Marathon state number 32 (marathon 42) had me worried. Although my main marathon goal is run a marathon in every state, I have a secondary goal of keeping them all under 4 hours. To date this has not been a problem. Since turning 50 (7 1/2 years ago) I have slowed down and my marathon times are now usually between 3:25 and 3:45. I was running 3:02 to 3:25 in my 40’s and I was only running 1 or 2 marathons a year. The combination of age and marathon frequency have apparently slowed me down somewhat. Going into this marathon had me concerned that I may not break 4 hours and if I did, it would only be by about 5 minutes if I had a good day. My concern stems from the fact that I had an over use injury while training for a marathon in Albuquerque, NM on September 30th and St George, Utah 6 days later. Due to the injury I wound up running only 1.1 to 2 miles a day (still had to keep my running streak alive) for 10 weeks while trying to recover. When I finally felt well enough to train I had only seven weeks prior to the marathon. I wound up with weekly miles of 34, 29, 43, 43, 46, 41 and 57 with long runs during those weeks of 10, 9, 12, 14, 13, 16 and 19. This also only left me 7 days to taper and rest, but then I didn’t have much to rest from.

My plan was to run just under 9:00 minute miles. Just under 9:00 minutes to me meant to try and run 8:45’s, walk one minute at each water stop and when the time came, probably some where between 18 and 22 I would walk one minute at each mile mark. If everything went OK I would finish around 3:55 to 3:58. My most optimistic prediction was 3:50. My weight was also up about 8 pounds due to the lower miles and my holiday pigging out.

The Inaugural First Light Marathon day was met with excellent weather. The temperature at the 7:30 AM start was in the mid 30’s, low humidity, 3 to 5 mph breeze and sunny skies. The conditions stayed the same throughout the race with the exception of the temperature reaching the low to mid 50’s. The course was interesting, running through old historic Mobile, through some very nice residential areas, past country clubs, tennis complexes, through parks, and Springhill College campus. The course was well marked and policed and was relatively flat from the start to 11.5 miles, where we hit several hills climbing about 210 feet over the next 1.5 miles. We hit a second series of hills from 18 to 19 miles. Although fairly well spread out there were about 30 turns in the first 20 miles. The last 6 miles had only one turn. That turn was at about 25.5 miles and that brought us down Dauphine Street in old down town mobile. This portion of Dauphine was very similar to the French Quarters in New Orleans. The entrance to the finish line was lined with 16 Southern Bells. They sure were a welcome sight after running 26.2 miles.

Getting back to my concern about finishing under 4 hours. I was at mile 1 in 8:03. Much to fast and I knew I had to slow down or pay the price over the second half of the marathon. Miles 2 through 13 were 8:01, 8:11 (water stop/ walk – 30 seconds), 8:04, 8:04, 8:09, 8:43 (water stop and Gu walk – feeling good and unable to slow my pace), 8:09, 8:38 (water stop/walk), 8:17, 8:20, 9:07 (water stop/walk), 8:53 (the steepest and longest hills were over the last 1.5 miles). Half marathon split was 1:50:25. Feeling good but concerned that the first 11 miles were too fast. On pace for a 3:40:50 marathon. My second half marathon splits were 8:41 (water stop/walk), 8:26, 8:15, 8:55 (water GU stop/walk), 8:30, 8:37 (second series of hills over the last mile and water stop/walk), 8:36, 8:48 (water stop/walk), 8:32, 8:26, 9:01 (water GU stop/walk), 8:29, 8:29, 8:23, 1:46 with a half marathon split of 1:52:19. Just 2 minutes and 19 seconds slower then the first half.

Not sure why I ran almost 15 minutes faster then I planned. Although the weather was favorable, my training and taper were far from what I would have normally run. I can’t say my performance was better due to starting off slowly, since I didn’t. My weight was up and my diet since Thanksgiving wasn’t good. I guess this is additional proof you never know what will happen in a marathon.

The only negatives was the free pre-marathon pasta dinner that was poor (pasta in a shrimp sauce, macaroni salad and water), the post marathon food was also poor (bananas, apples, red beans and rice, cookies and water), 10 year age groups and the ‘medals’ were home made blocks of wood that were hand painted and had First Light Marathon written on it and it was on a neck ribbon.

The start, finish, pasta dinner, post race activities, mini expo, registration were all at the Lafayette Plaza ($55 per night for marathoners). 670 marathoners finished, 383 half marathoners and I am not sure how many marathon relay teams participated. If awards were given in 5-year age groups, I would have placed 4th in the 55 to 59 year age group. As it was, I placed 12th in the 50 to 59 age group.

For those of you who know Ken Winn, he also ran the marathon as a long training run in preparation for the Las Vegas Marathon on February 3rd. Ken was expecting to run between 4:10 and 4:20. He went out relatively slow, ran a negative split in the second half of the marathon and finished in 4:05, completing his sixth marathon in six states.

Overall I would rate this marathon as very good especially if the race organizers correct the minor problems.

Next marathon will be Las Vegas on February 3rd with Ken Winn, Jim Caprera and Bob Panzak.

Rest if you must, just don’t quit,
Marty