New York Marathon Afterthoughts

I'd like to start by thanking the incredible crowd and all the supporters in New York. It was an amazing feeling to have people screaming your name for 26.2 miles on a frigid, windy day. You all made it an unforgettable experience, and I hope to relive it next year. I would also like to thank the New York Road Runners for taking care of me from the moment I stepped off the plane. Everyone was delighted to go the extra mile to make sure the athletes had everything they needed for a great race. Thank you David and Jane Monti, and Mary Wittenberg for a flawless effort during such a complicated and demanding event. 

As for the race, I would have liked to have finished a bit stronger than I did. I thought my training reflected better fitness than my result, but that is all a part of racing the marathon. You never know what will happen on the day. I definitely gave it all I had and have no regrets. It was frustrating to only get two of my seven Powerbar bottles at fluid stations, but I tried to adjust the best I could. It's difficult to say what kind of an effect this had on the result, but it wasn't positive. The matter is still being looked into, but it seems that another athlete may have been taking my bottles by mistake. Bad luck. I am honored to be the first American in such a deep field and under some tough conditions. I believe races like this help build character and mental toughness and will be very helpful in my future marathon endeavors. 

Eva and I are in the middle of packing for our trip to Patagonia. I'm looking forward to the mental and physical break from training, but I know that once the soreness subsides I'll be itching to get back to training. The 10-day hike will be demanding enough to keep training out of my thoughts for a healthy amount of time. After giving myself some time to reflect, Dave, my agent (Jurrie), and I will start to discuss options for the spring. 

Below is my entire build-up for the marathon for anyone interested in taking a look. I plan on posting the same way going into my next marathon, so feel free to comment or start a dialogue with me. I love talking about training and am always interested in speaking to those with more marathon experience than myself. I'm pumped to have signed on with Brooks for another 3 years! They have supported me since I graduated from Oklahoma State, and it will continue through the 2016 Olympics. I would not still be running competitively without them. Keep that in mind when you buy your next pair of shoes or winter running gear ;) Brooks cares about American distance running. I'll post some pictures from Patagonia, and I'm looking forward to a big spring racing season!

