New Jersey Devilman Half-Lite

The 2012 New Jersey Devilman Half-Lite is one of those races that you sign up for that really doesn't seem like that big of a deal at the time. When I signed up, I had already committed to my first Half Iron Man in June and was going to take a whack at a Boston Qualifier at the Shamrock marathon in March. Heck, I'd done the Devilman Sprint as my first triathlon last year and this was just the same course twice around. How hard could it be?

Fast forward to Thursday May 3rd which was two days before the race. Somewhere on the Piranha Sports website or facebook page they mentioned that the race was 50 miles. What!? Hmmm . . let me get out my grade school math book. 8/10ths of a mile swim, plus 40.3 on the bike, plus 8.8 running. Damn. This is a long race! Up until this point, I had been almost solely focused on the swim. You see my grand plan for a long swim last year fell apart when the 1 mile swim at the Atlantic City triathlon was cancelled due to surf conditions. Not wanting the 1.2 mile swim at Eagleman in June to be my first REALLY long swim I figured I'd better do something longish in the Spring to get some confidence. Now bear in mind Devilman 2011 was a panic-fest in the water for me. I spent 3/4s of the swim pumping along on my back like a crippled jellyfish afraid to stick my face in the cold dark water. Still, I knew I had the fitness to finish the distance. It wouldn't be fast, but I didn't plan to be fast. (Good thing.)

Janice & I packed the car and arrived at Dad's in Salem, NJ on Friday before the race. Dad lives only 30 minute or so drive away from Cedarville where Devilman takes place. We stepped out of the car and were instantly swarmed by gnats. Hmmmm. Back in the car and off to Wal-Mart to buy a bottle of Bull Frog combination insect repellent & sunscreen. That turned out to be the best $9.00 I would spend the entire weekend. After catching up with Dad, taking care of a few things for him and having a dinner of roast beef & potatoes Janice and I turned in early in preparation for an early start on Saturday.

Saturday started warm and muggy. Just the way Friday ended. We drove to Cedarville arriving by 5:35 and noting immediately the amount of cars was far greater then last year. The little race was growing quickly. We got out of the car and, predictably, the swarm descended. Never fear. Bullfrog is here. A few moments of spraying later and we were bug free unlike most others. It was a little funny to watch new arrivals. It was always the same. They would exit the car and begin going about the business of unloading tri stuff and then suddenly stop, look around and begin flailing hopelessly at the air. The gnats were thick and got everywhere biting as they went. I could have sold Bullfrog for $10.00 a spray. Maybe even $20.00. The scene didn't change at registration. It was a long line of people flailing perpetually at the air or simply whimpering and hiding under whatever clothing they could cover up with.

After I got through registration I heard a familiar voice and turned around to see Joe Lombardi. A good friend and superior runner & triathlete. (I wanna be Joe when I grow up.) He headed off to register and I headed for body marking and transition. I wouldn't bump in to Joe again until the swim start.

I'm getting pretty good at setting my transition area up and was done in short order. I then wandered around a bit finally bumping in to Susanne Vanzijl another supremely awesome triathlete. (I wanna be her when I grow up too 'cause then I'll be fast and a whole lot better looking.) She was running a bit and I wasn't sure if she was warming up or the gnats had driven her batty since she was wearing tri shorts & sports bra and had plenty of exposed skin for them to dine on. I called after her and produced the Bullfrog. Seconds later she too was bug free and I didn't charge her $10.00.

Enough about gnats . . on to racing. Around 7:30ish we donned wetsuits and headed to transition. From a plane it probably looked like some sort of freshwater seal migration. 500 neoprene clad athletes migrating to the water. The sprint went off first led by the younger men, younger women, and then the "more experienced" folks. Sean Vanzijl (Susanne's hubby) and I watched in admiration as the faster swimmers erupted from the water. There were some veritable torpedos out there. Soon, the call came for those with purple swim caps to get ready. That was us. The old guys.

Until this point, I'd kept the butterflies at bay. Last year's swim, my first open water swim and first race, had been a debacle. I didn't have a wetsuit and as soon as I stuck my face in that cold, tea colored water I'd panicked and took nearly the entire loop to recover and start swimming normally, leaving the swim behind with relief. Since then, I'd done an Open Water Swim clinic, another triathlon, and a couple on-my-own swims. But that was all last year. My plan was to get in the water as quick as I could an acclimate. However, the plan was shot almost immediately. First, the start was much closer to shore this year. Last year we swam 30 yards or so offshore to get to the start. Second, when the starter called out 30 seconds to start, I was still mired on the ramp not even close to the water. I was seriously ready to start pushing and shoving. I'm not sure what was taking so long but pictured guys dipping their toes in to see if the water was cold.

No sooner were we in the water when the command to GO was given. I stuck my face in the water . . that cold MUDDY water from all the recent rain and tried to swim. I was in a sea of arms & legs that I couldn't see due to the murky water. I got kicked and swatted by invisible limbs. I stopped, started, stopped and finally let things clear out a bit. I was not interested in being first in my age group to leave the water. My focus today was to get through the swim. I had to do it to know I could make it through the swim at Eagleman. If I failed here, I knew Eagleman would be a DNS. And it was not going well. Within a few yards of the start I was overwhelmed. "Why am I doing this? I can't do this? Look how far it is and I've got to do it twice. There's no way". Keep swimming . . back stroke, take a few freestyle strokes. Keep moving forward. "Oh my God, why didn't I just do the sprint"? It went on like this around the first buoy and on toward the second buoy. I had given up and decided that when I got back to the starting point I would just get out. I wondered if someone would be there to take my chip. It was going to be disappointing to meet my friends as they finished the sprint and explain that I quit. Perhaps I should just leave.

"Okay Pete . . so you are going to quit. At least try to swim like you've practiced". A few normal strokes. "Come on now, relax and swim like you are in the pool. Don't try to be Michael Phelps. Breathe". My jangled nerves calmed down and my face got used to the cold water. I stopped holding my breath underwater and breathed normally. I began to develop a rhythm and started listening to the sound of my breath on each stroke. I began to focus on the next buoy. Suddenly I was almost back to the start. Decision time. It would be so easy to turn a bit to the right, climb out, hand in my chip and be out of the miserable, muddy, cold water. I could climb out. Instead I turned left and headed around the start buoy and lap 2.

Comfortably now. Stroke breathe. Stroke breathe. Stroke breathe. Stroke sight breath. "Just aim for the biggest green tree to the right of the gap. Just make for the next buoy". Quickly, I was there and around buoy 1. Only 3 to go. For every yellow turn buoy there was an intermediate orange buoy. "Just get to the orange buoy". Sighting for buoy 2 was a snap. There was a giant church steeple and a big red firetruck. Take your pick. Stoke, breathe. My heart stopped pounding a mile a minute. My progress was fast and efficient. The orange buoy glided by and the turn buoy approached quickly. On to buoy 3.

