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Colorado Marathon - RunMarathon


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Fort Collins, Colorado
United States
50F / 10C
Sunny
Total Time = 2h 52m 18s
Overall Rank = 13/686
Age Group = Masters
Age Group Rank = 2/
Pre-race routine:

Early wake up... Drove up with Steve Krebs from my house at 2AM. Stopped at the 7-11 and grabbed a Coffee, Pop Tart, Gatorade, Red Bull and a Banana. My marathon special needs...

Got to the Bus loading area at 4 and we were the first on. Soon though we were off. The drive up the canyon took forever, but it was nice to have such nice commercial transportation and not school buses. They have bathrooms.
Event warmup:

The drop off point was still dark and I had trouble getting the TP to dispense in the darkness of the porta-potties. Still it was nice to be the first in!

Last minute decision to ditch the Under Armor long sleeve shirt was genius because as the sun rose in the canyon I could tell that the chill in the air would burn off quickly and it did.

I tried to use the rolling stick to roll out my tight calf.
Run
  • 2h 52m 18s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 06m 35s  min/mile
Comments:

Sorry but this is a long section and I've posted it in my daily log already.

I just want to say that the course was beautiful, the day was beautiful... my race was not...

Meralgia Paresthetica

I had a Personal Best time in my marathon yesterday but at what cost? I don't know. Yes, I am disappointed in not going under 2:50 but I came close and I hung on and finished in the worst pain that I have ever felt during a marathon.

I was running with my friend Steve Krebs (an ER doc) and my other friend Ben (an F4 coach); the early miles went well and we were just gliding through the canyon. Before the race I was concerned about my right calf because it was tight and I was afraid of it progressing but for the first 10 miles it was just a nuisance... the 3 of us rolled into 13.1 pretty much together (Steve was pushing and Ben and I backed off just a bit)... Ben and I crossed the half way point at about 1:23:05 and but I was concerned already. I felt tightness developing in my thighs (especially my left) and this seemed very early in the race. I asked Ben if he felt any tightness in his legs and he said, no.

By mile 15 I was beginning to worry big time. I just wanted to get out of the canyon and into some rolling terrain. I would love an uphill just to change the motion of my stride. My thigh, on the outside near my hip was really starting to hurt. I noticed that it was burning too. By mile 16 it was on FIRE!!! I was trying to massage it as I ran. I was scared and began to believe that I would not finish this race and if I did I would be walking. I did not want to walk for 10 miles -- I'd hitch a ride rather than walk. I told Ben that I was in trouble and he tried to be encouraging and told me to relax and just to keep running. I protested and was about to start walking but I didn't primarily because I noticed that Ben slowed down just a bit so that I could keep up with him. I continued running.

Two miles more pass and we are approaching the only real uphill (Bagel Hill) and I notice that although my splits had slowed, they were still in the 6:40 range and if I could handle the pain, if it didn't get any worse, I could keep going.

As I approached Bagel hill I practiced my Bobby McGee running uphill techniques that I learned in a seminar and marched on. Ben said he was going to stop for water. I kept going figuring that he would catch me and pass me before too long anyway (Ben beat me by a minute at the Canyonlands Half Marathon this year).

Pretty soon I was approaching the 20 mile mark. I was really surprised that I was still moving. I looked at my watch and I thought that I still have a chance to reach my goal of sub-2:50. I hit 20 miles at 2:07:45 and if by some miracle I could do a 42 minute 10k in this condition, I would make it!

Soon enough though, I was back to wanting to stop. I have never felt this type of pain before. Did I tear something? I couldn't figure out what was going on. I had all of the normal and worse than normal soreness that is tupical at this stage of the race, but the fire in my thigh/hip area was NOT NORMAL. 5 miles to go and am I doing permanent damage to myself? 5 miles to go and I HAVE to finish.

I'm tired now. really tired. I make it to 23 slowing to a 6:59 mile pace. I am losing the time that I put in the bank quickly and realize that it is unlikely that I will go <2:50. I still have a chance at a PR and I do my best to hang on.

Funny thing is at the California Marathon in December, I had a similar race... not because of an injury but because I blew up. I was on pace their through 23 miles and then fell apart completely (still PR'd: 2:53:38). Today, although it would be a similar death march to the finish I wasn't slowing down as much as in Cali.

My last 3 miles where all in the low 7:00s and I rolled into Old Town Fort Collins knowing I would PR but not reach my real goal. As I got near the finish I saw Kati and Sarah and Bridget with really cool "DICK DIME" signs and I think I heard Jason (Greyhound) yell, "Go Dime" as I ran into the finish chute, so that cheered me up.

