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

Bucks County Marathon

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201120122013
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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
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
26.2526.2652.51
White - Pegasus 28 Miles: 52.51
Race: Bucks County Marathon (26.2 Miles) 04:27:00
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.0026.2626.26

Tow-path marathon along the Delaware river, starting in Washington Crossing, PA. Really nice small marathon with limited crowd support. The tow-path makes it challenging for spectators to get to the course or have room to share it with the runners, so many portions are just runners. The race is put on well, with good organization. This day, the weather was cool - really ideal. At start time, the temp as about 35 degrees with bright sunshine. Clouds rolled in and kept the temperature pretty cool - probably just below 50 at the finish.
Met two marathon maniacs - Mike from St. Louis and Karen from Philadelphia. Also met some really nice locals. Interestingly, I think more people (as a percentage) were wearing headphones and unable or unwilling to talk in this race than in most -- this surprises me because the setting was quiet and natural, something that makes me want to be more deeply immersed.
26.26 @ 10:10 AP

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/244755116

White - Pegasus 28 Miles: 26.26
Comments(2)
Race: Northern Central Trail Marathon (26.2 Miles) 04:27:59
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
26.250.0026.25

This race starts/ends at Sparks Elementary School. Runners are welcome inside prior to and post race - which is great because the outside temperature was in the mid 30s on this day. The school does not have parking to accomodate the full race field, so they provide school bus transport from a local office building. I appreciated the flush toilets, heat, and space to do final preparations. Todd and I travelled from my parents' house - about 45 minutes on race day. We met up with a bunch of maniacs and took some pictures just prior to the run.

The start of the run is rolling hills along two lane roads with a net downhill. The net downhill definitely was nice outgoing and less than ideal on return. Near mile two, we got onto the NCR trail - a crushed gravel rails to trails between 8 and 15 feet wide. Aid stations were about every 2-3 miles usually where a road crossed the trail.

Near mile 8, I met a woman who lives close enough to the trail that she does most of her training along it. Laura was very nice, a fellow NYC refugee for this year. She explained that the course is a gradual up-hill outbound and gradual down-hill return ... except for the last couple of miles. I was glad to hear this becuase like many trails with tree cover, this one was throwing my perception - I felt like everything except the most obvious downhill was an uphill ... and while my legs may know differently, my brain gets psyched out. I reached the halfway point at 2:02 and felt really good. I saw Todd more than a mile before the turn-around, so he was doing great and looked really comfortable.

I felt okay until near mile 16 when my hip flexors (especially the right) started aching pretty badly, especially on uphill climbs. I tried to slow my pace and quickly switched to walking when climbing. Eventually, the pain started to hit my groin and hip flexor. After mile 20, I was walking as much as running ... but determined to finish.

We got off the trail near mile 25, then back on the two lane roads. I got passed by a man, woman, and dog running together. I talked to them later - they live in northern Virginia. Tim, Ariella, and Kody. They did a relay, of sorts ... Tim ran the first half solo, then Areilla and Kody ran the second half with him. It was Tim's first full marathon and Areilla & Kody's first half. They said Kody had run up to 16 miles in training.

The rolling net uphill at the finish was a bear. I think I ran the last half mile without stopping, but I was tempted.

After the race, I met a Maniac named Lyle from Oklahoma. This was his 3rd time at this race and his 98th total ... he'll do 100 in two weeks in his hometown.

Marathon #24 in the books!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/246680499

White - Pegasus 28 Miles: 26.25
Add Comment
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
26.2526.2652.51
White - Pegasus 28 Miles: 52.51
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