General Discussion Race Reports! » Marine Corps Marathon Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply

Marine Corps Marathon - RunMarathon


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Arlington, Virginia
United States
USMC
60F / 16C
Sunny
Total Time = 3h 35m 16s
Overall Rank = 1616/21211
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 215/2011
Pre-race routine:

Drove in Saturday and met up with a high school friend and his family, they were nice enough to put me up for the night. Had a great lunch with them and hopped on the metro to head in and pick up my race packet from the Team Hope for the Warriors captain and meet some of the team members as well as some of the wounded marines doing the race. I can't believe how motivating it is to meet these guys that have literally given up their limbs for our freedom and have the strength and determination to work through their injuries and kick a$$ on hand cycles. I came into town with an annoying knot in my hamstring and after talking to a couple marines that got their hamstrings blown off by an RPG in Iraq, all of a sudden my cramp didn't feel so bad. God bless these marines and their families!!
Event warmup:

I got up just before 5am, had a bowl of cereal for breakfast and sat on the toilet and played solitaire ...... wait ...... TMI? I had my clothes all ready and got dressed, put my HRM on and headed out the door to catch the metro into town. I met a few runners waiting for the train and chatted for a bit. I really had no idea what to expect from the race. My training has not been what I would call "marathon training". Hell I don't even think it was 10K training!! Even so I was looking forward to having a great time out there and didn't care what my time was. I knew I would come in between 3:30 and 6:00 and either way I'd be smiling. This is a great way to enter a marathon (or Ironman for that matter). I got to the race and went over to charity village to meet up with the Hope for the Warriors Team and talk with more of the marines from Camp Legeune that were doing the marathon. I met one marine, Jacob, who had a goal of running a 3:30. This was his first marathon and I told him that I should be able to run 8:00 miles forever and asked him if he wanted someone to run with. (I figured I could probably hold 8:00 miles for 15 or 16 miles anyway before my lack of training caught up with me.) I jogged around Arlington Cemetery for about 20 minutes trying (successfully) to get my bowels moving then went back to the team tent before heading down to the start. At the start I was hanging in the 3:20-3:40 corral with Jacob when I just had to pee. I told him where I was going and thought I'd sit on the grass and discretely go while pretending to do a hurdler's stretch. As I was "doing my thing", and hiding what I was doing very well I might add, 3 or 4 guys lined up on the fence behind me and just whipped their things out and peed! So much for being discrete! Headed back into line and waited for the start.
Run
  • 3h 35m 16s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 08m 13s  min/mile
Comments:

