MY 2023 TALLAHASSEE MARATHON: a cautionary tale for runners!

[@TheFODRunner]

Fair play Matt 👏 you did so well, we all have those days but they make the good days super sweet! Keep grinding buddy! Looked a great course as well 👍

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Andy! 👊🏽Yeah, those days have to be expected sometimes. I just hope I got it out of my system. 😁Moving on….

[@TolunayOrkun]

"We do it because it is difficult" - So right! 💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

😂 It's true, although I never want it to be true!

[@paulkolonich8047]

💃 same thing happened to me at Clearwater with the 6 large bridges torched my legs. Lauderdale is in a week for me and is flat but I’m still going to take first half easy and try to negative split the second half.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Yep, those inclines will get us if we're not careful! Good luck in Ft. Lauderdale!

[@jimchristy573]

I ran just a little behind you in the race and this course kicked my butt as well!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Misery loves company! Thanks, Jim! 😀 Congrats on a difficult race! How are you feeling now? Recovering well? I see you also had quite a drive to and from the race! How did your legs feel when you got home? I was like the Tin Man getting out of the car!🤣

[@jimchristy573]

@@its_Matt_B_, Yes my quads were toast! I'll be running the Combos Marathon in Albany Ga in a couple of weeks. I'm planning on better results on that one.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@jimchristy573 Good luck at Combos! It sounds like a delicious race!

[@solebrother9620]

Matt...well done, Sir! 3:20 is still a great time. Another marathon completed. No mean feat....but yes, those pesky downclines can be a problem 🤣...Onwards and upwards! 💃🏽

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks so much. It m happy and I’ll live to run again! Who knew running with gravity could be so problematic? 🤣

[@E.M.B.R]

Sorry Tallahassee didn't treat you better, Matt, but love your attitude about it. The course and the humidity definitely gave more than a few of us a challenge on the day. That said, hopefully you got the tough race out of the way and are now primed for success in Boston. As for me, having done my first two marathons on this Tallahassee course, I'm going to branch out now. I just entered the lottery for NYC 2023. If I don't get that, I'll run Jacksonville in late 2023. And then (fingers crossed), if Boston accepts all qualifying times, I'll be doing that in early 2024. I've just started the marathon journey (at age 50 and 51 no less -- never to late to start) but I'm looking forward to continuing it for the long run (all puns intended). 😛 💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

I think it was me who didn’t treat Tally with the respect she deserved, and I got checked because of it. 🤣 In hindsight I had a lot of fun and it really is a beautiful race! Good luck with your NYC entry and your 2024 bid for Boston. It was great meeting you and, BTW, puns should always be intended! 🤣

[@mawilliams777]

💃💃💃💃🏼💃🏾💃🏿 well done Matt, have a full on Can-can

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, matey! My legs are still shot and hammies are super tight, so I’m going to take a rain check on doing the can-can! 🤣

[@mawilliams777]

@@its_Matt_B_ a great video to remind us it goes either better than expected or worse, rarely exactly as we expect, and certainly never given to us handed on a plate! I must admit I’m going to be careful with my Stryd power date for a while!

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@mawilliams777 As far as Stryd goes, I’ll be using it cautiously, especially when running in hilly areas (which hardly ever happens 🤣)!

[@mawilliams777]

@@its_Matt_B_ I’m hoping I get the opposite effect, I basically live at the bottom end of a Welsh valley, I can not possibly do a run without an elevation of 100m- minimum,so as long as I pick a flat race then my Stryd should under predict no? 🤞

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@mawilliams777 I would say your Stryd will be more accurate than mine simply because you’re giving it more information to work with.

[@timsullivan8414]

💃Great job gutting it out, Matt! I'd take a 3:20 marathon anytime! How do you like the Pro3 shoes? They are my marathon favorites!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks a lot, Tim! I love the Pro 3. This was my second race in them and I’d happily run in them again and again. If nothing better comes along before Boston I’ll wear them again, but I’m expecting some race-day contenders between now and then, so we’ll see.

