GA - marathon #01: callaway gardens (& gwr update)
GA - a road course with trees & many half marathoners.
the first adventure was finding the start & packet pickup. we were driving into callaway gardens (following other cars some too) and then we decided to read our confirmation card . . .
we went to the inn stated on the confirmation card (oops - read through to the end kids). they (the inn) then directed us (and others) to the correct location of the start. we snagged our packets & were ready to run.
the first half i ran first alongside a marathon maniac from alabama. turns out we're both running the mercedes marathon. when he stopped for a bathroom break i ended up next to a girls from kentucky.
she & i talked til the 1/2 way point where we separated ways (she was doing the 1/2). turns out she has all sorts of information about running, and nutrition and training. i ran a marathon and learned some on physiology :) i hope to see her in kentucky.
after we separated i was onto lap #2. i crossed paths with 2 more marathon maniacs - whom i'm hoping i convinced to run the sneffels marathon in ouray/ridgway this year in august. if nothing else we're all running delaware and something else together (i'm blanking at the moment - maybe new jersey?).
i walked a good deal of the 2nd half knowing i have to recover next weekend and ended up with my slowest finishing time (6:15 i believe).
at one point i was getting disappointed with myself. then one of the manics said something "i don't mind taking it slow, i get more for my money" or something along those lines. i also reminded myself two things.
1) i need to recover, i'm doing this for a reason
2) this is the shortest training i've ever done for a marathon - i started dec 1st and the longest run i had was 15 miles. usually i start 3-4 months ahead of time and get 2 -3 18+ mile runs in.
so i put on my book on tape and kept trucking.
then my friend calls and says they are taking down the finish line. she calls back in a bit - they're still timing, just no big getup basically.
many marathons have cut-off times. i understand and accept this. my only request is to know ahead of time. from here on out i will be more proactive on finding out information. turns out there is an early start also.
i enjoy running - i want to keep enjoying it. to do this i think i am going to scratch the idea of gwr (guinness world record).
i will send them my info (race numbers, time, maybe a statement from one person, a printout from my garmin, etc.) and if they accept it, great. i am going to leave it to them to accept (or not) courses that are not USTAF certified (vs getting courses certified).
if i had their requirement information a few months preceding my running i would have been more enthusiastic. at the moment it is solely a stress - and i like as-little of that as possible.
one down 50 to go :)
thank you to everyone who has shown support in all their different ways. i appreciate it
hope all be wonderful
the 2nd lap was a bit more sparse
bjorg greeted me almost @ the end (thanks @ bjorg for the last 2 photos)
the first adventure was finding the start & packet pickup. we were driving into callaway gardens (following other cars some too) and then we decided to read our confirmation card . . .
we went to the inn stated on the confirmation card (oops - read through to the end kids). they (the inn) then directed us (and others) to the correct location of the start. we snagged our packets & were ready to run.
the first half i ran first alongside a marathon maniac from alabama. turns out we're both running the mercedes marathon. when he stopped for a bathroom break i ended up next to a girls from kentucky.
she & i talked til the 1/2 way point where we separated ways (she was doing the 1/2). turns out she has all sorts of information about running, and nutrition and training. i ran a marathon and learned some on physiology :) i hope to see her in kentucky.
after we separated i was onto lap #2. i crossed paths with 2 more marathon maniacs - whom i'm hoping i convinced to run the sneffels marathon in ouray/ridgway this year in august. if nothing else we're all running delaware and something else together (i'm blanking at the moment - maybe new jersey?).
i walked a good deal of the 2nd half knowing i have to recover next weekend and ended up with my slowest finishing time (6:15 i believe).
at one point i was getting disappointed with myself. then one of the manics said something "i don't mind taking it slow, i get more for my money" or something along those lines. i also reminded myself two things.
1) i need to recover, i'm doing this for a reason
2) this is the shortest training i've ever done for a marathon - i started dec 1st and the longest run i had was 15 miles. usually i start 3-4 months ahead of time and get 2 -3 18+ mile runs in.
so i put on my book on tape and kept trucking.
then my friend calls and says they are taking down the finish line. she calls back in a bit - they're still timing, just no big getup basically.
many marathons have cut-off times. i understand and accept this. my only request is to know ahead of time. from here on out i will be more proactive on finding out information. turns out there is an early start also.
i enjoy running - i want to keep enjoying it. to do this i think i am going to scratch the idea of gwr (guinness world record).
i will send them my info (race numbers, time, maybe a statement from one person, a printout from my garmin, etc.) and if they accept it, great. i am going to leave it to them to accept (or not) courses that are not USTAF certified (vs getting courses certified).
if i had their requirement information a few months preceding my running i would have been more enthusiastic. at the moment it is solely a stress - and i like as-little of that as possible.
one down 50 to go :)
thank you to everyone who has shown support in all their different ways. i appreciate it
hope all be wonderful
the 2nd lap was a bit more sparse
bjorg greeted me almost @ the end (thanks @ bjorg for the last 2 photos)