GOBBLER GRIND MARATHON
Overland Park, Kansas
November 21, 2004

My plan was to run the Eisenhower Marathon in Abilene, Kansas in March of 2004. A soccer induced hamstring injury forced me to cancel Eisenhower and schedule Gobbler Grind in November. No other rescheduling was necessary. Green Bay, Mickelson Trail, Humpy's, Clarence Demar and Duke City were not impacted. The only downside was that I would have one less month to prepare for Mardi Gras Marathon in February 2005.

Sometime in September and after the hurricanes, I was running with Jeff Kramer and Sarah Guttery. I was recovering from Humpy's Marathon and tapering for Clarence Demar Marathon (5-weeks between marathons). Jeff and I were doing a 4-miler and Sarah was running a 12-miler (training for a fall marathon). I jokingly suggested that she may want to join me at Duke City or Gobbler Grind Marathon, which would give her a third state. I didn't think much about it when Sarah said she would think about it. I just figured she was being nice. A couple of phone calls later and to my surprise, Sarah decided to run Gobbler.

We flew into Kansas City, Missouri and drove 45 minutes to Overland Park. By the time we got to Overland it was about 7:30 PM, so there was no time for sight-seeing. We went for a 2-mile run Saturday morning and discovered that our motel was just across the street from the start/finish line. Naturally, we ran part of the course, the first and last half mile and mile 6 and 13. We then drove to race headquarters at a local running store, Metro Walk & Run. There was no race expo, but anything you would need for marathon morning could be purchased at the store. We were only a few miles from the Hallmark Hall of Fame (Kansas City is where Hallmark was founded), so we toured the museum and also walked a couple of blocks and toured the restored Union Station. Since there was no official marathon pasta dinner Saturday night we found a Macaroni Grill not far from the motel.

The marathon course is a 3-loop course with the first 2-loops doubling as the Half Marathon course. The first loop is 5.75 miles of fairly long hills and is on the roads. The second loop is 7.35 miles on paved trails that run along the Kansas River. There are several hills along this stretch with one steep hill at both 9 and 11 miles. All runners cross the Half Marathoners finish line and the marathoners continue on to loop 3. The race is being chipped timed so there is not problem with the marathoners crossing the finish line. The third loop is 13.1 miles of paved trails. It is an out and back loop with frequent short and steep hills.

It's 40 degrees and low humidity marathon morning. We are thankful that we have a short walk to the start and we leave the motel at 7:45 taking advantage of the heated room but making sure we get to the start in plenty of time. The start was delayed 25 minutes. Race officials claimed they were waiting for a few late runners, however, it looked more like they were having problems with the chip system. Sarah and I had a throw-away shirt on so we weren't too cold. One of the race officials on a PA system described the course and mentioned that there are several "bobbles". We weren't sure what "bobbles" were but we were about to find out.

Finally the start. The 150 marathoners, 750 half marathoners and 100 5K runners all start together. I lose sight of Sarah before the first turn, less then two-tenths from the start. Running 6 marathons in 6 months but running in cool weather, I am hoping to go under 4-hours. I plan to walk 30 seconds at each mile mark, every 2-miles. The first couple of miles are a little difficult due to the long hills and I am out too fast with a 8:06 and 8:20 split. Sarah was also out too fast at 7:00 and 7:15. Miles 3 through 5 are 8:39, 7:59, 8:30. There are three out and back sections of the course where Sarah and I get a chance to see each other. At about 3.5 miles Sarah has about a 4 minute lead and is looking good. I have to stop for a pit stop at the start/finish line area and mile 6 is 9:08. Mile 7 though 13.1 is on the trail, again fairly hilly but scenic due to autumn colors. Splits are 8:10, 8:30, 8:18, 8:45, 8:28, 8:47, 8:31 (1:51 half marathon split with a projected 3:42 finish) and I'm feeling OK. Sarah crossed the Half at 1:39 on pace for a 3:30 finish. I usually take a Gu at 6-mile intervals. For some reason I didn't remember to take a Gu until the 10-mile water station. Oddly enough, I found out after the race that Sarah also forgot to take a Gu until 10-miles. What's that cliche, "Great minds (runners) think alike".

My 14-mile split was 9:29. I feel OK so I thought the mile mark was off. Mile 15 is 9:33 and I am beginning to feel a little light headed (dehydrated?). I guess the 14-mile mark was accurate. Miles 16, 17 and 18 splits are 9:22, 9:21 and 9:19. At mile 18 1/2 I pass Sarah for the last time and I estimate that she is on pace for a 3:30 finish. I'm just hoping to run sub 10:00 minute miles and come in under 4:00. Miles 19 through 26 continually get more difficult, primarily to a sore groin that makes it very difficult for me to lift my right leg, especially on the up hills. I'm starting to think I need a little rest time after this marathon. Splits are 10:28, 10:49, 10:52, 11:30, 12:52, 12:24, 14:08 and 15:01. Finish time 4:17:57. Sarah struggled over the last 10K and finished in 3:42. The cold had an impact on her finishing the last 10K with numb hands and close to numb face and legs. It was 40 degrees at the start but never warmed up during the race. We also decided the "bobbles" which we think are the short steep hills that go under and over the many highways and roads played a role in both of us losing 20 minutes over the last half of the marathon. On the positive side, we both place first in our age group with Sarah the fourth female overall. Surprisingly, I would have placed first in my age group in the half marathon (I did run a fairly good first half).

In spite of the second half of the marathon, the course and support were good. The finisher medals were small but nice. The shirts were not impressive, but if you pre-registered you had an option to upgrade your shirt to a technical shirt for $15. The technical shirts are collared polyester/Lycra blends for the men and collared valor pullovers for the women. Both are very nice. If you are looking for a small, easy to get to, low frill marathon in Kansas, you should consider the Gobble Grind. Although we had good weather, the locals were commenting that they usually have much colder/adverse conditions this time of year.

Another marathon where I can't claim I ran for a great time, but I did have a great time (before, during - less the last 10K, and after). Thanks Sarah.

60 marathons completed in 49 states and Washington DC. Next marathon - Mardi (Marty) Gras, New Orleans, Louisiana, February 27. Should be quite a few SCR marathoners at Marty Gras, hope you can make it. Go to www.spacecoastrunners.org for details on accommodations and marathon/half marathon registration.

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