| Map of the Course (jpeg) | Map of the Course (pdf) |
Going to sleep lastnight was weird. Had to guard my toes so slept with the brace. Didn't need the brace for my Plantar Facsitious but it did protect my toes. Also, my arches kept almost cramping. Weird...
Woke up at 3am Sunday morning and all is good except the ABS are S-O-R-E! Stairs are not a problem, legs and knees are ok, stomach still strange.
Gail was coming to pick me up at 6:30 and I was starting to regret that. After yesterday's 30 minute wandering around looking around for a spot, I was seriously worried. Also, I wasn't sure exactly where to go for the start.
Gail printed google directions that Glen helped her find. I printed out a map and also mapquest directions to Kamen's house. He was kind enough to give me that and it was nearby. Brought the GPS also, tho it was acting up a little. Every time I plugged it in, it turned off to charge. Everytime I disconnected it, it went on but the battery was dying. Turns out I was using the wrong connector. Still, got to the vicinity and looked at the map and all was good.
Found a spot!!! Unbelievable...
We weren't 100 % sure that it was a spot, I mean these things just don't happen but it did. We took our stuff and started walking to the entrance in the park. Weren't sure where to go but eventually we passed some mile markers and eventually a very anti-climactic finish line. Really it was just a spot where they dumped everything on. Apparently the generator hadn't arrived yet... Sheesh.
Continued on to the starting line. Very sureel. The place is mainly empty. They switched the race start from 8am to 8:30am so people were slowly trickling in.
They gave you 9 rubberbands. The first 2 rubber bands (RB) you make a left as you move them. The next 6 RBs you go straight. The next RB you make a left. Sounds easy right? In practice, a lot of people I spoke to were confused during the race. I brought my Garmin just in case like I did for the 60K but it was still confusing...
The first 2 (small) loops were easy enough. You start going up a small hill and make a left at the second aid staion. Down to the lake and past that where they were clearing the falling trees, the road then ran near the ice rink thingie and within half a mile you were at the 1st aid station. Every time you got there, you would switch rubber bands from one arm to another. After your first and second loop, you make a left turn and go up the small hill that we started on. Here I somehow got confused. I wasn't sure what I needed to do. Someone told me that I am in the top 15 and go straight but it seemed wrong. I actually stopped. Someone else told me to make a left. The mile markers said it was the right thing - Thank God. I wasn't the only one who wasn't sure what to do. From that point on, everytime you got there you continued straight instead of making a left. Now we had 6 of the big loops. Once you left that aid station, you went up a hill that lasted for about 0.65 miles and turned left. You would think at that point that you then have a down hill but you'd be wrong. Small downhill into a small uphill and a down back to the second aid station. Before that, there was a vendor who only charged me 2.50 for a coke (twice) because I was running the marathon.
Once you got to the aid station, that section became the same as the small loop. After all those loops, you eventually make the left again, past the start and to the finish.
Gail and I went to the start line. Seemed like a small crowd. Kaman and his friend were right behind us. The gun went off and Gail took off. I didn't chase her. There was no point. I tried to keep her in my sight but soon lost her. My first mile was 8:37 I think. Pushing too hard. Initially felt good. Real good. Having fun and all. Did the smaller loop and again and I thought I knew what to do except I didn't. I wasn't sure what to do. Make a left or go straight? One of the volunteers told me that I am in top 15 and to go straight. That didn't sit with me and I stopped. Soon, someone came over to me and told me to make a left. I still wasn't sure except I soon saw the 4 mile marker and I knew it was the right thing to do. Sucks. Started running with this guy named Justin. He was in the same exact boat as me: the S.S.Confused! Ran with him for a while. Did the small loop with him and climbed the big hill of the big loop too but then he had to slow down and I left him. During all this, my emotions were all over the place: I was feeling awesome the one moment and like crap the second. Didn't help that since we were doing loops, we either had the sun in our face and getting warm or the sun in our back and into the wind and getting cold. Not my kind of fun.
Started talking to a girl with a LGFD sweatshirt. Had to ask her...Lake George Fire Department. Turns out she was supposed to do the NYC Marathon so instead she was here. I'm talking to her and making her laugh and the girl just ahead of us is cracking up. Well, LGFD had to slow down, it was her first marathon, so I continued one with laughing girl. We had a good time and I was making her laugh and it was the distraction I needed and I felt awesome. Told her to be careful she doesn't pee while laughing. Everything was great until she told me she had to stop to pee. Sucks...Never saw her again after that...
