Rock and Roll Raleigh Marathon

This was the first time I'd run two marathons so close together.  Normally they would be months apart, sometimes a year.  Tobacco Road was two weeks before RNRR.  I decided to run it when I heard about jackets.  RNR races are also well put together and have live bands throughout the race. Long after signing up (during the TR marathon), I heard how hilly it was.  I was also nervous about getting done in the time limit.  I'd come in under that time before, but a strict limit made me nervous. This race was in downtown Raleigh and other close by areas of Raleigh.  It was cold starting out, but that's nothing new.  Many thanks to the Marriott and Sheraton for letting random folks crash their lobbies.  I was in corral 13, so a pretty good ways back.  By the time I reached mile 1, the race had been going for over 25 minutes.  Many runners can complete a 5k in just a bit more time, so I was way back.  I started with the 5:30 group.  My body felt comfortable going a little faster, so I did.  I figured I would at least be with them when I slowed down to walk.  It was quite a while before I saw them again.  There are some turnaround points on the course, so I remember seeing some pace leaders then.  One of them had not paced before; I told her she'd lose the whole group, which I think she did.  The run ended up being warmer than TR, so I pushed my sleeves up and took off my gloves. As usual, I ate Butterfingers.  I also had a doughnut hole (that girl was an angel) and some Pringles stix.  I took Tylenol before and during, which was customary.  As usual, I dropped it off the ground. Who knows what germs I consumed from Avent Ferry Road? My legs got tired, but my knees never gave in.  The meds and supporters on each knee are something I always do (and with good reason).
The music and other entertainment was much-appreciated.  I may or may not have done a little Cha-Cha Slide.  On a course as long as this, there were a lot of staff and police.  Some of the police were particularly sweet and energetic...way to go y'all.  So...the hills.  In spite of the hills, the course had some good, local scenery.  We ran on or around NC State, Peace, Meredith and Shaw.  Shaw had a jazz band on a bridge that we ran under.  I could have used them later in the course; they were a lot of fun.  State had some of their sports med students staffing an aid tent.  Along with some of the professional bands, there were some good community bands.  I found myself reaching the point of, how am I going to finish, this is really hard, still a lot left.  But you go on, because you want the swag and really, what choice do you have? All runners got a medal and marathon finishers got a Brooks windbreaker branded with RNR Marathon Even though I didn't chat much around the race, there was a good camaraderie just by having the same people around.  I'd pass them, they'd pass me, etc.  I crossed paths with another runner after and that was a nice moment.  We both agreed we would not do the full marathon again.  Maybe the half, as the beginning of the race wasn't so bad.  Not a bad race, just a challenging one.  But that's just the way marathons are.

Tobacco Road Marathon

On March 20, I ran the Tobacco Road Marathon in Cary.  It also crossed into a couple of other counties.  TR is a very flat course and most of the time is spent on the American Tobacco Trail.  Some of the trail is paved and some is dirt, but it's very flat and smooth.  Training in the mountains helped tremendously with the few hills.  This race was pretty uneventful, as much as a marathon can be, anyway.  However, it was very inspiring.  One marathoner wore an army pack and carried a flag.  Another carried 45 pounds of water.  He was raising awareness of the need for clean water in an African country.  Of course, there are always outfits that stand out.  Men and their short shorts...heavens.  I don't even wear stuff that short.  I ran using a run four and walk one approach.  This is a great way to keep your energy level up.  Speaking of energy, my mid-race nutrition consisted of: Butterfinger fun-size bars and cups (like a Reese cup), water, Gatorade, Chex mix and Oreos.  They keep a table full of food at one point on the marathon course.  I mostly ran solo, but started with the five hour group.  Eventually, I caught up with the pace group leaders.  They'd lost the entire group, which is very normal.  This was a cooler race than some, so I wore more clothing than usual.  The mental struggle wasn't too bad since it was the easiest course I've ever done.  That's not to say that some parts didn't drag on a bit.  It also doesn't help when someone says you're almost done and you're not.  I'd either passed 21 or 22 and someone said that.  Really, man? One of my biggest issues was that I kept getting gravel in my shoes.  Nothing major, just kept happening.  One of the mile markers was a (good) surprise.  I think it was 23.  Whatever it was, I didn't realize I'd gone that far.  Sometime after that, we exited the trail.  Heading back to the ballpark, we did have some uphill.  Like I said, mountain training helped a lot.  It was certainly hard work, but not too bad...for a marathon.  I could tell some runner were really struggling.  If I could've seen myself, I'm sure I wouldn't have looked too different.  This was my fourth time at Tobacco Road and the second time running the full marathon there.  It's definitely one I will do again.

