Pre-Race Rambles
My training for the Phoenix Marathon over the winter went really well. I was running strong and working hard to build mental toughness as well. I truly believed I was ready to smash my 4:44:51 marathon PR from January 2009. I was targeting under a 4:30 marathon and the McMillan running calculator predicted I should be able to run closer to a 4:20.
Unfortunately race week arrived and I was feeling slightly under the weather. My throat was a bit sore and my nose was running non stop. On the day I was to fly to Phoenix I woke up with a plugged left ear which was definitely not ideal. On the descent into Phoenix it was incredibly painful and I was unable to clear my ear.
I tried not to freak out about how I was feeling. I bought some decongestant and I tried to stay well hydrated despite feeling completely dry and parched the entire time.
The Race Plan
The night before the race I talked strategy with Coach Angie. We both knew my health was not ideal but we both hoped I’d still be able to pull off a strong race.
The course is net downhill, however from mile 10 onwards it feels mostly flat. The plan was to use the downhill in the beginning to help me settle into my goal pace for the overall race and to work to hold it throughout the race. Here is a great write up for race strategy at the Phoenix Marathon that I had hoped to follow.
Phoenix Marathon Race Report
I was still feeling unwell and incredibly parched on race morning. I drank an entire bottle of Skratch Daily on the drive to the race start. It was going to be hot out today so I was especially worried about being well hydrated.
I created a playlist just for the race that started out with some slightly slower tunes so I could keep my pace in check. Unfortunately as I stuffed my iPhone in my SpiBelt the plastic covers on my Yurbuds earphones popped off and dropped on the ground just as the race was starting. Without them the earphones don’t fit in my ears. I decided to spend an extra minute or two searching for them…just in case… I found one cover on the ground and decided to abandon the search for the second cover. Time to get the race started.
The early part of the race through Usary Park was beautiful. The sun was coming up and all the cacti were beautiful to look at. The downhill was awesome, but I will say that the uphill climb over miles 5 and 6 was no joke!
My pace was right where I wanted to be in the first half of the race. I didn’t feel like I was pushing the downhill too much and I kept my effort on the uphill steady and in check. I grabbed one or two cups of Gatorade at each aid station unless I was taking a gel (in which case I just stuck with water).
Somewhere around mile 9 I remember thinking that I had a very noisy breather running right on my tail. I looked over my shoulder to see who it might be and realized that I was hearing my own breathing! It was like the congestion was draining from my sinuses, coating my throat and beginning to constrict my breathing. I sounded like Darth Vader.
Cue foreboding music.
Despite my crummy breathing my body felt pretty awesome until mile 15 when fatigue started to set into my legs. I told myself to keep pushing through and that it would eventually feel better. I found people to catch up to and there was a girl with a white tank top on that was just ahead that I tried to keep in my sights. I focused on getting to mile 16 so I could start counting down less than 10 miles to go. At mile 18 I started to break. My legs had no energy. My breathing was becoming more and more laboured and my voice was completely shot. My friend Tara was watching my race on Garmin Connect and could see I was slowing down. She and my friends Kelly and Shannon kept texting me encouragement to keep going. Finally I mentally broke, pulled out my phone and admitted to them that I was struggling.
Putting words to my feelings was the first step in admitting that my race and my drive to strive for a new personal best were over. I kept telling myself that I wanted to remember this race for my ability to slay the demons and turn things around but I just couldn’t do it. The energy and heart was not there.
The final three miles felt like an eternity. Both Angie and Tara called me to try give me the encouragement I needed to pick it up. I was overcome with emotion, my throat closed up and I could barely draw a breath. I hobbled my way to the finish line, feeling broken and defeated.
Angie, my Team Tri Life teammate Sarah, and my Oiselle teammates were at the finish line, waiting and cheering. Tara, Kelly and Shannon were cheering from Calgary. The support from my teammates and friends on this difficult day meant so much to me.
Final Race Thoughts
On Saturday I feel like I failed. I had a goal and I feel like my mind failed, my body failed and my health failed me. Considering I have worked so hard on the mental aspect of training and racing this feels especially disappointing to me. As I sat at the Phoenix airport I reread my post on embracing the fear of failure. I cannot let fear define me and make me believe that I am not capable of reaching my goals. I tried very hard on race day and I do believe I did the best I could on the day. I need to take the lessons from this race and move forward. Greatness and strength is born out of failure and vulnerability.
Results
- Overall: 4:49:39 (1538 out of 2109)
- Division place (F35-39): 150 out of 191
- Gender place: 663 out of 974
- First half: 2:12:11 (pace: 10:06 , rank: 1601)
- Last half: 2:37:28 (pace: 12:02 , rank: 1494)
- 20-mile split: 3:27:40 (pace: 10:23 , rank: 1493)
- Last 10k: 1:21:59 (pace: 13:14 , rank: 1573)
It’s so hard when you train for something and it just falls apart. I completely feel for you Leana but I love that you have a positive outlook after all of it. You did the best you could and you didn’t quit, which is the most important thing.
