Once again I ran at the First Call Veteran's Day marathon, where I ran my first marathon and PR last year. It's a good marathon to do because the people who put it on are very nice and easy going and it's free which is always good when you are a runner as poor as I am as most marathons cost around seventy dollars at least.
I ran 3:15:58 and won overall for men and women which is a plus because when I run by a woman they will all cheer for me. Actually most everyone cheers for you and since the course is a double out and back I saw other racers pretty much the whole way. Last year I ran my half PR for the first half of the marathon- 91:30, this year I went out a little more conservatively - 94:20, though still quick but that was pretty much the difference between those two races as I ran the second half about the same on both this year and last year, 1:40-1:41. It was a good pacer for my 50k in March.
This year I was helped a lot by my friend Eric. I was surprised that after he decided not to run in the half marathon race at the same time he still wanted to come out just to watch me run at 8 am on a Saturday morning for 3+ hours. He not only watched my whole race but even got there early to warm up with me. Then ran about 7 miles of the race with me, carrying my water bottle and waiting around at a water stop for me while I did my out and backs to give me more water. Then he waited with me while I recovered enough to walk to the parking lot, not a short length of time, and let me sit in his car with a working heater for 40 minutes until my parents came to pick me up, only eating 3/4 of my chocolate muffin. There was a lot of free food there. I have a hard time eating after running even though you are supposed to but I ate a grilled cheese sandwich, fritos, a red vine, an orange, and 1/4 of a muffin. Eric was impressed with the buffet of food and expressed regret at not having raced the half after all. Will run for food!
I feel more sore than after the trail 50k. Maybe because I actually ran fast?
I am proud of my race and my running performances this far in my life but of course every runner wants to get faster over the year. I have a good future though because marathoners and 50kers are usually even older than me. I feel stronger and more experienced so even though it might look like I haven't improved I think I have. Now I just will convince the clock.
I ran 3:15:58 and won overall for men and women which is a plus because when I run by a woman they will all cheer for me. Actually most everyone cheers for you and since the course is a double out and back I saw other racers pretty much the whole way. Last year I ran my half PR for the first half of the marathon- 91:30, this year I went out a little more conservatively - 94:20, though still quick but that was pretty much the difference between those two races as I ran the second half about the same on both this year and last year, 1:40-1:41. It was a good pacer for my 50k in March.
This year I was helped a lot by my friend Eric. I was surprised that after he decided not to run in the half marathon race at the same time he still wanted to come out just to watch me run at 8 am on a Saturday morning for 3+ hours. He not only watched my whole race but even got there early to warm up with me. Then ran about 7 miles of the race with me, carrying my water bottle and waiting around at a water stop for me while I did my out and backs to give me more water. Then he waited with me while I recovered enough to walk to the parking lot, not a short length of time, and let me sit in his car with a working heater for 40 minutes until my parents came to pick me up, only eating 3/4 of my chocolate muffin. There was a lot of free food there. I have a hard time eating after running even though you are supposed to but I ate a grilled cheese sandwich, fritos, a red vine, an orange, and 1/4 of a muffin. Eric was impressed with the buffet of food and expressed regret at not having raced the half after all. Will run for food!
I feel more sore than after the trail 50k. Maybe because I actually ran fast?
I am proud of my race and my running performances this far in my life but of course every runner wants to get faster over the year. I have a good future though because marathoners and 50kers are usually even older than me. I feel stronger and more experienced so even though it might look like I haven't improved I think I have. Now I just will convince the clock.
No comments:
Post a Comment