Heat, Hills, Hydration and no Hollywood ending

This weekend I took part in the 25th LA Marathon. I shall cut away any suspense and tell you that my finishing time was 3:25:06. Which give or take a few seconds is 15 minutes slower than my last marathon and about 25 minutes slower than my goal for this race.

Am I disappointed? Errrrmmm, the answer is I'm not sure.

With Chicago when I got my 3:10:54 I felt and said at the time that it was one of those perfect races where everything comes together perfectly. This was payback for that race. I don't want anyone out there thinking I'm making excuses for my performance with what is to follow, I'm not, I ran the time on the day that I was capable of, there is no need for excuses just reasons that I didn't do better, which most of them were under my ability to control. 3:25 is still a good time and one I'm honestly happy with, just at the same time disappointed too :)

It was the 25th anniversary of the race and the first time that they have used the new Stadium to Sea course, running from Dodger Stadium through Downtown LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and into Santa Monica.

I initially had intended to try for a sub 3 hour race in LA and had whinged at, moaned at and generally annoyed most people at PRR in my attempts to achieve this, for which I do apologise for. They are an amazing source of tips, help and most importantly encouragement and I do feel that if I let anyone down it was them. By the time race morning cam round I had already re-evaluated by goal to be around 3:05 with the intention of at least beating by Chicago time.

I headed out at around 4:20 per kilometre thinking of staying ahead of the 3:10 pace group. Unfortunately I had been in the starting corral for quite a while before the race started and with in the first 500 metres of the uphill start I need to make a visit behind a tree to relieve myself, I was not the only by the way. Having got that out the way I sprinted off up the hill to catch up with the 3:10 group and tried to get into a pace I was comfortable with.

My first major mistake in all of this was not giving the elevation profile enough respect. The overall profile of the race is downhill and it was far to easy for me right off any bumps in that line as just that, bumps, they weren't. Hills are not my strength and from the starting line we tackled a few respectable inclines and my sympathy goes out to the wheel chair racers as several were really struggling early on and one even got out and pushed their chair up the hill (I kid you not!).

I took the early up and down hills to hard and basically drained myself before the race really got going. At mile 7 I was still a little way ahead of the 3:10 pack when I was passed by a man in a Minnie Mouse costume. I have to say while I do respect the runners out there that can do it in costume and help buoy the spirits of flagging runners, it does nothing good for me.

Mile 9 I felt everything come apart. I have hit "The Wall" in previous races but always after Mile 20. When it happened so early in this race it completely demoralised me. My legs were feeling heavy, my breathing was not even and was a little raspy, I was soaked with sweat already and I had another 17 miles to go. The 3:10 group sailed by and at that point it was the first time I have considered dropping out of a race.

Mile 9 to 10 was a very low point for me. But I have hit hard point in races before and I know you can come back from them and I really did not want to drop out. So I readjusted my goal from time related to survival. I decided that if I wanted to finish the race I was going to have to cut the pace and just get through the miles.

The course I think was great, we went through or past many famous landmarks and for a change I do actually remember seeing them. The Hollywood sign, Capitol Records, Sunset strip, The Chinese Theatre, Rodeo Drive, The Beverly Wiltshire Hotel, Echo Park (a high point for me) and many others and I would recommend this race as the organisation was fantastic, water and powerade were plentiful, volunteers were great and spectator support was good. It was just not the course for me to run a good race.

From Mile 10 the heat of the day had started to build and it became about me making to the next mile marker and water stop. I always walk when I grab a drink as I think the seconds it costs me to make sure I drink plenty with out choking on it are made up for by keeping properly hydrated. This time I was walking most of the length of the water stop and probably drinking too much.

Mile 13 came and went and normally I feel good at the halfway point as I know it is at least half done. No such feelings this time as I just saw another 13 miles in front of me. I think one of my biggest failings in this race was the lack of mental preparation I had done. I normally from a couple of weeks out start picturing different parts of the race and how I'll feel and how I'll deal with things if they are not going to plan and to have little mantras to keep me going (it might sound stupid but it works for me) I had done none of that this time and my brain was working against me.

One plus I could take while I was running, was that everyone else seemed to be struggling too. I have never heard so much swearing from a group of runners. So many times when I was passed or passed some one I could hear them cursing under the breath about the course, their personal god of choice, their decision to run anywhere let alone 26.2 miles. Also I have never before seen so many people taking walking breaks in the sub 3:30 crowd.

At mile 22 the 3:20 pace group came on by which surprised me as I thought I had seen them earlier on and this gave me hope that I could still finish in under 3:30. I know how silly it might sound but my major concern about finishing was getting back to the hotel before checkout time. They would not give me a late checkout and with the race starting a little late and me being a little slower it was going to be cutting it close. Another tip for future runs, don't have that sort of thing hanging over you, it does not help your concentration.

From that point the course was pretty much all downhill to the beach. I am a big lover of palm trees and to be running along the sea front with huge palm trees lining the road and crowds cheering you in was brilliant. I had developed a tunnel vision a little towards the end, seeing the finishing line from a mile away focused my attention, but I tried to wave at kids cheering us on and to enjoy the moment.

Crossing the line was emotional. Not everyone feels this way but a lot do. It is the accumulation of 4 months of training and a lot of effort and you see many people just break down in tears or laugh hysterically. I did neither but I it was one of the strongest feelings I have had at a finish, happy to be done but disappointed at the same time and I still haven't resolved it in myself.

The biggest factors I believe that played apart were I went travelling 5 weeks before the race and I didn't maintain my training properly during that time. I went skiing a few weeks ago took it's toll on my body, I had a few spectacular falls and I'm still feeling them now:) Not mental preparing myself for the challenge. All things that are my responsibility and under my control, so bad Davey! But still things I can improve upon for my next time.

The heat and humidity on the day were more than I like and if you have read previous blog entries you will notice my aversion to heat, I'm a sweaty runner and my body has just not adapted to running in warmer weather. To be fair though, there was a very nice breeze through out the course and I can't place any blame on bad weather.

I want to thank all the people that listen to me go on about running and always encourage me and show patience no matter how trivial my issues are, so thank you, it is noticed and greatly appreciated!