Sunday, 9/18/2016 - Rochester Marathon

I ran 2 times this week, 26.65 miles.

Sunday, 9/18/2016: 2 runs of 0.3 and 26.35 miles, 66F, 100% RH, 4 mph WSW wind, partly cloudy

I had set my alarm for 5:15 AM and wasn't awake when it went off. I got a bit less than 6 hours of sleep. I know that Christine didn't have that much since she had stayed up after I went upstairs. I weighed myself on the Withings WD-50 ... 164.4 pounds. I brewed some coffee and had my usual pre race bowl of cereal. I used almond milk since our regular milk had gone bad. I woke Christine up around 5:40 AM. She did want to stay home but realized that she had to drop me off near the race start since the Rochester Marathon is a point to point race. I quickly got dressed in a loose pair of Reebok shorts, my 2015 Rochester Marathon tech and filled my hydration pack with 2 liters of water along with some ice cubes. I had already filled my 2 flasks with HammerGel the night before. We left for Lake Ave and Seneca Parkway around 6:23 AM and arrived around 6:35 AM. There wasn't too much traffic. I shouldered my hydration vest, put my sunglasses in one of the pockets, kissed Christine goodbye and headed across Lake Ave over to the Maplewood tennis courts. I remembered to give Christine my eyeglasses (unlike last year). She continued onward to Frontier Field to volunteer in the food tent.

A selfie before the race

I was in plenty of time for the 7:30 AM start so I just hung around. I talked with some running friends, hit the porta-potty and took a tiny 0.3 mile warmup run at 9:54 pace, link here. I lined up next to Andy Ciaio. We were both concerned about how warm and humid it was. I could tell from the sky that it would be fairly sunny once the sun rose higher in the sky. My plan was to run ahead of the 3:50 pacer, hydrate every 2 miles and take HammerGel every 4 miles.

The start ... photo courtesy of Kim Smith of Fleet Feet Rochester

And ... we were off. I laughed a bit when I heard Ellen Brenner say "make a friend, find a lover, do whatever it takes to get you through it" as she sent us on our way. It took 17 seconds to cross the start line. The start was a bit congested for the first quarter mile. I stayed next to or near Andy for a while.

Just behind Andy Ciaio in the light green tech ... photo courtesy of Jim Strowe

Passing under the 104 bridge after the start ... photo courtesy of Barb Boutillier of Fleet Feet Rochester

The RFD hung a flag on Bridgeview Drive just before Lake Ave at mile 1 ... photo courtesy of Barb Boutillier of Fleet Feet Rochester

He went ahead at the mile 1 mark. The run down Lake Ave and onto the Genesee Riverway trail was congested but not unbearable. The runners around me were mostly running the same pace so passing or being passed was done with no trouble.

Heading onto the boardwalk of the Genesee Riverway Trail at mile 3.5 on loop 1 ... photo courtesy of Barb Boutillier of Fleet Feet Rochester

Runners on the boardwalk of the Genesee Riverway Trail on loop 1 ... photo courtesy of Barb Boutillier of Fleet Feet Rochester

Coming off the Gensee Riverway Trail boardwalk on loop 1 ... photo courtesy of Gameface Media

The run up the Thomas Ave hill was highlighted by a dead skunk in the road ... it stunk as I ran about a foot away. I remember I heard a trombone playing the theme from Rocky just before Cooper Ave. The run on St Paul was highlighted by the Winona Blvd area which had 3 distinct groups ... Easter with an Easter Bunny, St Patrick's Day with bagpipes and Christmas with a Santa Claus. It was a lively area.

Near St Paul St and Titus Ave just before mile 9 on loop 1 ... photo courtesy of John Brind'Amour

Heading up the pedestrian bridge on loop 1 ... photo courtesy of Jim Strowe

Then it was across the pedestrian bridge, a turn to the left and up to the Maplewood Gardens on Driving Park Ave. This is one loop I should have practiced more. All my practice runs had me coming up the pedestrian bridge and turning right to quickly head back to Lake Ave. I only practiced this once.

I ran well for the first 11 miles. I had kept ahead of the 3:50 pacer. I knew I was slowing a bit. Then ... the 3:50 pacer passed me just after I had made the turn at the Maplewood Gardens to start the second loop at mile 11. That took a lot out of me. I had wanted to run a 3:50 to qualify for Boston. I started my decline into a walk/run the rest of the way. The half passed in 1:56:00 by my Garmin (1:55:44 officially). I just lost all motivation. I didn't care. It had gotten hotter (around 80F), the sun had come out and it was just as humid. So ... I walked, I ran a bit, I walked some more. Down Lake Ave. The 4:00 pacer passed at mile 15 in the Riverside cemetery. The Genesee Riverway trail, the O'Rorke Bridge and Thomas Ave had far fewer runners since only the marathon runners were on the second loop. The 4:20 pacer passed at mile 20 on Thomas Ave. I tried to keep him in sight.

Coming off the Genesee Riverway Trail on loop 2 ... photo courtesy of Gameface Media

Crossing the O'Rorke Bridge on loop 2 ... photo courtesy of Gameface Media

Near St Paul St and Titus Ave just before mile 22 on loop 2 ... photo courtesy of John Brind'Amour

Up St Paul St, through the Winona Blvd section, across the pedestrian bridge and then up the the trail to Driving Park Ave ... getting there.

