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Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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Fredericksburg, Virginia
United States
Marine Corp Marathon office
Overcast
Total Time = 1h 53m 34s
Overall Rank = 826/3822
Age Group = 25-29
Age Group Rank = 39/388
Pre-race routine:

We got to Fredericksburg around 3:00 PM on Saturday afternoon. I went to the packet pickup, got my stuff, and walked around for a bit. We then went to check into the Quality Inn, dropped the dog off in the room, and went to an Italian place right next door for an early dinner. I had some ravioli, a salad, and a beer. Yum! After dinner we went to downtown Fredericksburg for the block party they were having as a pre-event gathering. It wasn't all that big so we got a beer, some kettle corn, listened to the band for a bit, then headed back to the hotel.

Got to bed early around 8:45 and got up at 4:45. I showered, got dressed, and Steve drove me over to the race site. I ate a half of a peanut butter sandwich and a banana. I started getting hungry again around 6:30. Not good!! I bought a plain bagel and ate some of that pre-race as well. I should have eaten more for breakfast.

Event warmup:

I didn't do much to warm up. We got to the race site about an hour before the start. Walked around, ate a bit of the bagel, drank some water. I also stretched out my calves a little bit on the curb, but that was it for a warm up.
Run
  • 1h 53m 34s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 08m 40s  min/mile
Comments:

This was my first half marathon and I think I ran well. The first 1-3 miles were great. I started getting a side cramp at mile 3. This has been happening a lot recently and I'm not sure what the problem is. I have been training through it and that's what I did today. I just dig my hand into my side, massage it a little bit, and it goes away for a few minutes then comes back. I just keep repeating the process and eventually it goes away. It hung around until mile 6 or so. I do have lovely bruises on the front of my stomach and my back where I was "massaging" the area. Ahh well. The pain is pretty sharp and I wouldn't be able to continue otherwise.

Post cramp, I was feeling great. I decided to take water at every other stop and I took some Powerade in at two of the stops. No problems with my stomach at all. I do wish I had a gel though and I would have taken it right before mile 10. I was dragging at that point and I could have used some extra oomph. The last 3.1 miles were tough because of the hills at the beginning and I was mentally and physically tired.

I do feel like I ran well for my first half and I know that I need to eat more beforehand and probably take a gel with me on the run. They did have some sport beans, but I tried some at the expo the day before and the flavor was too intense for me. Finished out the last 3.1, got my finishers medal, coin, and a picture taken with "Thomas Jefferson." I went to find Steve at our designated meeting place and he gave me some flowers. :)
What would you do differently?:

Eat more breakfast before the race. Not too much more, but enough so I'm not hungry an hour later. I would also bring a gel or two on the run. I need to get better at the hills. This course wasn't very hilly, but when it started to get hilly, I was dragging. I probably would have started dragging around mile 10 anyway though.
Post race
Warm down:

After finding Steve we went into the convention center and I stretched my legs out a little bit. I also ate a bagel and a banana.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I just need to get more mileage in. I also think that I needed some calories to get me through the last 3.1. The Powerade helped a little bit, but not enough.

Event comments:

The Marines really put on a great race. It was an inaugural event and everything went smoothy. They had plently of drink stations, a lot of volunteers, the course was well marked, and they had some entertainment every few miles out on the course. I will definitely plan on doing this race again -- Loved it!! :)




Last updated: 2007-11-30 12:00 AM
Running
01:53:34 | 13.1 miles | 08m 40s  min/mile
Age Group: 39/388
Overall: 826/3822
Performance: Good
Course: Miles 1-5 were downhill. Miles 5-10 were flat with some slight hills. Miles 10-11 were uphill and sucked! Mile 11-finish not bad at all hill wise. The course was out from the convention center, through downtown Fredericksburg, and back to the convention center. It was a beautiful course and they had entertainment every few miles. I really liked the course except for miles 10 and 11!
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 5

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2008-05-18 3:58 PM

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Master
1678
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Olney, MD
Subject: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon


2008-05-18 8:14 PM
in reply to: #1409428

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Regular
477
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Washington, DC
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Nice work! Those hills were killer.
2008-05-18 10:57 PM
in reply to: #1409428

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Expert
941
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WA
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon

great race traci!!!  that is a sweet time, i'd love to do a half in that time!!!  my last half also had hills late in the game, why do they do that??  it's so killer .

sounds like nutritionally, we both eat like fiends so this is my general half-mary nutrition routine.

breakfast/~2-3 hrs prior to race:  full breakfast (cereal and milk or bagel and CC, plus coffee, which helps flush out the plumbing before the race ,  and juice or some fruit)

1-1.5hr prior to race: ~half a clif bar or so 

RIGHT before race:  a few more bites of clif bar

gel/shot bloks at miles 8, maybe more at 10 if i'm hungry. and i take powerade whenever but at the races it's usually pretty watered down, so you can't count on it much for calories.

anyway, take from that what you will.

you ran a great race, and you rock!!!  good luck training for the full MCM! 

