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Here's a map of the race course and here is an annotated one. It's 2 loops which I am not a fan off but...
Emailed the RD for help regarding logistics. Wasn't sure how close/far from airport or which airport is the one to use. Guy emailed me a minute later. Wow. Everything fell into place nicely. Fly there Friday, take care of some stuff, goto expo. Next day, run the race, quick trip to the YMCA for a shower and then to the airport and landing in time for a late dinner.
Last Sunday was the Climb to The Top. I have always done stairs after I run but the thought of running afterwards wasn't so appealing. So I didn't. Had to recover for this last weekend. Monday was the usual swim. Tuesday was the usual run. Wednesday again swim. Thursday had to take the car to Honda. It was going to be a beautiful day too - Couldn't resist. Took the bike with me. Lee and the kids took a taxi to to school while I went to Honda. Dropped off the car and headed out with the bike. Good temps but windy coming in from the West. Felt soooooo good. Could have easily gone for 60 miles but couldn't afford to destroy my legs. Turned at the 106/107 and right into the wind. Yuck. Ended with 23.2 miles. Nice. Got the car, headed home for the dog and shower and early pickup at the kids school.
Friday, legs are tired. Called for a 7:40 taxi pickup. Figured I would leave around the same time as the family. Guessed I would be at LGA around 8am. Firmly believe in 2 hours for a domestic flight. The flight is at 10:13 so even with traffic it would be fine. I called them again at 7:50. Turns out the driver had a flat and they sent a new driver. They could have called me! But didn't. Guy got there about 8. Sucks but whatever. Made the drive useful and took a nap. Woke up at LGA.
Breezed through TSA and on to the gate. When I got there, it was about 8:40ish and they were boarding a 9:10 flight. Something seemed funny. I went and asked if my flight would also board there and I was told that my flight is delayed and they are putting me on this flight instead. What?!? I was the last one on the plane. They closed the door behind me. Geez. Considering I gotta make a connection at Dulles, Washington...
Got to Washington and waiting for plane to board. Supposed to take off at 12:44 but not boarding on time. I hear a rumor that Obama is in town and that's delaying stuff. Apparently, that shuts down the airport. Wonderful. Next it seems that the plane is there, all fueled up and checked out except for 1 thing. No crew. Let's see, I made it on time...I was able to do that!
I don't remember which flight but I love tomato juice especially when I fly. Stewardess asked me if I want regular or spicy and of course I chose spicy. It was a Bloody Mary mix and it felt a little strange on my stomach. Whatever.
Thank goodness the pilot made up some time. Taxi to Expo, 1/2 a block to hotel, etc. Love the hotel but no tub!!! Sucks.
Bought a pair of sleevies at the expo. Seems like it might be a good idea.
Race starts at 7:15 and Marathon Maniacs decided to meet at 6:45 for pictures. Decided to wake up at 3am even which means I would be ready by 6.
Stomach a little strange but that's ok.
Chilly morning. It would later be in the 60's but it was high 30's now and there was some wind. Not good. I brought light gloves but didn't bring my hot hands. Was I going to be cold? Suddenly it hit me that it's 6 am, the expo is open and I am a 1/2 a block away. Ran over there and saw gloves but no hot hands. Guy told me that booth over there has non-disposable hot hands. Bought them but they were a little big and I couldn't decide what to do with them. Gloves booth had trouble with credit cards so they lost my business. Oh well.
Back to hotel, got dressed. Shorts, sleevies, long shirt and my Marathon Maniacs singlet.
Back to the expo for group picture. Almost missed them. As is, turns out that half took picture outside and half too picture inside. There were about 21 MM's on course apparently. Also, some 50staters and Half-Fanatics.
Walked 1 block to the start. Race starts. All good. The Marathoners and the Half-Marathons start at 7:15. The 10K was geared to start at 11. I wish I was that fast to do that too. Oh well.
We start and stomach is not settled. Not good. Passed a couple of porta-potties. Things ok. Running with the 3:45's. All good but stomach acting strange.
So, things get a little personal here so feel free to skip.
I have a weak stomach. I know it. That's why I wake up so damn early to eat breakfast and to "digest". I have had to use the porta-tree twice before and it sucks. For any females reading this, when guys pee against a tree, we just consider ourselves green thumbs or gardners watering the trees. It's not a big deal. Using the porta-tree on the other hand is a different thing. Whenever I run (training or race), I always scope out my surroundings. Back to the pora-potties. They were more and more inviting. I was never that "guy" who ran back but around mile 5, I did. I was that guy. I ran the 100 feet back. Decided on a pre-emptive strike. Glad for it too. Couldn't believe it - whatever. Get over it.
Came out and spied a pacer group. Ran to join them and it was the 4:15. WHAT?!? Went on a frenzy and ran past them to try to at least find the 4:00.
Now let's be honest here, ok? I didn't belong with the 3:45. My PR is a 4:01+ on a flat course but I just wanted to hand with them for a little while. They dropped me at 5ish. In NJ, I managed to hang on until 16/17... Now, in limbo. The 4:00 is in front and the 4:15 is in back. Sucks.
