Get me to Boston or at least get me to the start

Grand Ridge Trail Run Marathon

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Location:

Richmond,VA,

Member Since:

Feb 18, 2011

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

From 10/2009 to 12/2010, I ran a marathon each month - completing 15 marathons, 1 50k, and 1 33 mile "endurance run" -- I had a great time, learned a lot, met a bunch of fantastic people and developed some mental toughness.

My PRs at various distances:

  • 5k: 22:57 (7/11/11 - Cul-de-Sac)
  • 10k: 45:25 (5/15/11 - Carytown)
  • 15k: 1:19:03 (1/27/08 - Frostbite)
  • 10mi: 1:25:31 (8/29/10 - Annapolis)
  • 20k: 1:36:49 (8/14/11 - Leesburg)
  • Half: 1:44:18 (2/27/11 - Colonial)
  • Marathon: 3:53:53 (12/5/10 - Las Vegas)
  • 50k: 5:14:59 (11/13/10 - Rosaryville, MD)

15 states (plus DC) done: DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, MD, MI, NC, NV, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WA, WV 

Short-Term Running Goals:

2013:

  • 8/24: Cove Island Marathon - Stamford, CT 
  • 10/13: Atlantic City Marathon - Atlantic City, NJ
  • 11/16: Richmond Marathon - Richmond, VA
  • 12/14: Rocket City Marathon - Huntsville, AL

2014:

  • 11/2: New York marathon (deferred)

Long-Term Running Goals:

  • 50 States (15 + DC done)
  • Pikes Peak
  • Comrades

I'm not sure if this belongs in a Running Goals section, but I'd like to do a triathlon. I'm not much of a swimmer, so this will be a quite a stretch for me.

Personal:

I am married with two boys ages 13 and 14. They are very supportive of my running, allowing me plenty of time for training and out of town races. We like to travel and camp. I'm the only runner in the family, the boys are still looking for the sport that interests them the most.

I grew up in Maryland but now live just outside of Richmond, Virginia. I ran a few 10k races in the early 1990s (when I was in my 20s). In 2006, a friend talked me into training for a half marathon. I finished that half then continued training to run my first marathon the same year I turned 40.

My favorite marathon was the Grand Island Trail marathon off the coast of Michigan's upper penninsula. It's a beautiful course that demands a lot from runners. We travelled to the race, then spent the next two weeks on vacation in Michigan - what's not to love?

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
NEW White - Pegasus 28 Lifetime Miles: 242.15
Red Trail Shoe Lifetime Miles: 4.47
Black - Pegasus 29 Lifetime Miles: 4.20
Race: Grand Ridge Trail Run Marathon (26.2 Miles) 06:50:54, Place overall: 21, Place in age division: 9
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
27.070.0027.07

Gorgeous course and great people. Lots of Marathon Maniacs in the crowd, in fact, I got a ride from one (Monte) and he introduced me to Slug & Roadkill at the start. Running with this group is quite different from runs in Virginia. Clearly there are many more Maniacs in the northwest and they seem to know each other quite well.
Back home in Virginia, we all know each other, but we have so few organized races and most are huge productions like Richmond, Marine Corps, and Shamrock. A nice small, low key race in a natural setting is fantastic. The weather was pretty warm, 90 F at the end. I was not well prepared for the up and down terrain, but I had a great time. I love Washington and would be thrilled to relocate.
The course itself is two loops of a trail and is pretty hilly (see elevation profile for details). The RD said it's 4100 feet of elevation change ... Garmin says more - I believe the RD. They had a lot of people turn out for the run and wound up running out of water at the turn-around. I hit a mental low point when I was told by (very helpful) runners returning on the trail to conserve my water. After a minute or so of self complaining, I did just what I was told - conserved water and kept on moving. Lots of walking on uphills (and some flats too) for this one.
Oh, and I should rename my shoes to "formerly white" - the trail got them pretty nasty looking and smelling ... all for a good cause: marathon #21 and state #14 (plus DC).

White - Pegasus 28 Miles: 27.07
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