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!!
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