Race Report: Space Coast Marathon

This is my fourth time running the Space Coast Marathon in Cocoa, FL.  A large group of friends participates in the race's series, where you get extra prizes for competing in three or five of the races over a five year period.  It's also a relatively inexpensive race that is close enough to Thanksgiving and Orlando that many make a Disney vacation out of it. I like the course because it is two out and backs of very close to equal distance. Six and a half miles north, back to start.  Six and a half miles south, back to start.  In years past, the heat has taken a toll but since I now live in Florida, this is comfortable fall weather.  Knowing the extent of the 90+ degree days in August provides a little perspective.  

I made the decision to do the five year series as marathons.  You can switch between the half and the full but out of principle wanted to do all five marathons.  I'm rethinking that each year as I grow to hate marathons more each day.   Pretty much everyone else ran the half and were done and showered by the time I crossed the line.  

Race Week 

I really did not want to race this race.  With Thanksgiving this week and just coming off of the IRONMAN in October, I had pretty much checked out of this race before it began.  But I do like seeing friends and the four day weekend was nice.  I did some maintenance training during the week but otherwise took taper to the extreme.  I usually taper too much but this was a bit more than my usual super taper.     

Race day

One of the things I like about this race is how easy it is to get there.  We drove from our hotel in Vierra and in 20 minutes, were there made one right turn, parked, got out of the car, walked a block, and we're at the start line. 

I was still struggling with race strategy.  My two options were to start out with a fast pace group and the build a buffer in case I blow up at the end.  The other option was to start with a slower pace group and increase my speed (i.e. negative split).  After looking at the forecast with the building heat and the forecast for sun, I decided I needed to run fast while it was dark and cool.  Once on the exposed south course, I was sure I would only slow down.  

I started the race with the 3:35 pace group.  They were shooting for an 8:12 min/mile pace overall. After about two miles, I decided this pace was a bit too fast if I was going to last the whole race.  I slowly let off the gas and settled into an 8:15-8:30 pace.  I was going to run my race, not anyone else's.  That's how to stay out of trouble.  

Since there were 25 aid stations on the course, I decided to stick with my "Frodeno plan" and walk the water stops.  I call it this since this was the tactic used by Jan Frodeno at the IRONMAN World Championships (presented by GoPro) in 2015.  When interviewed about why he does this, he simply stated: "yeah they make fun of me for it but hey I'm the World Champion now."  Whatever works for the individual.  This would add a little to my pace overall but also would allow me to keep my heart rate in check and actually consume my fluid.  

Around half way, I ditched my amphipod belt since I hadn't used it to that point and it was just extra weight. I kept up my plan for the third leg of the race now moving south from the start/finish.  I knew my pace was slowing down.  I was now in the 8:30-8:45 range when running between the water stops.  Adding the time at the aid stations made it somewhere around 9 as an average pace. 

At mile 22, the wheels came off.  It had nothing to do with the "engine" but my knees had become so sore from the camber of the road.  I know this fact every year going into the race.  The road is crowned so it does place stress on your legs.  I just prepare for it and wait to see how long I can hold out.  I don't have roads like this around me so it's difficult to train to get used to it.  You can try to run on the yellow line but that doesn't always work out.  

My pace slowed down after that point and I saw the 3:55 and the 4:00 pace group go by.  No big deal since I wasn't shooting for this as an A race.  As I limped back in, I just checked back over my shoulder to make sure the 4:10 group wasn't going to overtake me.  I still had to salvage a little pride out of the run.  And I came in just under 4:10 (4:09:55 to be exact).  That was 21/100 in my age group and 345/2277 overall. Not bad and it is my second fastest marathon time overall that I have posted.  

It's a bit disappointing that I was on pace for a sub 3:45 for about 3/4 of the race.  One of these days, I'll train correctly and have the muscular and aerobic endurance to make it all the way.  This year, I had the aerobic but not the muscular.  My training focuses were not on marathon speed and so the story continues.  

With this my 2015 season comes to an end.   No rest for the weary as my first race of 2016 comes up in February at Gasparilla Half Marathon.