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Marine Corps Marathon - RunMarathon


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Washington, DC, Washington, D.C.
United States
Marine Corps
Sunny
Total Time = 3h 53m 48s
Overall Rank = 3173/
Age Group = M40-44
Age Group Rank = 404/1713
Pre-race routine:

Woke up at 5am, drank 2 Ensures and had part of a bagel with some butter on it.
Run
  • 3h 53m 48s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 08m 55s  min/mile
Comments:

I feel like there is a lot that happened and things I noticed that must have been interesting, but I remember only a few things about this race. I was in a pretty decent zone most of the time. The things that really stand out were:

- How crowded it was
- The couple of times it was peaceful on the course
- The times I was in pain


This race is always crowded, but it seemed more so to me this year. It was shoulder to shoulder most of the time through mile 5. It opened up a little and just as I got a chance to start zoning out and not worrying about running into people, it got really crowded again.

I remember hitting mile 10 or 11 thinking 'when am I going to get some room?' Things slowly opened up, but it wasn't until mile 16.5 when we hit the nice, wide streets of Constitution that I got some real breathing room.


The weather was nice and the spectator support was incredible. The crowd really helps pump me up sometimes. The couple of places we hit with little crowd support sticks out in my mind though. The first was Hains Point. There are never many spectators out here, it is tough to get to. In past years, this section came later in the race and could be a tough stretch, particularly when it was windy. This year it came earlier in the race and the weather was great. I found this section to be really peaceful and when we hit mile 13, I was able to really concentrate on how I was feeling and how I wanted to proceed.

The next section that stood out because of the silence was mile 20.5 - 22 on 395 and the 14th street bridge. It grew dead quiet on this stretch, I only heard one person say anything. This is where a bunch of people started having trouble and began walking. I don't mean this in an obnixous way, but it felt good to run by them.

I felt good and my pace felt just right most of the race. I had two tough stretches, miles 17-19 and 24-finish. My left foot and lower leg started to really hurt around mile 17. About a 1/2 mile later I got a side stitch in my left side and got really worried. I was hobbling for about two miles and must have looked ridiculous, but I was able to stick it out and things eventually got better. My foot continued to hurt the rest of the race, but was not that bad.

I was pretty miserable the last couple of miles of the race, but who isn't at that point? I tried to block all negative thoughts and put myself into a box that never extended more than a few hundred yards. Don't ever want to do another marathon? Just make it up that hill and then decide what to do. Want to slow down or walk? Make it to the next aid station and then decide what to do. How can you want to do another IM if this marathon is so miserable? Get to the finish and then make that decision.

It just sucked, but I didn't stop and I bet I passed a couple of hundred people those last few miles. Right after the last aid station at mile 25, a guy asked me something. I couldn't speak to answer him and I don't remember what he asked. Sorry dude.

That final hill to the finish line was cruel as it always is. I hurt so much those last couple of miles and finishing that race felt better than I can describe.
Post race
Warm down:

Got my picture taken and tried to stretch a little. I got my little bag of food and ate most of it. In years past, there has always been so much more food at the finish. I was dying for a bagel or something more than the airline sized bag of pretzels.

I wandered past the Crocs booth and saw that they had big tubs full of ice for your feet. There was almost no line and I jumped in. They put plastic bags on your feet and you sat in a chair and put you feet into the ice. They had Sticks and you could work on your legs while your feet soaked. Nice!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

The crowded course slowed me down, especially the first few miles.

Event comments:

A really well run, organized race. My only complaint was the lack of food at the finish.




Last updated: 2008-10-02 12:00 AM
Running
03:53:48 | 26.2 miles | 08m 55s  min/mile
Age Group: 404/1713
Overall: 3172/
Performance: Good
Course:
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge
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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2008-10-27 4:20 PM

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Expert
1166
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Northern VA
Subject: Marine Corps Marathon


2008-10-27 5:58 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Queen BTich
12411
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,
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Great job Bill! You really left it out there.

Want to go for a run this week?

2008-10-27 6:19 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Master
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Olney, MD
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Congrats on a fantastic job out there!!   I really like the part in your race report where you describe how you pushed through the last few miles when you were struggling a bit.  I'll try and use that way of thinking the next time I feel like walking.
2008-10-27 8:11 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Elite
2998
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Fishers, Indiana
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Outstanding job Bill!! I'm so glad you had a great race and enjoyed it! 

Z
2008-10-27 8:47 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Master
1652
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Reston, VA
Gold member
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Awesome Race! You know, i remember exactly the same things from the race, crowds, silent stretches, and pain.
2008-10-27 8:51 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Extreme Veteran
543
50025
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Great RR, and an even better race.  I know what you meant about keeping your mind limited to a few hundred yards; you really have to do that.

I think the food situation was good and bad this year; last year it was a mess w/ a mass of people trying to get the food they wanted.  This year was far more effecient w/ the distribution of food, but the end result was a lack of good food.



2008-10-27 8:53 PM
in reply to: #1768610

Master
2009
2000
Charlotte, NC
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Congrats!!!
2008-10-27 9:05 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Sneaky Slow
8694
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Herndon, VA,
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Well done, Bill!!   Loved how you got yourself through the tough mental parts... I am going to try to remember that come July.  Great job!
2008-10-27 9:16 PM
in reply to: #1768610

Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Great job, Bill, getting sub-4!!! Awesome job just toughing out the mental blocks and taking it a little bit at a time.

 And by the way, there was not a lack of food at  my house We missed you!

2008-10-28 10:10 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Veteran
240
10010025
Northern Virginia
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Great race Bill!  Man, those last 2 miles were just brutal.  Awesome job handling the mental aspects and all the negative thoughts that seem to creep in at that time.  Sub-4 mary - way to go!!!

I missed the Crocs ice bath.  That would've been money!! 

2008-10-28 10:20 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Champion
6503
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NOVA - Ironic for an Endurance Athlete
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Congrats!  See you at the National Marathon in the Spring?


2008-10-29 7:09 AM
in reply to: #1772233

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Champion
9060
5000200020002525
Charlottesville, Virginia
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Great job, nice sub 4hr.

 

2008-10-29 3:11 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Not a Coach
11473
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Media, PA
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Great job Bill!

It always feels better to be passing lots of people in that second half when you know you're hurting too. 

2008-10-30 1:09 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Master
1565
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SMIBville
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Great job out there!
2008-10-30 8:12 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Expert
1205
1000100100
Herndon VA
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Congrats and great race.  It was interesting to hear your impressions of the race.

Ernie

2008-10-31 7:30 AM
in reply to: #1768610

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Veteran
245
10010025
Nevada City with my BABY!
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Great job! The silence on the 14th street bridge is a killer. And YES most people walked it even back where I was. Good job pushing through the last part!


2008-10-31 10:07 AM
in reply to: #1768610

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Science Nerd
28760
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Redwood City, California
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Congratulations on a great race!!  The 14th street bridge really stuck out to me, too.  It was so quiet and everyone seemed to be having problems (I came through a lot later than you).

I LOVE the Crocs ice baths.  They've had those at a few races this year. 

2008-10-31 12:26 PM
in reply to: #1768610

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Master
1420
1000100100100100
Reston, VA
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Bill - congratulations on a great marathon. I know you trained very hard for this and your hard work clearly paid off!
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