We seem to have started a StoneMill thread. I have some questions. See the latest posts.

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I really thought I was in shape to run a blazing 4:40, perhaps even 4:30. But I pooped the bed and ran 5:01. Not sure what went wrong except I overestimated my fitness and the anticipated race day magic and speed from downhills didn’t show up.

Training was good, no injuries and I ran lots of downhills. My quads held out just fine, I just didn’t have it. I had a great taper, carbing up, shoes, race day nutrition, etc.. If it was just about the peripherals, I’d be Kipchoge, it’s the actual running part that I’m no good at.

I always pooh-pooh the idea of getting overheated and dehydrated when the temp is only in the 70s (it was 79 the last part of race), but I think I got overheated and dehydrated. I didn’t pee for 12 hours. That may have put me over 5 hours, but I ran the first 10 miles at 4:40 pace and it was already harder than it should have been before it got hot, so I wouldn’t have hit my goal anyway.

Everybody crashed and everyone around me was walking, which didn’t help. I kept pushing hard and passed lots of people in the 2^nd half, but I did walk quite a bit.

Good:

I always award myself the top award in the “over 270 lb” category, but this race there were actual weight categories with a weigh in and although I didn’t win any real awards, I can confirm that I was first place over 250 lbs* and first place over 225 lbs over 50 yrs.

*weighed in at 247 lbs, lowest I’ve been in years. I was lobbying for an over 250 category and could have gotten there with a big gulp had they had such a category.

As I mentioned, I finished strong relative to others. The only checkpoint was at mile 18, which is about where I started fading hard. I was 1069^th in the first 18, and 863^rd in the last 8 even though my pace was much slower the last 8. I think I passed even more between 13 and 18. I did “run” it in at a sub 5 hr pace the last couple miles.

I destroyed myself. I was barely ambulatory the first few days afterward even with lots of ibuprofen and am still too sore to run today.  I probably coulda shoulda maintained a better pace 20-24, but I gave pretty much my all. Wish I’d known what was going to happen and I could have started slower, hydrated better, and finished stronger with a better time, but I don’t really feel like I spit the bit or left anything out there.

Future:

I’d planned on doing the Stonemill 50 miler on Nov 17, but as of today I’m about evenly divided between

1. Run the 50 miler
2. Take a shot at marathon redemption next month
3. Never run again because running is dumb and stupid

Don't underestimate how humid it was that day.  The carnage at Blues Cruise and Oil Creek (42% finish rate) show that.  Steamtown numbers were higher that their usual average as well.  My running friend did his slowest BC's by 1 hour and 45 minutes. I think Jamie was close to that range as well.

You were basically a bit over 1 minute per mile from your "A" goal and slightly less than 1 minute per mile from your "B" goal, so all things considered, not too bad, and as they say "run what the day gives you".

How many pounds did you drop when weighed after the race?   DW was 6 pounds down when we got home from BC's and that's after eating and drinking, so she was probably down 8 pounds which means she needed to drink 1 gallon of water more during the race.

Agree with Sue, that black stuff is hard on you.  Stone Mill is a great course and weather should be nice, so I pick Option #1.

How many pounds did you drop when weighed after the race?   

Didn't think to do that. That would have been interesting. I drank two cups of water at every official aid station and some of the unofficial ones, and drank a lot afterwards, but still didn't pee until that evening. Some of the cups at the stations were only 1/4 full so it wasn't that much water, Should have drank more beforehand. I was more concerned with not being overhydrated and having to stop.

From my perspective, finishing upright in those conditions sounds like a win! Congratulations on finishing a tough race and day.

And no contest-- #1 Run Stone Mill. It'll be much better than the other options and it's a great race with wonderful volunteers. Especially at the Quince Orchard AS  .  Seriously, everyone who comes thru is having the time of their lives. Can't speak for later, but miles 0 to 17-ish are awesome.

 

My vote is Stone Mill of course.  I will be there!  It's a fun course.  Reminds me of a cross country course …only a little longer.  The trails are a lot like the Cumberland Valley section of the AT which you know well.  I wouldn't call it a fast course though.  It's deceptive.  But oh so much fun.

After being back out on the trails the past couple days, Stone Mill seems a lot more appealing than hitting the roads. I think the 13 hour cutoff would be tough for me, but that would give me a challenging goal.

  You certainly don't look like you're about to keel over in the pic -- you look fit and strong.  Or was that the 1st mile? 

That was pretty early. You can tell by the cute little sweat mark on my shirt. Compared to being soaked later in the race:

I don't think they are very strict about it. My understanding is they use this as a 'guideline' so they don't have folks finishing at midnight.

 

After being back out on the trails the past couple days, Stone Mill seems a lot more appealing than hitting the roads. I think the 13 hour cutoff would be tough for me, but that would give me a challenging goal.

Nice job in those tough conditions!  Nothing I can add that the others have already said.  Redemption races are tough.  Sounds like Stonemill might be more fun.  Rest and recover well.