Turtle Training
83 Posts 1 2 3 ... 6 Previous NextSunday, my running bud and I ran the Frederick marathon. It was my eighth marathon in 26 months and a very good race for me on many fronts, not least of which is how much better I did this year that last, where the second half nearly defeated me (Frederick Marathon, May 4, 2008). Here's the blow-by-blow.
I got my gear mostly set the night before and tried to get to sleep as early as possible (though it didn't happen until after midnight). Then I was up a few times to pee having tried hard to hydrate well all day Saturday 
. So I was still tired at 3:50 am when the alarm went off and I fell out of bed. Made my usual race-day breakfast of a bagel and banana and a pot of coffee. Then headed out into the pre-dawn rain and dark towards Germantown to pick up my running bud en route the fairgrounds. As we headed north on 270, we remembered from last year how the I70 exit for the fairgrounds was terribly backed up. Last year we were quite worried about getting there on time. So this year, when we saw the line of brakelights starting a mile before the exit, we went on past and followed "GG" (nickname for the GPS) to the next exit and then to the fairgrounds and parking. Still dark as we parked at about 5:45 am.
The race organizers changed some things in the arrangements from last year.We parked in a grassy field about a quarter mile or so from the starting area. As we were walking towards the grounds, the gray sky started to get lighter. We both needed to use the facilities, and remembered how long the lines were at the porta-johns last year. We found that by heading past all that to the fairgrounds buildings, there were regular bathrooms that were almost unused, so we went there instead.
Then we wandered over to the starting area. This too was a little different, starting on the street instead of inside the fairgrounds. But it was a nice easy down-hill start that way. We joined the throng of runners waiting for the start to get organized, and then found the area for our planned pace (between 4:30 and 4:45).
Still gray but getting lighter.
And more and more runners getting ready.
And crowding towards the starting gate.
And then we started. The first half is a very pretty run through the old parts of Frederick and the historical sections of town. I stopped to pee once and then ran a slightly faster pace to catch back up with Spencer. Took about 3 miles to do so. Nice and easy running, good crowd support. On the main roads. And a particularly nice tour of the Walmart parking lot. 
After that, we ran back into the downtown area through rural farmland and back to the fairgrounds where the half-marathoners finished. My RB stopped to pee at about mile 10 and caught up with me at the half. Also, it started raining. Not hard, but a constant drizzle that would get to be more sometimes. I offered to buy a hat off one runner 
We had a good consistent pace going. After the half, the route took us downtown thru one of the canal parks (very pretty) and then on out to the east and the hills. But I stopped taking pictures - I was worried about my camera getting wet.
The second half is not as pretty as the first and it's a lot more difficult. I've had an ongoing debate with myself about which marathon has the harder hills, this or Baltimore. I'm now decided it's this race. At about mile 16, the hills start in earnest. There is one initial hill that feels great to be at the top of. Then down the back side and a left into the suburban neighborhoods. As soon as we made that left, the road started up again, and this time a lot steeper. But even that was fine - we were ready. That was the highest point on the run and after that was a net descent, but it came as wave after wave of up and down.
By this time it had been raining long enough and hard enough that my shoes and socks were sloshing around and I was periodically wringing out my very drippy shirt. Finally, at about mile 20.5, I had to walk for a bit. One final hill inthe neighborhoods was more than I could handle. I walked to the water stop at mile 22 and then gel-ed up again and started a slow run. After that, I was able to run fine, though slowly, to the end of the hills at about mile 23.5. From there on is mostly flat and my pace picked up. The final stretches went past an old farm with a manuer smell so strong I almost lost my gel. But I got past that and towards marker 26 I was back at pace again. Flew into the fairgrounds actually passing people.
Final time was 4:43:57. Not my best. But I was pleased, given the rain and the hills. And I had some firsts - I managed to run through many of the water stations, drinking on the run instead of stopping to drink. And I felt very strong through most of the run. And I finished well hydrated and fueled, so I did the right things in that department (though I couldn't stand the sight of another poweraid at the end).
I wonder if the problems I had were really with the hills or more to do with the good old wall.Really, I had trouble in the same stretch of the B&A marathon in March even though I set a PR. So I have to look into training more for that period (miles 21-24).
Great race, well run and now a fond memory.
So yesterday I ran the B&A trail marathon for my third time. My seventh marathon in two years. Each time I run this I set a new PR! So I like it a lot. But it was a bittersweet day.