I'm not sure when it happened, but I was suddenly aware that I was really enjoying this. One lap ago I was wishing I had done the sprint. Now I was overjoyed to be swimming efficiently in this dark, cold, muddy water. I can do this. I AM doing this.

I rounded buoy 3 and made for the mid-stretch orange buoy all the while looking for the picnic pavilion that marked the exit. I was stroking harder now. Kicking more. "Okay Pete. Take it easy. You wasted a lot of energy on that first, slow lap, you aren't going to make it up here and you still have to bike & run". But I knew I would be triumphant in the swim. I KNEW in moments I would climb out on the dock and head for transition, unzipping my wetsuit like a pro as I ran. I knew I'd see the finish today and not quit all because I got through that swim.

With 100 yards to go I couldn't help it. I pulled harder and rocketed toward the ramp. I probably had a grin a mile wide on my face as I exited the water. Anyone watching would probably have started looking around for the finish line as I punched the air in triumph. The bike and run would be easy. I had survived the swim and more importantly swam a great second lap after getting my head under control. The day was one-third over and already a success. Swim time: 30:00:10. I'd love to know what my two lap times were.

I dashed off toward transition, counting rows as I entered. I now understand why people put up balloons and flags in transition. But I got the right row, finished stripping off the wetsuit, stuffed a couple gels in my pocket, donned glasses, helmet, and bike shoes, grabbed the bike and ran. I haven't mastered having the shoes pre-clipped yet but almost ran into someone coming back to get a fallen shoe. I also use SPD clips and my bike shoes are really easy to run in. I hit the mount area, clipped in and took off. I rounded the bend onto Main street in Cedarville and heard Janice cheer me on as I went by. T1: 2:09

Bicycle! Bicycle! I want to ride my Bicycle

The bike at Devilman is fairly easy. You can break it up into four 10 mile segments. 10 out, 10 back, turn around and do it again. The wind picked up pretty hard on the second loop and cut speed a bit both directions but it wasn't bad and it was a fairly pleasant ride. I grew up in this area (just North of here actually) and have fond memories of the New Jersey bay shore. If I had money with me, I may have stopped to buy a quart of local strawberries and sat on the roadside and eaten them. As it was, I settled for gels every 45 minutes or so.

I need to digress for a moment to pick a bone with my fellow triathletes, runners, & cyclists. I know we are all trying to be fast out there, but is it really necessary to drop empty gel packets on the ground? USAT does have a littering rule and even that shouldn't be necessary. Small towns like Cedarville welcome us with open arms, accommodate our races, and put up with driving delays while we take precedence. I think the least we can do is NOT LITTER. Stuff the empty gel pack in your pocket please. I saw dozens of them up and down the roads along the course. I'm sorry but NOT COOL.

"That was easy. What's next?"

Now . . back to our regularly scheduled blog. The bike ride went by pretty quick. On the first lap I had some discomfort in my left glute and hamstring and was forced to stretch and change position a bit but it seemed to calm down as I went on. I think I was a bit tense from the swim. The only real moment of lunacy on the bike came at around mile 27 when I rather inexplicably began to sing Johnny Cash tunes. I'm not sure how pedaling a bike gets one mentally to "Fulsom Prison Blues" but that is where I was.  Regardless, after a couple hours, 3 gel packs, and a chorus of "Five Feet High and Rising",  I was headed back toward mount/dismount and T3. And no, I haven't mastered the flying dismount yet either, at least not intentionally. I go with the COPS dismount. That is where you get off the bike and start running, except I take the bike along with me. Bike time: 2:16:35.

There were two humorous moments in T2. The first was when I thought someone had stolen my running shoes. I slipped my bike shoes off all the while looking for my running shoes. Hmmm. "They aren't here. That's my bike, and my towel, and that's where I left my shoes". But they weren't there. Glancing around I saw them on the other side of my bike off my towel yet neatly stacked next to each like they should be. Interesting. I'd love to know the story behind that. Anyway, I grabbed them and slipped them on. (Love my Zoot shoes & iBungees.) I then did what all the transition videos tell you you should do by attempting to put my race belt on while moving. This doesn't work so well when a) you are attempting to carry a water bottle with you b) you are so distracted putting the belt on you attempt to run out through "Bike In".

It's hard to read but the sign that is the other way behind me says "Run Out"

Fortunately, ol' Wrong Way Petey found his satellites and turned around the right way, if not the long way around the end of the racks instead of just running down an aisle. Regardless I was off on my strong suit: the run.  T2: 1:39.

Heading out on the 8.8 Mile Run

Running sure is a lot tricker after a difficult swim and 40 miles on the bike. For the first two miles I struggled to slow my pace to something reasonable and with mild to severe back spasms. I was forced to stop and stretch several times. I walked for a few yards but my back didn't feel any better walking so I figured I may as well run. After stretching for the third time, and grabbing some gatorade at the second aid station, my back eased up and I was able to run normally. Overall the 8.8 miles was a bit slower then I expected but the goal was to finish. As the run progressed I began passing runners despite not exactly setting a torrid pace. I think I was between 8-8:30 which for my purposes was fine. Maybe someday I'll worry about being fast. For now, finishing running was the goal. My run got stronger as I went and I began to visualize and look forward to the finish. I hit the last aid station (where they were out of gatorade . . not good considering there were still well over 100 runners behind me), looped into town, on to Main street and then toward the school. At that point, I could hear the finish. I couldn't wait to finish . . mostly because I was FAMISHED!

I took the last right turn by the school, passed the woman in front of me who seemed to slow a bit (clearly she wasn't as hungry as me for the finish, and I mean that in the most literal sense of "hungry") and sped across the line in 4:08:48 total time. 

It is worth mentioning that I'm quite sure I had one accomplishment no other athlete on the course today had. I was able to identify over 20 bird species by call during the bike & run including 9 species of warbler. I think USAT should take this under consideration during rankings.

Also while many athletes went home yesterday with medals, age group awards, and team points, I scored a couple quarts of those fantastic Jersey strawberries on the way home. Pure deliciousness.  If you do this race be sure to stop and get both local strawberries & asparagus. You'll find none better anywhere.

Time to Rest & Reset a bit

For the last few years I have focused my efforts at running, diet, physical fitness and now triathlon around losing weight and getting in shape. I have successfully pared down from 230+ lbs. to a consistent 180. I have been trying to shed a few more pounds and lose the last of the belly fat using the same methods that got me to this point. That is, a consistent (and rather sparse) diet, and lots and lots of exercise. My typical week includes 20-30 miles of running (more during marathon training), 20-60 miles of bike riding, and a couple thousand yards swimming. After my spring marathon at Shamrock I've been ramping up the bike and swim and cutting back a hair on running.

I've noticed two things. No more weight is going away, and I'm completely out of energy for big workouts or races. Looking at my calendar I think I need to add some rest days and rework my nutrition plan to go from weight loss to sustaining a high-energy training regimen. The latter is especially true given my attempt to complete a Half-Iron Man later this summer.

