2015 Erie Marathon - The Easiest Marathon

I decided to sign up for Erie in early Spring as a training run. I'd heard it could be a perfect BQ race because of the flat course and temperature in the 60s. I knew I wasn't going to be ready for any PR or BQ but I wanted to test how I felt physically after completing a marathon. Since facing some medical issues in April, I hadn't been able to do a long run without some sort of issue. At times, I had felt I could not run a marathon anymore and perhaps a half marathon would be better.  But rolling the dice sometimes works.

At packet pick-up before the race, the weather was horrible.  Rain and high winds made for a less than ideal marathon conditions.  I ate a calzone around 2 p.m. near downtown and went to the pasta dinner provided by the organizers.  Dinner was outdoors and while pasta, meatballs, and everything else were warm, it was cold enough to make me wear a jacket.  I got to the hotel room around 8 p.m. and went to sleep.  I woke up once at 11 p.m. but went back to sleep until 5:30 a.m.
When I woke up the rain had stopped. It was still cold, water puddles were everywhere, and the winds were strong but at least rain would not be a factor.  The race started at 7 a.m. and I started lining up with the 4:30 marathon group.  I just wanted to start slow and see what my body could do.

 This was the smartest decision since it forced me to slow down in the first two miles while I was "boxed in" around other runners.  Once I got to mile two I reached the 4-hour marathon group and later the 3:45 pace group.  I stayed with them for 4 miles but I knew based on my GPS that they were going way fast but it was a pace I could maintain for at least 20 miles.  While pace groups are great, they forced you to be "boxed in" with other runners and not really feeling like you got space to move around. In addition, this pace group had someone talking way too much and I couldn't focus on my run.  I sped up a few yards until I couldn't hear them anymore and joined another group.  These guys were shooting for 3:45 and I thought I could hang with them for a while.

My pace was even during the first loop and I did not feel like I was pushing it.  Once I started the second and final loop around the park, I thought I was going to start slowing down but to my surprise, I kept going at an even pace.  I could still see the 3:45 pace group a quarter of a mile from me but my new group was slowing down mile by mile.  At mile 19 I could hear music coming from the finish area and I even saw a few runners on the other side of the road at their mile 25.  I knew a 4-hour marathon was in the bag even if I had to walk for a while. However, to my surprise, I kept running at the even pace of 8:15s. I reached mile 24 and I was still going strong until I hit mile 25 my legs weren't fresh anymore so I dropped back to 8:22 pace. But who knew once I saw the finish line I sped up and pulled a 7:42 pace.

I was very happy with my splits as they can't be more even for 26 miles. The fact that the course is totally flat except for a small bridge helped a lot.  There were no medical issues and I did not feel any pain in my right knee, the one that has been bothering me lately. Erie is definitely the marathon to run to get a PR/BQ, it can't get any flatter and the water stops at every mile helped tremendously. Volunteers were amazing and were cheering at every water stop.  Additional porta-johns could have helped as the race started late because many runners were still in line.  I will go back to Erie for sure to break a PR or perhaps a BQ time.

2015 Raleigh Marathon - New Super Rolling Hills

Having had my worse marathon ever (4:00:07) I had planned to return in 2014. Those 7 seconds had tormented me for months! I knew it was a challenging race but I thought I could have done much better.  Yes, there was the humongous hill at mile 19 that just kept growing at every step I took but I had climbed higher.  I was traveling alone and I stayed at a B&B about a mile away from the start of the race.  I got there on Friday afternoon and walked downtown for dinner at this place called "Beasley's Chicken and Honey."  This was by far one of the most delicious chickens I've ever heard had.  I highly recommend this place if you are ever in Raleigh.  After all one of the benefits of being in Raleigh is enjoying southern food and refreshments.

Saturday Morning I met my friend Mike and his kid for breakfast before I went for some swimming at a Lifetime in Raleigh.  Later on I went to pick up my number at the expo. Packet pick-up was uneventful, except for the people asking for a sample of my blood for research. Were they nuts?  Take my blood after the race if you must. I managed to get some GU and got out there in a hurry.  Later on I met my friend Nancy for lunch at this chicken wings place before meeting my friend Melody and Jenn for drinks and dinner.  I got to the B&B still early and went to sleep right away.  I woke up at 5:30 a.m., got ready, and was out the door by 6 a.m.  I really should had left earlier as walking to the start, checking in my bag, and finding a free port-a-porty took a long while. 

I started in the 4 hour corral which allowed me to start slow.  At least I felt slow, my first mile was 8:03 - way too fast.  I saw my friend Melody at mile 2 and she was going even faster.  I tried to keep up but the first 3 miles of this race I didn't feel that great.  I actually thought about dropping out but I know myself, even if I was dying I wouldn't drop out. Perhaps it was the food I had the night before, who knows.  I was keeping an even pace for most of the first half.  There were some rolling hills but I knew biggers ones were coming in the second half. The first half course was pretty much like the year before and I knew I did not need to work as hard. Well, maybe I went out a little fast that I should had, I was averaging mid 8s per mile.

Beginning the second half I felt fresh, I was getting into the race and I hit the gas a little way too early and got some low 8s at miles 15-17.  Before mile 20 the course took you to this very scenic lake and a somewhat flat area. I was begining to see people hitting the wall and slowing down.  I went by with no problems until I hit the wall myself at mule 21.  The last 5 miles were full of steep rolling hill. This guy next to me started skipping, passing me and then letting me pass him.  I just let him do his thing, I had to energy to play around at this point.  I started to go a little faster and faster until I got to mile 24 and I slowed down again.  A guy passed me and asked me if I was in the 3:45 pace group.  I nooded and he said, well, they pace group felt apart I'm the only one who survived.  I tried to keep up with him and we ran together for about two miles.  At mile 26, I saw that guy who was skipping and he kept trying to pass me.  I was tired and eventually he passed me.  I had gotten what I had come here to get an under 4 hour marathon and I was at 3:45 at this point.  I finished the race with no injuries but I needed to stretch a bit.  I crossed the finish line at 3:47:35.  As I walked to get some water, the skipping guy approached me and said, "you're a bad mf. I tried to pass you and I couldn't."  I said, "thanks, I'll take that as a compliment" and just walked to get water.  The heat was not a factor like last year.  The temperature was about mid 60s at the start and low 70s by the time I finished. 

I walked over to the finish area and I got to enjoy the Smash Mouth show.  Yes, they are old and their songs aren't as hip as back in the days but I still like their music.  They played Walkin' on the Sun, I'm a believer, and All Star, and Why can't we be friends. I sat there on the lawn for a long while but I knew I needed to get up soon and start planning my exit.  I wanted to try going to the same restaurant I had gone with my friend Carl last year, The Pit.  My friends bailed on me so I slowly walked over and enjoy the best BBQ ever.  How could I not come to Raleigh and not enjoy this?  Couldn't and wouldn't!  I had met my goal and there was nothing better than to enjoy at least a nice meal.

Nazca Lines