2011 Des Moines Marathon

Gerald84 · #1 10-21-2011, 12:16 PM

This was my 5th marathon. As usual I signed up for it in the spring on a whim after an morning awesome run. The goal for this one was to better the very disappointing Chicago 10-10-10 marathon run that I hobbled through with a 5:25 time.

The family drove down to Des Moines Saturday, did some shopping & went out to eat at a favored microbrewery, I know, I know. A brew & a burger works best for me, pasta seems to bog me down. We went back to the motel to relax & sit in the hot tub, good idea? Except as I was sitting there injoying the water I noticed something in my pocket....yes my phone, that has my tunes for the run, not to mention an array of needed info. Pulled it out of my pocket, looked at it...dead. No!!!! It was going to be a long tuneless marathon run. Went back to the room set it on the fan to dry out. After a somewhat grumbly sleepless night I was laying in bed staring up at the dark ceiling when a light went on in the room...yes, it was my phone, working! Tunes & all!

Made it to the start corral in a great spirits, hey my phone was working! The start was good, about 8000 runners for the full & half marathon. The first 2 miles were sub 9 minutes, very fast for me. At about mile 3 the half marathoner peeled away leaving us full marathoners alone. Suddenly we were at the 5 mile mark, that was quick. I had run this course before so I knew there were alot of hills in the first 10 miles, pace, pace I told myself.

At about mile 8 the 3:55 pace group came up to me, I stayed with them for about a mile...wow fast, they slowly faded away. I was still cruising at about a 9 minute pace. At mile 9 the 4:00 pace group came up to me, I was feeling good & stayed with them until about mile 14 then they slowly faded, I could have stayed with them alot longer but experience & discipline told me that I would pay dearly later if I did. My half split was just over 2 hours. Also this was a bit of a turnaround course so I had a chance to see the elite runners go by, crazy pace. The winner on this day set a course record 2:12!!!

Mile 17 it started at mile 17 the internal struggle, the mental games, the why am I doing this tug of war. At mile 20 the course flattens out to a big loop several miles, you can see way off into the distance, the specks of runners way ahead "I have to run that far?" Mile 24, severe side stitch, odd I dont usually have that. I had to walk about a 100yrds, breathing trouble for a moment...usually it the legs. Mile 25, this is were I get confused every time. Do I have to run 1 or is it 2 more miles lol...anyway I could see the finish and the last mile was strong. My family was waiting for me & my daughter was waiting to run the last waiting 100 yrds through the finsh line with me.

We were running together I was pumping my arms to the crowd, who began cheering for us. Abby looks at me & says "Dad lets run really fast!" and as everyone knows, what ever Abby wants, Abby gets. I dug deep for the sprint!

4:20:43 my best marathon time to date, very pleased. Post race was alot of fun. A hilarious band and plenty of Michelob Ultra light, danced the afternoon away with wife & kids....who could ask for more?

I want to thank you, my running friends here at RR. You inspire!

Turbo Love,
-Gerald

CatScratchfever · #2 10-21-2011, 09:21 PM

Great read! 5 marathons is a great feat, congratulations! I bet you're really close to that hat, eh? I'd never know it if you passed me on the street without it! Good, good run man, be proud, you deserve it!

Helen Runs · #3 10-28-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerald84

This was my 5th marathon. As usual I signed up for it in the spring on a whim after an morning awesome run. The goal for this one was to better the very disappointing Chicago 10-10-10 marathon run that I hobbled through with a 5:25 time.

The family drove down to Des Moines Saturday, did some shopping & went out to eat at a favored microbrewery, I know, I know. A brew & a burger works best for me, pasta seems to bog me down. We went back to the motel to relax & sit in the hot tub, good idea? Except as I was sitting there injoying the water I noticed something in my pocket....yes my phone, that has my tunes for the run, not to mention an array of needed info. Pulled it out of my pocket, looked at it...dead. No!!!! It was going to be a long tuneless marathon run. Went back to the room set it on the fan to dry out. After a somewhat grumbly sleepless night I was laying in bed staring up at the dark ceiling when a light went on in the room...yes, it was my phone, working! Tunes & all!

Made it to the start corral in a great spirits, hey my phone was working! The start was good, about 8000 runners for the full & half marathon. The first 2 miles were sub 9 minutes, very fast for me. At about mile 3 the half marathoner peeled away leaving us full marathoners alone. Suddenly we were at the 5 mile mark, that was quick. I had run this course before so I knew there were alot of hills in the first 10 miles, pace, pace I told myself.

At about mile 8 the 3:55 pace group came up to me, I stayed with them for about a mile...wow fast, they slowly faded away. I was still cruising at about a 9 minute pace. At mile 9 the 4:00 pace group came up to me, I was feeling good & stayed with them until about mile 14 then they slowly faded, I could have stayed with them alot longer but experience & discipline told me that I would pay dearly later if I did. My half split was just over 2 hours. Also this was a bit of a turnaround course so I had a chance to see the elite runners go by, crazy pace. The winner on this day set a course record 2:12!!!

