Shamrock Marathon 2001

Seven weeks ago, I ran the Charlotte Run for Peace Marathon in 3:16. It was a hilly course, and there was a head wind to battle most of the day. The Shamrock Marathon has a reputation of being a fast, flat course. The only thing keeping my confidence low is the stomach flu I had three and a half weeks ago. My running has yet to return to the pre-flu level. However, the course is flat, the wind is supposed to be calm, and the temperature might actually stay low enough for a personal record (PR).

March 17, 2001

Start    0:01

This marathon is the right size for me because there isn't too big of a crowd. The entries for the marathon were just under 2,000. It is a clean start, and my game plan is to run between 7:15/mile and 7:20/mile, so that hopefully I can run faster for the second half (negative split).

Mile 1    7:16

I am running on a Marine team from Quantico. There are six of us on the team, and the fastest three times count as our team's time. The other five start off faster than me, but I know what my legs are probably capable of today. I hope we have a couple of guys who have great days. This opening mile is perfect, and it feels like I am jogging.

Mile 2    7:17

This is really smooth, and the temperature is about 50 degrees and overcast. However, it is supposed to clear off and warm up soon.

Mile 3    7:20

This mile is okay. It is better to go a little slow than too fast. There is a group of us that seem to want to go the same pace, and as we turn onto the boardwalk, we form a pack of about 9 or 10.

Mile 4    7:19

The pack is tight since there is a slight head wind as we head north up the boardwalk. It is awesome that we all seem to want to run close to the same pace. There are some in the group who are trying for a 3:15 and some who want a 3:10.

Mile 5    7:13

The only problem with running in a pack is at the water stops. The pack breaks up as we come to a water stop and not everyone decides it is worth it to get back into a pack. Oh well, I only need one or two people to draft behind.

Mile 6    7:06

This mile is a little fast because one of the guys who was in the front of the pack is picking up his pace now that he is warmed up. Several of us decide to hold back a little.

Mile 7    7:17

This is good. The temptation is to pick it up and really stretch things out, but patience is definitely a virtue from this point until about mile 18 or so.

Mile 8    7:21

This mile and the next one are a little slow, but I am comfortable. I don't know if my legs will have "pop" in them for the second half or not, so I better stay conservative.

Mile 9    7:21

These couple of miles are also uphill as we head towards Fort Story. We will be coming back the same way, and I bet this hill will be great to come back down.

Mile 10    7:19

I finish the climb to Fort Story, and there are three of us running close together. However, the guy who was leading decides it is time for him to draft awhile.

Mile 11    7:25

As we turn into Fort Story, the other guy takes the lead. I stay close as there is still somewhat of a head wind. The patience is wearing thin.

Mile 12    7:08

After the last mile, I decide it is time to see if my legs are going to be here today for me. As I take the lead of this small group of three, I quickly lose the other two. I also pass my first teammate, MSgt Reece.

Mile 13    7:20

I want to feel out my legs, but I decide not to get carried away. Any faster than 7:15 feels like too much effort today. I better save my "matches" until late in the race.

Mile 14    7:05

This is the turn around to head back to the start/finish. Therefore, I get to see my other four teammates. Ron Wielsma looks great and is about eight minutes ahead of me. The other three are close together, and they probably have a couple of minutes lead on me.

Mile 15    7:28

I eat my Access Bar, and my mouth is not very dry at all. The water stops are every two to two and a half miles, and I have been drinking a full cup at each stop. Unfortunately, the water stops are not every mile during the second half like they need to be.

Mile 16    7:20

There is still a slight breeze, but it never seems to be at my back. However, now it feels good coming diagonally from the front.

Mile 17    7:08

This is the last mile on Fort Story. Now, it is time to pick up the pace and take it home. The downhill portion is right in front of me.

Mile 18    7:23

I know I am running downhill, and I am passing people, but still I am not going any faster. I was hoping to drop these close to 7:05 or better coming down this hill.

Mile 19    7:27

I spot two more of my teammates up ahead. They are a good distance in front of me, and it looks like they are still running pretty well. However, since I am not setting any speed records coming down this hill, they must be slowing down.

Mile 20    7:36

I have cut the gap between me and my two closest teammates in half. I am sure I will catch them-the only question is when. Clearly though, this is not going to be a PR day, since the big kick is not in my legs today.

Mile 21    7:37

I catch both of these two teammates-Tim Maxwell and Bill Inserra at the same time. I mention that it is time to take it home, and they both respond with something like, "I am done."

Mile 22    7:28

I pick it up to see if I have any hammer left to throw down on the accelerator. Unfortunately, right as I pass the 22nd mile mark, my calves decide to begin cramping.

Mile 23    8:08

I have to back off the pace if I want to be able to finish running the rest of the way. It is interesting at this point to continue pushing, but not too much or else my calves will "lock up." There are always various runners at this point who stop suddenly because some muscle has locked up.

Mile 24    8:21

I continue on a limited terminal velocity due to my calves. I am not passing anybody still running, but there are a few walkers/stoppers who I can get by. There are also a couple of strong finishers who go by me.

Mile 25    8:32

I turn off the boardwalk again and head for the Pavilion Convention Center. I spot yet another teammate ahead of me. I am currently in third place for the team, and if I can chase him down I will take second. This will be a good goal for the last mile.

Mile 26    8:08

Unfortunately, a quarter of a mile into this last mile, my teammate, Jeff Stansfield, stops to stretch out his calves. I am disappointed for two reasons. First, I am losing a valuable incentive for the last mile, and second he is now our third place runner, whose time is counting for the team.

Mile 26.2    1:28

I still can kick, but I am paying for it in my calves. Right about the 26th mile mark is Martha, Nathan, and Amy cheering me to the finish. I manage to pass a couple of guys in the last 300 yards, and one in the last 20.

Final 3:15:53 officially.

I was 107th of 1559 finishers. I finished 14th of 156, males 30-34. There were only six women who beat me today, but the sixth place female is only 11 years old! The team finishes second in the military division out of six. Ron Wielsma leads us with a solid 3:01 time. Jeff Stansfield is our third place time with a 3:16:46.

Size-wise and course-wise, this is a really good marathon. I still would like to see more water stops during the second half. After I finish, my calves are hurting severely, but after about 30 minutes, I am okay and walking around. Give me another hour or two, and I will be ready to dance (just kidding). This 3:15 is a nice solid time, but I still want to get one under 3:10. However, the strategy of going out conservatively is the way to go because one never knows if this will be the day that the legs are still there for the last 6-8 miles.

It is now time to quickly recover and get back in the training mode. I am planning on running the Pittsburgh Marathon on 6 May, and the Vermont 100 on July 21st and 22nd. Stay in touch and God bless you.

Never stop running,
Darin