Shamrockin' to a PR

Marathon #12 is in the books. I don't usually do these big, beer company-sponsored races, but the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon's flat course, decent proximity to Durham, and new state (I've now run marathons in 8 states) were good reasons to make this my Spring marathon. My dear friend Kate came down from MD to cheer me on and enjoy a brief weekend getaway in Virginia Beach during the off-season. Kate is the best spectator ever with her cowbells, posters, and cheers!

I registered for the race and booked the hotel in December, which you think would be far enough in advance to have a varied choice in places to stay, but most of the race-sponsored hotels were booked. But I found a good deal at the Travelodge, which was walking distance to the start/finish, situated along the race course, and had waterfront rooms. I was pleased that the room had a little kitchenette so I could have my pre-race breakfast...but the advantages end there. You know your hotel is not sponsoring the marathon when...
1) You ask about late checkout because you're running the marathon and they ask you "what time does the marathon end?" (my response: "it depends how fast I run"). The latest checkout they could offer us was noon, which was not gonna work for an 8 am start, even if I made my goal.
2) They give you a room on the top floor (7th) and the elevator is broken.
3) There is dance club music and karaoke across the street, but it sounds like it's right next to your bed, and it goes on until 1 am (I know, it's Virginia Beach on a Saturday night, so what should I expect).

Anyway, I slept well enough, and my pre-race excitement woke me before my alarm. I had my oatmeal, coffee, and half an orange, and headed out a little after 7 am for the 15 minute walk to the start. And Jesus Christ was it COLD and WINDY! I had planned to wear my shortest shorts (they hold three gels) and my lightest singlet. I was shivering under heavy warm-up pants and a hooded sweatshirt, and my toes were beginning to get numb. I arrived at the starting corrals where even the crowds and tall buildings on both sides of the street were minimal protection from the wind gusts. After going through the porta-potty line, I headed over the gear-bag check trucks to see if there was a line (the 2007 Saint Louis Marathon had an incredibly long gear-bag check line, and now I always worry about having enough time if I check a bag). No line, so I decided to wait until as close to the start as possible to take off my warm-ups and check my bag. At 7:50, after a nice lady opened my bag of sport beans for me (my fingers were too cold for fine motor tasks), I was weaving through the crowds in my singlet and shorts FREEZING my ASS off when they announced that there was a delay, and the marathon would start at 8:15 instead of 8! WTF? I found a semi-sheltered place near Corral 2 (which had no warm bodies in it yet) and decided to wait there when I heard someone behind me say "Sandra?" Momentarily forgetting that I had my name on the front and back of my shirt, I turned around expecting a familiar face. Instead, a stranger wrapped a glorious fleece coat around my shoulders. "You look really cold," he said. What a lifesaver! I wore the coat until it was time to enter corrals and thanked him profusely.

When the race finally got started I made sure I was near the 3:50 pacers. I spoke with one of them - I think her name was Melissa - at the race expo, and she said they'd be running an 8:43 pace. That was just a little faster than I wanted, but I decided if I ran behind them and kept them in sight, I should be good. Pacer Melissa wore a bright green tutu and pigtails; Pacer Dan wore normal running clothes and held the green 3:50 sign up on a stick. It was a smooth start, but all of a sudden around mile 2 the green 3:50 sign was nowhere to be seen. I know I didn't pass them...how did I lose them already? We were heading over a bridge (the course's only hill), and it was difficult to see the crowds ahead of me. But when the course leveled out after the bridge I spotted the green tutu. I asked Dan about the sign, and he held up the broken stick. Damn, it might be harder than I thought to follow them...unless I ran right up there WITH them. So that's what I decided to do.

