2008 Shamrock Marathon Splits

Thought I’d better post my marathon splits before the race details fade away and are just a distant memory. Start time for the marathon was 8am, the temperature a couple of degrees under 50°F and a north wind was gusting at around 20mph. Perfect conditions for a race? Not really, but they were the same for everyone and I like to think I usually perform well in challenging circumstances anyway. By the way, no need to look for me in the start line photo – I’m a couple of rows back chatting to a couple of friends.

Mile 1 – 6:29 Nice tailwind, tons of adrenaline and an excited pack of runners all made for a fast opening mile. Feeling great, only 25.2 miles to go!

Mile 2 – 6:30 Another quick mile. The biggest challenge was trying to hold myself back – not easy with an 18mph wind pushing you along, but we’re already at 5th Street and I’m still feeling great.

Mile 3 – 6:21 Where did that come from? Maybe the excitement of the water stop gave me a boost? The loop around Rudy Inlet is behind us and we’ve experienced the strength of the north wind from a different angle – it’s definitely going to get tough later on, and I need to conserve some energy in these early miles.

Mile 4 – 6:35 Nice stretch along General Booth Boulevard. I can now see Charlie ahead and I wonder how he’s doing. I know I’ve started fast and I’m sure he’s feeling the same. I’m getting into a good groove now but already the lead pack of women trying to qualify for next month’s Olympic Marathon Trials is breaking up.

Mile 5 – 6:29 Still heading south on General Booth Boulevard, but the road is quite sheltered and I’m not feeling the benefit of the tailwind. Maybe the wind’s dying down already?

Mile 6 – 6:24 I finally catch Charlie and after making a 180° turn, we run north together for a while. Nice boost from the six mile timing mat being manned by the Tidewater Striders.

Mile 7 – 6:28 Now we’ve made the right turn onto South Birdneck. I think I’m running a little fast, but it’s nice to get a few seconds in the bank and I’m still feeling very comfortable. Tough stretch around Camp Pendleton coming up though.

Mile 8 – 6:29 Think I took 3 Endurolytes in this mile to stave off cramps later in the race. I’m about 20 yards behind a pack of runners (3 guys, 3 girls) and I’m desperate to catch them before we get back onto General Booth. The last thing I need is to be stranded on my own running into the crazy wind.

Mile 9 – 6:19 The quicker pace pays off and I’m almost with the pack as we approach the exit of Camp Pendleton. Breathing is more labored now, but legs still fine.

Mile 10 – 6:34 The wind is still strong, but at least I’m with a pack. I take my turn up front and work hard into the wind. Despite a slower mile, I’ve managed to lose the pack as I crest the Rudy Inlet bridge. I remember the upcoming water stop and just about have time to take my first espresso gel.

Mile 11 – 6:30 Around the Rudy Inlet loop once more and now we’re turning right onto the boardwalk where the wind is the strongest so far. I glance behind and I’ve dropped the pack by at least 10 yards – not my intention and now I’m on my own. I’m tempted to slow down and wait, but decide against it and forge ahead.

Mile 12 – 6:48 Halfway up the boardwalk, I catch and pass one of the female runners. I sense she’s struggling and suggest she tuck in behind and draft off me for a while to conserve her energy. I backed off a little into the wind and wasn’t surprised to see the slowest mile to date. Still feeling good and running on my toes.

Mile 13 – 6:28 Great to be back on Atlantic Avenue where the wind wasn’t as brutal as on the boardwalk and the thought of seeing my wife at the mid point of the race put an extra spring in my step. A fun mile – lots of crowd support from runners who had finished their half marathon and were hanging around to cheer on the marathoners.

Mile 14 – 6:38 Great to see my wife Ally and great to be so close to my pre-race prediction. I think I said “That was the easy part, now the fun begins”, but the strong north wind soon took most of the fun away.

Mile 15 – 6:49 A bit of a slog through this mile. Great to see some half marathon friends still out on the course, but not so great that there’s still at least a mile left into the headwind. At least I’ve been joined by a chasing pack which allows me to take a breather for a few minutes. Slowest mile of the race.

Mile 16 – 6:48 Finally we get to turn left onto Shore Drive and leave the blustery conditions behind. Despite the respite from the wind, I’m not feeling great at this point and good friend Charlie Schindler, who was one of the chasing pack, is pushing the pace and making me struggle – just like he did at last month’s Colonial Half Marathon.

