St Jude Memphis Marathon



St. Jude Childrens Hospital

My wife and I had a wonderful vacation week in Memphis which included five nights stay and a marathon PR. My race goal was to break a finish time of 3:50 (my PR was 3:51 just three weeks ago) and to run a very steady pace from start to finish. The more important goal was the steady pace. I had always suffered a massive slowdown in the last 6+ miles in previous marathons, even in my last PR a few weeks ago. This time, I was determined to find a workable pace and hold it to the end. I far exceeded my expectation by not only holding an even pace, but by running it quicker than I had really expected.


Holding Steady


Even though I always race with my Garmin and a second running watch, for this race I also stayed with a pace group. My intention was to stay between the 3:45 pacer and the 3:50 pacer. After about six miles into the race, I had snugged up behind the 3:45 pace group....and there I stayed until the finish line! I wanted to back off the pacer after mile 23 since I felt it too hard to hold, but kept telling myself the glory will be in crossing the finish with the pacer. To lose the pacer in the last few miles was like defeat. I pushed hard and crossed the finish line at 3:45:27 with only one other person left with the pacer. All others had fallen away at some point along the course.


Beale Street



Hydration and Fuel Facts: For the first 13 miles, I carried a Gatorade bottle so I could avoid the rest stops until the half-marathoners split off. In doing so, I avoided the early congestion. I also carried 6 Hammer electrolyte capsules, taking 2 per hour starting at the first hour.

Interesting pace splits found in the official results: At 6.2 miles ~ 8:36 pace. At 13.1 miles ~ 8:35 pace. At 20 miles ~ 8:36 pace. At 26.2 miles ~ 8:37 pace.

Finishing facts: Overall 308/2416 (top 13%). Males 238/1367 (top 17%). Age group 12/110 (top 11%).