Now I wished I paid more attention to all the articles on nutrition I've read in magazines the last couple years. The one question I have is how come nutrition experts can't talk about real quantities of food? I see things like "Runners should take in 75-120 grams of protein per day". What? So is that like a chicken? A flank steak? The bugs I swallowed during my evening run along the river trail? A Stegosaurus? Same applies to carbs, fiber and everything else.

Shamrock Marathon 2012 - Race Report

This race report begins one year ago when I crossed the line at the 2011 Shamrock marathon in a personal record (PR) time of 3:32 and change. 2 minutes off a Boston Qualification. No matter. I knew 3:30 really wouldn’t get me in. I was exhausted at the finish. Or was I? Could I REALLY have not made that 3:30 or did I mentally give up? As time wore on I wasn’t sure.

In a move that surprised nobody, the Boston Athletic Association has since, somewhat arbitrarily, chopped 5 minutes off all qualifying times for all age groups and genders. I was no longer 2 minutes from making a coveted BQ but 7. Hmmm. I can’t do that. Or can I? Over the following weeks I looked at my other, shorter race times and those of my peers. I looked at my training. The numbers indicated maybe I have a better marathon in me. Maybe . .

Let me step back a moment and point out that I am NOT built like a runner. At 5’11” and around 180ish pounds I am stocky when compared to other runners. Books by those that are supposed to know say I should be 30 lbs lighter. Those that know me say I would like like an anorexic skeleton. That said, there are definitely still a few pounds that could go away but certainly not 30.

Still I decided I had to try. The first thought was to hire a coach and go nuts. Running, running, running and more running. Heck, even if I got fired it would be worth it if I got that BQ right? Hmm. Perhaps not. I decided I would rather try by myself. The expense of a coach is certainly a point of argument but I still wanted to know it was all me. So I laid out a plan and signed up for what appeared to be the most logical choice of races: Shamrock 2012. It was in a good, cooler month, and it is a fast flat course that I was familiar with.

I started training diligently in November following a 6-day a week running schedule. After a summer of swim, bike, run, suddenly my body hated 6 days a week of running. More importantly, my mind hated 6 days a week of running. I took a drastic (and perhaps fatal to my BQ) step of eliminating one day of running but keeping a high-energy workout such as spin or a hard weight session on that day.

Training went on through a mild winter that only involved one 20+ mile run on the treadmill. The weather gods smiled on the remainder of my long run days and I had perfect training conditions for most outings. My runs were fast, and on target. There was an inkling of doubt on 2 long runs when I struggled to keep a hard pace at the end. There was another inkling of doubt when I could not find time during speedwork days at the end of training to squeeze in a proper set of 10x800 Yassos but had to settle for 6 or 7.

The last 20 mile run was a hilly, windy affair with a head cold. I still managed to finish the whole 20 miles with a friend in 2:45. I thought this was a good omen and felt ready.

Finally, race weekend rolled around. Janice and I departed in our rental car for the 6-hour drive to Virginia Beach, VA. The running community takes over the town for this event. On a weekend that features the beach and St. Patrick’s Day you might think it is a nasty, drunken affair but any college drunks are far outnumbered by runners and volunteers. The half-marathon sells out by January and the marathon not far behind though this year was not a sellout. 

We arrived at the expo mid afternoon and I got my bib, shirt and did some shopping without really buying much more then a gel or two and a pair of socks. Then it was off to the hotel to check in. We go beach front at the Best Western Oceanfront. It is the closest hotel to the exit gate of the finish. I can finish the course, turn right, get a shower and then go to the conveniently close beer tent. We ate dinner Saturday night at Tautog’s. An interesting place a woman at the expo told us about. There is no sign, just a sailfish statue. They also do not take reservations for small parties. We got there at opening and waited in line to learn we were the first people not to get a table. But we were the first people at the bar for 2 of the 7 available bar stools. Thank goodness for that. We got a glass of wine and a menu and enjoyed a scrumptious meal.

Back at the hotel I laid out my various clothes and equipment for race day and also went over a water strategy with Janice. I am terrible with a capital “T” at water stops but can drink out of a bottle no problem. Since the full marathon goes South then loops back by the hotel I arranged with Janice to hand me a full bottle on the way by. This strategy worked like a charm. Finally, off to bed.

Race day dawned, a little cloudy with temps in the low 50s. Throughout the day, it would clear up to a sunny 60 something. It was reported to be only 54 but take it from someone who spent the afternoon in a t-shirt it was not 54 but much warmer. Anyway, where was I? Oh right, marathoning.

I enjoyed some breakfast and coffee at the hotel and made my way to the start with Janice at about 7:55. Race time was 8:30 and we were just a few blocks from the start. The preliminaries involved singing happy birthday to the race (it’s 40^th), the National Anthem and an early start for the members of Team Hoyt, and the wheel chair runners. Finally, the 8:30 start for Corral 1 was sounded and we were off heading South on Atlantic Avenue.

My goal was 3:25 or better. This would at least let me have the chance at giving Boston my name. Was I confident in that time? Honestly? No. I knew how beat I was at the finish the prior year and that was 2 minutes off my 3:30 goal. A 7 minute PR in a marathon is enormous. While I felt my training had been adequate I DO NOT feel my food discipline had been adequate. The plan since November had been to lose those last few pesky pounds. While the holidays usually aren’t my enemy, high stress week after high-stress week had created nervous eating at work, and famished eating after long work-days at home. Still, the early miles were easy.

Mile 1: 7:37

Mile 2: 7:34

Mile 3: 7:43

Along about mile 3 something happened that will forever change my feelings about making or missing goals in a race. We passed part of Team Hoyt. I did this last year but was running as part of a vibrant race group and we chanted TEAM HOYT, TEAM HOYT, TEAM HOYT. While being part of the crowd, I didn’t take the time to think about Team Hoyt. This year I passed close enough by see Team Hoyt. I decided no matter what happens, even if I wind up walking across the finish line today, or some other race, I won’t be sad. At least I will get to walk across that line. There are many out there who will never have that chance.

Mile 4: 7:37

Mile 5: 7:41

I was going along nicely perhaps a hair fast at times but not overly so and I remember thinking around mile 6 or 7 how easy the pace felt. No effort at all so far. “Gosh, I hope it stays easy”.

Mile 6: 7:40
Mile 7: 7:45

Mile 8: 7:39

Mile 9: 7:43

Mile 10: 7:40

After turning back to the North, running through the military base and high-fiving all the soldiers & sailors we headed back up over the bridge (the only incline on the whole course) and out on to the boardwalk. Miles 11 & 12 took us straight into the wind.

Mile 11: 7:42

Mile 12: 7:44

The end of mile 12 took us back onto Atlantic Avenue where I grabbed a fresh bottle of water from Janice at the hotel and kept going. Things were looking good at the half.

