I found this race a long time ago and it interested me right away. Firstly, the pictures the RD posted on the website were gorgeous. Wasn't too much information on the website but beautiful pictures. Secondly, the promise of you can only do it first once was intriguing. I mean, I don't know that doing an inaugural race is the best thing in the world (no race reports, you are the guinee pig etc) but on the other hand there is some mystique there of the unknown.
In this case, in order to really get information on the race, you had to join the Facebook group and as race date approached, the emails from Facebook were getting crazy. Still, it was nice that for the most part the RD was very attentive.
My only issue that it took a lot of coaxing to get an address from him for the GPS for the race start. Shouldn't be this difficult. Why should I look up the Yardley train station and (hopefully) find the right place and then get an address? Still, he finally did give me an address so who cares?!? By the way, for future info:
7 Reading Avenue & S. Main Street Morrisville, PA 19067 is the notrh side lot..... You want the south side, so cross under the the tracks on Main Street (unless you're family is going out on the course)
In any case, that being that, let's get to the real deal.
Tried to get other people interested in this race but couldn't. I was (seriously) considering a Tough-Mudder with Ed Jara the week before this but when I found this, I decided to stick with this one. As is, this is/was 3 weeks after my Ironman and I truly wasn't sure what would happen or how my body would deal with it.
The IM came and went and I was feeling good. Rested a little and the next weekend went for a nice 15 and felt good. Cool.
The week after I ran on Saturday for 5 and 11 on Sunday with Jim. Had a premonition/dream/plan on how the 11 would go and it did. Ran from the house to AP, did the 7 extended to 8 and then ran home. The last mile, I knew Jim would punch it and I decided not to let him drop me. He took off and I stuck with him. The last block on Commenwealth was much faster. Once we made the left toward my house for the last block, I took off. Garmin said under a 6 minute mile. I punched it and dropped him and felt good. I usually don't do this. Don't need to finish hard on a very long run - live to fight another day if you know what I mean but this time...
Usually the week before a Marathon I prefer a short (under 6) but hard effort so this was kinda of a mixed batch.
Anyway, not sure when but I ran into CJR at AP on a Friday and he expressed interest in Bucks. Maybe a roadtrip. Yay...Now that I think of it, it was before the IM. Anyway, after the IM, I contacted him about it and he said nope. Oh well...Got very excited about it but such is life. He's got his responsibilities and I get it.
Well, I'm going alone and I didn't want to take the car away for the whole day so I started looking into renting a car. Either that or stealing my mom's car which I don't know if I really would want to for that distance.
Kept procrastinating about it (much like this RR) and eventually got ready to do it. Started looking and I realized I really need to pick the car up on Saturday so I have it for Sunday morning and bring it back on Sunday but a lot of places weren't open on Sunday and were expensive too.
Suddenly it hit me that Dana's son used to work at Enterprise and hm...Maybe he knows something. Got in touch with him and his friend still works there and he got me a sweet deal on a midsize (Camry) car but it's a 2 day rental. OK...Cool.
That's settled. Cool.
Went to pick up the car and a Camry just got back and it will be ready "soon" but do I want to wait or rather get a free upgrade? Yo! Upgrade to a nice sporty SUV. From there to the new fairway and then the whole day on my feet at the YMCA.
Sunday - The plan. Wake up at 2am like usual. Walk to the dog at 4:30. Leave house at 5am. Get there around 7 am. Race starts at 9 am which really worked for me. On the one hand, a late start sucks but on the other hand it gives me time to get there so cool.
Sunday on track. Left toward PA around 5:10. Tired but ok. At 1 point was so tired, I pulled off the highway and did some jumping jacks outside the car on the highway. Woke me up enough for the next 4 miles to a service station. Woke up there. From then on, I was ok. Minutes from race start, I spy a Wendy's otherwise known as my immediate after marathon food. Spicy Chicken Sandwich - HM!
Got to race start and I got a great parking spot at the Yardley Train station. Backed into it and I knew as soon as the race was finished, all I would have to do is drive straight 20 feet out of the lot and head home. Sweet.
checked in, hit the porta-potties and walked around. I left NY in 50 degree weather and got out of car in 44 degrees. Hm...Cold. Problem is what to wear...It will get to 61 but I am cold...