[@timsullivan8414]

@@its_Matt_B_ I'll be in the EP3s for my first Boston in April! Hope to see you there! Thanks again for another great race video!

[@DesertTriDad]

💃 some races suck in a good way. We learn more when we fail. My first race this year was pouring rain and cold. Something I never train in lol, needless to say I finished a bit slower than planned.

[@its_Matt_B_]

“Some races suck in a good way” is spot on and there is 100% value in failure; it always precedes success (and other things I tell myself after a bad race! 🤣).

[@brionia9760]

💃 Great work Matt. I can’t imagine driving 5 hours just an hour after a hard marathon, you definitely deserve a rest day or three!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Brioni! Getting out of the car when I got home was harder than the marathon itself! 🤣

[@largeeddie]

Oh man, that was a rough day at the office! Great job pushing to the end anyway and I appreciate the honest reporting. It looked like a good course and a nice day to be outside, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been I guess. It could be that you were due for a bad one and now you've gotten it out of the way. You're going to kill it next time.💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

It really was a lovely day on a great course! I just ruined it by going out too hard. You’re right though; it was about time I had a bad race! Thanks for the 💃, Eddie!

[@stevetrimborn3739]

💃Great run. My kids are running this race next month.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks for watching! They're going to have a great time!

[@benchandler3220]

Well done

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Ben! 👊🏽

[@gmnavarra]

I've done the Tallahassee Half Marathon twice and even though I am used to the hills it was still very humbling both times!! It's a hard course for sure. No wonder only roughly 100 people register to do the Marathon every year lol great job! hope to see you come back up in February for another one!

[@its_Matt_B_]

I suppose it comes down to running the hills at a race effort. Things are always more difficult when you’re running at race pace! It’s funny you commented now because I just got an email about the race earlier today!

[@MrJermson]

First time I am seeing you running with grimace, still you managed to finish the race. Good job 👍💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

If you like the grimace, go back and see my 2021 Jacksonville Marathon vlog. 🤣 Thanks for watching! I’m really happy to have finished this without walking! 👊🏽

[@dougsphoto]

Hi Matt thx for sharing and congrats on finishing it as that always has to be another accomplishment 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks so much for watching! Yes, no matter how bad it was, it’s still a win because running a marathon is always a win! 👊🏽

[@jodyeverson2505]

💃 well done Matt. Love the camera work. Love your never give up attitude.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Jody! My “never give up” attitude is greatly enhanced by filming the race and knowing I’d have to answer to the viewers! 🤣

[@IRunThings]

Final watched Matt. Awesome effort. And we all make mistakes.... it's part of life. I think you are a rockstar anyway

[@IRunThings]

By the way. The first thing to go is my mathematical brain as well!

[@IRunThings]

Ehem. That's a flamenco dancer. 💃this might be a salsa dancer?

[@its_Matt_B_]

I’m can’t believe you’re the first person to recognize my mistake. I realized it when I was editing and thought I’d be called on it immediately! 🤣 Good for you!

[@its_Matt_B_]

It’s funny how it works….or doesn’t work!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Suz! 🤘🏽 Lessons were learned, again.

[@RunningGeekGirl]

💃 Way to cross that finish line!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Heather! It was a tough one, for sure! Cheers for the 💃!

[@jeffdover6845]

Great job,The Marathon is a tough distance!Like you said that’s why we do it!!!💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Jeff! Exactly! While I wish it were a little easier, there would be no satisfaction without the challenge.

[@BookemDanole]

My alma mater, Matt! Go Noles! It was great to see the different parts of the course you filmed. Especially as you passed the stadium and football practice fields. It does look like a beautiful course. I hope to run it soon! 💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

It really was a lovely course! Anyone with ties to Tally needs to run this race!