Mile 17 – 6:42 The harsh Shore Drive camber bothers my knee and I struggle on in silence. A guy who was running strongly a few minutes ago appears to hit the wall and we catch him in seconds. He hangs with us for a short time, but then falls off the back. Poor guy. Been there, done that.

Mile 18 – 6:38 Charlie and I cross the 18 mile timing mat together. I seem to have got myself together again and running along the white line helps my knee pain. Charlie chooses the high road in his attempt to avoid the camber. 8.2 miles to go.

Mile 19 – 6:34 Another good mile and somehow I’m managing to speed up. We’re nearly done with Shore Drive and about to make the turn into Fort Story.

Mile 20 – 6:24 My focus is back and I’m ticking along nicely. I notice I’m on my own again, but don’t dare look behind. Quick mile and I’m almost level with another of the fast starting females. Thoughts of a good finish time cross my mind, but there’s still a long, long way to go and anything can happen.

Mile 21 – 6:38 Good to see Allen and Ada from TriDuo.com taking official race photos (they look like they’re freezing!) and now I’m past the Cape Henry Lighthouse and only have just over 5 miles to go. I’m a little disappointed with the mile split, but still have a spring in my step. I kick for home and look forward to getting back onto Atlantic Avenue.

Mile 22 – 6:21 Great mile, and I still feel I have a lot more running in my legs!

Mile 23 – 6:32 How quickly things change. Now, as I leave Fort Story behind, the spring in my step has deserted me, and my legs feel tired and heavy. The anticipated tailwind doesn’t seem to help and there’s still over 5k to go.

Mile 24 – 6:40 I’m desperate not to let the race get away from me and dig really deep to keep the pace going. I reach mile 24 on 68th Street and am now focused on a runner ahead who appears to be slowing. Maybe, just maybe, I can catch him before the finish.

Mile 25 – 6:40 I’m hanging on with everything I’ve got left but nearly collide with a lady raking cups at a water stop. It could have been a disaster, but I’m still on my feet and a little closer to the guy ahead. Although I try not to look, there are only about 20 blocks to go.

Mile 26 – 6:37 1.2 miles remain. It’s all or nothing time. I’m at my limit but still in control. With about half a mile to go, I catch the runner and hit the boardwalk, but he quickly responds and regains his advantage. I can’t hold on and let him get away, but as I reach the 26 mile mark, I’m spurred on by local runner Angelo Celesia – one of the fantastic volunteers out on the course today. I sprint for the line in one final attempt to reel the guy in, but it’s too late and I cross the line several seconds behind in 2:53:05.

The final effort leaves me dizzy and disorientated, but I manage to grab a bottle of water before I’m awarded my finisher’s medal by an enthusiastic volunteer.

Some one else wraps a foil blanket around me but I’m too busy looking for good friend Charlie to really notice. I was sure he’d be right behind me in the finish chute, but it turns out “he fell apart at the end” and came in three minutes after I’d crossed the line.

I look to my right and see Ally who’d been cheering me on at the finish. I think my finishing effort had given her a scare and she asked if I was okay. If you click on the photo to the left, you’ll probably understand why.

Now I’ve had a couple of days to analyze my race, I can share a few stats:

• 6 mile split – 39:31 (6:36 pace) – 52nd place
• 13.1 mile split – 1:26:20 (6:36 pace) – 39th place
• 18 mile split – 1:59:30 (6:39 pace) – 36th place
• 26.2 mile split – 2:53:05 (6:37 pace) – 27th place
• Overall place – 27th out of 2314 finishers
• Age group place – 1st out of 199 finishers

Closing thoughts:

• Despite starting faster than planned, I managed to maintain fairly even splits and was able to steadily pick runners off one by one throughout the race.
• The slower average pace at the 18 mile is testament to the tough windy conditions we experienced in the middle portion of the race.
• I’m pleased I was able to pick up the pace in the latter miles and still finish strong
• 2:53:05 is my third fastest marathon and second fastest Shamrock
• I was 10 seconds inside my pre-race goal at the halfway mark, and only 5 seconds slower at the finish
• I picked up first place in the 40-44 age group and was a member of the top Male Masters Marathon Team
• Somewhat surprisingly I was also the first South Hampton Roads finisher as picked up by local newspaper The Virginian Pilot

As always, full race metrics can be viewed by clicking on the MotionBased map below: