Davo is a 50-year old friend of mine, but he doesn't run like a 50 year old, heck he doesn't run like he's 50-year young! He runs like a youngster. Anyway, Davo is leading a pace group at this, the 10th and last, Gasparilla Marathon which takes place on Sunday. Davo is committed to pacing his group to a 3:50 finish, roughly 8:45 per mile. There was a time, pre-2001, when this was a stroll for me. Heck, I used to routinely run sub 3:30, but that was before I started running long..... really long. I didn't quit doing marathons, they just became my speed work. As I average about 14 minute miles in my 100's, 10 minute miles became speed work. My marathons were now run somewhere between 4 and 5 hours.
Suffice it to say that when you hope to maintain 14 minute miles in 100 miles, 8:45 becomes a little quick. 8:45 per mile after running 40 miles over the 9 hours of darkness on Sat/Sun made our little 6 mile 8:45 adventure a formidable task for me, though effortless for Davo.
I was correct in assuming that it wouldn't be easy for me. As I was telling some bull squat story (which wasn't easy considering the blistering pace I knew we were setting) we hit mile marker one in what I was sure was about an 8 Minute Mile. "8:51" Davo called out. Yoikes! I'm tired I'm sore, I've gone one mile, and I was too slow.
I shut my mouth (not an easy task) and concentrated. We hit the next mile in 8:35 and I felt a little better having worked some of the Sat/Sun kinks out of the legs. We proceeded up the Suncoast for one more mile, this another 8:35 (Davo has gotten really good at this pacing thing!) and this mile was a tab easier than mile two.
.. .. Davo, leads the way, while I hang on! ... ...Davo and I then reversed our course for the 3 mile return. We went 8:31, 8:31 and 8:35, each of these miles was easier than the one before. I finished light on my feet with Davo demanding that I slow down.
The run left me saying, "I'll never be able to run this pace for 26.2 miles.... Until Sunday!" Go AndyMan Go!!
6 comments:
Wow, a 3:50 Marathon! I ran one of those once.... then I woke up! Oh, that's not a joke, I can do it in my sleep. I ran the race and woke up, then ran a 3:50 50K.
Enjoy the sights, you'll see plenty at THAT pace.
-Dean Karnazes
That doesn't even sound like fun. But if you want to, then GO FOR IT!
I'll be thinking of you Sunday morning while I'm nice and snugly in my warm bed, recovering from my 15K (and probably a hangover from Euchre night).
Dean, glad to have you back in the Chase!
Andrea, Davo will make the race fun, he's a hoot with which to run. Also, I ran the first race so it's only fitting I should do the last.
No Marathon on Pirate Day? GASP!
Whoa...1 marathon in 1 state in 1 day...that sound almost New York Time Bestsellers List worthy...almost.
-Karno (but you can call me Dean)
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