[@marshalltilley7235]

Congratulations!!!! I thought a great race and results !!!!

[@its_Matt_B_]

You're too kind! Thanks, Marshall! 👊🏽

[@lizzypicardi]

Great recap. Congrats, I cannot believe you were talking while you were running, that gasses me! I have my 1st marathon in 2 weeks. subbed yo your channel!

[@its_Matt_B_]

First of all, thanks for the sub, Lizzy (I'm also subbed to you! 👊🏽)! Second, which marathon are you running? This is a BIG deal!!! You're in the taper now so how are you feeling? BTW, talking to the camera while running gets easier with practice, although talking to the camera at the end of a race never gets easier! 😆

[@lizzypicardi]

Yay, I cannot wait to seeing your journey. I am doing the REVEL Big bear, its a downhill marathon so it will be short and painful. Cannot wait to sign up 4 some standard marathons next season @@its_Matt_B_

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@lizzypicardi Oh, nice! That is actually on my list! It is such a drop! If's going to feel like falling, until your quads get thrashed! 🤣

[@lizzypicardi]

Yeah it nets -5000+ I will do a GREAT race day vlog. It looks like you get some good swag, a video, and the views are spectacular @@its_Matt_B_

[@davidha8389]

Thanks for sharing Matt. Congrats on finishing another marathon. I alway enjoy watching your race videos. I ran the Mesa Marathon last weekend and paced by Power. I set up a strategy for the downhills and the first four miles, which is all downhill, my power was about 10 W lower than my intended target. However, the pace was 25 seconds faster than I had planned to go. Fortunately, I did not try to hit my power number in these miles or I would have paid for it sooner.

[@its_Matt_B_]

You made a good call limiting your power on the downhills! How did your race go?

[@davidha8389]

@@its_Matt_B_ Sub 3:04. PR by more than 6 minutes from my previous marathon in Oct 22.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@davidha8389 Incredible! That's a HUGE PR! Very well done! Next up,

[@gavinbraiden5985]

💃sometimes things go as planned sometimes they don’t. Look at the bigger picture, you still finished and it’s another marathon under your belt. On to the next one….. 👍

[@its_Matt_B_]

Yep, exactly! Thanks, Gav! It’s the difficult ones that provide the most growth!

[@Kelly_Ben]

Congrats on finishing another marathon! Maybe not at your goal pace, but a performance to be proud of nonetheless! It's funny you said it's the type of race people say they'll never do again. You know how I feel about road running vs trail, and this is the first road marathon I've ever watched and thought hmm... that actually looks enjoyable! 😆 Just came from the recap video, fascinating to watch/ hear!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Kelly! It really was a lovely course, especially on the rail-to-trail section and in the parks. The feeling of never wanting to do it again passed quite quickly!🤣

[@markray7133]

Thanks for the video Matt and taking us along the journey of the race. I’m sure this is one of the races that will stick with you and will look back on to learn from. You dug down and never gave up. Always motivating content. Anything with hydration cause any issues with the race down the stretch? 💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Mark! Yes, I’ll definitely be remembering this one for a while. As far as hydration, I thought I was fueling/drinking enough during the race. I didn’t feel like I needed more. It wasn’t until the end I realized just how thirsty I was. I then noticed I had salt stains on my arms, so the evidence suggests I needed more. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@sumguy9687]

Congratulations Matt! 💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers! 👊🏽

[@donavonhornbeck]

💃 , I had a similar race in 2021 in Ann Arbor, MI. I really cooked myself on some big hills in the first half of the race, and then paid for it in the last 10K of the race. Hopefully I’ve learned my lesson!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks for the 💃! Let’s say we need to have a poor race once in a while so we know where our limits are! 😁

[@romeofthewing9626]

Well done!!! You did that with a Insta360 stick! Wow! You won your AG too! You are right, that insta360 has no Jitters. At the beginning you were 7:05 and I didn't notice any jittering. Did you have to change batteries or did you just switch off and on? After watching your race, I'm getting one now. I can't believe you wore a Hurricane shirt in Seminole territory. LOL

[@its_Matt_B_]

I’m impressed! You are the only one that noticed I was wearing a Miami sweater before the race! 🤣 I turned the camera off after I filmed a clip. I switched between 360° mode and 4K mode (for talking). The stabilization is no joke!

