Philadelphia Marathon Nov 20th, 2011 3:48:05

Yesterday I swore that whether I PRed today or not it wouldn’t be from lack of effort. Based on the way I’ve trained, and the way this right ankle has flared up in the last month, I should have realized that effort wouldn’t be as important as tolerating pain.

For most of the run today, I was well ahead of pace. At one point I was two and a half minutes ahead of an 8:30 pace and that’s even fast for a 3:45. My legs felt great, my cardio was never a factor (even at that pace) and if not for this ankle thing I think I could have finished under 3:45. But at about mile 22, what had been a dull ache with every footfall, started becoming a stabbing pain. And the pain spread. It had been centered on the outside of the lower shin but soon it became the whole lower leg. Every time my right foot struck the pavement it was intense. At times it was excruciating, other times just severe. But the last half hour of this race was not pleasant.

The only hitch in the first 3 hours of the race was that Eric and I didn’t meet up in the starting corral. I was hoping to have him pace me but as it turned out, it might have been better he wasn’t there because I went out faster than planned and as a seasoned runner knowing my goal, he might have reined my in early. As it turned out, I needed every minute I put in the bank early as the wheels came off late.

I finally saw Eric for the first time around mile 18. There was a short out and back and as I was coming back he was coming out and he saw me and yelled “Walter, I’ll catch you.” And he did, about 2 miles later. At that point I was slowing a bit but the foot was still feeling ok. Like I said it was never pain free today but at mile 20 it wasn’t an issue. I was slowing from the 8:30 pace I’d fallen into in the teens to about 8:45. But the math I was doing in my head told me if I finished with that 8:45 pace I’d come in right around 3:45. So when I met Eric I still had that possibility top of mind.

But it wasn’t more than a mile or two later that that all went out the window. The ankle flared, I slowed considerably as I began to favor it and time started to slip slip slip away. 8:45 became 9:00 and then quickly 10:00. By mile 23 I knew 3:45 was off the table but I also knew my PR was still in sight. As long as I didn’t stop to walk I’d make it.

And I did. I tolerated the pain, never stopped to walk and finished with a coupla 10 minute miles.

And that all added up to a PR.

Some random thoughts and observations:

I love the 7am start but Philly as a city did not come out early to support the race. The first 10 miles or so the crowds were sporadic at best. I found myself regretting not bringing headphones.

Later in the day the streets got busier but that long out and back in the second half was, at times, desolate. I’d recommend anyone running the race to bring music.

I ran Philly in a Michael Irvin jersey. Irvin’s career ended on that shitty old carpet at the Vet. As he lay still after a head to head tackle the Eagles crowd cheered. People say they booed Santa and that was the lowest of the low. I’ve always felt cheering as an opponent lay paralyzed on your field is the lowest of the low.

I got plenty of boos today and “Cowboys suck.” I even got a few “Cowboys suck, but I hope you do well today.” One guy running next to me patted me on the shoulder and said “you’re a brave man.” And Yes, deep in the heart of Eagles Country, I even got a few “Go Cowboys” cheers. It made a fun day more fun.

Best sign: “Things that last longer than Kim Kardashian’s wedding: The Philadelphia Marathon.”

It’s a very fair course. Not completely flat but the only real “hill” comes early (mile 6) and as soon as you climb it you go right back down the other side.

My friend Jay ran a 3:01 today. He and his wife Tamara found me after the race and we got a cool picture together.

My racing chip didn’t work today so “officially” I didn’t run the race. As I lay here on the couch watching the Giants Eagles game with my right leg wrapped in ice and throbbing, I find that to be humorous.

Kelly’s Mom drove down to see me finish. We found each other in the finishers shoot and walked back to our cars together

Dave, Kris and Jeff also drove down. Saw them about mile 25 ½ which was great cause I was really struggling and their cheering picked me up. Jeff got some cool shots.

We went to Pats and got cheesesteaks after. Hard to beat a Philly cheesesteak as a postrace meal.

Splits
Mile Pace Elevation
1 8:11 40
2 8:00 -27
3 7:50 -40
4 8:14 10
5 8:16 65
6 8:10 83
7 8:08 -123
8 8:29 68
9 8:20 -49
10 8:33 62
11 8:14 -77
12 8:19 -20
13 8:28 32
14 8:17 -6
15 8:31 -15
16 8:24 43
17 8:15 -78
18 9:09 47
19 8:31 -8
20 8:38 4
21 8:52 8
22 8:49 -4
23 8:50 -18
24 9:10 15
25 9:40 -5
26 10:20 16
.2 10:10 -17

Comments

[tracy.gerney@embarqmail.com]

Hi Mike,
Congrats on your success in the Philly Marathon. This will definitely go down in your lifetime book as an "event to remember." You are one tough dude. Al & I wish you a speedy recovery. Be good to yourself and take the time to heal fully.
Hope you & Kelly enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
All the best, Tracy