Coeur d'Alene Marathon Race Report: How I Stamped My Ticket to Boston

I'm still smiling.

I'm not really a run-for-time runner (I often take 30-75 photos during a race) - that's not to say I don't care about time, it's simply never the top priority for my runs and races.  But I'd be lying if I said the Boston Marathon wasn't one of my dreams, and to get into Boston I have to focus on time by running a 3:10:59 marathon (my PR is 3:34:00).  A few weeks ago I thought that I should at least give it a shot to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  So I gave myself a couple months to work on my speed and pacing. 

The Coeur d'Alene Marathon was meant to be a test marathon to see how my legs handled actually trying to run fast.  Then I'd have a few weeks to work on speed for my first "real" attempt at a 3:10:59 in July.  I figured I would be close in July, and if I didn't make it then, I'd have a few months to train for an October attempt.

I had a few race strategy options for Coeur d'Alene:
Option 1 -- Beat the world record.  Sure, probably not going to happen at this one, but maybe later this summer.
Option 2 -- Run at a 7:30/mile pace and shoot for a sub-3:20.  This would take over 14 minutes off my PR and move me in the right direction. My PR last month was run at an 8:10 pace on a hilly course, so this option seemed reasonable.
Option 3 -- Run at a 7:17 pace (the pace I need to qualify for Boston) for as long as I can just to see what it feels like.  Maybe I make it 20 miles, maybe I make it 15 miles, but I expect that I'll hit a wall hard at the end.  But I'd at least know that I can run the correct pace for X miles.

I chose Option 3.  And for the first time I didn't carry my camera with me during a race. Time, time, time.

Almost didn't get to start line in time
(got there with 3 minutes to spare)

I started at a brisk pace for the first mile (6:40) and felt pretty good.  I hit mile 3 in just under 21 minutes and -against my better judgment- I spontaneously changed my race strategy to:
Option 4: run at a 7:00/mile pace for as long as I can. (What's the quote about guts and glory?...)

Mile 5: Just under 35 minutes...still going strong at 7-min pace.  So then I made it a mini-goal to make it to mile 10 at a 7-min pace.

Lake Coeur d'Alene is beautiful
(Photos of course taken after the race)

Mile 10: Under 1hr 10 min...still on pace.  It was around here that I started running with a guy named Cory.  We both had similar goals for the race: run 7-min miles for as long as we can, then hang on at the end.  He was looking stronger than me when we hit the race's hills.  After a mile or so I told him my goal was to make it to the half-marathon mark at a 7-min pace and that I didn't think I could hold the pace much longer than that.

Much of the race was along Centennial Trail

Mile 15: Surprisingly, I'm still at a 7-min pace at this point.  Cory's looking good too; it's great to having someone to run with so we can pace off each other.

 Near turn-around point

 
Mile 18: For the first time, the thought crossed my mind that today was going to be the day I qualify for Boston.  Though there were still over 8 miles to conquer, I was feeling extremely strong and my motivation was high.

Mile 20: I reach mile 20 just under 2:20 -- still on 7-min pace.  Cory fell back and yelled to me, "Go for it!"  My motivation is getting higher - with some quick math (okay, not so quick...took me about half a mile) I realized I simply needed to run the last 10k in less than 51 minutes to qualify for Boston, so I had a bit of breathing room even if my legs got tired.  But my legs were still feeling strong.

Mile 25: Now I'm tired, but still keeping a 7-min pace. Legs are starting to feel like bricks, but somehow I feel like I'm floating. Tears well up in my eyes...I mean: a bug flew into my eyes...because I know that this is the day that I'm going to qualify for Boston.  I finish strong.

Finish: I did it!  3:03:25 (6:59.74 min/mile); 7/403 overall; 1/22 age group (overall winner couldn't double dip); ticket stamped to Boston.

Happy runner

Finisher's medal and 1st place age group medal

Only one?!?

So there it is.  I knew I had it in me to qualify - I just didn't expect it to be this race.  I'm a happy runner right now.  I'll see you in Boston next year.  :)

And there's lots more running to do in the meantime.

Keep running!

-Scott