[@romeofthewing9626]

@@its_Matt_B_ I'm an 80s kid. I know the Rivalry. But its not the same as it was. BTW, consider the 3x10 rule next time you toe the startline. 1st 10M is to use your Head. Patience and enjoying the moment but staying within one's self. Don't chase fliers or hit anything hard. 2nd 10M is to use your Training. This is where your long runs remind you to fuel, drink, and grove in prep for the final 10. 3rd is the 10K. This is your Heart. What do you have in you. I loved what you said. "We can do Hard thing." I am a pacer typically for 3:50-4:15. I tell the runners who are with me, "What do you have in you? What are you going to tell your friends/family about the race? What are you going to tell yourself about the result? It's your story to write." I loved that you recorded a lot of that race. It really showed your psyche. Both the triumphs and mistakes. Well Done Man! Well Done!

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@romeofthewing9626 Thanks so much, Rome! Your pacing experiences sound fantastic, both for you and the runners in your group! It' great you use the time to motivate them and make them check in with their "why!" Yeah, the rule of 10s is gold, although like most things it is far easier said than done! 😃

[@the_mid_night_runner]

Fantastic job Matt💃💃🕺🕺

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Jimmy! 🙌🏽

[@stevebailey1682]

💃Hi Matt...good work. Some times you have it, some times you don't. I think what keeps me running races is my quest for the times "I have it". Nice video. Not sure how you handle a video camera while doing a marathon...I know I couldn't.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers for the 💃, Steve! Yes, those days where it just works is reason enough to keep having a go at it. As far as filming goes, at the least it gives me something to take my mind off the discomfort.

[@legswillmove]

Congratulations

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers! 👊🏽

[@Deadbuck73]

Congratulations! You did it! 💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thank you! It wasn’t pretty, but yes, it was done! 😁

[@Deadbuck73]

@@its_Matt_B_ pretty is relative! Beauty is in the eye! I got to seven miles Friday. I’d say your 26 was much prettier! 😂 but I feel fantastic just getting there! I saw several deer and overall I felt good. Thank You for sharing your running with us!

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@Deadbuck73 Pretty is indeed subjective and a matter of perspective. My surroundings were very pretty. How I felt late in the race was not. Good job getting out there and logging 7 gorgeous miles! 💪🏽

[@Deadbuck73]

@@its_Matt_B_ thank you sir!

[@stevenvargas8739]

💃 🕺 Am liking your videos: very inspirational.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Steven! This was a tough day at the office! 👊🏽

[@guest00791]

💃🏾 🎉 I enjoyed the show!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks for watching! 🎭

[@adelinegiattino2657]

Kudos!!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Adeline! Are you still running?

[@adelinegiattino2657]

@its_Matt_B_ yes, however my running has slowed down. The cold NY weather is a hindrance. Taking it back as the weather is warming up. Where is your next running event? You are always encouraging and knowledgeable, than you for posting.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@adelinegiattino2657 The NY weather being a hindrance is an understatement! 🤣 Next up for me is Boston!

[@mikegamber8561]

💃great Job Matt!

