Baltimore Marathon - RunMarathon

Done! WOW, a very hilly course!!! I seeded myself at 4:28 (based on half marathon times with flat terrain), so very happy with 4:34.

My plan for this race was to keep my HR around 130-135 the first half and then let it slowly drift up - to walk for 1:00 at every aid station (spaced every 2 miles). Actual HR 141.

I had difficulty keeping the HR at 135 due to the constant hills. I had to really WORK to keep it at 135. The crowd is also a factor, its hard to hold back when everyone is passing you (and I started with the 10:00 pace group). It got easier as folks tired out and slowed down. Also, once we caught up to the half marathoners, I was hitting my stride and starting to pass a LOT of people - this always motivates me.

I prepared four 8 oz bottles of malto containing 713 calories and consumed 28 oz, plus 4 gels for a total of 1024 calories. At 117 lbs this equates to 1.94 cal/lb/hr. Refilled emply bottles with water and sipped throughout the race. Nutrition was perfect! I backed way off on the nutrition the last 5 miles (I knew my heartrate was going to soar, so no point in trying to get anything down), but I had plenty and was in good shape - also sipped everything including the water - which at one point I was pretty thirsty - but remembered to SIP not GULP (yeah, me!).

I walked each aid station for exactly 1 minute (well except for one where the pace group was hogging the entire width of the road, so I cut my walk short to stay in front of the group).

I had to stop twice for potty breaks at Mile 5 in Druid Lake and at Mile 19 near Montbello Lake (ha, funny that it was the two lakes....).

After mile 21, I knew I only had 5 miles to go, so I just quit looking at my watch and picked up the pace. Really cool data:

Lap 21 10:20
Lap 22 10:00
Lap 23 9:40
Lap 24 8:28
Lap 25 8:47 (includes a HILL)
Lap 26 8:16
Lap 27 7:37 (my gps seems to record shorter miles than the race courses, so I always "run further").

I was ssssmokin coming into the finish line - dodging people right and left - lots of walkers.

Temps were 66 degree's, overcast with misty rain at times. I bought a hoody at goodwill which I wore in the morning and then ditched just before the race. Also had the "throw away" gloves that I wore the first 2 miles and then ditched.

Wore shorts, and a short sleeved shirt. Although I was warm at times, I was glad to have the sleeves as the wind was cool at times.

This race is crazy hilly. The first 5 miles to Druid Lake are uphill, then you get to circle the lake. The next 5-10 are primarily downhill to the Inner Harbor - but there are some short hills along the way. The 10-15 are primarily flat (out to Under Armour and around the Harbor to Patterson Park). Miles 15-22 are VERY hilly (except for the loop around Montbello lake) and while the last few miles are mostly steep downhill, there is a bridge and an uphill at mile 25'ish. The last mile is straight downhill - you can see the finish line. By this time I am hyper-focused on the finish line. Everyone around me is a blur and I'm hoofing it (legs are hurting, breathing is getting hard, but I can SEE the end) - - it's almost a tease though at the finish line. You think the crowds along light street (I think that's what street it is) are at the finish, then you have to run through Camden Yards, cross the street and THEN run through the finish line.

Glad to have the dry clothes (shoes and socks, too) to change into afterwards. It was chilly.



maybe start to pick up the pace sooner (although don't really think I could) - perhaps run a steady pace without all the water breaks.

Grabbed a water bottle and space blanket, then headed to the finisher photo's. The food was not really appealing and the lines were crazy long, so I made my way out and over to the gear back pickup. This was actually OUTSIDE of the celebration village, so after I finally got my dry clothes and my iphone, I did not want to walk back over to the runner area or celebration village. I just left.

Ate lunch at Cheesecake Factory, grabbed a Chai Tea at Panera and drove home (parked in the work garage at Lombard and Market). The walk back to the car was slow, but I think it really helps to walk after the race.

I also took the dog for a long walk after I got home.

Fun Day - great course - - extremely well run event!


nothing. This was a PR for me!!


This was my first marathon (besides the marathons I did in my two Ironman Triathlons). It was an awesome venue, extremely well organized. The course is tough, but very pretty, the volunteers are great, the Baltimore Police are in full force, weather cooperated and was perfect. Would suggest more signs directing people to the celebration village, bag check and starting line. I never did see the arrows on the road for the starting line. Or a BIG Ballon overhead would help direct runners to various area.