The only other marathon I have run in NYC, which was November 4th, 2007. My time was 5:13:15.I am definitely down to run more - but - I also thought I would give this a try first.
The GAC (Gil's Athletic Club) sponsers a trail marathon and 50 miler in Willowdale State Forest in Ipswich. It was Saturday, November 8th. I decided somewhere around mid September that I would go for it. I mean, why not?
I was already doing 35 miles a week. and I did a 30K mid September. I figured if I threw in a few 12-14 mile trail runs, and bumped by weekly average to 40-ish I would be all set.
This marathon was amazing. It was difficult, don't get me wrong, running 26 miles through many single track trails in the woods, but, I had a great time. This marathon was a 1.2 loop around the school where the start line was, and then two 12.5 mile loops through the woods.
OK - this guy was awesome. i kept running into him; he would be way in front of me, and then, 15 mins later, he would be pulling up behind me. he said he was going for some kind of "falling down" record. the last time i saw him, he said he had already wiped out 8 times. yikes!and I can't express how AWESOME the aid stations were enough. The first was around mile 4 of the woods loop, and then second around mile 8 - and then there was one back at the start/finish, or middle of the marathon. Since this was also an ultra-marathon, the aid stations had all your normal stuff, like water, and gatorade - plus also has crackers, cookies, PB&J sandwiches, grilledf cheeses! you name it! I also had a glass of Coke at the mile 8 aid station on my last loop, and it really boostd me to a great finish. As you can see from the photo below, lots of goodies! and gatorade shots!
ALSO, I received a jacket for finishing! My time was 5:35:26 (which, leads me to believe that I could do WAY better on a paved road marathon - 4:30 maybe? I am thinking Vermont in May - we will see ).
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