Summary: 26.2 miles, 3:48:12, 8:45/mi, AHR 159 (82% MHR), PW by 6 minutes, but now MM #1855

13/48 AG (50-59), 103/476 OA

We planned a nice weekend with our grandson and his parents in Newport, RI, around this marathon.  Newport is a beautiful coastal town, with early 20th century mansions overlooking postcard cliffs.  We also planned to meet up with La Tortuga and her DH -- what a bonus!  

We got in about 3:30 on Friday, went to the expo (such that it was), and went to our place to set up -- we had a kitchen and two bedrooms for the family -- and relaxed for the evening after a meal of turkey tetrazini (yum).  dawndaughter1 and family arrived Saturday morning, and after a lot of oohing and ahhing at the baby, and some lunch, we toured "Breakers", which was built by Cornelius Vanderbilt.  OMG what a place -- please do take that tour if you are ever in the neighborhood.  (or see http://www.scalamandre.com/tour/breaker/breaker.htm )

Later that evening we had LaT and her DH over for the traditional pre-race dinner of spaghetti and meatballs.  Well I remembered the meatballs late, but luckily they were the frozen variety and we had a microwave, so no harm, no foul.  Great conversation, some beer (yes we brought the keg), and after a while said goodnight.  We planned to meet in the morning -- dawndaughter1's husband was nice to offer us a ride to the starting line for this point to point.

Weather: Saturday was georgous and Monday was wonderful, but Sunday -- not so much.  The weather on race day was a memory in the making.  The forecast told of 48°F, 100% rain, with 28mph northeasterly winds, gusts to 40.  Yes, we'd be running in a fabled nor'easter.  Thankfully we were on the coast, so it was relatively warm -- no snow.  

Fashion: the prediction of 48° and the high winds and rain had me completely confused.  I decided on billed running cap, tech ear warmer (folded up to cap most of the race), short sleeve and long sleeve one more mile will run for beer shirts (these are a little thicker than the normal tech fabric, outside one was purple), nike tech gloves, heatgear (thin) underarmour tights, raceready shorts (blue), socks and very very wet shoes (for most of the race).  It was actually perfect.  I guess I may have gotten cold a couple of times but it didn't persist.  Sporttracks temp clocked in at about 45°, but I don't know what the actual winds were.  Some of the rain felt hard, "pelting" -- I don't think it was frozen just big drops.

Prior the start I had typical throw-away cotton sweatpants and sweatshirt, large black garbage bag, and a poncho.  On feet were grocery bags to keep my shoes dry for a bit.

Plan: this was the second of two within three weekends, the easiest way to gain marathon maniac status.  Knowing the weather I didn't fool myself into thinking there was a PR waiting to be plucked as if it were low hanging fruit.  Still, I made a 3:35 pace band, and figured I'd take what the course would give me.  The only real goal was to finish without too embarrasing a time.

We waited all bundled up in a Marriot right across from the start line.  I hope that hotel was involved with the race, as there were probably 1000 or 1500 runners there, with plans to run the full, the half or a relay which were being offered.  About 20 minutes before the start, we figured we'd go out to get acclimated -- we found that there was still an awning to hide under as it was raining fairly steadily.  5 minutes before the start the runners all lined up, and at 7:59 I realized I was still wearing the sweat pants, sweat shirt, garbage bag and poncho.  Got those off quickly and the start was 5 minutes late anyway.

1 - 8:32(151)

2 - 8:13(157)

OMG the start was crowded.  At one point maybe 0.25 or so into the race I checked my pace and it was 12:00+.  Yikes!  I didn't panic but steadily moved into position as best I could without wasting too much energy.  People were avoiding puddles which slowed things down.  By the end of mile 2 I was close to on pace and had some empty space around me.

So I settled in for the next five miles.  The first half was the most beautiful part of the race, running along the coast.  I remember at one point seeing waves crashing into the seawall, spraying up 15 feet above, but not onto the road -- whew!  Not sucking any runners back out to sea today.

3 - 8:07(156)

4 - 8:16(156) (must have been some wind because there were no hills there)

5 - 8:06(161)

6 - 8:00(164)

7 - 8:00(164)

After 7 we turned into the wind.  There were periods of shelter, but we were essentially headed northeast until mile 21.  It would take its toll. 

By now I'd stepped into enough puddles, or splashed with one foot onto the other, that my feet were completely soaked.

Still, the course was beautiful -- here we ran by many mansions, both on the coast and through the streets.

8 - 8:20(165)

9 - 8:20(164)

10 - 8:29(161)

11 - 8:27(159)

Well, if I thought the wind was bad before, the last mile or so to the half marathon point was the worst.  The last bit was across a completely unsheltered isthmus -- the wind was in our faces -- the rain had cranked up a bit.  

