As we neared mile 12, the group of men we'd been running with started to speed up even more than we already had been. I didn't feel comfortable picking it up any more at that point, and I sensed Jamie felt the same way, so we stayed where we were while Kris pressed on with the men. I continued praying, "God, make us strong and brave. Help us all to PR. Help us all get that 2:45:00." You can read about what a phenomenal race Kris went on to have here -- I was beyond elated for her and think she ran so smart (she ran a half PR in the second half of this race!). She also did a podcast on I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein, episode 94 found here. Kris and Lindsey discuss me briefly at around 1:04:00 in the podcast, which I was super excited about!
Jamie and I pulled up on a group of women just before the half and latched onto them for awhile. Around this time we were also starting to pass elite women (we were in the sub-elite group), who were identifiable because they had numbers on their backs displaying their ranks going into the race. I loved being in such a stacked female field because there were always ladies around, and passing the ones with numbers on their backs was particularly confidence-inspiring, because I knew they'd run a 2:46:00 or better marathon or 1:18:00 or better half to get that elite spot.
We passed the half mat in 1:22:57. I fully believe that if I'm going to run a 2:45, it's going to be via halves of about 1:23/1:22, so this was an ideal first half. I felt really fresh and I thought "I actually have a chance at this thing!" 6:15 seemed terrifying yet also achievable. I kept with my mantra, "God, please make us strong and brave." I don't choose race mantras in advance, because there are so many aspects of every race that you can't predict ahead of time, and I do best when I let mantras develop according to those, but some of my sayings end up better than others. This one was far superior to my "It's just like an 8 mile tempo run, only 5 miles farther" at the Indy Women's Half!
My family was waiting just after the half, cheering with all they had! My Dad's video from that point is here. I took my second gel around this time.
Just after the half |
After mile 18, and a good representation of how there were always people to run with yet it was not crowded |
When I hit the mile 20 mat in 2:06:10, I knew if I could maintain 6:15 (for a 38:50 final 10K) through the end I was really going to do it! I really thought I could. At Phoenix I'd needed a 39:50 final 10K to get a 2:49 (I ended up running 39:10), and this situation felt so similar because in that moment I really thought I could make it happen. It is always nice to have more wiggle room time-wise, but for me when running for a time goal like this, I just can't have it or I'll for sure bonk.
I continued to roll and to believe until around mile 22.5...
I couldn't figure out where to include this, but this is the course elevation. It is truly a "fast but not easy" course. The net drop of over 300 feet is nice, but you climb a significant amount too. |
It’s crazy to see so many people running that pace for a marathon in the videos! It feels like seeing someone running that pace in a marathon means they should be running all alone, out front! What a competitive race!
ReplyDeleteIt was crazy how deep the field was -- 50 women under 2:45! I don't think there were even that many under 2:45 at the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials.
DeleteI looked up the stats. At the 2016 women's Olympic Trials there were 40 women under 2:45, so this race was more competitive than that one. 149 women went sub-3:00 at CIM! That is INSANE!
DeleteThat is so amazing!!! You picked a very competitive and deep race!
DeleteThis wasn't one to go to for place, that's for sure! I don't think I've placed 65th female in any race before (the one that would be questionable was a CC national meet I did at age 12 where I got tripped and run over by girls wearing spikes, but I got up and finished...those 12 years old were ruthless!).
Delete