Ran and ran and moved rubberband after rubberband from one hand to another. I had one rubberband left and I was happy. It meant that once I move it, I can make a left for the modified small loop. I wanted to make sure of that so I stopped at the official timers table and he gave me the awful news...No! You go one more big loop and then left...S-U-C-K-S!!! That really destroyed me but it had to be done.
Did I mention I stopped twice during the course and bought a coke for only 2.50 each? Sucks that I timed it wrong and bought the last coke 1 loop too early. Could have used the sugar...
Also, at 1 point I wanted to cross the road from left to the right to a water fountain and almost got run over... 4 Bikers started yelling at me and they were right. I didn't look. Could have been very ugly for all of us. I apologized...
Anyway, I digress. It's the last loop and I was breaking it into smaller sections. Just had to as I was in a bad place. Came across a guy who was in the park "just running a 5 miler" and we ran and talked together. Very nice guy. Did what I usually do for runners. Helped me a lot. Ran and talked and when I needed a judicious walk, he walked. He ended up with 6.5ish for the day but helped me a lot.
Escorted me all the way to that aid station where I confirmed my left with the timer and then made the left up the hill toward the start and from there to the finish.
Going up the hill and I passed a few and then found my target. He was running well and I snuck up on him and drafted for a few seconds, step by step in sync with him right behind him. He never noticied me and I had enough so I made my move and ran away from him. He could have fought me. I don't know who would have "won" but he didn't and I ran away from him hard to cross the finish line.
During the race, all I could think about was that it would be nice to run with Gail (for me) but it would suck for her as that would mean she died and I didn't want that. She finished around 4:30 and I did in 4:52 and I was happy. She had a hot chocolate and I was dying for one only to hear they ran out of hot water and they were boiling it somewhere. Sucks...Still got my bagel and water and a cheescake (yummy) to take home and we walked to the car. I could feel a blister and my toenails were hurting more from the fall but I was doing ok. Shortcut to the car and on the way.
Runner Update: My buddy Justin? After I dropped him, I ran into him later. He was walking and in a lot of pain. He had an icepack tied to his knee. I asked him if he wants tylenol and he gladyly said YES! Left him again and thinking about him. Well, later after I finished I saw him. He had already finished... What?!? I figured he dropped but he told me he felt better and finished. I checked the results. I mean, he MUST have miscalculated and did less and they MUST have DQed him but to my suprise, he beat me. I'm ok with that but there is no way he beat me. My guess is he did less. I'm sure he miscalculated. I saw his pace - I saw him walking. No way! And my Garmin said I didn't do a crazy amount extra so I gotta believe the timers screwed up.
Another Runner Update: My MM friend Julia was apparently there. She was a lap girl. Ask her where you are, she would radio the timer, they would let you know. I never saw her and initially I never even saw the timers. Oh well.
Another Runner Update: Gail had a pain. Long story short she has another bone spur. Painful but now that they know what it is, they can deal with it. Still, right before this race, she found out she was getting laid off. Not good. Coupled with no race day pickup and the course and the lack of car friendly directions and she was a little cranky in my opinion. She's pissed off about the race. Meanwhile, she got an age group award which pissed her even more because she has to send them email to mail her the award. Really? Seriously? Even Jim was teasing her when we ran together the week later. I mean, C'mon...
In any case, I like the shirt we got and the medal. It's different. Press the button and parts of the Brooklyn Bridge on the medal light up. Very novel and very different. Bagel was good too. Sucks about the no hot chocolate tho. Still, got my little cheesecake and split it into 4. Lee and Jeremy liked it. Jessie didn't love it so I ate what was left of her piece too. Yummy.
Survived my first double. My only (real) issue was the toe. My big toe on the left side became sorer and sorer until eventually, it turned black. It was eventually 3/4 black and swollen. I truly wasn't sure if I would keep the nail but it looks like I will. Otherwise my lower abs thing is still a little of an issue. I'm not sure about that one. Gotta keep my eyes on it.
Since March of 2012, I have now done 12 marathon distance races or longer. They include 1 Ironman and 1 trail race. I would like to do another one in December. Actually, I was hoping to do the end of the world double in Texas but that's not gonna happen. Still, a bakers dozen would be nice. We shall see.