Until both pacers had to pee. Shouldn't pacers be marathon pros who know how to avoid needing a mid-race porta-potty stop? Anyway, I made sure not to lose Pacer Dan in the crowd as the green tutu sprinted ahead to the porta-potties at the next aid station before we caught up; then Dan lagged behind and caught up with the 3:50 pack a few minutes later. So I think our pace was a bit uneven around miles 3-7, though I missed a few mile markers so it's hard to tell:

Miles 1-2 - 17:25
Mile 3 - 8:47 (I was plenty warm by now and glad I had opted for the singlet and short shorts!)
Mile 4-5 - 16:58
Mile 6 - 9:15
Mile 7 - 8:37

I wanted to stick with the pacers because for my past few marathons I've been a little obsessed with my inability to run even mile splits. This course was flat with the exception of the bridge that we crossed twice - at miles 2 and 10. Miles ~10.5-12 were on the boardwalk headed north, and the NW wind was quite strong (but thankfully had weakened since the race's start), so I was expecting a slower pace there. But this race has made me realize that it's not reasonable to expect even splits because of the way my body responds to energy gels. In past races, the gels' effects were subtle, if noticeable at all, but maybe my faster pace made this race different. I had several "oh shit" moments when it was almost like I had hit a mini-wall, but then the gel would kick in - I would distinctly recognize the moments - and my legs would have life again. I took 5 gels at 0:45, 1:30, 2:17, 3:00, and 3:20 (actually can't remember exactly when I took the last two). Anyway, there were some miles when I ran right next to Pacer Dan, and other where I could barely keep him in sight and was afraid I'd lose him; I'm pretty sure the mini-walls-and-gel-induced-second-winds are the explanation (e.g., miles 12 vs. 13):

Mile 8-9 - 17:18
Mile 10-11 - 17:32
Mile 12 - 9:00
Mile 13 - 8:28

At mile 14 Pacer Dan needed ANOTHER porta-potty break. Pacer Melissa was so far ahead we couldn't even see her (someone said she was aiming for "a fast 3:50.") Dan said he'd catch up with us, but I was afraid I'd fall off pace. But, I didn't do too bad:

Mile 14 - 8:49

The middle miles were a bit of a blur. This part of the course was pretty, but the crowds were thin or non-existent. I focused on staying right with Pacer Dan and his pack. But everyone was so quiet! I tried to initiate some cheers, but it only elicited a short, feeble response. And when we passed a band playing Sweet Caroline, I was the only one who sang the "bah bah bahs! WTF? Anyway, I did pretty well staying with the group until I got behind filling my water bottle at an aid station about mile 20.

Mile 15 - 8:41
Mile 16 - 8:59
Mile 17 - 8:37
Mile 18 - 8:53
Mile 19 - 8:47
Mile 20 - 9:19

I could still see Dan, but he was so far ahead I had given up hope of a sub-3:50. But then to my surprise, Dan wheeled around and headed back toward me and a few other lagging former 3:50 packers. He said that he was ahead of pace, and wanted to get the group back on track for 3:50 on the dot. "Really?" I said. I knew that the pacers had crossed the start line around the same time I had. "If you're ahead of me, 3:50 is definitely doable." I wasn't in a state to do the math, but I was hitting another mini-wall and decided I should relax a little:

Mile 21 - 9:17
Mile 22 - 9:20
Mile 23 - 9:00

Dan still hadn't passed me, but now the math was a little easier, and I knew I wasn't going to make 3:50. I still don't know what happened to Pacer Dan (I wonder if he was having GI issues). Anyway, the last gel kicked in for mile 24, but then it wore off and I had to dig really deep to get through the last 2.2:

Mile 24 - 8:52
Mile 25 - 9:39
Mile 26 - 9:52
Mile 0.2 - 1:52

Official finish time: 3:53:29!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Equivalent to an 8:54 pace.

My third marathon PR in 12 months - not bad! I trained, but had no written training plan. During the 59 days of January and February I spent 16 nights in a hotel and got on an airplane 8 times (not counting connecting flights separately). Bottom line, it was a hectic winter. I scheduled my long runs mainly based on when I was in town instead of what standard training plans dictate. I ran less miles than I did during my fall marathon training, and did very little cross-training, but I made sure the workouts I did do were high quality and purposeful. Guess it paid off! Now it's time to start thinking about a fall marathon :) I gagged trying to down those 5 gels, but I'm thinking of trying to up my intake to every 30 min for the last 2 hours of the race. Or maybe rigging a portable gel-IV drip...?

Some photos courtesy of Kate (thanks, Kate!):

Me at mile 26. I bite my lips when my mouth is dry. And can you tell I forgot sunblock?



SO happy to be finished!



The sunshine is deceiving - I was freezing at the finish, too!