Race Recap: 2015 Marine Corps Marathon

Back in early spring, I made a spreadsheet of 8 fall marathons. Each had pros & cons, but any of them, quite frankly, would be a blast to run. A few were smaller, while a few have some of the biggest marathon fields in the world. One is run at night, & one even had wine as its theme. Just as the lottery was about the close {literally, 10 minutes before!}, I submitted my name into the Marine Corps Marathon. Assuming I would not make the cut, as has always been the result with my beloved NYC marathon, I returned to my spreadsheet attempting to decide which marathon would be 2015s “Plan B”. As luck would have it, a Plan B would not be necessary. On March 25^th, I received the email that determined where my 2^nd marathon would be run—Arlington, VA for the 40^th Annual Marine Corps Marathon!

Training officially began on July 6^th. I decided that my base mileage was adequate enough to have a 16-week training cycle. The difference between heading into Richmond Marathon training in 2014 & MCM for 2015 was like night & day! You can peruse my Richmond Marathon recap here.

Over the next 16 weeks, I trained smart, but hard—when appropriate, of course. I had what I would consider a nearly flawless training cycle. By listening to my body, I really only had a minor injury/pain/ache in July—a persistently sore right shin, which an x-ray determined was not a stress fracture. Whew! I think the pain was rooted in trying out a new pair of shoes, which was just not the right fit {pun intended!} for me. July was spent building more base miles—with my only “fast” running that month at the Tidewater Striders Summer Series. In August, I added in tempo runs. Then in September, I added speed intervals to the training regimen. Maybe unconventional, but I only had 4 speedwork sessions before race day. The rest of my nearly 640 miles were mostly at easy/long run pace, with a tempo run each week. I didn’t skip a single long run, which I was very proud about. And aside from maybe 2 or 3 easy runs that just didn’t work into real-life scheduling, I didn’t skip out on any of those types of runs either. Honestly, I can’t thank my body enough for cooperating!

Logistics of the weekend were constantly changing. When I initially signed up for MCM, my sister lived with us, so hubby would have been able to tag along with me. When she moved back home with our parents, that plan fell through. A few friends were going to attend at one point, but life happens & those plans fell through as well. Ultimately, I ventured to DC solo. Going alone, while daunting in some aspects, was quite nice since I only had to worry about getting myself from point A to point B. It really worked out for the best {although I did miss my cheering hubby & friends along the course}!!

Race weekend began on Friday evening. After cooking dinner for myself & the fam, I loaded up the car & made the just over 3 hour trek to the Pentagon City Sheraton. It was nice to arrive at the hotel, unload my stuff, then just crash for the night (not before a quick trip to the local grocery store for bananas & water—runner priorities). Saturday morning I woke up, even before my alarm went off, feeling pretty well-rested. I headed to the expo, first via the hotel shuttle bus, then onto the metro—which I learned to navigate initially with the help of 4 ladies from the Midwest. One of those ladies was running the marathon, which I really hope she had a great race! On my next metro ride, I was SO proud to figure it out all alone—this gives me hope for my Japan travels in February! After the expo, I had a very relaxing bagel in Panera, & then returned to the hotel for a bit. Next was lunch—a yummy Italian sub. Then, back to the hotel for a shower & nail painting session. I disconnected from all things running by enjoying some figure skating on TV. I won’t bore you will all of the logistical issues I had next, in getting to dinner {future DC travelers, plan ahead & allow for double the amount of time you think you need for getting to places}, but I will say that Il Radicchio is a quite yummy Italian restaurant in the Clarendon area of the city. My pre-race dinner consisted of bread plus a chicken penne dish in a light cream sauce with spinach, tomatoes, & mozzarella. Such a tasty dinner, & I must say that the host, who basically became my server, was one of the nicest people I met the entire weekend! Dinner wasn’t until nearly 8pm, so bedtime didn’t arrive until just after 10pm. A little later than I wanted, but it all worked out just fine!

