Quad Cities Marathon 2009

Background I’ve been dealing with a chronic “behind the knee/upper calf” problem; over the past three weeks I’ve walked only 4 workouts (and had two easy runs during that time). But I was signed up and decided to see if I could do it.

I did a 5:14 in Rockford this past May.

My last marathon finish on this in this race (slightly different course) was in 2005; the report is here.

Yes, I did take a couple of Naproxyen about 3 hours prior to the race.

Weather: cool at the start (spandex season! ) and it warmed up into the high 70′s toward the end; it was also somewhat windy/breezy.

Here is the quick and dirty from facebook:

Ok, I’ll admit it: the last “real” training walk I had was three weekends ago; I had a chronic “behind the knee/upper calf soreness” that was getting worse. Hence I did the racewalk clinic two weeks ago and three very short (3, 4, 5 mile) training walks otherwise over the last three weeks.

But I had signed up in advance and wanted to try the marathon.

For those who are unfamiliar: I walk these 100 percent of the way, though in this race I took a few breaks where I street walked (to protect my tender spot)

Note: I had walked a 5:14 at Rockford, but I was well prepared for that race.

Upshot: my first 5 miles was at my normal pace (56:36), I was slowing at mile 10 (1:55:36), slowed some more (mid way at 2:34:36), 2:57:15 at mile 15, slowed way down in the next 5 miles as my calves started to swell (4:01:21 at mile 20), and the next 6 were done in the just get it done with mode (5:10:45) at mile 25, and 5:28:36.

That was an ugly positive split (2:34:36, 2:54:00 for the second half). But I didn’t get passed that much during the second half; most people slowed.

More details:
I really didn’t notice all that much difference early on; though the few hills that there are come early (miles 1-5) I was maintaining my pace rather easily (low 11s); I did take one “cheat break” where I did some street walking. I was taking succeed tablets every 2 miles or so; that kept the nausea away. But today my body didn’t like Power Ade Zero; I often like this during less strenuous walking.

Again nothing seemed wrong until mile 10 (I was chasing a lady in pink shorts). But then my 11s turned into 12s; this happened as we passed from Davenport into Rock Island.

On Arsenal Island (where we were from miles 13-20) those 12′s migrated into 13s and there wasn’t much I could do about it. My calves just plain lost power and I started to walk very “stumpy”.

I did a mile with Beth (who was to finish 1 minute ahead of me) and was going back and forth with some walk-joggers who got away from me.

By the time we left Arsenal Island my legs were shot and I wasn’t able to push off or use my feet. I felt the effort but I’ve felt much worse in other marathons. But my pace migrated into the low 14s.

The out and back was oh-so-long (10 K) and I was in the “finish this” mode.

Spandex notes evidently one of the elite runners (female) missed the start; I saw her blow by us and weave in and out in the first mile; she had the little hiked-up spandex bun-hugger.

From mile 4 to 5, there was one of those “oh, can’t I give it just a little rub just this once” types (black half-tights and purple spandex top) I think that the most attractive marathon runners are the 4:30 to 5:30 finishers! The faster ones tend to be too skinny for my tastes.

Stats Geeks: Place: 673/746.

mile	time	cum time
1
2		22:35
3	11:32	34:07
4	11:29	45:36
5	10:59	56:36
6	11:31	1:08:08
7	11:36	1:19:44
8	11:45	1:31:30
9	11:47	1:43:18
10	12:18	1:55:36 (still ahead of Rockford)
11	12:00	2:07:37
12	12:26	2:20:04
13	12:19	2:32:24 (about 2:34:36 at half)
14	12:17	2:44:41
15	12:33	2:57:15
16	12:39	3:09:55 (Fell behind Rockford pace)
17	12:40	3:22:35
18	12:31	3:35:06
19	13:00	3:48:07
20	13:13	4:01:21
21	13:14	4:14:36
22	13:28	4:28:04
23	14:06	4:42:10
24	14:23	4:56:34
25	14:10	5:10:45
26	14:51	5:25:36
26.219	2:59	5:28:36

Other marathon reports:

Andy Payne Marathon (2008) 6:16

Quad Cities Marathon 2007 (DNF mile 23).

Quad Cities Half Marathon 2008.