The Background
I trained by running 5 mile runs at high-8 or low 9-minute miles. Also, Luke and I ran a 13 miler and a 10 miler. Still, I had not run a 20 miler going into this season.
Terri and I watched the New Years Eve CNN and Rockin' New Years Eve broadcasts, and the fireworks show in our new neighborhood before going to bed.
The Race
I started off the first few miles between 9:30 and 9:45 pace. I finished the first 2 laps in 2:09:30, which was 9:53 pace overall.
I started to slow a bit, but still chugged along. Though running out of gas, I had told myself to mile to keep running until mile 20, so at least I would get in a 20-mile training run for the season. I stretched this to mile 21 before beginning to powerhike.
Meanwhile, my GPS watch was malfunctioning, so the only clue to my pace was the overall time elapsed and the mile markers on the course. I powerhiked two miles, and it looked like if I did not run again, I would go over 5 hours.
I started running again at mile 23 and ran to the end of the race. In the last mile, I chatted with a fellow, Cole, who was finishing his first marathon. I finished in 4:51, 74th out of 151 finishers (top 49 percent).
Reflections
I did not do as well at this race as last year, when I ran in 4:29. But last year I had a good Wild Hare 50 miler and another marathon in the leadup.
I should have run a 20 miler in training if I had wanted to do better for this race.
However, I am proud that I ran the last 3 miles to get in under 5 hours instead of powerhking the rest of the way.
Finishing in the top half of the field (barely) was nice.
I've finished Kingwood three years in a row. They have special awards for 5-year finishers, so I will go for that, God willing.
I need to get a new watch at some point. It has malfunctioned too many times.
Well, it is 2025, so what are some goals?
- Run all my solo road marathons in under 5 hours
- Lose 15 pounds to get under 170
- Run a sub 4:29 marathon
- Get a Western States qualifier
- Run 100 miles in 2025
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