BMO Vancouver Marathon Race Report

A month ago, I was worried about this marathon.  I had missed over 3 weeks of training in February and March.  I hadn't done speedwork, and I'd missed much of the hill training with the group.  Though I had more months of steady running behind me, my training miles for this marathon were lower than Victoria.  I seriously considered changing my registration to the half.

A week ago, I was sure the worrying was for nothing.  I'd had several strong runs in a row.  I'd had some great speed workouts.  I'd run up Pinnacles.  The injury that kept me from running for 3 weeks was all but forgotten.  I was hydrating.  I was eating well.  I was getting to bed early.  I was feeling healthy.  Most importantly, I had a plan.

Going to Vancouver, my plan was to run the marathon in 10K chunks, aiming for 6:20/km for the first 10K, 6:10/km for the next 10K, then 6:00/km, and then give it whatever I had left for the final 12.2.  Knowing that I would probably need some walk breaks, would need to refill my water bottle, had the Burrard Bridge to contend with at the end of the race, and might need a portapotty stop part way through, I had 4:30 in mind as a reasonable, comfortable goal.  Of course, I was secretly hoping that I would beat my time at Victoria, 4:20:30.  Mostly, I wanted to finish feeling good, and less like death than the last time around.

Packing for Vancouver, I had thrown in pretty much every clothing option I have for running, including an extra pair of shoes just in case it was pouring rain.  I had healthy snacks for the drive down, and lots of water to keep hydrated. 

In addition to the marathon, I had the extra excitement of seeing my aunt and uncle who were flying in from Toronto for the weekend.  I think that distraction helped to keep my nerves about the race in check.  We met up with them for dinner on Friday night, and though we were at a yummy oyster bar, I stayed away from anything raw and played it safe with salad and (cooked) fish.

Saturday was a beautiful day and the weather forecast was holding strong for more of the same on Sunday.  We walked to and around the race expo, but took a nap in the afternoon and got some extra rest before cabbing it to and from dinner.

Dinner was a delicious carb-o-rific experience at Lupo.  Yummy margherita pizza, wild mushroom pasta, and lots of bread, bread and bread, with a glass of wine to help make sure I got a good night's sleep.  My aunt, uncle and BF planned out their race strategy, and I knew I was going to see them at several points around the course.  I was also planning to meet the other 7 from my running group in the morning to line up together at the start.

I had everything laid out the night before, right down to my chip on my shoe and my bib on my shorts.  My iPod and Garmin were charged.  I had my cell phone, the BF's cell phone and the hotel alarm clock set.  Everything was ready.

I was ready.

The first alarm went off at 5:45, and I woke up excited for race day.  After getting dressed, I managed to eat a bagel with peanut butter and a few sips of coffee, my traditional pre-run meal.  I'd been hungry on my longer runs and was planning to eat an extra half a bagel, but just couldn't eat any more.  I felt like I was still full from last night, and as it got closer to time to leave, my stomach was starting to flip flop.  I decided that nerves were just finally setting in, and once the race started, I was sure I would be fine.

We got to our meeting point and I met my aunt and uncle and running group as planned.  Here's a picture:

You can see that the sun was already shining and it was shaping up to be a beautiful day.  I was in shorts and a tank with a throwaway top to wear at the start. 

As more from the running group showed up and we headed to the start line, the BF, my aunt and uncle headed to their first point on the course where I would see them at the 3K and 8K mark.  As soon as we were at the start line, I regretted not making a final trip to the washroom.  The flip flopping wasn't settling and I knew I would need to stop along the course.
I didn't have long to think about it as we were off soon after lining up.  It was a slow start with the crowds, but I didn't worry too much about weaving in and out as I wanted to keep my pace in check anyway.  3 of us from our group were running close together for the first couple of kilometers, another shot ahead and another was taking it slower behind.  There were 3 others that we didn't get to see before the start.  We soon were out of the shade of the Georgia Viaduct and into the sun and I dropped back as I took off my throwaway shirt.  Because I was only about 1K away from my personal "cheering section," I held onto it so I could pass it off and use it again in another race.

