We drove the course on Saturday and it didn't seem to senic. However, running the course was beautiful. The course starts at about 5200 feet elevation on a two mile stretch of a hilly dirtroad in a town called Oracle. A couple of the tougher up hills were on this stretch. We made our first turn in the town of Oralcle. The next 24 miles is relatively straight. There are mountains off in the distance on the left and right of us and the sun and slight breeze to our backs. Temperature was in the low 60's, low huidity and sunny. And yes, the next 22 miles are in the desert, which actually was enjoyable. No buildings, very few signs and very peacefull except for the other 2,000 plus runners.
I went out with the 3:30:00 Runners World Pace Team. I didn't think I was in good enough shape to run 3:30 since I didn't do too much hill training (intercoastal bridge hill). And I had a virus 2 1/2 weeks prior to the marathon and was not fully recovered. But I decided to go with them and back off when I needed to. At three miles I was feeling good so I maintained my pace as they walked 30 seconds at each mile, as planned, starting a mile 3. At about 6 miles I saw the 3:20 pace team and caught them at 8 miles. I did not try to catch them, I was just running comfortably. I stayed with them until about 11 miles when the down hills started getting to me. I was expecting my quads to tighten up but instead my calf muscles started to tighten.
I was at 1:41:27 (3:23) at the half marathon point. My calf muscles started to tighten up more the further I went so I just backed down a little until the 22 mile mark. At 22 Miles I started walking 30 seconds at the water stations (they were at the half mile points) and I walked 30 seconds at each mile mark. I was still OK, to me that means I did not have to walk, until 25.5 miles. This was a half mile uphill that seemed liked the toughest uphill on the course. It probably wasn't but at 25.5 to 26 it was a mini killer. We made our second turn just past the 26 mile mark where I saw the finish line and finished in 3:28:32.
I was OK with my time until I saw the results and found out I finished 7th in my age group but less then 2 minutes from placing third. My recovery is turning out to be the toughest in several years. My calf muscles and hamstrings are still bothering me. Hopefully I will recover quick enough to run St Louis in late February. After St. Louis I plan on either running in Brookings, South Dakota (the Longest Day Marathon) in late April or Avenue of the Giants (runs through the Redwoods in Northern California) in early May. Then I am going to Helena, Montana for the Ghost Town Marathon June 2 or 3. I haven't planned beyond that, although I am planning at least two more for the year.