OBX Marathon and 8k 2016

The 8k was cold and windy.  It wasn't a problem once we got in the woods.  The cooler weather made the race easier than last year.  A lot of the race is off road on soft dirt.  Sometimes it wasn't very packed down, which made things more challenging.  Running in the mountains is paying off.  The small hills weren't much of a bother.  I didn't need to walk and felt energetic during the race.  I finished with a time of 49:24, a 9:56 pace.  During the race, I came across a Phi Beta Chi sister, Kristin.  We finished at about the same time.  The usual food was served, egg and cheese biscuits.  The warm food was most welcome.  I finished up with a trip to Duck Donuts.  Pumpkin spice and maple glaze with bacon...yummo!

Overall, my marathon experience was very similar to last year.  I slept a bit fitfully before the marathon.  I'm always afraid I'll oversleep.  After getting ready and grabbing my necessities, I headed for the shuttle bus.  I park near the finish and get shuttled to the start.  This year, I got a hotel really close by.  Preparation includes getting a bagel, pulling back my hair and putting Body Glide on my feet.  During the race, I carried my phone, ear buds, TYLENOL, a mini Clif bar and Butterfingers.  I also carried a bag to stash on the UPS truck.  It's cold before starting, so I wore extra clothes and put them on the truck.

At the starting area, I found Kristin and Julie.  We had a similar walk/run approach.  Mostly, I listened to my interval timer, which was set to 4 minutes run/1 minute run.  I started with the 5 hour group, which I was sometimes ahead of, sometimes behind.  I eventually got separated.  Knowing how long I'll be out there, it seems like it will be a very slow process.  The miles always go faster than I imagine they would.  It helps a lot once I reach the halfway point.  Even though I have half of it left, it's much easier to visualize reaching 20, then 26.  The first mile marker on the bridge road is 21, so I think about that.  The community support is great for this race.  There are some unofficial aid stations with things like gummy bears and other snacks.  All official stops have water, some with Gatorade.  People had signs, music and plenty of things to help encourage us.  Someone was playing YMCA, which I may have acted out, while running, in a tutu! Physically, I seemed to have good energy.  I had some lower back pain early on, but Tylenol helped.  My left knee bothered me some, but it wasn't bad.  After one hellacious marathon, I always wear two knee supporters and take meds during the race.  The pancake place had their usual banana bread right before we went uphill in the woods.  Bless them.  But speaking of sweets, I eventually got tired of them.  A diet of candy and Gatorade gets old.  At the candy/soda table, I picked pretzels.  At some point, I may or may not have danced to YMCA while running in a tutu.  It's always interesting to observe as the race goes on.  Little socialization.  We're all in our zones and no one has the energy.  By the time we're on the main highway (and not going back into neighborhoods), it's a struggle.  It's no longer an easy morning run.  We finally got to the bridge road.  It was pretty uneventful, until we start the incline.  Last year, I never looked up.  This year, I kept looking up, but tried to keep my head down.  I made it up that beast! As we made the descent, there was a person in a shark suit and a huge inflatable crab.  This was sponsored by the NC Aquarium.  Then, CVS! This is always one of the best sights; it's the last major turn.  So, running/walking, just trying to get to the finish.  The first marker after the bridge is mile 24.  I could see the stoplight where we turned.  It was right, left, right and left to the FINISH! On the way, I told random strangers how I wanted nachos after.  I finished with a time of 5:21:06 and made 7 with my fingers.  This was my 7th marathon.  I turned down the space blanket; I was roasting. This was much warmer than the 8k.  I accepted some snacks and drinks before getting in line for real food (smoked sausage and sweet potato fries).  Thank you for your encouragement!

OBX Marathon and 8k Challenge 2015

On Saturday, I ran the Outer Banks 8k.  It was a humid day, so I'm asking that they have more water out next year.  However, it was a good race and mostly off-road, which I enjoyed.  The marathon course goes through this area.  The 8k starts and ends at First Flight Middle School.  The on-site festivities are really good.  They have a lot for the kids, bouncy toys and such.  There are also post-race egg and cheese sandwiches.  

