Windermere Marathon – 2nd best time but …

… it could have been better!   The first running of the race from Post Falls, Idaho could have been a) a PR b) Boston Qualifying time c) a disaster d) none of the above.  And the answer was (d).  My time was 4:01:27, I’m a little embarrased to say, because I could have broken 4 hours but my legs would not let me.  My previous best had been 3:54 and change and I needed 3:45 to qualify for Boston.  But considering a Lot of Things, not too shabby really …

Considering:

1. Last run last weekend half-marathon PR and no training before or since really.

2. I left Seattle at 0130am Friday night/Saturday morning to drive to start line (got there at 0615 for race start of 0730) – changed clothes in the car.

3. My pre-race food was lunch on Friday of Turkey Chili with extra chilis and onions and dinner was leftovers, no great breakfast.

I did do the following:

First 7 miles in 59 minutes (record pace.  Half-marathon 13.1 in 1:52 and 14 miles at 2:01.  All I had to do was to run 7 miles an hour (8:30 pace more or less) to get to Boston or 6.5 miles/hour for PR – the best I could do was 6 miles an hour (10m miles).

But my legs were so crampy, stiff, hurting and my stomach was – well – not good for the last two hours, I should be happier.  But … to see the clock starting at 3 instead of 4 would have been huge!

I should be happy because:

It was a beautiful day.  Great run a lot downhill along the river.  Smaller race and good aid stations.   I smiled a lot and played my air guitar and keyboards during some good songs   No blisters and really not even too sore afterwards even today.  OK, “stop your whining” you say.  Yes, I know.

OK.  I’m happy and this was my 17th race of Marathon distance or greater that I have started AND finished.  That’s kind of huge.  I think a fun goal would be 50 states to go with 7 continents?  3 down and only 47 to go.

Next one?  Don’t know.  Oregon and Alaska are close.  There’s a good race in Vancouver, BC that would be fun.  How about some more training and getting my legs in shape for Bizz Johnson in October and CIM in December?  Back to the drawing board.

Yes, I had fun and I’m pretty happy