2014 Chevron Houston Marathon Recap

This was my seventh Chevron Houston Marathon and I had some high expectations. Having come off a solid season of training and an early season marathon PR of 4:03, I thought this was the perfect year for me to crack that 4:00 barrier. Conditions were looking ripe for a great race and there wasn't a drop of rain in the forecast. My race strategy was to pace for a 3:50 marathon finish with the expectation that I would eat up some of that buffer in the late miles. I had hoped that the 10 minute padding would give me enough wiggle room if things got a little shaky. Temperatures were nearly ideal with a starting temperate in the upper 40s. It was cold but not cold enough where I felt I had to wear multiple layers. I even decided to wear a running singlet. I figured as the day warmed up, I didn't want to be caught with too much on.

In the weeks and days leading up to marathon weekend, my biggest concerns where about my left foot, which had started giving me some problems in the last month of training. That was around the same time I had tried a few training runs with a new pair of Brooks Pure series shoes. I can't say for certain if that's what started the issues, but I've decided that the Pure series just doesn't work for me. So my options for a race day shoe was between my trusty Asics HyperSpeed racing flats or the Saucony Hurricanes which I had some success earlier this season with. I was worried about foot fatigue in the racing flats in the later miles so I opted to race in the premium cushioning of the Hurricanes. I don't regret my decision because for the entirety of the race, my feet were never a problem. Cramps, however, were. I started feeling some early twinges in my calves quite early in the race, which I was shocked and very concerned with. I felt the first one around the 14 mile mark. I made a point to focus on staying on schedule with my nutrition hoping that would address the cramps. What I learned was that it wasn't enough. I was completely on top of my energy gels and I didn't feel overly dehydrated, but the cramps started to get the best of me after mile 22. I was feeling it in my quads, hamstrings and calves. In some ways it was reminiscent of my first marathon in 2008. I wasn't sure what had gone wrong this time. Was my first half pace too aggressive? Was something off in my nutrition? Was it the ever so slightly warmer weather? I kept running the numbers in my head and kept watching as my time padding steadily shrank as I slogged through my last few miles. This is where I had to adjust from my plan A to my plan B then eventually to my plan C. Plan A was to break the 4:00 mark. Plan B was to break my PR of 4:03. Plan C was to break my course PR of 4:10. I just barely manage to meet my plan C with a finish of 4:08:50, but a relatively healthy finish is a good finish in my opinion. I didn't meet my initial goal, but I came away with some new lessons learned. I'm thinking I should integrate electrolyte capsules into my training and race days. I've got to solve the late mile cramps. I'm getting stronger, but I know there is still room for growth and improvement.

As a side note, the new course was beautiful. I loved going down Congress which kept us in downtown longer through the start. The stretches through Kirby and into Rice University were picturesque. Well done, Houston.

Also, my wife achieved a new 5K PR the day before having to support me during my race!!

2013 Fall Race Recap Notes

2013 Dad's Day 5K  (0:21:49 @ 7:01 min/mile) - Hot, humid, and a new PR. 

2013 Alaina Dixon 5 Miler - This was the inaugural race named after a fellow RHC club member who collapsed during the Chevron Marathon a few years ago. The race benefited the medical team that saved her life. The club had a large presence for this one. 

2013 Chosen Marathon (4:03:18 @ 9:09 min/mile) - This was a beautiful hilly run in central Texas. It has special significance for me because its mission is to raise funds and awareness for the 165 million orphans worldwide. I would be lying if I said I didn't get emotional during this race. I was choked up and teary eyed in the final stretch as thoughts of my adoptive daughter in waiting on my mind.

I hadn't planned to shoot for any time goals this time. The course had plenty of elevation and it was early in the race season, but with the help of new friend I was pacing for a PR.

 ---- 1st Half ----                   ---- 2nd Half ----                  Chip 
Rnk     Time         Pace        Rnk Time  Pace        Time             Pace   
57 1:59:51 9:09/M 38 2:03:27  9:25/M 4:03:18.872   9:17/M

2013 Houston Half Marathon - The day after running the Chosen Marathon, I had committed to running this half marathon with a friend, who was running her very first half marathon. It's always great fun and a real privilege to be there with someone as they discover the beauty of the sport for the first time.

2013 HMSA 25K (2:13:51 @ 8:36 min/mile) - The second race of the Warm-Up series, I felt strong throughout this looped course along the Allen Parkway and Memorial. Running on tired legs didn't bother me either.

2013 FLS 30K (2:41:16 @ 8:39 min/mile) - This was the final race of the Warm-Up series. The weather was ideal if not a bit nippy if you weren't running. My final two miles weren't quite as strong as I had hoped. I need to improve my late race speed.