Heading down toward Middle Falls and the finish just after mile 24 ... photo courtesy of Barb Boutillier of Fleet Feet Rochester

The Genesee River Lower Falls ... photo courtesy of Gameface Media

I crossed Driving Park Ave just after mile 24 to head back to Frontier Field. Down the hill ... Lower Falls on my left, across the Middle Falls bridge onto Brewer St and up that **** Brewer St hill back to St Paul St ... a little more than 1 mile to go. Down St Paul St ... congested traffic on the left ... 1 Km to go. A slow run ... right turn to head over the Pont de Rennes Bridge ... the High Falls to my left.

The bottom of the Brewer St hill ... photo courtesy of Jeff Scheuch

The first sign brought out a chuckle ... photo courtesy of Jeff Scheuch

A photographer! Gotta run! ... photo courtesy of Jeff Scheuch

A photographer was at the top of the Brewer St hill so I ran the last 100 feet ... photo courtesy of Gameface Media

The finish arch seems close ... photo courtesy of Barb Boutillier of Fleet Feet Rochester

I saw the Fleet Feet finish arch in the distance. I hiked it up to a really slow sprint ... across Lake Ave ... the finish arch was still a quarter mile away. A little faster sprint ... I heard Andy Ciaio (in at 4:14:00) to my left ... in the chute ... Ellen Brenner calling my name ... and done ... the finisher's medal around my neck ... priceless.

A slow sprint close to the finish ... photo courtesy of Gameface Media

Crossing the finish line after hearing Ellen call your name ... priceless ... photo courtesy of Gameface Media

I immediately realized I needed water. I gulped 2 cups down. I staggered around ... I heard Christine behind me. She caught up to me and led me into the food tent. She didn't go in for a while until I staggered around for a while. I had a banana. I really needed a place to sit but I couldn't find any chairs. I tried to sit on a table but it wasn't the same. She came in, found me a chair, plopped me down and found me some chips and pizza. She poured some water on my head too which helped to cool me off (she might have enjoyed that). She does seem to pick up the pieces when I push myself to the limit. I didn't want to go to the medical tent. I heard later that it was a bit crowded.

A selfie after I revived myself

I trudged over to Frontier Field to get my last 2016 Four Seasons Challenge medal, change from my wet running clothes into shorts and my 2016 heather red MVP Rochester Marathon tech shirt and get my cotton Four Season Challenge shirt stamped "Finished", Then Christine drove home. I learned that she had felt nauseous and had spent some time in the Cruze before she went to the finish line to see me finish. She knew that I was having trouble when I didn't finish in the time I had told her.

Soon I was in my customary post-race position ... on the couch, drinking a mug of warmed up coffee, uploading my Garmin and checking out Facebook. I was a bit disappointed in myself for not doing a BQ of around a 3:50 or so. But now that I think of it (others on Facebook have said this also) ... I finished in not so great conditions. I have run 3 Rochester Marathons (2008 in 4:29, 2013 in 3:51 and 2016 in just under 4:32) and two of them have been hot. Plus this new Rochester Marathon course is not BQ friendly with 1141 feet of elevation change. I had only one goal which was to BQ and no backup plan. When that didn't happen I lost my mental mojo and just folded. Yes, I finished. I made sure of that. The weather on the day of a marathon is always a crap shoot and it kicked my (and a lot of other runners) butt.

The obligatory medal selfie

All the 2016 Four Season Challenge medals hooked together

The Finisher shirt with all the Four Season Challenge hardware and Finisher's medals

I heard lots of other stories. Kathy Reardon had trouble holding the pace on her 2:15 pace group and had to give up her sign at mile 9. I passed the 4:20 pace leader with a couple of tenths to go. Kevin Klinefelter (who at age 60 is faster than I am) collapsed at mile 25 with leg cramps and had the EMTs bring him in.

Time for stats. I finished in 4:31:59 according to my Garmin, 4:31:42 officially. Gun time splits on the course were: 5K: 26:17, 8:29 pace; 10K: 53:20, 8:36 pace, 15K: 1:20:37, 8:40 pace, Half: 1:56:02, 8:51 pace. I was 150th out of 400 runners according to the runsignup.com link here. I was 6th out of 17 in my M 55-59 age group, link here. My splits were: 8:41, 8:31, 8:35, 8:14, 8:40, 8:41, 8:46, 8:45, 8:45, 8:59, 9:37, 9:35, 9:23, 10:36, 12:50, 11:19, 10:04, 12:42, 13:29, 12:06, 11:23, 12:35, 11:38, 13:23, 11:46, 9:26 and 8:29 over the last 0.35 mile.

So ... I didn't run my third marathon the way I envisioned. There will be other ones I hope. I need to work on my mental game of running a marathon. Today I didn't have a plan of what to do if I didn't run a 3:50. I didn't even think about it. I should have had a plan A (3:50), plan B (4:00) and plan C (4:10). Instead I just had plan A (3:50). I could have adjusted my hydration and nutrition but I don't know if that would have helped. My idea of using HammerGel in a HammerGel flask or Gu flask was a win. I didn't have to tear open Gu packets (which I saw littered around aid stations). I easily took nutrition on the run ... no muss, no fuss.

I should have done 2 FULL loops of the bridges (O'Rorke out to Maplewood) starting from the Maplewood tennis courts at least twice. I do think I will do an October or November marathon next in 2017 though. There is too much of a chance of a warm day in September. I don't do long distances well in the heat.

All in all ... a good day. I lost 1.2 pounds down to 163.2 pounds. I have been around 165 to 170 pounds. I run well at this weight. I made a lifestyle change on my 59th birthday (two days ago) that I hope to keep ... more on that at a later time. Now if I could just start working out my upper body and core ...