2008 Shamrock Marathon - Virginia Beach, VA After really enjoying my first marathon this past December and NOT breaking 4 hours, I had some unsettled business... It seems like I ran a Dualathlon with over 860 miles driving and 26.2 miles running this past Saturday & Sunday.. I left early Saturday morning for VA Beach and it took about 6 hours to get there, ran the race in the morning, partied a little with the Hoovies and Dennis' family then got right back in my car & drove 6 hours home...whew! First let me say that this is a great marathon with a lot of free goodies - a great long sleeve tech tee shirt, great looking hat, very useful backpack, Goody bag with lots of stuff to eat, FREE Murphy's stew and FREE Yuengling Beer! (I think that's how it's spelled) I can't imagine wanting anything more than out of a marathon event. On the downside...Porta Potties were woefully lacking ( I had to "Go" right before the Start but but I couldn't find a Porta-Potty available so I held it until mile 20 and used a big tree for cover ).The parking was rough as the Half started an hour before and the Marathoners had slim pickings when they arrived for the 8:00AM Start( I did happen to luck out and found a great spot after driving around for about 20 minutes ). My official time and my running this was at this point is unofficial...My name and Bib number are nowhere to be found on the official results ( I know what I ran so thats what that really matters to me ). I have emailed the race officials and timing chip company to try and get this resolved. When I arrived on Saturday my throat was feeling funny and I didn't feel very well. I had a very restless night's sleep and was woken up by a cold wind-driven rain outside my motel window at 4:30AM. On the Plus side, the room was very clean & comfortable, I had free internet access and it was cheap! In a strange turn of events my nasal drip subsided and the rain stopped by about 6:30AM - although it was still winday and raw all day. Things were starting to look a little better. Fashion Report.....It was a tough call because of the wind and the "raw" feel of the day but I decided on just a Speed Yellow Target tech tee shirt and Charcoal Target shorts, NO gloves, Power socks, blue & white Saucony Hurricane 8's & my green buff for St. Patty's Day. Upon arriving at the Start line area I was standing out like a "sore thumb" because almost everyone seemed to be bundled up except for me just a very small handful of other nuts like myself. My #1 goal was to break 4 hours which eluded me in December and my secret goal would be to actually BQ. You couldn't ask for a flatter course to run on. Although I was cold at the start, after the first couple of miles it really wasn't a factor for me. It wasn't so much that the temperatures were cold but the whipping wind, no sun and damp ocean air just made it feel that way. I felt like I made the right decision in dressing that morning because about a mile or two into the run, everyone seemed to be overdressed. The big factor in this race was the wind. Since my secret but unrealistic goal was to BQ, in the back of my mind I knew that I had to run an 8:35 pace for the whole race. I was running an 8:30 pace through the half and felt pretty good. I got to thinking that it might be possible at that point, but in realtity I simply do not have enough long runs in my 2 1/2 years of training for it to be a reality ( I've only run a 20+ mile distance run four times in total EVER - including this marathon ). It wasn't going to happen today. The course is sort of like an elongated figure 8 where you're kind of running with the wind at your back or heading into it. Living in the heart of NASCAR country, I've learned a little about drafting. Heading up the boardwalk I tried to stay at the back of a pack of runners to take advantage of this and it did help a little but at other times I was just bearing the full force of the north winds. Around mile 13 I was still averaging an 8:30 pace but by mile 19 it had slowed to a 8:50 pace...(there goes the BQ). Just as I was looking down at my Garmin, I heard a throng of runners behind me...it was the 3:50 pace group. I had no idea that I was running in front of them at mile 19. I heard the pacer calling out to everyone..." If you guys made it this far at this point there's no reason that you can't bring it home"......then I heard him say..." of course, if you're here because you went out too fast & passed me somewhere back there, then you probably won't be running with us when we come in". I hope he wasn't referencing me....oops! I still tried to stay with them but what he said seemed to cast doubt with my confidence. At that point also there was a girl running in front of me who all of a sudden slowed down and stopped then when I turned around she was on the pavement with some guy attending to her. I knew that there was nothing else that I could do but to run up ahead and alert anyone for help. About a minuteor two later I heard the rescue EMS heading over there. I think that incident put a little fear into me about running too hard and I backed off a little both physically and psychologically. Anyway after all was done, the 3:50 pace group was nowhere in sight. The last 6 miles were tough as expected and I slowed considerably, sometimes walking a little. I have a pretty high MHR but after seeing what happened to that girl, there was now a bit of fear lurking at the back of my mind. MIles 20 through to the finish were tough. As I started mile 26 I knew that a sub-4:00 was going to be very close. I saw the 4:00 pace group up ahead of me and had my eyes focused on the clock at the finish line. There was a girl running in just front of me trying to close-in on the 4 hour pace group also. As I looked up at the clock I had about 10-15 seconds left to cross the mat. I dug VERY hard, passed the girl by a couple of footsteps and came in just as it read 3:59:59. Of course that was Gun Time so my chip time should have been at least 3:59:00 or better. I had PR'd and achieved my initial goal of under 4 hours! Footnote: When I checked the website results there is no listing for my name or Bib #. I sent emails to the race director and chip timing company to find out why I'm not listed in the results... . I went through so much to make this race happen for me this weekend and there's no official record of my time... . Hopefully they will find the error but I know what I ran and that's all that really matters even if this never gets settled. For what it's worth there's someone on the RunnersWorld Forum who was is saying that they were listed as DNF when they DID finished the race...grrrr! As soon as I emerged from the finish gate I heard someone call my name...It was CHoovie and her husband, Jim. Since I had checked out of the motel in the morning, all my stuff, including my cell phone and camera were in my car. They were nice enough to walk to my car with me to get my stuff and a jacket. My final push to the finish line took a lot out of me and I was exhaused, cold and shivering. I felt better once inside the tent where I called Dennis on the cell phone and we all met up inside the party tent. The band was great and I really enjoyed a little beer but driving 6 hours home was on my mind and I needed to get to the warmth of my car to start feeling better. Actually, I feel better today than I did the day after my first marathon last December. I must be getting used to this! It was great to actually meet everyone and to see that everyone was reallly so nice in person. Cheryl & Jim, you guys ran a great race and Dennis, you blew my away with your huge PR, great job guys! As I am writing this I just received an email from Lin-Mark the timing chip company....they found me....and the news is better than expected...WooHoo! Final Chip time: 3:56:36 16/69 for my AG 55-59 562/1413 Male An 11.5 minute PR for me.....11 minutes & 36 Seconds from a BQ...almost there.... I'm coming back here next year to finish what I started 2 1/2 years ago..... The band playing inside the party tent Convention Center showing the flags flying in the wind. My trusty Transportation at the beach. The boardwalk at VA Beach King Neptune at the Finish Line. Me, Cheryl & Jim Jim, Cheryl, Me & Dennis

