In my mind, the race began at 1:00am sharp when we the Lloyd Dobler Effect ended our set at the Hollywood Casino H Lounge at Charles Town Races. From there, I packed up immediately and took off in my Honda for home and a brief rest only to be pulled over 1 mile down the road. It has been a over a month since my headlight went out and the new bulbs I tried were unsucsessful so I’ve been a pididdle ever since.
Of all nights failing to comply with the law, tonight the West Virgina State Trooper decided that I was in need of a sobriety check. With the headlight as the excuse, the kind officer pulled me over, ran my info, tested me for alcohol, and let me go with a warning. I assured him that even though I was coming from the Casino, and had just played a rock show that I was sober, running a marathon in the morning and in need of some Gatorade and complex carbohydrates from the Sheetz that was in sight.
From there it was an easy trip down I-270, immediate yet short slumber, and a quick trip up I-95, I-695, and I-83 to Sparks Elementary school for packet pick up, bag check, and bananas. The atmosphere in the gym was relaxed and routine. More seasoned runners that first timers milled about, chatting with each other, sharing stories and commenting on how jive the cooler bag and winter cap were as give aways. I agreed.
Durring the pre, run, and post race I met and chatted with 10+ people about everything from running to cruise ships. I found that because it was a smaller race, runners were more open and it felt like a big family heading out for an event.
Some say the marathon is a tough 10K with a 20 mile warm up. After running a 10k Turkey Chase with my Dad 2 days before the NCR Trail Marathon, I was hoping that when I got to mile 20 my 10k credit wouldn’t be gone. It wasn’t, and in fact it seemed to have doubled in value as I ran the last 6.2 miles at a 7:34 pace, plenty fast to average me down to an 8:53 pace. The result was a PR by 7 minutes with an official 3:52:21 finish. The Zem's held up nicely and is officially my favorite footwear choice when nessasary.
The week was a busy one with recording, performances and family and I was most worried about this race in my quest for 6 in 6 months. First, this would be my first marathon in close proximity to another and I wasn’t sure how my body was going to hold up. It would be my first trail race and I was attempting to run the race in ZEM 360 shoes that are very minimalistic, but unproven more than 16 miles. Also, the 10k, Turkey Day Dinner, and live show Friday night with 2 hours of sleep worried me a bit.
My mild anxiety was eased as I emerged from the North Central Railroad Trail with only 2 miles to go. At this point I was feeling good, picking up speed, on pace for a PR and caught a football pass from a kid a the water stop. The course was on the rail trail providing a solitary running atmosphere sprinkled with enthusiastic volunteers and a fierce 2 mile up hill ending.
After 23 miles of mostly flat trail, the asphault uphill and downhill was a nice change and I found myself feeling strong and motivated. Those are two words not often associate with the end of any race. As I crossed the finish line I confirmed once again how much I love running this distance and walked back to the gym with a medal and a smile.
In other races while running barefoot, I feel like other people are always making comments about, or trying to beat the “barefoot guy”. Today I was just trying to beat the guy running in the Turkey Costume. I did by the way.
This is definitly a race I’ll be running in the future if not every year. It’s fun, flat, well organized and a great way to incinerate all the food and beverage that is consumed over the Thanksgiving weekend. 2 down, 4 to go. Next up is the Rehoboth Beach Marathon in DE. No Turkeys, No shoes, and a Dogfish Head beer waiting for me at the finish.
Cheers, Chris
Of all nights failing to comply with the law, tonight the West Virgina State Trooper decided that I was in need of a sobriety check. With the headlight as the excuse, the kind officer pulled me over, ran my info, tested me for alcohol, and let me go with a warning. I assured him that even though I was coming from the Casino, and had just played a rock show that I was sober, running a marathon in the morning and in need of some Gatorade and complex carbohydrates from the Sheetz that was in sight.
From there it was an easy trip down I-270, immediate yet short slumber, and a quick trip up I-95, I-695, and I-83 to Sparks Elementary school for packet pick up, bag check, and bananas. The atmosphere in the gym was relaxed and routine. More seasoned runners that first timers milled about, chatting with each other, sharing stories and commenting on how jive the cooler bag and winter cap were as give aways. I agreed.
Durring the pre, run, and post race I met and chatted with 10+ people about everything from running to cruise ships. I found that because it was a smaller race, runners were more open and it felt like a big family heading out for an event.
Some say the marathon is a tough 10K with a 20 mile warm up. After running a 10k Turkey Chase with my Dad 2 days before the NCR Trail Marathon, I was hoping that when I got to mile 20 my 10k credit wouldn’t be gone. It wasn’t, and in fact it seemed to have doubled in value as I ran the last 6.2 miles at a 7:34 pace, plenty fast to average me down to an 8:53 pace. The result was a PR by 7 minutes with an official 3:52:21 finish. The Zem's held up nicely and is officially my favorite footwear choice when nessasary.
The week was a busy one with recording, performances and family and I was most worried about this race in my quest for 6 in 6 months. First, this would be my first marathon in close proximity to another and I wasn’t sure how my body was going to hold up. It would be my first trail race and I was attempting to run the race in ZEM 360 shoes that are very minimalistic, but unproven more than 16 miles. Also, the 10k, Turkey Day Dinner, and live show Friday night with 2 hours of sleep worried me a bit.
My mild anxiety was eased as I emerged from the North Central Railroad Trail with only 2 miles to go. At this point I was feeling good, picking up speed, on pace for a PR and caught a football pass from a kid a the water stop. The course was on the rail trail providing a solitary running atmosphere sprinkled with enthusiastic volunteers and a fierce 2 mile up hill ending.
After 23 miles of mostly flat trail, the asphault uphill and downhill was a nice change and I found myself feeling strong and motivated. Those are two words not often associate with the end of any race. As I crossed the finish line I confirmed once again how much I love running this distance and walked back to the gym with a medal and a smile.
In other races while running barefoot, I feel like other people are always making comments about, or trying to beat the “barefoot guy”. Today I was just trying to beat the guy running in the Turkey Costume. I did by the way.
This is definitly a race I’ll be running in the future if not every year. It’s fun, flat, well organized and a great way to incinerate all the food and beverage that is consumed over the Thanksgiving weekend. 2 down, 4 to go. Next up is the Rehoboth Beach Marathon in DE. No Turkeys, No shoes, and a Dogfish Head beer waiting for me at the finish.
Cheers, Chris
