2014 Marine Corps Marathon
This race report was originally posted on the RunningAhead community boards in October 2014. Some content has been edited since that initial publication.
Prologue
“Have you run Marine Corps?” As a marathoner in the area, I was continually asked this question and I hated that the answer was, “No”. My first marathon was the 2010 National Marathon (now RnR USA). I wasn’t a runner the year it was cancelled but I remember how the running community in the area responded and told myself if I ever ran a marathon, that would be my first. I was also so proud that a local guy – Michael Wardian – actually won it. Of the two big local marathons, National/RnR USA was going to be my favorite.
I am also a pretty good field hockey player. I was an officer of the local league for about a decade and our main season is the fall. But starting in 2011, I started to cheer for the MCM runners along the route. The first year, I cheered as they entered Hains Point. The next two years, I cheered at the Pentagon across from the 9/11 memorial at Mile 23. I actually liked encouraging the runner and I even had the pleasure of meeting NotScott last year.
In 2012, I was finally ready to commit to a fall marathon, but by then, I was already smitten by the idea of running the New York City Marathon so I couldn’t do Marine Corps since they were only a week apart. However, after two summer marathon training cycles, I decided this would be it – no more training over the summer and fearing death on every long run. I would do MCM (so I could finally say I did it) and NYCM (because I love it) this year and then go back to being a field hockey player in the fall and running NYCM for fun.
Training
I started this training cycle at the end of June. I was following Pfitz 18/85, which I’ve done two or three times now. Last marathon cycle, I tried lower mileage and did some fun things like the Goofy Challenge and running Ragnar Key West. But, it didn’t result in a faster time. (3:28 at Boston vs. 3:22:high my previous two marathons). So, I decided to go back to high mileage and sticking to a traditional plan.
The one thing I did differently this year, though, was embrace the running club concept. I’d been going to a running club for well over a year but there really wasn’t anyone my pace so I mostly ran by myself. But, over the winter, I discovered two guys and a woman who were running just a little bit faster than me and I convinced them to train with me this summer. “Train with me” became I would plot out the course, they would run with me maybe half the time, and then leave me. So, my long runs didn’t go well because I was always starting too fast and fading. I tried to cram in some longer runs towards the end of the summer which resulted in really tired legs by the time my taper hit.
Goals
I had two tune up races – both half marathons. The first was 1:35:30 (7:18 pace) on a tough course and the second was a PR of 1:32:19 (7:03 pace) on a course with a good stretch of downhill in the middle. McMillan predicts a 3:20:59 marathon based on that first half, and 3:14:17 on the second. Doubling my half marathon time and adding 13 minutes has been a good personal predictor so I figure my goal should be somewhere between 3:18 and 3:23.
My “A” goal was to finally run sub-3:20 (7:39 pace). It’s been my goal for two years now. But since this is not the easiest of courses, my “B” goal was to finish Top 10 in my age group. When I woke up and realized how warm it would be, I was more fully embracing the idea of the B Goal.
Personal records
Marathon PR: 3:22:56 (7:45 pace), 2013 New York City Marathon.
Course PR: N/A
Most Recent Marathon: 3:27:24 (8:20 pace), 2014 Boston Marathon
Course
The course has a few challenges. The first is a very steep hill that comes at Mile 1 and ends at Mile 2.5. Then, it’s fairly flat until Mile 5 and then there’s a 1.5 mile climb. The next challenge comes during Hains Point, which is flat but boring and always seems windy both going in and coming out. Then, it’s flat along the Tidal Basin and the Mall. Heading back into Virginia, there’s a climb onto a bridge which can also be a bit lonely. After a loop through Crystal City, the course goes around the Pentagon and finishes with a soul crushing climb up to the Iwo Jima Memorial.
Pre-race
Saturday. I did a 4 mile shake out run the day before the marathon and then just tried to stay off my feet. I went to Goodwill and bought some throw away clothes for MCM and NYCM but otherwise, stayed in and watched bad t.v. For food, I downed a 32 oz. Gatorade after the run, had a bowl of spaghetti for lunch, another one for dinner, drank 2 liters of water throughout the day. I watched Spirit of the Marathon, and then went to bed at 9:30/10pm.
