Race Review for Thunder Road Marathon, Charlotte NC

I ran Thunder Road Marathon in Charlotte NC as my 11^th State.  We rose out of bed dark and early, brew some coffee, and chewed down few bites of bread before I head out for a short walk/jog around the starting line.  The weather was somewhat cooler than ideal race temperature at 35 degree; a little windy, but wasn’t anything major at the time.  I jogged for about half of mile, and then head back to hotel room to get ready for battle.

At 07:20, Lin and I walk slowly down to the startling line, check in our post-race bags, and jog to the line behind a big-ole-NASCAR; 07:45 arrived, the race car was roar and everyone charged forward. 

Before I head to Charlotte, I expected a marathon pack with rolling hills, and I focused in hills training and racing in hills.  That turned out to be a good training, but I didn’t expect wind would pick up thirty minutes into the race.  I told to myself, ‘that’s okay, it didn’t forecast to be windy; it will die down…’ I follow a few fast half marathoners, duck behind them as a wind blocker, and stroll forward; right then was around mile 11 and I felt the call of nature was upon me, but I ignored it and more forward.

By 12.2 miles, a race official stood in the middle of Berkeley Avenue and yelled: ‘half marathoners stay on the right and the full run straight.’ Wind didn’t die down, but pick it up its’ speed to 18mph. 

Shortly after I made the right turn onto Dilworth Road, someone called out places for runners and I placed 47^th overall before the halfway mark. 

Then I hit 13.1 at 1h’33m’17s’ (clock time) and I knew right-the-way – there’s no way I can run a negative split for more than three minutes for new personal best given the condition, unless wind changed the direction, and push me from the back.  However, I maintained my composure, tried to run the best form despite the strong head wind, and hoping for the best. 

As I continued, by mile 17, I just couldn’t hold it anymore; I lost about 22-second to answer that call under a bridge.  What a relief!  I felt recharge and open legs wider to move forward.  I clocked 2h’23m’51s’ at mile 20 and passed numerous runners toward the end; I finished the race with a time 3h’7m’35s’ (gun time), 3h’7m’33s’ (chip time), placed 31^st overall, 29^th in males, and 5^th in 30–34 division.  My Garmin time and split are here.

Not that I making an excuse, I felt I was so ready and confident before the marathon; but the windy condition was the major reason I couldn't finished the battle the way I wanted and changed the outcome of this race.  I spoke number of runners and say about the same reasons. 

 

Now what?  Rest is the No. one thing to do.  Then I’ll jog/run the annual MCRRC Turkey Burnoff Ten Mile on 11/24.  Then I’ll decide which state to become the 12^th to complete in spring 2013. 

Here is the race review by the Charlotte Observer.


Lin finished her third half marathon in fashion; smashed her personal best by 12 minutes and 47 seconds.  She finished it in 2h'19m'25s'!