The Further Adventures of Stroller Mom & Dad, Gracie, & Ocean
GW Birthday Marathon, Maryland February 17, 2008 - Marathon #68 for Stroller Mom)Aloha Everyone!It was a great day for a marathon... but what day isn't? Mostly overcast, some wind, but not nearly what it was last year. Temps got up into the lower 50's, but with the clouds and wind, I was glad I opted for tights. Quite a few Maniacs in sight.
I had my sights on hopefully breaking five hours, something I've only done once on this course. Stroller Dad suggested I just PR and get home earlier. So I was most pleased to come closer to his goal for me than mine. Did it in 4:33 by my watch, I'm very pleased with it. This is the run out almost two miles, do three loops, run back in two miles. Huge downhill on the way out, huge uphill on the way back in (after mile marker 25, yikes). Even with that performance, I'm very glad they let us slowpokes start an hour early.
Stroller Dad did an incredible job with the kids. I really missed my marathon partner!
B&A Trail Marathon, Maryland March 2, 2008 - Marathon #69:
We had a stunning day for the B&A Trail Marathon. Other than a jig and jag through a residential area at the start to add a mile and a strange circumnavigation of an empty parking lot at mile 19, it was entirely on an asphalt bike path -- double out and back. The weather was about as perfect as it gets here this time of year, mid 40's and sunny. A bit cold at the start, but sure warmed up nicely.I took the early start again, figuring the GW Birthday marathon was a fluke for me. Wanted to come close to finishing with Stroller Dad. It was exceptionally good for my ego to get out in front and lead the early start pack of about eight people. The regular marathoners and half marathoners appeared to start at the same time, I saw the first one at mile eight, after I hit the turn around at mile seven. That made the path a bit crowded until they all passed me headed out. I was very pleased to hit the turn off point where the marathoners headed straight and the half's peeled off to the left to finish. I checked my watch initially to see if I had managed to not shut it off (as I'd done two marathons ago), I checked it at the half way point and found myself running a much faster first half marathon than I'd ever done before at 2:12. Figured I was on track for under five hours and might possibly hit four and a half if I didn't lose too much in the second half. Entertained fantasies of possibly getting under four and a half and running a PR, but after a winter of sore ankles and a week where we all got the stomach flu...So I decided to just run and not look at my watch again. Somehow I managed to hold onto my "lead", the first marathoner passed me between mile 16 and 17. The first female marathoner passed me after mile 21. Since it was a double out and back, I had two opportunities to flash Stroller Dad, took definite advantage of those (it's how he knows I'm having a good run, among other things). The second one was while he was running his 18th mile, even more meaningful :)So yes, I was extremely delighted to come roaring into the finish at 4:22! My best time ever and I felt pretty darned good. Good enough to double back on the course and run in with Stroller Dad. He was coping with some IT band pain when I caught him, but managed to show a respectable stride for the race photographers and continue running after that. We sailed him on into the finish with smiles.
Post-race food was both plentiful and varied. A friend of mine from high school was the food coordinator and when she came across my entry as they were building bibs the other night, she got in touch with me both to touch base again (we haven't seen her since we left for Hawaii) and to see if there was anything special we wanted. The coffee and hot cider hit the spot, as did the pizza and homemade oatmeal cookies.A special mahalo to my parents for watching the kids. They do a great job and the kids behave so well for them. Grace was just wonderful when we got home -- she started my shower for me and picked out my clothes. Alas, we don't have a photo. The camera was set to video when we handed it off to someone to shoot the picture. We'll guide you to the race photos when they're on line.Sending very happy marathon vibes your way for R2S and Hilo! Wish we were there, of course!The Red Rabbit migrating from the cold North to sunny Southern Cali
LA Marathon March 2, 2008:
Start10K 00:52:45
Half 01:51:31
30K 02:45:55
Finish 04:04:33
Time
Chip Time: 04:04:33
Clock Time: 4:07:30
Pace: 9:19
Congrats RR!!! Not bad for a Maniac who had to go into remission due to the bad north weather! Must've made a few detours to USC & UCLA to visit the cheerleaders! Better than Welsley College???
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