2008-05-19 4:58 AM
in reply to: #1409428

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Extreme Veteran
335
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Toledo, Ohio
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Great job and nice race report! You are smart to think about your race nutrition for next time. If you need a little more kick at mile 10, you may need to start taking gels (+ water) much sooner than that (like after 30 min of running and again at 60min, etc.).
2008-05-19 8:56 AM
in reply to: #1409428

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Veteran
149
10025
King George, VA
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon

Nicely done!
 

Try eating more but be sure that it is 2 hours or more from the start time.

2008-05-19 9:24 AM
in reply to: #1409428

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Extreme Veteran
543
50025
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon

I learned on a 10 miler that I need to take a gel.  I can make the 10 okay, but at about 8.5 I can feel that it would benefit me to have it; it would suck for me to go beyond the 10 w/ out it.

That's okay though, you learned for the next one, and you still put up a great time.  Good job!



2008-05-19 9:42 AM
in reply to: #1409428

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Master
1420
1000100100100100
Reston, VA
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Great time for your first 1/2 - congrats!
2008-05-19 10:42 AM
in reply to: #1409428

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Elite
3913
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far northern CA
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Wow Traci!!!  That was a fantastic time!!!  Good job!!  Yep, start working on the nutrition thing.  Those side stitches may be nutrition related.  Your gut is probably trying to digest food.  The blood that would normally go to your gut to do the job is going to your legs to run.  Therefore, the food is just bouncing around with no where to go.  Just a thought.  Something I heard a while ago when I was getting those pains.  I switched to easily digestible food and, voila, no more side stitch!  Cheers!!!
2008-05-19 11:10 AM
in reply to: #1409428

Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Nice job!!
2008-05-19 11:14 AM
in reply to: #1409428

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Cycling Guru
15134
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Fulton, MD
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon

Congrats on your finish!!  Sucks about the weird cramping issue, but you worked through it and finished well.

All those runs up 216 only helped you to deal with the hills!

2008-05-19 12:00 PM
in reply to: #1409428

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Master
1678
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Olney, MD
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon

Thanks for the comments guys.  Yeah, I need to work on the nutrition aspect.  My longest run before this one was 10 miles and I was OK on that one, but I wasn't pushing as hard as I was in the half.  I have a pretty strong stomach, so I doubt I'll have any problems taking in any sort of nutrition (other than nasty sport beans!!)  I'll just have to work on the timing.  I had nothing left at the end and was probably passed by 20 or so women in the last 1.5 miles.. grrr.

The 216 route definitely helped me with the hills on the course.  Now I just need to find a route that has some good hills to run after mile 10 and I'll be set



2008-05-19 12:03 PM
in reply to: #1411021

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Cycling Guru
15134
50005000500010025
Fulton, MD
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Keep going down 216 and turn left onto Brown's Bridge.  Nice long hill over there when you cross the reservoir!
2008-05-19 12:45 PM
in reply to: #1409428

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Master
1619
1000500100
Hingham, Ma
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Way to go.   You inspire us non runners to try for longer than 5ks
2008-05-19 12:58 PM
in reply to: #1411159

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Master
1678
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Olney, MD
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon

Boston Beginner - 2008-05-19 1:45 PM Way to go.   You inspire us non runners to try for longer than 5ks

Thanks!!   I was a non-runner too and did my first 5k about a year ago.  I thought the 3.1 was far, but I also realized I really like to run.  Just keep gradually building up your distance, pay attention to your body, and you'll get there! 

2008-05-19 1:02 PM
in reply to: #1411186

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Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Great race!  Sub two hour is always impressive IMO!
2008-05-19 3:42 PM
in reply to: #1409428

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Expert
973
5001001001001002525
Berkeley, Calif.
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Sweet run! That's a very impressive time, especially with a big hill at the end. Congrats on the first half!


2008-05-19 8:59 PM
in reply to: #1409428

Pro
4054
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yep,
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
nice job on the race.  Great time also.  Keep up the good work and everything else will fall into place.
2008-05-19 9:19 PM
in reply to: #1409428

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Master
2201
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Elgin,
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Congrates on finishing that difficult course.  That is a time to be very proud of.
2008-05-19 9:50 PM
in reply to: #1409428

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Extreme Veteran
555
5002525
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Great job! that's a great time too! Congrats!
2008-05-20 9:22 AM
in reply to: #1409428

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Extreme Veteran
393
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Columbia, South Carolina
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Wow, smokin time for your first half, especially on that course!  Would be a good idea to work on some additional nutrition while running (other than Sports Beans - I can't handle those either!).
2008-05-21 5:13 PM
in reply to: #1409428

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Modesto, California
Subject: RE: Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon
Wow you just went for it and got it done, big time! Great race!


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