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Ran the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati over the weekend. It was my third completed marathon. It was the first completed while on Atkins.
I set a new personal best time of 4 hours and 36 minutes. Over 12 minutes better than my time running the Detroit marathon two years ago. Probably the most significant difference between the two marathons was that I ran this one at 180, 45 pounds less than two years earlier.
The endless boring details:
Started the morning off with some steel cut oats (I'm on the last rung of OWL) and a couple of cups of coffee. Got to the start line with my brother about 10 minutes before the start. Temps about 55 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.
The game plan for the race was to take the first 10 miles or so real slow because of the hills, then run a little quicker after that as the course was more down hill.
The first 5 miles were effortless ( they always are as you get caught up in the excitement of heading out with thousands of other runners). Really had to fight to keep from going out too fast.
Splits for 1st 5 miles: 11:14, 10:22,10:48,10:40, and 10:48
Next up for miles 6 thru 10 was the HILLS. Each time I hit the base of a hill, made a conscious effort to slow down significantly, even though I felt I could really charge up. The slow progress up the hill was rewarded with an effortless sprint down the other side. Over all, even with slowing on the inclines, the mile splits were still good with the faster down hills.
6 thru 10: 11:10, 10:56, 10:56, 10:26, 10:06.
Next section of the course was rolling hills. Felt great! My brother and I were really talking about speeding up and really pushing. We decided it was way too early and considering my previous not so glorious attempts and running an entire marathon, we stuck to the plan.
11 thru 17: 10:02, 10:16,10:16, 10:30,11:00,10:46
Mile 18. This is the point in the race where in prior attempts the melt down would occur. The heart rate would skyrocket and the knees would ache and the dreaded WALL would come out and knock me down.
No wall. Not even a brick laying here or there. I'm baffled. In training for prior marathons I had run 50+ miles per week and had multiple long training runs of 20+ miles. Previously though, I was not on Atkins and was 45 pounds heavier. Today though, 45 pounds lighter and not full of carb junk. I have been training with 30 mile weeks and my longest run leading to this marathon was 13.1 miles twice (two half marathons, one the week before). Warning: Newbie runners, I in no way suggest running a marathon on this little of mileage.
Anyway, we keep on the same pace Split mile 18: 10:04
Miles 19-21: Heart rate is creeping a little bit. We decide there will be no big speed up. Steady as she goes. Brother had to make a mile 19 pit stop, slowed us down a couple of minutes
Splits 19-21: 12:18, 10:26, 10:40.
I am here to tell you that mile 22 was the l o n g e s t mile I have ever ran. In actual time, it was one of the quicker ones, but mentally I was starting to wear down. The little aches and pains were starting to gain momentum.
Splits 22-25: 10:08,10:22, 10:30, 10:50
Mile 26...
All of a sudden, the end was in sight. Only 1.2 miles left! I could go that far on my hands and knees! A surge of energy. We picked up the speed and made a mad dash that last mile and some.
Splits 26 and .2 9:18,1:50
Overall: 4 hours and 36 minutes
I can't tell you how good I felt during the race and after. Yes, I am sore. But, my breathing and energy were fantastic.
No carb loading either. My night before meal was Buffalo wings, celery and blue cheese dressing.
If I can go from couch potato to multi-marathon runner, anyone can. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do tons of cardio on Atkins. It's bunk.
If I had to give one piece of advice to all the runners-to-be out there. Start slow. Real slow. And then slow down from there. Get a heart rate monitor for $40 and use it. KNOW how hard you are really working.
Sorry for the long post. I'm just so pumped up. I can't wait to run my next marathon. Chicago!! in October.
Rich
I set a new personal best time of 4 hours and 36 minutes. Over 12 minutes better than my time running the Detroit marathon two years ago. Probably the most significant difference between the two marathons was that I ran this one at 180, 45 pounds less than two years earlier.
The endless boring details:
Started the morning off with some steel cut oats (I'm on the last rung of OWL) and a couple of cups of coffee. Got to the start line with my brother about 10 minutes before the start. Temps about 55 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.
The game plan for the race was to take the first 10 miles or so real slow because of the hills, then run a little quicker after that as the course was more down hill.
The first 5 miles were effortless ( they always are as you get caught up in the excitement of heading out with thousands of other runners). Really had to fight to keep from going out too fast.
Splits for 1st 5 miles: 11:14, 10:22,10:48,10:40, and 10:48
Next up for miles 6 thru 10 was the HILLS. Each time I hit the base of a hill, made a conscious effort to slow down significantly, even though I felt I could really charge up. The slow progress up the hill was rewarded with an effortless sprint down the other side. Over all, even with slowing on the inclines, the mile splits were still good with the faster down hills.
6 thru 10: 11:10, 10:56, 10:56, 10:26, 10:06.
Next section of the course was rolling hills. Felt great! My brother and I were really talking about speeding up and really pushing. We decided it was way too early and considering my previous not so glorious attempts and running an entire marathon, we stuck to the plan.
11 thru 17: 10:02, 10:16,10:16, 10:30,11:00,10:46
Mile 18. This is the point in the race where in prior attempts the melt down would occur. The heart rate would skyrocket and the knees would ache and the dreaded WALL would come out and knock me down.
No wall. Not even a brick laying here or there. I'm baffled. In training for prior marathons I had run 50+ miles per week and had multiple long training runs of 20+ miles. Previously though, I was not on Atkins and was 45 pounds heavier. Today though, 45 pounds lighter and not full of carb junk. I have been training with 30 mile weeks and my longest run leading to this marathon was 13.1 miles twice (two half marathons, one the week before). Warning: Newbie runners, I in no way suggest running a marathon on this little of mileage.
Anyway, we keep on the same pace Split mile 18: 10:04
Miles 19-21: Heart rate is creeping a little bit. We decide there will be no big speed up. Steady as she goes. Brother had to make a mile 19 pit stop, slowed us down a couple of minutes
Splits 19-21: 12:18, 10:26, 10:40.
I am here to tell you that mile 22 was the l o n g e s t mile I have ever ran. In actual time, it was one of the quicker ones, but mentally I was starting to wear down. The little aches and pains were starting to gain momentum.
Splits 22-25: 10:08,10:22, 10:30, 10:50
Mile 26...
All of a sudden, the end was in sight. Only 1.2 miles left! I could go that far on my hands and knees! A surge of energy. We picked up the speed and made a mad dash that last mile and some.
Splits 26 and .2 9:18,1:50
Overall: 4 hours and 36 minutes
I can't tell you how good I felt during the race and after. Yes, I am sore. But, my breathing and energy were fantastic.
No carb loading either. My night before meal was Buffalo wings, celery and blue cheese dressing.
If I can go from couch potato to multi-marathon runner, anyone can. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do tons of cardio on Atkins. It's bunk.
If I had to give one piece of advice to all the runners-to-be out there. Start slow. Real slow. And then slow down from there. Get a heart rate monitor for $40 and use it. KNOW how hard you are really working.
Sorry for the long post. I'm just so pumped up. I can't wait to run my next marathon. Chicago!! in October.
Rich
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