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Run for the Red - RunMarathon


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Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania
United States
American Red Cross of Monroe County
38F / 3C
Sunny
Total Time = 3h 49m 6s
Overall Rank = 177/421
Age Group = M40-49
Age Group Rank = 51/89
Pre-race routine:

Woke up at 230, and made the 1 hour+ drive to Binghamton to meet up with Bob (rstocks3). I left my car at his house and we rode to Tobyhanna, PA where the start of the point to point race would begin. We arrived quite a bit early, so we had a couple of hours to kill before the race. Kristen (SweetK) made the drive over from State College to cheer us on, and we met up with her about half an hour before race time. I borrowed one of Bob's extra fueling belts to carry my two flasks of Hammer gels for the race.

Event warmup:

Are you kidding me? I was getting ready to run 26.2 miles, so I wanted to expend the least amount of energy possible . My warmup involved watching Bob jog across the football field to hit a port a potty.
Run
  • 3h 49m 6s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 08m 44s  min/mile
Comments:

Bob and I started in the middle of the pack when the gun went off. I ran with him for about a half mile or so before falling back. I hit the first mile marker at 7:57, which was a bit faster than I wanted to be. I ticked off the first few miles in the high sevens and low eights.

About mile 5 or so I started to feel the urge to pee, so kept on the lookout for a port a potty. I ran somewhat uncomfortably until I found one around mile 8. Relieved, I had a spring in my step and took what the steep downhills gave for the next 3 miles and averaged in the mid to high 7s. Then the urge to go hit again. I couldn't believe it. Highly annoyed, I stopped at another port a potty at 11. This stop was quicker than the first, but a stop just the same. I hit the midway 13.1 mile point with the course clock turning 1:47:00. My Garmin had me at 1:45:20, as it automatically pauses when detecting no movement. I cruised along until mile 14 or so and then - WTF! I had to go yet again! This time I just ducked behind a bush, cursing to myself, and vowing to never drink water again. (That vow was promptly forgotten at the next water stop). I have never experienced such bladder issues before, and really lamented on the time lost. Luckily, that was my last stop.

By mile 17 I was beginning to tire, and walked while taking in fluids during each of the remaining water stops. My pace proceeded to turn successively slower and by mile 22, I was quite ready for the race to be over. Moreover, the course was really rolling the last 6 miles, and had a number of ascents that got my undivided attention. During the 23rd mile, I was hurting and actually stopped to walk for 50 meters or so, before forcing myself to continue at a slow jog. I repeated this drill during the 24th mile, which resulted in paces of 10:22 and 10:30 for miles 23 and 24, respectively. Yes, I had hit the wall,and was just hanging on. Shortly thereafter, we reached Main Street in downtown E. Stroudsburg, where there was a decent crowd lining the street cheering on the runners. It was this crowd that prevented me from stopping and walking again. The course then concluded with a lap around the track in the Stroudsburg High School stadium. I was quite happy that race was over.


What would you do differently?:

Not overhydrate myself. I lost close to 3 minutes on those potty breaks. Additionally, I would give myself longer training runs. During the training buildup, I did a 20 and two 18s, but I don't think that was sufficient, as I really started to suffer from about 21 on. The fact that I stopped to walk twice tells me that I wasn't as ready as I should have been. I will add a 22 mile training run for my next marathon, and maybe even a 24.
Post race
Warm down:

I caught up with Bob and Kristen up in the stands. They had missed my finish, and were still on the lookout for me to enter the stadium. I then hung out with them on the infield of the high school stadium looking like a salt king after the race. Afterwards we went to the Pocono's Brewing Company for a well earned beer (as well as some food).

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Too many pee stops and not enough long distance training.

Event comments:

I had a goal breaking 3:50, and was pleased that I succeeded in doing that. But when I look at the 3 pee breaks, the two times I stopped to walk, and the walking through the water stops, I could have done better. My split for the first half was 1:47:00, and my split for the second was 2:02:06, so I really tailed off for the second half.

It was a lot of fun hanging out with Bob and Kristen after the race. And, I can't thank Kristen enough for driving us all over the place and taking pictures.




Last updated: 2007-04-15 12:00 AM
Running
03:49:06 | 26.2 miles | 08m 44s  min/mile
Age Group: 51/89
Overall: 177/421
Performance: Below average
Splits: 1 7:57 2 8:01 3 7:53 4 8:22 5 8:21 6 8:02 7 8:06 8 8:01 9 7:27 10 7:42 11 7:51 12 7:58 13 8:31 13.1 split 1:47:00 14 8:33 15 8:25 16 8:19 17 8:37 18 8:38 19 8:58 20 9:00 21 9:17 22 9:48 23 10:22 24 10:30 25 9:45 26 9:56 26.2 2:43
Course: While the course had a net vertical drop of approximately 1500 feet, it was very much a rolling and challenging course. My Garmin (and Motionbased) registered the net elevation change as -1481 ft, with an elevation gain of 2635 ft and and elevation loss of 4067 ft. So there was considerable climbing involved, along with the declines.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Too much
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 2
Physical exertion [1-5] 2
Good race? Ok
Evaluation
Course challenge Too hard
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2007-05-08 9:14 AM

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Regular
75
252525
Horseheads, NY
Subject: Run for the Red


2007-05-08 1:19 PM
in reply to: #792762

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Bob
2194
2000100252525
Binghamton, NY
Subject: RE: Run for the Red

Great report Derek! It was a great time hanging out with you and Kristen. Nice job meeting your goal despite the pee stops. Sometimes it's best to just "let it go". Let the people behind you worry about it!!

Get out on that bike and get some lights!! I'll be coming to get you for a ride around 4am one of these days!!!

2007-05-08 2:28 PM
in reply to: #792762

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2007-05-09 3:14 PM
in reply to: #792762

Champion
7542
5000200050025
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Run for the Red
Good job!  I can understand the vow and immediate amnesia about water. 
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