Blog Posts From Turtle Training Tagged With frederick_marathon

Frederick Mararthon, May 3, 2009

Steve Carton — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:41:22 GMT

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.

Next Marathon - Frederick, 2009

Steve Carton — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:14:08 GMT

Signed up for Frederick (May 3) today. I plan to eat the hills this time, instead of last year when they ate me!

Guess I'd better get some long runs in. It's been a few weeks.

Frederick Marathon, May 4, 2008

Steve Carton — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:38:35 GMT

Well, I've now completed 2 of the 3 marathons I scheduled for 2008; yesterday was the Frederick Marathon and I finished it (just). I've decided to call this a "learning experience" which will be my euphemism for "I had a hard time". I'm also going to rename this marathon from the Frederick Running Festival to the "Stinky Marathon", for reasons I'll 'splain later. But here's the blow-by-blow.

I spent the day Saturday working in the yard doing gardening and tree moving and so on. Drank lots of fluids and a lot of gatorade, though maybe not quite enough. I then drove out to Germantown to stay with my running buddy - he lives 30 minutes from Frederick, whilst I am about 90 minutes and with a 6:30 am start, I didn't want to have to leave so awfully early. We got up around 4:30 and ate some breakfast (eggs, juice, bagel) and headed out in the pre-dawn darkness to try and find our way north to the Frederick Fairgrounds. The trip up was smooth until we got to the exit for the Frederick Fairgrounds. That was backed up for at least a half-mile and traffic did not seem to be moving. We sat for long enough to be worried about making it to the start and then decided to bail and follow the GPS another way. This turned out to be much better as we got in and parked at only a few minutes after 6am. We then lined up for the porta-potties, which took another 20 minutes and so we got into our "corral" for our pace group only a few minutes before the start.

We ran into two runners from the Striders (Renee and Willie) who were planning the same pace we were. We heard the start and crunched forward, only to stop and start a few times and eventually cross the starting mat about 3 minutes after the gun. We made a point of sticking close to our pace group leader (Pacer Dan) for the first few miles. The whole first half was a delightful run through downtown Frederick with the old architecture and then out into the country with the farms and animals. Well, there was one area that was not so nice -- the route around the parking lot and the back of WalMart was just wierd. But it was cool, though very sunny, and because the forcast was for rain and overcast, I had neglected to apply sunscreen. That bit me later. But the first half was a nice rolling run -- some bumps, nothing serious. We passed back through the fairgrounds where the half-marathoners were finishing (and which cut the crowd down significantly!) and began the second half of the run.

We ran through another nice downtown park area and then almost immediately we headed east out of town. I have to say, the second half was not as nice as the first. We were mostly running alongside a busy road/highway and though there were cones to keep us in the correct area, it wasn't pretty or nice or anything like that. And the sun was in our faces. Then, starting at about mile 16.5, we got to the hills. These were by far the longest and steepest I've ever run.

The first was the worst. It just never seemed to end --up and up and up! We got over that and started the descent and even that was hard -- too steep to just let go. Our pace group passed us. At the bottom, I was suddenly exhausted. I had to walk for a few minutes. After that I felt a little better and pushed on into the hills of the next 5 miles. None were as bad as that first one, but they were significant nonetheless. I took to walking the steepest parts.

As we began one descent through a neighborhood, my legs just cramped up. I had to stop. My RB said maybe I needed more salt, so I took 2 tabs and walked a bit. That helped and soon I was able to struggle onward again.

After the last hill and the 22 mile marker, things got a little better. The sun was behind us, though there was a strong headwind which made the last hills even harder. Our goal now was to break 5 hours. We had lost a lot of time to cramping and walking. So we tried had to keep up a pace toward that finish. Spencer (RB) was the real hero -- pitching me up the remaining hills and minimizing the walking to "just enough". As we came back into town we were routed out toward the Frederick airport and then past the cow farms. This was the stinky part. Especially so late in the run. The smell was godawful and overpowering, almost making me lose my gel/lunch.

As we came back to the fairgrounds area and passed mile 26, we picked up the pace to a slow-sprint, still trying to beat 5 hours. We entered the fairgrounds and ran on the horse track towards the finish, looking at the watch, trying to keep it up for another 100 feet, 50 feet, 25 feet. And my legs cramped one more time. I was hobbling along like a cartoon character, legs swinging to the sides to minimize cramping. Crossed the mat, 4:59:55! We did it.