Walked around and talked to some people. Started talking to a guy who with this race was hoping to join Marathon Maniacs. Saw a guy who had a shirt that said "100 marathons in and 1st marathon with new hip or knee (I don't remember)". Wow...
I decided to run with thin socks, shorts, singlet, sleevies, long sleeve and my MM singlet and a cap and thin gloves. Maybe in hindsight, I wore too much.
One complaint here: The RD went cheap and got the timing chip on the bib which I hate. If they get bent, then no time which means no race belt. HATED IT! Wore my number on my shorts.
Pat, the RD, was pretty good about start time. Didn't expect it. Completely expected delays but 9am, wave 1 went off. He had multiple waves at 30 seconds apart based on predicted finish time. I went conservative because of the IM and said 4:15 tho I was sure I could break 4 on this flat course.
Waves went off constantly and it's my waves turn and we go. About 2 or 3 blocks before we turned onto this ugly gravel small downhill and onto the towpath canal.
We run on this soft not exactly trail but not road surface that was loose and soft and uneven. Scenery was beautiful. People were worried about areas of flooding in certain areas but a) we got lucky with no rain and b) apparently the "caretakers" of the park lowered the height of the canal to further make sure of that. Still, there were areas where if anyone would just pee in the canal, it would seem to overflow. I don't understand how or why anyone would want to live there. I mean, yeah it's beautiful but really? Do I want the canal inside my house anytime it rains? Whatever...I'm just there to run, right?
The other interesting thing about this race is that there are numerous bridges that you need to go under and some are very low. There was at least 1 that I had to duck under. Aid stations were approximatly every 2 miles which kinda sucked and only had water and Heed but whatever. One aid station also had pretzels and clif blocks.
Ran and ran and ran. Ran with a local for a few miles and had a nice conversation until I let him go. Ran with 2 women who (guess what???) are from Runners Edge in Farmingdale and they know some people that I know. That was nice too. Eventually, got the much talked about stairs. The only real hill we had was some stairs. Big deal right? I saw them and decided like Robert Frost to take the "road not taken" and ran to the side of them up the grass to the delight of the volunteer who was in charge of the stairs. He loved the fact that I was the first person to do that. Hey, what can I say? I am a trailblazer or rather without cheating, I took what I think was the better way.
I gotta give it to the RD for ingenuity. He couldn't put porta-potties everywhere. One aid station had one. Another one had a tent with a pail. He posted it on Facebook and I thought maybe he was joking. He wasn't. When you gotta go, you gotta go.
I was very suprised that the Men's leader didn't get to us until around mile 10. They are not going super fast. Still, it was kinda interesting that bib number 1, 2, 4 and 10 were in their respective positions meaning that bib number 1 was 1st, number 2 was 2nd and the same for 4 and 10. I mean that's pretty good in terms of predicting your time, right?
Even though I eventually had to let the ladies go, I was doing well on time in order to break 4. Cool. Got to the 13.1 turnaround and it was basically a cone in the road. Turned and ran. Some guy caught me and started talking to me about marathons. He also used to be a MM and wanted to knoe how many I have done. I told him that this was my 15th which includes 2 IM's and 2 Ultras and will be my 6th state. He told me that with this one, he will have finished 115 marathons which include 15 IM's and some ultras, already completed the 50 states and had about 5 or 6 continents (I can't remember how many). WOW!
Ran with him a little and then something didn't seem right. OOPS! We forgot to go under a bridge and were about to do extra miles. Turned around and back on to the course.
Ran with him and eventually he had to let me go.
Back to the stairs and again I didn't feel like using them. Instead, I ran down on the grass again getting love from the guy manning the stairs. He loved that I was the first one who did that as well.
Got to approx mile 16 and things were getting hot. I was jonesing for some Coke or Pepsi but they didn't have any on the course which sucked. They did have pretzels and I did something STUPID!!! here at this point. I passe the pretzel guy and decided that I wanted one. Now, I am a pretty self sufficient runner and had pretzels but I had to have that one so I stopped short and pivoted on my left knee to get a pretzel. Less than a mile later, my knee said "Boy that was a stupid thing to do!"...Major knee pain on my left knee. No running at this point. Had to walk fast and eventually was able to run/walk. Kept looking at my watch and saw my goal disappear.
