First Marathon Since Surgery

[Tri Hard Alan]

Last Saturday I did my first marathon since my HR surgery in Oct 2015.

Here is a link to my blog for the long version:

http://www.triblogs.com/blog/TriHardAlan/

Short version.... Took me 3 hours and 42 minutes (garmin has the course at 42.78k). Had hoped for 3.30 but was very happy to finish with zero problems and ran the whole thing without stopping which for anybody that has ran a few marathons is never guaranteed.

[petemeads]

That's great news Alan, never mind about the time just running the whole thing is enough at this stage!

I have toyed with the idea of marathon distance but not sure I want to cope with the damage it will do at this time with summer on the way. I entered a 16.45 mile virtual race (26.5km, like a metric marathon) which allowed the whole of February to run the usual course starting from any intermediate point, or indeed create your own course as long as elevation was sufficient. I had 3 tries, hoping to average 6 min/km for 2h 39min. I had run a half in 2:04 in January as a test. First attempt was a misty day and I got lost at 18k, repeated a hilly section then headed down to sanctuary having completed 30k - 2h 44 for the race distance. This was 2 days after my Pfizer jab. Tried again 11 days later, proper course, 2h 37m. Bought a pair of Brooks Hyperion Tempo shoes, tried again ten days later on a different but equivalent course, 2h 32m. Won the 70+ category. Only one in the category, mind, but only one 55+ yr old was faster. Also carried on to 30k to meet the virtual County Gold standard (3 hours) by the skin of my teeth... February was a big month for me, March focused on speed over 10k, 7, 8, 10 miles and finally a 1h 54m half marathon to complete 9 Gold standard runs.
Things don't last of course, right leg is starting to complain a bit now (4 years since THR) but I have had a great few months just concentrating on running. Chance of a Diamond mile if I can get 6:56!

Good luck going forwards with your racing!

Pete

[jwall07]

Thank you for sharing your running experience and blog info. I am coming up on my 2 yr resurfacing anniversary and it is so inspiring to read of your progress and performances. My last marathon was September 2018 and I hope to return to finish my quest for all 50 states.   Keep up the great training!

[imgetinold]

That is fantastic.


Oh, and y'all are crazy.


 

[DonFromCT]

This is fantastic!!

Clearly you could have simply "done" a marathon much sooner if your goal was just to finish.  Congratulations!!