Cavedog Running

Now that it has been a couple days since I ran the Kentucky Derby Marathon, I have had time to sit back and reflect on the experience.

First off, I had a great time running a beautiful course. I am not at all unhappy with my 3:50 time due to the unfamiliarity and difficulty of the course. All of the people I encountered were friendly and encouraging. With the loss of training by running the Gasparilla Marathon 2 months ago and all the running we did while vacationing, I was not seriously expecting to run a great time even though I gave it a go.

So, the time was not what I wanted. That means there were plenty of lessons learned that can be used later. The major thing that killed me this race was pacing. I had planned on running the hills around 7:30 pace, downhills about 7:00, and flats about 7:15. Well, the first four miles of the race went through Iroquois Park which is very hilly. Plus, we drove part of the park beforehand so I knew what the hills were like. So, what do I do? I blast through the park averaging 7:15 all the way! Not the smartest thing, it is very hard to hold back when it feels easy. Miles 4-13 were not as flat as I thought to be so that probably took a bit of a toll as my mile splits slipped into the 7:20s which still felt comfortable. My time at 13.1 miles was 1:34. That is fastest time at the halfway point of a marathon by over a minute. Again, not smart! Miles 13-16 was a steady incline leading to the large hills of Cherokee Park for miles 16-19. By the time I entered Cherokee Park, my legs lost their spring and I started walking up steeper portions to preserve myself. The rest of the race was mostly flat. The 2nd Street Bridge at 21 miles isn't that much of an incline.

So what should I have done? Probably should have started out the race running 7:30-7:45 miles in Iroquois Park then pick it up until trying to do the same in Cherokee Park.  It is quite hard to slow yourself down what feels comfortable at the beginning of a race with the rush of adrenaline and the flow of runners around you. Starting further back in the field may be a good way to help this so you can't go any faster.

So, what went right? My fueling and hydration strategy was good. I knew they were supplying small bottles of water at most aid stations, so I just kept one with me most of the time and took little sips when I got thirsty or poured over my head. I ate my five strawberry/banana GUs at miles 6, 10, 14, 18, and 22 which worked well. I put down some Powerade in the last 6 miles as I craved it.

My Newton Running Distance Racers performed well again. No foot pain or blisters. Even when they were soaking wet, they were still comfortable. Plus, they dried out well as the race wore on. At least with the rain and dirt, they have lost that really bright green new look to them.

Another thing that went right was my attitude. I try to make each marathon an experience making having fun the first priority over time. Even though I am running at a decent pace, I try to look around at the scenery. When my legs were tiring and I knew I wasn't going to hit my goal time, I decided to enjoy as much around me as possible whether it was the scenery, other runners, aid station workers, police officers, and spectators. A lot of these people don't expect a simple thank-you for handing you a cup of water or blocking traffic.

The marathon was well run with easy packet pickup and a small but good expo. It was smart of them, but odd to be herded through all the vendors. Getting to the starting line was easy with driving to the start and easy for Jenny drive to different parts of the course. That was defiantly better than riding the bus from downtown. The course was scenic with decent spectator support.The finisher medal is nice and is proudly displayed.

Only a couple of suggestions I would make to enhance the race. Aid stations were every two miles or so which was fine for the first half of the race. I think they should have more frequent stations the last 6-8 miles. Another thing that could be better is the post-race food. There was the basics of water, powerade, bananas and bagels. The bagels were fairly dry as I threw mine away after one bite. CHOCOLATE MILK!! Every marathon should have stockpiles of chocolate milk available. Nothing is better than slamming 2-3 bottles after running.

The Kentucky Derby Marathon is an enjoyable race and I would be happy to go back and give it another go. If you are looking for a challenge in a state with friendly people and pretty scenery then run this one!