Mile 17 it started at mile 17 the internal struggle, the mental games, the why am I doing this tug of war. At mile 20 the course flattens out to a big loop several miles, you can see way off into the distance, the specks of runners way ahead "I have to run that far?" Mile 24, severe side stitch, odd I dont usually have that. I had to walk about a 100yrds, breathing trouble for a moment...usually it the legs. Mile 25, this is were I get confused every time. Do I have to run 1 or is it 2 more miles lol...anyway I could see the finish and the last mile was strong. My family was waiting for me & my daughter was waiting to run the last waiting 100 yrds through the finsh line with me.

We were running together I was pumping my arms to the crowd, who began cheering for us. Abby looks at me & says "Dad lets run really fast!" and as everyone knows, what ever Abby wants, Abby gets. I dug deep for the sprint!

4:20:43 my best marathon time to date, very pleased. Post race was alot of fun. A hilarious band and plenty of Michelob Ultra light, danced the afternoon away with wife & kids....who could ask for more?

I want to thank you, my running friends here at RR. You inspire!

Turbo Love,
-Gerald

What a difference a day makes! Awesome time! You beat me by over a minute! Could you send your daughter up to VT in May so she can make me run faster for the bitter end?

I enjoyed reading about your most recent marathon...wishing you more to come!

LOST · #4 10-29-2011, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerald84

This was my 5th marathon. As usual I signed up for it in the spring on a whim after an morning awesome run. The goal for this one was to better the very disappointing Chicago 10-10-10 marathon run that I hobbled through with a 5:25 time.

The family drove down to Des Moines Saturday, did some shopping & went out to eat at a favored microbrewery, I know, I know. A brew & a burger works best for me, pasta seems to bog me down. We went back to the motel to relax & sit in the hot tub, good idea? Except as I was sitting there injoying the water I noticed something in my pocket....yes my phone, that has my tunes for the run, not to mention an array of needed info. Pulled it out of my pocket, looked at it...dead. No!!!! It was going to be a long tuneless marathon run. Went back to the room set it on the fan to dry out. After a somewhat grumbly sleepless night I was laying in bed staring up at the dark ceiling when a light went on in the room...yes, it was my phone, working! Tunes & all!

Made it to the start corral in a great spirits, hey my phone was working! The start was good, about 8000 runners for the full & half marathon. The first 2 miles were sub 9 minutes, very fast for me. At about mile 3 the half marathoner peeled away leaving us full marathoners alone. Suddenly we were at the 5 mile mark, that was quick. I had run this course before so I knew there were alot of hills in the first 10 miles, pace, pace I told myself.

At about mile 8 the 3:55 pace group came up to me, I stayed with them for about a mile...wow fast, they slowly faded away. I was still cruising at about a 9 minute pace. At mile 9 the 4:00 pace group came up to me, I was feeling good & stayed with them until about mile 14 then they slowly faded, I could have stayed with them alot longer but experience & discipline told me that I would pay dearly later if I did. My half split was just over 2 hours. Also this was a bit of a turnaround course so I had a chance to see the elite runners go by, crazy pace. The winner on this day set a course record 2:12!!!

Mile 17 it started at mile 17 the internal struggle, the mental games, the why am I doing this tug of war. At mile 20 the course flattens out to a big loop several miles, you can see way off into the distance, the specks of runners way ahead "I have to run that far?" Mile 24, severe side stitch, odd I dont usually have that. I had to walk about a 100yrds, breathing trouble for a moment...usually it the legs. Mile 25, this is were I get confused every time. Do I have to run 1 or is it 2 more miles lol...anyway I could see the finish and the last mile was strong. My family was waiting for me & my daughter was waiting to run the last waiting 100 yrds through the finsh line with me.

We were running together I was pumping my arms to the crowd, who began cheering for us. Abby looks at me & says "Dad lets run really fast!" and as everyone knows, what ever Abby wants, Abby gets. I dug deep for the sprint!

4:20:43 my best marathon time to date, very pleased. Post race was alot of fun. A hilarious band and plenty of Michelob Ultra light, danced the afternoon away with wife & kids....who could ask for more?

I want to thank you, my running friends here at RR. You inspire!

Turbo Love,
-Gerald

Very Nice, Gerald. someday I plan on making the ranks of Marathoner. how cool is that. your daughter running like that at the end.. Awesome!!
you talk about inspiring.. you just cranked me up!!! gonna think about all of you.. Sunday morning... Thanks !

run away joe · #5 10-31-2011, 12:51 AM

I just read this, awesome job Gerald. reading these is awesome

middie marathon · #6 10-31-2011, 06:19 PM

Congrats on your marathon finish! I love reading about other's experiences, as I can never remember the details of my own :P I did my last marathon on Oct 16 so it wasn't that far off.