The Howitzer went off with an ear crushing BANG and we started to walk forward to the start line. I was running with my new friend Jacob who was looking at going a 3:30 in his first marathon. My plan was to walk 30" each mile and walk the aid stations taking in a good 8oz of Powerade each station, they were about 2 miles apart. I was carrying my water bottle, that I had been sipping on all morning and was almost empty at the start, and had 1 flask with 6 oz of Banana HammerGel mixed with 4 oz of water. I planned on taking a hit every 30-45 minutes on that. (It looks good on paper!) We hit the first mile at 8:08, this included walking or slowly jogging at the start with the crowds. We were running at about a 7:30 pace at that point. The next couple miles included a couple steep hills. Mile 2 was a 7:55 and my HR was about 165 at this point. I know Jacob is feeling good at this point because he is trained AND tapered. My taper consisted of a 6 hr drive the day before but I hadn't trained so I guess that was a good taper. I mentioned that we might want to slow down a little or we, meaning I, were going to pay for it later. Mile 3 was a 7:28, good thing we slowed down! Mile four had a long downhill and I was looking forward to my HR recovering a bit. Jacob is flying by people and as I come up beside him I asked him what his Garmin was getting for a pace right now. He responded with 5:45!! Needless to say my HR didn't recover much! Finished mile 4 at a 7:13. So we're pretty much right on pace for that 3:30! I figured that he wasn't listening to me about slowing down so I'll stay with him for a few more miles then let him go on his own. Miles 5-8 were 7:31, 7:36, 7:52 and 7:35 and I was starting to tire a bit as my HR was creeping into the 160's as an avg. I was getting to the point where I needed a porta-john so I used that as my way of letting Jacob go run his race and wished him luck and said I'll see him at the finish. As I was doing my thing on the potty I looked at my watch and noticed that I was still at an 8:00 avg pace for that mile. Holy crap!! I wiped, grabbed my water bottle and finished mile 9 at 8:15 with a dump!! Impressive! Miles 10-12 I met up with a few different people that were running their first marathon and chatted while splitting 7:49, 8:05 and 7:49. I was liking this pace much better and hit the 1/2 marathon mark at a 1:43. Miles 13-16 were 7:59, 7:58, 8:07 and 7:55. The next couple miles I started to feel my IT band a bit. With my long run of 13 miles a few weeks before I figured that the last 10 miles might be a challenge. Miles 17-19 were tough and I had a nice little discussion with my IT band. I thought we had a nice agreement worked out that if I walked a little longer at each mile and backed off the pace he (or she) would back off on the pain. The splits for those 3 miles were 8:00, 8:20 and 7:48. At mile 20 my IT band seemed to break our little agreement and decided to just plain hurt whether I walked or ran. Mile 20 was an 8:32 with about a 1:00 walk and mile 21 was a 9:50 with a lot of walking. I saw the grim reaper ringing his bell on the wall going over the bridge and started to crack up. My IT band was killing even walking so I picked a spot and started to run. I shortened my strides and just leaned forward and kept my feet moving. 5 miles left! I can do anything for 5 frickin' miles! My legs felt fine, my lungs felt fine, I had energy, it was just my IT band that was killing. As I went through the aid station around mile 22 one of the Marines said I looked good. I thanked him for all he does for the country and told him that I must be a good faker because I'm hurting! Now I started to think of the wounded vets that I'm raising money for and realized that I'm complaining about this annoying little piece of connective tissue that's causing me pain when there are heroes out here on hand cycles that have no legs! TALK ABOUT PERSPECTIVE!! Mile 22 - 8:36, mile 23 - 8:39. As I was heading out to the turnaround in Crystal City I say Jacob. He was still running, looking a little worn but still running. I picked up the pace a little to see if I might catch up to him and came up on a couple Navy girls. As I caught up to them I notices the flow of traffic going wide around them, then I saw why. The classic marathon SHART! Brown soup running right down into her shoes. As I passed by I tried to encourage her by saying that there was only a couple miles left and if it makes you feel any better I know exactly how you feel! (In my case there was a porta john 100 yds before the finish but I would have sharted if it wasn't there!) Mile 24 - 7:57, I was able to pick it up a bit but I paid for it. I walked a few times over the next couple miles and miles 25 and 26 were 8:17 and 9:00 before I was able to head up the hill to the finish. I saw Jacob and he finished at 3:33 and change. I congratulated him on a great race, got my medal and my picture taken and wandered around for a bit.
What would you do differently?:

Train more seems to be the theme of this years "What would you do differently" questions. In this particular race I should have backed off in the first 9 miles and stuck with my 8:00 mile plan. I think I may have avoided the IT band issues if I had not gone out so fast in the beginning.
Post race
Warm down:

I headed back over to the charity village and got what seemed to be a 30 or so minute massage. It was great having massage therapists right in the team tent with no lines and no waiting. I ate a bunch of pizza, subs and stayed well hydrated to get ready for the drive home.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Training.......again.

Event comments:

This is a must do race to any marathoner. You cannot be around this many service men and women and not feel proud to be an American. My thanks to Toni who is the Team Hope for the Warriors Captain for getting me into the race and also to all of the service men who have given everything to keep us safe on our homeland!




Last updated: 2009-09-22 12:00 AM
Running
03:35:16 | 26.2 miles | 08m 13s  min/mile
Age Group: 215/2011
Overall: 1616/21211
Performance: Good
5 K splits were - 24:17, 24:03, 24:33, 25:09, 25:05, 25:19, 27:59, 26:37. 1/2 mary splits were - 1:43:40 / 1:52:37
Course: Fantastic course with a few hills in the first 3 or 4 miles then pretty flat while going through Georgetown, by all of the monuments, Crystal City and ending up at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Great venue with US Marines all over the place!
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5

{postbutton}
2009-10-28 9:51 PM

User image

Bob
2194
2000100252525
Binghamton, NY
Subject: Marine Corps Marathon


2009-10-29 5:05 AM
in reply to: #2485623

Member
30
25
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Awsome run and great report.  I do not think I could even remember that much of a race.  You enjoy what you do and better yet you brighten the spirits of everyone around you.  Thanks for making racing and competing fun for the rest of us.
2009-10-29 6:39 AM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Expert
1023
1000
Malvern, England
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Great race report.  Really does put a lot of stuff in perspective.  Still having potty problems though!!!
2009-10-29 7:57 AM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Master
1324
1000100100100
Rochester, NY
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Good perspective!

