Greensboro Marathon Finisher!!!
So I finished, that was my primary goal and happy it is over!!
My first 13.1 was in 2:51:51 and the second was 3:38:46 so 6:31:21 was the official time they sent me!
The course was much hillier than I expected, 1300+ feet of elevation change up (and 1248 down) and I have to admit most of my training I picked out flatter places to run.
My left leg / IT band gave me trouble but never quite as bad as 3 weeks earlier, but I finally had to start walking at mile 18. I would try running every once in a while but started having cramps in both hamstrings and right calf. So by the time I ran, cramped, worked out the cramp so I could walk.. it was faster to just walk!
So my final 8 miles were 15:32 to 17:45 per mile walking pace.
All the folks behind me ended up dropping out so I turned out to the final person on the course! I had a police escort the last 6 miles or so.
My story is that the President was running with me, but could not finish, but that was the reason for the 2 EMTs on the bikes, the police car in front (clearing out intersections) and behind me plus the ambulance behind me! If I had gone down I would have had lots of help for sure!
ONE AND DONE... I have officially completed a marathon and for that I am very happy. I enjoyed the first 13.1 and fully expect to do more Half-Marathons in my future, but unless my body/legs really transform I have no plans for another FULL.
Congrats!!! Sorry to hear about the troubles during the race!! A police escort is cool!
Surgery March 23/2011. Completed three full marathons and two half marathons, two half Ironman distances. Completed my first Full Ironman distance (4 km swim, 180 km bike, 42.2 km (full marathon) run) in Muskoka August 30/2015. Next Ironman Lake Placid July 23/2017!
Congrats!!!! Hilly courses can be a beeyotch on IT issues, so that's great that you were able to finish! My running buddy had major knee issues (while I was dealing with nausea) for miles 21-24, so there's nothing wrong with walking - hey, it's forward motion! I agree with you, doing a full marathon almost makes half-marathons seem like a joy!
First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.
I am thinking my next running goal is a sub 30 5k!
Well...my NEXT running goal is the ability to ever run again...sigh! :)
Left knee is still stiff, hitting it on the foam roller tonight, hoping/planning to run on the Cruise ship next week, they have a little track up on the top of the ship!
Thx to all for the kind words.
I think we all have a unique challenge in our fuel intake / hydration, I know I managed to get in a 1/2 banana on the course, and about 2 packs of gels and one mixed berry gu.
Hydration, I had a 10 oz bottle on my hand, I filled it every 2 miles so that should be about 140 oz of water on the run.
That's a great goal to have. My best is 26 minutes and change...I would like to shave off a couple more minutes, and i've only done the 26 minutes once. I can get 27 or 28 minutes regularly. It's almost sprinting the entire time!! LOL
When did you change your shoes last? I had been wearing wrong shoes for distance running (even though they were recommended to me, after the specialty shoe store video-taped me running and did all scientific stuff on me....apparently they weren't under the impression I was training for a marathon). The new shoes I was fitted for are much better, and my IT band issue is pretty much gone. My massage therapist can't believe the difference.
Still rolling and such, but so much better!! Let us know how your cruise was!
Surgery March 23/2011. Completed three full marathons and two half marathons, two half Ironman distances. Completed my first Full Ironman distance (4 km swim, 180 km bike, 42.2 km (full marathon) run) in Muskoka August 30/2015. Next Ironman Lake Placid July 23/2017!
