Freedom's Run - RunMarathon

Some months ago, I found out my friend Mike at work was doing his first marathon and chose Freedom's Run as it was close by to where he lived. Basically, it was motivation to try and get in better shape, which actually is what this race is about. So, after looking into this race, I decided to first, use it as a "training" run for the JFK 50 as it would work into my schedule and second, to help Mike along as I know what it's like to do a marathon alone. I told Mike what I would do here. As he's slower than I am, he tried to persuade me to just go at my own pace. Tempting as this was, I stuck to my guns here to support Mike and also do an easy pace here. And the more time I spend here, the better since the JFK is going to be 8-10 hours on my feet.

Well, a month goes by and I'm pretty ready for this event considering my own training. Mike thinks he is as well as he's gone 23 miles for his long distance run and also through the hills in Antietam NB. So, we coordinate on the effort to meet. Now, the day before, Teresa, a gal from my tri club, is also going to do the full but thinks she'll drop out after 16. I persuaded her not to take the DNF and run with us as we'll be going at a nice pace. So, come early Saturday morning, I head out the door after breakfast to meet up with my Marathon companions.

Now unlike Ragnar a couple weeks ago, it is in the upper 40s and only to get up in the upper 60s later. So, I had to dress appropriately for this with gloves and arm warmers. Didn't want to overdress like in 2006 with the MCM. Get to the parking lot in plenty of time at River Riders. The only thing was, no signs indicated the turn off 340 and it was dark leading up to River Riders. Still, found it okay and there was plenty of parking there. Interestingly enough, found Teresa inside a bit later and we chatted. She still had to pickup her race number and packet, so we'd meet her at the start. Mike came along a bit later and we took the bus to the start. Dropped off my clothes back for later if I needed it (turned out I didn't). Mike got prepared and we all took a final bathroom break (yeah, TMI). A few minutes later we are off and running in the 2nd year of this event.

The first part is a short out and back and I was kicking myself for not having my cell phone or camera. In the distance on a slight hill were 6 cannons with fog before the mountains in the background with clear blue sky! It was magnificient! Fast runners are on their way back and we press. Running back through Harpers Ferry, meet up with Dana Casanave who's doing 52 marathons in 52 weeks for an orhpan group in Africa! Amazing. We cross the bridge and get out the C&O Canal towpath for our flat part of the run, miles 63 up to about mile 70. As I'm really just casually running, I speed up or slow down to talk to folks along the way. Make sure Mike's okay and he seems to be. Teresa is also doing well and keeping the conversation moving along. Finally, we reach just past 15 miles and it's time to head off the towpath and onto roads to head towards Antietam. Teresa's husband is there and snaps a photo of Teresa and me (nice shot too). The first series of hills aren't a cakewalk either and Mike is having a tough time here. I encourage him along and tell him to recover downhill and walk uphill if needed. See our first course photographer just before the end of this first series. Ham it up here. Oh, the sun's out full too, BTW, and it's gotten quite a bit warmer. After a nice downhill and a few turns, we come to a really long and fairly steep uphill. Mike decides to walk up this and so I use this for a hill interval and charge up it!! I have a good amount of energy too. Pause at the top to wait for Mike and Teresa. Coming back down and see another really long and steep hill. Again, Mike walks and I charge! Did this a few other times before the hills are behind us. Now I can tell we're near the back as a good number of folks are walking here. That's okay and keep thoughts on the goals plus encouraging Mike. Finally, we are coming out of Antietam and back to Sharpsburg. Mike's family encourages him at one point here as well. Now during many miles here, met up with the same group of guys who are doing the same thing I'm doing and helping their friend Clifford with his first as well. So they'd walk up hills and then run after that. As we near Sharpsburg for the final push, see Teresa pressing a bit ahead. Kept her in sight for later. Now there's a steady uphill out of Sharpsburg and Mike is now feeling the run but keeps pressing forward. I make sure I'm sticking with him and also check where Teresa is. Finally reach the top of this incline and Mike's still with me. Somewhere here we see a group with Llamas of all things! Ask if they're giving free rides ;-). Now, I asked Mike if he was okay with me sprinting after mile 25 for the last 1.2. Mike said if I get him to 25, he's okay with that. So, mile marker 25 comes up and I check with Mike again. Mike pats me on the back and essentially says "Go". I take off! I wish I had thought to see what the last mile pace was because I was moving! Had to be sub 8 and maybe closer to low 7. Up ahead I'm closing the gap to Teresa and just within site of the bridge crossing the Potomac into Shepherdtown, I zoom past her! She could hear me coming and lightly scolded me that she knew I was going to do this. Zoom ahead and I'm really moving! Folks are taking notice with "Nice Stride" and "Looking good". Final turns into the stadium and I hard sprint to the finish passing another runner as she's just about to cross. Shouldn't have done that I suppose but couldn't help myself. 3rd marathon is done!

Really for the goals I set forth, not much. Perhaps I might do this next year for actual time as I train for a full IM distance.

Waited at the finish for Teresa and then Mike who came in about 4 min behind me. Had pictures taken and then went to get food. Pizza was there which I don't care for after a race, but got a small piece plus fruit and water. Was going to get a bit of gatorade but there were bees all over!

Went over to the Bavarian Inn to get our free glass of beer in our Finisher's pint glass and perhaps some other food. Met tri club friends Nancy and Christine (did the Half) and Linda (did the 10K). After chatting and staying for the awards (Linda got one for the 10K), Christine was going to get something to eat in town and I asked if I could come along as I wanted to get a sandwich and the German food wasn't all that appealing to me. After that I asked Christine for a ride to the car and she graciously gave me that since she could get back to Frederick easily enough. After getting home, had just enough time for a few minutes to cool off in the Ft Detrick pool - AAAAhhhh!


Since the goal wasn't speed, this is N/A


This is actually a near 5 race. But a few things I thought should be changed:
- not enough porta johns at the start for over 600 folks. Long lines even near the start time
- no one directing from 340 to the parking area at River Riders
- Pizza after the event should be changed to baked goods. This race is taunted as one promoting health but ordered out pizza is probably one of the least healthy foods out there.
- The directions about the bag tags were not clear. I did get instructions at packet pickup though.
- After picking up some food, we were trying to find Teresa's husband and attempted to go back to the food area. But were stopped by a volunteer and not allowed to go back. This wasn't communicated very well (if at all) anywhere in the race instructions.
- The food at the Bavarian Inn one had to pay for. Sorry, that's not cool in my opinion, at least not for the racers. Especially since we weren't allowed back into the food area at the finish. I understood about saving some for other racers but I guess I've been to a good number of races now where there's plenty for the racers or participants.
- The finishing medal looked like a craft project. It will be donated.

Now pluses were a great race venue, plenty of volunteers, overall pretty good organization, nice finishers pint glass, nice T-shirt, good after race music at the Bavarian Inn, nice to have showers at the Wellness Center too. Buses on hand to take folks back to the parking area every half hour and I like a bag drop as well (though I really didn't need it after all). It helped that the weather was really good too. The course is just challenging enough as evidenced by the fact that the 1st place was only 2:44. Anyway, again, perhaps I'll try for time next year if my IM plans allow it. Onward to the next challenge on my 50 mile quest!

A final note that in line with the Metabolic Efficiency Training methodology I've mostly been using the past month, I used mostly water and electrolytes during the race. Took one gel at 3 hours and a cup of Gatorade somewhere around 4 hours. Felt fine afterwards. Will continue to use this into the JFK.