Chevron Marathon 2024-Before
Background
My first experience with Chevron was the 2019 Chevron Marathon. This was a very humbling experience for me because as an adult onset runner, I had never had a DNF before at a race. I hadn’t done a ton of races either, so I knew they happen and it was bout to happen to me at some point, but I kinda expected on it being later rather than sooner. I went into that race undertrained and it showed. My heart rate was far too high and I was struggling. Then the stomach issues hit, likely cause my heart rate was staying too high, and the race was over for me, but I didn’t know it. I got my stomach under control around mile 14, but the sweeper car was close on my heals. I managed to stay ahead of it, but this is where the mental side of training comes in. As I reached each aid station ahead of the sweeper, the aid stations were already being or were fully broken down. Mentally that was a big blow and I struggled to get past it. I pushed past the first, then the second, but on the third aid station that I arrived at to find it was broken down, that was the true end of the race for me. I stopped and waited for the bus to pick me up. Ironically by then I think it would have been faster for me to continue running to the finish, but there ya go.
The Training
My training for the past year was largely focused on preparing to crew and pace my friend, Dan, at the Moab 240 in October. It was a truly incredible experience and I shared thoughts on that in a different video, but that was the big goal for the year. When I signed up for this race in January 2023, I didn’t know that was going to be the big goal for the year, I actually expected this race to be, but as with all things in life, plans change. I do believe that the work I put into the training and build benefited the training I’ve put into this cycle, but at the same time it was all about going the distance. Training for the marathon is a different thing all together, and Houston has a 6 hour cutoff.
I also started using Rundot with my coach. The AI in the program is supposed to adjust your training based on feedback from your runs. We had to make massive changes to the training block leading into Moab as it isn’t built to train someone for that, but I do like the way the workouts are shifting and it even changes your pace plans for different elevation and temperature variations during the week. The app itself is fairly buggy and could stand massive improvements but in general I like the training. Long runs are time based so heading into this marathon it is probably the lowest mileage build up I’ve had for a marathon distance. My longest run was around 16 miles which makes me nervous, but at the same time, I know I can handle the distance. The time will be the thing I fight against at this race.
At this point I’m a week out. The miles are in the bag and the training is over, now it’s time to finish the taper and get my mind and body ready to take on 26.2. I’ll be racing the 5k on Saturday with the run club from Sablatura Middle School and then heading into Sunday ready to rock and roll.
Good luck to everyone running! I’ll post a recap next week when it’s all said and done, hopefully with a medal and a few new friends met along the way.