This morning’s marathon was marathon number eight for me and my fifth consecutive Ottawa Marathon. Going into the marathon, based on the solid training cycle I had leading up to race day, I figured this represented my best opportunity to run a time good enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Given the overall mileage I completed during the training cycle leading up to today and the results I had in my tune-up races I was in a positive state of mind heading into this morning’s race.
Given the fact that weather forecasts have a tendency to change often during the week I tried not to pay too much attention to the forecast for today because it was a factor I could not control. As it turns out, the weather could not have been much better than it was this morning with overcast skies and cool temperatures.
As planned I lined up with the 3:10 pace bunny thinking I would stick with him for a while then try to take off later in the race if I had enough left in the tank. I managed to line up in the race corral early enough to find a spot right behind the 3:10 pace bunny.
Right from the start the race went as planned. I stuck with the 3:10 group for nearly the first half of the race. Just before the half, feeling good and like I was ready to have a good day I pulled just ahead of the 3:10 pace bunny.
I am not sure how far ahead of him I got but it was a confidence booster at that stage of the race to be out in front of the 3:10 pace. I managed to stay in this position until about 33-34 km into the race at which point the 3:10 group pulled up alongside me again.
I started to fade around 37 km and the 3:10 pace bunny pulled away from me. At that point I simply focused on maintaining a consistent pace that would get me to the finish line as quick as possible. Passing friends and family during the last 5 km also helped give me a much needed boost of energy at that point that certainly helped maintain my pace.
In the end I crossed the line in 3:12:19, just short of my intended goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon but a personal best time in the marathon by five minutes and when I think to the fact that I have gone from someone who had no interest in running until his wife talked him into joining a 5 km clinic to someone who was two minutes away from qualifying for Boston today I am quite pleased with that.
My goal of qualifying for Boston still stands and eventually I will get around to planning my next attempt but for now I am going to recover and enjoy the new personal best.
I am also thankful that I have a wife who tolerates my obsession and daughters who tolerate me dragging them out for weekend runs in our Chariot stroller. Without that today’s result would not have been possible.
Way to go Pat. Huge accomplishment.
My day went pretty much as planned. Was my third marathon and finished with 3:39
Looking forward to hear when your next race will be.
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Thanks James. Congrats on your result. Glad to hear it went according to plan.
Good job Mr. Girard. I can see you getting to Boston real soon.
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Congrats Pat! What a fantastic race and your progression is measured. You will get it one day — looks like you’re in it for the long haul 🙂
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Thanks. I am looking forward to my next attempt. Still contemplating whether I will do another one this year.
Just discovered your blog. I’m quite impressed with your accomplishments, congrats!
I’ve been running for 7 years now, and I’ll be doing my 8th marathon in October in Amsterdam. I’m not a fast runner (my PB is 4:12), but I really enjoy running, which keeps me much healthier than when I was a couch potato!
Keep up the good work! Best of luck in Philly!
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Thanks for the comment. I saw that you are doing Amsterdam. Good luck. That would be a fun place to do one.
I find running keeps me much healthier as well.
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