13.1: 1:41:47

Miles 12 to 14 are filled with people along the streets of Atlantic Avenue cheering and calling your name, ringing cow bells, blowing air horns, all truly cheering you on. And then you leave town for more open and desolate roadway. It’s at this point the landscape opens up and you feel the wind even more then on the boardwalk. It starts wearing relentlessly, slowing you down and you push harder. My body was starting to revolt at the pace. I was struggling to keep the miles below 7:50.

13: 7:41

14: 7:46

15: 7:47

16: 7:48

There was another problem: Too much coffee and too much time waiting before the start of the race. I’d peed as often as I could before we left the hotel and again walking to the start at the last un-crowded opportunity. But now, for the first time ever in a race I REALLY had to go to the bathroom. There are a couple porta johns near mile 17. I wasn’t so worried about stopping to use the bathroom but rather getting going again. BQ pace was beginning to be laborious and I was worried. But I remember the sage advice I got from far more experienced runners: “If you are thinking about going, go”. So, I stopped and used the facility. I came out just in time to see the 3:25 pace group go by. “Oh no”. I thought I had more cushion there. I set off in pursuit. For a few moments I gained ground. But my stop had cost me my momentum. My legs ached and complained of the restart. I tried to override and pushed myself on faster. And I watched as the 3:25 pace group and my BQ time got farther and farther away. I knew at that moment I wouldn’t catch them and I would not BQ. I gave up. I walked for a bit along the shoulder. It was the middle of the park and I thought how pretty it was.

17: 7:53

18: 9:33

I didn’t have a back-up plan. Having completed 3 marathons, I knew I’d finish. I also knew the BQ was a make-or-break and that if it was break I knew I would not have the legs or the will to try to PR either. I walked a bit and ran a bit at ridiculously slow paces. My left knee and hip ached relentlessly.

19: 10:00

20:  9:42

I was not alone. There was a contingent of runners who, like me, didn’t have the stuff to keep the torrid pace. There was the skinny guy in the green shirt who I didn’t speak to but made a connection with as we alternated passing each other in our attempts to run. There was the young couple that I had left behind earlier and now passed me but whom I passed a few minutes later. There was Team Caleb. Caleb was a decorated soldier who died in the line of duty last October. He and his young wife had planned to race this race together but in his absence, and with the company of his comrades she pressed on in the race in his memory. She was struggling. She and her companions would pass me, and then I would catch up to them as they tried to help her stretch away cramps. While I was miserable myself, I would return on Tuesday to my life of normalcy while she would return to an empty house and a missing hero and husband. I stopped and found the a little sample tube of Cramp 911 I got at an expo and gave it to her. I said “I don’t know if it works, but maybe it will help”. She thanked me and I left her with a “Go Team Caleb”. I thought later that I hoped she knew it was topical and not oral. There were many other asphalt warriors struggling toward the finish line.

21: 10:57

22: 10:32

23: 10:38

All walk/run now. My left knee and hip hurt so terribly a dragging, limping gate was all I could muster. I had left behind the green shirt guy and Team Caleb and been left behind by the young couple who seemed to keep a nice steady solid run going. I at least had a new goal in mind. To finish better then Richmond. That was my first marathon and I had similarly fallen apart though for far different reasons. That was cockiness and naiveté. Today I had taken a risk to push the edge and failed. I was okay with today and felt beating my worst time was a worthwhile goal. That had been a looks-good-on-paper 3:53.

At least I was back in civilization. There were more and more people along the route again. I had inserted my headphones to try to get inspiration from the music and it did help however I did discover that contrary to a statement I made prior to the race, you can indeed run slow to Twisted Sister. Still, with people cheering and being able to run block by block instead of mile by mile I kept going.

24: 9:28

Water stops were my new motivation. I sucked down my last gel at 24 miles and looked forward to every cup of Gatorade I could grab. Somewhere along the way, someone was passing out half a banana. I grabbed one and said “God Bless you”. I don’t think I have ever tasted anything so heavenly.

25: 10:53

I could only run short distances before my left knee began to completely shutdown and stop working. I remember passing a guy who was hobbling along unable to put any weight on his cramped up right leg. I remember thinking “Boy I’m glad I’m not him” and then chuckling because I probably didn’t look much better.

Somewhere between the mile 25 and mile 26 marker I was shuffling along at a walk looking down with my hands on my hips and a young gentleman came by, looked at me and said “Come on”. I started running again and followed him to the last water stop where I slowed to a walk long enough for one more Gatorade.

Now it was on to the boardwalk and the trot past King Neptune to the finish. I could see the finish. I was running (sort of). Why the HELL wasn’t it getting any closer!? I chuckled to myself again remembering the sticker in the expo that read “Who the HELL moved the finish line”.

26: 10:23

I removed the head phones to soak up the finish line. I can’t say I enjoyed the finish line. I was truly a beaten man. I was conscious of crossing the “warning” line and heard the announcer mispronounce my name. “From Reading, Pennsylvania Peter Gichens”. I didn’t care. I crossed the line, I think the most tired I’ve ever been at the finish of a race, my peripheral vision a little blurry.

Chip Time: 3:47:47

I located my wife in the crowd who was holding our Flip camera and managed a feeble wave. Somewhere I got a medal, and hat. I spied a bench and REALLY wanted to sit down but was told to keep moving.

At this point, urgent voices behind me shouted “Clear the way”! I turned to see volunteers carrying a collapsed runner and hurrying toward the medical tent. I couldn’t help wondering if he got to finish and whether anyone thought to grab his medal, shirt and hat. And then I thought, “I’m glad I’m not that guy”.

I got to finish on my own two feet. It was a good day.

Sunset Challenge Triathlon - July 2011

I picked the Sunset Challenge Triathlon as my second attempt at a tri due to its flat courses, and lake swim. The first swim at NJ Devilman was a bit of a debacle. Since then, I took an Open Water Swim (OWS) clinic with Mid-Atlantic Multisport. What a world of difference. But I’m getting ahead of myself. The race was ¼ mile swim, 13 mile bike, 5K run.

Janice and I packed up and left for Dad’s last night. He lives only 30-35 minutes from Parvin State Park where this year’s Sunset Challenge was held. Normally it is at Sunset Lake in Bridgeton, NJ (hence the name) but due to some water quality issues it was moved to Parvin State Park. This was a good choice. Parvin is a beautiful little park that I spent a lot of days at as a kid but haven’t been back to since. The lake was warm, and clean (if one ignored the piles of goose $h!t all over the beach).

With a sprint start time of 8:00am, we arrived around 6:30. Registration was a snap. It wasn’t a really big event and I had pre-registered. Quick packet pick-up, body marking, outta there and off to transition. The transition area was probably a good 300 yards from the beach start. I headed to the T area, went through a quick bike safety inspection, located my transition spot and got set up.

We then went off to the beach for the pre-race meetings. (After a brief stop at the REAL bathrooms at the back of the main building). We watched the Olympic distance head out and then I went for a quick warm up swim. The lake water was well over 78 and wetsuits were, therefore, out. Even starting on my warm-up I could tell the OWS clinic made a difference.