Cursed my self over and over for that. Still, I was miles away and had to do what I came here to do.
Started talking to a guy who said he saw a runner whose shirt said he did the 50 states 5 times. Wow!
At this point, I could have really used more aid stations but it was what it was. Took the long sleeve shirt off and pulled down the sleevies. Hot.
Ticked off the miles and walked next to a guy who was shuffling along. Got to mile 25 and was dying to see the turn off the path already. I knew that 26 was on the road. When we first started, I saw that sign and cracked a remark about how it didn't feel like we ran 26 miles so that was my goal.
Eventually, I saw that ugly gravelly, now up hill turn and walked it. From there on it was a run-run-run to mile 26 and a left turn into sortof a little hill. Lots of cars and I just got on their right side while they just stood stuck and ran. Saw a guy being cheered on/pulled by some girl (sister, girlfriend, something). Hit the guy on the back as I passed and pushed. Sprinted into the tunnel under the train and into the finish. Finished in 4:20. Not what I wanted but within 5 minutes of my prediction and felt good. Knee didn't hurt anymore. Wish it wouldn't have hurt in the first place but it was my fault.
I was very annoyed at my self but in retrospect that was stupid too. I never go into a long race with such a target and I don't know why I did it this time. My PR was in NJ came out of no where and while I would love to break the 4 hour mark, I am happy with my NJ PR at 4:01:xx. Hopefully, 1 day it will happen. When it will, it will and if it doesn't well that's ok too.
Anyway, got my medal, some food and water and straight into the car. Switched socks and shoes into clean socks and crocs and drove off. Should have taken my supply belts off but didn't. BIG MISTAKE NUMBER 2!
Straight to Wendy's and started driving home. At one point again very tired so got out of car for jumping jacks till the service station where I bought some more food. The rest of the drive was fine. Got home and I promised Lee that I would go buy a carpet with her at a store I hate. I told her that I would hate it but I would do it even tho she didn't believe me. She thought I would be too tired. I told her that I had to go before the shower because after the shower, I won't go.
Quite a site I sure must have made. Shorts with a long sleeve shirt, salt caked all over my face and I stunk too. Still, bought the carpet and then to the shower.
Went up stairs and as soon as I took my shirt off, I moaned. Called Lee upstairs. I was a mess. I got Chafed. Actually, that's a major understatement.
No hot shower. Very sad. In fact, shower just pretty much hurt. Took a few days to enjoy a hot shower. Until then, sitting on the rug (which I always do) hurt.
Overall, I enjoyed the course but got caught up in the BS that I always try to avoid and I should have stretched after that car ride and I should not have gone for the pretzel. Lessons learned.
This was my first Pennsylvania, my 6th state and my 15 Marathon (includes IM's and Ultras). I've come a long way.
I found this race a long time ago and it interested me right away. Firstly, the pictures the RD posted on the website were gorgeous. Wasn't too much information on the website but beautiful pictures. Secondly, the promise of you can only do it first once was intriguing. I mean, I don't know that doing an inaugural race is the best thing in the world (no race reports, you are the guinee pig etc) but on the other hand there is some mystique there of the unknown.
In this case, in order to really get information on the race, you had to join the Facebook group and as race date approached, the emails from Facebook were getting crazy. Still, it was nice that for the most part the RD was very attentive.
My only issue that it took a lot of coaxing to get an address from him for the GPS for the race start. Shouldn't be this difficult. Why should I look up the Yardley train station and (hopefully) find the right place and then get an address? Still, he finally did give me an address so who cares?!? By the way, for future info:
7 Reading Avenue & S. Main Street Morrisville, PA 19067 is the notrh side lot..... You want the south side, so cross under the the tracks on Main Street (unless you're family is going out on the course)
In any case, that being that, let's get to the real deal.
Tried to get other people interested in this race but couldn't. I was (seriously) considering a Tough-Mudder with Ed Jara the week before this but when I found this, I decided to stick with this one. As is, this is/was 3 weeks after my Ironman and I truly wasn't sure what would happen or how my body would deal with it.
The IM came and went and I was feeling good. Rested a little and the next weekend went for a nice 15 and felt good. Cool.