Great Race, Peter, and RR! Great photos, too! Those last 6 miles are always tough. My mind does exactly the same thing...extremely hard psych wise to push through that doubt in your mind...well done! And then to drive all those hours home...that would have killed me and I love to drive! Fran

You're making me want to go back to Virginia Beach!!!!!! It's a greta place and they have races!!!! I still do not understand how, in a chipped timed race, an individual's results are lost. You got a PR dude!!!!! Sweet......

2008 Shamrock Marathon - Virginia Beach, VA The last 6 miles were tough as expected and I slowed considerably, sometimes walking a little. I have a pretty high MHR but after seeing what happened to that girl, there was now a bit of fear lurking at the back of my mind. MIles 20 through to the finish were tough. As I started mile 26 I knew that a sub-4:00 was going to be very close. I saw the 4:00 pace group up ahead of me and had my eyes focused on the clock at the finish line. There was a girl running in just front of me trying to close-in on the 4 hour pace group also. As I looked up at the clock I had about 10-15 seconds left to cross the mat. I dug VERY hard, passed the girl by a couple of footsteps and came in just as it read 3:59:59. Of course that was Gun Time so my chip time should have been at least 3:59:00 or better. I had PR'd and achieved my initial goal of under 4 hours! Final Chip time: 3:56:36 16/69 for my AG 55-59 562/1413 Male An 11.5 minute PR for me.....11 minutes & 36 Seconds from a BQ...almost there.... I'm coming back here next year to finish what I started 2 1/2 years ago.....

You dug deep at the end...and after a gutsy pace throughout. Great race! 11.5 minute PR has got to leave you feeling good! and what a good feeling it must have been to have Choovie, her husband, and Dennis waiting for you. The guts and determination (not to mention great training) got you this far.....I love your last statement, "I'm coming back here next year to finish what I started 2 1/2 years ago." You're gonna do it Peter! Hope that girl is OK Pics were great.

Peter - congratulations on your huge PR! I can hardly believe that you have only run a 20+ mile distance 4 times ever - you did a GREAT job, and with a few more LRs I'm sure a BQ is in the bag for you.

great job Peter!! you ran an incredible race and an 11minute+ PR is amazing!! so glad they found you!!

You know, you only ran that first marathon 3 or 4 months ago, and have already shaved 11 minutes off. I really think (seeing as I have so much experience with marathons ) that you WILL BQ someday with the right training plan and no injuries. Glad they found your number and time. I am always surprised how long it takes to cross the mat. It was nice to see the pictures of everyone and the beach. The picture of the flags flapping in the wind made me shudder!

Very nice, Peter An 11.5 minute PR. Now that's what I call progress... Congratulations and keep up the good work.