Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon

My 2nd marathon in 6 days, I went into this race feeling tired.  I ran the Marshall University Marathon last Sunday, then spent the week doing a lot of mountain trail running in the Appalachian Mountains, and then ran an 11k race yesterday in downtown Atlanta.  My body was feeling good mostly, but I was just tired.  I honestly went into this race with no goal, other than to finish.  My right foot has been bothering me just a bit, my Morton's Neuroma flared up this week, likely a result of the trail running that I've done.

The race itself is held on Chickamauga Battlefield at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.  This would be another state for me, my 16th marathon and my 13th state.  I'm not a big history buff (was actually my worst subject in school), so all of the Civil War info was lost on me.  Hundreds of monuments dot the battlefield, which is nestled in the hills of northern Georgia.  But, overall, the course was gorgeous!  Fall foliage in full bloom, while running on mostly tree covered roads.  The weather was also nearly perfect, clear skies, light winds, and a start temperature around 32.  The run was fabulous!!

After meeting a couple of online running friends, and a slightly late start allowing everyone to get to the starting line, a loud cannon was shot and we were off.  My friend was pacing the 4:30 group, and I half intended to run with her and take it easy, but I ended up well ahead of her.  The first mile was a little slow with all the congestion, but then I warmed up and picked it up a bit.  Today would be the day of the wandering nagging pain.  It started in my left shin.  I didn't really warm up for the race, so started off cold.  After a quick walk to shake it out, the pain then moved to my left knee.  I was worried that it was an ITBS flare, but by about mile 3, the pain shifted to my right arch, feeling like a case of Plantar Fasciitis beginning to develop.  After a couple of miles, the pain moved to the callus of my right big toe.  Felt like I was stepping on a nail for awhile.  Then around mile 11, I felt a sugar crash coming on, thankfully I was near an aid station and was able to grab some Gatorade, and bananas and apples.  Then the ball of my right foot felt like it was getting a blister.  Ugh.  See, moving pain, but it never lingered in the same spot. Finally, by about mile 18, the nagging moving pain seemed to end.

The miles ticked off fairly easily.  The course itself was a continuous barrage of rolly polly hills.  Nothing severe or extreme, but constant.  In fact, it was a relief, a nice mix of up, down, and flat.  Hitting a downhill stretch always felt great. I hit sub 9 minute miles at 20 and 21.  Again, I didn't really know what to expect, and was just going with what felt good at the moment.  Aid stations were wonderful, with water, Powerade of different flavors, Gu, bananas and apple slices.  Finish time was 4:07:12, a time I'm very pleased with.  Yes, well off my PR of 3:43, but I wasn't racing this, just running it easy to get state credit.  Considering that I just ran a 4:10 marathon six days ago, all the trail running this past week, the 11k race yesterday, and the nagging pains, I think it's fantastic!  Especially when my only goal was a finish.

The post race spread was really nice.  I got a couple of pieces of pizza, some delicious chicken tortilla soup, some cookies, and couple glasses of Coke.  I found my friend who paced the 4:30 group and chatted with her for a bit.  I looked for my other friend Richard, but couldn't find him, hoping he had a good race, his first one.

Overall, I'm pleased.  A few hours later, (after a trip to the pool and hot tub), my legs feel great.  Not really sore, or very stiff at all.  The ball of my right foot is bruised, not blistered, but it will be fine.  No other blisters or chafing otherwise.  It was a great opportunity to do something I love, run an amazingly beautiful course, and complete another state.  Life is good.

Taken after the finish.  I was a little salty, but didn't have any trouble with cramping at all.

The medal is very nice.  They do a custom medal each year commemorating one of the monuments on the battlefield.  This year's medal displayed the Free Calvary of Pennsylvania, which opened and closed the Battle of Chickamauga.

 

The elevation profile.  Again, nothing extreme, but a nice mix to keep it interesting.  

National Veterans Day Run

Today, I ran the National Veterans Days 11k Run in Piedmont Park in downtown Atlanta.  Atlanta was one of 9 cities that participated. 11k is an odd distance, but since date was 11-11-11, it fit.  Overall, I didn't race this, simply because I ran a marathon 5 days ago, I have done a lot of trail running this week, and I have another marathon tomorrow.  It was a very cold morning, temps were around 30 for the start, but otherwise a beautiful morning for a race, especially as the full moon was setting over downtown Atlanta while the sun rose in the east.

