Yuengling Shamrock Marathon 2014 - A Review

Me having just passed Mile 19 and headed into Fort Story (Photo by Danny West)

I have always found that it is best to take a few days to reflect on a race before putting pen (or keyboard) to paper. This is especially true, where a race turns out to be disappointing. You can see where I am going with this. Having reflected almost a couple of days on the 2014 Yuengling Shamrock Marathon, I think I can speak with a bit more perspective than I would have had Sunday afternoon.

This was my fifth marathon-distance race in 18 months. I say that, not to brag, but to emphasize that this was not my first rodeo. Indeed, I ran this same race in 2013 and PR'd it with a 4:20, so my expectations were conservative, but I was still hope to see some modest improvement. This is were the disappointing part comes in. 

Race day dawned with a beautiful sunrise over the Virginia Beach oceanfront. The forecast had called for overcast with rain before race's end. I can abide lots of weather challenges: cold, heat (well, some heat), wind, but I really hate rain (at least anything more than a light mist). The temperature was hovering in the upper 40's and I was thinking that, yet again, the weatherman blew the call and we were in for a nice day. The start line was at 31st Street and as we approached the 8:30am start, our Cornerstone Striders group gathered for a picture.

Our Cornerstone Striders Shamrock Marathon crew

One thing you have to remember about the Virginia Beach oceanfront is that it is always windy. Well, 99% of the time anyway. Although Sunday morning was nice, it was still windy. With that in mind, I had dressed in full tights, a long sleeve turtleneck and a lightweight windbreaker. There were, however, plenty hearty souls in shorts, singlets and other minimalist running gear. Not sure how they do that. I love to run in the cold, but I hate to be cold.

The start of the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon (Photo Courtesy of Shamrock Marathon)

I had decided that I would stick to a firm 4:40 run/walk interval for this race. I wanted to avoid some of the problems I experienced during the Marine Corps Marathon last fall in Washington. I started the race with two running pals, Hank and Maureen. Shamrock was Maureen's first full marathon. We started in Corral 3 and headed south on Atlantic Avenue toward Rudee Inlet. We maintained a nice pace honoring the run/walk interval. The sun stayed out a while and by about Mile 4, I was beginning to think I had overdressed. Gloves off.

The course took us through Camp Pendleton, the Virginia National Guard base south of Rudee Inlet. We were greeted by several groups of eager recruits (I suspect they were ordered to be eager), who high-fived us along the course. That was a nice boost. Somewhere on the grounds of Camp Pendleton, the clouds moved in and we lost the sun, the wind picked up and I started feeling cold. Gloves back on.

As we crossed Mile 10 and circled back around onto the Boardwalk, I could feel the wind beginning to buffet us. It continued to gust from our entry at 2nd Street until we got off it at 22nd Street. Sometimes the gusts were so hard, I had to grab my hat to keep it on my head. We got some relief on Atlantic Avenue, but the wind never really went away. By that point, Hank, Maureen and I had separated. Another running friend, Jeannie, caught me at Mile 12 and ran me to Mile 13. 

Andrea on her way to a phenomenal PR in the 15th full marathon (Photo by Danny West)

As I left the resort strip and headed down Atlantic toward Shore Drive, I began to notice mild cramping and spasms in my calves. I have experienced this unwelcome symptom in past marathons, but usually not until much later in the race. By Mile 17, it was pronounced and I began having to walk. I knew at that point, that this would not be a PR marathon for me. As I ascended the gradual hill up Shore Drive to Fort Story, my walking intervals increased. It seemed to take me forever to reach the turn into Fort Story.

Hank chalked up a nice PR in his second full marathon (Photo by Danny West)

 As I watched the 4:30 Pace Group sail by, I knew that all my effort would be needed just to finish the marathon. It was particularly frustrating given the fact that, up to that point, I had hydrated and fueled regularly to avoid that very issue. I stopped periodically and stretched, but could never muster more than a half mile of running without the cramps and spasms returning. 

