Philadelphia Marathon short summary:
Time: 3:30:03
1,852 out of 11,624—16%
1,529th male
10K—45:25
13.1 mile split 1:37:39
30K mile split 2:20:03
The day started with a 4am alarm clock, so I could be down at the parking lot I wanted by 5am. Having run the Philadelphia Half Marathon in the past, I know this specific lot fills up fast because it is close to the finish area. Once I got myself out of bed and stumbled around in the dark to find where I put my gear, I got dressed and went downstairs for the finishing touches. I decided to have a bagel and Gatorade. I finished pacing my nutrition of Gu and CarboPro. I was out the door by 4:30am. I arrived at the parking lot on 19th and Callowhill right before 5am and was the 10th or so car in. I sat back in the car, drank fluids, and relaxed until 6am. Sitting there watching the other cars get shut out made the early alarm clock worth it.
Every race has a few logistical problems, the main one being lack of porta john's. It doesn’t matter if the race has 100 people or 30,000. There are never enough. I made it over to the start area by 6:20am and got in line for them near the back of the corrals. It was a short line, 20 minute wait. So I was able to stand in line and relax until it was my turn. I finished up my business and headed right down to my starting area.
Before I knew it, we were standing at attention for the National Anthem and then the wheelchair and hand crank athletes went off. I was in the Black Corral, which was 2nd in the grouping to go out. I had a pretty simple plan, 8MPH during the race and I should finish between 3:15 and 3:20. I found the 3:15 Pace Team and figured I would stay with them as long as could. Once my group was in position, they sent us out. As I crossed the starting mat, I gave Mayor Nutter a high five.
The Marathon course is a great course. It winds through the city and all its finer, intimate points for the first half. You start at the Art Museum, go into South Philly along Delaware Avenue, come up onto South Street via Front Street from Washington Ave. You head up South and then over to Walnut to go out to University City. From there you head through West Philly to the Zoo, then onto Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. After Memorial Hall, you head down Black Road and onto Martin Luther King Drive and back to the start area at the Art Museum. The Half Marathon splits off to the right and the Marathon continues along Kelly Drive. You head out Kelly Drive into Manyunk and turn around in Manyunk at mile 19.5. You head back along Kelly Drive for the final 4 miles. The finish is back along the Ben Franklin Parkway at the Art Museum.
I held to the plan all during the first 2 hours of the run. At mile 16, I was just under 2 hours. I had admitted to Cathy at diner on Friday night before the marathon that I was a little under trained, and that the last 10 miles would be a slugfest. I was right. At mile 18 heading into Manyunk I could feel it begin. I was nailing my nutrition, so I knew the slugfest would be physiological and mental, not nutritional. The monkey on my back was getting bigger, even when I tried to knock him off with the shots of beer in Manyunk (I love the unofficial aid stations). Manyunk was like a big party, and that helped. I did not want to walk anywhere near cheering fans, so I sucked it up and pushed along, although at a slower speed.
Coming out of Manyunk for the final 4 mile push was tough. I stated to walk after every .75 miles of running. I would walk until I felt good and run until I felt bad. During the last 4 miles, I probably walked 4 times. Part of that last 4 miles, there are not many fans. Once you hit Boathouse Row, it all changes. The crowd carries you through the finish. And I rode the wave. The crowd really helped me get to the finish line upright and stable. When I crossed the line, my 2012 season was officially over. It was admittedly a long and disappointing year.
As I look back on the season, I will do and honest assessment and make changes for 2013. The 2012 year started off with an injury before the Disney Marathon in January, a medical withdraw at Ironman® Lake Placid, a personal best at the Atlantic City International Triathlon, another personal best at Ironman® 70.3 Pocono Mountains, all sandwiched between many other races. I’ll take a few weeks off from “training” and enjoy Christmas with my family. Once January 2013 comes, it will be “balls to the wall” for redemption in 2013.
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| Emma & Conor at the Expo |
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| Conor with his Elmo hat |
