through Raccoon Mountain in Chattanooga. This event is labeled one of the biggest trail marathons in the south east (500+ participants) and is also a flatter/faster event that Wild Trails puts together. Although still a difficult course specially to anyone who is use to road running. The course is about 2400+ft of gain through out, rocky, rooty, muddy, constant up and down rolling hills. The course consisted of 2 loops (5 aid stations for the marathoners and 2 for the half marathoners).
PRE-THOUGHTS
Entering this event I wasn't sure what to expect. I looked into previous course times and the records were set by male: 2:42 and female 3:13. The lady who held the CR is a good runner, who has knocked a lot a sub 3 hour road marathons, so going into this event I knew I wouldn't be running anywhere close to sub 3 on this course. As for my training, I have been running the strong, focusing more on speedwork and keeping lower mileage to concentrate on marathon training for the next few months with a 2:55 goal time.
MORNING OF RACE
Woke up at 3am to leave for Chattanoga. (3.5 hour drive from Columbus). The weather looked horrific. 100% chance of rain throughout with severe thunderstorms. I was mainly hoping that the rain wouldn't start until after we began the race, I don't mind running in the rain I just didn't want to stand around in it waiting.
START
The half and full marathon started together, there was a good crowd but I think the storm scared some runners away.
I started in mid pack with a few other women, pacing off them for the first mile or so. I wore my Garmin but I also didn't look at my watch the entire race, I knew then bc of the rain and trail it self that this wouldn't be a fast course for me and I didn't want to get caught up in holding a certain pace. So I paced off others. The course begins on a road, then enters the trail, for the marathoners you are on this trail the entire way, so say good bye to all your friends/family that came to spectate, unless the know the course well and can meet you at the aid stations which are located near roads in Raccoon Mountain.
I started to pick up some speed, mostly just wanted to catch up to the leading female, I wasn't sure if she was in the half or full marathon, but I paced off her and another male.
The rain stopped and actually got pretty warm out. The course was pretty muddy, rocky, rooty. I wore Lone Peak 2. I love the Olympus, but I thought wearing the LP2 would be better on this course, I was right. The LP had better grip through the mud and i felt lighter on my feet.
The half marathoners turned right to head to their finish, we continued on trail. The female I was behind had turned off I wasn't sure if I was happy or upset, happy because I knew then I was leading for the ladies in the marathon, but also I really enjoyed running with her, (Elizabeth MCCalley, finished the half marathon (1:30:15) which is a great time on the course and she missed the half CR by 5 seconds).
The last loop, the male that was running with us passed me around 14 miles. I felt like I was starting to slow down for the second loop, the hills turned into a tip toe run up, and I was starting to stumble.
I fueled my first loop off TRIFUEL, which is the energy/recovery drink I have been using since September. Full of Electroyles, BCAAs, and GI Friendly Carbs. I used Wild Berry flavor to get the most energized I could be for this race.
I wish I could have planted another bottle of TRIFUEL out on the course or at the aid station, due to the weather getting warm I went through 18oz in 15 miles, so the second loop I stopped at 2 aid stations to fill my bottles up with water. I hate stopping, specially in marathons, but I had to stay hydrated!
I passed the leading male of the marathon a few miles from the finish he looked like he was hurting. I knew the other male who had been running with me the first loop was now in the lead. I had no idea who was really behind me, and at this point I didn't care, I could hear the finish line, they were playing music and I would get excited and kept running thinking I was getting close, but then the music disappeared, this happened a lot over the next couple miles, trails are tricky little fudgers.
FINISH
Finally, I saw a few ladies in tutus standing at the end of the trail on a road, they told me I was almost done. One loop around the road to the finish line, I finally looked down at my watch (3:06:XX), I was kind of in shock, i was the First Lady, finished with the overall time of 3:07:13 which broke the previous women's course record by 5+ minutes. I was also 2nd overall.
The 2nd female came in shortly after me, Emily Ansick, 3:10:17. Us ladies were definitely representing today. Beth Santoro claimed third female. The overall winning time was 2:58:43 by William Ansick.
GEAR
Altra LONE PEAK 2
www.altrarunning.com
NUTRITION
BRLSPORTS NUTRITION, TRIFUEL.
www.brlsports.com
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