My race experience - 1.5/5 This race had an afternoon start and Williamsburg was just one hour away. No hotels required, just go, run and come back. Corey already signed up for the race so I had company too. Williamsburg is a beautiful place and I heard that the start at William and Mary is beautiful too, so I signed up for the race after Charleston marathon. I knew the race is just a week after my 50K, so I just wanted to have a good time with no target in mind.
I reached an hour
before the start time, parking was easy but getting my bib was chaotic. The
volunteers at table were confused and couldn't find my bib. I was sent to other
table which again did not have my number. After which I was sent back to first,
and then after some waiting I had my bib. I met Corey and Debbie and together
we went to the start line. The weather was at 70F, hot for winter. There was
colonial era style parade started at the main hall and then went to the start
line. It was unique to see something like that.
The start line was
crowded. There were at least 600+ runners at the start line; many of them
looked like college kids. Debbie, Corey and I started together. After a mile
Debbie asked us to keep going as she wanted to go slower on the hill. Corey and
I went ahead. To run with Corey I always have to get out of my comfortable
pace. He knew that, so he was running in training pace. Except the incline on
the hilly slope which was putting pressure on my ankles, it was a good run.
After mile 2 there was good downhill, this ended in a wooden bridge over a
swamped creek. We were having a good run. The mile marker 4 showed up but my
gps was 0.1 mile behind, but it happens sometimes with gps, so we carried on.
The difference started getting bigger. The mile markers were place at 0.75-0.8
miles. By the time we reached mile 8 it was already showing 7.6.
However that was
not the problem. The problem was no SAGs for 3 miles between after mile 4, and
it was already too hot to run in afternoon. Every turn we kept asking the volunteers
who told us 'A little more to go!' By the time we got the SAG, my throat was
parched. Before the turn around point, I asked Corey to go ahead, as I wanted
to go at slower pace now. I still followed him at a distance for almost a mile.
The route took us
back to the same road we came from. Around mile 9 I felt the same niggle in my
left knee as I was feeling in past few runs, so I ignored it, reduced pace a
bit and carried on for another 2 miles. As I touched mile 11 the pain
increased, as if hitting some nerve. It made me walk on a downhill, and then I
crossed the wooden bridge walking. I couldn't even smile for the photos. The
pace was touching 16 min. The mile marker was still ahead of my watch by 0.4
miles.
I was just walking
now; I walked for rest of the race. When I saw mile marker 13, I was happy that
it was almost over. I could see the big hall but not the finish line. But the
next 0.1 mile was too long, I am sure I at least went double to reach the
finish line which was inside the big hall. My gps said 12.9.
Corey was waiting
for us. I got the finisher medal, which was just average kind. Debbie finished
few minutes after me. We were there for a long time recalling the incidents on
the route, drinking the beer and having after race snacks.
I had great
company for this race, but the wrong mile markers and not having SAGs at proper
distance was disappointing. Even though this race perfectly fits on my budget,
commute and timing, I don't think I will ever do it again. This race is not for
me.
 |
| Corey, Debbie and I with the W&M mascot Griffin |
No comments:
Post a Comment