Steamtown Marathon - The new marathon PR

Steamtown marathon was special. Whether it was receiving my confirmation packet through postal mail, cleverly funny updates from race director, finding my name in entrant list in local newspaper, receiving free entries with the race bib to rail museum, cheering students as I unboarded bus at start line, spirited volunteers and spectators at every stretch of hard miles.. OR.... Of course.. getting my marathon PR where I finally broke 5 hr mark; everything about this race was special. 

Part I-The day before - Travel, Expo and Steam Engines

Good weather day in Pennsylvania

I registered for this race after looking at the elevation map which has net 955' drop and which looked like an super easy course on my small laptop screen, casually ignoring the elevation gains in the second half and the massive hill on mile 24. All these facts which I ignored were topic of mostly every update from the experienced race director who has seen many runners fail in last 19 years.

Scranton is 5.5 hrs drive from Richmond so I started early Saturday morning. The sky was filled with grey clouds but it did not rain. By the time I crossed DC and touched I-270 the Sun was shining in clear blue sky. Fall colors were already showing up in far away mountains as I approached Pennsylvania. With no traffic, beautiful views and full tank of gas, I did not stop till I reached Scranton. The expo was small so I did not spend much time there, however I did pick up the free local newspaper which has special supplement on the marathon. It was still early so I went to Steamtown NHS which has the world's largest collection of steam engines and was giving free entry to bib holders. The place was impressive with so many steam engines in various stages of restoration. Even though I wanted to stay longer, I decided against it. I needed good rest after long travel so that I could be ready for marathon the next day.

Part II-Race Day morning

Race day morning

My hotel was just few miles from finish line, so I could afford to sleep a little longer. I still reached on time and luckily after some effort parked just 2 blocks from finish line. Next was the bus ride to start. It took us 40 minutes to reach the start area. The person next to me was running his first marathon, but the man in seat ahead of me was a pro of many Steamtown marathons, and was happy to share his knowledge. As the bus passed through marathon route, he pointed out every slope and hill along with mile markers. He knew the route so much that he even corrected the driver when he took a wrong turn.

The 11 mile pace group

It was a beautiful cold morning. Temperature was around 40F, just perfect for a marathon start. As we unboarded the bus group of cheerleaders welcomed us, some students handed us the water bottles and good luck ribbons and two students held ' follow me' signs for us to follow them to the school's gymnasium. I had never encountered anything like this in any of my races before. They were making runners feel special before the race. The start line was just outside the school. Students were holding pace markers standing on chairs so runners could choose their pace. I chose 11 min pace group. Some students formed a human chain just before the start line. Everything was like a tradition and more symbolic rather than a rule, which was a welcome change from other big marathons. And ofcourse, there was a canon placed on nearby field. Ready to fire!

Part III-8 Downhill miles

Forest City - miles of hospitality

The canon fired - BOOM, and the front runners started. In a minute my wave also crossed the start line on a gradual downhill. The church bells were ringing, as it was time for Sunday morning service. The downhill got steeper with the first turn so I had to control not to go faster. I knew the first 8 miles had more elevation drop than rest of course. 'Miles of Hospitality' posters were hanging from most of poles along with American flags in Forest city area  as we passed first two miles.  The first water stop was just before 3rd mile in the city of Vanding and most of the runners were still together mostly due to easy downhill miles. We passed the residential area and trees started to show up on both sides of the road. The fall was almost there. The green trees started to turn various shades of red, yellow and orange. Here the road was inclined on left side due to turn. I did not know how my left knee going to react running on incline so I tried my best to avoid and ran on the sides.

The Fall is here

For this marathon, I already had target in my mind. I printed two pace charts before the race. One with 4:45 finish and other with 4:59:21 finish. My only target was to get my first 4 hr marathon. I checked at mile 5, I had gained 3 minutes of my 4:45 time

10 Mile 

If the run was easy till now, it became easier in mile 5. The downhill was steeper now. The only thing I had to do was control my pace. The next 3 miles weather got better and runners were throwing away their extra layers. We passed through mostly residential area of city of Simpson. The Aid station was just before we entered city of Carbondale. I asked for a few band-aids in order to avoid chaffing my nipples. I checked my time at mile marker 8, I had 4 minute gain on 4:45 time.

Part IV-8 mile to the flats

Flags in Mayfield

2:16 half mark

The downhill slowly start tapering from mile 9. I was putting effort on pacing than controlling now. At mile marker 10 I had .05 mile extra on my watch due to the bio break I took in mile 6. We were crossing towns every few miles. It was city of Mayfield at mile 11. On the way, an American flag was hanging from two fire trucks aerial ladders. The route took us to  a paved trail  The route was beautiful. Paved road in between fall trees on the side of river (Lackawanna). I reached the half marathon 13.1 marker seconds after 2:16. I looked at my pace chart. I had 6 minute gain on 4:45 pace and 13 minutes on 5:00. I was very confident now to finish before 5, even though I knew tougher miles were next. I had 2:44 hrs to finish the second half.

mile 14  - paved trails

On mile 15 we came out of the trails to pass the city of Archbald. At the next water stop I wasted a few minutes in taking gel out of my fuel belt which was stuck inside. My pace reduced after that. I was still under target time, but my gain reduced to 4.5 minutes.

Part V-8 miles that go to a hill

The route was almost flat now. The problem with running downhill for so long is that even flat feels like a hill. Mile 17 started we were back in a paved trail. We passed through a power grid. There were no spectators in that area. We continued on the paved trail for another mile. '18 miles done 8 more to go' I thought as we passed Peckville and entered unpaved trail. I was looking at both my watch and pace chart and every mile marker now. I was losing 30 secs gain every mile.

20 mile marker

The runners were more dispersed as we reached Olyphant. I met two ladies who were running with my pace, which helped in managing my pace. I had a power bar which I planned to eat after 20 mile marker to get some energy for last few miles. As I finished mile 20 I only had 1.5 minutes of gain over 4:45 pace. I knew that lead would be gone in next two miles, but my target was 5:00 which was very much reachable.

welcome before the hill

To compensate my walk while eating the bar, I picked up my pace. The next minute I felt my inner thigh muscle tighten in both legs. I did not had a 20+ miles run in a year, so this was always a possibility. It was painful to walk or run. I got some inspiration from a lady who had ru'Just a 5K more' someone shouted just before the hill.
n most of Steamtown marathons in last 20 years. I was at 13 min mile for next 3 miles, and I knew the famous hill was coming. I was behind 4:45 but 7 minutes ahead for 5:00 finish.

The hill was in a residential area. There was a lot of spectators, volunteers, unofficial water stations in the area. Everyone was shouting words of encouragement, but I couldn't run the hill. My thighs were killing me. Finally the hill ended, and I finished mile 24 at 4:30. I had 30 minutes for last 2.2 miles.

Part VI-2.2 to Finish

Done with a PR

The hill was done, but my legs were too. I was so close to the target. I prayed and started to run. Slow but it was a run. The 25th mile was completed in 12 minutes. I was back at run-walk. There were people encouraging from sides. At mile 26 I could see the finish line so I ran as best I could. As I crossed the finish line in midst of camera clicks. I saw the race clock was few minutes shy of 5 hrs.

I finished in 4:56:28 and received Steamtown marathon's 20th anniversary finisher medal. I was really glad to finally reached my target in marathon #6. The second half with 2:40 hrs time could definitely be improved, and I will try for that in a month in Richmond.

Everything about this race was just perfect. I would love to run it again next year.