National Marathon and Half Marathon

[wvjules]

Here's a local forcast for you folks.

Capital Weather Gang

National Marathon weather forecast
By Jason Samenow
Early Saturday morning, an estimated 15,000 runners from near and far will gather near RFK Stadium for the National Marathon and National Half Marathon. What does the weather have in store for both runners and spectators?

In a word: cold. But here some details about exactly what to expect:

Temperatures

Prerace, 5-7 a.m.: 31-35

Opening gun, 7 a.m.: 34-36

9 a.m.: 37-39

11 a.m.: 41-43

1 p.m.: 44-46

Sky conditions: Partly to mostly cloudy

Wind: From the north at 5-10 mph

What to wear? For specators, it’s easy - bundle up - with winter coats, scarves, hats and gloves. Race participants should dress based on their own experiences and level of comfort running in similar conditions.

Note: A few rain and/or snow showers are possible (40% chance) Friday night into pre-dawn Saturday before the race. But amounts, if any, will be very light and should not impact the course.

Good luck everyone!

 

[marathonmommy]

Unless they have wave starts for each corral separately, you probably will all be lining up at the same time. In the NYC Half last weekend, shortly before the Star Spangled Banner they began collapsing the corrals into one group and we all started at the same time. I'm pretty sure that's what they did with the Manhattan Half too, though I was a course marshall on the other end of the park for that one. In my admittedly small experience with HMs, Disney is the only one I've experienced that gives each corral their own start.

Philly did...a girl can dream.

 

[FireDancer]

I lost time to last year but considering how my running has been so far this year I expected to. I really just wanted to break 1:30 and just managed with 1:29:43, at least according to my watch.

I'll do a report once I'm at a computer because doing it from my phone would be a pain.

 

[stitchfan18]

I lost time to last year but considering how my running has been so far this year I expected to. I really just wanted to break 1:30 and just managed with 1:29:43, at least according to my watch.

I'll do a report once I'm at a computer because doing it from my phone would be a pain.

Not too shabby, Great job!

 

[johde]

Great Job Frank. This winter has been tough on a lot of us northerners.

 

[cloudnut220]

Great Job Frank!

I ran my 5 mile leg in 47 minutes, which for me was a great time! I think our team finished the half in just under 2 hours (by my watch). It was a beautiful run, although I wish there had been a bit more on course support/organization.

 

[faith-hope-joy]

Congrats Frank!!!

My sister texted me this morning to say that she cheered for an hour and half. She saw a couple of her students and a work friend run. She said that it was VERY cold. However, by the weather report it looked like great temps for this Florida girl. Maybe my sister will be inspired to actually do a race with me.

 

[crewmatt]

Weather worked out, logistically the race do as well as they had in previous years. Good race though, ran into some friends on the course, kinda hung with them.

 

[jam217]

I thought the weather was perfect for the race. Wish the mile markers would have been more clearly marked. Thought the crowd support for the half was pretty good. Hated the hill around mile 6. Wasn't expecting that. Despite walking more than I should have, I still set a personal best of 2:04:39.

 

[marathonmommy]

I thought the weather was perfect for the race. Wish the mile markers would have been more clearly marked. Thought the crowd support for the half was pretty good. Hated the hill around mile 6. Wasn't expecting that. Despite walking more than I should have, I still set a personal best of 2:04:39.

Feel the same way and really enjoyed the race. I hated the hills - there seemed to be more ups than downs. I walked more than I should have as well . . . and got a PR by two seconds! 2:23:29. I would consider doing the race again. Hopefully, with friends next time! Or with a DIS meet! LOL!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Congratulations Everyone!!

 

[fashionista311]

what a headache - did anyone else have any issues at the water stops? i didn't count, but felt like there was several times when I had to stop and wait for someone to fill a cup. also hated the relay transition at mile 10 right next to the mile marker - made it impossible to kick it in for the last 5k. finish line was also a huge cluster, too. ended up coming in 2:05...not a pr, but a solid showing, especially since I was so worried about a nagging injury

will not be traveling back for this one until some of the race logistics are fixed!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

My race report is here.

 

[cloudnut220]

I put a race report on my blog: 990 Square

I had the same issue with the water stops, and the relay was really disorganized.

 

[FFigawi]

My race report is here.

Great report! I'm not sure which I feel most sad about, your falling or your losing your water bottle. Pain and missing out on a time goal certainly sucks, but a lucky/traditional running item is impossible to replace.