The week after I ran on Saturday for 5 and 11 on Sunday with Jim. Had a premonition/dream/plan on how the 11 would go and it did. Ran from the house to AP, did the 7 extended to 8 and then ran home. The last mile, I knew Jim would punch it and I decided not to let him drop me. He took off and I stuck with him. The last block on Commenwealth was much faster. Once we made the left toward my house for the last block, I took off. Garmin said under a 6 minute mile. I punched it and dropped him and felt good. I usually don't do this. Don't need to finish hard on a very long run - live to fight another day if you know what I mean but this time...
Usually the week before a Marathon I prefer a short (under 6) but hard effort so this was kinda of a mixed batch.
Anyway, not sure when but I ran into CJR at AP on a Friday and he expressed interest in Bucks. Maybe a roadtrip. Yay...Now that I think of it, it was before the IM. Anyway, after the IM, I contacted him about it and he said nope. Oh well...Got very excited about it but such is life. He's got his responsibilities and I get it.
Well, I'm going alone and I didn't want to take the car away for the whole day so I started looking into renting a car. Either that or stealing my mom's car which I don't know if I really would want to for that distance.
Kept procrastinating about it (much like this RR) and eventually got ready to do it. Started looking and I realized I really need to pick the car up on Saturday so I have it for Sunday morning and bring it back on Sunday but a lot of places weren't open on Sunday and were expensive too.
Suddenly it hit me that Dana's son used to work at Enterprise and hm...Maybe he knows something. Got in touch with him and his friend still works there and he got me a sweet deal on a midsize (Camry) car but it's a 2 day rental. OK...Cool.
That's settled. Cool.
Went to pick up the car and a Camry just got back and it will be ready "soon" but do I want to wait or rather get a free upgrade? Yo! Upgrade to a nice sporty SUV. From there to the new fairway and then the whole day on my feet at the YMCA.
Sunday - The plan. Wake up at 2am like usual. Walk to the dog at 4:30. Leave house at 5am. Get there around 7 am. Race starts at 9 am which really worked for me. On the one hand, a late start sucks but on the other hand it gives me time to get there so cool.
Sunday on track. Left toward PA around 5:10. Tired but ok. At 1 point was so tired, I pulled off the highway and did some jumping jacks outside the car on the highway. Woke me up enough for the next 4 miles to a service station. Woke up there. From then on, I was ok. Minutes from race start, I spy a Wendy's otherwise known as my immediate after marathon food. Spicy Chicken Sandwich - HM!
Got to race start and I got a great parking spot at the Yardley Train station. Backed into it and I knew as soon as the race was finished, all I would have to do is drive straight 20 feet out of the lot and head home. Sweet.
checked in, hit the porta-potties and walked around. I left NY in 50 degree weather and got out of car in 44 degrees. Hm...Cold. Problem is what to wear...It will get to 61 but I am cold...
Walked around and talked to some people. Started talking to a guy who with this race was hoping to join Marathon Maniacs. Saw a guy who had a shirt that said "100 marathons in and 1st marathon with new hip or knee (I don't remember)". Wow...
I decided to run with thin socks, shorts, singlet, sleevies, long sleeve and my MM singlet and a cap and thin gloves. Maybe in hindsight, I wore too much.
One complaint here: The RD went cheap and got the timing chip on the bib which I hate. If they get bent, then no time which means no race belt. HATED IT! Wore my number on my shorts.
Pat, the RD, was pretty good about start time. Didn't expect it. Completely expected delays but 9am, wave 1 went off. He had multiple waves at 30 seconds apart based on predicted finish time. I went conservative because of the IM and said 4:15 tho I was sure I could break 4 on this flat course.
Waves went off constantly and it's my waves turn and we go. About 2 or 3 blocks before we turned onto this ugly gravel small downhill and onto the towpath canal.
We run on this soft not exactly trail but not road surface that was loose and soft and uneven. Scenery was beautiful. People were worried about areas of flooding in certain areas but a) we got lucky with no rain and b) apparently the "caretakers" of the park lowered the height of the canal to further make sure of that. Still, there were areas where if anyone would just pee in the canal, it would seem to overflow. I don't understand how or why anyone would want to live there. I mean, yeah it's beautiful but really? Do I want the canal inside my house anytime it rains? Whatever...I'm just there to run, right?