It wasn't long after that where the leaders past going the other way on the short out and back section at the beginning of the course, and they got a big cheer from our side still heading out as they were heading back.

 The first music station was just after that and gave the crowd some more energy.  It also distracted me from my stomach issues, so when I passed the first set of honey buckets with 5 people lined up to use them, I just kept going.  I continued straight through the first water station, and when I found myself in the middle of a pack of run 10 minutes, walk a minute with Running Room pace bunnies, I felt good running past.  When it came time to take a Gu at Km 7, I couldn't believe how the time seemed to be flying.  I still felt that I needed to use the washroom, but wasn't desperate, and just kept going.  I was feeling great when I got to my personal cheer section again.

(I'm in the peach tank).

Soon after, there was a slight downhill (very slight, the first half of the course was quite flat), and as I went down, I felt my hip twinge in the spot that had me sidelined earlier in my training.  Shoot.  I wished I'd shoved an Advil into my pocket, and more and more was wishing I had some Tums or Immodium too.  I didn't, so I just kept trucking.

I wasn't quite following my pace plan, but I wasn't getting too fast, and aside from my stomach, and now my hip, I was doing ok.

As we came out of Chinatown, I heard someone calling my name.  Another member from my group was just behind me.  I slowed to run with her for a moment - she was feeling good, and I told her I was too - I didn't want her to worry, and went on ahead.

The course turned onto the familiar territory of the half marathon I ran last year.  There was the same guy with the same big white car, blasting bad rock and waving to the runners.  This felt very familiar!  This was also the where the first Gu station was supposed to be, but I didn't clue in at the time.  There was a tent set up and they just waved us ahead to the water.  By this point, I really needed the washroom, but there was a line up 10 deep! 

I kept going, and was soon going to see my cheer section.  Luckily, they had my Gu up and ready.  I was carrying my own just in case I didn't like the flavours, and since I hadn't been able to replenish at Km 10, it was good to have a back up. 

The next toilet stop had 4 people waiting.  I couldn't wait anymore, so I got in line and waited.  And waited.  For more than 5 minutes.  That sucked.  I had some relief when I got out, but had a sinking feeling that wouldn't be the last stop for me in this race.

My legs were still feeling good as we went into Stanley Park.  I had more memories of the half last year and how tired I felt at this point.  I was almost half way through the full marathon, and wasn't tired, just sore in the hip, but nothing I couldn't handle, and frustrated with my revolting stomach.

As we got into the park I came up on one of the group members who had passed me while I was in the washroom line up.  Together we came up to what was supposed to be the next Gu station.  They were out as well.  We checked in to make sure we were both well supplied (thankfully we were), and continued to the water station - where they were out of cups.

Seriously.

Thank goodness I had my hand held.  I could have used some of the Gu Brew for an electorlyte punch, but I wasn't about to drink it out of the jugs that were being shared with hundreds of others.  I have my limits.

After the half way point, and the frustration at the race organization (there were at least 1000 runners behind me at that point), and the low amount of crowd support in Stanley Park, I was getting kind of down.  My legs were still feeling ok, but mentally, I had a little breakdown.  I walked for one minute, put my iPod on for the first time, and reminded myself that I am running a marathon, on a beautiful day, in Stanley Park.  Time to suck it up.

When I got out of the park, a family friend was there for a quick hello, a photo and another mental boost.  I knew I was on my way up to the Burrard Bridge, and then there was one more out and back and I was done.  I definitely had a second wind at that point and for awhile was able to forget about my stomach, and hip.  As I got to the bridge, I saw my aunt, uncle and BF again, with Gatorade ready. 

The original plan was that that would be the last time I would see them until the finish line, but because the race was running out of everything, my aunt and uncle would cross the bridge to meet me with Gatorade on the return part of the out and back and the BF would be there at the finish line.

Running up the bridge, I was passing people left, right and centre.  You could tell people were hurting, but I was feeling good!  I really felt that I could make up time and still finish strong at this point.  I practically flew down the otherside of the bridge.

