starts downtown, winds around the city a bit before going into nearby neighborhoods and back.
The BARA crew got together before the race to take some pictures and get pumped up. I found some of my compatriots who were planning to do about the same pace as me, and somebody (Mike's lovely wife, whose name I forget? Dina? Diana?) who was willing to hold on to my extra gear.
The night before, I was worried that I might be coming down with something, but once we got started, I felt fine. I stuck right with the 3:45 pace group until about the halfway point, talking to our pace leader Traci, who apparently runs dozens of races a year and is working on breaking three hours. There was also an interesting guy from the English department at Purdue, who does something like anthropology on engineers, and a guy wearing patriotic American flag pants, Vibrams, and a Ron Paul shirt. Runners are weird.
After the halfway point, I was still feeling good, and I gradually cruised out in front of the group. Around mile 16, somebody remarked that I didn't look like I was working very hard, which was heartening.
I think a marathon doesn't really start until mile 20 -- that's about when it's just a matter of making yourself do it, because it hurts a lot! So I was eager to get to that point, resolving to push through it. I was right on pace, or just a little bit faster, for about that long. Around mile 21-22, my muscles were getting pretty stiff and sore, and I could feel myself slowing down. I heard the pace group catching up to me, and they soon left me behind, but I'd built up a good time bank, so I knew unless something terrible happened, I would break four hours.
Looking at the numbers, I slowed down a lot: it took me about 74 minutes to do the last 12K; there were probably a few miles in there slower than 10-minute pace.
But for the last mile and a half, I managed a little kick, and I was really really happy to see the finish line! I celebrated by heaving a bit, then stumbling off to the food, and to find my fellow BARAns.
Equipment etc
I think most runners have at least heard about VFFs now, so while some folks are a little surprised at people doing long races in them, you don't have to explain so much anymore. On a related note, I went to a little workshop on "Natural Running Form" at InRunCo, and I think that helped me tune up my stride: I've been focusing on standing up taller and letting my heels touch the ground instead of pushing off with my toes, and trying to take more steps instead of bigger steps. The thing I noticed most about the form tweaks is that, since I bounce less, it's easier to drink the Gatorade at the aid stations!
I started the race with some Shot Bloks in hand, and ate them pretty quickly. I also had two packs of Sport Beans in my pockets, which are *delicious* at mile 17, but I think they're too hard to chew while running.
Support
The BARA team spirit really made the race. It was really uplifting to start the race with friends (not to mention to do most of the training with friends!), and it was great to have familiar faces cheering along the way. One BARAn, Evan, was zipping around the course on his bike, shouting encouragement every few miles.
Some other BARAns had excellent signs, including:
- "Occupy the wall!"
- "Run all the miles!"
- "99% of people never run a marathon. You are the 1%"
- "It's supposed to be hard / that's what she said".
... pretty great :)
OK, onward and upward!
Upshot!
I had a good race, on a beautiful day. I came in at 3:53:37, which was a PR by about 8 minutes! (see splits!). I was super happy to have finally broken four hours. I took it out somewhat aggressively (with the 3:45 pace group), and slowed down considerably towards the end -- but I kept running the whole way. It wasn't fast in the grand scheme of fast people, but it's progress for me, and I'm pleased.
The BARA running group had a fantastic showing, both in that lots of us came out to race, and some of us were there just to support friends! That's a really beautiful thing.
Context
I've been doing marathons for a few years now -- my first was in Atlanta in 2006, run with my friend Graham. Since 2009, I've been running in minimalist footwear, usually the Vibram Five Fingers, but sometimes actually barefoot.
I had never broken four hours on the marathon, which bothered me. I've been pretty quick on the half, even kicking it at the end, but on the full, I've had a history of falling apart. Unplanned walk breaks, lots of suffering. So this was the day to finally break through!
The race itself
It was a beautiful day for racing in Indianapolis: pleasantly chilly the whole way, clear, with nice fall colors and pretty neighborhoods to run through. The race starts downtown, winds around the city a bit before going into nearby neighborhoods and back.
The BARA crew got together before the race to take some pictures and get pumped up. I found some of my compatriots who were planning to do about the same pace as me, and somebody (Mike's lovely wife, whose name I forget? Dina? Diana?) who was willing to hold on to my extra gear.
The night before, I was worried that I might be coming down with something, but once we got started, I felt fine. I stuck right with the 3:45 pace group until about the halfway point, talking to our pace leader Traci, who apparently runs dozens of races a year and is working on breaking three hours. There was also an interesting guy from the English department at Purdue, who does something like anthropology on engineers, and a guy wearing patriotic American flag pants, Vibrams, and a Ron Paul shirt. Runners are weird.
After the halfway point, I was still feeling good, and I gradually cruised out in front of the group. Around mile 16, somebody remarked that I didn't look like I was working very hard, which was heartening.
I think a marathon doesn't really start until mile 20 -- that's about when it's just a matter of making yourself do it, because it hurts a lot! So I was eager to get to that point, resolving to push through it. I was right on pace, or just a little bit faster, for about that long. Around mile 21-22, my muscles were getting pretty stiff and sore, and I could feel myself slowing down. I heard the pace group catching up to me, and they soon left me behind, but I'd built up a good time bank, so I knew unless something terrible happened, I would break four hours.
Looking at the numbers, I slowed down a lot: it took me about 74 minutes to do the last 12K; there were probably a few miles in there slower than 10-minute pace.
But for the last mile and a half, I managed a little kick, and I was really really happy to see the finish line! I celebrated by heaving a bit, then stumbling off to the food, and to find my fellow BARAns.
Equipment etc
I think most runners have at least heard about VFFs now, so while some folks are a little surprised at people doing long races in them, you don't have to explain so much anymore. On a related note, I went to a little workshop on "Natural Running Form" at InRunCo, and I think that helped me tune up my stride: I've been focusing on standing up taller and letting my heels touch the ground instead of pushing off with my toes, and trying to take more steps instead of bigger steps. The thing I noticed most about the form tweaks is that, since I bounce less, it's easier to drink the Gatorade at the aid stations!
I started the race with some Shot Bloks in hand, and ate them pretty quickly. I also had two packs of Sport Beans in my pockets, which are *delicious* at mile 17, but I think they're too hard to chew while running.
Support
The BARA team spirit really made the race. It was really uplifting to start the race with friends (not to mention to do most of the training with friends!), and it was great to have familiar faces cheering along the way. One BARAn, Evan, was zipping around the course on his bike, shouting encouragement every few miles.
Some other BARAns had excellent signs, including:
- "Occupy the wall!"
- "Run all the miles!"
- "99% of people never run a marathon. You are the 1%"
- "It's supposed to be hard / that's what she said".
... pretty great :)
OK, onward and upward!
