Summary
3:35:18 (8:13/mile)
I had one of those marathon experience that really made me question why I was doing this. I was in my best shape going into the last long run and then developed a pulled quad because of a lingering IT band issue. I kept running on it the week after that, instead of resting it and it just never got better. My mileage dropped severely over the last two weeks. I probably should have taken a cue from you and just gone straight to cross-training/pool running. Also, PT guy insisted on doing this wicked hip flexor stretch that brought on an additional problem in my lateralis tendon close to the knee. I think I ran less than 20 miles per and I was also favoring my left leg so it may have gotten weaker. I did a short run on Saturday and had stabbing pains about 2 miles into it.
Regardless, I went into the race still confident that the tapering would leave me well rested and that since I was in about 3 hour marathon shape, I could lose some fitness and still be fine. I bought a neoprene sleeve for my thigh and surprisingly it kept me pain free for about 18 miles or so. I started off conservatively and was cruising along fine until about 18 miles, at which point everything in my left leg just gave out. I had a cramp in my left calf and quad and went from 7:15 miles to about 10 min/mile. It was a definite death march for me! I don't know if this happened because I lost some fitness or because I was favoring my leg. I hit mile 20 in just under 2:25:00 and it took me over an hour to run the last 6 miles. So overall, it was tough race. I'm happy that I stuck it out, but it's been tough in the aftermath after training so hard all summer.
The numbers, with avg HR:
1-18: Avg. pace - 7:10, Avg. HR - 166-167
19-22: Avg. pace - 8:00, Avg. HR - 155
23-26: Avg. pace - 10:20, Avg. HR - 147
The most suprising thing for me was how high my heart rate was at the 7:10 pace. I did a set of intervals about 2.5 weeks out, 3x2000 at 6:20 pace, and my heart rate never went over 170. Also, from previous tempo runs of 10 miles at marathon pace, I could maintain a 7:00 pace at around 160 and usually felt fresh after these runs. Did I really lose that much fitness over the last two weeks?
