LATE EDIT- Steamtown Marathon results are posted HERE!

I was rather surprised at my performance at the Steamtown Marathon today since I wrote the other day that I wasn’t sure how well I’d do. I really think i’ve found the secret to marathons, since this is now my 9th marathon. I completed the marathon in a surprising 3:47 (unofficial time) and although I didn’t PR and didn’t expect to, I ran the best Steamtown so far out of 3 (last year was 3:56, year before was 4:15). I have to say that I’m satisfied with the result either way ..

Anyway, here are my secrets that i’ve found after 9 marathons to running a good race:

1. Set an expected pace per mile prior to your training … train faster than that pace by the end of training … then stick to your expected pace during the race. It really does work. I went out expecting to run a 3:50 according to my pace band, and ran a 3:47 instead and didn’t start to die until mile 24.

2. Don’t stop running and start walking. If you’re feeling tired by 18,19,20 or beyond, you didn’t follow #1. Even if you’re tired, slow your pace, but don’t stop. Once you stop, the lactic acid in your muscles starts building up and will hinder your performance and make the rest of the race miserable and you’ll continue to stop because of it … Even if you keep a SLOW pace, keep going, trust me, i’ve been there…

3. Encourage others. It helped me mentally to cheer on other runners in miles 22 and beyond who were struggling. I know what its like to be there and it serves two purposes .. it helps them, and motivates you.

So as I noted above, i ran a strong race of an 8:30-8:40 pace per mile for the first 23 miles .. around mile 24 I started to fall apart, which isn’t bad. When I ran LVHM 5 weeks ago, I died at mile 22, although I was running a much faster pace .. regardless, miles 24 to the finish is one of the worst parts of the course, with 2 significant hills, but I managed to get through it. My worst mile pace was 9:05. I was even able to take it easy on the hills in the beginning watching other people just fly by … i’m sure they’re feeling it about now..

Another positive note is that I don’t feel any specific injury or sore spot .. just the standard post-Steamtown pains (quads, etc). My groin muscles are sore, but not injured, they just need to rest I guess …

So I have the Marine Corps Marathon in 2 weeks .. we’ll see how things go since I start the new job hopefully this week or Monday of next week, it’s liable to be difficult to travel that first weekend, but we’ll have to see…

Now I am just waiting for the official Steamtown Marathon results to be posted, hopefully by tomorrow …