Jen recently posted…Things I’m Loving Lately
i feel you its tough when we train and train and train and it just doesnt work out how we want but you did not fail, you toughed it out and finished and you will be stronger for this and you’ll get um next time 😉
I’m so sorry you didn’t have the race you were capable of. You trained your butt off! It’s so crapping a cold had to rear its head right before the race.
Ange recently posted…Hello March! My Goals for the Month
Great recap, Leana, and especially your closing sentiments. You have been working so hard and have made serious strides recently. Having a race that just doesn’t go your way takes NOTHING away from that. You have a rocking marathon PB in you and it will come! Keep your chin up and be proud of how far you have come, and also for hanging in there on such a tough day. I’ll be honest – this is my biggest fear right now and the reason I hesitate to pull the trigger on my marathon registration for this spring… first in 2.5 years. I am so afraid of putting so much into it and struggling through the race. We just never know what might happen on race day, especially marathons. But it’s all somehow worth it in the end, isn’t it? I think you’ve given me the courage to put on my big girl runner pants and take the plunge.
Marlene recently posted…Downsview Airport 8K Race Report
What terrible timing to get sick! Sorry to hear things didn’t go the way you planned and hoped, but good for you for finishing when you were dealing with those health struggles. You’ll get your PR soon, I’m sure!
Heather recently posted…Our Trip to La Manzanilla – the 2016 Edition
I get it. I was a half hour off my goal time my last marathon. Think of it this way, you stuck it out and finished. I’m super proud of you for that!
So sorry to hear this. Same thing happened my last 2 marathons. Worked my ass off and was SO READY only to end up with a cold the day or two before the race. You should sign up for a marathon in a couple weeks – you are trained and ready to run a 4:20! You just need to get over your cold! Don’t let this experience detract from the journey.
I’ve trained for races and been disappointed before. It’s never a good feeling…BUT, you finished. YOU RAN A FREAKIN’ MARATHON!! I’m proud of you. I know you’ll come back even stronger!!
Kaella On The Run recently posted…How Running Helped Me Get Through My Divorce
I can’t believe you got sick! You worked so hard to prep for that marathon and it must have been gut-wrenching when you felt that cold coming on. I hope you feel better soon and you knock your next race out of the park!
I am so sorry. I know what it feels like to have an awesome training cycle and not have race day reflect that. The only advice I can give is that it is OK to be bummed for a little while, but get it out of your head before your next race. Don’t let this bad race make you doubt yourself in your next race. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Marilyn recently posted…OLYMPIC TRIALS
It is tough when we train and train and our paces and strength predict new achievements and then *pow* something in which we have no control or could not predict happen. I’m sorry you got sick. 🙁 You are there and you will smash your goal. Always believe!
Wendy recently posted…{week 2} Getting into the training groove
You finished. You didn’t injure yourself. If snot is the worst that happened in the bodily fluids department, I’d call that a win! It’s a pity that a cold came on at just the wrong time, but that happens, especially when you travel. But the fitness didn’t evaporate. You’ll build on your current fitness to get to your next goal.
Keith recently posted…NIMBYism revisited
Sorry you had a rough last part of the race. I know the feeling of training for a specific time and even putting your times in a race pace calculator and knowing you have the ability to beat it, but then don’t. That happened to me at the last wdw marathon!
Sorry that it was a rough race for you, especially when your training was so strong and focused. I do think that any time we really “put it out there” – our goals and also our effort, it’s a learning experience and something to be proud of. As others have said, it is okay to feel disappointed, but you should also be proud of your work and of running 26.2 miles! That is never an easy accomplishment.
Kristina recently posted…Off the grid in Chiang Rai, Thailand
Way to push through that cold stuff! I would have called it a day and hid in the corner 🙂 Very proud of you Leana! You are slaying those demons. No failure here!
Crystal recently posted…No words, just pics: From my iPhone 6
I know you are feeling down about the race but I think it is important to remember that you were not in optimal health. That plays a HUGE role in how you feel. You’re going to feel off, it is going to feel harder and of course that is going to be tough mentally. Way to go sticking it out and getting it done. I am positive you have that PR coming! Overall what were your thoughts on the course/organization? I have had Phoenix on my radar for a while now.
Thank you so much for your comment RB…I really appreciate it! After running Disney so many times I was interested to see what a non-Disney marathon would feel like. I honestly really liked the Phoenix race and I would highly recommend it. There were water stops every 2 miles until mile 20 and then they were every mile. They were well stocked and had a couple of stations that had gels as well. It was also really nice to run a course that wasn’t nearly as crowded. I never felt alone, but I didn’t have to weave around people. I also measured the course at 26.3 miles…vs 26.9 miles that I usually measure at Disney. That is helpful if you are racing for a certain time! My only negative comment about the race is that the tank tops this year for the ladies were nothing special, and you couldn’t exchange until after the race. I didn’t bother to see if I could get a smaller size post race since I figured I’d probably wind up donating it anyway.
Runner Leana recently posted…My Female Role Models: International Women’s Day 2016
Sorry, I measured the course at 26.23 miles…pretty well bang on!
Runner Leana recently posted…My Female Role Models: International Women’s Day 2016
Your friends’ are the sweetest for tracking you and texting you encouragement!
Carmy recently posted…Fit & Fashionable Friday: Lululemon Dupe