Runs with Scissors Marathon

Published April 22, 2017

REDEMPTION WEEK.

Gotta say – last week’s marathon result really really stung. Been putting in the time, working hard. Heat or no heat – never expected to throw a 5 hour marathon result again. Aside from the mental struggle of a sub-par performance, took ‘til Wednesday to bounce back physically. Nauseous, early week pace all over the place in my training runs.

8.7 miles Wednesday, 12.2 miles Thursday. Back on track. Unlike last week, took a taper day [on] Friday. Easy 2 mile jog, marathoning Saturday morning in Brighton – 2^nd weekend my run commute would be under 30 minutes. Nice 🙂

FUN FACT: to keep costs down, Director reused old race bibs. Tomorrow I’d be running a Ladies 9K event from 2014. LOL>

Early wake-up, early Start. Cold morning. 35 degrees, woke to rain. Swapped rain for sleet as Brighton temps dipped just under freezing. Small race, 20 laps ‘round a flat 1.3 mile course. 20 laps, ugh. Packed a run bag with all my fave food & drinks. Tucked under a picnic area awning – would have 20 opportunities to grab a snack.

6am Start. Went out fast, hung a quarter-mile behind the lead pack. Followed the flags, made my way once around the course. Multiple mud crossings, developed a rhythm. Lap 4: gloppy cold rain, mix of wet snow & rain. Increased speed, held an 8:20/min pace, started picking off runners. Slowed — ran an easy 9:30/min mile — every third interval.

1:56 Half marathon. Not a personal best…but the fastest I’d run post-cancer. Mentally knew: pacing too quick – it’s a marathon, not a 10K. Would keep running STRONG 3 more laps, then reassess. Not targeting a new PR ‘til September…but what if. What if today everything came together for my first sub-4 since 2015. Logged a slow loop, but surprisingly followed with two sub-9/min miles.

Rain stopped at lap 17 (22 miles). Fizzling, running empty/outta gas, 9:40 lap. Refueled, sucked down 2 packets of soft food. A minute+ under sub-4, quickly eating thru my time bank. 2 laps remaining. Lap 19, run clock read 3:51. Legs like lead, breathing labored. Pushing hard, forward thru mud, sloppy conditions – no longer avoiding the muddiest stretches. Everything I have this day, no holding back.

Finish time – unfortunately, just missed – 4:01:34. No sub-4, not today…but almost there.

Fastest run of 2017. Strike that – fastest run since March 2015 & a new Colorado PR. 3^rd place Male, 4^th overall.

2017 Runs With Scissors – April 22, 2017

Male Marathon Results

Place      Name               Age    Time

Nicholas Ferron     34    03:00:18

David Jepsen        41    03:22:44

K R Haga            50   04:01:34