The morning was sunny and warm. I would say it was in the 60s when the race began. The course starts at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and heads into the heart of the city. From there you swing back to the museum, and then along Schuylkill River, then you loop back to the museum. This is my first visit to the City of Brotherly Love, and am enjoying it. The downtown portion of the race is ok, you do some of the historic areas, but not enough in my opinion. Once you are on the route long the river, this course becomes one of the most beautiful I have run on.
I started about 30 minutes after the initial gun went off, and trotted through the city. By the time I started, the temps were getting warmer. What I noticed right away is that a lot of people were not carrying water or sports drink with them. I had a bottle of water with me at the start. I was not comfortable running at the start. I felt it was really warm, and I was sweating at the beginning. This reminded me of 2007 Chicago. At mile 4 I felt like crap. I actually wanted to give up, but a quick phone call to Mark encouraged me. I met Mark at mile 5, he had my next bottle of water ready. From there, I headed along the river.
Miles 5-10 were challenging. At this point the weather was sunny and in the 80s. I made sure I ran in shade when I could. My body though was tired. At mile 6 I began power walking with occasional run breaks. I figured this would be what would get me through the race. I wish some of my fellow runners could have been a bit smarter. It was starting at mile 6 I saw ambulances along the course. People were passing out from lack of hydration and pushing themselves to hard in the sun and heat.
Mark was worried about me, because word at the finish area was that people were dropping like flies. I was not going to be one of those people. I had plenty of water and Gu, but there was no sports drink out on the course at this point. I figure all the previous runners had gotten it ahead of me. I didn't see sports drink until mile 10. I took 4 cups. I lost a lot of electrolytes out there.
At mile 9 my hamstrings were killing me, and I knew this was going to be tough to finish. I told myself a PR was not going to happen, and a sub 3 hour was not going to happen - just go with it.
I cranked up the iPod, and listened to the theme from Rocky and pushed ahead.
By the way - attention race organizers, I think it is great you have teens staffing the water stations. Could you make sure they are mature enough to handle it? I got tired of seeing guys have water fights at the stations. Throwing cups of water at each other is not cool.
At mile 10.5 I saw someone who looked like they were in serious trouble. An ambulance had them on a stretcher, and stationary. That looked serious and scared me a bit. At mile 11 I finished my water bottle, and from then on took whatever was offered. The sun was beating down and it was hot.
At mile 12 I knew I could do it, and pushed ahead, I even ran a bit. Mile 13? There's an incline!!! A corner with an incline to be specific. Good lord! I got up it, and headed to the finish where Mark was waiting for me. 3:21:34 - a slow day. With medal around my neck, Mark guided me to the ice foot bath. DANG that was cold.
So while I was out on the course, my thoughts turned to Boston. I have a ton of work to do with my body and my running to do that race (if it happens). Once vacation is over - look out. I will get down to business.
Charlie
4 comments:
Stumbled across your blog by accident - but congrats on your finish!
I ran the race yesterday too. It was my second half marathon and I was really hoping to improve my previous time, but in the end was happy to just finish. It was warmer than I had expected. I started in corral 17 and finished in 2:30... I shared a lot of your observations though (immature teens throwing water maybe around mile 6 or 7 water stop?) Some older women near me had water dumped on them without asking for it. I was surprised they were wasting water like that when there probably many more runners still to come through. On the other side of the river, I was surprised to see many of the first few tables at stops were out of drink and you had to keep running down more... couldn't they have spread themselves out a little bit? I did not bring water with me (though I thought about it) but on my long runs I ran with a bottle and practiced drinking water only at the advertised water stop intervals. I think for my next one, I will get one of those straps that goes around a water bottle with the handstrap and a little zip pocket for your key, snacks, etc.
That uphill around the curve to the finish line was painful! and the longest .1 mile ever :) I was so happy to be done though.
PS - I also saw ambulances and the little emergency go-kart along the river on our way back to the art museum, and it was kind of scary!! One of the times that it had pulled over, the back door was open and I saw there were several people sitting in the back of the with what looked like saline drips for dehydration.
Boston + "if?" -- oh no you didn't! Do not let me hear you say those two words together again! I've been eyeing some hills here in G'wood -- they have our name on them :)
And those teens should know that i know a couple of much younger kids that could handle their job just fine ;)
Many many congrats on your finish -- as tough as it was, you win the mental game and even managed to appreciate the beauty of the course :)
Sounds very rough Charles. I have run 2 half marathons and trust me a marathon in 80 degree weather is not fun at all. There was a womens half here in Nashville this last Saturday and yesterday one lady (57 years) died in the hospital after fainting at the finish line. Chicago Half went well for me. I need to lose at least 10 pounds but damn its not been easy.
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