On marathon day, my nerves started up pretty early.  I caught a shuttle before six to head to the start.  My pre-race food was my usual bagel.  We were at the start before 6:30 and the race didn't begin until 7:20.  Before too long, my group started arriving.  We enjoyed chatting and taking pre-race photos.  I was in corral B, so I moved farther back.  I got behind the 5 hour pace group, but ended up on my own.  I mostly used a run four, walk 1 pattern, so it was a slower pace (I occasionally fudged; sometimes you need some extra walking).  I ended up not listening to music, but just focused on when my phone would beep (Gym Boss app).  I tried just to get from one mile to the next.  You wonder how  you'll get through all of those miles, but they move pretty quickly.  I knew they would go by once we hit the halfway point; you're in the teens and it just happens.  Some of the race is on trails and the softer surface is a welcome break.  This is where mountain training came in handy, as there are a few inclines in the woods.  A lot of the race goes past houses.  The community provides great support and you see the same groups year after year (the ladies making mimosas, for instance; yep, they do it every year).  There are always some unofficial water stops that people offer by their yards.  The official stops and cheer stations were great as well.  There were Star Wars characters, disco music, bumblebees, a shark...you name it.  One area had candy and pretzels.  I ate the pretzels and also consumed my own candy (Reese's nutrageous bars).  There was a guy in his underwear with pants around his ankles.  He was holding a sign in front of him.  You really do see it all kinds of stuff.  My outfit got compliments; I don't think the marathon had many costumes or tutus.  The race starts out very busy-looking, but not too congested.  Eventually, people get a lot more spaced out (and quiet).  I think I got on the road to the bridge before mile 21.  I was thrilled when I reached mile 24 and thought the sign would say 23.  Of course, I got a rock in my shoe with two miles to go.  This year, for the first time, I ran all the way up the hardest part of the bridge (650 foot climb!).  I tried to keep my head down.  Mountain running has really paid off.  At the bottom, there were friends to cheer me on and snap some pictures.  Jorine ran with me almost to the finish line! We caught up with a few others in our group.  Then I got near the finish.  Dashing toward the finish line and crossing is an amazing feeling.  There is nothing like it.  I am ready to register and excited for next year! Registration has opened, so I'll be doing that very soon (just waiting on a discount code).  Doing two races came with three medals.  :) 

Cherokee Half-Marathon

This race was interesting before it started.  Joaquin caused it to be rescheduled, which is rare for races.  I signed up because the swag was so good (fleece headband and vest, gloves, gender specific shirt size, several free photo downloads).  Cherokee is also known for having really good food (fruit, chocolate milk, water, beef tamales, chili, smoothies).  The casino caters the event and does a great job.  Back to the rescheduling: the race got moved to Halloween, so a few costume awards were given out.  I wasn't dressed up as anything, but rocked a pink tutu.

This is a good race for seeing wildlife.  I saw four elk and two wild turkeys.  We also had the misfortune of running past a dead skunk...twice!

Since the race is on/around the Cherokee reservation, we got to enjoy the music of Cherokee drummers.  They play at the start and on the course.

I had an easier time with the course than before.  All of this mountain running is paying off. Overall, it's not a very hilly course.  I highly recommend it if you're looking for a race with some mountain views.  The race benefits the Madison Hornbuckle Children's Cancer Fund.

Tobacco Road Marathon

This marathon closed out eight months of training.  I trained for four months, ran the Outer Banks Marathon and then trained four months for Tobacco Road.  That meant running on plenty of cold winter mornings.  I've decided that I prefer summer training.  In the mountains, summers are easier to run in.  All that said, I don't regret doing this for a minute.

I'd run several half-marathons at this location and enjoyed them.  I had some friends doing the marathon and jumped on the band wagon.  The start was cold, but I was happy to find my friends before we began.  I was running a slower pace, but this course gives several chances to see your people.  It has two turnaround points on this (mostly) trail race.  The trail is both asphalt and dirt.  It's well-maintained all around.

It's been a while since this one, but I remember it as a great day.  The weather was wonderful and there was good food on and after the course.  One of the course tables had tons of snacks.  All the salt and sugar you could want.  I wasn't in much pain.

If it wasn't for eight months of training, I'd do it all over again next spring.  :)

OBX Marathon 2014

This was another great marathon.  It was overcast, but not rainy.  Not too hot, either.  My knees held up well.  The Tylenol before and during, coupled with wearing knee supports, does the trick.  I carried Gatorade and Twix bars.  I wore Body Glide, which prevents blisters and chafing.  My breakfast was a bagel.  I change up my race food, within reason, but most of this has become routine. 

I didn't see anyone I knew that day; we just didn't cross paths and they finished before me.  I had fun chatting it up before the race with strangers.  One was a high school student who has been accepted to West Point.  That poor thing thought that since a half-marathon was fun, this must be twice as much fun.  She is also interested in running on a marathon team at West Point.  Someone had to go and tell this kid about hitting the wall.  We caught up to one another during the race and she asked me if I had hit my wall. 

There are a lot of things I love about this race.  The community support is one thing.  It is fantastic.  The residents, visitors and churches are amazing.  One of the churches offered extra ice cream if you came back for their evening event.  I hung with a pace group for a while, but got behind.  The pacer either got left or left his group, as I saw him alone later.  The hardest parts, physically, are getting over the big bridge and running through the woods.  Some parts of the woods are actually hilly.  The soil is also soft and can be tough to handle.  Personally, I welcomed this part of the course.  It's a wonderful break for your knees.  At first, you wonder how on earth you'll make it through all those miles.  They go faster than I think.  The bridge always seems to take forever.  At the turn off the bridge, you see the CVS.  It's the most wonderful sight, but it still seems so long to the finish.  The finish line support, as with other parts of the course, is wonderful.  So are the shuttle buses at the end.  I had no desire to walk anywhere at that point, as you can imagine.  During the race, I usually think, do I want to do this again? By the time I finish, the answer is a resounding yes.  I signed up for the 2015 races before the month was up.