Chef Marc's Personal Best Recipe

Team Work Makes the Dreams Work

By: Sean Abeyta

Dream Team! 

Running is a sport you simply can’t cheat, you either put in the work or you don’t. When you do you’ll see yourself getting stronger and faster, when you don’t you’ll see the opposite. Improving is a challenge, it takes a lot of commitment, time, patience and sacrifice.

I had the opportunity this morning to spend some quality time with someone who exemplifies what it takes to improve and what an honor it was! At the 2018 Lovelace Rio Grande Half Marathon Marc Quiñones broke the 2 hour mark for the first time (1:58). This is a HUGE milestone for most and it was no different for Marc. Since then he continued to log those tough miles and continued to improved, posting his Personal Best of 1:53.

This morning we toed the starting line with a single goal in mind, breaking the next milestone at the same race a year later...sub 1:50. I told him I’d help him to his goal, but only under two conditions: 1) to trust in his training 2) to not give up until he crossed the finish line. After the gun went off, as with most races, we went out strong and slowly within the next few miles we settled into what would be our pace throughout the rest of the race.

The goal pace was 8:15/mile. Marc set the pace early and knowing the work he put in I let him hold it for the first few miles (7:45/mile) until we settled in at 8:00/mile. He seemed relaxed and comfortable for the first half of the race and it was great sharing some stories and getting to know each other better. After we hit the 10k mark the chatting started to die off as we started to enter the pain cave. I tried to keep him focused on runners ahead with a goal in mind to not let them get further away. Marc’s grit not only kept them from breaking away, but he started reeling people in. With about 2 miles to go I gave him his first status update, “would you believe me if I told you we were on pace to hit your stretch goal?” The look of panic on his face was priceless, “No?!”

When we got to about a mile left I told him to dig deep, we weren’t picking it up yet, but I wanted him to get his mind right so we could start to surge with about a 1/2 mile to the finish line. With a 1/2 mile left he put his foot on the gas pedal and started ramping up his pace. The amount of support from all the spectators on the final stretch was amazing and Marc not only crossed the finish line in under 1:50, but he also broke his stretch goal of 1:45 with a time of 1:44!!! The icing on the cake? 1st in his Age Bracket! Unbelievable!!!!

1:45 BABY!

So proud of you Marc! You’re an inspiration to so many and you have proven that hard work pays off. Enjoy the moment and congrats on the new PB!!! It was an honor to run with you this morning brother and I look forward to watching your continued progress. 💪😎

#roadtosub145 #dukestrackclub