Des Moines Marathon RR
Congrats on the BQ and running "your " race. Nice Job.
Thats awesome when a race comes together like that! Congrads on qualifying for the 'Big Dance'!
Your group was HUGE. I made sure to scold the pacer for being a minute and a half fast towards the end.
Excellent job on the BQ.
"If it takes a level in insanity to run 26.2 miles, what does it take to go farther?"
Congrats! Sounds like it really came together exactly how you wanted it to!
Congratulations on a perfectly executed marathon. You are going to Boston!
"If we help someone else up a steep hill, we get nearer to the top ourselves." ~Unknown~
~Garen~
http://baldhungariantriproject.blogspot.com/
Thanks, everybody. Now I just have to figure out a way to get to Boston without a car, money, or a place to stay :)
Your group was HUGE. I made sure to scold the pacer for being a minute and a half fast towards the end.
Excellent job on the BQ.
Eric told us from the start we were going to run 3:09 pace, so he was only :15 too fast. But it was still scary letting him go for the last couple miles.
Hard days hard, easy days easy.
Thanks, everybody. Now I just have to figure out a way to get to Boston without a car, money, or a place to stay :)kevinb421 wrote:Your group was HUGE. I made sure to scold the pacer for being a minute and a half fast towards the end.
Excellent job on the BQ.Eric told us from the start we were going to run 3:09 pace, so he was only :15 too fast. But it was still scary letting him go for the last couple miles.
Check out the bus fares to Boston and do a post with 'Crash space in Boston for marathon'
There might be a generous trifuler out there willing to let you crash.
'Nothing to it, but to do it!'
You rock! Way to manage the race.
Good luck finding a way to get to Boston for April 19th. When you do it, I'm sure it's an experience you will never forget. Hard to put a price on that, eh?
You rock! Way to manage the race.Good luck finding a way to get to Boston for April 19th. When you do it, I'm sure it's an experience you will never forget. Hard to put a price on that, eh?
Scott, I was going to PM you. I read your BQ report just this morning, and it was almost IDENTICAL to my race. First 18 miles: uneventful. Next 4 miles: Unable to do mental math. Missed mile markers 25 and 26. Sigh of relief when you see the finish line and the clock :)
Hard days hard, easy days easy.
Great job Krazy. You MUST find a way to get to Boston.
That which does not kill me makes me faster...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4402205&l=77c00de652&id=512371390
I might have found a picture of you....I assume you are in it.
"If it takes a level in insanity to run 26.2 miles, what does it take to go farther?"
Bravo Franco! I hope your Boston "logistics" are resolved ASAP so you can enjoy the anticipation.



















2009 Des Moines Marathon Race Report
The race started in downtown Des Moines at 8 AM. The weather was perfect, about 38 degrees. I left my clothes with my sherpas and got to the start at about 7:50, and snuck in with the 3:10 pace group.
The first 3 miles were flat through beautiful downtown Des Moines. It was fairly crowded, so I just stayed in touch with the rather sizeable 3:10 group (20 people or so). After mile three, we went into about 10 miles of small rolling hills through some nice neighborhoods. I felt strong through the early section of the race, where we ran about 7:10 miles.
Mile 12 contained a lap around the historic Drake University track. I ditched my fuel belt, electing to hold my last couple gels in my hands. I did see myself briefly on the Jumbotron as well, which was sweet. Quickly after exiting the track, we went through the 13 mile mark in 1:33:13.
Miles 13-18 were pretty uneventful. Some nice, long downhills and flats. We stayed on pace.
Mile 18 is when I started to feel fatigued. Imagine that! I ignored the pain and just held onto the group. I started to feel a bit better after another gel at mile 20, and ran pretty strong from miles 20-22. We went through 22 in 2:38:07.
Miles 22-24 were very tough, I worked really hard to hold onto the group, which was running at a 3:08:30 pace. We went through 24 in 2:54.
After we went through mile 24, I let the group go and focused on coming in under 3:10. I kept the group in sight, and really concentrating on keeping my turnover high. After I went through mile 25 in 3:00:25, I knew I was going to meet my goal and qualify for Boston. I kept the wheels turning through the last mile before a short, slow kick into the finish for a final time of 3:09:49.
I couldn't be more pleased with the race. I hit my goal time almost exactly, feeling strong and confident throughout most of the race.
Many thanks to my sister who hosted me for the weekend, my friend Justin who drove me home, Eric the pacer, and all the Trifuelers for your advice, especially in this thread.
Hard days hard, easy days easy.