Richmond Marathon 2014 - 5:30...Again???

MTT team photo

My experience - 5/5

I love this place. I love this race. I love everything about it. This is my home run. Last year here i achieved something which I never imagined was possible. I ran unbelievable 26.2 miles here. If last year I was a newbie, this year I had 4 marathons under my belt. So I knew how to finish, but I was still not able to go past my 5:04 time I achieved here last year. In Charleston I twisted my ankle. In Paris and Marine Corps I wanted to enjoy the marathon rather than look at my time, which I did. And this is the last one for this year, to able to achieve the mark. Marathons do not happen every day right!?

It was a chilly on race day morning, so I wore my Marine Corps compression shirt and MTT one on top of it. I was still cold. This time I did not want to miss the training team meeting at the capitol, so I braved the cold and reached early morning at the Omni hotel. The hotel lobby was full of training team people with green shirt just like me. I met Corey, his wife Maria, Mike, Chris and many others, who were waiting there before going to the Capitol.

The capitol grounds were full with MTT folks. Don Garber (MTT head coach) said a few encouraging words and after that it was time to take a group picture with hundreds of people. Fun! Now, it was Coach Blair's turn to address Pink Nation and that was the best benediction to motivate us before the marathon. It made me more determined to get my 5 hr target.

It was still cold by the time we reached the start line, but after being out for so long since morning we were not feeling it that much. The race started following the half marathon from the same start line. I did not keep my camera which I do for every marathon, as I wanted to focus on the running. I started with Mikes (beard and silver). Both of them run most of training runs together and last year marathon too. When everyone reached out for their watches crossing the start line, I realized my dumbness. I did not even connect my watch to GPS. By the time I got connection, I forgot about the watch. Finally I started my gps at mile marker 2.  After the first SAG, I picked up pace slightly and went ahead.

Around 2.5 mile we turned at joined Monument Avenue, which is the one of the most beautiful places to run in Richmond. During our Sunday practice runs we often pass through here, and then there is Monument Av 10K which is everyone's favorite race in Richmond. There was good support along the way and there were a lot of green shirts similar to mine encouraging each other, so I was feeling really good. We then turned to Grove to continue for another 2 miles. I crossed 10K in approx 1:10 hrs, which was as per the planned pace. The route for marathon is really well planned. It actually takes runners through the main places around Richmond. Next was the bridge over James River on the way to Pony Pasture. The view of James from the bridge is one of the best. I was maintaining ~11 min pace by the time I reached Pony Pasture. This place and the 5K run with same name are my favorites, as it offers some great view of James from the river side and also it’s flat for 2 straight miles. At the end of it there was a hill and the mile marker 10 was at the end of it.

Looking good at mile 13

I slowed down at the next water stop to drink water and eat my energy bar. I started but with slower than 11 pace. The next 3 miles to the half point were nothing to write about. Mikes caught up with me and I started running with them again.  The RRRC unofficial SAG was at mile 13. Ralph and Anne Brown were clicking pictures and distributing candies. I let Mikes go ahead as stopped for candies. The half way mark was done before 2:30, which was good, now I just needed the same pace for another half marathon.

I felt it at mile 14, the pain on my left knee came late, but it was not just a niggle this time. I started walk run which I planned for incase of this. By the time I reached Lee Bridge after mile 16.  I mostly knew 5 hr was unreachable with run walk. The pain was not going away and running was making it worse. I met Coach Judy before the bridge and coach John after. Both of them encouraged me to keep running. I did try till the uphill after the bridge, but after that I couldn't. I think the long run/walk on the Lee Bridge did it for me.

Now my target was just to finish. As I was passing mile 17, Mark (Buckland) was there to take pictures for training team. Then route turned to Boulevard, which is again one of the routes we pass more often during our practice runs. Sports backers’ stadium was just after mile marker 19 on Boulevard, where Jen Mott had setup Pink Nation SAG. 

with Jim Sobeck

After I passed the SAG I met Jim Sobeck. He was running his first and last, yes last marathon. I was intrigued. He told me that he and few other people running this marathon created this group who will run just one marathon. That was different I thought. We crossed the mile 20 marker together. We both were fast walkers. We were clocking 14 min mile, which was not bad considering my only target was to finish now, and I couldn't run.

I had good company for the final 6 miles now. We kept walking fast, even encouraging other tired runners to walk with us. By mile 24 we passed a lot of tired people. We talked about a lot of things as we had all the time till we reach finish line. Even the pain on my left knee was less now. I could probably run but I chose not to. We were already on mile 25 so the downhill finish was nearby, and I wanted to run that.

And as we turned we saw the downhill finish. I said 'Let’s run to finish'. We both started running. I ran with all my energy so I could reach there before pain returned, and also because it feels so good to run at full speed towards the finish line. Some of Pink Nation team members were cheering from the sides. I crossed the finish line with my hands stretched. Good picture..eh. I again finished on lines of my last 3 marathons 5:30.

Barb was volunteering at the finish line giving out medals. It was great to get medal from her, and the medal was beautiful. Only if i could get that medal sooner (like 31 minutes sooner).

Corey, Mike and I after race. 

One with the fast Pink nation people

I missed my target time by alot but still I was happy to finish, and I knew I will again get a chance to do better in the next try in my home run.