Route 66 marathon

The idea for this race was hatched a few months ago when I realized I could cross off Oklahoma on my hash/highpoint/marathon list during the off season. No expectations going in, other than the fact that I had to finish so I would never have to go back to Oklahoma again.

To my surprise a few other people signed up, including BLOS. So my race plan became to pace him to a Boston qualifying 3:09, as the race didn't have a 3:10 pace group. I figured I'd be able to keep that pace for 20 miles or so, suffer horribly over the last 10K, finish in 3:30, and use the race as a good training run.

Even that bright plan was called into question on Saturday, as BLOS, $100, Nacheaux, and I attempted to visit every dive bar in Tulsa. My saving grace was that I stuck to beer, ignoring my thirst for gin, and drank one glass of water for every beer I consumed. But by midnight I was good and drunk, and figured just breaking four hours would be alright.

The alarm clock went off way too early and I fell out of bed and began my frantic attempt to rehydrate. Lots of gatorade. The others in the group weren't feeling much better, but I don't think any of us were quite as bad as BLOS, who had not been able to hold off the call for gin.

Hopped on the hotel shuttle and headed to the start line. Lines for the port-o-shitters were too long so I had to skip 'em. I told BLOS I thought we should start with the 3:20 pace group and stay with them for two miles to warm up before breaking off in search of his 3:10.

The gun started and that plan went right out the window. BLOS took off and I couldn't keep up. I got a little behind the 3:20 pace group and hung in there. The pace felt good, though I still had a ton of gatorade sloshing around in my gut. Felt like my body was just letting it sit in my stomach.

For two miles I sat with the 3:20 group, which we passed in 16 minutes. Then, despite still feeling like shit, I decided to pick up the pace a bit. I dropped that group quickly, but just after three miles I had to duck into a shitter to take a leak, and when I came out I was once again behind. Didn't take too long to catch up and pass the crew, and soon I was clicking off sub seven miles and passing lots of people.

Lots of interesting stuff to see on the course, and the miles clicked away quickly. Caught up to BLOS at six miles, and he seemed settled into a big group of people running 3:10 pace, so I kept going. Hit 10K in 42:04. Lots of bands and lots of other runners (the half marathon peeps were still with us) to take my mind off things. 15K in 1:06:50 and 10 miles at 70 flat. Hit the half marathon at 1:31:52, feeling great.

At the halfway point I decided to give it everything I had and run sub three. Felt I could nail a second half 1:28. Even thought I'd go under 1:27:47, just so I could talk some smack on Fast Eddy.

I ran mile 13-14 in 6:40, and followed that up with a few sub 6:45 miles. Had to work hard here though, as the course was filled with half marathon runners. Soon we were on the big out and back portion of the course, which runs along the Arkansas River. There was a headwind here and it was starting to take it's toll. But I was still running hard and lots of other marathoners were starting to drop off the pace.

Around mile 17 I saw the lead runner on his way back (he would have been at 23 miles). He seemed to have an insurmountable lead - I didn't check my watch but it was a good two or three minutes before the next guy came by. And that next guy was pushing a stroller! Maybe another 60 seconds or so and I watched another guy pushing a stroller pass someone and move into third place. Something would eventually happen to the leader, as at the end of the day the top two finishers were the stroller guys.

Around mile 18 I felt the start of some cramps sneaking into my quads and hamstrings. I knew this was the end of my sub three pipe dreams. I realized that if I kept pushing this hard I would cramp up and have to walk in. I tried to find that perfect spot where I could run as fast as possible and yet not trash myself.

Just after 19 miles I caught the second place female. I passed her but she latched on right behind me. We hit 20 miles in 2:19. I was really struggling now, just taking it mile by mile, not worrying about the finish. Felt like complete ass, but got a huge confidence boost by maintaining a sub seven minute pace for so long.

Right before 21 miles we caught the first place female. We passed her right at the 21 mile mark. The gal who had been running behind me dropped the hammer. I'm pretty sure she ran her next two miles in under 12 minutes. It was the only time in the race I got passed.

I had to stop at the 22 mile medical tent to grab some vaseoline. I had developed a fat chick rash over the course of the day, and it was burning like hell. My legs were hurting so bad at this point I figured I'd be walking in, so I didn't see any point in continuing to rub my thighs raw.

The last couple of miles were uneventful other than how bad my legs were feeling. They're just not used to turning over like that anymore. I felt like I was struggling to keep 15 minute miles, though I managed to pass a few people and the computer would tell me that I was still maintaining 7:15 pace.

Before long I was making the final turn of the race and I finally saw the finish line. I had to sprint to sneak under 3:04 on the clock, and my final chip time was 3:03:07. 21st overall. I would end up 2nd in the clydesdale division, despite beating the "winner" by 14 minutes (they use some age graded calculator).

Overall a fantastic race. Despite not devoting any specific training to this race, I came away with my third fastest marathon ever. It really gave me some new ideas as to what I'm gonna shoot for at Boston...