My journey to the marathon really began much earlier this year. Since I began racing, I knew that I wanted to tackle a marathon at some point - but I just didn't know when. I had decided that I didn't want to tackle the marathon until I felt I could finish it under 3hrs 30mins. When I first set this goal, it seemed very challenging, but after having a fantastic racing season, in the Spring of this year, I felt that I could be ready and I decided it was time to take on the challenge. I began training in late June -- which essentially meant just adding in longer runs on the weekends. Later I also added in mid-week longer tempo runs, and was running 6 days a week consistently.
By the end of my training I couldn't wait for taper week, to scroll down the kms, take it a bit easier, and leave it all for race-day. About 1 month before the race, I started having pain and tightness in my hamstring. During one of my last long runs, I ended up walk-running the last 35 minutes or so, as I was in so much pain. A dreadful scenario of my marathon ending the same way flashed before my eyes... To try and avoid this conclusion, I had a few massage therapy sessions that loosened up my hamstrings, and they started to feel better.
The night before, I was doing some exercises that were intended to strengthen my gluteus muscles (and help my hamstrings). However, as I was finishing up one of my sets, I pulled something in my lower back, and searing pain shot through my back. I could barely walk, and bending down and twisting my body in certain directions hurt like crazy. I grabbed the ice-pack, hoping that it would be short-lived. Was this the end to my marathon?
The pain did not subside, and as I laid down to sleep, I was praying that in the morning all would be better. In the middle of the night, I ended up massaging out a few kinks, and my back felt somewhat improved the next day. I woke up early to have breakfast, then dressed and headed on my way - hoping that once I started running, I would forget the back pain.
Arriving downtown, I saw Shane who had already finished his 8km race (which had started at 7:15!). He had ran a pretty good race - earning a few second PB - and 6th overall.
Just prior to heading to the start line, I popped a vitamin I (Ibuprofen), hoping it would take the edge off of my back. Soon enough, the countdown was on, and we were off. Within the first kilometer, I saw my training partner, Julie van Veelan. Unfortunately, she had been battling some injuries, and wasn't sure how she'd be able to do. We ran together for the first km, then I inched ahead for a few hundred meters, and soon she passed me. I kept right behind her, as the first few kms passed. At this point, I was running too fast, but mentally I wanted to keep with Julie, I didn't want her to get too far ahead. Although, I knew I should just run my own race, and that it's too early to tell what will happen later on. I ended up passing her around the 5km mark, and didn't see her again that day. The ibuprofen seemed to work, as by this point, I didn't feel my back at all - and was running comfortably.
I'd started off too fast - doing about 4:30kms (when I should have been doing ~4:45). I knew this, but figured the first few kms would be fast, and that I'd be able to rail it in soon thereafter, without causing too much trouble for later on. The first part of the course, looped around downtown and into Beacon Hill Park, where we did a few loops, before exiting at around the 8km mark. By this point, I'd clocked one km at 4:08 (downhill) and most were still around 4:30 -- 'too fast' I kept telling myself, but it was soo hard to slow down. I felt like every kilometer had a sizeable downhill.
I hit the 10 km mark at around 45 minutes. In 2007, I'd ran that time in a 10km race - and now it felt easy. It was nice to have those kinds of improvements. These first 10 kms went by quickly and felt pretty relaxed -- if only the last 10 kms could feel like that! Next, we meandered into a residential area, leaving the ocean to the wayside. I knew we were heading towards Oak Bay, where we'd do a jaunt before heading back towards the ocean. We'd stay in Oak Bay until around the 16.5 km mark.
As this was an out and back course (mostly), I tried to remember where the hills were, as I'd be tackling them on the way back. I remember being told that this was a flat course-- while not hilly, it still definitely had its share of hills, and I cringed each time we headed downhill, as I knew that meant an uphill on the way back.
It was nice to have so many people out cheering on the racers. I saw many familiar faces out on the course, and it was of course always great to hear your name called out. My parents had come out to watch my race too, and I ended up seeing them several times throughout the race. It felt like they were everywhere, and for while I saw them every few kms!!
I had my first gel around the 1 hour mark, and was picking up water at every aid station I passed. As we got onto Beach Drive, I overheard other racers nearby talking -- at this point, I was running close to a 3:15 pace -- I just hoped that the fast start wouldn't result in a disastrously slow finish.
The wind started to pick up, as we got closer to Uplands. It was even fierce at times -- at one point I was running downhill, and had to work pretty hard to keep up my pace due to the wind. I don't know if the wind slowed me down too much at the time, but it definitely sucked extra energy out of me, which I would need later on.
At the half-way mark, I was still feeling great - I felt as though I could run like this for awhile.... or so I thought! About 2 kms after the half-way mark, soon after passing Cattle Point and Uplands Park, I hit the turn-around. Although, I'd already passed the mid-way point in the race, mentally it felt so much better to be going back towards the finish - only 19 kms to go at this point.
This is where I first started feeling the effects of the race. The course through the Uplands area, while not hilly, definitely is rolling and has a few inclines throughout. On the way out, I didn't feel them too much, but on the way back, they started to hurt. None are too long, but there are a few that feel pretty steep, when you've run over 20 kms already. While, many of the kms blur together, I distinctly remember getting to the 29km point. Just before the km marker, there was a celebration station (there were several littered throughout the course where music was playing, and people cheering) - however, coming up to this particular one, I was dying for water. I heard the music before I saw the station, and was hoping for water -- however, there were no refreshments to be had, only a guy singing and playing his guitar, and another guy cheering on the racers. Despite the jovial mood, I was disappointed. Luckily, it was only 1 more km until another water station, but I had to ascend a climb - what felt like a very steep hill to get there.