Ran and ran. Perhaps too hard.
This is a 2 loop course. Hilly too. Every uphill was accompanied with a headwind too. Can't catch a break. Climbing a hill with the wind pushing you down. How awesome? In the sun, sleeves go up and gloves off. In the shade and in the wind, sleeves go down and gloves on.
Loop courses suck in my opinion. Horrible to run right past the finish line with all the half-marathoners getting cheered on to the finish. Personal touch was the timing guy wishing you luck by name as your chip goes through the scanner.
Still, it sucked. At least with the Long Island Marathon, we split from the halfers but didn't see the finish line.
Group of 3 women ran at me and passed me. Nice. They stuck together. Did their thing. That's the way.
Wished there was soda on the course. Just water, Gatorade and bananas and GU. Not what I needed. Only started drinking around mile 15. Small sips of water and some pita chips that I brought with me.
The toughest part of the course was on Trenholm road which leads into Gervais street. Those were the toughest hills. Manageable but tough. Kinda long.
Stomach was weird but runnable. Small sips of water and pita chips at each rest area. My kingdom for a Coke or a Pepsi. Helps the stomach - rejuvenates the mind. Hey, it works in Ultra's, Ironmans and Half-Ironmans...
During the run, there was a paramedic on a motorcycle. Nice. Guy drove around the course making sure that all was ok in the world. That's cool. Except for the part where the guy drove a little reckless. I almost got run over by him. That would be ironic tho, wouldn't it? Paramedic hitting me...Help is on the way...
Mile 15ish, I picked up this woman. She was running well but was faltering. This was her 2nd marathon. Her first was the Flying Pig. She did a 4:30 then. She was suffering a little and her stomach was sloshing.
Pulled her. Didn't let her stop. I could be annoying or persuasive. Pulled Jennifer (Jenni) all the way to the end. Almost anyway...The last 1/2 mile, I said goodbye.
The three women? We kept trading positions. At 1 point, they said they are gonna just stick behind me... What?!? Funny...Well, I didn't think we would see them again as they were ahead but I passed them. And a Marathon Maniac. And another MM who was going fast. And a whole slew of people.
Personally, I didn't care for the last mile...Mile 12-13.1 and 25-26.2. Lots of twists and turns. Only nice thing is this 2 block down hill into the finish.
Bottom line, did a 4:11+ or approx about 10 minutes slower than a PR on a flat course. This was hilly, windy, had stomach issues and pulled someone and yet...? Maybe 1 day, I will break 4. Who knows...
Jennifer came by all happy. Had about a 20 minute PR. World goes round...Nice.
Forgot to mention...Remember, I was dying for a coke? Well, being a NYer means I can do certain things, right?
There were 2 women and 1 guy having a picnic on their front lawn cheering the runners. I stopped and asked them if they have a coke. Expected a nope but they said "YES!!!". Guy runs in and comes back with a coke and 2 cups. Jennifer didn't want, I offered to share, but she didn't want. Took about 2 seconds to drink the whole thing. After about 3 burps, big burps, all was good with the world again... Love the Southern people... And the "Y'all" they are fond of saying.
There was a bar who had their own rest stop. Skipped them the first time. I was gonna ask them for soda on the 2nd loop but now had my own soda. Didn't need them tho they did have coke on the table.
Overall, race went well. Little beat up but all good. Nice tech shirt and nice medal.
Walked 1/2 a block to the hotel and took a shower. Called a cab and had an epiphany. Love a Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich after a marathon. Saw a Wendy's near the start...Asked the driver if we can make a pitstop. He said sure and took me there. He even shut the meter off. WOW!!! Asked him if he wants anything, nope... Nice guy. Paid for the cab with a Credit Card but tipped him in cash with a little extra on the side. Love the Southern people...
Easy flight to Dulles and from there to JFK and??? Picked up by my crew. They left the YMCA after swim, got food and straight to JFK. I could smell the chlorine on Jeremy a mile away but who cares...
Found an annotated version of the map. It's on top of this page. I wonder how accurate it is...
Jennifer? She friended me on Facebook. Cool. She wrote something on the internet and of course I found it...Turns out it was around mile 18 that we joined.
The flight to Dulles was uneventful. The flight from Dulles to South Carolina had me sitting near this guy that reminded me a little of Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge, just a little shorter and a little more round. Turns out he was a Lt. Colonel coming back from Kuwait. We were sitting behind the emergency row and well not everyone is supposed to sit there. As I got on the plane, I was behind this old woman who had trouble going up the stairs. Turns out she was sitting in that row. Is she gonna be able to lift a 42 pound door in an emergency? I figured the stewardess would move her but no she didn't. She asked her if she could do the deed and the old lady said "No Problem!"...What?!? I turned to the guy next to me and said, "I don't want to seem like a bad guy but" and the guy immediatly responded with "I know exactly what you mean". Had a great chat with the guy.