Race Day. I didn’t sleep well. I would sleep for 20 minutes or 2 hours and then wake up. At about 3am, I woke up to the sound of what I thought was rain and then realized was wind. Curses! I knew there was a chance there would be some wind but not wind gusts. I grew more and more anxious. Maybe I should change things up and jog MCM? But, there’s no guarantee the weather in New York will be any better next weekend and by then, I’ll have 26.2 miles on my legs. No, I’ll just deal with it. Meanwhile, I noticed… I stink. I realized I’ve been sweating carbs all night. I try to go back to bed but in addition to the stench I’m also enduring my neighbor’s snoring. I get up at 4:00am. I take a shower – yeah, I swear I stank that bad. I eat breakfast (coffee, banana, and half a bagel) at 5:30am and go outside. It’s not that windy and it’s not cold either. A few minutes later, I check the weather readings at the airport: 66 degrees and winds are 10 mph and gusting at 17 mph! What kind of mess is this? Warm and windy? I check the hourly on Weather.com and it’s showing a slight temperature drop over the next couple hours and that the wind won’t be gusting. I putz around for a few more minutes and then leave the house at 6am.
The bus I would normally catch to the Pentagon got rerouted (Duh!) and I was late meeting up with the two guys I’ve been training with all summer. We chit chat while we go through security, check our bags, and use the port-a-potty. The lines for everything are long and I’m irritated under the surface, but my guys – easy breezy. No wonder we were such great training partners.
We get to the starting area at about 7:30am. The pre-race festivities are pretty neat. In addition to the national anthem, there was a rousing speech from Sean Astin and parachuters! One of them was apparently going to run the race after his jump! But then out of no where, two Ospreys (I’m guessing that’s what they were because one of the guys said so) fly over us from no where. So cool! In any event, the announcer gets us ready for the start and then – “Boom!” – the howitzer goes off and so do we.
Weather
Temperature: 59 at 7:50am, 61 at 8:50am, 64 at 9:50am, 66 at 10:50am, 67 at 11:50am. After 9:50am, winds were 10-17 mph w/17-26 mph gusts.
The Race
Early Miles - Rosslyn, Georgetown, and Rock Creek Park (Miles 1-8)
“The People’s Marathon” does not have corrals. They have signs indicating the pace where you should line up but it’s all honor system. Unfortunately, that meant there were a lot of runners in front that should not have been there. I tried not to zigzag too much but it was hard not to – some of them were that slow.
I was glad to have that first mile as a warm up. My legs felt pretty good heading in to the first challenge of the race: Lee Highway. But, I found myself keeping a stronger pace up the hills than I thought I would. It was still pretty crowded, though, and I probably surged a bit more than I should have to get around people. I had some momentary pain in my left quad and knee.
I had a pretty extensive list of friends to look for on the course. The first two coming at about Mile 2.5, so I start looking for them. I see the one and give her a shout out. The next one is my BFF, who is also running NYCM next week. She told me NOT to wave when I saw her or her son. (She says it slows me down). I see her and of course… I instinctively wave. I can’t help it!
I hit a nice downhill and I’m thankful for it. I had planned on running these first three or four miles at 8:00 pace not realizing there would be some relief. But, it’s short-lived and soon, we’re climbing again.
I leave Virginia and head to Georgetown. At this point, there were supposed to be a couple people from our running club. I look but don’t see them. (Turns out there was a huge group of them). The crowds on the Key Bridge were amazing and I couldn’t help but smile. It reminded me of NYCM, my favorite marathon. I’ve always run RnR USA where the crowds are so much smaller. I assumed D.C. wasn’t the kind of town that showed up for marathons. But, they do for this one. Even though it’s mostly in Virginia, maybe this is D.C.’s marathon after all.
I break from my revelry and see my two training buddies have rejoin me – I lost them during my zigzagging at the start. We exchange a few words but then they take off.
I see club teammates in Georgetown on M Street and that gave me a boost. I turn down Wisconsin, up K Street and soon are running up up Rock Creek Park. This was the second challenge of the race in my mind. But, our club runs this section of trail all the time so I’m less intimidated by it now that I’ve been in the past. I get our first view of the front runners. The lead guys is hauling and has a considerable distance from 2nd place already.
