Twin Cities Marathon- Justin’s perspective

Posted by: Radke

Just getting ready for the Twin Cities Marathon was a challenge I have never faced.  At the end of the Dam Nite Run I tweaked my hamstring on the final hairpin turn.  I would rest it for a few days, ease back into it, try to push it, re-injure, and repeat. After 4 weeks of this I ran out of time and had to suffer through in order to get ready for the Tupelo Marathon.

I cut out hills, tempo runs, and speed workouts. Main goal was to survive and get through TCM.  I was so far behind in training for TCM, I figured I needed more miles.  So, the week of Tupelo I emailed the race director and asked if I could upgrade and run the Full instead of the Half.  I ran the marathon fighting the hamstring the whole way… somehow finished and won. I gave it pretty much all I had… 2:43.

After Tupelo, I took a week of light running before trying make a last push for TCM.  I increased the miles and tried to increase the intensity, but really struggled. When I pushed, the hamstring screamed back at me, but I was out of time so I hit it with ice and ibupropren.  As a PR seemed out of reach, I decided to go for 2:39… try to help Leah Thorvilson get the A standard for the Olympic Marathon Trials…wasnt even sure the hamstring would hold up for 26.2 in the cold.

I planned to run the 20k at the Arkansas Marathon as a time trail kinda thing, but got lost on the way to the race and didn’t make it on time. In hindsight, this probably was a good thing because the impending fight with Josh Holt would most likely have gone to the bitter end thus stressing the hamstring. I ended up running an uninspired 10 mile tempo at a pace much slower than I wanted. I was totally dejected.

The week before TCM, I met up with Holt planning to hit a 10 mile tempo. I decided to run 8 just to be safe and save some for TCM. During the run, the hamstring would not loosen up, so i decided to cut it back to 6 miles. During the run, I decided to let it rip for 2 miles.   Holt and I cruised miles 4 and 5 in the 5:30 range. Confidence was starting to build.

During the week of TCM, I cut the miles way back with hopes that the hamstring would heal enough to survive an attempt at 2:39.   I have only broken 2:40 once… at the LR Marathon 6 years ago.  Throughout the week, I became restless and easily agitated, due to the lack of ‘runner high’. I just wanted to run to get rid of all the extra energy.  The Thursday before TCM, I met Leah, Imari, Jason, and Glen for what turned into a spirited 6 miles at 6 min pace. I didn’t struggle, but it wasn’t easy either.  It did feel good to run.
So….. now that the prep is over… fast forward to race day.

For some reason I knew I would do good even though I had no reason to feel that way. My training was minimal, I was nursing an injury, and didnt sleep well the night before because I shared a hotel room with a snoring Imari.

Race day was cool.. low 40s. Perfect weather… no humidity.  I gave Leah a hug at the start then we warmed up separately. I say a prayer wishing everyone good health.  Everyone goes to the line, and I get behind Leah…somewhat to protect her from the people behind and somewhat to protect me from her.

The gun fires and off we go. I say to myself… 6:01 minutes per mile = 2:39.  Hold the pace. Dont burn yourself out at the beginning.  I stay behind Leah for half a mile or so.  It is impossible to run 6:01.. my legs wanted to run.   I see the women’s leaders and think.. how about I go say Hi.  So I do.  I figure Leah will pass me somewhere down the road.  First mile goes by at 5:40 something. I figure, I will stay here for a bit, let the legs loosen up before settling into pace.

Miles keep flying by… 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,…. then we come up on 10. The crowd support is amazing. People line the steets all along the course.  It is a huge event… bands, drums, costumes, people everywhere, beautiful course….water stations everywhere…. TCM does it right.  I am cruising and figure…. if I can hold this until mile 20, I will get 2:39 for sure.
It occurs to me, my hamstring doesnt hurt. How can this be? I keep going… half way point… 1:15:30 something. I am gaining 10-15 seconds on 2:39 every mile.

I think… uh… this is gonna backfire and Brian Ski is gonna be relentless with his taunting.  It becomes more difficult to log the miles. I keep thinking… get to 20.. hold until 20.  Around 18 or so, I am running stride for stride with the women’s leader. I am on her right side going into a right turn.  I dont know what she was thinking, she tried to cut the corner but I was there. She leans in, ducks her shoulder, and throws an elbow into my side.  I shrug her off, hold my line, and dont jump the curb… dont want to tweak the hammie.   She says.. ’sorry’.   I say ‘no problem’.  I note… she is a strong vetren runner… steady.. probably running close to her best.

We get to 20 and I decide that I have had enough… time to salvage…drop it back to 6:00 and cruise it in to the finish.  Then this little girl passes me. I mean she is tiny.   I think.. eh… she will probably beat me, but I am gonna make her earn it.  I pick up the pace.  We run together for a bit clipping along at 5:40s.  She is fast, but doesnt have much strength on the hills.   She is young and hungry.. started slow and picked up the pace.  6:00 is looking much better than 5:40s… so I let her go and drop it back to 6:00.  She hunts down the leader and eventually wins.  I expect Leah to pass me at any time.

Just trying to hang on...

Somewhere around 22 I hit the wall.. mentally… all I have to do is finish it up and I will get a PR.  I pray… let me finish this… give me strength.  Finally I pass mile 25… I know I am going to make it and get a PR.  Just after mile 26 another woman passes me… I have nothing for her.. dont say hi.. just let her go.  A couple of hundred meters go by, then another lady passes me. I let her go, then speed up and say to her… “that is 3rd place right there… go get it!”
She hears me and picks up the pace. She charges forward and closes the gap. I think.. she is gonna get it! I cruise it in, watching.  From my point of view it was too close to call.  I hope she gets it, but find out later that she does not.
I hold the pace and as I approach the line I see the clock.. just over 2:35.
I stop, kneel, say a quick prayer of thanks, then finish it up and cross the line at 2:35:36… a PR.

Completely unexpected. I was blessed.  Then it hits me.. Leah didnt pass me. I come back to the finishers chute… watching the clock tick. I look down the last stretch… Leah isnt coming.  2:36… 37.. 38… 39… my heart breaks… I failed… Leah needed me and I wasnt there… went for the PR instead.   40… 41…42…43..44. I cant take it anymore and leave.

So.. the challenge was not the hamstring…although I got a PR, I lost sight of the ultimate goal… Team LT. For this I have much regret. Next time Leah.. we will get PR’s and A-standard.