The other interesting thing about this race is that there are numerous bridges that you need to go under and some are very low. There was at least 1 that I had to duck under. Aid stations were approximatly every 2 miles which kinda sucked and only had water and Heed but whatever. One aid station also had pretzels and clif blocks.
Ran and ran and ran. Ran with a local for a few miles and had a nice conversation until I let him go. Ran with 2 women who (guess what???) are from Runners Edge in Farmingdale and they know some people that I know. That was nice too. Eventually, got the much talked about stairs. The only real hill we had was some stairs. Big deal right? I saw them and decided like Robert Frost to take the "road not taken" and ran to the side of them up the grass to the delight of the volunteer who was in charge of the stairs. He loved the fact that I was the first person to do that. Hey, what can I say? I am a trailblazer or rather without cheating, I took what I think was the better way.
I gotta give it to the RD for ingenuity. He couldn't put porta-potties everywhere. One aid station had one. Another one had a tent with a pail. He posted it on Facebook and I thought maybe he was joking. He wasn't. When you gotta go, you gotta go.
I was very suprised that the Men's leader didn't get to us until around mile 10. They are not going super fast. Still, it was kinda interesting that bib number 1, 2, 4 and 10 were in their respective positions meaning that bib number 1 was 1st, number 2 was 2nd and the same for 4 and 10. I mean that's pretty good in terms of predicting your time, right?
Even though I eventually had to let the ladies go, I was doing well on time in order to break 4. Cool. Got to the 13.1 turnaround and it was basically a cone in the road. Turned and ran. Some guy caught me and started talking to me about marathons. He also used to be a MM and wanted to knoe how many I have done. I told him that this was my 15th which includes 2 IM's and 2 Ultras and will be my 6th state. He told me that with this one, he will have finished 115 marathons which include 15 IM's and some ultras, already completed the 50 states and had about 5 or 6 continents (I can't remember how many). WOW!
Ran with him a little and then something didn't seem right. OOPS! We forgot to go under a bridge and were about to do extra miles. Turned around and back on to the course.
Ran with him and eventually he had to let me go.
Back to the stairs and again I didn't feel like using them. Instead, I ran down on the grass again getting love from the guy manning the stairs. He loved that I was the first one who did that as well.
Got to approx mile 16 and things were getting hot. I was jonesing for some Coke or Pepsi but they didn't have any on the course which sucked. They did have pretzels and I did something STUPID!!! here at this point. I passe the pretzel guy and decided that I wanted one. Now, I am a pretty self sufficient runner and had pretzels but I had to have that one so I stopped short and pivoted on my left knee to get a pretzel. Less than a mile later, my knee said "Boy that was a stupid thing to do!"...Major knee pain on my left knee. No running at this point. Had to walk fast and eventually was able to run/walk. Kept looking at my watch and saw my goal disappear.
Cursed my self over and over for that. Still, I was miles away and had to do what I came here to do.
Started talking to a guy who said he saw a runner whose shirt said he did the 50 states 5 times. Wow!
At this point, I could have really used more aid stations but it was what it was. Took the long sleeve shirt off and pulled down the sleevies. Hot.
Ticked off the miles and walked next to a guy who was shuffling along. Got to mile 25 and was dying to see the turn off the path already. I knew that 26 was on the road. When we first started, I saw that sign and cracked a remark about how it didn't feel like we ran 26 miles so that was my goal.
Eventually, I saw that ugly gravelly, now up hill turn and walked it. From there on it was a run-run-run to mile 26 and a left turn into sortof a little hill. Lots of cars and I just got on their right side while they just stood stuck and ran. Saw a guy being cheered on/pulled by some girl (sister, girlfriend, something). Hit the guy on the back as I passed and pushed. Sprinted into the tunnel under the train and into the finish. Finished in 4:20. Not what I wanted but within 5 minutes of my prediction and felt good. Knee didn't hurt anymore. Wish it wouldn't have hurt in the first place but it was my fault.
I was very annoyed at my self but in retrospect that was stupid too. I never go into a long race with such a target and I don't know why I did it this time. My PR was in NJ came out of no where and while I would love to break the 4 hour mark, I am happy with my NJ PR at 4:01:xx. Hopefully, 1 day it will happen. When it will, it will and if it doesn't well that's ok too.