After withstanding the wind gusts on the Boardwalk, I had hoped that I would have the wind at my back through Fort Story and back up Atlantic Avenue. No such luck. The wind had shifted and was now blowing from the east. By the time I cleared Fort Story and turned back onto Atlantic, I could feel the pull of the finish line even though I still three miles away. I continued my modified run/walk intervals, occasionally managing to run more than a half mile. When I saw the 5:00 Pace Group pass, my heart sank. I knew this would not only not be a PR, it would be my slowest marathon.

The medals for the 2014 Yuengling Shamrock Marathon
(Photo Courtesy of Shamrock Marathon)

When I turned back onto the Boardwalk at 37th Street, I was greeted by the same gusty wind. But now, I could see the King Neptune statue in the distance along with the Finish Line arch. No more walking. Despite my slow pace and disappointing time, it still felt great to cross that finish line. While I still don't know what caused my cramping issues or how to solve the problem, it's a problem I need to solve. After the race, someone suggested that perhaps I should just forget about full marathons and run halves. As appealing as this sounds, I think I will pass. If you keep lowering the bar until you can clear it easily, there is no challenge and, I would argue, no victory. I think I will keep the bar high for now.

Running the Sentara Colonial Half Marathon: A Review

The Sentara Colonial Half Marathon was preceded by the Colonial
 Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps (picture by Lisa Jahnke)

Before last fall, I had not heard of the Sentara Colonial Williamsburg Half Marathon. I was familiar with the Run for the Dream Half Marathon, also staged in Colonial Williamsburg later in the year. Turns out the Colonial Half was celebrating its 35th year. Not many races around have a lineage that goes back that far. I signed up and convinced a few of my Cornerstone Strider running pals to join me.

Kevin on his record setting pace! A PR by 3 seconds.
(Photo by Danny West)

As this race drew closer, I began to notice a disturbing trend. Unseasonably warm weather. After all, it was February 23rd. Thanks Groundhog! I say a disturbing trend, because lately, a number of my long races have been on unseasonably warm days: the Crawlin' Crab in Hampton was in the 80's in October, the Seashore 50K was in the upper 60's in December and yesterday it got into the mid-70's in February. Given the choice, I prefer a start in the low to mid-40's. Oh well, you can't pick your weather.

Andrea kicks it into high gear on the back half of the race.
(Photo by Danny West)

Let me say that this is a pretty course. We started on the campus of William & Mary and then headed out along England Street toward Kingsmill. We looped through Kingsmill on Carter's Grove Country Road and then headed back the way we came. A couple of spots in the course were trail and were a bit soggy, but mostly paved trail. If you run this race, be prepared for some hills. I had been warned about that and the warnings were on the money. You hit a hill less than a mile into the race and then regular hills throughout the course. On a seasonable day with temperatures in the 40's or 50's, this would have been a moderate challenge. However, with temperatures in the upper 60's to mid-70's, it really took its toll on your endurance. 

The Colonial Half Marathon course was hilly
including  the uphill after crossing  the bridge
(Photo by Danny West)

I would definitely run this race again, hopefully on a cooler day, but a couple of criticisms come to mind. First, the initial water stop was at Mile 2 and then not another until well into the course (perhaps Mile 6 or 7). Normally, that would not have been a problem, but with the heat yesterday, a more regular spacing of the stops would have been preferable. I was carrying a hydration belt, so I had my own source of fluids, but I saw more than a few runners without anything. Also, the water stops seemed to be just that, I have never run a half that did not have Gatorade or Powerade. Again, on a hot day, water is good, but an alternative would have been better. Second, more than a few cars ended up on the course during the back leg. Not sure if these were Kingsmill residents that could not be bothered to take another route, but the course marshals should have turned them around, absent some emergency. While a cooler day would have been better, the race organizers have no more control of the weather than I do.

