Swift Fish Net

Yesterday, I ran my twelfth marathon in the same place as my first ( in 1996) with the Marine Corps Marathon. While I didn’t have a particularly good race, it was good to get back to the marathon distance after a three year break from marathoning. I had hoped to run somewhere between 3:30-3:40 but ended up over 3:50. I started out right on target at a little over 8 minute per mile pace through the first 10K, but for some inexplicable reason, without intending to speed up at all, I was suddenly cruising along at around 7:30 pace. I knew I wasn’t currently trained to run at that pace for an entire marathon, and my lack of concentration early really cost me later on. I was just about out of energy by 18 miles with almost a third of the way to go, so I shuffled along the rest of the way with occasional walking breaks.

As for the weather, it was probably one of the best if not the best weather I have run in for a marathon. It started out in the 40°F’s and was probably still in the 50°Fs when I finished. There was at most a light breeze. The only negative was squinting into the sun. I also rather enjoyed the course. I think it was a bit hillier than the last time I ran this race, but I actually like some vertical variety to keep things interesting. I particularly liked the part around the Potomac with the mist over the river.

Now I get to take it easy for a few weeks to recover. I haven’t thought about what to train for next, but I will start to look for a next race soon.