Anyway, got my medal, some food and water and straight into the car. Switched socks and shoes into clean socks and crocs and drove off. Should have taken my supply belts off but didn't. BIG MISTAKE NUMBER 2!
Straight to Wendy's and started driving home. At one point again very tired so got out of car for jumping jacks till the service station where I bought some more food. The rest of the drive was fine. Got home and I promised Lee that I would go buy a carpet with her at a store I hate. I told her that I would hate it but I would do it even tho she didn't believe me. She thought I would be too tired. I told her that I had to go before the shower because after the shower, I won't go.
Quite a site I sure must have made. Shorts with a long sleeve shirt, salt caked all over my face and I stunk too. Still, bought the carpet and then to the shower.
Went up stairs and as soon as I took my shirt off, I moaned. Called Lee upstairs. I was a mess. I got Chafed. Actually, that's a major understatement.
No hot shower. Very sad. In fact, shower just pretty much hurt. Took a few days to enjoy a hot shower. Until then, sitting on the rug (which I always do) hurt.
Overall, I enjoyed the course but got caught up in the BS that I always try to avoid and I should have stretched after that car ride and I should not have gone for the pretzel. Lessons learned.
This was my first Pennsylvania, my 6th state and my 15 Marathon (includes IM's and Ultras). I've come a long way.
I found this race a long time ago and it interested me right away. Firstly, the pictures the RD posted on the website were gorgeous. Wasn't too much information on the website but beautiful pictures. Secondly, the promise of you can only do it first once was intriguing. I mean, I don't know that doing an inaugural race is the best thing in the world (no race reports, you are the guinee pig etc) but on the other hand there is some mystique there of the unknown.
In this case, in order to really get information on the race, you had to join the Facebook group and as race date approached, the emails from Facebook were getting crazy. Still, it was nice that for the most part the RD was very attentive.
My only issue that it took a lot of coaxing to get an address from him for the GPS for the race start. Shouldn't be this difficult. Why should I look up the Yardley train station and (hopefully) find the right place and then get an address? Still, he finally did give me an address so who cares?!? By the way, for future info:
7 Reading Avenue & S. Main Street Morrisville, PA 19067 is the notrh side lot..... You want the south side, so cross under the the tracks on Main Street (unless you're family is going out on the course)
In any case, that being that, let's get to the real deal.
Tried to get other people interested in this race but couldn't. I was (seriously) considering a Tough-Mudder with Ed Jara the week before this but when I found this, I decided to stick with this one. As is, this is/was 3 weeks after my Ironman and I truly wasn't sure what would happen or how my body would deal with it.
The IM came and went and I was feeling good. Rested a little and the next weekend went for a nice 15 and felt good. Cool.
The week after I ran on Saturday for 5 and 11 on Sunday with Jim. Had a premonition/dream/plan on how the 11 would go and it did. Ran from the house to AP, did the 7 extended to 8 and then ran home. The last mile, I knew Jim would punch it and I decided not to let him drop me. He took off and I stuck with him. The last block on Commenwealth was much faster. Once we made the left toward my house for the last block, I took off. Garmin said under a 6 minute mile. I punched it and dropped him and felt good. I usually don't do this. Don't need to finish hard on a very long run - live to fight another day if you know what I mean but this time...
Usually the week before a Marathon I prefer a short (under 6) but hard effort so this was kinda of a mixed batch.
Anyway, not sure when but I ran into CJR at AP on a Friday and he expressed interest in Bucks. Maybe a roadtrip. Yay...Now that I think of it, it was before the IM. Anyway, after the IM, I contacted him about it and he said nope. Oh well...Got very excited about it but such is life. He's got his responsibilities and I get it.
Well, I'm going alone and I didn't want to take the car away for the whole day so I started looking into renting a car. Either that or stealing my mom's car which I don't know if I really would want to for that distance.
Kept procrastinating about it (much like this RR) and eventually got ready to do it. Started looking and I realized I really need to pick the car up on Saturday so I have it for Sunday morning and bring it back on Sunday but a lot of places weren't open on Sunday and were expensive too.