When I got to the finish, I saw my friend Steve (2:49:59), the doc, and told him what I felt. He asked a few questions and immediately he told me that it was Meralgia Paresthetica and it is not commonly associated with running. Later on at the Rio Grande Restaurant some dude who I guess was running behind me congratulated me and we chatted... I told him what happened and he too was a doctor and told me that it was Meralgia Parethetica and then quizzed his other doctor friend to see what he thought and he too said the same thing. Now I'm pretty sure what happened to me and I'm scared shit-less!

Ben, my friend who helped keep me moving at mile 16 never caught me... he came in at around 2:57 so somehow, I ran strong... Weird.

I feel really beat up this morning. Worse than after any marathon that I have ever run. I thought my preparation was excellent and that I was ready. Well I guess I was ready, I PRd while running the last 10 miles with a painful injury. But now what? What the hell is Meralgnia Paresthetica?

On a happy note. The beers were free and unlimited after the race... The support from my BT friends, Outdoorsgirl1978, FreckleFace, Snowgirl and Greyhound was AWESOME and I felt emotional as I crossed the finish line. I am lucky.

2:52:38 New PR. Plus a very cool 3rd Overall Masters Trophy
What would you do differently?:

Quit at the first sign of pain.

No, I don't know. I ran really well. I know I could have gone MUCH faster without this injury.

Like they say: These things happen. I guess.
Post race
Warm down:

Water... hurting... beers... lunch... HURTING. Drive home. SLEEP!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Meralgia Paresthetica

Event comments:

Great race... beautiful course... AWESOME volunteers.

The course seemed long. But its a marathon.

I probably will not do this course again... It destroyed me.

My Masters trophy is awesome and one of the best that I have seen and the finishers medals were beautiful too!




Last updated: 2008-03-05 12:00 AM
Running
02:52:18 | 26.2 miles | 06m 35s  min/mile
Age Group: 2/
Overall: 13/686
Performance: Good
NOTE: Garmin distance: 26.37 miles 6:31 pace Garmin Time 2:52:16 so I lost some time in the tunnels and distance but still my Garmin came up with a long course. hmm... also avg HR is super high for the first 3 miles (it always does this) and I'm talking to people... so the HR info for the first part of the race is not accurate. Mile 1: 6:02 AVG HR 180 Mile 2: 6:23 AVG HR 183 Mile 3: 6:27 AVG HR 180 Mile 4: 6:22 AVG HR 168 Mile 5: 6:23 AVG HR 147 Mile 6: 6:19 AVG HR 147 Mile 7: 6:26 AVG HR 149 Mile 8: 6:11 AVG HR 148 Mile 9: 6:18 AVG HR 148 Mile 10: 6:08 AVG HR 151 Mile 11: 6:09 AVG HR 152 Mile 12: 6:07 AVG HR 153 Mile 13: 6:20 AVG HR 150 Mile 14: 6:24 AVG HR 149 Mile 15: 6:25 AVG HR 152 Mile 16: 6:31 AVG HR 154 Mile 17: 6:34 AVG HR 155 Mile 18: 6:40 AVG HR 155 Mile 19: 6:48 AVG HR 156 Mile 20: 6:41 AVG HR 157 Mile 21: 6:44 AVG HR 158 Mile 22: 6:53 AVG HR 160 Mile 23: 6:59 AVG HR 159 Mile 24: 7:01 AVG HR 159 Mile 25: 7:03 AVG HR 161 Mile 26: 7:13 AVG HR 163 Last .38 2:32 AVG HR 166 (6:44 Pace)
Course: This course is 26 miles, 385 yards or 42.195 kilometers. The Colorado Marathon course runs down the Scenic Poudre River Canyon for the first 17+ miles, starting at Steven's Gulch Day Use Area. The course takes a right turn at the intersection of the Canyon road (highway 14) and highway 287, following on the right shoulder of 287 proceeding south to County Road 54G, heading through the City of Laporte to Cache La Poudre Junior High, turning on to the Poudre West Bike Trail that runs along the west end and south side of the school, crossing under Overland Trail Road and proceeding east on the bike trail to Linden Street, turning southwest and finishing at the Old Town Plaza at the intersection of Linden and Walnut.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Bad
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time?
Lots of volunteers?
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2008-05-05 9:33 AM

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Expert
622
500100
Conifer, Colorado
Subject: Colorado Marathon


2008-05-05 11:17 AM
in reply to: #1381823

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Buttercup
14334
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Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon

Sorry to hear about the pain (had to google Meralgia Paresthetica) but a great race, nonetheless!

