January 27, 2001
Start 0:02
This is a very small marathon with a third of the field being relay runners. The temperature is right around 40 degrees and the wind is stiff out of the south. I am wearing shorts, a thin Coolmax long-sleeve t-shirt, another long-sleeve t-shirt, and my brand new Oakley sunglasses that Martha and the kids gave me for my birthday, which is today. There isn't any better way to celebrate a birthday!Mile 1 7:16
A perfect start, but the wind is definitely in our faces. In a race this small, it is more tempting to take off too quickly. The start was delayed by 10 minutes and this might upset my water management plan.Mile 2 7:05
My goal is to run a 3:10 or better, which translates into 7:15 per mile. Due to the wind, I am trying to find other runners who I can draft behind. Unfortunately, the only runners close to me are relay runners, and they are going a little faster than I would like.Mile 3 7:05
I maintain my draft position because it is easier running this pace behind someone than to run 20 seconds slower without a wind block. I take off the extra long-sleeve t-shirt and throw it away.Mile 4 6:59
The problem with drafting off a relay runner is that they are only doing five miles and aren't as concerned about a nice even pace. The runner I am following begins to pick-up his pace as he nears his hand-off point.Mile 5 7:19
I lose my wind block, and this mile is no easier than the previous three miles that were faster.Mile 6 6:59
I catch another wind blocker for a mile, but I know I shouldn't be running this fast.Mile 7 7:27
Since there are only ~400 marathon runners and another ~200 relay runners, there are not many runners to draft behind.Mile 8 7:02
The legs feel great, and my body feels very good, but these miles are probably a little quick given the wind conditions.Mile 9 7:24
At this point, I link up with two other runners who are trying to run about a 3:10. However, they do not seem interested in trading off blocking the wind as we run three abreast.Mile 10 7:17
Occasionally, I try to drift behind these two to get a little wind block, but they don't seem to be concerned about the wind.Mile 11 7:12
The nice thing is that these guys have a pretty good sense of pace. It continues to get a little warmer, and I wonder when I should take off my shirt.Mile 12 7:05
We get a little quick with this mile as we are passing a relay runner in front of us. The water stations have been good, but the cups are as small as Dixie cups and are half empty.Mile 13 7:16
This is the perfect pace to run a sub-3:10, but I think the conditions (because of the wind) are not ideal. My halfway split is 1:33:48. I break out my peanut butter Access bar and eat it. I must be getting enough water because my mouth is not too dry.Mile 14 7:44
My water management plan was dealt a set back because of the delayed start. I stop to relieve myself on the side of the road next to some woods.Mile 15 7:22
Okay, pit stop is over, and I have eaten my Access bar. It is time to start focusing on gearing up for the end game of this marathon.Mile 16 7:22
My legs hurt, but I don't think I have destroyed them too bad. Only ten miles to go, and I think I can keep my miles around this time. However, I need to go a little faster if I am going to get a 3:10. I am not feeling too warm, but am definitely sweating quite a bit, so I take off my Coolmax t-shirt and toss it. Just after I toss my t-shirt, my left contact lens decides to fold up and roll to the top of my eyeball. I will run the rest of the race with mono-vision.Mile 17 7:03
The cool wind on my bare chest invigorates me, and I find that the legs can still turnover at a good clip.Mile 18 7:20
The city of Charlotte is coming into view, but the wind is still in my face. I am wondering how many matches (bursts of energy) I have left to burn.Mile 19 7:12
There is a slight downhill as we head towards town. Charlotte doesn't have a downtown as one has to go uphill to get to the center of town.Mile 20 7:20
I think I can keep this pace. I think I can keep this pace. However, I know that the uphill is coming.Mile 21 7:45
I start up the hill going towards the center of town. I pass Martha and the kids cheering loudly and wishing me happy birthday.Mile 22 8:18
This hill is quite the obstacle, and the problem is that this isn't the last one. I am disappointed that my pace has slipped slower than 8:00.Mile 23 7:39
This little downhill, as I head away from the center of town, is nice, and I ride it for a mile while proving to myself that my legs can still turnover.Mile 24 8:15
The course flattens back out, and I have no matches left and very little power in my legs. I realize that it is not going to be a 3:10 day.Mile 25 8:58
Finishing strong is the major goal now, but this is being prevented by a fairly significant hill.Mile 26 9:20
The last hill. Whoever laid out this course must not want to see anyone finish strong. I don't mind hills late in a marathon, but on the last mile when you don't need to?Mile 26.2 1:37
With the finish in sight, I find one last burst of energy. In a field of only 400+, I have the "stage" (finish line) to myself. I perform a 360 spin and cross the line. It only takes me about five minutes after I finish to find my contact lens in my eye and put it back in its proper position.Final 3:16:43 officially.
I was 39th of 420 finishers. I finished 10th of 44, males 30-34. There were only three women who beat me today.
I have determined that marathon fields can be too large (greater than 5,000) and now too small (less than 1,000). There were not enough other runners to pack with or pick-off in the second half. This Charlotte course is still relentlessly hilly, and I don't know if I will be back again. However, it is a decent marathon with good support along the course.
My plans this year are to run the Shamrock Marathon at Virginia Beach in seven weeks, then maybe the Pittsburgh Marathon in May, and an attempt at 100 miles in July at Vermont. Of course, I will run the JFK50 in November.
Never stop running,
Darin
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