Pros:
All that being said, why did I do it? It fulfills 2 requirements for me. It fulfills my "at least 1 mile a day streak requirement" tho I could easily have run 1 mile without this. The other thing it helps with is my "2,015 miles in 2015". That one is harder and I need all the miles I can get. As a bonus, they did give a medal even tho it's a Fat ass race but more important and this is HUGE... The race was on a Thursday. Why is Thursday important? I don't take time away from the family while doing a Marathon. I enjoy myself and get 26.2 miles and I don't take time away? And... On the weekend, I can still do my normal running. Excellent...
So being a one car family how do I do this...? I decided to take a taxi there and asked my Mom if she can drive me home. She said Yes. Still, told my crew about it. Of all the people, Hammad was the only one who was a "maybe". Problem was that he went away for work to Minnessota and was supposed to land at midnight on that day. Well, he decided he would do it so I was happy. At least 1 familiar face.
He's there and he showered and feels a lot better and is going to sign up for the half. Cool. We get there in a jiffy and I go pick up my stuff. He asks me what to sign up for. Sheesh. I am NOT the right person to ask these things. He signed up for the full. Of course... Then we went for indoor plumbing.
Spoke to some people there. They plan on running the first loop with all their clothes. After that, dash to the car to get rid of layers. Hm... Not me.
Saw David from BOB there. Initially he said he wasn't going to be there but last minute he decided to do the half and then goto work. Cool. For a second I entertained the thought of running with him. Up until he told me his expected pace. Oh well.
The other interesting thing about this race is it's name. Sure it's on a Thursday because that was Lincoln's birthday but why call it "International"? Apparently there was a group of people who were trying to do 7-7-7 or in English "7 Marathons in 7 days in 7 continents". Cool...
Anyway, we were about to start. The start area was tight and I didn't like that. Also the 777 was made up of 2 groups. The first group was just trying to do 777. The second group was actually trying to set a Guiness record by being a group of some number tied together doing 777. Sheesh. Can you imagine? Do you realize how much harder that is? Apparently there were some people there who were sub 3 marathoners who needed to go much slower to deal with some of these 5+ people. On the opposite side the 5+ people needed to try to go a little faster due to the sub 3 people. Rough...
Unfortunatly the group that was tied together was in the front. They really should have been in the back. Initially it wasn't going to be chip timed but it was and they were just in the way.
Anyway, we're off. The course is ok initially. I don't really know the course. Eventually it gets to you. It starts toward the mini golf and eventually turns to the lake. Around the lake and eventually toward the end of loop. You pass parallel to the end of loop and that's where the only aid station is. From there you run toward the pool complex. At the end, you make a right turn, go a little bit until a cone. Make a U-turn and back to the end of loop.
Why did it eventually get to you above and beyond the 8 loops? Every loop was constant turns. Turns, turns and turns. And you see where you need to go and ... TURN! Oi.
In any case, first loop done. Lots of slush in certain areas especially around the lake. It did get warmer and people did start stripping layers off. I didn't.
I started talking to some dude. Turned out to be a NYPD guy, detective 3rd grade narcotics in Queens. Awesome. His boss was on the course too. We ran well together just talking. Unfortunatly he was doing the half. Sucks...
In any case, let me make the best of it and enjoy the 3 loops that I got with him. We did stop at the aid station for a quick break. I grabbed trail mix and some oranges and water. I also asked if they have coke. I saw it at the registration/finishers tent. The woman there was grouchy and said "NO!". The woman next to her on the other hand, an angel, said that she could get it for me. My eyes must have lit up as she smiled at me. Awesome.
She did by the way. Tasted awesome.
We ran together and at the end of our last loop together a cyclist asked us to make way. The lead 1/2 marathon female was there. Awesome. We followed her. He decided to sprint in. I didn't. I did stop and say good bye tho.
After that, I kept checking with the racing people as to how many more loops I have.
Just want to mention that as the course was monotoneous the volunteers were awesome. To get to the lake, we had to go down a little hill that was full of ice. I didn't mind. After we circled the lake, we had to climb up a little hill full of ice as well. Well, I don't remember when but the female volunteer manning the downhill at one point grabbed a shovel and started working on the ice. How awesome is that. Eventually the guy manning the uphill switched with her and he started shoveling. Love these people.
My friend at the aid station? She got me I think 3 or 4 Cokes and at that point other people were asking about them so she brought more but made sure I had. My guardian Angel.
I passed Hammad at one point. Wasn't sure why. Later I found out. He stopped twice at the indoor plumbing due to stomach issues. Also, after the first lap, he did strip layers off and put them in the car. Then it got cold and he went back to the car to get the layers. Yes - it was that kind of day. He scored a PW that day.
I also saw Stephanie Clark. She was 1 lap past me. Great for her. She looked like hell tho. Her last lap I was right behind her. We passed the aid station. She got to the pool complex and turned back while I was on the way there. That's when she started walking. About a 1/4 mile from the finish and she walks. I DON'T THINK SO!!! I started screaming "Let's go!" and "There's no walking now" and she took off. She did well considering the small field tho we were all placed in the 0-99 age group. Later on Facebook I did apologize for screaming at her but she thanked me for it. It was exactly what she needed.
I did make some new friends that day and one of them, Kim, was doing the 777. We started talking. This venture cost them $ 14,200 and except for NY, they didn't have a hotel at all. They slept on airplanes or at airports. Same goes for food and restrooms. Oi. My stomach would be in knots. One race they start at 3am, another at 1am. It actually cost her another $ 1,000 as she had to fly from Baltimore to Australia. Few days before this race, they ran in the winter of Dubai with temps in the 90s. Now they ran here in a snowstorm. How crazy is that. After this one they were going to Chille to do South America and from there to Antartica. As a by the way, they didn't do 777. Rather they did 666 and another one a few days later. You see Antartica has strict restrictions about landing and requires a 800 feet ceiling. They took off a few times but 200 feet wasn't enough for a landing and they turned back. Yikes. She enjoyed the experience immensly but I don't know...By the way for those interested, there is another company that does this but they charge $ 42,000. Yikes.
Small tangent: The 777 group that was tied together? They stopped at he aidstation, untied and ran to the bathroom. Then they loaded on food, retied and went again.
I eventually finished and hung out at the aid station. Got cold so I went to the finishers tent and got a hot chocolate. Came back and again hung out at the aid station. Eventually my angel left and I gave her a big hug. I then started talking to one of the 777 people, this dude from Lebanon. He owns or works at a store that sells hot hands so he knew what they were. Some of the 777 people tho never in their life did they see snow or have been in these kind of temps. I was standing next to a heating lantern and without knowing got a little to close. My bib, which was pinned to my leg, started melting. Luckily for me it did not start burning.
Eventually I started talking to Michael Fred who is another MM. I felt weird without the singlet, as I forgot it at home but he was wearing his. Anyway, nice guy. His wife ran this one as the second of 3 in 90 days to qualify for the MM. She eventually ran Caumsett 50K and qualified. Nice.
Eventually, Hammad finished. I ran him in. He was tired and had a rough day. When we got to the car, he asked if I could drive. He was that tired. No biggie. Drove to my house and left. Got in, put stuff down and fed the dog. Once LC was ready, we left the house and Hammad was still there. What?!? He said he was ok tho. I got back with the dog and he was gone. Later checked in on him and he was ok. Good.
What can I say about the race? It costs $ 15.00 and you get a chip time and a medal. The medal wasn't huge or anything amazing. There wasn't a shirt either. Still, it was 20ish minutes from the house and while the course got boring, the volunteers were amazing. I think the half was so much better tho. Eight loops is too much. Four loops would be perfect.