I start my first Gu (Chocolate) a little after the 45 minute mark. I decided to gulp it all down rather than nurse it like I usually do. A little while later I see Michael Wardian. I’m eating a Gu, so my “Go, Mike!” probably sounded more like, “Gler Meh”. I just try to keep a steady pace during this segment.
Another member of our running group was supposed to be at the turnaround and I slow to look but I don’t see her. I make the turn and am happy – most of the worst parts of the course are over. At Mile 8, a guy says, “We’re a third of the way done gentleman…” And then he adds, “And lady”. I think I was “lady”. Smile
Splits: 15:41 for Miles 1 & 2, 7:15, 15:00 for Miles 4 & 5, 7:35, 7:33, 7:32
Middle Miles - Tidal Basin, Hains Point, Tidal Basin (Again), and the Mall (Miles 8-19.0)
I’m feeling like I’m getting my legs back during the downhill by the waterfront and Kennedy Center. Then, we hit the Lincoln Memorial area and I can’t believe the crowds. I look around and try to soak it all in. I up at the stairs to the Lincoln and am truly amazing at how packed in the people are. I’m so excited that I end up running a little too fast. I look down at my watch and see I’m running something like 7:06 pace. I force myself to slow down.
I enter Ohio Drive and I start to mentally prepare myself for Hains Point. I see some club teammates at about Mile 10.5. I wave at them and am elated to see them. I enter Hains Point and the runners around me have thinned. I’ve been tracking my training buddies and I’ve been gaining on the one I thought was in 3:15 shape. I pull back whenever I get close. In my mind, he’s a much stronger runner than me. I start my second Gu (Salted Caramel). That’ll slow me down. I look across the river at the Airport and a boat that’s spraying water in the air. I notice what feels like rain and realize the wind is carrying the water from that boat onto shore.
As I near the end of the Point, I’m gaining on my teammate and go with it. I pull up and ask, “How’s it going?” He says fine and asks me the same. I say, “Good”. I stay with him for a few strides and check my pace band. I’m about 1:30-2:00 ahead of pace so I’m feeling pretty confident. I know he’s slowing and since I’m feeling good, I don’t want to slow, too.
The winds were okay going in to Hains Point but as I exit, I start to notice them. They’re not bad but I do feel I’m working a little hard. A few hundred feet down the road, I’m looking around and to my right, I spy someone from the forums! I kinda do a double take and then wave. She acknowledges me back. I think we kinda surprised each other because I didn’t know where she’d be. But I keep motoring on and am running strong. I just want to get out of Hains Point.
I reach the Mall and am starting to noticeable slow. I’m thinking, this is not good when I’m barely through the half. I’m frustrated with myself. I think my teammates are around this area but I take swig of Gatorade at the water stop and surge. (At Mile 16, I was approximately 2:00:00 into the race. At 9:50, the weather at National Airport was 64 w/10 mph winds and 17 mph gusts).
I feel good again running by the Washington Monument. A photographer calls my name to give me encouragement… I swear, I heard my name so much from random places at times I wasn’t expecting it!
I reach the street that runs along the Smithsonian art museums – Mile 17 – and the carnage seems to start all at once. Runners are stopping to stretch cramped muscles or to puke. Runners that had been running strong that I thought I might try to stay with would suddenly stop in the middle of the road. I pass one of the women in our elite “sister” club on the side of the road. She was probably one of the top 10 women coming down Rock Creek 10 miles ago.
I run by the Capitol and surge a little but it was short lived. As soon as we’re heading west again, I start to slow considerably. I was starting to really feel the wind. My pace has slowed to close to 8:00. I can’t believe it. Things were going so well. I force myself to run harder. I know I should take another Gu at this point but I just don’t want it. I look for a coworker who was going to be cheering here but I don’t see her.
I round the corner and… Oh, #$%@! – The 14th Street Bridge. (No lie, I think I actually mouthed those words and am hoping MarathonFoto got the picture). I completely forgot about this obstacle. At Mile 20, I see some of the club teammates on my left and try to look positive. I smile and wave to them. Oh, #$%@!