Hank and Jeff managed to keep their sense of humor
despite the challenging conditions (Photo by Danny West).

 

Mara the Wonder Puppy

Mara the Wonder Puppy joined us for 14 miles
of our long run on February 16, 2014. She is in the middle left
of the photo behind Maureen.

You often hear stories about pets that do amazing things, but I don't recall ever seeing something like that first-hand. Well, not until this past Sunday during our long run getting ready for the Shamrock full marathon on March  16. 

We were scheduled to run 21 or 22 miles that day as part of our marathon training. Although it was in the mid-20's when we started at 6:30am, the conditions were otherwise nice. When we got to about Mile 6, we were greeted by two dogs. One was a mature, white Shepherd mix and the other a cute fluffy Golden Lab puppy that appeared to be about seven months old. They started to run along the side of the road with us. We kept hoping they would turn back, but they continued along undeterred. The puppy seemed to be following the Shepherd (she must know what she's doing), casting a glance backward every so often.

As the distance between their home and our location continued to increase, they showed no interest in turning back. We were worried about them, because there were occasional vehicles and we did not want one of them to be hit. We even tried to call Animal Control, but, on a Sunday morning, no one was picking up the phone. Also, neither of the dogs had any tags that would have allowed us to call their owner. Finally, at about five miles from their home, the Shepherd lost interest and took off after something else. Not the puppy. She continued to be our companion. While we took the occasional drink from a hydration bottle, she stopped, now and again, at a puddle to hydrate herself. I nicknamed her "Mara" (short for Marathon), because she had no quit in her.

We kept an eye on her and made sure she was not in the street. She kept pace with one of our runners, Maureen, who was out for her first 20-mile run. We finally made it back to our starting point with Mara close behind. When Maureen stopped at her car, Mara laid down, completely exhausted. She had completed a 14-mile long run. Maureen scooped her up and put her in the SUV. She was tired, but happy. Maureen returned her to the spot where the dogs had joined us and found the owner. I suspect that Mara spent the better part of the rest of Sunday recovering from her long run. 

Getting Motivated for the Shamrock Full

I have been pretty lazy recently in posting to my blog, but mainly because I didn't feel like I had much to talk about. It's always been my philosophy that if I did not have something meaningful to add to the blogosphere, I should just wait until I did. Having now set the bar at that height, guess I better add something to the ether.

Running the Richmond Marathon in 2012
with friends from Cornerstone Striders

Like many of you who are training for the Shamrock full or half Marathon, it has finally sunk in that it is a mere five weeks away. Along with my running friends from Cornerstone Striders, I have been dutifully putting in the long runs to get my endurance up to where it needs to be. Although it's been a cold and snowy winter so far, I always feel like training in the winter beats the pants off those hot and humid summer runs getting ready for a fall marathon. While I don't love either extreme, I will take cold weather because I can always add another layer. So, the question becomes - what motivates you?

The 2012 Richmond Marathon was
my first full marathon

If it's your first full marathon, then the challenge of finishing 26.2 miles is plenty of motivation. I was also motivated for my second full by the drive to show that my first was not a fluke. But, what if it's your fifth or your tenth? What gets you up on a Saturday morning to do a 20-mile long run? It's a question I have been struggling with recently. I'm not sure if I know the answer, but, for me, I think it has to do with the fact that I still have something to prove. For me, it's showing that I can break that 4-hour barrier. I know I will do it one of these days, but, so far, it has eluded me. And, perhaps, that is a good thing, because when that alarm goes off before dawn on Saturday morning, I know what motivates me!

Meg's Miles - What's Best About Running

A rather remarkable thing happened yesterday. Tens of thousands of people laced up their running shoes and went out to run miles in honor of a person most had never met and a week before had never heard of. The people I am talking about, of course, are members of the running community and the person they honored was Meg Menzies. I was one of them. Sadly, I never knew Meg and never ran with her, but celebrating her life was really important to me.

