Birmingham Marathon Report

Well What do you know, perhaps the Disney Marathon Experience was NOT a fluke. Maybe, just maybe, I am a true distance athlete. I am a marathon runner. As you may recall I finished Disney in 4:23:21. Well I finished Birmingham in 4:23:18 according to my watch! How is that for CLOSE! Amazing. In Disney I was goofing off somewhat. In Birmingham however it was Montezuma's Revenge which added some time.

What I learned is that pre race organization is key. Planning what I am going to wear the night before is key. Having a checklist is key. Knowing roughly where the start is and where I am going to park is key.

I do not like a stressful begin to a race. I forgot my phone, I did not have time to visit the portalets. I spent the first half hour of the race pretty uncomfortable.

Enough of the whining, The hills did not kill me! Hurray. The hill at 23 was the one I was worried about. I feel like I mentally prepared for it in the few miles before it. I chatted with other runners about it. Then on the way up, I used several techniques. I helped other runners, I hooked onto a faster runner and I kept looking for the top knowing it was not too far away
Here are the times:
mile 1+2-18:18 (9:09 Pace)
Mile 3-27:36 (9:18 Pace)
Mile 4-41:04 (13:27 Pace (dropped off my running suit and portalet visit)),
Mile 5-51:02 (9:57 Pace),
Mile 6-1:01:35 (10:32 Pace),
Mile 7 1:11:18 (9:43 Pace),
Mile 8+9-1:30:35 (9:38 Pace),
Mile 10-1:38:47(8:12 Pace),
Mile 11+12-1:57:19 (9:16),
Mile 13-2:07:37,(10:17)
Montezum's Revenge -2:11:54 (Lost 4 min17 seconds),
Mile 14-2:20:14 (8:20 Pace),
Mile 15-2:30:02, (9:48 Pace)
Mile 16- 2:40:15, (10:12 Pace)
Mile 17-2:50:29, (10:13 Pace)
Mile 18- 3:01:02,(10:32 Pace)
Mile 19+20+21 3:32:11 (10:22 Pace),
Mile 22-3:42:34, (10:23 Pace)
Mile 23-3:53:39 (11:04 Pace),
Mile 24-4:02:43 (9:03 Pace),
Mile 25-4:12:13 (9:30 Pace),
Mile 26 - 4:21:19 (9:05 Pace),
Mile 26.2 - Finish - 4:23:18
More about the Race Later.

Right now I am tired and people want me to work!
Curtai