WHEN PIGS FLY

Stephanie T

Two weeks ago, I ran the 2015 Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, OH in 3:48:03, my 17^th marathon-plus! 

Although the marathon was not a PR, it ranked as one of the most special marathons, as it was my first postpartum.

 2015 Flying Pig Marathon Finish with Pei M, Ray T and Tran L

NEW TRAINING APPROACH AND EXPECTATIONS

I had trained well all season, which I was proud of, despite the fact that my daughter Keira was still only 9 months old. In fact, it was the first time ever that I had followed and executed a training plan so closely. I appreciated the science behind the Run SMART program and Coach Brian Rosetti’s extremely personalized and hands-on approach to coaching.

It was also my first postpartum marathon, and I am still breastfeeding. Instead of making time for group runs either before or after work, I had purchased a backpack that I ran with to go home from work two or three days a week with my breast milk, laptop and other items in tow. On Wednesdays, I would rush home to Brooklyn immediately after work so I could spend time with Keira before rushing back out to Central Park for the New York Flyers’ Marathon Training Program (MTP). On weekends, I would either get in a long run while my husband and fellow Flyer Ray watched our daughter, or we would go out for a run together with our running stroller.

Given the fact that I had run through my entire pregnancy, including a marathon and three half marathons, and I had read about a number of women running faster postpartum, including Liza Howard who won the Umstead-100 Mile despite stopping three times to pump on the course, and had given birth just six months prior, I had positive expectations about how the season would turn out. I believed that my expectations were valid, as I ran a 46:30 at the Scotland Run 10K in April, shaving 25 seconds from a my previous best time from 2011, and ran really strong all season long.

2014 Delaware Marathon at 7.5 Months Pregnant!

LEADING UP TO THE RACE

Ray and I left Keira with his parents for the weekend, our first time away from her overnight, and flew into Cincinnati, OH two days before the marathon. We dropped off all our belongings at the hotel, visited the race expo, which was next door to our hotel, and strolled through town before having dinner at Boca, a beautiful Italian restaurant I had made reservations for weeks ago. It was the first time we’d had dinner without Keira.

The next day, we met with fellow Flyers Pei M and Tran L for a 20-minute long easy run along the waterfront, returned to the expo with them and walked to Findlay Market, a local market with fresh and prepared foods, for lunch where Flyer Leslie L and his fiancé Noel C joined us. We enjoyed freshly made pasta, and picked up a few items for breakfast the next day. Ray and I returned to our hotel room to rest, as it had been a hot day so far and we had walked more than we had planned. The warm weather made me worry about race day, as I don’t run very well in warm weather, generally. We reconnected with everyone for an early dinner at Via Vita, an Italian restaurant near our hotel. After suffering from food poisoning the night before two marathons in the past, the 2011 Paris and 2013 Big Sur, I now always make sure to eat fully cooked, hot foods for two straight days before marathons, and kept it quite “vanilla” that evening–I had lasagna Bolognese and a side of roasted Brussel sprouts. We returned to our hotel early, and went to bed immediately.

Dinner with Fellow Flyers at Via Vite

RACE DAY PLAN

Brian had instructed me to run the first half of the race at an 8:18-20 pace. At mile 18, if I felt strong, I could pick up the pace. My projected finish time was 3:38.

Pei and Tran had planned to start slower than they had initially planned, so I considered doing the same. The temperature was going to climb to 80 degrees, and the Flying Pig was known for its tough hills on the first half of the course.

Miles 1-6 (8:22, 8:22, 8:22, 8:07, 8:21, 8:19).

We all took a group photo, Ray and I gave each other a kiss, and we wished each other good luck before the start of the race. Pei, Ray and Tran were all in the same corral as me, while Leslie was in front of us. Tran and Ray immediately headed out in front of me, and I was aware that Pei was behind me. I monitored my pace closely, aware that I typically run with a pace group, and tend to run too fast at the start of races. It typically takes at least six miles before I start to find my rhythm during a marathon, but felt strong during the start of this one. However, at around mile 4, I heard my name called, and turned around to see Tran behind me. I replied, “Hey! Oh no! I’m running too fast!” as Tran is faster than me, and I shouldn have been behind her!

Miles 5-13 (8:21, 8:19, 9:03, 8:22, 8:11, 8:26, 7:44, 8:16, 8:22).

The major uphill started around mile 5.5, and it was much more challenging than I had anticipated. I realized that I had slowed during mile 7, and despite the continued incline, and Tran exclaiming, “I’m not making up the time on the uphill,” I started to speed up shortly after. I was back on track to finish at my projected time by mile 9.

Miles 14-22 (8:24, 8:19, 8:25, 8:20, 8:38, 8:19, 8:25, 8:20, 8:38, 8:58, 9:21, 9:22, 9:43)

The hills, which were only second to the hills I encountered at Big Sur, increasing heat and constant adjustments I had made to my pace were all taking a toll on me. At mile 14, Pei had caught up to Tran and me, and we ran together for a few miles. At mile 18, however, at another incline, Pei continued running a strong pace, and I slowed down, unable to maintain my pace. At mile 20 or so, Tran passed me too, as I continued to fade.

Mile 23-26.2

I stopped checking my pace by mile 23. I saw the 3:45 pace group come from behind me at mile 24, and stuck with them for a mile before they passed me as well. I kept my legs moving, nevertheless, until I saw the finish line, and in front of me were Ray, Pei and Tran cheering me on! Ray draped the medal around my neck, and greeted me with another kiss. I was in awe that Ray had finished 12 minutes before I did, even though he hadn’t trained for this marathon at all, and we had all half expected to pass him on the course. I finished having given the marathon my all, but I was truly beat up. To serve as an example, I ran the last mile at 10:04.

 Keira and Me After Pacing the 2:00 Group for the 

2015 More/Fitness Magazine Half Marathon!

The Flying Pig Marathon certainly wasn’t my fastest marathon—it was actually my third fastest. However, it was my first since having my daughter Keira. I’m proud of all the hard work I put into training. And I’m ready to train for the next marathon.

-Stephanie T.