Before long there was another uphill.  The hill felt fine, but as I got to the top, the pain in my hip came back with a vengence.  And now I had a pain in my foot.  It actually felt like I had instantaneously produced and popped a blister, and since I had done that on a run once before, I was scared by the pain that would come.

I wiggled my foot around in my shoe, and luckily, the foot pain passed.  I do have a blood blister in that spot, but it didn't bother me for the rest of the race.  My hip on the other hand, was not being so cooperative.  I actually stopped and tried to stretch it out, but nothing was helping.  On I went.

I saw one of the other runners from our group, in her first marathon and already on the back portion of this final out and back.  That gave me a little lift, and I kept going.  I thought I was at the final turnaround when we split apart from the runners going in the other direction, and I hit the "Motivation Station" where they were giving out Gu Chomps.  I grabbed two, but as I tried to chew, I nearly choked.  I had to stop to walk again to get my breathing under control and clear my throat.  I was getting frustrated again, and it didn't help when I realized we weren't quite at the turnaround yet.  And then I needed a washroom again.  Badly.

Luckily, there were 3 at the REAL turnaround, and no line, so I was able to stop (again).  I was finally on the home stretch, but I was hurting.  I let myself walk through the water stations on the way back, but walking didn't really help my hip, it was just prolonging the agony.  When I saw my aunt and uncle with 6K to go, I thought I might still make 4:30, but soon after I needed to use the washroom again.  I spotted a medical table right after that and grabbed some Advil.  I realized 4:30 was slipping out of reach and I broke down.  I walked for 3 full minutes.  We were winding around a neighbourhood next to the Burrard Bridge and it seemed like we were never going to actually get on that bridge.  I knew once I was over the bridge, I was almost done.

Climbing the bridge on the way back, I wasn't feeling nearly as good as on the way out, I walked for about 30 seconds near the top, but then all of a sudden, I had one final burst of energy.  I didn't come to Vancouver to walk the marathon.  I was mad at myself for walking at all.  It wasn't helping.  I just ran. With 2K to go, I was speeding up, and with 1K to go, I was going faster still.  I was going so fast, out of nowhere, my stomach decided to revolt one more time.  I let out a HUGE belch that had my hands flying to my mouth.  I'm pretty sure that if I'd had anything in my stomach to come out, I would have thrown up.  I pulled over to the side, took 3 deep breaths, and then tore off towards the finish line.  My last 2 K were both under 5:30/km, the final kilometer was 5:10/km.  I crossed just behind one of the other group members.  (We'd been passing eachother on and off throughout the race), and another was just a couple of minutes ahead and waiting for us in the chute.  We got our medals and photos and went to get some food. 

When I finished in Victoria, I felt dizzy and almost disoriented, but I didn't feel that way this time.  Funnily enough, my stomach was now feeling fine.  Freaking hilarious.  While in Victoria, I couldn't wait to sit down, I felt a burst of energy after the finish in Vancouver and stood around for a while talking with the group and waiting for others to finish and my aunt and uncle to make it back to our meeting spot.  In fact, I was prepared to walk back to the hotel, but the BF had blisters from hiking across the city all morning in new shoes, so we got a cab after a few blocks.

After the Victoria Marathon, I could hardly move, let alone climb stairs, and that feeling lasted for several days.  While I did have a little nap in the afternoon, the BF and I met up with my aunt and uncle for one last dinner before we all left for home the next day.  And the next day, rather than hobbling around, I was walking (almost) normally.  When I got home, I foam rolled and stretched for 45 minutes while watching the election results, and today, I feel great!  Even my hip isn't really that sore.

What do I think this means?  I think my speedy recovery and the fact that my legs felt good during and after the run mean that my training was sound, and I was prepared for the marathon.  I just think it wasn't my day.  And I find that to be very frustrating.  What could I have done differently?  Packed Advil and stomach relief.  Lesson learned, but still frustrating, and disappointing.

Chip Time:

4:35:xx

Average Pace:

6:34/km