The Running Thread - 2021

[avondale]

I'm trying to resist signing up for virtual Boston as well! It is probably the only way I'll ever run Boston, but I really don't want to do a virtual marathon!

I was sitting here thinking the same thing! Sigh.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

GAH, I'm trying so hard to resist! I just don't know if I can pull it off while it's still basically summer here in Florida. In addition to the infernal heat and daily thunderstorms, it's also peak hurricane season - I don't mind running in the rain, and I've even run a few miles during named storms, but I have to draw the line when we reach a Cat 1 hurricane and it would really suck if we got one that weekend lol!

I trained in FL during the month of September to get ready for the NYC Marathon and it really helped. Training in the heat makes racing in the cooler weather of the Northeast feel easy. But training in FL in September is TOUGH.

 

[Rogue224]

In-Person Race Report - Blackbeard’s Revenge 100k

I haven’t been able to run an in-person race since Dopey 2020, so of course I had to mark my return to live races with an attempt at my first 100k! Blackbeard’s Revenge 100m & 100k is run along the NC outer banks with the 100k starting at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head and ending at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras. I love running on the outer banks because they’re flat and nostalgic. I grew up fishing for and gigging flounder in the salt marshes with my father and being out there brings back great memories.

We started off the race at the end of the pier, about a tenth of a mile out over the Atlantic at 9:30am and I immediately settled into a rhythm of walking the first minute of each mile and running the rest. The entirety of the route was on the shoulder of open roads, mostly highway, and a few miles in we passed the Bodie Island Lighthouse (I like lighthouses). The first real concern for me arose around mile 8/9. I don’t like heights and the course took us across the new 2.8 mile long Basnight Bridge over Oregon Inlet. With a constant 10-12mph wind gusting higher trying to blow me into traffic, I was not a fan. The views from the top of the 75’ tall center spans were breathtaking, though.

Relieved to have the bridge behind me, I settled into an easy rhythm, clicking off the miles. DW was crewing for me, scouting aid stations and refilling my consumables when needed. I hit a low point around miles 25-35. My legs were starting to tire a little, my knee was starting to hurt and I was hitting the 50k mark, an ultra distance in its own right, and was only half done! A pre-planned change of shoes and socks at the mid-point aid station did a lot to ease the knee pain and I started playing mental games with my race strategy to refocus. I would vary my run/walk interval and focus on running the new strategy for 5 miles to address the fatigue in my legs and keep my mind in the present and not what lay ahead.

By the time I got to mile 47, I was fully back on my game and paused to put on my night gear (it was ~6:45pm at this point). In a nice little diversion at this point, racers had to do a 1.3m out and back to historical Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and pick up a pirate’s eye patch at the turnaround to show you’d completed the segment at the next aid station. I was cruising again, feeling good as I hit the 50 mile mark, and looking forward to a countdown of the last 12 miles. I should’ve known it was too good to be true, seeing a full moon rising as I headed away from the lighthouse, because that’s when all hell started to break loose on the course!

There was lightning and thunder on the horizon, literally. It got progressively closer with some of the most brilliant bolts I’ve seen lighting up the sky as night fell. At mile 52, I had to take cover in a school entryway as the lightning got way too close for comfort and the deluge began. DW made it back to me and we sat in the car waiting for the storm to pass. The race directors emailed out that the race had been suspended (although the clock continued to run) and we waited for the all clear to start back up again. After waiting more than 65 minutes in the car, word finally came that we could continue.

All the rhythm and momentum was gone. Sitting in the car for that long, I cooled off and everything stiffened up. While the lightning was gone, now it was raining in waves of light to moderate intensity. It was pitch black and I could barely see through the rain with my headlamp and I was having a hard time seeing standing water on the side of the road. My feet and socks were soaked from splashing through ankle deep water I couldn’t see until it was too late. Then at mile 54 the lightning returned.

A new cell had developed on the back end of the storm system. I ran through increasingly heavy rain until, again, the lightning got too close. I found a closed bakery with an awning just wide enough to shelter under as the storm peaked again and they pulled racers from the course. DW had a hard time finding me this time, so there wasn’t much time left to sit. This delay was around 17 minutes, but it was enough to cause problems.

The restart after this delay was the only time I felt like I was in danger of a DNF. I was soaked and chilled and started having chills strong enough that I thought I was going to shake the watch off my wrist. Fortunately, after a quarter to half a mile, I started to warm up again and the shaking subsided. Mercifully the rain stopped, although I still had trouble seeing the standing water. I didn’t even pause at the last aid station, just calling out my bib number to the volunteer so she could check me in officially, opting to keep what little momentum I had going to the finish line.

I hit the finish line just after 11:45pm for an official time of 14:17:45. I estimate my actual running time, factoring out the rain delays, to be somewhere around 12:55:15. It would’ve been better than that if I’d been able to carry my mile 50 momentum through the finish line.

Ultimately, I finished 12th overall (56 registered, 44 finished, DNF/DNS breakdown unknown) and place 2nd among Masters Men for my first ever age group award at any distance! I was stunned!

Thanks for sticking with me through a long race recap. A lot happened over those 62 miles and these were just the biggest “highlights”. It was a blast and an adventure and I’d totally do it again. The race was extremely well run and organized. I’d recommend it to anyone without reservation. I’m already hoping to be back next year either for a shot at a “clean” 100k or a first 100m attempt.

Jennette’s Pier (Start line at the tip of the pier)
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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
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Course Overview
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The Medal (Favorite Medal to Date!)
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

[Rogue224]

I'm trying to resist signing up for virtual Boston as well! It is probably the only way I'll ever run Boston, but I really don't want to do a virtual marathon!

