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pennswoods) wrote2022-10-04 03:45 pm
pennswoods) wrote2022-10-04 03:45 pm
Entry tags:
A Dream Come True
I did it! I ran the Wineglass Marathon on Sunday (October 2) in a new personal best, which was 13 minutes faster than my marathon in December. But most importantly, I finally cracked 4 hours: 3:59:10! This is a goal I’ve had since I ran my first marathon in 2008, and it took me 14 years (and 5 marathons) to finally achieve. I’m so happy, I almost don’t have words to express how I feel. 😊
So here’s a race recap and some reflection: The day began with an early morning bus ride (around 6.00) to the start line in Bath. There was indoor space (a large garage or a tent) for runners to stay warm in and plenty of portable toilets. There was a festive cheerful mood among the runners and the many volunteers. I had a race plan in mind (you can see the planned paces on a later image) that I was comfortable with. Normally I get really nervous before races, but this time I was at peace and strangely confident. The weather was comfortably cool the whole way (cold ish and breezy at the start), but cooler cloudy weather makes for much easier running and my heart rate remained in the 130s and 140s during the first half of the race.
I had heard the course described as gently rolling or mainly flat and I would say it was mainly flat, which I had been expecting. The few hills on the course were at best gradual and nothing like the twisty or steep monsters I had been training on in Maryland this past year.
All these factors: the cool weather, limited sun, gentle course were things I had anticipated in my race planning and which paid off. My goal has been to run a negative split (second half faster than first) and to run my fastest at the end. I had some concern whether I would be able to hold on to my planned paces, but I decided to trust the process and myself and to focus on the miles I was running and to worry about the later miles when I got to them.
It worked. My actual times were very close to my goal times despite my taking a toilet stop, walking at water stations, and stopping to pick up my water bottle and other things I dropped. Miles 22-24 were the hardest as my confidence in myself wavered as I got more tired. But I did not give up, even though people around me were increasingly cramping up, slowing down and walking. I reassured myself that even if I slowed way down, I would still beat my personal best, so why not keep pushing for sub-4.
By the time I reached mile 25, I knew I had a good chance of meeting my goal, and that confidence kept my legs going faster and faster. Kilometres 41 and 42 were my fastest and once I could see the finish line, I gave all I had left. When I crossed the finish line I was not only overjoyed with my time but with the fact that I had believed in myself!
It’s funny to say this, but I’m not entirely sure I could have run such a fast time or that I would have believed in myself for the marathon I had had to pull out of in June because of COVID. The additional months I had to train also gave me a chance to focus on my thinking and to bring more mental preparation into my training. I’m not happy I got COVID (it was expensive and stressful), but I am glad for the second marathon training cycle it made possible.
Francis found me after the finish (after having seen me run by at mile 25) and after hobbling to the car and hotel, where I had my first glass of wine in 6 weeks, we spent a lovely afternoon driving through the region and doing a bit of wine tasting. It was the perfect way to top off the Wineglass Marathon.
So here’s a race recap and some reflection: The day began with an early morning bus ride (around 6.00) to the start line in Bath. There was indoor space (a large garage or a tent) for runners to stay warm in and plenty of portable toilets. There was a festive cheerful mood among the runners and the many volunteers. I had a race plan in mind (you can see the planned paces on a later image) that I was comfortable with. Normally I get really nervous before races, but this time I was at peace and strangely confident. The weather was comfortably cool the whole way (cold ish and breezy at the start), but cooler cloudy weather makes for much easier running and my heart rate remained in the 130s and 140s during the first half of the race.
I had heard the course described as gently rolling or mainly flat and I would say it was mainly flat, which I had been expecting. The few hills on the course were at best gradual and nothing like the twisty or steep monsters I had been training on in Maryland this past year.
All these factors: the cool weather, limited sun, gentle course were things I had anticipated in my race planning and which paid off. My goal has been to run a negative split (second half faster than first) and to run my fastest at the end. I had some concern whether I would be able to hold on to my planned paces, but I decided to trust the process and myself and to focus on the miles I was running and to worry about the later miles when I got to them.
It worked. My actual times were very close to my goal times despite my taking a toilet stop, walking at water stations, and stopping to pick up my water bottle and other things I dropped. Miles 22-24 were the hardest as my confidence in myself wavered as I got more tired. But I did not give up, even though people around me were increasingly cramping up, slowing down and walking. I reassured myself that even if I slowed way down, I would still beat my personal best, so why not keep pushing for sub-4.
By the time I reached mile 25, I knew I had a good chance of meeting my goal, and that confidence kept my legs going faster and faster. Kilometres 41 and 42 were my fastest and once I could see the finish line, I gave all I had left. When I crossed the finish line I was not only overjoyed with my time but with the fact that I had believed in myself!
It’s funny to say this, but I’m not entirely sure I could have run such a fast time or that I would have believed in myself for the marathon I had had to pull out of in June because of COVID. The additional months I had to train also gave me a chance to focus on my thinking and to bring more mental preparation into my training. I’m not happy I got COVID (it was expensive and stressful), but I am glad for the second marathon training cycle it made possible.
Francis found me after the finish (after having seen me run by at mile 25) and after hobbling to the car and hotel, where I had my first glass of wine in 6 weeks, we spent a lovely afternoon driving through the region and doing a bit of wine tasting. It was the perfect way to top off the Wineglass Marathon.