I ran my first marathon last week, the Big Sur International Marathon on 4/26! I had a successful training block, peaking at 37 miles for the week with a 20 mile long run before my taper.
I felt really confident going into my race that I’d finish right around 4hrs. My goal was 3:59. My finishing time was 4:19, which I attribute to the elevation changes, as the course had long, steep inclines and declines. I had training on hills, but I found myself slowing more than expected on the steep declines. I also stopped a few times for quick photos of the views and for bathroom breaks.
I’m definitely proud of finishing the race given how challenging it was especially for a first marathon. But I feel like I left a lot of effort/speed in the table. My average heart rate was 142, which is low zone 2 for me. In this instance it feels worth it since I enjoyed the incredibly scenic run, but I’m already itching to do another marathon to prove to myself I’m faster!
PS as a new marathoner, one lesson I learned is to account for the 2+ hrs spent waiting for the race to start and be sure to bring fuel/food for the time spent in the corral. I was starving by the time my race actually started and my mouth was watering as everyone around me had bagels, granola bars, etc.