Next, the course headed back into Oak Bay. I remember many people telling me that this feels like the hardest part of the course, as you still feel so far from the finish line, and your body is starting to breakdown somewhat. It was definitely around this point 30-32km, that I started to hurt. Every hill was hard, no matter how small. Somewhere around the 33km marker, I saw my parents again, and my dad tried to run up ahead of me to get a picture. However, every time he'd get a bit ahead, he'd turn around, just get his camera set up and I'd be passing him. He did this a few times -- and I'm not sure if he got a picture of me at all. (Although it's likely for the better, as I'm sure I was starting to look fatigued at this point).
Finally, I got out of Oak Bay, and was back near the water's edge - the finish was starting to feel near. The best part of the course at this point was the couple handing out water and licorice at their doorstep (35 km). I headed towards them seeking water, and as they'd run out of water cups, they instead handed me a partially full ice-cold water bottle. Aaahhh -- it was fantastic! I enjoyed that water for the next few kms, and boy was it refreshing.
While there's refreshment stops located throughout the course, every ~4km or so, some people living along the race-course get into the spirit and also hand out goodies. The Hash House Harriers get into the spirit every year and even hand out beer -- definitely not for my taste, but some do enjoy it.
The last 10kms of the race, I played a huge mental battle with myself. On some of the last hills, I sooo wanted to stop and walk. My hamstring was starting to act up, and on the uphills I really suffered, as they stiffened up. All along, I knew I was slowing down, and had to do everything I could to keep my legs going. Everything hurt at this point - every single muscle in my legs was in pain, and yelling at me to stop -- but I wasn't listening. I knew that it would be hard -- but I had never imagined how hard it would be. It seemed that everyone was in a similar situation, as although I had slowed down, there weren't a ton of people passing me. I kept thinking that someone I knew would come up behind me, but that never materialized.
Finally with about 3 km to go, Shane came riding up beside me. He'd intended to meet me at the 32 km marker and run with me for a bit, but had just missed me. He waited for about 15 minutes, wondering if I was having a really horrible race, before realizing that I'd probably already gone by. When, he came up riding beside me, I was feeling horrible - there was no energy left to talk, but it was still nice to see him. Soon, Garth Campbell came riding along as well, and both of them were encouraging me on. This seemed to help, as I was able to pick up a bit of speed, and even started passing a few people! Distance was no longer passing by kilometers, but by hundreds of meters. I could taste the finish, but it also felt so far away.
Then came the final kilometer -- every hundred meter was marked, and the real countdown was on. This last section I knew all too well - all of the twists and turns included. My legs felt like lead, and I was totally done. Finally - the final stretch - I could see the finish line, and my first view of the clock - 3:22:XX - I was going to make it under 3hrs 30min! Towards the end of the course, I had stopped checking my watch, and was afraid that I had slowed down immensely. As I saw the clock, I realized that I wasn't too far off my ultimate goal, and I was going to do okay. I tried to pick it up in the last 200 meters, but I'm not sure I went any faster - either way I was never soo happy to cross the finish line -- time: 3:22:49 (chip time).
One hundred meters to the finish
I must have looked pretty haggard too - afterwards I was told I looked horrible, and one of the medics almost took me over to the recovery tent, but deemed I was okay to continue on. It took a few minutes, but then it set in -- I had just completed my first marathon and in a decent time too! It's definitely something I could be satisfied with, and I was.
My splits were: 4:30 (7 seconds to get across the line), 4:28, 4:32, 4:47, 4:08, 4:38, 4:42, 4:23, 4:42, 4:28, 4:48, 4:42, 4:45, 4:34, 4:42, 4:41, 9:35 (2 kms), 4:33, 4:52, 4:48, 4:40, 9:35 (2 kms), 4:52, 4:52, 4:45, 4:45, 4:54, 4:50, 4:53, 5:09, 4:50, 10:18 (2 kms), 10:02 (2 kms), 5:34, 5:33, 5:10, 4:58, 5:02, 55 seconds (last 200 meters).
My nutrition: 2.5 gels + 3/4 of a fruit source bar + a few sips of gatorade, and water at every station.
It was a hard day out there for many - the wind sucked the energy out of a number of people, I'm sure. I'd like to thank Shane and Garth for catching up to me near the end, because if it weren't for them, I'm certain I would have posted a slower time - and not got that little extra boost, just as I was hurting the most.
Post-marathon. I had a shake that I'd prepared that morning, and then my stomach was not able to take in any more food for another 5 hours. You'd think your body would be dying for nutrition, after the mega-calorie burn, but instead my body went into a distinctly opposite mode! Luckily, my recovery wasn't hampered - as amazingly I was not as sore as I had expected. For sure my legs were sore and tired, but it wasn't the most pain I'd experienced post-race.
Next marathon for me is Boston in 2012 -- after that, I'm not sure when the next marathon will be - it feels great to accomplish it, but it's not something I'm dying to do every year.
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