I have to admit, the organization for this race was very chaotic.  Signup for the race was easy, but then, the race wanted to mail packets, but I was going to be out of town when they mailed it.  Then, this morning, the race was supposed to start at 7:11 am.  Around 615, there still were no official race peeps around, they finally showed up around 630 am.  But, there were so many people that had to pick up the packets, the race was delayed by about 20 minutes.  This was supposed to be a race celebrating veterans and their service to this country.  Nothing was mentioned about veterans at the beginning, there was no flag, and no national anthem.  Overall, very dissapointed in the race organization here in Atlanta.

The race itself was uneventful.  Three loops through Piedmont Park.  The run was beautiful, with fall color in full swing, and got to see all the various sights in the park.  Really nice run, again, not a race for me, but just a nice run.  The shirt and medal were really nice, and overall, for $22, I'd say I got my money's worth, despite the poor organization.  And, it was a nice way for me to personally my family and friends who have served this country.

Marshall University Marathon

I ran the Marshall University Marathon today in Huntington, West Virginia.  I've always had a special place in my heart for Marshall, mainly because of the plane crash that killed many members of their football team back in 1970, the year I was born.  I remember hearing about this as a kid, and then, seeing the movie a few years ago made it seem more real.  When I had the chance to run this race, I thought it would be a nice fit.

I'm coming off a pretty tough cycle, having run a 24 hour event 7 weeks ago, the Wineglass Marathon 5 weeks ago, walking a 50k at Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd 3 weeks ago, and now this race.  So I had no intentions of racing this event, just completing it for 50 states credit.  It's a small marathon, roughly 600 runners, but the perks were amazing.  By registering early, I received a Brooks Podium running jacket in signature Marshall colors (green, perhaps my favorite color).  The race logo and date were silk screened on the back of the jacket, and their team mascot.

The weather for the race was nearly perfect.  Light winds, clear skies, starting temps in the upper 30s.  Overall, a beautiful morning for a run.  I met some other online running friends before the race, and then we were off.  The running couldn't have been better.  I decided to run the first 18 miles to get a really decent long run in (without stopping), then ran a 5:1 ratio (run 5 minutes, walk a minute) the last 8.2 miles, mainly to give my legs some recovery time since I have 1 more marathon in 6 days (Chickamauga Battlefield marathon).  Overall, I think it was a great strategy, by mile 22, my legs were borderline beginning to cramp anyhow.  I trudged on and slowed down just a little.  The course was 2 loops, down in the river valley, and it was essentially flat (or the hills were so gradual that they were noticeable).  About mile 25.5, we were handed a carnation to place near their memorial fountain for the plane crash victims.  It was a green carnation, which is one of my favorite flowers.  The scent of the flower was wonderful, and it was a touching moment to memorialize the men that lost their lives in 1970.  The race finish was in the football stadium, and we were given a football to carry across the finish line.  Really cool!  Finish time was 4:10 and a few seconds.  Overall, a wonderful time considering I wasn't pushing the pace at all, and ran/walked the last 8 miles.  After the race, were were allowed access to their rec center to take a shower, which was a really nice perk.  Feels so good to take a hot shower immediately after a race.  They did run out of water by the time I finished (a LOT of spectators were drinking it all, doh), but they got some more in a few minutes.  And, they were cooking hamburgers and hotdogs, so I grabbed a couple burgers hot off the grill.

After a 6 hour drive (I'm on a vacation, so traveled to my next destination), my legs feel great.  I stopped about every 30 to 60 miles to stretch, walk around, and keep the legs and hips loose.  Surprisingly, I'm not that sore now.  We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Post race finish picture.  I've decided to wear calf compression sleeves when I can for my races, I think it really helps.  Wore my signature black outfit.  Black might be my second favorite color.  It was ironic, I realized that I wore this same exact outfit (shirt, shorts, arm warmers) at my first marathon.

The medal is really cool.  It's a 3D medal, with their team mascot (a buffalo) on the front that is sculpted, and the rear of the buffalo is also sculpted on the back (not shown).  It's custom dated for today's race.  Very nice, heavy medal with a green ribbon.  Love it!!

 

This was my 15th marathon or ultra, in my 12th state.  Gee, I only have 38 to go!  It's definitely a fun hobby, and a great way to do some traveling to places that I probably wouldn't go otherwise.  And yes, even though marathons sometimes suck about mile 22 or 23, by mile 25, all is well with the world again when I can hear/smell/see the finish line.  Life is good!