Terry and Steve

Here is my experience.

I had a game plan of running 7 min miles for as long as possible. After about 4 miles I was 20 seconds behind my goal pace and I knew that I would not be able to hold that pace. After one mile I was completely drenched! At the 8-mile mark I slowed down to about 8 min. pace. I stopped where my parents where at, they were right before the half way point. I changed hats and shirts. My mom said I was on 3:15 pace. I replied, "I am done." I knew if I tried to stay at 8 min. pace that I would be in serious trouble. At 10:29 AM I ran by a bank and the temp read 91 degrees. I am not sure where they got 88 degree high, but it was much hotter than that. At the 16-mile mark I started to walk through the water stations. I did that for the next 10 miles. For miles 16-21 or so, I averaged about 9 min. miles and the rest of the way I averaged about 10 min. miles. A far cry from my 7 min. training pace.

At every water stop, I took 2 Gatorades, 1 water to dump on my head, 2 cups for my handheld canteen, and 2 more to drink right there. Towards the end, I just had them fill up my canteen right from the water jug they had. Looking back, I guess I can tell now that the aid stations were a little under staffed and were over whelmed. Not all the stations where like that, but some were.

After reading some of the blogs about running out of water, I feel horrible. I finished in 3:46, and I would never have taken so much water if I knew what was to come. I still feel bad, but like you said, you do what you can in hot weather to cool down. And I was very hot. I was not tired anytime during the race, but every time I tired to run faster, my heart rate went out of control and I knew that if I did not slow or stop I would have been in trouble.

Anyways that is my story. I have not been running as long as you guys, but I have been running for 20 years and this was by far the worst experience I have ever seen or been a part of. It was an all around mess. Personally it was very disappointing, given the time I put in to train, but I managed to finish on my own with no injuries.

What is this sub 3 hour training group that I read about. Fill me in, I would love to be a part. I was in 3-hour shape this year, but under the conditions I guess it was 3:45.

Take care and I will see ya next week.

Mike Schmidt