Wineglass Marathon - RunMarathon


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Corning, New York
United States
Wineglass Running Club
41F / 5C
Precipitation
Total Time = 4h 07m 11s
Overall Rank = 768/1447
Age Group = 35-29
Age Group Rank = 69/93
Pre-race routine:

Up around 5:30 am and showered. Ate some oatmeal and had a cup of coffee. Another cup of coffee for the road and then Kris and I made the 15 minute drive to where the buses were to go to the start line. We parked at the Corning YMCA and walked over to the bus area. It was raining lightly and cool.
Event warmup:

The bus dropped us off about a quarter mile from the start line. We walked up in the rain complaining that we were going to be wet before we started. At the starting area, went to the bathroom. Took off my extra layers and threw the bag in the bag drop truck. Jumped up and down and tried to get warm. Rain had stopped for a while and everyone thought we were going to start out dry. WRONG!
Run
  • 4h 07m 11s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 09m 26s  min/mile
Comments:

Rain started back up about 5 minutes before the gun. Was raining pretty steady. Cold waiting for the gun. Because of all the rain, they delayed the start of the race so everyone could get to the line. RD had the right intention but made those of us who got to the line on time and were freezing pretty annoyed. Kris and I walked into the crowd a bit (no corrals) and stopped near the 3:55 pace group. We didn't plan to run with the group, just decided that was a good place to start. Gun went off and we walked/jogged to the timing mat and then went. Most of the first mile is a good downhill so we held back and took it easy. Fell into a pace and found that we were behind the 3:55 pace group but keeping pace with them now. We felt good so held there. A couple of times we found we had picked up the pace to 8:40-8:45 and slowed it back down. Around mile 5 I needed to go to the bathroom so stopped at a porta potty on the side of the road and Kris went on. I came out and ran hard (~7:50 pace) and caught up with her in a minute or two. Took first gel at mile 6 (Vanilla Orange Gu Rocktane) and chased with water from the aid station. We were feeling good cruising along happy to be running together. First 10 miles seemed to click off pretty fast. We were back in forth in front of and behind the 3:55 group - usually the swap happened around an aid station. Got to 15 miles and still felt good (second gu at mile 12 aid station). Rain finally stopped around mile 18!! Happy for the rain to be gone but still soaked from all that time in the rain. Sneakers were heavy! Mile 20 came and we still felt decent, but were feeling the run. We were at 2:59 and told ourselves we just needed to stay under a 10 minute pace and we could get in under four hours. That worked well for miles 21 and 22 but then it got tough. Kris kept pulling ahead as I slowed down and looking back at me. I know she didn't want to leave me after running together the whole time but also wanted to get going. I told her to go and get in under 4:00. I ran to the next aid station and then walked some...legs dead. Started running again and sometime after mile 24 saw Kris up ahead walking and knew she was feeling bad like me. Kept running and caught up with her. We walked and ran the rest of the way in...tired, sore, WET, but happy to be finishing our first marathon. Ran the last 0.5 miles or so and finished strong (funny how a cheering crowd and a finish line can make that happen!). Freezing cold from all the walking at the end but we were done!!
What would you do differently?:

Felt really good about the race - especially for the first. Of course, would have like to stay strong and got in under 4:00. Maybe just a little easier earlier on would have saved some in the tank for the end.
Post race
Warm down:

Talked with a few folks, got a little bit of food and then hurried (as best we could hurry with our post marathon legs!) across the bridge to the YMCA. Got showered and tried to get warm. Were dreading having to go to Tommy's soccer game because of the weather and the fact that we were still chilled to the bone but got a little boost when we found out it was cancelled. We were both spent.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

After a great running month in August, the month leading up to the race my running was sporadic due to travel for work. I missed my last long run and lots of weekday runs. I am sure this hurt me some in the race. Having no rain would have made the race a lot more enjoyable.

Event comments:

Great local race. The race started a little late but that was a deliberate action by the RD due to the rain. Post race set up was good, just a little crowded since it was in the parking garage due to the weather. Had several runners going for Olympic qualifying times due to the fast downhill course. The weather didn't help them any.




Last updated: 2011-06-27 12:00 AM
Running
04:07:11 | 26.2 miles | 09m 26s  min/mile
Age Group: 69/93
Overall: 93/1447
Performance: Good
Course: Net down hill all on road/paved surface. A couple of small hills but nothing difficult. Race finishes on Market Street in Corning which would be a great venue on a nice day.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? No
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks?
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 3