In case you missed it, last Monday, Meg went on a morning run in Richmond. She was an accomplished runner training for the Boston Marathon. She never came back from her run. Her life was taken from her by the senseless act of a drunk driver. She left behind a husband and three children. More of the story can be found here. In a split second, the world was changed for the worst.

Almost any runner can tell you stories of close calls with cars or trucks operated by careless drivers more concerned with texting or talking than devoting attention to the operation of a 4000 pound piece of metal hurdling down the road. Fortunately, most of those close calls are just that. We hurl a few expletives, but we come back from the run. Meg never came back.

Cornerstone Striders running Miles for Meg at
Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield

It would be even more tragic if that was the end of the story. Fortunately, it was not. Some very devoted folks in Richmond organized #megsmiles to honor Meg. They also set up a Facebook page. They asked the members of the running community to dedicate their miles on January 18 to Meg. To do what she could no longer do. Although I saw various figures, the number of people was over 80,000 runners from around the world. Some ran in freezing cold and others in staggering heat. Some ran two miles and some ran twenty miles. They ran in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. Our running group had 16 show up in Smithfield, Virginia. Simply amazing.

Everyone wore the MegsMiles bib on our run yesterday morning

In my short time as a runner, I have met some truly amazing people. People who inspire me to push myself to achieve more and to live better. For me, that is what is best about running. It is a community of devoted people, who brave the elements and encourage one another to dream of what can be. It is a community that is poorer for the loss of Meg, but one that celebrates her life and who she was.

Looking Forward at 2014

Okay, enough with the nostalgia about looking back and thinking about what HAS BEEN DONE. It's a new year with new challenges and it's time to focus on what I want to accomplish in the coming year.

Mile 19 at the 2013 Shamrock Marathon

I want to continue to push myself on my running. Although I can generally sustain a solid sub-9 minute mile pace, I need to find ways to get the lead out. If I am going to have any hope of breaking a 4-hour marathon, I have got to get my mile splits down. Following the 2013 Shamrock, I noticed that they have been creeping back up and I need to reverse that trend. That means dropping my holiday weight and eating healthier in 2014.  I have a notoriously bad sweet tooth and portion control issues.

Our Cornerstone Marine Corps Marathon Team at the start line.

Speedwork is critical. Our Cornerstone group has been doing speedwork on Thursday mornings and I need to keep that going. I am not a fast runner, but that workout pushes my limits and, boy, do I need some pushing. I was complaining one morning that speedwork really hurts and my friend, Amy, was not hearing it. Her comment: "it's supposed to hurt!" I won't forget that. Thanks Amy!

Cornerstone Striders "Speedwork" Thursday

Although I try to rotate my workouts between running, spinning or cycling and swimming, I have completely neglected weight work and flexibility. During both the Marine Corps marathon and the Seashore 50K, I noticed discomfort in my upper legs and hips. While running is great for the muscle tone in my legs, it does little or nothing for the upper legs. Lately, I have been doing some weight work on my legs and that seems to help. I have never been a big yoga fan, but I need to rethink that. While endurance is important, so is flexibility.

On the cycling front, I want to maintain my endurance on long rides. The Cap2Cap Century pushed me in 2013 and I need to keep from backsliding. I want to do the Tour de Cure Century this spring and one more century before the year is out. I love my bike and my wife got me a Camelback for Christmas that I am looking forward to using. Hopefully, we will get some more mild days this winter that permit a ride.

Ready for my first sprint tri

I remain an aspiring triathlete. I completed my first sprint in August, so I am not a complete rookie, but I have yet to do an open water swim. That needs to get done this year. I am planning on doing the Smithfield Sprint in April, but that is a pool swim. That means, I need to find either another sprint or an Olympic that gets me out of the comfort of the pool. I have heard good things about the Patriot, but I just need to find the right open water race.

Well, I clearly have my work cut out for me in 2014. I am not sure that I will achieve all of these goals, but I hope to make a dent. I turn 52 this month and I want to celebrate that by working toward a stronger and more fit me. The bar is set higher and I'm not sure I can clear this height, but I'm sure going to try!