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks so much, Mike! 👊🏽

[@Greg-me8le]

Awesome job! The Marathon distance always has a bit of a mystery to it, doesn't it? I think that is what draws us to that distance. But hey, why am I tell you? You have run so many. Enjoyed the video as always. 💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Greg, and yes, there is certainly a bit of the unknown with every marathon! I agree that it’s a huge part of the appeal. 👊🏽

[@PiercingArrowz]

Good work sir. 💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

[tips hat] Thank you very much! 😁

[@rualablhor]

💃I have no idea how people run a M, now that I ran my 1st half. Perhaps why instead of how might be the correct word. I don't see myself doing another, perhaps once a year😅. Respect to all marathoners and long distance runners. I cycle 140 miles before...I wonder which is more difficult to most folks🤔

[@its_Matt_B_]

Why is a question only answerable by those who have the desire to do it. I’d say running a marathon is more difficult simply because of the impact forces of running, although the effort put into the 140 mile ride could balance the equation. 🤔

[@rualablhor]

@@its_Matt_B_ Hard to compare...the half was more painful (ankle), while riding was more tiring, longer, more boring, more fueling and longer recovery (just my butt tho) but also easier? However, I rode more and often, plus much younger then😅 For me, it comes down to pedaling is much easier effort than running/jogging, thus easier NOT quitting. Coming from an avid bicyclist background (and noob runner)...my subjective, educated guess is to equate a marathon to a 170-200 mile ride🤔

[@Kelly_Ben]

You might be surprised to find you prefer longer distances! The shorter the distance, the faster the pace. I find pushing speed to be far more painful than pushing the distance. I actually prefer the marathon /50k distance over shorter races, because the type of pain involved is preferable! 😆

[@rualablhor]

@@Kelly_Ben I prefer 50yards than 5 or 15k. That said, Im pushing back on my type IIa genes🤭 I'm fine with 13k long runs...seriously, after losing 10lbs, Im having trouble doing just that fasted. Often times, I could feel the bonk coming after 8/9k nowadays. I don't particularly like stuffing myself for a half, nevermind 40k😅 Yes, (re)fueling is half the problem. Pacing and longer distances, I suppose I could get better/used to. However, no (or very little) desire there yet. It's almost exactly one year since I started running. We'll see😊

[@kuraimakumbe3762]

💃🏿 well done Matt, would you consider doing it again?

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Kurai! 100% yes. I’d like to tackle it again with a better strategy!

[@tinalewis6782]

💃 You did great! 🎉 How was the weather (temp and humidity)?

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Tina, and huge thank you for the 💃. It was 49f at the start and 62f when I finished. I don’t recall looking at the humidity percentage, but it didn’t feel cool so I’m guessing it was fairly high!

[@ernestgreen6821]

Awesome! Congratulations! 👍👍👍👍

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Ernest! 👊🏽

[@GenXaviation]

Lol it was a nice race this was my first 1/2 marathon. Bailando Salsa la vida es más feliz jajajaja

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Ixhabi, and huge congrats to you on your first half marathon! 🏆

[@DanRuns]

You certainly took care of business. Mararhons are tough

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Dan! Some are tougher than others and sometimes they can just click and everything flows. Things did not flow for me at this race! 🤣

[@stephencsaplar6382]

💃🏼 👍🏃🏻‍♂️ well done 👍

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, mate! Big thanks for the 💃 too! 👊🏽

[@sawyerwilson2244]

Really wanting this course to be my first half marathon, but being close to the area, the hills and inclines are discouraging me.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@sawyerwilson2244 It’s a fun race! Don’t let the hills discourage you. Just know that it won’t be your fastest possible time, although as it’s your first HM I suppose it will be! 🤣

[@gtcubes]

Is the marathon your favorite distance to race/train for?

[@its_Matt_B_]

100% yes! I love the strategy and thought that goes into completing the distance!

[@michaelhawes7185]

💃 Great good.

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Michael, and thanks for the 💃🏽

[@keno.bowman9079]

🛸 I have felt your pain.

[@its_Matt_B_]

🤣It appears you typed saucer instead of salsa and got 🛸 instead of 💃! Yep, that particular brand of pain is known intimately well by the marathoner. 👊🏽

[@redstonep7607]

💃 🏅 . You said that you ran as hard as you could in survival mode but when I look at your heart rate on Strava it is in range 127-156 bpm, is the watch readings inaccurate that day ?

