My 66th marathon, and 36th state (I think. I need to do a recount). Not a lot of training and taper prior. A couple of 30K runs, including my pace fairy duties at the Midsummers Night's Run two weeks prior. Flew in on Thursday for the Saturday morning race, so no acclimatization to going from 350 ft in Toronto to 6500 ft in Jackson Hole. Wheeze, wheeze. Keeping with numbers, I did a connection in Denver taking off from North America's longest runway at 16,000 ft to a short 6,300 ft landing at Jackson Hole airport. Full flaps and brakes in our 757's touchdown.
Kit pickup on Friday was a breeze at the JH Chamber of Commerce. About 150 registered for the marathon and another 250 for the half marathon in this point to point course. Like with most of these more intimate marathons, lots of 50 staters and Marathon Manics entrants.
Stayed at a hotel about 100 yards from the finish line at Teton Village Ski Resort and took the 5:40am shuttle to the start line right by Town Square in Jackson Hole. Lucked out with the weather with a 7am start for both races. Just over 50F, light winds and wispy clouds. The first quarter of the race was in the shadows of the surrounding mountains and there was reasonable shade from trees to the halfway mark. About 75% was on the recreational paths in JH. Mile 15-18 however was on the shoulder of a secondary highway, protected somewhat by candlestick pylons. You needed to bring your own hydration bottles as this was a cupless race. Pretty flat course, but still a uphill profile for the majority of the second half of the course. Being the finish was a the base of a ski resort next to the Teton mountains, you could see your destination for most of the course. The natural scenery of this course was the among the best I have seen. Not a lot of spectators, more horses spectating than people I think, but very friendly volunteers.
Kept on a reasonable pace for about 30K, but the last 12K were tough and things began falling off the rails. Usually I try to get in a final training run of 35K, but not for this race and I think I was paying for it, along with the race at elevation. The last 12K was a gentle uphill all the way to the finish line, and was more exposed to the rising sun as temps started to climb above the 70F mark. I basically was just trying not to walk.
Was hopscotching a Gallowalker for most the second half of the race, but I managed to drop her in the final K.
Finish time an unimpressive 4:10.59. 51st place and 10/15 in M 50-59 AG. Medal was nice, as it was shaped like a moose antler. Half and full got the same medal, but different colored ribbons.
Finished.
Swag.
Nike+ GPS Splits
Km Time Change Avg Pace1 5:54 -- 5'54"/km
2 11:38 - 0:10 (2%) 5'44"/km
3 17:16 - 0:06 (1%) 5'38"/km
4 22:57 + 0:03 (-1%) 5'41"/km
5 28:33 - 0:05 (1%) 5'36"/km
6 34:08 - 0:01 (0%) 5'35"/km
7 39:44 + 0:01 (-1%) 5'36"/km
8 45:25 + 0:05 (-2%) 5'41"/km
9 51:02 - 0:04 (1%) 5'37"/km
10 56:43 + 0:04 (-2%) 5'41"/km
11 1:02:25 + 0:01 (-1%) 5'42"/km
12 1:08:04 - 0:03 (0%) 5'39"/km
13 1:13:32 - 0:11 (3%) 5'28"/km
14 1:19:08 + 0:08 (-3%) 5'36"/km
15 1:24:52 + 0:08 (-3%) 5'44"/km
16 1:30:38 + 0:02 (-1%) 5'46"/km
17 1:36:20 - 0:04 (1%) 5'42"/km
18 1:42:12 + 0:10 (-3%) 5'52"/km
19 1:48:00 - 0:04 (1%) 5'48"/km
20 1:53:46 - 0:02 (0%) 5'46"/km
21 2:00:34 + 1:02 (-18%) 6'48"/km Porta potty stop
22 2:06:21 - 1:01 (14%) 5'47"/km
23 2:12:08 + 0:00 (0%) 5'47"/km
24 2:18:13 + 0:18 (-6%) 6'05"/km
25 2:23:47 - 0:31 (8%) 5'34"/km
26 2:29:34 + 0:13 (-4%) 5'47"/km
27 2:35:19 - 0:02 (0%) 5'45"/km
28 2:41:03 - 0:01 (0%) 5'44"/km
29 2:46:53 + 0:06 (-2%) 5'50"/km
30 2:52:52 + 0:09 (-3%) 5'59"/km
31 2:58:48 - 0:03 (0%) 5'56"/km
32 3:04:51 + 0:07 (-2%) 6'03"/km
33 3:11:01 + 0:07 (-2%) 6'10"/km
34 3:17:21 + 0:10 (-3%) 6'20"/km
35 3:23:51 + 0:10 (-3%) 6'30"/km
36 3:30:29 + 0:08 (-3%) 6'38"/km
37 3:37:12 + 0:05 (-2%) 6'43"/km
38 3:43:52 - 0:03 (0%) 6'40"/km
39 3:50:35 + 0:03 (-1%) 6'43"/km
40 3:57:15 - 0:03 (0%) 6'40"/km
41 4:04:06 + 0:11 (-3%) 6'51"/km
42 4:09:58 - 0:59 (14%) 5'52"/km