Hope your IT settles down all the same.

2009-10-29 8:16 AM
in reply to: #2485777

User image

Cycling Guru
15134
50005000500010025
Fulton, MD
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Sorry we didn't get to connect, but great run!!

I see you have gone to the Rick Carter school of marathon training.
2009-10-29 8:34 AM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Veteran
188
100252525
Rochester, NY
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Hurdle stretch while peeing.  Impressive.  Smile


2009-10-29 8:51 AM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Master
1478
1000100100100100252525
Horseheads, NY
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

As usual - fun report to read!

Congratulations on a great race.

2009-10-29 9:37 AM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Master
1411
1000100100100100
Lexington, KY
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Congrats Bob!  Thanks for supporting our troops.
2009-10-29 12:02 PM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Melon Presser
52116
50005000500050005000500050005000500050002000100
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

LOL Bob--you go in undertrained with ITBS and smoke a 3:35. SUPER ROCKIN' BOB STOCKS!!!

Oh, and the LOL wasn't just for that ... it was the repeated mentions of bowel stuff. I love you.

2009-10-29 12:44 PM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Champion
7704
50002000500100100
Williamston, Michigan
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

glad you had fun bob and the pesky ITB has settled down   Great cause great race report you Rock

2009-10-29 12:48 PM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Pro
5123
5000100
Canandaigua NY
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Unbeleivably funny race report!!!  Learned a new word today - Shart! 

It is a great cause that you are running for!!! I must try this race sometime!  After training for a January marathon in upstate NY, I am sure I will wish I had this year!!!

Great job Bob!!!



2009-10-29 1:21 PM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Pro
3730
2000100050010010025
NorCal
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Great RR Bob!  The next time I see you doing the hurdler's stretch, I'm going to wait until your done.  You must be the only guy I know who has a 8 min/mile pace while taking a dump! 
2009-10-29 3:21 PM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Master
1920
1000500100100100100
Ann Arbor, MI
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
You are awesome!! I think you might poop more than I do- which is a very amazing accomplishment Congrats on a fun race- and you kick a$$ even if you don't train properly.
2009-10-29 6:34 PM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Elite
3518
20001000500
Madison, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

Awesome..simply awesome! You rock Bob Stocks!

2009-10-31 7:53 AM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Elite
3687
20001000500100252525
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

So you did a 8:15 mile with a poop break thrown in.  Absolutely perfect.  Fun report, thanks Bob.

2009-10-31 8:00 AM
in reply to: #2490598

User image

Bob
2194
2000100252525
Binghamton, NY
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
mndiver - 2009-10-31 8:53 AM

So you did a 8:15 mile with a poop break thrown in.  Absolutely perfect.  Fun report, thanks Bob.



I have a lot of practice with poop breaks in case you hadn't heard!


2009-10-31 8:39 AM
in reply to: #2485623

User image

Expert
1145
100010025
Ann Arbor, MI
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
I never tire of reading the rstocks race reports. You're right there amidst the action, never missing a single square of TP , and even when things in the race go south, you're reminded of how a great attitude and a big smile can get you to the finish line with a great time.

Now rest and roll that IT into submission, Bob!
2009-10-31 7:31 PM
in reply to: #2485623

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2009-10-31 9:47 PM
in reply to: #2485623

Royal(PITA)
14270
50005000200020001001002525
West Chester, Ohio
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon

LMAO at all the shart and pee!   How does one manage 8:15/mile with porta potty visits?  Super race!

Love the reality check and perspective too!

2009-11-03 8:47 PM
in reply to: #2491448

Bob
2194
2000100252525
Binghamton, NY
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
QueenZipp - 2009-10-31 10:47 PM

LMAO at all the shart and pee!   How does one manage 8:15/mile with porta potty visits?  Super race!

Love the reality check and perspective too!



Practice .......... lots of practice! If only my transitions were that good!
2009-11-04 4:23 PM
in reply to: #2485623

Master
1420
1000100100100100
Reston, VA
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Nice race Bob!

Great RR as usual too.


2009-11-05 11:49 AM
in reply to: #2485623

Master
1853
10005001001001002525
syracuse
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
great race and aweome report, bob!!

funny stuff....Smile
2009-11-07 5:27 PM
in reply to: #2485623

Master
1704
1000500100100
Charlotte
Subject: RE: Marine Corps Marathon
Great race!  I must have been right around you toward the end!
General Discussion-> Race Reports!
{postbutton}
General Discussion Race Reports! » Marine Corps Marathon Rss Feed