7:16, 7:20, 7:24, 7:37, 7:24, 7:33, 7:38, 7:34, 7:31, 7:39, 7:50
Later Miles - 14th St Bridge, Crystal City, Iwo Jima (Miles 19.0-26.2)
I’m hunkering down for the brutal incline and boredom that is the 14th Street Bridge. About a half mile down the road, a guy pull up besides me. It’s one of the faster guys in my club that I really admire and he’s handing me something. “It’s electrolytes”. I don’t know that I want it but I grab it. I want to drink it because I respect him but… No, I don’t want it. Still, I force myself to sip it over the next few miles.
The bridge is a tale of struggle. The winds were brutal. There was absolutely nothing to block them. There were some runners that would go speeding by but mostly it was runners cutting their pace significantly, even stopping to stretch or to take walk breaks.
I leave the bridge and try to surge on the downhill. I manage to pick up the pace for maybe a mile but… I’m just drained. I can’t.
Next up is a small loop through Crystal City. I had heard the crowds tend to be sparse here but was surprised to see so many people out cheering. I have friends that were supposed to be at the turnaround before Mile 23. I look for them rather half-hardheartedly. I feel like I’m going to collapse. (At Mile 23, I was approximately 3:00:00 into the race. At 10:50, the weather at National Airport was 66 w/15 mph winds and 26 mph gusts. Conditions would be similar for the rest of the race).
Just after the turnaround, I see my training partner that I left on Hains Point. He looks okay but I estimate he’s about a minute behind me. I get another brief surge when the wind dies down but it’s short lived. I don’t know if I have 3 miles in me. I try to find someone to run with and share the load but the field seems so sparse.
I exit Crystal City and head down a road that next to Long Branch Park – a former industrial area that is being redeveloped. There’s Dunkin Donuts but I’m disgusted by the very thought and power through the stop. There’s a water stop right after it and I don’t want that either. In fact, I toss the electrolytes I was given.
I hit the lap for Mile 24, look at my pace band, and realize sub-3:20 is out of reach. I’m so dejected. How did things go so wrong? I reach Route 110 and the wind is just having its way with me. I can still PR, though, I think. I feel like it’s taking all my strength just to move one foot in front of the other and I don’t think I have two miles in me. The next two miles are absolute misery. By Mile 25, even the idea of PRing has gone as I feel like I’m barely moving. At this point, I’m just trying to finish. Meanwhile, I expect my teammate to run up to me at any moment so I’m looking at everyone who passes me, but he doesn’t.
I hit the lap on Mile 26 and see the uphill to Iwo Jima. It doesn’t look that bad but it hits like a ton of bricks. I feel like I stopped. (I know. i said the same thing at NYCM last year but this time – for real). There were stickers on the ground about “Take the Hill” and “Marine Up” and it was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other. I felt ashamed that I was finishing in such a pathetic manner. Maybe 50 yards later I got a little speed at the end and hit something close to a stride. I finished. Oorah!
Splits: 7:58, 16:21 for Miles 20 and 21, 8:11, 9:04, 9:08, 2:09
Result
Time=3:23:52
Pace=7:47
Log Details
Not sub-3:20 and not even a PR. I was, however, 7th in my AG, 77th woman and 569th finisher. I think I was 10th place master’s female. Given the conditions, I’ll take 7th in AG at a pretty major marathon.
Post-race
I walk through the finish area feeling very disappointed. I’m also looking for my training partner – I assumed he would be right behind me – so we can talk about the race. I grab any and all food the Marines are giving out remembering I need to immediately focus on recovery. I get my bag and my training buddy walks up. He had a bad half, too. But, he finished 45 minutes faster than he did last year, so I’m happy and proud of him.
On my commute home, I take a selfie with my medal and ugly/beautiful mock neck.
Later, I meet up with my club for drinks and food downtown and we talk about this race and others, and how other runners in the club ran today and who cheered on the course. Yeah, I think I’ve embraced club running.
So… In 7 days, I’ll be running the New York City Marathon. I’d love to qualify for the marathon next year so I’ve set 3:24:59 as a goal but I know that’s probably not going to happen.
