- Distance 6.24 miles
- Time 00:43:18
- Max Speed 11.90 mph
- Average Speed 8.65 mph
- Average Pace 6:56 min/mile
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May 04, 2008
Long Island Marathon- Distance 26.22 miles
- Time 04:09:32
- Average Speed 6.30 mph
- Average Pace 9:31 min/mile
Overcast and 53 at start. Sunny and 60 by finish. Light wind out of North, so trip home on the Wantaugh Parkway was in your face, but not enough to cause a problem.
I got to walk for 4 miles and wonder what had happened to my body that it let me down so bad. I went through 21 miles in 2:44:50. Less than 100 yards later my engine just turned off. No warning, no problems no nothing. Running one moment and vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps the next. First a volunteer stopped me, I ignored her, then a State Police Officer stopped me, I tried to ignore him, then a NUMC ambulance insisted that I get in. They checked me out and weighed me. The rule is that if you have lost more than 3% of your body weight they stop you. I lied - I had lost 6 lbs from my naked weight at that point - nearly 5% of my body weight, but I told them that I start out at 170 instead of 173. I walked to mile 25, then ran in the rest of the way. The rest of the run my lower back hurt on the right side. I suspect that I had a kidney problem from dehydration.
To add insult to injury I got a blister on the fore pad of my right foot. I have never gotten a blister from running in my life. Might be from the change in gate during the walking, I don't know. I know that I sweated so bad that my shoes were going squish squish with every step by mile 15.
The strange thing is that I drank more today then I do on normal long runs. I was running faster, and it was a little warmer, but I drank a lot and this still happened. Time for some serious thought before I try this again.
I know that Lonn and Espete are going to read this and comment. I am curious about what you 2 think might have went wrong.
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Holy Criminy Mark! That was a rough and undeserved ride. Sounds like a huge part of the race was going fantastic - right on pace; especially knowing how fast you've been training I can't believe that you were going too fast for your level of fitness AND experience with marathons. I'm really disappointed for you - it does make you pause and have to ponder what's up doesn't it?
I apologize for not getting on here sooner. Other than to put in my entry from the run, I've not checked in at all so until this minute I didn't know for sure you did the LIM (I was out working in the yard and it dawned on me that I forgot to check in to see what your decision was - so I put off my chores for a moment and ran it to check.)
How was your energy-gel consumption along the way? It sounds like your electrolytes went all haywire. Did the sweating get more profuse after the "crash"? Those temps you would expect normal, hard sweating but not to the degree that you describe. I agree that it doesn't sound like lack of fluids and with all the sweating and weight loss it probably wasn't hyponatremia (unless of course, all of that happened after mile 21 - in which case I guess there is a possibility - but I think if you had it that bad you wouldn't have been able to finish at all.)
I'm going to have to think on this one and consult with my exercise physiologist - Olympic runner friend. I'll be back in the next 48 hours with some ideas.
Well, I'm glad you're okay now - it sounds like it was a bit scary. I like how obstinate you were with the first-aid people. They must have been thrilled with you! That being said, be safe (do I sound like a mother hen here?)
Hey Mark - sorry for your misfortunate race. You obviously prepared well and there should have been no reason to bonk so bad. Off the cuff, it sure does sound like both a fuel shortage and electrolyte imbalance, but certainly you've experienced these before. The blistering? I don't know. I am curious about your calorie, sodium and fluid (what kind?) intake during the race. What kinds of fuel were you taking in? Also, the kind of gut problems you had sound more like the flu than simply bonking. What did you do to resolve? After you ate at the finish, how long did it take you to feel better? Has your gut been OK since? Pain better? Did you see a physician? Do you ordinarily sweat heavily? Very best - Erik
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