I think I might sign up for Wineglass in person at the beginning of October to keep my marathon every year streak alive (so far it's only been 2018, 2019, and 2020).

I haven’t done a marathon yet (fingers crossed for Dopey 2020), so no experience. But I don’t think you should say ‘only’ when talking about about having a streak going. Congrats on that!

 

[pluto377]

I registered for virtual Boston as well. I just couldn't resist. I'll never qualify, so this is probably my only chance!

 

[Novatrix]

Add me to the crew trying to resist signing up for the virtual Boston marathon.

Might be the one and only time I'm hoping a race sells out before I make up my mind!

 

[GreatLakes]

FYI - There are still spots open for Boston if anyone is considering it.

There is only one way I'm running Boston and that is to qualify. No interest in running it with a charity or virtually. The whole mystique for me is running a fast enough time to get in.

 

[FFigawi]

There is only one way I'm running Boston and that is to qualify. No interest in running it with a charity or virtually. The whole mystique for me is running a fast enough time to get in.

Same, same.

 

[Krandor]

I haven’t done a marathon yet (fingers crossed for Dopey 2020), so no experience. But I don’t think you should say ‘only’ when talking about about having a streak going. Congrats on that!

I can safely say you are not doing Dopey 2020 given that it happened over a year ago. Don't see Dopey 2021 either...

 

[BigEeyore]

@camaker - congrats! WOW so impressed - 100K would be an accomplishment under ideal conditions, what you dealt with makes it even more incredible!

There is only one way I'm running Boston and that is to qualify. No interest in running it with a charity or virtually. The whole mystique for me is running a fast enough time to get in.

Same here - even though I realize that I probably won't get there until I am in my 70's!!

 

[avondale]

Just signed up for the virtual Boston. It does sort of feel like cheating, but it's more like running it with the real race in spirit since it's not on the same course. I think that if I decided to really try to train and go for qualifying by time, it would still be meaningful.

I have to wonder: if the BAA makes a lot of money from the virtual, will they do this regularly? I don't think they would get as many people doing it, but it could certainly be a thing.

Something dumb: when I registered just now, they said they are already "sold out" of the size small shirts. (I wanted a medium, so I'm good.) How do you sell out when it's 7 months ahead of time? Print more!

 

[Jules76126]

I have found interesting to see who did or didn't sign up for Boston and their reasons. I was thinking about that when they announced the virtual options. I like, many here would probably never qualify on time. And although I have no problem with virtual races (ran a few last year), I cannot do Boston virtually. For me Boston is such an iconic race, I would feel like I was cheating, especially since I am local. But I also totally understand why people are signing up. I am also curious if BAA will continue to offer a virtual option. I am hoping it moves back to Patriots Day next year as its so weird to have the day off from work, but no race to follow.

 

[SheHulk]

I say more power to anybody who can get themselves together to run a virtual marathon. I've run a virtual half and a 15k in the past year, but summoning the juju to run a whole entire marathon on my own is beyond me.

 

[MissLiss279]

Yeah, I’m not a huge fan of virtual races in general, but I have ran two virtual marathons (and a few other races) this past year. I would prefer not to run another virtual marathon unless I had a few friends to run with. Another reason for me not to run the Boston virtual is that it falls on a weekend that has a marathon the week before and a week after... I would prefer not to run three marathons, three weekends in a row...

 

[Rogue224]

I can safely say you are not doing Dopey 2020 given that it happened over a year ago. Don't see Dopey 2021 either...

D’oh!!! It’s like 2020 will never end. Lol. Dopey 2022 here we come!

 

[PrincessV]

I trained in FL during the month of September to get ready for the NYC Marathon and it really helped. Training in the heat makes racing in the cooler weather of the Northeast feel easy. But training in FL in September is TOUGH.

Yeah, I've trained for WDW Marathon and Dopey down here for years - that puts my longest training runs into slightly better weather, but still runs my body down badly by late Oct. I've had heat stroke twice and just can't tolerate the heat well anymore, unfortunately.

 

[SheHulk]

March Running:
Total Distance: 98.4 miles (definitely regretting cutting some of my post-run cool down segments short)
Average pace: 11:27/mile

Training for an *in-person* 10 miler on Mother's Day! Can't wait.

 

[Warm Hugs]

I have found interesting to see who did or didn't sign up for Boston and their reasons. I was thinking about that when they announced the virtual options. I like, many here would probably never qualify on time. And although I have no problem with virtual races (ran a few last year), I cannot do Boston virtually. For me Boston is such an iconic race, I would feel like I was cheating, especially since I am local. But I also totally understand why people are signing up. I am also curious if BAA will continue to offer a virtual option. I am hoping it moves back to Patriots Day next year as its so weird to have the day off from work, but no race to follow.

I think BAA is hurting for revenue like most running organizations, so I will support them. I think they come up with a pretty good compromise between raising revenue and keeping the “iconic” reputation. They’ve said the medals will be different from the live and virtual. Both will still have the iconic unicorn on the medal. So I do not feel it is cheating or anything like that.

 

[ckb_nc]

88 miles in March running with 330 cycling - starting to get outside to ride which is great. Its pollen season here

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

March Totals:

Running: 76 miles
Average Pace: 9:33

A light month for me. Looking back at my history, I don't ever see monthly mileage anywhere near this low.

My excuses are: gardening season, wife's surgery, cold weather, slothfulness.