Race morning began with a 5am alarm. I had already packed my bags & all of my running clothes were laid out, so I was quickly out the door within 20 minutes. Back onto the shuttle, then the metro, & then probably a mile+ walk to the Runner’s Village. A bit of a delay at the security checkpoint, maybe 30 minutes, which really wasn’t problematic for me personally, since I had followed the MCMs recommendation for arriving 2 hours before gun time. However, I heard quite a few stories about people not getting through security until after the race had begun! Once in the runner’s area, I found a port-a-potty (very impressed by the short lines!), then some running friends, & then to the bag drop area. After one additional quick bladder-relief break, I headed to the start. By far, the coolest race start that I have ever witnessed! Complete with a “real” gun/cannon firing, skydivers with American flags, a moment of silence, the National Anthem, & some aircrafts flying over {I am sure there are official names for all of those items, but I am not in the military “know”, ha!}. Regardless of my level of knowledge, I took it all in & was really happy I had planned ahead & was able to thoroughly enjoy the race start in a relaxed mindset.

I lined up just in front of the 3:40 sign. Unlike other races, I was not “secretive” over the past few weeks with my Plan A goal of 3:40. According to my training, even previous race times, this is the time I “should” be able to race at the 26.2 mile distance—of course this always assumes “perfect” race day conditions. I would not consider race day conditions at the MCM to have been perfect—from the weather (rainy for at least the first half of the race), to the hilly course (at least to a pancake-flat Hampton Roads runner like myself), to the actual temperature (50s-60s). Regardless though, I went into this race with one mindset—which I also told my 2 clients who ran the MCM—“you did not train these last “x” amount of weeks for a mediocre performance”. I was determined to give it my all, whatever that may be, & be happy with my performance. Spoiler alert: Mission Accomplished.

After studying the course, I knew the first 5K should be slow—like way slower than any other miles should be for the day. I kept my goal paces in mind & totally ignored the other runners around me. I was determined to not let myself burn too much energy during those first 3 miles. But goodness, I was not prepared for the extent of those hills!

Mile 1: 8:51

Mile 2: 8:51

Mile 3: 8:38

When preparing for race day, & planning goal paces, I knew mile 4 would have a downhill portion in it—with that miles’ goal being one of the fastest for the day.

Mile 4: 8:08

The next many miles just ticked on by. I had planned for the next 4 miles to be run at 8:2x; mission {mostly} accomplished on that front. Oh & during this point, I LOVED running through Georgetown! I really need to go up there sometime & just go shopping. I loved all the well-known boutiques along that portion of the course, as well as the cute local shops!

Mile 5: 8:28

Mile 6: 8:15

Mile 7: 8:27

Mile 8: 8:15

Many of the next few miles are sort of a blur—but not for lack of enjoying the course & the people around me. I think I just entered into scenery overload & zoned out some, while watching the people around me & smiling at all of the spectators. We saw some of the leaders loop back past us at this point—which is always a boost to me. I tried to ignore my Garmin & run by feel, as the next 6 or so miles were some of the faster ones on the course; goal at that point, 8:1x.

Mile 9: 8:14

Mile 10: 8:12

Mile 11: 8:22

Mile 12: 8:17

Mile 13: 8:19

The miles before the halfway point consisted of a familiar path—the same route that is enjoyed during the Cherry Blossom 10-miler, along the Potomac River, approaching Hains Point. This point of the course brought the Wear Blue Mile—which was by far the most emotional portion of the course, for me at least. Positioned on each side of the running path, sitting along the ground, were hundreds of signs to honor those Marines who were killed in action. Following that memorial, stood men & women holding American flags, presumably the survivors of such deceased military personnel, so gracefully cheering on the runners. As I looked at those beautiful people, I couldn’t help but to be drawn to the women who appeared to be about my age. That could have been me. They looked so young. I assumed it was their boyfriends, or husbands, or brothers who had been killed while serving our country. It’s just not fair, I thought. Their strength helped propel me along my run.

