Two versions…if you want the details of the race only, read the short one. If you want to hear about my experience, read them both, it will be boring.
SHORT VERSION
Experience: This is my second marathon, first was same race last year.
Course: The course changed for this year. That start/finish was moved to the opposite side of the park, loop was similar. A rolling course. 2 laps
Weather: 45 at the start, 55 at finish, clear and sunny
Field: Marathon filled 2 days before start, 700 entrants
The weather was perfect, the course is great, flat for the area, but we are in the foothills of the Appalachians, so there is some elevation change. This race was nominated as one of the best small marathons in the country by Runner’s World a couple of years ago. 22 miles or so of the course are inside the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Battlefield National Military Park. You run on small roads, with almost no traffic (though the course is open to traffic). The route winds through the monuments inside the park. Because it is the first part of November, the fall colors are at their peak, making for a spectacular course. The Chattanooga Track Club does a great job of putting on the race, but it is not a big city marathon. The aid stations are every couple of miles, and you have your choice of water or powerade, occasionally some fruit, no gels or anything like that. It is a two lap course, but you do not pass the start/finish, you run a couple of miles out to the loop.
Race was won by Hugh Enicks of Signal Mountain, TN in 2:48. The top 3 in most age groups all ran BQ times. The couse is certified.
I had a good race, dropping an hour over last year’s time.
LONG VERSION (my race)
I ran this race last year as my first marathon. I did not follow any training plan, simply increased my mileage and frequency a few months out. During that period, my training did not go well. I had a lot of things get in the way, and basically just didn’t train well. I still tried to get in my long runs, and ended up getting injured. Because I had already registered, I decided to do the race anyway, which I did, in 4:50. Even uninjured, I did not expect to be fast, my goal at the start of my training was for 4:20.
This year, I used a 16 week training schedule. I actually started it 12 weeks out, assuming that my tri training would subsitute for the first month. I only missed a couple of workouts over the 3 months, and felt like all of my training runs went well. I went to the start this year confident, and ready to run under 4 hours. I know this isn’t fast compared to a bunch of folks on here, but for me at 210 pounds (down from 235 last year), and having ran a 4:50, in my first attempt, 4 hours seemed like a good goal.
START
It was cold, but not too bad. I chose to wear shorts, a SS top, and a throw away LS top, gloves and headband. Also, because the race had gone up from 400 people the previous year, to 700 this year, I chose to wear my fuelbelt with 16oz of water. I also tend to burn through a lot of calories, so I was carrying 7 gels (none are available on course). I had the gels and my race number on a number belt. so that I could take off the layers as it warmed. The race started a couple of minutes late, and one of the funniest things I have ever seen happen at a race occured. The announcer was going over a couple of things as we all stood freezing at the start line, and then said “State Senator so and so would like to say a few words now.” The entire field stated booing and yelling “go” to the point that the guy started talking, and then just handed the mic back to the starter and walked off the stage. It was really funny. Then, the start.
FIRST FEW MILES
I have never done a huge running race, but I can imagine it must be chaos at the start. Because this race had a marathon and half starting at the same time, there were 1400 people on a one lane road. It was a little crowded at first, but not bad. My race started well, I was able to find clear room to run in the center. It seemed everyone was moving to the outsides, so I just stayed in the middle, and kept the pace of the mass in front of me. The first aid station was chaos. There was only one table and about 8 volunteers with 1400 people all reaching for cups. I was very glad I had my fuelbelt as I just moved to the other side and ran around the mess. Around mile 5, I was getting hot, so ditched my LS top at the next aid station. I decided to keep the gloves and headband for a while longer. I had planned on trying to run and even 9 minute pace for the first half, but I kept coming through miles at 8:30, and feeling good, so I just kept going. I should have slowed down a bit.
HALF
At the half I pulled off my headband and gloves, and tucked them into my fuelbelt, which was basically empty at this point. My mom and sister were going to be around mile 14, so I thought I would just drop it all there. I went through the half at 1:47. Too fast. I once again tried to slow my pace some, but I was still feeling great, no stress at all to maintain my form and speed. Mile 14 came and went, followed by 15, no mom and sister. I put it out of my mind, the fuelbelt wasn’t going to bother me, I run with it all the time.
AND SO IT BEGINS
Somewhere around mile 16 the race goes up about a mile long 2 percent grade. Not bad at all, but on this second lap, it started to be hard to keep the pace. Nothing too bad yet, but I could tell it was starting…I was going to pay for running 30 seconds per mile too fast in the first half. I was now running just north of 9 minute miles, but I knew if I could just hold it there, and even if I faded to 10s later, I would be able to make my goal of 4 hours. I just concentrated on my form, and tried to forget about my speed. Head up, eyes forward, swing the knee through. Miles 16 to 22 or so were slowing, but ok.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
Mile 22 sucked. There is a short steep hill, and it almost stopped me. I charged to the top, but was in pain. My split for 22 to 23 was around 12 minutes. I was losing it. At the 23 mile marker I hit my last gel, and had an internal conversation that went something like this “Hey Scott, HTFU, people have been done with this race for a while now, and you are still out here, time to run home.” Somewhere between 23 and 24, I was back on form, and running a good pace somewhere close to 9 minute miles. I say somewhere close because…
WHAT A CRUEL JOKE
I was running well past 24, waiting on that 25 marker to know I just had one mile and few yards to go. In my head, “Still waiting on 25. I feel like I am running well, where is 25. It has been like 15 minutes…where is 25? Am I running 15 minute miles and in some sort of delusion that I am going fast? No, I am running well, wow this marker is a long way off. Oh, there’s a marker, wait that is the finish up there…that says 26!!! Thank God, I couldn’t run another mile. Clock is under 4 hours, 3:50…one hour faster!!”
FINISH
I was glad to see the line last year, I was overjoyed this year. Last year it was so the pain would stop. This year it was because I had trained for 3 months and accomplished my goal. I won’t say it was perfect race…it wasn’t. I went out too fast. However, my nutrition went well. My hydration went well. Most importantly, my training went well, and I started healthy. Also, some of my longer tempo runs had taught me to push past the pain and get back on form, which I needed thanks to going out too fast.
My wife ran the race as well. She stayed with me til the half and then began to fade a bit. She ended up finishing in 3:55, 55 minutes faster than last year. I think with another training cycle in the spring, we can get her to her BQ time of 3:40 if I pace her through. I am not sure I can get to 3:10, but I am going to give it a shot. Marathon is more important to me as I think about doing Ironman in a few years. i won’t do and IM if I can’t race it, and running is my limiter. I have made huge improvements this year, but I still have some work to do.