Back on the beach we got our last-minute instruction, advice for staying within the rules from a USAT official and then waded out for the start of the sprint. Basically our wave was all males doing the sprint. Go!

I was much more relaxed in the swim then two months ago. Today my only issue was catching up and passing slower swimmers. It is disconcerting to clunked in the head by a foot or arm. The water was dark enough that you really couldn’t see when you were approaching another swimmer. I will buy goggles that are tinted and that have a bigger field of view. Those I talked to said it helps. I slowed or stopped 3-4 times to get out of traffic or avoid back-ups at buoys. I did do an official Tri-buoy-flip-turn-thingy around the second buoy. I was sort of proud of that. After the 3^rd buoy I sensed the shoreline and went a bit too fast. I had to back stroke for a moment after swallowing a mouthful of lake water and choking but . . still . . overall the swim was pretty good. Time: 8:41. Not bad. I haven’t focused on swimming with speed at all so I’m happy with that.

Next point of focus will be transition. I will learn to ride/run without socks. I spent way too long in both T1 and T2 today. After exiting the water it was a 300 yard dash to the T area. All through sand, so my feet were pretty dirty when I got there. I had to do a lot of rubbing with a towel to get my felt clean enough to put socks on. No more socks for short races after today. I then grabbed my sunglasses and discovered one lens had come out. Of all times! Anyway, put that back in, strapped on the garmin, put on the helmet, grabbed a quick drink and went. In the future I plan to save serious time in T1. Until now this has all been for learning and I have not been worried about it.

My T area was close to “bike out” so in short order I was on the bike and pedaling. The ride was fun. I’m not the fastest guy on the bike yet but I do okay. I think I averaged 18-19 mph. I got passed quite a bit but did my share of passing too. I took good mental notes of those passing me. I planned on seeing them later during the run. I hit mile 9 on the bike and next thing I knew I was back at transition. It was a 13+ mile ride. Very fast. Bike time: 38:31. Lots of room for improvement as I get more bike time. I’m also no sure where they counted T1 & T2 because there weren’t separate times listed for those. Overall, I was happy with my bike.

Back for T2 . . not very fast here either. Janice has video footage of it (posted later), and I really screwed around a lot with getting my shoes tied. That will change too. But I got my shoes on remembered to take my helmet off, grabbed hat & race belt with bib and left. I guess because I took so long to get my laces on I never really “felt” the bike-to-run rubbery legs. Or maybe it was because the bike was short & flat.

Anyway, the 5k run was around the delightfully shaded trail around the lake. What a great place to run! We would have quickly been broiled were we out under the mid-morning 80-something-degree sun. As it was we were shaded and cool. There were ample opportunities for water along the way. At the beginning, I grabbed one cup and dumped it down my back. Then took off! I did all the passing. My runner’s legs kicked in and I blew by everyone I saw. The only part that sucked was the end. We turned onto the beach and the last 20 yards or so were loose, deep, sand. Talk about 20 yards of torture! Run time: 20:27. This was 3^rd fasted in my age group.

The overall winner was also in my age group. His times were unreal fast: 5:37, 29:24, and 16:56. Holy Fast Dude Batman!!!!

The post-race grub was perfect. Not a lot of heavy pizza etc. but pasta salad, fresh jersey tomatos, bread, lots and lots of fresh NJ blueberries, other fruit, cookies, and cake. I indulged in all but especially blueberries!

My total time was 1:12:12. Good enough for 54^th overall and 6^th in age group. By simply improving transitions I could easily move up 2 spots in my AG. I look forward to bettering this time, but I REALLY had fun today and will indeed Tri again!

2011 NJ Devilman - First Attempt at Triathlon

I signed up for the New Jersey Devilman Sprint Triathlon several months ago after receiving sound advice from our friend Susanne. She explained that it was a good beginner tri. She was right. Still . . a first tri is a first tri and I had plenty of race-week jitters. Jitters like I NEVER had before any running event including my first marathon. Of course, the difference might be that it is impossible to drown while running a marathon. Conversely, it would be quite a simple thing to drown during a triathlon. This was first and foremost in my mind especially as the spring temperature stayed low keeping the normally warm lake nice and cold.

I didn’t realize these tri things started so blasted early. I gave my personal race videographer every opportunity to bail out but after the drowning discussion, she insisted on coming along, insurance policy in hand. (Okay . . not really, but she may have been somewhat worried.) We crawled out of bed around 4:00am Saturday and traveled to the metropolis of Cedarville, NJ. When I say metropolis think “Tiny Village”, which it is. Cedarville is a small farming community along the Delaware Bay shore that I’ve driven through probably a thousand times on my way to Fortescue (an even smaller village) to go fishing. Every time through town I see people fishing in the little lake and think “The bay is 5 miles away. Why would you bother fishing in that pond”? Yet today, I would be swimming in it. Yikes!

We were some of the first to arrive in the parking lot for the race. I parked and got my bike and bag out and was going to head toward registration and packet pick-up when my phone rang and Joe Lombardi (Soarfeet) was on the phone. Turns out he was moments away so we waited. Joe is an experienced triathlete and his guidance would prove invaluable.

Joe arrived and after meeting his new dog Kona, we made our way with our bikes to packet pick-up. This all went smooth and we received a shirt, hat, packet and timing chip. After stopping for body markings (first time I’ve had someone write numbers on me with a pen) it was off to the transition area to setup. I was bib number 136 and found my spot in transition just a little way from Joe. This was handy. “Joe what do I do with this big sticker with my number on it”? Oh . . it goes on the bike. “Joe what do I do with this little sticker with my number on it”? Oh . . it goes on the helmet. And so it went. (Seems these triathlons like you to have your number everywhere.) I proceeded to lay out my transition area based on many hours of watching transition videos on Youtube. Apparently I looked like I knew what I was doing because bib #138 was watching me carefully. I stopped and said “This is my first one too”. He started laughing and said he’d better watch someone else. I got everything laid out except for my bib and race belt. I had been through my bag completely 3 times without finding it. I was SURE I had packed it. No matter . . off to the registration tent to buy another one for $10.00. (Later, I found my race belt in my bag, right where I packed it.)

After getting setup I returned my bag to the car and bumped into Susanne Vanzijl and her husband Sean. Susanne just looks like she knows what she’s doing at a triathlon (even before you look down at her Cervelo Tri bike with Zipps and her Aero helmet). Race results would later show that indeed she does know what she’s doing. Anyway, we chatted for a bit but she had to hurry to setup as they got their later then us.

Fast-forwarding to race start, I was one of a few people without a wetsuit. The whole tri thing was new to me and the race predictions had been for 70 some degree water. As it turns out it was 66. Oh well. Susanne had packed an extra wetsuit but I wasn’t going to try to learn how to use that on race day. I’d survive for 4/10ths of a mile. Joe and I wandered to the start area. A boat ramp with a couple of floating docks. It was a deepwater start where we’d paddle out, and wait for the go signal. Joe & I were both in wave 2. Susanne was in wave 3. I asked her to pass nicely when she went by.