Mile 14: 8:15

After the emotional blue mile & the 13.1 point, came hundreds of signs, pictures, & sayings—motivational messages if you will, written to specific runners & to all runners in general. Some were funny. Some were cliché. I think many people were not fans of this portion of the course, but I really loved the straightaway & used the signs as a distraction from my watch. I happily stayed right on pace.

Mile 15: 8:08

Mile 16: 8:15

My goal during the next few miles was to just not fade! This is where things started to go downhill at Richmond—presumably due to my lack of mileage base. Things were different this time & I was determined to NOT let mental or physical defeat occur during this portion of the race. Mission Accomplished: “still feeling good & on pace”, I thought to myself.

Mile 17: 8:21

Mile 18: 8:28

Mile 19: 8:17

And then, here comes the nearly 2-mile bridge. Yay…. Not! For many people, their main objective on race day is to “Beat the Bridge”. For the “faster” runners, this is essentially a non-issue; but that in itself doesn’t protect from the toughness that the bridge subjects ALL runners to. It doesn’t help that the bridge is “appropriately” positioned at the point in a marathon, so dutifully deemed as the “start of the second half”. Mile 20. Just get through the next 2 miles, & then you can pick up the pace. It’ll “only” be 4 miles left. You can do anything for 32-34 minutes. This was what I thought going into race day. What actually occurred, quite the opposite.

Mile 20: 8:43

Mile 21: 8:44

Mile 22: 9:07

Mile 23: 9:08

And then, the wheels began to fall off. I had been practicing something the last few miles that I had read about, but never actually done during a race—surging ahead & picking up the pace whenever I was running slower than goal. My legs would no longer do this. The lactate was built up & my body was beginning to shut down. Going beneath two dark underpasses didn’t help. I was disoriented & felt like the world around me was closing in. Tunnel vision was an understatement. Going through a little area of town—where exactly I have no idea as I was so out of it at this point—I saw a fountain & just wanted to plop onto the bench & run no further. This is the point where I feel like I hit “The Wall”. I have never hit the wall in a race or run—but I assume I did at this point. I used all of the motivation around me & what I had seen that morning to keep me from sitting down & getting a DNF—the double amputee, the girl with bilateral foot boots on crutches, the young woman with the picture pinned to her back of her deceased/KIA (killed in action) father. Those were the people who truly had struggles to contend with, not little ‘ole me with a couple of perfectly functional, yet sore legs. About that time, the 3:45 pacer ran past me. “Latch onto him, along with his large group, & DON’T LET GO”, I told myself! This worked for a bit, but then the lactate build up won again. Or maybe it was the handful of goldfish crackers that I grabbed, but could not chew with such a dry mouth… which resulted in labored breathing. Not my best decision at MCM.

Mile 24: 8:23

The last 2 miles felt like an eternity. It seemed like every step I was dragging lead in my dead legs. My turnover was awful & exhausting. My cadence dropped to the 160s. I was no longer racing, but instead, simply surviving. Just get to the finish. No quitting allowed. No walking allowed. Do not allow yourself to be slower than Richmond. Oh, now I understand why people get a DNF. You did not train these last 16 weeks for a mediocre performance. I knew I looked rough. I could see the sympathetic faces of the spectators along the sidelines. Following their compassionate smile, they all shouted words of encouragement. Even in my deteriorating state, I still managed to high-five the little kids along the road & fist-pump every sign that I could for its’ “power”.

Mile 25: 9:24

Mile 26: 9:52

Since I had studied the elevation map, along with stalking the MCM Facebook page, I knew the final 0.2 miles to the finish was an uphill battle—literally & figuratively, it’s a 50ft climb. As I made the final turn, my legs gave out. I walked. Twice actually. I could no longer hold it together. I shed a few tears, & then somehow found the strength to conjure up a jog. Even with my brief walking, my heart rate continued to climb. My body was simply done. There would be no sprint to the finish. Just avoiding a DNF now became the goal. Any official time concerns were thrown out the window at this point. Someway, somehow—I was getting that medal hung around my neck by a Marine!