12 - 8:51(157) (bit of a hill here)

13 - 8:31(159)

To add insult to injury, the marathon runners were routed through a parking lot to go right past the half marathon finish line.  Plus, the half finish line was to the left and marathon through course to the right through a river 2" deep which could not be avoided.  I know this was done to help the logistics for the timekeepers, and any other day it would have made me smile, but this day it was really hard to keep going.  I did consider stopping but damned if I was going to be the only spouse in the family without an ugly yellow shirt.  

By the way, this would also the marathon finish line.  Right next to our hotel.  It would have been way too easy.

What?  There's TheProFromDover standing with LaT's DH.  Wow, what a guy to come down from Boston to cheer!  He ran with me just long enough to watch me take a wrong turn and guide me back on the correct route.  At least he can corroborate the story of the weather for us.  He looked miserable out there, I must say.  He warned me that he might not be able to stay for the finish, and I was on my way.

After one more unavoidable river on the way out of the parking lot, we were on our way to the second half, still into the wind, and facing several hills which wouldn't have bothered me too much on a normal day.  But this wasn't a normal day, was it?

Anyway, I had pretty much given up on any time goal by this point, so I tried to settle in as best I could.  There was a small out/back for miles 16 and 17 -- I looked for PDR and LaT but didn't see them.

14 - 8:51(160)

15 - 8:44(159)

16 - 8:51(156)

17 - 8:43(157)

Good climb from 17.5 until the top of 18.  I'd see the crest of that hill again on the way back, but this time was into the wind.  Not so much fun.  I amused myself though by thinking about the turnaround at 20.5 after which the wind would be at my back.  It helps me sometimes to break the race into smaller, more manageable segments.

18 - 9:13(155)

19 - 9:21(159)

20 - 9:04(156)

Ok it did get a little easier after the turnaround, but by then the damage had been done.  I was there to survive and couldn't muster much below 9:00 for most of the miles.  Frankly, I was beyond caring and just wanted to get myself back.  After mile 16 I play the only xx miles game, so while the six miles I had left was still significant, I was still counting down steadily.

21 - 9:06(157)

22 - 8:41(156)

I saw PDR and LaT, still running together when I was at 22.75 by garmin reconning.  PDR didn't look so happy.  When I passed the 18 mile marker on the other side I calculated they were at 18.65 when I saw them, so I knew I'd have about 40 minutes after I finished before they'd be in.  Yes, somehow I was still able to add and subtract -- thank god there was no need to multiply at that point, much less divide.

23 - 9:01(157)

24 - 8:43(154)

25 - 9:00(159)

26 - 8:41(159)

The finish takes you past the entrance to the parking lot -- remember the unavoidable river?  But we passed this and came back on one last turnaround, slightly uphill and into the wind.  Cruel.  But it was just about over, so I think I could make it.  Through the river again and across the finish line.  Finally.

27 - 4:04(168) [0.49=8:22]

You can see by the recorded heartrates for the splits that I ran pretty much an even effort race, regardless of the splits which were all over the place.  I thought that was interesting anyway.  I won't tell you that it felt like an even effort race, though.

I finished just behind a guy I thought I recognized from Wineglass two weeks ago -- I asked and yes I finished just behind him there as well.  Funny!  Fast older dude -- I checked the results and he's 63 -- strong guy!

Found PDR's cousin, who also came to cheer.  We went across the street to the hotel so I could get changed into dry clothes -- ah dry feet! -- and back out to wait for PDR and LaT.  Funny -- I was thinking about bringing my good camera but couldn't remember if it was raining or just misting.  I asked PDR's cousin if it was raining and she looked at me like I had two heads.  "Yes, it's raining" (you idiot, she's thinking, weren't you just out there for almost 4 hours in it?)

PDR and LaT came in, hand in hand, across the finish line.  I couldn't get the camera ready in time and someone was in the way for the hug I also tried to shoot, but they looked relieved and happy to have finished together.

It doesn't get any better than this.

Good job, WRFB.  You had a good time for any marathon, let alone one in those conditions.  Congratulations on beating the elements and your new maniac status.  It's neat you got to meet up with other on line running friends and your family.

TomS

Lou... that is the most impressive test of endurance!!!!  You really earned that Maniac status.  What totally brutal conditions. Now you can survive anything!

Congratulations!

Steve

Oh wow, that does not sound like fun.  Glad you managed through it though and now you're a maniac

rs

Two weeks after your last marathon, and you run another one in a Nor'easter?  Maniac.

Sounds like you had a great time.  What's next?