ING Miami Marathon January 28, 2007    Heart rate/Distance chart (Creve logs miles on conservative side why it says 25.5miles)

    Creve's final sprint to finish line!

Creve's Pre Marathon prep went excellent.  Was sleeping soundly 830pm (New ZMA Supplement?) at close hotel to AA Arena start line.  Woke up completely refreshed at 330am and feeling strong- 95%+ no aches close to peak performance.  Had 2 packets instant oats(200 Cals), 10oz Egg Substitute with 2 slices low fat cheese(225 Cals).  Dressed/packed had some Cheerios/Special K and Calorie Countdown milk-(450 Cals)  Fellow Raven Runner H. Flasher stopped by Creve's room (She was at same hotel with her family as were Creve's family) on way down to start line.  While exiting hotel lobby had first inclination of bad news...  Was pouring down rain!  Creve is sweet, but doesn't melt in rain or let it bother him, But the sudden realization of running 26 miles with water logged shoes on pavement at fast pace was very demoralizing.  He knew the extra challenge of wet socks/blisters and 10oz heavier shoes... Was disappointed he didn't plan for the possibility of a shoe/sock change at half way point!  Plus Creve was taking his new replacement camera and cell phone( he's not a phone talker- but had to leave out any possibility he might miss the mom and sister who had the crucial second half of his marathon supplies) now had to worry about keeping those reasonably dry.

Well trotted down to start line and Creve knew from last year to just slip over the rail into his starting corral at last minute so as to make the last minute porta potty pee stop.  This year creve didn't have to make one porta potty stop the entire 3hour+ race!!!  Just did 2 quick video stops - Raven was out near his apartment on Ocean Drive and when Creve crossed fellow Raven Runners Abdul & H. Flasher at about their mile 15 his 22 mile. 

Of course everyone was soaked and if they weren't the start line went through 3-4 inch puddle so that got everyone water logged & Splattered.  It was predawn and rain stopped about mile 2 and then Creve passed a guy with a "Team Karnazes" T-shirt and he asked him if he ever ran with Dean (The Ultra Marathon Man) and they chatted about how he ran Dean's Tampa marathon with him on Dean's 50 marathons/50 states/50 days stunt.  The route went up ocean drive to 14th and over to Washington then across Venetian Causeway into downtown Miami.  Creve passed Raven Runner Leap frog who was doing the half marathon and ran by the cutest Miami Beach officer/ and one time Raven Runner (Think her running name is Siren...?  she only did one Raven Run) and gave her an enthusiastic shout out.  He was really Amped up the first 12 miles.  Creve was surprised not to see Raven Runner Firecracker at her spot on the Venetian causeway.  Made a call to mom (Who was still at Breakfast! to get in position as he was making great time)  The first half was really wonderful for Creve; without even tiring he was keeping at 7mph+ pace and heart rate above 155. 

Well downtown Miami was when some challenges cropped up for Creve to overcome.  Despite being one block from the Marathon route Mom and sister Botched Creve's Crucial & Only drop point and were waiting at mile 25 or still eating bagels/cookies instead of waiting at mile 12-13( Hello 12000 runners and nobody passing by?)  Geeze, poor Creve had every mile planned out what to eat when/ drink and what supplement/vitamin/ibuprofen to take and had nothing on him for past mile 13.  The heavy water logged shoes were giving Creve a unusual bottom of Foot pain he is not accustomed to from sand/boardwalk running- Must have been the extra weight or the water logged soles loose some cushioning because most runners Creve talked with after race had similar pain)  But around 18 miles the shins really started hurting and of course the ankles and knees were sore (Creve's extra 15lbs bodyweight this year really increased impact on joints,) but the shins were over riding every other discomfort.  Cardio wise Creve could of Ran faster, but every step hurt with jarring pain last 7 miles.  Will not be doing much running anytime soon.  Anyway Creve knew he was going to finish even if he had to walk on this hands, roll and/or crawl- his preparation had been foiled, but the determination held steadfast- 'When you push the distance, You gotta run with the Heart not the Legs'  Still some Ibuprofen would of helped keep the inflammation/discomfort down. 

Creve passed Raven Runner Chocolate Chip about mile 24 in front of his condo building and started picking up the pace and finished very strong- had plenty of energy and not anywhere near exhaustion/collapse just the joints and shins where so inflamed from all the pavement impact... it was like a lower body sledge hammer fest.  Creve will still endure that over the abdominal bloating/diarrhea from the 2006 Marathon- That was the worst of his 2 official runs/races.  Creve sprinted the last half mile or so and all the pain just became a blur and his heart rate actually got up to 183!!!  highest ever- thought max heart rate was 179...  Really got some enthusiastic shouts and cheers of encouragement when Creve ran into finish line Top speed- good memory to recall during future training sessions for final 'push'

The first half of Marathon was an experience for Creve to forever treasure and was some of his best running yet, and probably ever as he progresses more into strength training and High Intensity Training and moves away from endurance running.  The last 7 miles were uncomfortable and brought up strange wells of emotion, must be something with the harsh impact- Creve's pretty damn unemotional ;)  That's the one reason for something like running marathon, is that you learn things about your body, mind & determination you would never discover if you just stayed in bed and slept late that day.

Post Marathon Creve hurt, but felt great, like he really accomplished something challenging.  Had to get back to room and had like diarrhea/loose bowels with some blood and needed a shower to get all the sweat and mud off.  Hurt walking, but Creve was proud to be limping around with his medal and got back to race in time to video Raven Runners H. Flasher and Abdul mosey into the finish line.

Creve was 141lbs 2006 01 29 Marathon vs. 156lbs 2007 01 28 Marathon = 15 extra lbs on joints this year!

Event: Full Marathon

Date: January 28, 2007

Division / Race Number: M3539 / 1227

Gun Time / Chip Time 3h:45m:52s / 3h:44m:8s

2007 Marathon Facts:
Who's who
Of the 2520 who finished, 37% were female and 63% were male.

Opposite Sex
For the record, you were ahead of about 94% of female finishers

You averaged 7.0 Miles per Hour - 11.3 Kilometers per Hour     8MIN 33SEC PACE Division= 52nd place with 230 finishers behind. About 18% of finishers ahead.

Marathon= 323rd place with 2197 finishers behind. About 13% of finishers ahead.

    Hotel balcony final equipment check, just before sleepy time.

    Mom, Flash & Sister( sister was to injured to run the half-marathon... Maybe next year- RAVEN still has Stars & Stripes Nickname reserved for her too.    

    Creve midway in race - Only pic enroute :(

    Creve using up all the extra energy he held back- had like 20% energy left before collapse - could of done sub 3:30 if properly paced and ran at 90-95% exercitation... But that's pretty damn uncomfortable/unpleasant

    Creve approaching Finish (Thinking about guzzling down protein shake)

  A sweaty/muddy Cranky Creve with stale crappy plain Bagel (Only nibbled at soft part on it- had healthy supplies) and Banana.

       A Freshened up & showered, cheerful Creve

    FLL Character 'Coatman' on his 108 marathon (Also arch nemesis of The RAVEN {They don't get along to well from what Creve hears})

    Creve in front of his favorite SoBe theater on Recovery walk after Marathon - Best SoBe Sunset he can recall!