Seashore Nature Trail 50K - Running an Ultra

I ran the Seashore Nature Trail 50K with friends. Well, we
were on the same course at the same time.



After finishing the Marine Corps Marathon, I remember thinking - "how much tougher would another five miles be?" Turns out, pretty tough. This was my first ultra and I need a bit of time to process it. I do want to reflect upon it, however, while some things are fresh in my mind.

This was a hard race for me. After the marathon in October, I continued my long runs and even doubled up on the weekends to try to push the total up toward the 31 miles I would need for the ultra. Most of the training articles I read indicated that running two long runs in a 24-hour period would simulate the endurance needed for the ultra. Perhaps this is true, but every race brings unexpected challenges and the Seashore 50K was no exception.

Our Cornerstone Striders crew. Front row: Jeff Fitch and Danny West.
Back row: Andrea McHugh, George Nelsen, Brian Burke and me. We were later
joined by two other CS'ers, Hank Stieh and Kelly Fernanders, who ran support.

First, let me say that this race was well run by the Tidewater Striders. Well organized and the volunteers were terrific. As with most long distances, when you get into those upper miles, having someone to cheer you on means more than you can imagine. At more than one point, volunteers shaking cowbells and yelling encouragement put some spring back in my step. Nice work Tidewater Striders! Also, the course was challenging, but beautiful! First Landing State Park is a real gem. If you have never been there, go. You don't have to run.

Second, the weather conditions. I am notorious for looking at long range forecasts and watching the weather evolve approaching race day. One thing is true, you cannot plan the weather. In this case, December 21 was unseasonably warm reaching the mid-70's by early afternoon. Not helpful. The best that can be said is that it was dry and the trails were not sloppy. There is plenty to trip over at First Landing, including roots, pinecones, sticks, etc. Doing that in the rain would have been a bit much. The warm weather had the same effect on me that it always does, it makes me cramp. In this case, the cramp was in my upper back and no matter what I did I couldn't seem to shake it. I finally had to walk. I walked a lot more than I planned and watched my mile splits get slower and slower. I was dismayed, but determined not to DNF.

Actually, my first loop of the park went relatively well. I was running with George Nelsen, who was a member of our Colonial 200 Relay team and is an experienced ultra marathoner. George and I stayed together until the beginning of the second loop. He kept us at a steady pace, being careful to walk all the hills and run all the flats and down hills. As an ultra running strategy, I think this was a good plan. However, by about Mile 18 as we headed back down Cape Henry Trail for the second loop, I could tell that the warmth of the day was beginning take its toll. I had been careful to hydrate at each aid station.

By Mile 20, my pace was slowing and I was beginning to feel the cramp. It felt like someone pushing their fist into my upper back and it was making it harder to run and breathe. By Mile 22, the cramp was in full force and I basically had to walk the next six miles with intermittent runs. That was where I had to fight the mental battle. As other runners, who I had been ahead of, ran past, it was hard not to let doubt creep in and to begin to feel sorry for myself. I've been there before and I was not giving up, even if I had to walk the rest of the race.



This little sign along the Kingfisher Trail says it all. When you
see this sign, you know you can finish and what you have accomplished.

As I reached Mile 25, where you get back on the Kingfisher/White Hill Lake Trail for the last time, I was greeted by a terrific volunteer, who was ringing her bell and yelling "only six miles left". Not sure why, but that got me going again. The cramp had eased and I started to run again. I went back to running the flats and down hills and walking any hill. Oddly enough, I met and talked to more people during this phase of the race than the prior 25 miles. I began to feel the finish line pulling me along. I began to hit milestones: the last aid station, crossing the Narrows, the sandy part of the Cape Henry Trail along Broad Bay.

