Lincoln Marathon May 6, 2007

Weather was very bad at the race start, rain and strong winds (20-30 mph) from the southeast. I wore a garbage bag poncho that helped some with the rain. Legs still felt tired from working the annual conference the weekend before the race weekend.

Taper had not gone well since I had to work the annual spring conference the entire week/weekend before the race. During the April 24-29 conference I worked from 5:30 am to 7:30 pm, mostly on my feet with a lot of walking. The Sunday before the week of the conference I had completed a 20 mile run, but because of the conference my legs did not recover but just got even more tired.

Then the week before the weekend of the race, my legs were very tired from working the conference the previous week/weekend (Tuesday through Sunday [1 week out]) and did not have adequate recovery to be fresh for the race.

Given the tough taper, tired legs, and the very poor weather, I feel good about this marathon and that I finished. I almost did not drive up to Lincoln to race as the weather reports were calling for thunderstorms with hail. It didn't get that bad, but just rained and was very windy.

Race started and ended outside the UN-L football stadium. Course was mostly flat. Volunteers were very good and there was some nice crowd support. There were no pacers or pace signs at the start, so many slower runners, walkers lined up too close to the start. I had to zig-zag around walkers, slower runners, and big puddles for the first 2-3 miles. Water stops were good, with cups having lids and straws, which made for easy drinking.

Mile Splits

  1. 9:18 (against wind and rain)
  2. 9:17
  3. 9:19
  4. 9:12
  5. 9:12
  6. 8:55
  7. 9:21 (with wind)
  8. 9:17
  9. 9:08
  10. 9:13
  11. 9:07 (stopped raining, but still very windy)
  12. 9:14
  13. 9:11 (13.1 in 2:01:56)
  14. 9:11
  15. 9:45 (post stop at car to switch socks, shirt, and back into the wind)
  16. 9:39
  17. 9:54
  18. 10:23 (wind is wearing me down)
  19. 10:48 (hill) (feeling tired, walked up the hill)
  20. 11:01
  21. 10:39 (with wind)
  22. 11:34
  23. 11:05
  24. 11:46
  25. 12:09
  26. 11:17
  27. 10:30 (.2) (2nd 13.1 in 2:24:34)

Total Garmin time 4:26:30, chip time 4:31:46 (difference is due to stop at the car after mile 13 to change socks and shirt)

Post race food was very poor, yogurt, orange slices, and Pepsi in small cups. You got one bottle of water after crossing the finish.

I would run this marathon again as the volunteers are very good and the course had some good crowd support.