Went to packet pickup and and found that to be very disorganized. I pre-registered for the marathon mid-August, only to have to stand in one huge line to get my bib and chip. Then directed to another huge line to pick up my goody bag and T shirt, only to get to the front of the line and be told they were out of T shirts. Every one who knows me, must be saying Dawn do you really need another T Shirt!! no I don't, but that's not the point I'm making. Why didn't it happen like it normally do. You get in the line where your # is posted, get your bib and chip and walk over to the table that gives out the Tshirts' and goody bag. OK I'm entitle to complain just once.
Not sure if I told everyone that I have been trying knock the IPOD habit. I've been without an Ipod for about 3 months now until recently I've used it.:(. Today was one of those day I wanted to use it. I even put the thing on the charger all night. Went to use the Porter Potty and I decided to put it on because the marathon was starting in about 5 mins!! there was one strength bar on for whatever reason the Ipod did not charge overnight. I couldn't ditch the Ipod as I was parked at least 2 blocks away and the race was about to start. I guess I could have hid it somewhere until I got back. Exactly what I thought would happen, happen the IPOD died at mile 4!!. So here I am in a race no watch and no music. Thank God it was a gorgeous day!!
Good news there were plenty of Gu on the course!!! and I did get out on lunch on Friday but it was a run to the Athletic Shoe store to buy a brand new pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS7. I know what everyone is saying new shoes for a marathon!! Dawn you know better and I have made that mistake once before, but somehow it worked out today. And after Kelly's Game which I only got to watch the last quarter because I was late getting out of work, I went to sports authority and found cliffbloks!!! didn't use but one pack though!! there was enough GU.
Now to the marathon, I was getting a nice groove until my IPOD die was a little disappointed but the race must go on. The day was beautiful can't talk about splits much because I did not have a watch. My first 10k was 56:52 @9:10 , 10 miles 1:32:32 @9:16 and 20 miles @ 3:09:59 @ a pace of 9:30. I believe the worse I did was the last 3 miles, although Hartford change the course after 8 years and boast this is a flatter course I found it to be more difficult. All the same hills was there to include quite a few more rolling hills, if you were look at the course elevation on the site you would think its flat. I must admit I took 2 walking brakes(not long less than a min) the last couple of miles on the uphills. The last three times I've run this marathon I have never taken a walking brakes.
The course is a nice welcome!!! allot more scenic. Out and back at mile 11.5. I really enjoyed myself out there. The volunteers were great. The crowds were great!! the bands along the course was great!! I would not have heard if I had the IPOD on. At one point we got to someone singing "what the hell am I doing out here" we all gave a big chuckle and ask the same question.
Conclusion: wasn't my worst and wasn't my best in fact I improved by 5 seconds over last year even with the walking!! Final Results 4:16:20 net. last year Results was 4:16:25. I'm feeling great. My only regret didn't put in enough 20milers!!!
Thank you all for your well wishes!!!
24 comments:
Congrats on the marathon, Dawn! I know what you mean about the shirts. I know it is tough from the organizers stand point, but there is no doubt that all runners who pre-registered should get a t-shirt and those that were day of race are the ones who should miss it if it works out that way.
WAY TO GO DAWN!! CONGRATS and sorry to hear about the organizer issues...
I haven't done a marathon yet but my coach has helped many INCREASE their times with a 9 min run/1 min walk...then run as best you can the last 6.2 miles...
peeps pulled off 4-3:30 times doing this ...one person I read about from working with Lisa, said he ran a lot of marathons but wanted to beat his PR of 3:42, tried it and ran a 3;28 said it was crazy hard to discipline urself during the race to do 9 min run/1m walk especially the first 10 miles when people cheering are saying come on u can do it, when he was walking --LOL
but he stuck to the plan and smoked the last 6 miles and did a 3:28 sooo walking is OK :-) and if you do it correctly can be a BIG plus.
Nice race dawn. I with you; I don't understand why established races like the Hartford marathon can't get bib number / chip / tee shirt distribution straight. It isn't as if no race has ever done it before.
Nice race! I looked at the elevation chart yesterday and it does look flat. But I knew there was no way they could change that reknownededly hilly course to something flat. Trickery!
Really nice race. It sucks about the disorganization at the beginning; I'm spoiled from the NYRR races.
That time seems to be right around your usual time -- that's good since you didn't get in as many 20 milers as normal.
New running shoes? Oh wow. Congrats on the marathon!!
All sorts of distractions before you ran... but run you did!!
Congratulations.
Way to have a great race despite the lack of tunes, watch, and t-shirt! I hate not getting a t-shirt, or not getting the size I ordered weeks or months before. Grrr. Well, you overcame the distractions. Congrats on your race!
Well, it certainly didn't sound ideal but it does sound like you made the best of it. What a great job. CONGRATS.
You scraped pretty closed past a PR, didn't you? Nice race, but I'm glad you escaped further punishment from the new shoes - you got away with that, but it really isn't a good idea, generally.
SUPER!!! You are the WOMAN.
congrats on completing another one. You will close in and destroy the 4 hour barrier soon. Just throw in a couple of more 20-22 milers and you'll have it licked!
Too bad about the watch and the ipod. Personally, I race with two watches just in case one dies (yes, I work in engineering). As far as the Ipod goes . . . not sure if you're applying a trade name to a generic product or if it truly is an Apple product. I really don't race with one but I do when I train long runs. I've much more success with generic MP3 players (I'm very happy with my Sandisk right now) than with Apple products. I guess it boils down to personal choice.
Congrats again. Let me know when you decide to come to Birmingham!
Congratulations, Dawn. It was a fabulous day, indeed.
Awesome job. That bites about the Garmin & iPod! My Garmin charges both when plugged into my computer and when plugged into the wall. Do you still have your computer one and will that work - or did you have to mail that one in too? Since my obnoxious pc acts like my garmin isn't plugged in, I can't use the features, but it does charge it & I always forget that.
Glad there were lots of good bands for you to listen to! And I also have more t-shirts than I need, but would be very irritated if I didn't get one. :)
BTW... I was agreeing about the shirts, but was just thinking. A MARATHON... I'd be down right angry if I didn't get my shirt. If I choose not to wear it, that is my choice, but to pre-register and not get a shirt - grrr!
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Nice race report. Glad you had a nice day, and you made the most out of it with a nice time.
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