Philadelphia Marathon - RunMarathon

My first marathon! I would have never have imagined doing this just a little less than one year ago. In Feb 2008, I was on a trip with my wife and a friend suggested I sign up for the Philly Sprint Tri. So I signed up and started training. I had a great time at the events (did 5 Tri's this past year) and ran the ING 13.1 Distance run in September. Felt good and a friend who ran the 13.1 with me said I should try the marathon....so there I was this past chilly Sunday....thank god I have friends who talk me into things!

My wave started 24 minutes after the first 'countdown' at 7:00. My goal was to keep a steady pace (9:30 - 10:00) throughout the run. From the split times on my GARMIN 405 watch and the (inaccurate...at least I think) timinng chip, I achieved my goal. I felt really good through the city. The crowd was awesome in Center City and it really kept things moving.

I didn't like the hills in Fairmont Park..and the water stations were a slippery mess. (ok, water + sub-freezing temps = ice...didn't anyone consider a little salt for the stations? I mean, it was nasty)

Oh, I didn't like the hills coming out of University City either...but I kept moving.

My first sorta "man, this is a long way" moment came about mile 16 when I started to realize that I still had 10.2 to go and my legs felt a little fatigued. My breathing was good, my nutrition was good (Gu every hour and a cliff shot at mile 19, along with a wonderful roadside brownie in Manayunk.....no beer for me though...some enterprising and energetic folks had some brew in cups...good idea which I passed on..)

My friend Chris stuck with me but we lost our other buddy Andrew about mile 17. We kept each other company through another hill into Manauynk, had a blast with the crowd in the 'Yunk and turned at 20 and it started to hit us that we would really be able to do this. Our watches were pretty much in synch the entire run and we felt strong.

But...I hit a hamstring 'wall' about mile 25 and had to walk a bit to stretch it out...damn, my 4:15 target time was toast..Chris walked with me briefly and then we pushed to the end. The crowd was great at the finish and we both put in a little 'kick' to make it look really good...and to get to the finish line faster.

I couldn't find the family in the crowd, but that was ok. I had done it and really pushed myself this year further than I ever imagined. What a great way to end 2008.

The 'unofficial' time on the Philly Marathon site has my finish at 4:20...that's off by a few minutes frankly...I hit my watch as we crossed the starting line and at the end I hit it (unfortunately) a minute or so after I crossed and it read 4:19...so I expected a more 4:16-17 time. My buddy Chris has the same issue. He finished just a pace ahead of me and his time on the site is higher than his watch. Strange...

After I got my medal, blanket and through the pretty weak food line..(banana, juice and some broth..)I met my family and since we were going to wait for my mom to finish walking so we went to Friday's for some food (on the Parkway) and then walked back up. I left all my warm/dry clothes in the truck so I had to wrap myself up in the blanket. Not too bad but still chilly.

Met my mom after she finished walking, took some photos and then made the trek home. A great day.



Train more next year...get in a few longer runs as I only did the half marathon, a few 10 mile runs and one 19...could use a two or three more 'longer' runs in the 15-19 mile range.

Nothing but a walk down the parkway to the Fridays for chicken wings, potato skins and BEER!


Training....


Two things stick out for me, but it's my first marathon so maybe I'm being picky..

1) Ice at the water stations. A little forethought could have limited the risk. Just a bucket or two of salt to toss down. I mean, it was nasty slippery.

2) Food. It's really pretty anti-climatic to cross the finish line and get your blanket and medal and then be faced with an anemic selection of bananas, pretzels, juick (in little cups) and warm chicken broth w/ or w/out rice. I mean the broth was good after the run and it was warm, but I think for the $$ spent they could do better somehow.