National Marathon - Suntrust : Official Thread

I emailed the race directors to see what they were serving on the course:

Right now, we have GU Energy gel pack, and in final negotiations with either Gatorade or Powerade (essentially the same style of product).

(I had to ask them to clarify at first -- they said "we are having gels and sports drinks and waters" .... thanks, guys, what KIND of gels and sports drinks??" )

I'll look for you!

I'll be the one in a bright orange singlet !

Looks like they have a nice map that tells you exactly where everything is.  I see 3 Gu stops.  I will probably still carry my own so I can take them when I want to, and not when they appear.  It is also easy to miss gels at aid stations, though this marathon may be better at that.  I will want more than 3 gels.  Will probably carry some, and stuff my pack with a couple when I get to the aid stations.  That way I don't have to carry so much at one time.

Yes you gave a pace when you registered, but this marathon doesn't use that information for corrals as far as I know (I've done the race once).  Some of the bigger marathons do strict corral placement, but there's no reason to do it here.  Many times races ask for your pace just for their own informational purposes.  We'd know by now if they were doing corrals.

You should be able to sign up (or show up) for any pace group available.  That's typically how it works.

Pretty interesting that you've done an IM before doing a standalone marathon.  I wonder what your thoughts will be afterward.  I've found it to be about the same, except the suffering in an IM is for a much slower pace. :-)  And I don't suffer in a marathon until the late teen miles, where an IM is much earlier.  Same rules apply though.  Don't start out too fast.  Keep in mind "the 2nd half of the race is the last 10k."  Keep the nutrition and hydration flowing.  If you can pace yourself so that you are running at even a slow pace in the last 10k, you will be passing lots of people who are suffering badly or even walking.

Oh wow, they do have corrals, how about that.  The race has grown by about 2.5 times from when I did it the first year, as of 2008.  I remember seeing posts of pace when I did it but not corrals with ropes, fences, or whatever.  That should be interesting.  Thanks for the info!

Oh, and after running IMLOU, this marathon might feel a lot different to you, being in the cooler weather! :-)  You might be cruising!  IMLOU is such a killer day.

The reviews on www.marathonguide.com are very postive -- I'm excited !

Does anyone want to meet up?  Run together?  I'm going to run with the 3:50:00 pace group.

The corrals for this one are not forced, you can move yourself to other corrals if you want.  Good luck to everyone racing; the weather is looking great and I'm getting pretty pumped up for it.