SunTrust Richmond Marathon - RunMarathon

First, I'll start with the weather. It was perfect Marathon running weather with one exception. It was just a little too windy. No big deal. It was strange though. At times I felt like I was overdressed, and at times, under. Depended on the wind speed, and location. It seemed like there were little micro climates where some sections were just noticably colder than others.

Race apparel: Long sleeve Running Fit Shirt (red) with a blue light cotton shirt underneath to add warmth. Race ready shorts, socks and Mizuno shoes. Started the race with a Mizuno head band to cover my ears, but slipped that down around my neck prior to mile 10.

Miles 1-4:

This was where I was going to be able to tell how my day would go. My goal time was 3:30. My best case time was 3:26. After the firt 4 miles, I was feeling good and knew that my goal was a probability. My legs felt strong with some residual soreness, but nothing I couldn't slide to the back of my mind. This section had a long climb of about 2%.. just barely noticable to the eye over distance, but obvious to the body.

Miles 4-10:

This was my favorite part of the course. Beautiful sections on the south side of the river. Nice crowd cheering zones, and some decent rolling hills. At about mile 4 1/2, I started talking to this girl who looked like a strong runner. Just basic chatter, until she said this was her first Marathon and she was just 19 years old. That suprised me because people that young generally don't run marathons. She had run a 10 mile race before and clocked a 1:17 at it. Here is where the coach in me took over. I asked lots of training questions and she answered all of them. I assessed her pace and was looking to see if she was stuggling at all. She was keeping up with me, but was not having trouble keeping up. After about mile 8, I told her she could get Boston today if she wanted it and told her to try to pace off me for as long as she could without compromising her overall race. I didn't want to make her blow up, but I was watching and she was responding well. Big problem though.. she had NO nutrition on her. No gels. Nothing, and she had not planned on taking any. I exlained that to sustain in the later miles, she would need to take a gel. A guy right with us said that there were gels at mile 14 and 20. She did end up using gels at both. Anyway, miles 4-10 were eventful and quick. I was still on my target pace.

Miles 10-20:

So this girl I was running with just kind of stayed within range. Sometimes there was talking, sometimes there was not. I gave her some advice about getting through the final miles. She seemed to want to hear it. I think she really understood when at mile 13 I told her she could drop her pace 1 minute per mile and still get in under 3:40. Eventually, she did that and started to fade off at mile 18. Before I took off, I told her what she needed to do to get BQ'd. She had a look of nervous excitement, but I figured she could do it.

Note: Crossing the river back to the city was a nightmare. It was a steady and LONG incline, with winds blowing in your face so hard it felt like you were not making any progress. Definietly my least favorite portion of the course.

Miles 20-26.2

Back to running alone at this point, but I managed to see Kate at 20 who was out there cheering on 5 of us, even while she was still a little sick. She has the most excitement within her, and you can't help but smile when you see her. At this point, I was feeling the race in my legs. General fatigue, nothing specific. At mile 22, I drank the customary beer, which again, was awesome. Every marathon so far, if there is beer offered (always between mile 21 and 22), I have drank it. At mile 25, I was ready to finish, and knew I would go sub-3:30. That was a good feeling. Two months post IM Moo, I was able to put a pretty good Marathon together. Not an easy thing to do. So those were the thoughts in my head. Mile 25.5 through 26.2 was a steep downhill. I didn't mind it and used it to my advantage.. long strides, good speed.

I crossed the finish and felt good about my race.

oh yeah, the girl (Anastasia from UVA).. she came across in 3:33 and got her BQ, at her first Marathon, and first race over 10 miles. I congratulated her and she thanked me and said she couldn't have done it without me.. maybe so, maybe not. I just like to help people be the best runners they can be, and on this day, she listened and left it all out there on the course.. and in the Process, she BQ'd at her first Marathon.

Race 10 lbs lighter.

I did note that I hit 3:15 at 24.75 miles. 'GPS' The GPS measured the course at 26.4, and that was verified by another runner.. no big deal, better a bit longer than too short. What I am saying here is that I have to make up 1.45 miles to get my BQ. I can do that, and that is my mission for 2008.

It was freezing at the end. The wind was horrible. I think I went hypothermic.. ok, probably not, but it was freaking cold.


Twix, Kit Kat, and Carvel Ice Cream.


A good race with rolling hills. The course is moderatley difficult. Very good aid stations, plenty of water and Power Ade. It was a nice event and I would recommend it.