At Mile 30, I caught up to two Cornerstone friends, Danny and Hank. I mistakenly thought they had already finished and were walking back on the trail. I ran past them and said something like "I'm ready for this to be over!" Finally, I saw the exit from the trail and turned left toward the finish. My last mile split was my fastest since Mile 16. I crossed the finish line to cheers and got my first ultra medal. I became an ultra marathoner at 7:03:26.

I had wanted to finish my first 50K in six hours. It took me seven, but I finished. It was a challenge, but I did it. Not sure I will run another 50K, but I'm glad I ran this one.

Cornerstone Striders - Running in Suffolk

A devoted group of Cornerstone Striders out for a Dismal Swamp
run in January, 2013

This month I will mark two years running with the Cornerstone Striders in Suffolk. I wanted to take a little time to talk about how this group changed everything for me when it comes to running.

In December, 2011, I had been running only about three months, having started as part of my quest to drop the massive amount of weight I had accumulated by age 49. I had reached a point where I was dismayed by the way I felt, looked and where I was physically, on the cusp of turning 50. I had made myself a promise that my gift to myself for my 50th birthday would be a new, healthier me but I had a long way to go. By September, 2011, I had already dropped about 80 pounds, but still had 50 to go and my doctor had cleared me to run.

Running with Cornerstone in Carrollton

For the first three months of running, I started slowly.  On my first runs, I was barely able to run a quarter mile without stopping. I worked myself up to running the entire length of my 5-mile walking route. Running was doing great things, but I was running alone. At a Christmas party, I chanced upon another friend, who knew I had been running and asked if I had heard about a new running group that had formed in Suffolk. I told her I had not, but got the details. I woke up the next morning to run and looked up Cornerstone. As it turned out, they had a group run that morning at Hillpoint. I thought, "what the heck, I'll show up and, if I hate it, I won't go back."


Andrea started the Cornerstone Striders after moving
down from Michigan with her family. The group now
boasts a membership of over 100 runners

Well, I showed up for that Sunday morning run two years ago and I have not looked back (figuratively, of course). Running with a group, and this group, in particular, has made all the difference. Along the way, I have met some of the most motivated people I have ever known (thanks Andrea!). I have also achieved goals I never dreamed possible, like running my first half and then full marathons at age 50. I have shared the experience of running a 200-mile relay across Virginia and completed my first triathlon. I am now training for my first ultra marathon. I am convinced that much, if not all, of these things may never have happened or, if they did, would have happened much more slowly without Cornerstone.

Cornerstone travelled to Richmond for the Monument Avenue 10K

In the end, I would say, that running with a group has motivated me to be a better and more accomplished runner. I hope that I can pass that inspiration on to other new runners. Sometimes a group makes all the difference.

Our Cornerstone Century team completed the Colonial 200 Relay running
over 200 miles across Virginia

Getting Ready for My First Ultra!

In just two weeks, I will be running the longest race of my life and I am both intimidated and excited. Over the past two years, I have completed three full marathons and a variety of half marathons, but never an ultra. In this case, I will be running the Seashore Nature Trail 50K at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, along with 299 other folks, who apparently decided that 26.2 miles just wasn't long enough. The event is sponsored by the Tidewater Striders and 2013 is the Fifth Annual.

So, why an ultra? Well, like most runners, I am always looking for a new challenge. A way to push myself a little farther or make myself a little faster. In this case, it was endurance. I am just coming off of the Marine Corps Marathon on October 27 and was trained up for marathon distance. I had originally figured that I would just back off a bit and train up for the Shamrock full in the spring. Most of my training runs are done with a group of runners in Suffolk, the Cornerstone Striders. The folks in this group have helped me develop as a runner and we push ourselves each and every week.

The founder of Cornerstone is a running mentor of mine. She is dedicated to the sport and won't accept excuses. More than a few times, she has pushed me along and gave me the encouragement not to quit, when that is what I was feeling. She was a member of our group that ran Marine Corps. When we finished that marathon, she mentioned the 50K. My initial reaction was, "no way, I'm done for 2013, except for one of the holiday races." But, the more I thought about it, the more I thought that I could push myself the extra five miles. I also thought that this would be an endurance race only, time would not be a consideration, except finishing ahead of the eight hour cutoff.

