NJ Marathon Wrap Up - The Good

Amy letting us use her condo as our base of operations - just awesome.
Mary for being there, helping out and being there.
The race organizers for ensuring there was plenty of fluid stations, first aiders and in general just wonderful organization on a dreadful day.
The volunteers who distribute water and other supplies. They were tremendous.
The people who lived on the course who were hosing us down with water - thanks everyone.
The hot dogs at Max's after the race. Hmmm Hot Dogs.
They had enough water and gatorade on just a dreadful day - 'nuff said.
And finally we didn't die.

NJ Marathon Wrap Up - The Bad

The heat and sun - just brutal.
Loop courses - I understand all the reason for it but no thanks.
The banner near the finish that really said - finish ahead which was probably another tenth or two away.
The heat and sun, in the words of the great, late 20th century philosopher, Beavis - " Huh huh, the sun sucks"
But really that was all that sucked

NJ Marathon Wrap Up - Loop #2

After my ten minute break at Amy's I soldiered on and started feeling better. Of course this stretch was on the boardwalk and there was a very welcome cool breeze. When I got to the start/finish line I knew I was continuing. I actually started running better, miles 14 and 15 being much better than the previous 6. Soon enough I was back in survival mode again but I was ok with that. I just wanted to finish and I didn't care how long it took. I hooked up with other runners, we ran together for while and then there would be someone else to run, walk or chat with. Everyone I talked to was operating in the same mindset which was - OK, this will be my worst marathon time ever but dammit, I'm gonna finish. So finish I did in 5:36:54. This is almost exactly an hour slower than my fastest time and you know what. I don't care. I finished and didn't die. Mission accomplished!

NJ Marathon Wrap Up - Loop #1

It was hot, 87 degrees hot. I knew early on that this was going to be a long day. I let G Money go ahead and slowed my pace between mile 1 & 2. By mile 3 I was already up to a 10 minute pace and it just got worse from there. This was a loop course, in other words you run the same course twice for a marathon. This meant seeing the mile banners for 17, 18, 19 etc when you were at 4,5 and 6. It was impossible to believe that I would be running this loop again. I thought many times of the cardiac event last Aug and was determined not to duplicate it. So I slowed, walked, drank water at each and every water stop. If I felt funky, I walked. I tried taking pictures and blogging but it became impossible. The iPhone touch screen was not responsive to my sweat and water logged fingers. So I just gave up on the blogging. Mary met me at mile 11 with Powerade and other supplies which was a huge help. I stopped at race headquarters (ok, Amy's condo) for a bathroom stop and a general opportunity to assess my condition. I told Amy and Mary I had no intention to run the marathon, I was gonna finish the half and call it day. Of course, I didn't.

Well I didn't die

Just got home,absolutely brutal day out there. I was going to quit after the half, I have no idea what compelled me to run the 2nd loop. But I did it and G Money did too. I'll throw up a summation post later after I get a shower and relax a bit.

Slow going

Already in big trouble

Way too hot

The start

At the start

Race Headquarters

Race Day is here

6AM, coffee and Captain Crunch the breakfast for all serious marathoners.G Money will be here at 6:30 and then we'll head out to Long Branch and set up the command post at Amy's. A quick check of the weather shows a high of 85 degrees for today, I just hope the ocean breeze makes it feel much cooler.

Lucky number 13

This will be my 13th marathon. In order they are..

Jersey Shore Marathon (now known as the NJ Marathon) - 2002
Philadelphia Marathon - 2002
New York Marathon - 2003
Philadelphia Marathon - 2003
Ocean Drive Marathon - 2004 (Set my PR 4 hours 37 Minutes)
Philadelphia Marathon - 2004
Detroit Marathon - 2005
Philadelphia Marathon - 2005
Marine Corp Marathon - 2006
Calgary Marathon - 2007
New York Marathon - 2007
New York Marathon - 2008

Number 14 will be NY this Nov and maybe #15 in Philly a couple of weeks later. But I have to get through this one first.....

Quick Weather Update

The official Almo/G Money race headquarters is at my friend Amy's condo. Amy's condo faces the boardwalk at miles 12 & 25 (it's a loop course) so we'll run right by there twice. Anyway I just talked to Amy and although it's a zillion degrees out here in Robbinsville, she says it's almost chilly at the boardwalk. So maybe there's hope yet for tomorrow.

New Jersey Marathon

OK, I haven't blogged in a long while nor I have I run a a marathon in a while. Both streaks end now.

The NJ Marathon is tomorrow - njmarathon.org - and G Money and I are running it. Both Gary and I are ready. I've run 326 miles in 2010, probably the most I've ever trained for a marathon. Gary is in tremendous shape. I would expect both of us to set PRs tomorrow except.... the forecast is for mid to upper 80s. If that is truly the case then the race becomes a survival test. I'm not stressing about it, it will be what it will be.

My bib number is 1609 - Gary is 529

So stay tuned tomorrow as I blog, send pictures and report on my/our progress.