Sunday, 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).|p-8215] 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 !http://community.active.com/images/emoticons/sad.gif!. 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.