Anyway, we watched wave 1 go and then got the signal to hit the water. We filed down the dock and in I went. Oooh. Cold. Okay ... actually not too bad. I quickly acclimated to the temperature while swimming out to the start and was thankful I hadn’t fooled with the wetsuit. I was still paddling out to the start and heard “10 seconds”! I thought, “Is that for us”? “Go”! I guess so . . . I dove immediately into a freestyle and after submerging my head completely panicked because I couldn’t see 2 inches in front of my face. I jerked my head out of the water and stopped. Try again . . . no . . no good. (Did I mention this was my first Open Water Swim?) There was no logic to this. I knew it wouldn’t be like the pool but for some reason not being able to see was scaring the bejeezus out of me. I had to keep my head out of the water. I began crawling toward the first buoy head held up. Then on to a side stroke. Finally a weak back stroke. I decided when I got to the first buoy I could easily swim to shore and slink away. I was ready to quit now and we were less then 20 seconds in to the race.

I made it to the first buoy faster then I thought. Okay . . just make the turn and start going to the second buoy. More back-stroking. At one point I looked back and saw a wave of blue swim caps coming at me. The third wave. I was near the second buoy so stopped and treaded water out of the way to let them go by. No point causing more chaos then necessary if I were to drown. I noticed a lot of other people having way more difficult time then me swimming.

Finally, I made my way around the 2^nd bouy. I had to stop and hold my hand up to see the 3^rd buoy as I was looking straight into the sun. I spotted it and resumed my back/side stroke routine. I was making better time then you’d think but not nearly so good a time as a strong freestyle. I got around buoy 3 quick enough and turned toward buoy 4 and the dock. As I side stroked on I could see bikes on main street. “Okay enough of this bullshit. Swim you moron”. Finally, I relaxed, turned and swam a strong freestyle to buoy 4 and the dock. Of course, my left goggle filled with water. In retrospect, I’d have been MUCH better off leaving off the goggles. I gotta check the rules and see if that is legal.

I got to the dock, climbed out and hoofed it toward transition. It was a couple hundred yards to the timing mat and I passed a lot of people on the way there.  I hit the mat in the absolutely ridiculous time of 17:23 for a .4 mile swim! This was 211^th out of 253. At least a few people swam slower.

Transition 1 went smooth. I was glad I didn’t have to wrestle a wetsuit for the first time. I sat in the grass, put my socks and shoes on, strapped on the Garmin, donned helmet and glasses, grabbed the bike and left. I did take the time to gulp down some G2 since the swim was more strenuous then needed. Total time for T1 was 2:36. Seems slow considering how it felt.

The bike ride was fun. 10 miles out with a tail wind and 10 miles back into it but not that bad. I’ve been riding into worse wind all spring. Too many sprinters didn’t pass me though the lead edge of the Half Lite began passing me toward the end. Those carbon wheels sound like a car coming up behind you. Along the bike route I saw a race belt with someone’s bib attached, a nice looking mini-pump, and the head of what appeared to be a Garmin 205 or 305. I meant to go back and retrieve the latter and turn it in but completely forgot about it. I was conscious of the drafting rule but there were only a few places where I was near anyone fast enough to draft off of and made a point to hang back the required distance until I was ready to pass. I saw all kinds of bikes too: tri bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, cruisers, and recumbent. It was clear you only need a bike. It doesn’t have to be fancy. The mount/dismount area for the bike was probably 150 yards from the bike out gate for the transition area. I ride with SPD pedals so popped my feet out of the clips about 50 yards from the dismount line and pedaled in on my heels. I’m not that good at clipping/unclipping yet and am not about to try clipping my shoes to the bike ahead of time. (At least not yet.)  I hit the scoring mat for the bike leg in 1:11:11. 128^th overall for that leg. As far as I’m concerned, right on target for me for now. Certainly better then the swim. Oh, I also identified 9 species of warbler by song along the bike route. I meant to mention that to race officials in case that merited some sort of time deduction.

Back to Transition for T2. I racked the bike, popped off my helmet, changed shoes and tied my laces (no yanks or anything yet), grabbed my hat, shiny new race belt, and bottle of G2 and beat it. I was surprised how many people walked the transitions. I guess at the stages we were at they didn’t think it worth it to run. I hauled butt out of there. T2 was 1:57. (It occurs to me the transition times are from the time you enter one gate, get to your spot, and leave the other gate so not just time at your mat).

By the time I left the transition area my legs were already feeling pretty good. The 20.5 mile ride was a good warm-up and the run from the dismount, through transition had shaken out the post-bike feeling. I was ready to run and it felt GOOOD. I thought “Now this is my thing”. I may not have been the fastest runner in the field but I can say I was the fastest while I was running. I passed everyone I saw. I got a lot of funny looks like “How can you be going that fast”. The first couple miles were 7:27ish. Mile 3 was a little slower . . maybe 7:50ish. But then I sped back up for the last mile. The course was definitely longer then the advertised 4 miles but I didn’t mind. I was really enjoying myself. As I came down the finish chute the guy in front of me was struggling. I accelerated thinking “I’m going to dash your hopes of that 127^th place finish”. He heard me coming and buckled down but I could tell he just couldn’t go faster. Then I spotted my wife with the video camera. I thought “You know what, I’m not gonna elbow this guy outta the way for one extra spot”. I eased up, smiled and gave the camera the thumbs up. As we went through the chute I congratulated the gentleman in front of me on a fine finish. He said “I heard you coming”! My run leg was 31:31 or 55^th overall. (I can tell triathletes hate running.) Final time: 2:04:41. Not fast, but a good learning experience.

Afterwards, I hung out with Age Group legends Joe Lombardi (and Kona), and Susanne Vanzijl as they accepted their respective age group trophies. (Susanne 1^st place, Joe 3^rd place). I got a finishers medal and a big kiss from my wife. So . . fun, friends, GREAT weather (70 degrees and sunny by the time we left), and my first tri in the books. Oh and most importantly, I met my single biggest goal for the race: I DIDN’T DROWN!

