The weather conditions of the 2009 Twin Cities Marathon turned out to be just about perfect. The race started at around 46 degrees with a little sun. I decided to wear only my short sleeved shirt since it was a bit warmer than I expected. We got to the starting area about 25 minutes early, which was probably a bit too early, although standing around in the starting corral packed in like sardines keeps you pretty warm. I started the race near the 4:00 pace group, and was feeling really good, which was a blessing considering my toe had been bothering me just the day before. I was keeping a sub 9 minute mile pace for the first 7 miles, and was at 1:29 something at the ten mile mark. I saw my brother and a friend at around mile 7 and handed off some gloves and my headband because I was getting a bit too hot. I was still feeling pretty strong at this point, so I pushed ahead for my 2 hour half marathon time. I made the half way mark at 1:58:30 or so. I knew I had put myself in a position to reach 4 hours at that point, but I was starting to get a bit tired from going out so fast. My pace slowed up quite a bit, and by around mile 15 or 16 the four hour pace group caught up with me. I begin to realize I wasn't really "tired" (my heart and lungs were not working too hard at all) but that the muscles and tendons being used to absorb shock and maintain the new stride I was using for my sandals/Vibrams were being stressed more than they had been before. 13 miles was the furthest I'd run in anything other than running shoes. I realized pretty quickly that there was no way I was going to make four hours, because I simply couldn't push hard anymore without the support of real running shoes taking the place of my natural shock absorbers--my feet and ankles weren't in good enough shape to handle a 26.2 mile sandal run yet, at least not at a 4 hour pace. I quickly went from race mode to survival mode; my main fear was that my toe pain would flare up and prevent me from finishing and but my toe felt fine, so I was happy.
Once I got to mile 20 I decided to run/walk the rest and forget about my time because I didn't want to risk injuring my ankles or anything too much because it felt like something might cramp or snap at any moment. I feel like if I could have slipped on some real running shoes I would have been able to start running off at a nice pace, albeit risking more toe trouble. I actually started getting colder toward the end because my heart and lungs weren't working very hard. I ended up finishing in 4:45 or so. My girlfriend finished about 5 minutes after me and my friend who was running for the first time got 4:33. I wasn't really disappointed with the way things turned out, because I know that I couldn't have run much faster without risking pointless strain. I also know that without my toe problems I would have made four hours. Back in May I was running very well and had I been able to train fully and been comfortable in my running shoes throughout, I would have just gotten better. This whole summer of training and the marathon has been a good learning experience. I need to improve my foot and ankle strength to hopefully run in my Vibrams for longer runs, or a similar minimal shoe. I suppose I could also consider using a more neutral running shoe but I want to explore the whole barefoot/minimalist running thing a bit more. I do feel like shifting away from running shoes could ultimately be a good choice in the long term. It could stand to save a lot of money, (I honestly think I could put 5000 miles on my Teva sandals before they fell apart) and could result in a more economical stride that will yield faster times in the long run, once I get more used to it. If anything, the race has made me more motivated to get my feet and ankles in shape and see If I can start running faster with my Vibrams (or barefoot,) and run the 4 hour race I know I can run. Hitting 1:58:30 for my first half in heavishy sandals shows me that there is definitely potential for fast running without running shoes, especially at middle or long distances. I got several comments from other racers and spectators about my sandals, I can't imagine how many people would comment on the Vibrams.
The medals they gave out this year were pretty nice, but the shirts were not the best. The material and color were are great, but the design wasn't as cool as the last couple years. Here's a pic:
(Ignore the cat leg)
The medal from this year is in the middle, last year's medal is on the left and the 2007 medal is on the right.
As crazy as it sounds, I almost feel like going out for a run today. My quads and hamstrings are only feeling mild soreness, because after I slowed my pace to ease the strain on my feet and ankles, they weren't working too hard. Mainly the tendons on the fronts of my ankles feel very sore, and my hips and knees are sore because after my form broke down I started to rely on them too much to help absorb shock. I'm hoping this whole sandal/Vibram running thing doesn't end up creating its own problems, because I've had ankle problems on and off my whole life (knock on wood) but it has served me well for the past few months and allowed me to finish the marathon this year free of toe pain.
I suppose, this means my quest to run a four hour marathon is still on... I don't really want to have to wait a whole year for another shot. But then again it might take that long to convert myself into a true vibram/barefoot guy (or convince myself that bare footing is not for me). I might consider running grandma's marathon up in Duluth next summer if I stay in shape.
Posts
