Philadelphia Marathon

Things started off just like any normal long run morning, only a bit earlier. I got up at 5:00, ate my usual 3 pieces of toast with jam, a banana, glass of OJ, and a coffee. After gathering everything I needed I hopped in the car and took a spin down I-76, parked on Sedgley and strolled up the hill to the Art Museum. A quick stop at the port-o-john and it was off to the race start. With only 15 minutes remaining until the gun there were surprisingly few people up front and I was able to get as close to the line as I wanted, a few folks back.

I happened to line up next to a guy, Justine, who was also looking to run a 2:58 and we decided to race together. The plan was to make things even as possible the entire way. If there was any gas left in the tank on the return Kelly Drive trip I’d try to pick it up then. We all tried to stay warm in the breeze and low 40 degree temperature. It was cold before the start but weather was just about perfect for me. Warm enough that I can run in shorts but cold enough that I don’t sweat too much. The horn sounded and we were off.

Mile 1-5 Settling In. 7:05, 6:46, 6:40, 6:48, 6:42.

The early miles were just as they should be, uneventful. I took my time and tried to ease into the pace. Along Columbus Blvd we pick up another runner, John, who also was shooting for a 2:58. An initial stomach cramped eased up by mile 3 and I was feeling good and enjoying the race.

Miles 6-10. Through the Park 6:47, 6:43, 6:51, 6:39, 7:00

I was ready for the uphill along Chestnut and 34th street, it went by easily enough and my splits stayed fairly even. The mile that included Lansdowne was slow, but I was happy with a 7:00, it meant I didn’t push to hard but didn’t slack either. Our group was still together and as far as I know we were all feeling good. The course through park was different then years past, there was no longer a trip past the Japanese Tea House. Instead, a loop in front of MLK, a loop around the fields where all the football games are held in the fall, and then down Black Road onto MLK.

10-15 Lemon Hill? 6:54, 6:48, 6:39, 6:39, 6:48.

Once we hit MLK I hit a little rough patch. The two miles along MLK didn’t feel great but it quickly passed as we approached the crowds at the Art Museum. Along the stretch we picked up a few more runners and now had a loose group of about 6-7 guys running the same pace. It gave me the opportunity to tuck behind someone in the wind and also allowed me to relax a little with pace keeping and just go with the flow. Along here I was also informed that the course had changed to compensate for losing a mile or so in the park. We would be taking a trip up Lemon Hill.

An unexpected change but I knew that hill well and I was feeling decent so I didn’t worry about it. It’s an interesting twist on your trip up Kelly Drive.

I passed the half in 1:29, right on track. Down the hill past the Art Museum, right turn on Sedgely, soft left towards Lemon Hill then we wrapped around the back and down onto Kelly Drive at Boathouse Row.

16-20 Feeling Strong 6:44, 6:44, 6:37, 6:45, 6:47

Damn I felt good going up Kelly Drive, well good for being at mile 16 in the marathon. I felt in total control, as if I was holding myself back. There was a large pack ahead that acted as a rabbit for me, I eventually caught them right before going up the overpass and down into Manayunk. Mentally I was psyched; maybe I could pick it up in the last few miles and have a great trip back down Kelly Drive.

I felt the “hills” on Main Street in Manayunk, and although my pace didn’t fall off during the stretch it was taking a lot more effort to maintain. Still, I was confident and really thought I had a decent chance of breaking 3 hours.

22– 26.2 The Wheels Fall Off 6:48, 7:09, 7:39, 8:26, 9:09, 10:43 for the last 1.2.

We left Manayunk and now were on the return trip down Kelly Drive. I passed the 21-mile marker with 2:22:20 on my watch. This left me with 37:40 to run 5.2 miles. This number made me happy. It was easy math, just keep the pace below 7:00 and I would cross that line with a 2:5X:XX. In fact, sub 7:15 pace would have done it. 7:15 is easy on any normal day, I only had to hold it for 5.2 miles along a stretch of road that I was more than familiar with.

Then suddenly I was slowing down, I was being passed, my legs were just were not going as fast as they were before. Mile 22 7:09. SHIT! Pick it up John. Pick it the fuck up! Do not let things fall apart on Kelly Drive! 3:00 hours is there waiting for you, now go get it!

No matter how much I tried to coerce myself it just wasn’t happening, I just kept slowing down. Many times I tried to match pace with somebody who passed, trying to hold on, but after 100 meters I would fade. God I was pissed off. Mile 23 in 7:39 and now I had 22:38 to run the last 3.2, I gave it one more shot… um no. Mile 24, 9:09. 9:09! In three miles I had gone from feeling good, to feeling like this. I focused on finishing strong but I knew I wasn’t a pretty sight. I had kind of an upper body lean going on that I just couldn’t right.

Around Boathouse Row I accepted defeat and tried to bring it in with a smile on my face. I passed several Philly Runners on the final hill and it definitely cheered me up. Crossed the finish line 3:05:25. Saw a friend from work, hobbled around for a while, ate, got some warm clothes on, walked back to my car and chatted with a few Philly Runners along the way and that was it.

So what happened? Weather was perfect, I wasn’t dehydrated, I had eaten plenty in the few days prior, and I think I ran a fairly smart race based on my goal time. I was however lacking in training. I knew it hadn’t been the best training cycle and that showed up in an ugly way in the last 5 miles. I looked at the mileage in the three months leading up to my last three marathons.

Chicago Fall 2006, 785 miles
Boston Spring 2007, 740 miles
Philly Fall 2007, 635 miles.

To race a marathon well I know I need consistent 60-70 mile weeks and it just didn’t happen this time. I was hoping I’d be able to pull of a good race despite the training but it’s hard to do that in the marathon. It will definitely reveal any flaws.

It’s strange I thought I would have been much more disappointed but somehow it isn’t really bothering me that much. I tried to pull off a race I don’t think I was prepared for and it didn’t happen.

So now it is time to relax. I am going to try and enjoy the Holidays to the fullest and worry about running in January.