Marathon #11

Last weekend I ran the Northern Central Trail Marathon in Sparks, MD - my 2nd time doing this race. My PR of 3:57 was 55 minutes faster than last year's "flu marathon", though it wasn't quite as fast as I hoped. I just felt a bit off for some reason, even in the first few miles. It was pretty windy, and it seemed like we were running into the wind both directions on the out-and-back course. I thought we would be relatively sheltered along the mostly wooded course, but no such luck. Anyway, I should quit whining, because the windy, cold conditions felt much more tolerable to me than they probably did to my dear friend Kate and my mom who came out to cheer me on! It was so nice to hear cowbells and cheers and see familiar faces along the sparsely-spectated course! Thanks, guys!

Also, many thanks to Andrew who slept in but then found me at mile 23 and ran the last three miles with me! It definitely helped me keep up the pace (well, mile 25 was all uphill) and I lost count of how many guys I chicked. While wearing a skirt, no less :) Sorry, that sounds really cocky...but I'm usually the one getting passed at the end of a marathon, so it felt good to be the one doing the passing!

Here are my mile splits. Yes, the miles were accurately marked (they assured us before the race), and yes, mile 23 was my fastest (I'm totally sold on Roctane Gu! All 5 of my gels should have been this):

Mile 1 - 8:37 (very downhill)
Mile 2 - 9:01
Mile 3 - 9:06
Mile 4 - 8:51
Mile 5 - 8:46
Mile 6 - 9:03
Mile 7 - 8:47
Mile 8 - 8:59
Mile 9 - 8:56
Mile 10 - 8:58
Mile 11 - 9:17 (slight uphill)
Mile 12 - 9:13 (here too)
Mile 13 - 9:04
Mile 14 - 9:07
Mile 15 - 8:51
Mile 16 - 9:04
Mile 17 - 8:56
Mile 18 - 9:00
Mile 19 - 9:07
Mile 20 - 9:02
Mile 21 - 9:33
Mile 22 - 9:35
Mile 23 - 8:33 (thank you, Roctane Gu)
Mile 24 - 9:11
Mile 25 - 9:42 (very uphill)
Mile 26 - 9:02
Mile 0.2 - 1:51

So it was a good race, but I already have my eye on Marathon #12 - I'm thinking maybe Virginia Beach. I want to conquer this distance, dammit!