RobW Vancouver Marathon 2012

[RobW]

The 2012 Vancouver Marathon was my 4th marathon start in 2 years. With the new course design this year, I've been lucky enough to run 2 Vancouver marathons on 2 different courses. This year's version was more scenic and appeared to be faster on paper so I signed up early before the first cutoff.

I got about 4 hours of sleep the night before which was a lot better than 0 hours before my HM in Feb. I awoke at 3 am and the excitement started to build and I couldn't fall back to sleep. I got up and took my time getting ready (a first) and before I knew it, I was watching Jwolf start her race and wished her luck as she went by. I was looking for others doing the half but I was about 100 yards after the start line so picking out anyone in the crowd was a challenge.

When I first signed up for this late last year, I put 3:37 as my estimated finishing time as I was still in search of my sub 3:40 after 2 failed attempts. I've come off one of my better training cycles to date so a week before the bib numbers were to be released I changed it to 3:30. An aggresive goal according to the calculators but I noticed on the website there were going to be two 3:30 pace groups so I thought one might be continuous and would take my chances. As it was, I was in the second corral and when I turned around the 3:35 10/1 bunny was behind me.

The gun sounded and we were off. I was near the front of the 2nd corral so there was plenty of room. The first right-hand turn we made, a woman came flying by on my left cutting me off making contact in the process. I was already hugging the corner beside another guy but I guess she wanted to run perfect tangents and we were in her way.

The bottom of Camosun at the 8k mark was the start of the climb up the hill. It was steady climb for 2 k with a bunch of rollers following up to the 14k mark. I did this section of the course twice with Jen as a training run but of course it's way different in a race. It seemed to go on forever but I was still on pace hitting the 14k mark just under 1:10 (5:00/km) .

We started the descent with a couple of rollers in between before we hit sea level at the 20k mark. The course pulled us into a parking lot by the beach where we did a 100 yard out and back and crossed the halfway point before pulling out of the lot to continue down Marine Dr. I hit the mats at 1:45:16 so I actually lost some time during the downhill portion.

At the 23k mark we started a gradual 1 k climb and I lost more time and got that sharp cramping pain in my left calf at the 24k mark. It didn't stop me from running but was worried because I was cramping way too soon. I ran the Birch Bay 30k in March at a faster pace and didn't get any cramping but another day, another course.

From then on I didn't look at my pace just my time. Ever so gradually I was leaking time and worried about more sudden cramping. By the time I hit the bottom of Burrard Bridge at the 30k mark, I was already about 1:20 behind my 3:30 goal so that was gone.

Somewhere around the 39 K mark, I heard a loud guy talking so assumed it was the 3:35 pacer. As he passed by I told him he was the last person I wanted to see and at that very moment I got sharp cramp pain number 2. I was still able to keep going and passed the bunny on his walk break but I knew he would pass me for good shortly after. I heard another loud guy behind me a few minutes later thinking it was the 3:40 pacer but it was just a loud guy.

After all was said and done I finished with an 8 minute PB and 17 minutes faster than last year's Vancouver Marathon.

halfway split: 1:45:16
Chip: 3:37:23
M 45-49 70/318
Gender 546/2386
Overall 669/5000 finishers?

My calculated McMillan time is 3:26 so I knew a plus 4 minute, 3:30 would be a very aggressive goal going and ended up missing it by 7 minutes. Next up I'll try to get my half time down to 1:35 so I can have a more realistic shot at 3:30. I would like to do a Fall marathon but still undecided where.

Overall a very cool weekend seeing everyone on Friday (thanks for hosting Jen) and post race at the Elephant and Castle. Thanks to Cheryl for being out there cheering too.

[chunkymonkeymelonhed]

Congrats on that PB Rob. You are knocking off time with each marathon you run and there will be many more minutes that fall.
I look forward to seeing what that next PB will be.
As for a fall marathon I think you should go back to Victoria.................
It was good to see you at Jen`s on Friday marathon angel.

[Jwolf]

I've been waiting for this report for two days!

Congratulations again on a great race. It was great to see you finishing even though I knew it was past your goal time. You still did good- an 8-minute PB is awesome. You keep improving and I hope I can be there for the next one. It was great to be able to do some long runs with you and we will again.

[marymac442]

Congratulations on a great race

[HCcD]

Congratulations, on an awesome race and a huge PB, on that course, Rob ....

Well, come to Ottawa for the 27th, in a couple of weeks time, and we can run a sub 3:30 together .....

[Size5]

never once did I know you scored an 8 min PB!! Well done on a gutsy race goal. You are speedy, you'll be there soon. Great to briefly chat on the weekend.

[IronColl]

Great job on your PB! Congratulations on another finish.

[Miss*Smiles]

Congratulations on an 8 minute PB! That's something to celebrate for sure

[LisaB]

Awesome PB! Congrats!

[purdy65]

Congratulatons on a HUGE PB!

Sounds like a pretty solid race - dispite the cramps.

[Habs4ever]

Huge PB
It was great to see you again and (very) briefly chat.
You're strong, you'll get the 3:30.

[Sandra]

Congratulations on your PB! Great race!

[Hammie]

Congrats on a great race and huge PB! It was nice to meet you at Jen's on Friday.

[IronGoddess]

Congrats on a great race!

[Robinandamelia]

Congrats on a great result!

[CinC]

you set yourself up for that 3:37 when you first signed up!

Well done Rob - it was great to cheer you on and congrats on your PB! Be proud of it!

[scrumhalfgirl]

congrats on that great pb!

[Stampie]

you set yourself up for that 3:37 when you first signed up!

This!

Congrats on finishing another marathon Rob and most importantly a new PB; not just breaking the old mark, but shattering it!

It was nice to catch-up with you at Jennifer's on Friday and the E&C post-race.

[carm]

Congrats on the PB, Rob! Your 3:30 goal is getting closer and closer. You will get there!

[Dean Simon]

Great job Rob! Some say minute improvement for every lb loss. I think its a minute/2lbs so if you got any room downward, from experience this is key. Keep those goals in view and you will get there.

d

[Jwolf]

Great job Rob! Some say minute improvement for every lb loss. I think its a minute/2lbs so if you got any room downward, from experience this is key. Keep those goals in view and you will get there.

d

rob doesn't need to drop weight.

[Dean Simon]

Sorry, no insult intended.

[RobW]

Thanks, Dean. I think I need more time on my feet to get down in 3:30 territory. I'm planning on doing another one in the Fall so I'll get more training in for another shot at it. No offence taken. I'm glad the weight loss worked for you!