Suddenly it hit me that Dana's son used to work at Enterprise and hm...Maybe he knows something. Got in touch with him and his friend still works there and he got me a sweet deal on a midsize (Camry) car but it's a 2 day rental. OK...Cool.
That's settled. Cool.
Went to pick up the car and a Camry just got back and it will be ready "soon" but do I want to wait or rather get a free upgrade? Yo! Upgrade to a nice sporty SUV. From there to the new fairway and then the whole day on my feet at the YMCA.
Sunday - The plan. Wake up at 2am like usual. Walk to the dog at 4:30. Leave house at 5am. Get there around 7 am. Race starts at 9 am which really worked for me. On the one hand, a late start sucks but on the other hand it gives me time to get there so cool.
Sunday on track. Left toward PA around 5:10. Tired but ok. At 1 point was so tired, I pulled off the highway and did some jumping jacks outside the car on the highway. Woke me up enough for the next 4 miles to a service station. Woke up there. From then on, I was ok. Minutes from race start, I spy a Wendy's otherwise known as my immediate after marathon food. Spicy Chicken Sandwich - HM!
Got to race start and I got a great parking spot at the Yardley Train station. Backed into it and I knew as soon as the race was finished, all I would have to do is drive straight 20 feet out of the lot and head home. Sweet.
checked in, hit the porta-potties and walked around. I left NY in 50 degree weather and got out of car in 44 degrees. Hm...Cold. Problem is what to wear...It will get to 61 but I am cold...
Walked around and talked to some people. Started talking to a guy who with this race was hoping to join Marathon Maniacs. Saw a guy who had a shirt that said "100 marathons in and 1st marathon with new hip or knee (I don't remember)". Wow...
I decided to run with thin socks, shorts, singlet, sleevies, long sleeve and my MM singlet and a cap and thin gloves. Maybe in hindsight, I wore too much.
One complaint here: The RD went cheap and got the timing chip on the bib which I hate. If they get bent, then no time which means no race belt. HATED IT! Wore my number on my shorts.
Pat, the RD, was pretty good about start time. Didn't expect it. Completely expected delays but 9am, wave 1 went off. He had multiple waves at 30 seconds apart based on predicted finish time. I went conservative because of the IM and said 4:15 tho I was sure I could break 4 on this flat course.
Waves went off constantly and it's my waves turn and we go. About 2 or 3 blocks before we turned onto this ugly gravel small downhill and onto the towpath canal.
We run on this soft not exactly trail but not road surface that was loose and soft and uneven. Scenery was beautiful. People were worried about areas of flooding in certain areas but a) we got lucky with no rain and b) apparently the "caretakers" of the park lowered the height of the canal to further make sure of that. Still, there were areas where if anyone would just pee in the canal, it would seem to overflow. I don't understand how or why anyone would want to live there. I mean, yeah it's beautiful but really? Do I want the canal inside my house anytime it rains? Whatever...I'm just there to run, right?
The other interesting thing about this race is that there are numerous bridges that you need to go under and some are very low. There was at least 1 that I had to duck under. Aid stations were approximatly every 2 miles which kinda sucked and only had water and Heed but whatever. One aid station also had pretzels and clif blocks.
Ran and ran and ran. Ran with a local for a few miles and had a nice conversation until I let him go. Ran with 2 women who (guess what???) are from Runners Edge in Farmingdale and they know some people that I know. That was nice too. Eventually, got the much talked about stairs. The only real hill we had was some stairs. Big deal right? I saw them and decided like Robert Frost to take the "road not taken" and ran to the side of them up the grass to the delight of the volunteer who was in charge of the stairs. He loved the fact that I was the first person to do that. Hey, what can I say? I am a trailblazer or rather without cheating, I took what I think was the better way.
I gotta give it to the RD for ingenuity. He couldn't put porta-potties everywhere. One aid station had one. Another one had a tent with a pail. He posted it on Facebook and I thought maybe he was joking. He wasn't. When you gotta go, you gotta go.
I was very suprised that the Men's leader didn't get to us until around mile 10. They are not going super fast. Still, it was kinda interesting that bib number 1, 2, 4 and 10 were in their respective positions meaning that bib number 1 was 1st, number 2 was 2nd and the same for 4 and 10. I mean that's pretty good in terms of predicting your time, right?
