I met Mark N (a 48-year-old master runner then) in a local 5K in October 2010 and he told me that he ran 2:52 in Akron marathon weeks ago. I didn’t pay much attention at the time. When time roll around after New Jersey Marathon - where I ran 2:59:38, then I started to think, ‘if a 48-year-old guy ran 2:52, why can’t I run 2:55~57…’ My ego (or a little angel with horns) persuaded me to go for it and I believed it. Therefore, I talked with my friends and planned a training schedule to myself for a 2:55 marathon. Also September 25 was the day for me to turn 12500th days old, it is a very good reason to do something celebrate that.
Akron OH is about 350 miles or 6 hours drive from Aspen Hill MD. I left my home on Friday morning after an easy 30-minute jog on MH Trail. As September 23 was the first day of autumn, I decided to stay away from PA Turnpike and en-route the US 40 (or National Pike). It would be a nice drive if the weather was clear, but it rain so damn much and foggy. It was so bad at one point that I couldn’t see the vehicle in front of me on I-68 (US-40 or wherever that was); but it is not totally horrible. I actually see some spectacular view while I driving. I see fog was in and out of tree lines and white cloud atop mountains, including the highway that I was driving on, I felt like I was cruising in heaven. However, sky cleared out for me as soon as I enter into OH on OH-51 HWY and fresh cool air float into my car as I lower my windows.
After a rough 8.5 hours’ drive, I got to the expo in downtown Akron. People are extreme friendly and it reminds me how a small town like when I was in Texas. The expo was very nice, got a lot of look around, some good deal on Brook shoes and gears. While in the expo, I chatted briefly with an ex-GRCr, Dane Rauschenberg. I met Dane back in 2009 at a CC Run Co. event. He was at the expo to promoting something or his book (See Dane Run – One Man 52 weekends, 52 marathons) and he was also running the Akron Half to prepare for St. George Marathon on Oct 1. We wished each other luck for the race day before I depart the expo.
I got in my hotel soon after few quick bites of pasta. I hurried up to get a few things together, and then hit the sack around 22:00; but I couldn’t sleep. Rolled around in bed for nearly an hour and half and then finally fall in sleep around 23:30. I still don’t understand why I couldn’t sleep that night. I thought I would be better prepare for that race after 14 marathons and 8.5 hours of rough driving; but nope! I wonder anyone can help me or give some good suggestion.
Anyway, I rose up at 04:30 on race day morning. I made some coffee and drink them while I chew down banana and energy bars. I got myself out of to the starting line around 06:00, did some short jogs as warm up, changed clothes, and check my bags in. Weather was nearly perfect running condition, mid 50s, approx. 85% humidity, and 4~6 miles light breeze; I suppose Akron is a very religious city, the pre-race prayers was super-serious.
As the 07:00:00 arrived, the bell was ringed, everyone charge out, but I tried to run my own race.
The plan was run my own race and not to follow Mark and/or anyone else.
The race course takes me down onto the solid concrete surface of N Broadway Street; I hit the first mile mark at 6:32, which little faster than my target pace. So I decide to ease back and try to maintain an average pace of 6:50 ~ 6:55 per mile for the first half; which I did hold that pace pretty well. Near mile 9.75, I ran on the a decline section of solid hard red brick campus of University of Akron, then the race en-route into the C/O Canal Towpath, and it has a surface that different to what we have on section towpath in DC/MD – it is more concrete, stone path, and mud (due to days of rain prior to marathon day).
However, I clocked 1:31:04 at mile 13.1 on Towpath Bike Trail. After I passed the half way, I thought I can gradually pick up the pace to 6:40 ~ 6:45 per mile; but I fail - the race course en-route into hilly part of Akron, plus after running slower pace on the 12-mile on concrete surface street really did toll on my 200-mile-old Brook Adrenaline and my knees.
As race progress on hilly but beautiful Akron, I can feel a painful sensation off my calves and left knee. Then I pass by an aid station, I grab a couple cups of water and poured on my legs to see if I can keep them relax off with the help of cool breeze. That must did some work to it, I feel a little refreshing. While I was running on Sand Run PKWY, I met Rob of Falls Road Running Store of Baltimore. We chatted a bit, mostly talk about which marathon has harder course than Akron. By the time we reached to mile 18.4 or so, he started to fade, I follow a pack of three or four runners caught us from behind; I tucked behind them as wind blocker and used them as carried me out to W Market Street. By the time, I ran with them to last notable hill of the course at German Road (22-miler), the pack of four or five of us, gradually falling apart, and everyone running in their own no-man/woman-lands.