Rehoboth Beach Marathon - Dec 2010

Yesterday morning I competed in the Rehoboth Beach Marathon in Rehoboth beach Delaware. The decision to run this race goes back to my first marathon last month at Richmond. If you read my Richmond RR I said I was very proud of this personal accomplishment. I was and am. Entering and completing a marathon was something I once thought only crazy people did. (Of course, I was right . . runners rally aren’t playing with a ful deck.) I had entered Richmond full of piss and vinegar SURE that I could go and bang out a 3:30 marathon or better in my first attempt. I had trained hard and, arrogantly, felt I could do that. Long story short I crashed and burned. By all appearances, I finished with a decent time for a first time marathon. I’ve had many people tell me tons of folks would KILL for a sub-4:00 marathon. But even that night after finishing the race as the euphoria wore off and the excitement of the Runner’s World Challenge wound down I found myself unfulfilled and disappointed. Not that I’d finished worse then I expected but by the thought that I’d let myself down. The second half of the race had been a disaster that concluded with me trudging across the line. I had trained hard. I was physically strong. But I was weak mentally and felt that I had betrayed my training. No matter, I was going to try again in the spring at Shamrock. But that was 4 months away. That was 4 long months with every opportunity for injury, illness, or for life to get in the way of training. I was ready NOW! I couldn’t let that dissatisfied feeling smolder and fester all winter. So after a couple of private messages to trusted sources with much experience going back-to-back in big races, I perused the internet and found Rehoboth Beach. A few clicks later, I was signed up.

I mentioned nothing to anyone. I had arrogantly proclaimed my goals for Richmond and felt they were a foregone conclusion. I didn’t even tell my wife. She thought I was traveling to Delaware on business. (Not uncommon.) I had already decided I didn’t want to be set up for failure so if the weather was extreme I was going to skip it altogether. But I didn’t want anyone but me focusing on my performance or my finish. I didn’t want to have that self-induced pressure to perform. I needed to run my own race. My race goal was just to race smart, and strong and not betray my training with arrogance again. I was hoping time-wise for something under 3:40. If I got that then fine . . that would affirm my training. If my time was closer to Richmond then I would feel better about Richmond and affirm that finish as well.

I drove to Rehoboth Beach Friday evening. It was an uneventful drive. This is a small race. 1400 competitors or so for both the ½ and full events. There were several sponsors but the main one was the Rehoboth Beach Running Company. This is a small store right on Rehoboth Avenue. Packet pick-up and race festivities would occur here. They had a tent setup next door to accommodate things. I quickly got my bib, shirt, and a course map and walked down the road to see where the start was. Then it was off to dinner by myself at Applebees (3 cheese Chicken Penne is a great pre-marathon meal). I stayed at the Comfort Inn no more then 10 minutes from the start. Based on the predicted weather I decided to go with my most comfortable tights and Nike Dri-Fit shirt. It is long-sleeved but never feels hot. After pinning on my bib and laying stuff out I went to bed. I also had no less then 4 gels stashed in my running clothes. This was my biggest factor for poor performance at Richmond (lack of fuel) and it wasn’t going to happen again.

Race day was near perfect. Perhaps a bit cold but considering the time of year it could have been terrible. It was around 30 degrees at race start warming to the low 40s by 9:00am or so. I couldn’t tell this the night before but the start at the Rehoboth Avenue Band Shell was right on the water. With a 7:00am start we got to see the beginnings of a pink & salmon ocean sunrise before the gun. Both races went off together with the half-turning around much sooner on the more-or-less out and back course. One of the lessons I learned at Richmond was, for me, a pace group was a bad idea. No problem applying that lesson here . . there were no pace groups. The gun went off in a timely fashion at 7 and we were underway. We all shuffled/walked/ran/stopped/shuffled to the start line and then got up to speed. My plan was to pace around 8:10-8:15 for the first half and then try for a negative split on the second half. I carefully monitored this over the first few miles when one wants to go charging along on a cool morning. I think I verbally admonished myself on several occasions to slow down.

The course was actually quite pretty. A mix of the towns of Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, 2 Delaware State Parks, a nice trail system, and rural Delaware. From miles 4 through about 8 I got talking to a nice young lady from Albany, NY. She was doing 3 marathons in 90 days in order to join a local club. She had qualified for Boston in an earlier race. I gave her a congratulatory high five. At mile 7.22 the leader of the half went back the other way and he was positively FLYING. The guy on the bicycle escorting him could barely keep up. About that time I realized while talking to my fellow runner was fun I was violating another lesson from Richmond. Don’t get so caught up being social that you don’t run your own race. In Richmond I had run too fast because of this. Now I realized I was running too slow. So after the mile 8 water stop I picked it up and we parted ways.

The turnaround for the half was near mile 10. (Not the exact path back). After this there were a lot less runners. Even before then, the water stops here were much easier compared to Richmond just because of the much smaller number of runners. I can’t imagine what NYC or Marine Corp must be like.  I was never lonely. There were always plenty of other runners in sight and groups of 2 and 3 here and there. But my pacing stayed consistent. Before entering Cape Henlopen State Park we hit the ½.  Time to step it up a bit. I popped my new iPod Shuffle in and hit play. I did not drop the pace significantly but definitely picked it up a bit for a strong second half. After looping through the park we began the trek back toward Rehoboth Beach. In Richmond I crashed right before mile 18 and remember gloomily staring at the 18 mile marker for a long time as I walked toward it. As I briskly ran toward 18 now, I looked around and saw nobody was looking and gave it a one-finger salute as I ran by.

The miles began chipping away . . 19, 20, 21. Around then there was a small semblance of a wall. That nagging doubt “Just wak”. But I didn’t listen. The wall was small and I jumped over it and kept going. Fueling was a gel ever 6 miles followed by water at the next two stations, then some Gatorade. At mile 22 they had bananas and M&Ms. I ate half a banana. It tasted like manna from Heaven!

At mile 25 I was really excited and focused on the finish. I looked at my watch and realized I would easily beat my 3:40 goal. There was another water stop at 26 but I’m not sure who in their right mind would stop for water with .2 miles to go. Certainly not me!!! I cranked on by there and crossed the line with 3:37 something on the clock. It had taken a good 30-40 seconds to cross the line and I didn’t remember to stop my Garmin until I had gotten my medal, water, and space blanket. At that point it said 3:36:50 so I’m pretty sure once official chip-time results are posted it will be 3:36 something. This is approximately a 17 minute PR over Richmond. Not too surprising considering the second half there.

A couple of notes on the race itself. This was a smaller event but very well run. There was plenty of bathroom facilities at the start and plenty of water and Gatorade stops. (More-or-less every 2 miles.) There weren’t tons of people out cheering along the course. A few now and again and a bunch at the finish. The post-race food was adequate but I wouldn’t pay the extra money to buy a guest wrist-band if you had someone with you. There are a BUNCH of restaurants around the finish. If you have guests and friends just go to one of those. The shirts and finishers medals are very nice. If you are local and want a great late-season race on a VERY flat course this would be a good one. Note that if it were windy it would probably be miserable. We didn’t have a breath of air. It is also worth mentioning that there were runners from 40 States in attendance. I don’t think Delaware has a lot of marathons so for those looking to do 50 States it is one of the only opportunities.

Well . . I apologize that this was so long winded. If you stuck with me . . thanks! I hope you enjoyed the read.