I think, in retrospect, that the biggest issue was dehydration. I think after working in the garden on Saturday, I was already a bit low on fluids. And the weather was deceptive -- a little warm but very dry air and a strong breeze. I think this meant I was losing fluids and electrolytes much faster than I realized. And while there were lots of water stops, the little cups were often only half full. So I should have drunk 5-6 at each stop to make up for the loss. I think.

So now I'm taking a few weeks off. In June, we'll start training for the Baltimore Marathon and the second half of the Maryland Double Challenge. I hear there are even more hills there. We'll be ready (I hope).

Psyched for Frederick

Steve Carton — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:03:41 GMT

I've been worried about this race owing to a nagging knee-cap injury. I've had more or less swelling due to water-on-the-knee from an injury back in January where I slipped on a chartered sailboat in the BVIs and whacked my knee. It was swollen but okay when I ran the B&A marathon in March, but has gotten tighter and more sore in training since, especially going down hills. I had gotten to the point of walking downstairs sideways.

So, I went to the orthopod yesterday and got about 6cc of fluid drained (aspirated?) from the outside of my left kneecap. Looked like pee! After that, he injected 2ccs of cortisone. It felt better almost instantly. After I got up this morning, I was bouncing down the stairs to make coffe and was half-way down before I realized it had been at least a month since it had last been that easy. So now I'm all psyched for the marathon on Sunday. No pain, so no worries.

Weather Forecast for Frederick Marathon

Steve Carton — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:24:44 GMT

According the the Weather Underground, the forecast for Saturday for the Frederick Marathon is cool and rainy. I haven't run a marathon in the rain before, bit at least it will be cooler. 61 degrees with 60% humidity. Chance of thunderstorms. Could be worse. I guess the main thing to worry about will be chafing. Or maybe getting lost on the course. I guess our training run today will help prepare for it -- same basic forecast for today -- wet, with a chance of more wet.

Friday looks the be a gift day from the weather gods. Perhaps we'll get really lucky and the whole weather system will delay a day. What a nice run that would be!

Tapering to the Frederick Marathon, 2007

Steve Carton — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:50:20 GMT

We're now 9 days to the Frederick (locally and affectionately refered to as "Fredneck") marathon (Here). As usual, I don't feel ready. My left knee is swollen (on the outside, water on the knee) and hurts. I went to the Dr. and he said I'm not damaging it. But it aches all the time. And my left ankle hurts too. In fact my left shoulder hurts as well. Maybe this is because I'm not left-leaning enough? And I have trouble breathing this time of year -- allergies of some kind or another.

This will be my fourth marathon, so I guess I no longer worry about finishing. I'm pretty comfortable with that. It's just the manner of the finish. I think my hopes of breaking 4:30 are not realistic this time around. I ran 5 tempo miles Wednesday and 12 easy miles yesterday (Thursday). The easy miles were much harder than they should have been. I'm concerned about how well this marathon will go.

My plan for the next 9 days is to run an easy 5 miles Monday, get the Dr. to look at my knee again Tuesday, run an easy 2 miles Thursday and then do the Marathon on Sunday. I'm hoping the Dr. can drain the fluid and inject something to keep it from bothering me. That was what he indicated when last I saw him, anyway.

Straining onward...

2008 Marathon Schedule

Steve Carton — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:58:22 GMT

I've cast my die and registered for three marathons in 2008. Now I have to get kickin with the training again. I signed up for the Baltimore-Annapolis (B&A) marathon on March 2, the Frederick marathon on May 4 and the Baltimore marathon on October 11.

I had pretty much committed to doing Frederick with my RB -- he lives close to that area, and it turns out there is a "special" (as in "rode the short bus"?) deal called the "Maryland Double" -- register for and complete the Frederick and Baltimore marathons in 2008 and get a discount on the entry fee and also a special double-finisher medal. So that seemed like a reasonable thing to do. I was planning to run something in the fall, and I think the Marine Corp is just too big.

So I had two. And then I started remembering how much I loved the B&A marathon, which was my first one (spring 2007). I couldn't resist. And, since I'm a member of the Annapolis Striders anyway, it's pretty much a requirement to run that race, isn't it?

So let the training begin...