[@its_Matt_B_]

The explanation will come in the recap on Monday, but I can’t leave you hanging. I’m pretty sure my HR got up to at least 160, but me running as hard as I could was bonk related. My HR was low towards the end of the race but I was still struggling just to move my legs.

[@redstonep7607]

@@its_Matt_B_ I’m looking forward to it !! The heart rate reading can be misreading at times as i compared this run with your Punta Gorda run. Apparently your new year Eve run at Fruitville hit a highest bpm 175 even you ran much slower..(then again it was an Apple Watch vs today Coros pace).

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@redstonep7607 I wouldn’t put too much stock in the Apple Watch HR reading. While it seems to be accurate most of the time, it has a tendency to pick up my cadence more than other watches.

[@steveking5893]

💃🏼

[@its_Matt_B_]

Nice! Cheers, Stevo! 👊🏽

[@RunnerdJK]

Racing by power is not a good idea. Doing so equalizes your cardiovascular effort over the course of a race, but because you run much faster than average on downhills, and because the muscles sustain greater impact forces when running downhill compared to flat running at any given pace, your neuromuscular effort varies greatly over the course of the race. The goal should be to equalize both cardiovascular effort and neuromuscular effort as much as possible.

[@its_Matt_B_]

It’s not always a good idea, but it has its benefits in certain cases (like courses with fewer or less steep hills). If learned a big lesson though! Thanks for watching! 👊🏽

[@i.p2088]

I find the Stryd V2 totally worthless in steep up and down hill courses. Uphill it showed lower numbers than downhill and I work harder on the uphill. The power number is correct but it has little to do with the effort I put into it.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@i.p2088 agreed. There seems to be a limit on the in/decline to ensure the Stryd’s output is valid.

[@traceyhoyle4145]

💃💃💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Tracey! I’m finally getting over this race! 😂

[@traceyhoyle4145]

You're doing amazing Matt! You really put yourself out there, which is a brave thing in itself!! My furthest distance is 10k!!! 🙈

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@traceyhoyle4145 Thanks. Tracey! 10k is phenomenal! Have you raced a 10k or done a training run to 10k?

[@traceyhoyle4145]

@@its_Matt_B_ I ran the Great Manchester UK 10k run last May for my first 10k and since then went back to running around 5k three times a week, one of which includes my local parkrun. I've just started back on a 5 to 10k training plan, that worked for me last year, as I'm booked on the Great Manchester run again! 😅

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@traceyhoyle4145 oh, brilliant! Keep it up! The Great Manchester Run sounds like a blast! How many peeps run it?

[@greglane9983]

💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

Excellent! Thanks, Greg! 👊🏽

[@greglane9983]

You're welcome Matt

[@Dave_running1840]

💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, David! 👊🏽

[@theswerunner]

💃🏽

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Michael! 👊🏽

[@theswerunner]

@@its_Matt_B_ keep up the good work 😁 I have 16 week left to my second marathon. 😬

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@theswerunner Thanks, mate! How’s your base? When will you start specific training for the marathon?

[@theswerunner]

@@its_Matt_B_ i took last year as an small base build avg 28-30 miles per week. With two 10 km and two halfmarathon races. I tried to bump up the xG miles to 38-40 this year with more workouts not a good idé for me got heel spare and some pain in the shins. So i had to go back and rest and build slowly now. So i have 16 weeks to the race, i will take 6 week easy zone 1 and build the miles slow. And then go out harder the last 10 weeks if everything feels good 😁

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@theswerunner Sounds like a great plan to stay healthy on the build up!

[@alexandercosta885]

💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers for watching, Alexander! 👊🏽

[@jennifergordon9520]

💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

Thanks, Jennifer! 👊🏽

[@chriscolpack696]

💃

[@its_Matt_B_]

Cheers, Chris! 👊🏽