Final 0.57 miles: 10:48

According to Garmin: 26.57 miles, in 3:48:35 (8:36/mile)

Official Results: 26.2 miles, in 3:48:28 (8:43/mile); a PR by 6 minutes & 35 seconds!!

Overall: 2379 out of 23212

Gender: 539 out of 10439

Division: 123 out of 1743

Reflecting back, it’s funny what you realize about yourself. At one point during the beginning of the race, heck, even in the middle, if you would have asked me my Plan B goal, I would have said 3:45, but I would have also stated “no need to worry about that, 3:40 is happening!” During that mindset, I would have been disappointed with anything above 3:40, & especially above 3:45. However, I learned something at the MCM, in those late, tough, tough miles—if you truly give it your all, there is NO WAY you can be disappointed with the end result. I am damn proud of my time & I have zero regrets from race day! This is another accomplishment on my running journey, in life really—that I succeeded upon, & mostly, all on my own.

It’s tough not to notice, & in my opinion worth mentioning, the distance “over” the official 26.2 mileage. Yes, yes, I completely understand how a course distance is certified & measured—so I will not elaborate upon that here. While nearly no one {maybe the most elite people in the front are able to!} can run an exact 26.2 mile marathon, the “overage” is usually not as significant as is the case at MCM {at Richmond last year, I ran 26.36 miles—only 0.16 mile over}. Exactly 600m (0.37 mile) over the official distance is huge. We aren’t talking 30 seconds, no, more like a couple of minutes. This lets me know one thing though, I am capable of a 3:45—which as I recall during the Richmond Marathon last year, felt so far out of my grasps. Isn’t progress beautiful!? The “discrepancy” at the MCM is likely due to the numerous turns, along with the normal weaving that many people do; but also this year due to dodging puddles. While I didn’t have to weave hardly at all, despite the almost 25,000 runners attempting the marathon, I did find myself dodging rain puddles to avoid having wet socks & feet. I can happily report that I only pounded through one puddle & that sogginess didn’t create any extra blistering! It certainly is a nuisance to know that you will run more than 26.2 miles, but if you know this ahead of time, plan accordingly. If someone were trying to qualify for Boston, I personally don’t like the MCM course for that purpose. However, if you have in the past/plan to in the future, kudos & more power to you!!

I write these recaps for the enjoyment of my few fans & readers (hehe!), but also for myself. It is nice to review what exactly I did for each race & how those choices helped or hurt my performance. That way, I can adjust accordingly in future races. For this DC race, I stuck with my long run plan of a SaltStick pill every hour. For my fuel, I bumped up my frequency from what I would do during long runs, to 4 chews every 4 miles—I liked this easy math! I only deviated from this plan with an extra fuel spot at mile 22; so basically, I fueled in the final 10K at 20, 22, & the 24 mile markers. I drank Gatorade & water at most every water stop (I think I skipped 1 or 2)—quickly grabbing a cup of each as to not lose valuable time during those hydration spots. Overall, my tummy cooperated quite well, so I count that as a win! Despite thinking that taking Gatorade & water at nearly every stop along the course might be too much, I am glad that I did. On the night of sleep following the race, I work up incredibly thirsty & downed a 16.9oz. bottle of water in 5 seconds flat!

As this recap comes to a close {yes, I know, I am quite wordy}, I can’t help but to feel honored to have run such a patriotic & inspiring race. The Marines protect our freedom, along with the other branches of the U.S. military, so that we as Americans may live as we do. And if their job is any reflection on their kindness at the MCM, I can honestly say that they are an outstanding group of men & women. As with any race, the success would not be possible without the volunteers, police officers, spectators, & many others—THANK YOU, to all of you!

Up Next For The Running Blonde: Wicked 10K – since this is 6 days after the marathon, I am not planning to race this one!