And so, I told her I would do it. Provided pace was not a consideration. I had also never run at First Landing and did not know what to expect. Fortunately, in the month since I committed, I have run twice there and have been using a new pair of cushioned shoes to help absorb some of the unevenness of the trail. First Landing is a beautiful site. Turns out we have 4 or 5 members of Cornerstone doing the 50K, so I will have some company. I am also planning on running with one of our Colonial 200 Relay teammates, who has run many ultra races and has promised to nurse me through the rough parts.

Well, in two weeks, I will either be elated at completing my first ultra or dejected, because I had to "DNF". I truly hope it is the former. Not sure that I will ever run another ultra, but wanted to be able to say that I tried one. Seashore 50K, here I come!

Running Destinations: Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield

Windsor Castle Park by The N. Pham - The Virginian Pilot

Very often, the joy of running is an extension of where you run. This is true whether you are talking about a marathon or a long run. Boring is almost never good.

Over the past couple of years when I started running seriously, I have run a lot of miles in a lot of different places. One of the best places I have found to run is Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield. It provides excellent trail running and challenges you with a few hills. The trails are well maintained and wide in most places, so it's easier to run out there with a group.

Windsor Castle Park by The N. Pham - The Virginian Pilot

Our Cornerstone group generally meets at the parking lot across from Smithfield Station off of Church Street. You have to be careful, because if someone plugs "Windsor Castle Park" into their GPS, nine times out of ten, then will be directed to the parking lot at the dog park.  An outer loop around the park is just under 3 miles (not including some of the dead end side trails), so it's perfect for a group where some runners want to drop out and others want to rack up more mileage. For longer runs, we often divert out of the park onto Jericho Road and into the Town of Smithfield. You may encounter a few cars, but nothing heavy.

Windsor Castle Park by The N. Pham - The Virginian Pilot

Like some of the other regional parks in Hampton Roads, Windsor Castle has nice foot bridges and signs to direct you around the property. Also, in the summer and early fall, there is a bonus. Smithfield has a terrific farmers' market. We often finish our runs and head over there to reclaim some of those burned calories in the form of all kinds of treats. Not a bad incentive to finish off your miles.

As you can imagine, Windsor Castle Park has lots of fans in the form of runners and walkers. We usually start early in the morning, but still encounter our share of others enjoying it. If you are looking for a good side trip for a run, check out Windsor Castle Park. You won't be disappointed.

Marine Corps Marathon 2013 - A Review

ed

It took about 13 minutes after the gun for us to reach
the start line

By the most objective measure, time, the Marine Corps Marathon was not a successful marathon for me. It was my third full marathon and I had hoped to finish it in the range of 4:30. In fact, I finished in 5:04. And yet, by every other measure I can think of, it was a success.

Our Cornerstone Striders Marine Corps Marathon Crew including
 Cynthia, Amy, me, Andrea, Hank and Melissa. Jessica joined
 us as we were running up the Mall

Let me start with the people. We had a group of six Cornerstone Striders and one alumna running this race. For four of them, it was their first full. They all finished. Along the course, we saw lots of signs, but one of them stuck with me. It said "If you want to run fast, run alone, if you want to run far, run together." Although we did not all manage to keep together, we did for much of the race and we did have fun. In that regard, this was a great race.

The course is nothing short of amazing. I ran Richmond last Fall and loved it. But Marine Corps was better still. First of all, you are running with lots of other people. Something on the order of 30,000 I think. From the time the race officially started with the firing of the howitzers, it took about 13 minutes for us to cross the start line. With all those people, the run is much harder, because you get boxed in and spend a considerable amount of time and energy dodging and weaving around other runners. 