As far as your Garmin mileage is concerned, I'm not too surprised that both you and your friend in the full went over the actual distance. Races are measured using straight lines and tangents across curves all the way around the course, so any deviation from that results in a longer distance. Dodging around people, not being on the exact tangent on the inside of a turn, etc., all add up. I try to run as efficiently as possible on the course, and my last full was still 26.3 on my Garmin. A crowded race like Disney can bring that up to 26.4.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Great report! I'm not sure which I feel most sad about, your falling or your losing your water bottle. Pain and missing out on a time goal certainly sucks, but a lucky/traditional running item is impossible to replace.

As far as your Garmin mileage is concerned, I'm not too surprised that both you and your friend in the full went over the actual distance. Races are measured using straight lines and tangents across curves all the way around the course, so any deviation from that results in a longer distance. Dodging around people, not being on the exact tangent on the inside of a turn, etc., all add up. I try to run as efficiently as possible on the course, and my last full was still 26.3 on my Garmin. A crowded race like Disney can bring that up to 26.4.

I'm not too sad about the water bottle. An identical one is already on it's way to my house.

 

[cloudnut220]

My race report is here.

Great RR! Sorry about your fall!

 

[jmasgat]

Beth and Amy Nice reports and congrats on your races. While I like the idea of doing a race in DC for the sights, it sounds like this would be one to skip based on your comments rerganization.

On the other hand, I am--like you , Amy--pretty oblivious to scenery when I race, so I guess it doesn't matter!

Maura

 

[FireDancer]

I haven't checked out the two reports linked here yet because I wanted to get my thoughts out first. The race was not as good as last year. First, the Metro not opening was a pain. Luckily the person we were staying with was off so they drove us down and dropped us off but had he not been able to it would have really been a pain.

On an aside, flying through DC in the car of the person who often leads the president's motorcade is more of a thrill than any rollercoaster I've been on. Some of the places he put a car without even taping the brakes are unbelievable.

The course was a little different than last year but I don't think that was a big deal. I remember that last year I didn't know most of my splits because so many miles weren't marked. Even less were marked this year but I had my Garmin. That has to be fixed. No race that size shouldn't have every mile marked even if they don't have a clock every mile.

There were a lot less people cheering us on than last year but that has to be down to the weather which is understandable.

The water stops were terrible. There were a couple of stops with hardly no people. One literally had 3 people. I always managed to get a cup but that was down to luck. They were supposed to have GU also but I didn't see a single person handing them out. I don't know if they were just not visible enough of if I went through too early because I was in an early corral.

I did like the medals better last year but I get what they are doing with a different building of interested or monument each year so I can't really say that was a negative. I just liked the image they chose better last year. The medal is the same size and weight so they didn't skimp on them or anything.

It wasn't all bad. While less than last year there were still a lot of people who did come out to cheer us on. The group that was just after the turn from Columbia onto Harvard were great. You could hear them as you approached the curve and they pulled me up that last hill. I had a lot less issue going up Connecticut and Columbia last year but I haven't done as many miles this year so far so I'm not surprised.

The food in the post race area was really good and past the finish line there were a lot of tents handing out a lot of food. I think I got 4 Honest T bottles and they were handing out, at least at first, boxes of cereal bars and yogurt.

The first half of the course was rough for me but I got a great second wind after the turn onto Harvard and crawled back some time on the second half. All I wanted to do was beat 1:30 and I managed, just, so I'm happy with my performance. The cool temps actually helped me. The low 30's is cold when you are standing around but before mile 1 I was all warmed up. I've done enough single digit degree runs to not have a problem with 34.

If I didn't see how good the race was last year I would probably have thought the event wasn't good but I am willing to call it a bad year at this point and give them the benefit of the doubt. As long as they get the metro opened up early I would do the race again. Without the Metro it is tough. We stay with my friend's brother and if the president is out of town or he is asked to escort the first lady, VP, or his wife we would have had a much harder time getting to the start. Hopefully a lot of people write to let them know that needs to be corrected so it is.

 

[rubato]

Amy: Great report. I feel your pain, quite literally. I took a dive at mile 15 in the Disneyworld full and have 4 permanent scars to prove it! It's tough to mentally keep going when you're bleeding and hurting, but it actually kind of pissed me off and helped me!

Frank: Sorry there were so many disappointments, but at least you got a great time!