Chasing the Unicorn Race Report
 
(see bottom for stats if you want to skip to stats)
My fourth marathon this year and coming off of some of my most solid training, especially for summer. Put in some good miles, some easy and some fast. Enjoyed running some tough long runs with Beka and Andrea as they prepared for the same race so was feeling pretty ready as the race approached.
However, the weather forecast did somewhat deteriorate as race day approached, with the low temperature climbing and the projected high climbing even higher. But, I also reasoned that since I had done a lot of training in Florida summer weather I still might have an edge and with a little race day magic could still pull it off.
Met up with Beka and Andrea the evening before the race and for packet pick up at Washington Crossing Park, PA (took me a while to realize that yes, this is indeed the spot where G.W. crossed the Delaware River on Christmas for a much needed victory). Walked out onto the canal path a little bit to check it out and then headed for dinner in the nearby town of Newtown at a Chinese restaurant called "Duck Sauce"
The weather was looking not so good, skies had been clear a lot and day time highs were in the 90's. Mornings were still cool so that helped. We met back at the park, warmed up a little bit and then had another runner get a picture of us. We had goal times about 10 minutes apart (hopefully) with 3:20 for me and 3:30 for Beka (Andrea was there for moral support). Small waves of about 50 runners were 30 seconds apart. I was in the 2nd wave and my two friends right behind me in wave 3. I think the start temperature was about 65 degrees, humidity a bit high somewhere in the high 80's (about 10 percent lower than Florida summer humidity).
Race starts at 7:15 in a parking lot, then on the road out of the park but turns onto the Delaware canal path which has a crushed fine gravel on top of packed dirt. There is a very slight incline as the path heads north (one small lock and a very small climb to the turn around point). There are also 7 "camelback bridges" that arch over the canal with the path dropping down below the bridge and then back up. Taller runners might have to (or feel like they have to) duck a little bit. Most of the path is as wide as a single lane dirt road but a few spots narrow down to the width of a single track running trail which gets a little tight when there are runners coming the other way.
First mile I felt pretty good although didn't quite have that bouncy feeling I sometimes have at the start of a good race. Not all good races have this feeling, so I'd wait a few miles. I hit the first mile at 7:58, hitting the lap button on my garmin instead of relying on garmin splits. I thought that pace seemed reasonable and planned on trying to keep all miles after that faster.
With Andrea and Beka starting 30 seconds after me, and with a goal pace about 20 seconds slower I wanted to be about two and a half minutes ahead of them after the 6.6 mile turn around where I'd see them. First 5 miles went by, still not quite feeling that fast, but then all of the sudden, after mile 5 the running felt easy.
Hit the turn around, felt good and in a couple minutes saw Beka and Andrea both looking strong and happy. The whole return trip back felt pretty much like it did just after mile 5. It was still relatively cool, and the shade definitely helped. There was a pretty tall bald guy wearing dark shorts that I started to follow.
I was hitting all of the aid stations to grab a water or gatorade so I wouldn't fall behind. At the turn around, went through the aid station, grabbed a cup, and went to toss it in the trash can. As I was trying to do that, a volunteer was telling another volunteer (maybe his son), that the trash can was in the wrong spot and starts to drag it away as I'm trying to throw out my cup. It was frustrating in a slow motion sort of way. Didn't really cost me any time but it would be the start of a slower second half.
Crossed through the halfway point with a gun time just over 1:41, so right about 1:40:30 net which was 30 seconds slower than at Poconons, but with this being a flat course and having just run the first half and knowing what exactly was in store thought I had a good chance of running an even split or at least a small positive split. I really wanted to be under 3:23 for a decent shot at getting into Boston. Soon saw the ladies again, both looked good and the gap seemed to be about right.
On the second half, the course markers are at 0.1 mile offsets, so 14.1, 15.1, 16.1, etc. I knew this because I saw those signs on the first half. But for some reason my running calculation brain had not caught up and I was waiting to hit the lap button at the 14 mile sign. So, the lap time made it look like I had slowed. While I was trying to sort this out, my pace slowed a little bit. I recovered some of the lost pace but missed getting under 8:00 for mile 15.1
Also around this time I lost sight of the taller bald guy when I got a side stitch (I chatted with him at the end of the race, he finished with 3:25, good for a 55 yo age group award). 16.1 was now way slower than 8:00. But, not to be defeated, I would try to pick it back up again once I could shake the side stitch.
So, next mile was faster, back under 8:00, but just a little bit. then slower, and then one more faster as I approached the 19.6 mile turn around. I was now on my way back and was feeling a little bit faster and soon saw Beka and Andrea approaching their last turn around, but shortly after seeing them slowed down again by the time I got to 20.1. Next mile was faster but could no longer get back under 8:00. Except for the goal of finishing, the race part felt pretty much over.
Finally, just before the 25.1 marker I looked at the total race time which I hadn't looked at for a while (probably not since the halfway). Time was 3:21:20 (or was it 3:21:40, can't quite remember). So, with 1.1 miles I mustered up a little bit of steam and got back under 8:30. There was an emergency vehicle on the canal path a little bit before the turn off back into the park. Ran past it and soon saw the turn off, soon was at the 26.1 marker with the finish arch in sight.
I walked around for a bit, grabbed some gatorade and sat on the ground. Calf seized up once I was on the ground and seemed to stay locked forever (or maybe it was a minute). Soon, was back up on my feet and hung out at the finish line until Beka and Andrea approached and came across looking pretty strong.
Ok, so another missed BQ but it was ok, there was a little less giving up and falling apart at the end than my last race even though temperatures were even higher this time. I think the first half was about as fast/slow as I could go without being too far out of reach of my time goal. Also, a lot of fun to hang out before and a little after with my running friends and of course a visit to my favorite Aunt and Uncle that live in New Jersey after the race before flying back home the next morning.
Official Race stats:
Start offset: 39:06 (I was in the second wave. Waves were 30 seconds apart to keep congestion down)
6.55 miles: 0:51:17.42 1/2 Marathon: 1:41:11.82 19.65 miles: 2:34:45.47 Gun Time: 3:31:59.49 Chip Time: 3:31:20
Garmin Stats: 2.37 mi, 3:31:22, 8:00 avg
Mile 1-13 Splits: 7:58, 7:44, 7:39, 7:47, 7:42, 7:28, 7:33, 7:34, 7:39, 7:27, 7:31, 7:37, 7:42
Mile 14-19.1 splits: 8:47 (7:38 pace, 1.1 miles to 14.1 miles, second half of course was marked at mile + 0.1), 8:05, 8:26, 7:56, 8:30, 7:59
Miles 20.1-26.2 splits: 8:57, 8:12, 8:44, 8:42, 9:11, 9:00, 8:25, 0:50 (0.12 @ 7:15 pace)
NJ
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