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My race comments are on the video, so below are the things I didn’t talk about on the video. The elevation chart doesn’t do this race justice. It has some tough sections that the chart doesn’t show. It doesn’t feel as down hill as the chart makes it look. My Garmin showed the same down hill profile but it seemed flatter. There was a strong headwind in our face that slowed us down and probably cost my friend Bruce his BQ, he missed by 39 seconds.

Down hill races may be harder than flatter courses. I did some long down hill runs but my legs ran out of energy on race day. Moving around that night and the next day was difficult. They felt worse than they have felt in a long time, even after longer, “harder” races. In the end, this race became a real test. I just wanted it to be over and I still had 6 miles to go with little leg strength. I walked more than I ran on the way in. It was frustrating and I wanted to quit, but I don’t like quitting unless I am going to injure myself. I pushed forward to the end and still ended up with a 4:07 or 4:06 on my Garmin. Click Here to look at my Garmin Stats.

Good race overall but little crowd support and getting back to our cars after the race was a nightmare. It took way too long, so they have to work on that and at least get more buses post race.

Overall, Tuscon was a great place to visit and the course was beautiful, I am into desert scenery. It was a learning experience and I am glad I did it. Lessons were learned, now it is time to get back out there and Train Focused!

Steve Mackel – MarathonTraining.TV Founder

1.) Marines – They are like super volunteers and when their name is on the race nothing falls through the cracks.
2.) The Runners – I think there was something like 37,000 of us. Yeah it was crowded but I was in the 4:00:00 group and that was the pace the people around me were running. I didn’t have to fight too hard to work my way through runners.
3.) The Cheering Crowd – Unbelievable! It was packed. They cheered loud, for every runner and really kept my spirits up.
4.) Organization – After 34 of these, they know what they are doing!
5.) The Sites – You get to run past some of the greatest sites in America, in the fall, the leaves are turning colors and it was beautiful.

It is one of the best marathons in the country. Enough said.

Race Focused, Steve Mackel – ChiRunning® Instructor

This video provides only a glimpse of a great day. I am still learning the skills filming and riding.

Run and Ride, it can change your running for the better and the beauty can’t be beat.

Ride Focused, Coach Steve

Race Focused, Steve Mackel Head Coach