Pete Tanguay

I went into this race with very high confidence.  My plan was to run less than a 3:50 with the worst case being a sub-4.  Goal was to run a strong first half, make it through the next 7 miles and the race would begin at mile 20.  I was on a 3:50 pace when the 3:50 pace group left me at mile 14.5 as we headed into a 25+ mph headwind.  The raced didn’t begin at mile 20, it ended there.  Once the four hour pace group passed me and I couldn’t run with them there was nothing left to do but finish.  I ran / walked the last 6 miles and even laid down on the grass for about 4 minutes to just try and regroup.  There was no regrouping.  Any finishing time over 4 hours meant the same.

The wind was brutal and the course had a lot more hills than I thought but I think I had not prepared enough for a marathon.  My training has been focused on 10-13 mile long runs with a few longer ones in there, tempo runs, hill work and speed work.  I will have to do more long runs and get my endurance up before I try a marathon again.  This was definitely an all out defeat and something that was not fun at all.   Best news, it is over.  Finishing time – 4:26.

Ed sent out a great email the day before our dual marathons and it was worth cataloging on the race blog.  I’m ready for this race.  I’ve had two dreams in the last two nights – one that I finished the first half in 1:44 (although in the dream I was running down a stairwell,  not sure what that means) and last night I was running and had the feeling of “I feel strong”.  There will definitely be some strong winds and most likely some rain but everything I’ve done in 2009 was done for what I will do tomorrow.  Nothing left to do but to do it.  Off to play 18 holes of golf at Oak Tree Country Club and forget about running for a bit.  Won’t be drinking any beer on the course though!

Oklahoma City Marathon is Sunday and my primary goal is to get under 4 hours but my race plan is set to get me under 3:50 which I think I can do.  I don’t feel I’m ready to try for 3:35 (BQ time) at this race.  My fear is setting too fast of a pace to start and fading at the end.  I have not done a lot of long runs (over 16) although I have done quite a few races, including 3 half marathons.  My 800 track work is at a 7 min pace, tempo runs at a 7:30 pace, normal runs at about an 8:10-15 pace.  I ran 2 half marathons with all miles below an 8 minute pace with times of 1:43 and 1:42.  Course is relatively flat but the forecast is wind and a chance of thunderstorms.  I’ve trained and raced in both so I’m not worried about that really.

Plan A – try to keep the first half marathon miles under 8 minutes.  Hold it as long as I can but make sure the second half of the marathon does not go over 9 minute miles.  An 8 minute mile for 13 then a 9 minute mile for 13 is a 3:42. 

Plan B – run with the 3:35 pace group for the first half and then see how I’m doing.  This should be about an 8:05 pace.  This would mean I would run a little slower the first half than plan A, but then have to hold the faster pace longer.  The advantage here is that I can focus only on the pace group for the half.  Then at the half if I think I can hang with them to the end I could try.  I just hate to be changing up my race plan in the middle of the race like that.  The thing I like about this plan is that an 8-8:10 pace is my most comfortable pace.  It’s the pace I end up at if I just head out for a run and get to a comfortable pace – look down at my watch and this is what I’m running.

Plan C – run with a 3:45 pace group the entire race.  I don’t seem to ever be able to run the same pace a whole race and I’d hate to end up at mile 18 slowing down and realizing that I don’t have as much time in the bank or get to the end andd realize I could have run a better race. 

Until recently I had the misconception that my training was preparing me to run a race that was comfortable.  As the race gets closer I am focusing on the realization that this is going to be hard and my ability to run through the pain is the key, not preparation that will eliminate it.  Bottom line, a finishing time over 4 hours will be a tragedy, 3:50 or less will be great and 3:35 will be unbelievable. 

I want to get a smart race plan that is aggressive and then go see what happens. I don’t have a lot of experience at 26.2.  My gut is Plan B is the best with the idea to stay with them as long as I can and then manage the remaining miles the best I can if/when they drop me.  Regardles,  relax, have fun, smile, expect pain and run through it with the memories of all of the people who have helped me get to where I am and are somewhere waiting to hear my finishing time. It’s an opportunity to run another marathon with my brother Ed, even though his race will have just finished in Hamburg, Germany – we are connected trainers and runners. He is the one who got me in to this!!

The joys of overanalyzing!

Mild track work is somewhat of an oxymoron but that is what I did today. Ran over with the faster group, did various laps with different people and ran back with the slower group. Goal this week is to stay loose, keep my confidence in my stride and pace and store up energy for this weekend. Had a dream last night that I ran my first half of the marathon in a 1:44. we’ll see how true that is! The dream was where I was running at a real good pace down a stairwell passing people going down the stairs and the next thing I know I look up and there is this 1:44. I’m getting through my pre-race fears of crashing and not making my goals. Building confidence that although it is going to be painful, difficult and take all I have, that I will make it and the results will be good. Last weekend I gave a speech and when I give speeches my fear is always that I will run out of material before I am done talking and have to stand there with nothing to say. I always have plenty of material and everything works out well. My speech was a 2 1/2 hour presentation and I was feeling this was too long but it went exceptionally well and it gives me confidence going in to my race.

Ran 6 miles in three 2 mile intervals with a nice rest between each.  Tapering my way to the OKC marathon, focused on making a race plan and staying loose.  I was in Florida for this run and it was a little warmer than normal which was nice.  Focus was on running softly – not allowing my feet to stay on the ground a long time and on cadence.  Very excited for the race this weekend.

Felt real good this morning.  Had a good 1 mile warm up and then a good pace run, focused on picking my feet up and getting comfortable at a fast pace.  Ran Bainbridge hill hard and then finished out coming back on Prince Street.  Did yoga class afterwards which his really good for flexibility – and for showing me how inflexible I am! 

Really this was 2 six mile runs, one with a friend at a slower pace and then picked up with the faster group and ran 6.  Good mentail work for the marathon in 2 weeks.  Stayed with the faster group until the last 3 miles and couldn’t keep  up.  Fought off the urge to cut the run short.  Run felt good but reminded me that there will be nothing easy about the marathon.  The late miles are going to get very hard and I’ll have to run thgouth them. 

Good tempo run, trying to keep my 3 miles of tempo under 7:30 and getting closer.   The last 1/2 mile is uphill and a challenge.  Had planned on running 8 but cutting off with another runner to run 6 seemed good at the time.  

Ran by myself this morning.  It made me really appreciate the others I run with who keep me going and motivated.  Once I got started I was fine but taking those first few steps took some effort.  Set out to do a good run but didn’t look at my watch for 1.5 miles and was happy to see I was running a sub-8 pace.  I still struggle with the middle miles but on this route they are slightly uphill.  My leg felt much better today and I’m working on stretching it a lot after I run to help it recover.  It’s downhill to the OKC marathon and I’m getting excited – and nervous.

Legs were a bit sore and body felt fatigued so we took it slow today but got in our 5 miles.  A little wind held us up but mostly it was the race yesterday.  Right thigh is still real tight and takes awhile to get warm and loose.  I have a lot going on in various areas of life and so I’m just a bit tired.  Looking to manage these last 3 weeks before OKC so I can hit it at a peak.