I was running alone (again) on Portage Path toward the finish line and finally get to the peak of the race course at the corner of Portage Path and W Market Street (23.95-mile). As I made a left turn on to W Market Street, I was on the top of Akron and sore of able to see the finishing area in the distance horizon. Of course, it is not straight flat land from there; I must note a few more major downhill, mile 23.95 to mile 24.94 - it dropped 240 feet in elevation or 5% downhill, mile 25.19 to 25.56, dropped 87 feet or 4.4% – what an excellent way to pound on your very much tendered quadriceps. Then as I approach to mile 25.4 on W Market Street and Innerbelt, I climbed up another 3.8% hill.
As I arrived to mile 25.8 on High Street and W State Street, I can feel my tightness on my quad, knees, hammy, and gluts; but I didn’t stop there, I dug deep, with the help of a little tail wind and tiny downhill I charge to the finish. I cross the line with the clock at 3:05:19. It is not best ideal finish time to celebrated 12000th day of life (since birth).
3:05:17 (official time) was way below my personal best time; but I must admit – that was a tough course for most people to PRed in. However I don’t want to making excuse for myself not running well this time and I need to take the responsibility that I didn’t get enough of rest before the race and did not use the correct shoes to run on the race surface.
Some friends told me that I ran well on such hilly course, but I can’t use that as an excuse for my failure and misjudgments; most importantly I pick a wrong race to run a Personal Best – I was ready for 2:55, but not on that course. If I could get to run New Jersey marathon on September 24, by giving the condition, I could have reached that target time easily. It is my own fault. Furthermore, I need to drop all this thought now, then push and train harder for any other future races; especial for Tucson marathon is right around the corner on December 11.
Few last things are conclude about Akron Marathon – it has more concrete surface than all other race I ran, it very similar to Houston Marathon; lots hills, overwhelmingly hill after hill; and it has many turns, if anyone going to run this race, you must cut every single tangent you see. I was running averaging to the original marathon target pace till mile 6, then I had fear and hold myself back, due to all those hills – I didn’t know what to expect next turn and/or hill. Since I hold myself back, then I wasted too much energy on the slower pace, when I realized to attack, but it was already too late. I should have gutted it out and not running something way slower than my average long runs. I am going to drive the course routes in my future marathons like I used to when I started.
After the marathon, I went to Cleveland Hard Rock Café in the afternoon and picked up a Hard Rock Classic shot glass into my collection.
Hard Rock Cafe |
Quicken Loan Arena |
I also drove down and visit the Rock Hall, the Brown Stadium, and stand next to Lake Erie in Voinovich Park. I put away the failure feeling in Akron and enjoy the cold breeze blow from Canada. It also made me have strong desires to run more marathons in different states.
The Rock Hall |
After Lake Erie, I went Great Lake Brewery to have few pines of their in-house (public exclusive) fresh brew – Rapid Red Ale and Traffic Light). After Cleveland, I went back to Akron and spend few hours in The Lockview Pub in the downtown with some newly met running friends.
Sunday morning was better day and cooler temp. I had lunch with Mark and his family before I headed back to MD. While having lunch with them, I learn that Akron is actually an Amish community – that does not allow working on Sunday. I think that is the major reason for Akron marathon on Saturday. That was interesting. The drive back was super nice, no more fog and cloud; I made brief stop at Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Youghiogheny River Lake as I roll down the National Pike.
Looking ahead: I don’t want to look too far as now; but I need to my butt moving again, since I already sign up with Tucson marathon, and I am about 95% recovered from Akron. I believe I’ll be able get a better result this time around. First training run is October 2 with an easy ten miler.
However, I don’t have certain plan for spring 2012 yet; but I have my eye on Derby marathon in KY, Gansett marathon in RI, St. Louis Marathon in MO. I will know better which one I will sign up when my training gear up to February/March 2012.
However, I don’t have certain plan for spring 2012 yet; but I have my eye on Derby marathon in KY, Gansett marathon in RI, St. Louis Marathon in MO. I will know better which one I will sign up when my training gear up to February/March 2012.
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