Brown sugar cinnamon Pop Tarts are my favorite.

2008-05-05 12:11 PM
in reply to: #1381823


51
2525
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon
Wow - I hope you get better soon. The end of that race does not sound like fun.
2008-05-05 12:56 PM
in reply to: #1381823

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Expert
892
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Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon
First, great race.. congrats!

Second, sorry to hear about the injury. I can't imagine the pain the pinching of the nerve caused... ouch!! Hope you get a handle on this very soon.
2008-05-05 1:26 PM
in reply to: #1381823

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Elite
3488
20001000100100100100252525
Lakewood, CO
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon

What a challenge and to run through that to a PR like that, fantastic.

May you figure out the best way to treat it and proceed.  You will be breaking 2:50 sometime soon. 

2008-05-05 2:08 PM
in reply to: #1381823

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Official BT Coach
2210
2000100100
Englewood, CO
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon
Congrats!  You amaze me.  Thanks for the insiration you give me going into my Marathon.  I know it will be tough but not as tough as you had to go through.  Way to kick !


2008-05-05 3:57 PM
in reply to: #1381823

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Elite
2423
2000100100100100
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon
great PR and I am sure you will overcome the injury sooner than later. Free beer > beer that costs money > no beer.
2008-05-05 5:37 PM
in reply to: #1381823

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Champion
6627
5000100050010025
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Gold member
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon

At least you didn't get rolioliosis or ubanga disease. Heh.

Nice mary, Dime. Once again, unfavorable conditions, favorable result. You're making a career out of this, y'know?  Nice work, nice PR, come back and killit for the next one.  

2008-05-05 6:00 PM
in reply to: #1383299

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Expert
622
500100
Conifer, Colorado
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon
rkreuser - 2008-05-05 4:37 PM

At least you didn't get rolioliosis or ubanga disease. Heh.

Nice mary, Dime. Once again, unfavorable conditions, favorable result. You're making a career out of this, y'know? Nice work, nice PR, come back and killit for the next one.



Thanks Rick! I'm not sure I know what rolioliosis or ubanga disease are, but all of these scientific terms scare the bejeezus out of me.

I'm glad you checked in. I will recover cuz that's what Dime's do... now for the Dollar!?
2008-05-05 8:04 PM
in reply to: #1381823

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Extreme Veteran
387
100100100252525
Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon
REST! You kicked that marathon's butt. You may not have gone sub 2:50, but there is no doubt in my mind you gave it all you had. Now you have IMAZ in November to look forward too!

Edited by PSUguru 2008-05-05 8:04 PM
2008-05-05 10:13 PM
in reply to: #1381823

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Westminster, CO
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon

great race!  you ran strong and in control!  your mental toughness is outstanding!

Meralgia Paresthetica - sounds like its the perscription to give the legs a rest and log some swim time

did I see Ramone on the sidelines out there?



2008-05-06 8:03 AM
in reply to: #1381823

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Pro
4277
20002000100100252525
Parker, CO
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon
wow, like there aren't enough things to have to deal with in a marathon!  I've never heard of "Meralgia Paresthetica" before...but sounds like you need to give this time to heal.  Way to hang in there...I think a lot of people would have bagged it.  I know I would have.  Way to hang in there and congrats on the PR and 2nd in AG.  That's a really fast time! 
2008-05-06 8:46 AM
in reply to: #1381823

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Veteran
243
10010025
Denver
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon

Congratulations!  Though I'm sad to hear that it was a rough race for you - and I've never heard of Meralgia Paresthetica. 

 And we did hit the Rio Grande for not one, but two margaritas the day prior - ha!  They were quite yummy

2008-05-06 12:28 PM
in reply to: #1381823

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Master
2479
2000100100100100252525
Atlanta, Georgia
Gold member
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon
Sir, you are quite fast..Hope that hurt turns out to be nothing.
2008-05-07 10:26 AM
in reply to: #1381823

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Expert
2555
20005002525
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Subject: RE: Colorado Marathon
Great race! Pushing through that kind of pain for as long as you did is a testament to your tremendously strong will. It's a great course and it was a perfect day for running. Hopefully you didn't suffer any long lasting damage and you'll be able to fully recover in short order.
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