Running along George Washington Parkway toward Key Bridge
with Georgetown across the Potomac River

We navigated our way through Arlington and down the hill to Spout Run. Great downhill that opened up on a vista of the Potomac River with Georgetown on the opposite shore. The majestic spires of Georgetown University looked incredible. We worked our way up onto the Key Bridge and then turned right onto M Street into the heart of Georgetown. By Mile 5, we left Georgetown and passed the Watergate on the way up to Rock Creek Parkway. This was a long, gradual climb up and back spanned by some amazing bridges.

The Capitol marked the turnaround between Miles
18-19. An incredible sight.

Miles 10-11 took us past the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and on to the long loop around East Potomac Park and then toward the Mall. Miles 17-19 took up the Mall and past the Smithsonian and the Capitol. The crowds were amazing lining both sides of the street. We then turned off the Mall and headed for the bridge. The street was stickered with footprints that read "Beat the Bridge."

At that point, the marathon was getting tough. For some, it was too tough. We saw a number of runners sitting down along the curb looking like they were done for the day. We were faced with some overpass hills going into Crystal City. Miles 22-24 took us through that part of Arlington on our way to the finish line. I was beginning to experience some significant upper thigh pain, which forced more frequent walks and required me to drop away from my Cornerstone friends. I got a much needed boost by seeing my wife and daughter cheering me on at Mile 23.

Courtney and Anne met me at Mile 23!



You could begin to feel the finish line ahead. We passed the Pentagon and passed back along the starting area on our way up to Iwo Jima. The sacred grounds on Arlington National Cemetery was on our left as the Mile 26 sign came into view. Only 0.2 miles left. Only one problem, they were uphill. And this was no small hill. I joined those around me chugging up the hill to the finish. What a feeling! The best part was having the medal placed around my neck by a young 2d Lieutenant along with a crisp salute. That was hard to beat.

Andrea, Me, Amy and Cynthia posed for a picture in
front of the Iwo Jima Memorial

Although I was disappointed with my time, the Marine Corps Marathon was a great race and one that I will remember for many years to come.

Crawlin' Crab Half Marathon in Hampton

My first half marathon was the Shamrock, back in March of this year at Virginia Beach. I trained for my first half right through the winter and, by March, was ready for the 13.1 miles. It was a great event and I enjoyed finishing what had been the longest race I had ever run. The Shamrock was followed by the Flying Pirate on April 22, 2012 in Kill Devil Hills on the Outer Banks. Despite the rain, I improved my half marathon time by several minutes.

Once I had completed the Flying Pirate, I began to wonder if a full marathon was within my reach. Before I ran Shamrock, I could not imagine running 13 miles, so was 26 really beyond my grasp. I finally decided to give it a try and figured that I would wait for the Shamrock full in March. Until, I talked to my friend, Katie, who was really pushing the Richmond full in November. She has done over 20 marathons and claims that Richmond is her favorite. After pondering it for several weeks, I decided to give the Richmond full a try. After all, Richmond is my home town and what better place to run your first full. In an upcoming post, I will talk more about getting ready for Richmond.

In the meantime, I heard about a new half marathon being promoted by the folks from J&A Racing, who do the Shamrock. It was a new half to be held in Hampton in October. As it turned out, it fit nicely into my training schedule for Richmond, so I signed up. October 7 turned out to be rainy and chilly. A group of us from Cornerstone Striders met up and drove over together and it rained the whole way. It looked like I was in store for another wet half marathon, just like the Flying Pirate. By race time, it was still cold, but the rain had stopped. I really wanted to PR, so I hooked up with the 2:00 pace group and stayed with them. The course was nice and mostly flat through downtown Hampton and along the river. By Mile 11, I was still feeling strong and I quickened my pace. The rain started again about Mile 12, but I could feel a signficant PR and I kept pushing myself along. In the end, I accomplished one of my goals - a sub 2:00 half marathon. Official Time: 1:57:56.