Splits were:

1   8:17    14 8:07

2   8:02    15 7:56

3   8:02    16 8:03

4   8:15    17 7:59

5   8:07    18 8:11

6   8:23    19 7:54

7   8:18    20 8:12

8   8:16    21 8:03

9   8:02    22 8:33*

10 8:05    23 9:25*

11 8:01    24 8:43**

12 8:07    25 9:36**

13 8:03    26 8:14

                .2 - ? (TBD)

* This is where I found the little wall (and stopping to eat the banana)

** I think just running out of gas. These were tough miles. 

Richmond Marathon - First Marathon

26.2 is HARRRDDDD!!!!!

I can officially now say that. I can also officially now say that, unbelievably, I am a marathoner. It has been a long time since I have been proud of a personal accomplishment but I am indeed quite proud and happy about this. 

But first . . the race. We arrived in Richmond after a beautiful drive down, of all places I-95. The Maryland and Virginia foliage was a couple weeks behind Pennsylvania and quite peaked on our way here. The weather was perfect and remained perfect throughout the weekend. We drove to the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sport Complex and to the expo. I picked up my bib and packet from the Runner’s World Challenge booth where I met Jen Van Allen (who is now probably one of my favorite people ever) and several other contributors to RW. I arrogantly believed I could make a 3:30 in my first marathon and hit the Customer Service desk to move my Corral from 2 to 1. That was easy enough. Then I did some shopping including picking up a signed copy of “My Life on the Run” from Bart Yasso and spending a few minutes talking to him.

Then it was on to the Omni Hotel for check-in. I was surprised how far the hotel was from the expo. At 4:00pm, the RW Challengers got a two hour strategy session/entertainment from the RW crew including some stories from Bart about Comrades. Certainly something I am even more in amazement of now. After the strategy session, a bunch of RW Challengers headed off for our pre-race dinner at a local eatery.

Race day dawned cool and beautiful. 36 degrees. A little too cool to stand around outside but this is where the RW Challenge REALLY paid dividends. They had rented the National Theatre right by the start. (Literally.) We had warmth, food, coffee, and bathrooms! It was awesome. We sat and ate, and talked and saw the half-marathoners off. Then we got a picture of the first-time marathoners (including me). Gotta see if I can get a copy of that. After another pep talk from Jen and Bart we all headed for the corrals. I shuffled my way, confidently, to corral 1 and the 3:30 pace group. I hooked up with a couple guys I would run most of the first half with just by dumb luck.

At the start I was supremely confident and excited. I KNEW I could do 3:30. Our pacer did a great job for the first 6 miles staying in the range of 7:57 to 8:02. Perfect. 10K split was 50 minutes.  I had not had a chance (due to my own stupidity) to fool with the regular powerade they had on the course. All of my long runs had been done with Gels & water so that is what my fueling plan was. I took one gel to consume at mile 7 and then there were gels on the course at mile 14, and 21. Beginning mile 7, our pacer started getting a bit fast. 7:31. Hmmm. Mile 8, low 7:40s. Okay maybe my pace just seemed fast because I’d play catch-up after the water stop. But the paces remained 20-30 seconds fast through my 14. (Revised: After checking splits the pacer was pretty darn close to perfect. Must have just been me).

But at mile 14 disaster started. I don’t know how, but I MISSED the gels. I expected them to be on or near the tables. Later I learned they were being handed out before the water stops (a hundred feet or so). In the chaos of the water stop I had missed them. That can’t be good.

On we went. Mile 16 was the famous Lee bridge that is supposed to be the beginning of the Wall for most. It isn’t steep (actually completely flat) but is supposed to be windy. It was not all that bad though I did note the name of the last road we passed before heading on to the bridge was “Stonewall Avenue”. Throughout the course, there were members of “The Marathon Training Team”. They were simply there to help out the runners. I was planning on grabbing Powerade at mile 18 but at 17 I was already beginning to feel the lack of fuel. This was bad. Effectively, I was 17 miles in on one gel and water. Thankfully, one of the Training Team members had gels and I grabbed one. . . but it was too late. The wheels were coming off. Between getting behind in electrolytes and fuel I started getting a bit light-headed and crampy and had to walk a good portion of mile 18. This part of the course is the most desolate. A few people were out but not like the warmer confines of the city or the scenic beauty of the river. It was demoralizing to say the least to know I had been reduced to a walk and for the first time EVER as a runner was having to deal with cramps. Thoughts of just quitting were rampant. I had hit the wall and the wall had fallen on top of me. 

Then I saw mile 19. And I got another gel from another training team member. I started running again a little at a time. Starting mile 20 there were aid stations every mile. At each one I grabbed water and powerade and more gels. I stopped once or twice to stretch.

The walk breaks became shorter. I didn’t like them but it was either that or don’t finish. And I WAS GOING to finish. The 3:45 group passed. But I saw several other runners from the 3:30 pace group floundering as well. By mile 23 I was beginning to feel like the fueling was catching up. I was pumping in water & powerade and gels at each opportunity. Part way through mile 23 I began running for good again. I knew I really only had to make 25.7 and then it was a LONG downhill. I realized I could still break 4 hours and, you know, that isn’t that bad. At mile 24 I knew I’d be fine. That last 2.2 HURT. But the cramps were at bay, I was passing people again and cruising along around 8:45. Then I crested the hill on Cary St. and saw the finish line and the long lines of cheering fans and Bart Yasso jumping around like a madman just across the line. What a feeling! I crossed the line in 3:53:14. I was a very happy person as I was handed my finishers medal. 

Then it was off to the Omni for our special RW Challenge post-race reception with massage, food, etc. In the lobby there was a RW Challenge volunteer by the RW Challenge flag. She said, just go up to the second floor and pointed toward the steps. I said “We’ll take the elevator”. I no sooner hit the massage table then my calves locked up painfully tight. But Elaine kneaded them out and I enjoyed great food, and the fellowship of the marathon.

Later, after a shower, we all enjoyed an after party at the Bank and Vault right around the corner from the hotel courtesy of Saucony. I can say if you get a chance to do a RW Challenge event DO IT! I am so glad I did for my first marathon. I’ll do one again if given the chance.

But for now, it is lessons learned about fueling, and the doule-edged sword that is pace groups. Finally I just want to thank EVERYONE on the Runners World Masters forum and RW Challenge forum for your encouragement and support over the last year+ as I learned about running, and distance running. I could not have accomplished a marathon otherwise. 

Addendum

The Omni had a Starbucks in the lobby. That was the only place to get coffee. Sunday morning, the day after the race, I went down at 6:30 to get coffee. It turns out they don’t open until 7:00 on Sunday. When I got to the door, Bart Yasso was standing there looking in also wishing they were open. So having a half-hour we sat down in the lobby and fired up our laptops. For 30 minutes I sat surfing the web and talking running with Bart Yasso! How cool is that? Someone made the joke later that he’ll probably tell his kids about sitting and talking with me. But I think he might! You would think that after all the races he has done and runners he has met that they would all blend together but he seems to remember them all. What a great guy! (And Bart, I’m not saying that just ‘cuz you bought the coffee when Starbucks opened)!