Week 1	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	12 + drills and grass strides	6		18
Tuesday	4 mile tempo @ 19:20	5	1 hour	17
Wednesday	11.5	5.5		17
Thursday	15		1 hour	15
Friday	15 x 200 @ 30-32, 200 jog recovery	7		17
Saturday	11.5	5.5	40 minutes core	17
Sunday	10 mile tempo @ 5:10			19
				120
Week 2	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	13 miles + drills and grass strides	5		18
Tuesday	13	5	1 hour	18
Wednesday	15 x 200 @ 30-32, 200 jog recovery	5		18
Thursday	15		1 hour	15
Friday	13	5	30 minutes core	18
Saturday	Tempo Session: 3 mile (72s), 2 mile (71s), 1 mile (70s) on track	5		18
Sunday	Long Run			20
				125
Week 3	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	13 miles + drills and grass strides	6		19
Tuesday	10 x 1 mile starting @ 4:58 and working down to 4:42	5	1 hour	20
Wednesday	12.5	6		18.5
Thursday	12.5	6	1 hour	18.5
Friday	13 miles + drills and grass strides	5.5		18.5
Saturday	3 mile tempo @ 71.9s, 10 mile run @ 5:50, 3 mile tempo @70.9s + warm-up & cool down			22
Sunday	12.5	6	40 minutes core	18.5
				135
Week 4	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	13 miles + drills and grass strides	6		19
Tuesday	15	6	1 hour	21
Wednesday	8 x mile with 2 minute jog rest, started 4:47 & finished 4:30	off		15
Thursday	11.5	5.5	1 hour	17
Friday	8 x 200 meter hills following 1 hour run	5.5		17
Saturday	Planned day off		30 minutes core	0
Sunday	15 mile tempo @4:59 (6 mile warm-up/cool down)	off		21
TOTAL				110
Week 5	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	15	6	40 minutes core	21
Tuesday	12	8x200 meter hills		21
Wednesday	Tempo, 3.5, 2.5, 1.5 miles (rest: 3 min, 2 min) @ 4:50, 4:45, 4:40	7	1 hour	21
Thursday	12	9		21
Friday	90 minute run followed by 8x200 meter hills	4.5		21
Saturday	14	7	40 minutes core	21
Sunday	24 miles, pushing miles 17 to 20 (19:48 for 4 miles)	off		24
TOTAL				150
Week 6	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	75 minute run followed by 8 x 200 meter hills	6	40 minutes core	20
Tuesday	13	6		19
Wednesday	7 x mile, starting 4:46 and ending 4:24. 3 minutes rest	5	1 hour	20
Thursday	16	off		16
Friday	75 minute run followed by 8 x 200 meter hills	5		18.5
Saturday	9.5	9	30 minutes core	18.5
Sunday	4 mile tempo in 19:06, 10 mile run in 58:00, 3 mile tempo in 14:12	off		23
TOTAL				135
Week 7	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	15	6	40 minutes core	21
Tuesday	75 minutes followed by 8 x 200 meter hills	6		21
Wednesday	6	14	1 hour	20
Thursday	6 x 1 mile starting @ 4:43 and finishing @ 4:20 on track	6		21
Friday	11	10		21
Saturday	15	5	30 minutes core	20
Sunday	27 mile long run, push miles 19-23 @ 19:44	off		27
TOTAL				151
Week 8	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	12.5	6	40 minutes core	18.5
Tuesday	14	5		19
Wednesday	4 mile, 3 mile, 2 mile, 1 mile tempo (19:13, 14:18, 9:25, 4:32)	off		18
Thursday	14	6	1 hour	20
Friday	10 + drills and strides	9		19
Saturday	12.5	6	30 minutes core	18.5
Sunday	16 mile tempo (119:22 – 4:57.6) + warm-up/cool down	off		22
TOTAL				135
Week 9	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	15	6	40 minutes core	21
Tuesday	12 + drills and grass strides	9		21
Wednesday	15	6.5	40 minutes core	21.5
Thursday	4.5	4 mile tempo, 30 min run, 4 mile tempo (19:06, 18:58) – 18.5 miles total		23
Friday	13	8	30 minutes core	21
Saturday	15	6		21
Sunday	5.5	16 miles + 6 x 200 meter hills		21.5
TOTAL				150
Week 10	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	9 miles (cut run short due to hamstring/knee pain)	off	40 minutes core	9
Tuesday	off due to hamstring/knee pain	off		0
Wednesday	7	10 x 1 km 3:01 to 2:55 w/ 100 meter jog recovery	40 minutes core	19
Thursday	6	12		17
Friday	10 + drills and strides	5		15
Saturday	7	5		12
Sunday	San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon	off		21
TOTAL				93
Week 11	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	10.5 easy	4.5		15
Tuesday	15 + drills and strides	5	20 minutes core	20
Wednesday	14	6	40 minutes strength	20
Thursday	13	30 minutes + 8 x 200 meter hills		20
Friday	Fartlek (5 min, 4, 3)(4, 3, 2)(3, 2, 1) – 14 miles	5	40 minutes core	19
Saturday	14.5	6.5		21
Sunday	14 + drills and strides	5.5		20
TOTAL				135
Week 12	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	22 mile long run w/ push from 16-20 @4:56	off		22
Tuesday	14.5	off	20 minutes core	14.5
Wednesday	12.5	5	30 minutes strength/core	17.5
Thursday	4 miles (4:49), 3 min rest, 3 x 2 miles (4:46, 44, 41), 2 min rest	off		16
Friday	5.5	11.5	Strength/Drills – 1 hour	17
Saturday	12.5	4.5		17
Sunday	3 mile w/u, 3 mile, 2 mile, 1 mile (4:43, 4:38, 4:38) + 60 min run	5.5		19
TOTAL				123
Week 13	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	12.5	4.5	45 minutes	17
Tuesday	12.5 + drills and strides	4.5		17
Wednesday	12.5	4.5	30 minutes	17
Thursday	4 x 2 miles @ 9:32	off		14
Friday	11.5	5.5	30 minutes	17
Saturday	7 + drills and strides	off		7
Sunday	16			16
TOTAL				105
Week 13	AM	PM	Strength/Drills	Mileage
Monday	10	4.5	30 minutes	14.5
Tuesday	5 x 1k @ 2:57	4.5		16
Wednesday	Travel to NYC	9		9
Thursday	9	off		9
Friday	7 +drills and strides	off	30 minutes	7.5
Saturday	6	off		6
Sunday	Race			27
TOTAL				89