I had been watching the weather forcast -- the Annapolis area was expecting a winter storm starting Sunday, but with a preceding front coming through on Saturday overnight. It seemed like we had a good chance of an ice/snow-covered B&A trail for running on Sunday morning. I layed out my kit with about 5 clothing options the night before. When I got up at about 5:15 am, my back deck and yard were covered with a sheet of slush and I thought it might be a long, wet, rough day. But it wasn't all that cold -- about 32 at that hour, so I was hopeful that the trail would be no more than wet.
So I chose my clothes, got dressed, extracted my wife from her cocoon (she drives me -- for which I'm very grateful, though mostly afterward when I hurt) and made my ritual marathon-day breakfast - a banana and a sesame bagel with a little butter. And drank a pint of gatorade G2 (just for the preloading of electrolytes). Double checked everything and headed out the door. I didn't bring my camera on this one - it seemed like it might be a wet day.
Got to the Severna Park HS starting area at about 6:30. Plenty of time. The place was packed. The event was sold out (possibly for the first time ever?) and the auditorium was crowded. I think I heard that there were 1,00 registrants. Found some friends (Bruce) and shed some clothes, went to the bathroom and chatted. My RB (Spence) showed up and got ready. Spence was planning to run the half and our goal was that he would keep me on pace (about 10:18) for the first half so that I had a shot at breaking 4:30. My previous PR was 4:35. My hope was for even or negative splits.
Then we headed outside to the starting area. I pulled my customized trash bag on and stayed warm enough. Seemed like it was warming up. Then we started. Spence and I had stayed back a bunch in the field, so it took about a minute to cross the starting mat. Then we were off, headed out through the local neighborhoods and onto the B&A trail. Very crowded on the trail. I can see why they have to limit the numbers. But, as usual, it thins out a bit as runners hit their paces. And the weather wasn't bad. We had a little snow aff and on, but it was mostly clear all day.
We ran south for a ways. About mile 4, Spence had a bit of an accident. The trail has 6x6 posts implanted to keep cars from turning onto the trail. Spence didn't see one and tripped over it. Went down hard - face first. At firs, he thought he got bumped and bruised, but would keep going. But blood was pouring from above his eye. He dropped out to get it checked out and said he would catch up with me. Met a pair of youg guys who had decided saturday night to run the full marathon. They were cyclists, so they were in good shape. They were having a great time. Also met "Naptownrunner" from this site. He was volunteering (thanks)!
I got back to mile 13 which is where the 1/2 marathoners turn off to finish. The pack thinned out very significantly after that. Of the 836 finishers, 590 were half-marathoners, 246 ran the full. Passed 13.1 at exactly 2:11 and headed north. The second half of this marathon is mostly a head game. It's mostly flat (two "bumps" which are overpasses) but just goes on and on. I fell in behind a young man doing his first full. We kept the same pace for a bit, up to the northern turnaround point, about mile 19.5.
Coming back south, I started to flag a bit. I did the math (which is simple except that late in race) to figure out the pace I neededin order to break 4:30. Close to 11. So I forced myself to slow down a bit to that pace. I always seem to have a bunch of juice left at the end and knew that if I was close, I would make it. I stopped briefly to pee at about mile 21. Then just slogged along. Felt awful, but after 6 marathons, I know this game pretty well.
But then at mile 24, realizing that I only had about 25 minutes left to run, I knew the goal was in sight and my pace just picked up. Back to 10 and then to 9/mile. Got back to the final turn off the trail and onto the road to the finish and I was flying. Actually passing people. Hit the final stretch, felt great and was running like it was a 5k. I saw the clock and that it read about 4:28 and knew I was golden. As I ran down the chute, I heard a bunch of my peeps cheering me on, heard the finish timers announce my name. And then flew across the mats for a chip time of 4:27:46. Well below my target
I got a call from Spence. He ended up with 4 stitches, a shiner, and a huge lump on his forehead. So it was a bittersweet day -- a PR and a disaster.
I do want to say thanks to the volunteers. They really came through for Spence. And at every water sop, the start and finish, and at all the street crossing. Also a special thanks to the AA County police -- they were geat. And a special thanks to my wife for driving me and picking me up, and for putting up with all the traning time.
Well, I had some thoughts about heading to FL to run the Sarasota marathon, but, silly me, there are a couple of deal breakers in that weekend - Saturday is Valentines Day, and Monday is Presidents Day. So there is no good way I can go there without sacrificing my marriage -- Maybe another one someday
So I'm targeting the B&A trail marathon on March 1. Signed up and ready (pretty much). Didn't get as much speed work in as I would like, but I've done several LSDs since the Rehoboth Marathon just before thanksgiving, including a solid 18-miler this past Saturday that had tons of big hill work. So I feel good. Maybe even good enough for a PR. If the gods smile down on me
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