Even though I eventually had to let the ladies go, I was doing well on time in order to break 4. Cool. Got to the 13.1 turnaround and it was basically a cone in the road. Turned and ran. Some guy caught me and started talking to me about marathons. He also used to be a MM and wanted to knoe how many I have done. I told him that this was my 15th which includes 2 IM's and 2 Ultras and will be my 6th state. He told me that with this one, he will have finished 115 marathons which include 15 IM's and some ultras, already completed the 50 states and had about 5 or 6 continents (I can't remember how many). WOW!
Ran with him a little and then something didn't seem right. OOPS! We forgot to go under a bridge and were about to do extra miles. Turned around and back on to the course.
Ran with him and eventually he had to let me go.
Back to the stairs and again I didn't feel like using them. Instead, I ran down on the grass again getting love from the guy manning the stairs. He loved that I was the first one who did that as well.
Got to approx mile 16 and things were getting hot. I was jonesing for some Coke or Pepsi but they didn't have any on the course which sucked. They did have pretzels and I did something STUPID!!! here at this point. I passe the pretzel guy and decided that I wanted one. Now, I am a pretty self sufficient runner and had pretzels but I had to have that one so I stopped short and pivoted on my left knee to get a pretzel. Less than a mile later, my knee said "Boy that was a stupid thing to do!"...Major knee pain on my left knee. No running at this point. Had to walk fast and eventually was able to run/walk. Kept looking at my watch and saw my goal disappear.
Cursed my self over and over for that. Still, I was miles away and had to do what I came here to do.
Started talking to a guy who said he saw a runner whose shirt said he did the 50 states 5 times. Wow!
At this point, I could have really used more aid stations but it was what it was. Took the long sleeve shirt off and pulled down the sleevies. Hot.
Ticked off the miles and walked next to a guy who was shuffling along. Got to mile 25 and was dying to see the turn off the path already. I knew that 26 was on the road. When we first started, I saw that sign and cracked a remark about how it didn't feel like we ran 26 miles so that was my goal.
Eventually, I saw that ugly gravelly, now up hill turn and walked it. From there on it was a run-run-run to mile 26 and a left turn into sortof a little hill. Lots of cars and I just got on their right side while they just stood stuck and ran. Saw a guy being cheered on/pulled by some girl (sister, girlfriend, something). Hit the guy on the back as I passed and pushed. Sprinted into the tunnel under the train and into the finish. Finished in 4:20. Not what I wanted but within 5 minutes of my prediction and felt good. Knee didn't hurt anymore. Wish it wouldn't have hurt in the first place but it was my fault.
I was very annoyed at my self but in retrospect that was stupid too. I never go into a long race with such a target and I don't know why I did it this time. My PR was in NJ came out of no where and while I would love to break the 4 hour mark, I am happy with my NJ PR at 4:01:xx. Hopefully, 1 day it will happen. When it will, it will and if it doesn't well that's ok too.
Anyway, got my medal, some food and water and straight into the car. Switched socks and shoes into clean socks and crocs and drove off. Should have taken my supply belts off but didn't. BIG MISTAKE NUMBER 2!
Straight to Wendy's and started driving home. At one point again very tired so got out of car for jumping jacks till the service station where I bought some more food. The rest of the drive was fine. Got home and I promised Lee that I would go buy a carpet with her at a store I hate. I told her that I would hate it but I would do it even tho she didn't believe me. She thought I would be too tired. I told her that I had to go before the shower because after the shower, I won't go.
Quite a site I sure must have made. Shorts with a long sleeve shirt, salt caked all over my face and I stunk too. Still, bought the carpet and then to the shower.
Went up stairs and as soon as I took my shirt off, I moaned. Called Lee upstairs. I was a mess. I got Chafed. Actually, that's a major understatement.
No hot shower. Very sad. In fact, shower just pretty much hurt. Took a few days to enjoy a hot shower. Until then, sitting on the rug (which I always do) hurt.
Overall, I enjoyed the course but got caught up in the BS that I always try to avoid and I should have stretched after that car ride and I should not have gone for the pretzel. Lessons learned.
This was my first Pennsylvania, my 6th state and my 15 Marathon (includes IM's and Ultras). I've come a long way.