Pittsburgh Marathon 1998






On Sunday, I ran the Pittsburgh Marathon.  Here are my split times by mile and my thoughts along the way.  In 1991, Pittsburgh was where I attempted my first marathon and had to drop out at mile 16.  Since then, I have now completed 9 marathons.
 
3 May
 
12:22am - Amy falls out of bed, but is okay.  I actually am able to get back to sleep easily.
 
5:11am - I wake up from a dream where I finished in 3:27; can't go back to sleep.  The race doesn't start until 8:30am
 
8:15am - I leave my hotel room at the Westin William Penn and walk two blocks to the start line.  The weather is overcast with a chance of showers—humid and 55 degrees.
 
8:30am - I am wearing shorts & a thin cool max t-shirt.  One Access bar is pinned to my shorts.  The race starts with about 2,700 runners.
 
Start    0:24
 
This is the time to cross the start line.
 
Mile 1    7:44 
 
A cautious start, but I feel warm.  Maybe the humidity is just making me feel this way.
 
Mile 2    7:30 
 
It is warm enough to lose the t-shirt.  Martha reminds me later that the shirt cost $20, but I counter that it was three years old.
 
Mile 3    7:21 
 
This is a comfortable pace, but I don't want to go to fast.
 
Mile 4    7:21 
 
Another quick mile.
 
Mile 5    7:51 
 
I slow down some and we cross the bridge over the Alleghany to the north side.
 
Mile 6    7:32 
 
Now, this is the pace I want to hold.  I pace off of a female close by, #2416.
 
Mile 7    7:30 
 
Steady as we go.  I pass Three Rivers Stadium.
 
Mile 8    7:31 
 
Cross the West End Bridge.  The pacer I have selected is running very consistently.
 
Mile 9    7:28 
 
This is going well.  And the temperature at the last bank said 58 degrees.  I am comfortable.
 
Mile 10    7:42 
 
I pass #2416, thinking that she is slowing down.
 
Mile 11    7:29 
 
The streets are wet, but I haven't been rained on yet.
 
Mile 12    8:03 
 
I cross the 24th St. Bridge and head UP into Oakland.
 
Mile 13    7:59 
 
Still climbing, but the major hill is done now.  I reach the halfway mark just under 1:40.  On pace for my 3:20.  #2416 comes back past me.
 
Mile 14    7:45 
 
Okay, I need to hold back for a few more miles.  I trade places with #2416 before I leave her at mile 16.
 
Mile 15    7:33 
 
Running through Walnut St. picks me up along with a little downhill portion.  I eat my Access bar.
 
Mile 16    7:50 
 
Mostly uphill.  It will be rolling hills from here on.
 
Mile 17    7:22 
 
Some downhill running.  I try to save myself for the last 3 or 4 miles.
 
Mile 18    7:38 
 
I spot a tall man a few hundred meters ahead and wonder if he is my Engineering Electro-Magnetics professor from CMU.
 
Mile 19    7:42 
 
I am gaining on the tall man, but I wish the downhill to the finish would hurry up and get here.
 
Mile 20    8:13 
 
This had better be the last uphill portion!
 
Mile 21    7:45 
 
The uphill is over, but where is the downhill?  I pull even with the tall man, who is in fact Professor Jim Hoburg.  I pass him and think about the 2 Cs he gave me in his classes.
 
Mile 22    7:41 
 
I head up Liberty Ave. and know that it is downhill from here.  I am now getting rained on, but it is a light rain and actually feels good.
 
Mile 23    7:55 
 
Believe it or not, there is yet another small uphill someone slipped into the course.
 
Mile 24    7:23 
 
Finally the downhill I was expecting, although it is sharp and short.  However, as I turn onto 28th St., I spot a Marine ahead in olive dab shorts, which has to be Karl Brower.
 
Mile 25    7:58 
 
I blow by Karl and don't even slow down to say hi.  I think I might still be able to make a 3:20.
 
Mile 26    8:00 
 
I surge back and forth with a couple of other runners.  The legs are exhausted from the ups and downs, but my energy level is high thanks to the Access bars.  I see the divided street right before entering Point State Park.
 
Mile 26.2    1:46 
 
I finish well.  My finishing time is 3:21:56--a new personal record by 58 seconds!  At this rate, of improving about a minute per year, I will get my time down to 3:15 in time for my 35th birthday, and I can qualify for Boston.  Until then I need a 3:10 to qualify.  I am happy about my time and beating Karl Brower (he finished in 3:25).  Although, he didn't use the Access bars and therefore, I might have had an unfair advantage.  However, they were available to him.
 
Final note:  If Pittsburgh is the fastest spring marathon in North America as advertised then there aren't any fast spring marathons in North America.  I hear that London has a fast course in April.  My next marathon will probably be the Marine Corps in October.  I think I have over 20 weeks until then.  The knees are doing great with Replenex, and I am definitely addicted to this activity!
 
Until next time,
Darin