Make No Little Plans

Do you consider bring a salt tablet with you as the temperature is a little warm?

Regardless, Go get it, Chris! You are more than ready!

Good luck this weekend Chris. If I'm counting correctly, this is your third marathon of the year, and hopefully your best!

Jerry wrote:

Do you consider bring a salt tablet with you as the temperature is a little warm?

Regardless, Go get it, Chris! You are more than ready!

Ha ha - I guess you weren't paying attention when I went through my whole blood testing saga post-Boston. Having been laid low by massive seizing up full body cramps in 3 raced marathons in a row, I went to a doctor and had a full blood work up. I was expecting something like Magnesium deficiency or maybe low Iron. There was a little low Iron but the shocking thing was that I basically have zero sodium content in my blood stream. For whatever reason I sweat heavily and I seem to sweat almost pure salt water. Long story short, I got put through a whole battery of tests including a treadmill test and the bottom line is that I need to ingest sodium big time any time I will be exercising strenously. So yeah, salt tabs have been a daily part of my life since June or so and I'll be taking an S-Cap with each gel (every 5 miles) during the race as well. Will all of this fix the cramping issue that has derailed me? I don't know - ask me at Mile 23 on Sunday!

Seth Harrison wrote:Good luck this weekend Chris. If I'm counting correctly, this is your third marathon of the year, and hopefully your best!

I'm losing track of the marathons I've done...here they are:



Marine Corps October 2008 (3:50 - changed to a 3:30 goal midway through....that didn't work out well!)

National March 2009 (3:20 - BQ! Yea!)

Marine Corps October 2009 (3:09. That's my PR? Ugh. I can't believe that time still stands)

Disney January 2010 (3:57. Ran it easy for fun as part of the Goofy)

Boston April 2010 (3:11. Ugh.)

York May 2010 (3:32 - paced my buddy to a BQ! Yea!)

Beach2Battleship November 2010 (3:16 - 1st place relay in a full iron tri - did only what I had to do - yea!)

Boston April 2011 (3:24. Triple ugh. Walked the last couple of miles)

York May 2011 (3:12. I needed a BQ. Whatever)



Hey, so this will be my 10th marathon completed assuming I finish. Pretty cool.

Good luck, Chris!

Thanks, all! Last pre-race run of any importance is in the books. I did 8 with 4 at MP. Dave has the specific splits on the "MP" portion but let's just say I failed the pre-race test of holding to goal MP and ran each of those miles way too fast. I'll definitely need to follow Schuey's lead on pacing Sunday. I have my moments where I get it right but typically run simply too fast for the goal pace and we all know how those types of things work out in races. Anyway, tested out the marathon day outfit and shoes and all is good to go.



Tomorrow (Thursday) I'll run a very easy 6 and probably do it on the treadmill while I watch episode 2 of this season's Boardwalk Empire. Friday is a FULL OFF DAY. Saturday I fly to Chicago and Schuey and I will do an easy 4 mile shakeout run when I arrive. Then it is GO TIME Sunday AM.

Have a great race Sunday, Chris!

Hope things go well Chris! Have fun with Schuey. I'm sure he'll be a great pacer for you. Hope the cramping issues become a distant memory...

Chris M wrote:

Jerry wrote:

Do you consider bring a salt tablet with you as the temperature is a little warm?

Regardless, Go get it, Chris! You are more than ready!

Ha ha - I guess you weren't paying attention when I went through my whole blood testing saga post-Boston. Having been laid low by massive seizing up full body cramps in 3 raced marathons in a row, I went to a doctor and had a full blood work up. I was expecting something like Magnesium deficiency or maybe low Iron. There was a little low Iron but the shocking thing was that I basically have zero sodium content in my blood stream. For whatever reason I sweat heavily and I seem to sweat almost pure salt water. Long story short, I got put through a whole battery of tests including a treadmill test and the bottom line is that I need to ingest sodium big time any time I will be exercising strenously. So yeah, salt tabs have been a daily part of my life since June or so and I'll be taking an S-Cap with each gel (every 5 miles) during the race as well. Will all of this fix the cramping issue that has derailed me? I don't know - ask me at Mile 23 on Sunday!

So the only thing that is not tested and proven is Schuey.

You will do great, Chris! Even Torres scores.

Good luck Sunday, Chris. You've had an awesome training cycle with a lot of races in there and are ready to go.

I'll be thinking about you on Sunday Chris. Get that PR!

Go get 'em, Chris!

And if it is worth anything, I take salt tablets before/during (if necessary) all long runs, and any race from half on up.

Safe travels. Have a great race. Do not carry the burden of any prior race - this one is all new. Oh, yeah, and don't go into anybody's house along the route to get water, etc.

Probably won't see you until after the race, but you're so prepared and with Schuey as a sherpa, I see no way you don't bust right on through that 3 hour barrier. Safe travels and I can't wait to congratulate you on your shiny new PR on Sunday!

Chris- I've been MIA from the boards recently, but occasionally I've been stopping by and checking in. Anyway, I'll be pulling for you this
weekend. I really hope that after your issues in Boston you have the
race you deserve to have - fast, negative split, no cramping or
bonking. I'll check your blog on the board next week. Until then, get
some rest, enjoy Chicago and run smart! All the best, Jason

I know you will do your best - have a great race and have FUN!

Hey Chris, good luck on Sunday! Go get that sub-3!

I hope your travel goes smooth tomorrow and you feel ready to crank out a great race on Sunday. You've put in the work. Just relax, follow Schuey, and don't make any unscheduled detours into serial killer's homes. Hopefully letting Schuey set the early pace will allow you to save your mental energy until late in the race when you really need it. Good luck and have a great race!

Best of luck, Chris!

Even without Schuey, this sub-3 is yours, man. And with him? Just keep your head in the game. You. Have. This. It's time.

Mike MacLellan wrote:Even without Schuey, this sub-3 is yours, man. And with him? Just keep your head in the game. You. Have. This. It's time.

Well said Mike! Chris you are more then ready for this! I'm just going along for the ride.

Chris you have been ready for this moment the last 3 marathons, 10/9/11 is your date to reach your time! I just can't wait to be a part of it and live through and feel that feeling again of what it is like to run a sub 3 for the first time. Just do me a favor and don't kick my ass to bad tomorrow.

Shuey and Chris, I am sorry the weather didn't cooperate.

Chris, I hope you recover well, and can consider the Philly marathon(if not sold out) or something nearby that's cold and flat. F$%&!! I know you have sub-3 in those legs and just need a cooler day.

Diego wrote:Shuey and Chris, I am sorry the weather didn't cooperate.

Chris, I hope you recover well, and can consider the Philly marathon(if not sold out) or something nearby that's cold and flat. F$%&!! I know you have sub-3 in those legs and just need a cooler day.

There is the Rehobeth Beach Marathon in Dec. -- (I don't know anything about it. But not too far from DC)

Chris has Houston in January.

KBFitz wrote:Chris has Houston in January.

I believe he is in the half. But $15 to switch to the full. Or come to Dallas 12/4. Jerry guarantees good weather.