Race Recap: 2014 Columbus Marathon Ran the Half Again.

 

Well, it’s been awhile since I blog. Busy with training, coaching, and finishing up house hunting to do this but definitely now have some time to blog about my race. Coaching this year had been great and I’ll try to get a little bit of my experience and what I learned in the next blog post or so but now recapping a great weekend for the Columbus Marathon.

The Columbus Marathon Weekend has always been one of my favorite weekends. It makes a great weekend for running in Central Ohio, especially with the High School District Cross Country Meet at Watkins Memorial High School in Pataskala just 20 minutes from Downtown Columbus. Anyway my parents came down and after some housing business we went to the expo which is always a great time. Then we ate at Carrabba’s while watching the Buckeyes destroy Rutgers. After my folks left to go to their hotel I was able to get most of my stuff ready for the next morning.

Woke up at 4:45 and gathered my stuff and left at 5:45 to Downtown Columbus. Traffic was a little crazy when I got into town with the Marathon but I was able to park at the parking lot on the corner of High and Long Street. Walked just one block over to Spring Street where the Courtyard Marriott Hotel was, that was where the Elite Runners Pre Race Headquarters were. Met up with some of my teammates (Jason, Brian, Cory, Scott, Joe, Andrew, Tyler). All of us were doing the Half except for Tyler & Andrew who were doing the Full. We just ran a little over a mile along High & Broad Street to get to blood flowing, laughter all around. We got back in the hotel to get our stuff organized along with our other CRC teammates and ladies, and other elites to receive our final instructions. We were able to give our bags to them and keep some sweats on to jog/walk down to the start at 7:10 (20 minutes before the race.

The walk to the start was nice. But, it was a little strange since the start and finish are at the exact spot. The Start was no longer on Broad & 3^rd and the finish was no longer at Nationwide Arena. They now were both on Long Street and Neil Ave at North Bank Park. I noticed as we walked down Long it has a little dip underneath the railroad bridge which blocks the start/finish. You will see it as you go down it and have to come up the little hill for the finish. Little different but something we got used to. Saw my mom when I got up to the start and prayed Psalm 23 & the Lord’s Prayer. After that went and did some strides and drills before they wanted the elites to take our sweats off then came the National Anthem.  After that AC/DC’s Hells Bells came on to get the wheelchair race underway at 7:27.

 

Finally after they took off THUNDERSTUCK came on to get everyone else ready and the countdown began. At the gun the fireworks sounded and the race was underway.

 

As we took off in the front the first thing that I wanted to do was not go to crazy but not want to feel congested since we’re crowded together going down the hill and back up towards High Street. I had my Garmin on for this race so I can control my pace for the first part. I went behind and with Ben Engelheart, my CRC teammate, to start off with my buddy, Brian Cull, right behind. We made the sight increase going east on Broad towards East Side & Bexley with the first mile in 5:13. Little faster than I wanted to but I actually felt good. Since the first mile mark was different than the old one the 2^nd mile seem to be a little uphill and it made mile 2 I ran turn out to be 5;27, 10:40 at 2 miles still on pace. It flatten out a bit as we continued towards Nelson Road as Mile 3 was in 16:05 (5:25 mile) going past the Franklin Park Conservitory.

We turned on Nelson Road up north towards Clifton Ave and turned right passed St.Charles High School and Jeffery Park where Bexley Cross Country had our practices this season. As I hit mile 4 in 21:30 (5:26 Mile) I hope being in Bexley would give me a boost from the few parents whose kids I coached this year. There were a few who did which was good.  I was still doing ok going into mile 5 where I hit 27:00 (5:30) then Brian and Levi Fox passed me I just decided to stay behind them and after going down Drexel towards Captial then right onto Main Street then back North on Nelson we hit Mile 6 in 32:25 (5:25 mile) little better in that mile.

Levi & I at Mile 6

 

Mile 6 had the all so favorite Columbus Running Company Water Stop. Eric Fruth provided the Play by Play there this year as we passed and fellow CRC group runners and team members working the water stop gave anybody wearing a CRC jersey a louder boost. I did get a Gatorade, one of only 2 times I did. Yet the Gatorade always made my hands sticky and I had to go through the water line just to dose them to get it off. I hit the 10k in 33:31. Slower than last year. I wanted to go 33:19 like I did in Minster. But I knew I wasn’t in the best of shape this year due to nagging injuries.

Turning back on Broad Street towards downtown following Brian & Levi and I saw someone I know, who will not be named exit the porta-john there at the 6.55 mark. Somehow I dunno that gave me a little boost that maybe I wasn’t the only one not feeling too great and like this Animal House Clip it just lit a fire underneath me to just pick it up and see what happens

 

 

 

So with that I decided to pick it up after getting up the hill on Broad to Mile 7 in 37:50(5:25 mile). I ended up passing both Levi and then Brian along Broad Street as the other runners on the other side of Broad cheered us on including some of my friends running either the Half or Full which gave me a little boost. I worked on my stride to just see how much I could go faster in these middle miles. The course then turned on 18^th Ave south down towards Bryden Road where I hit Mile 8 at 43:10 (5:20 mile) still feeling good. Then after a tiny bit on Bryden the course turned South again on Parsons Ave going towards Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Behind Brian after Mile 7

 

Parsons Ave to Livingston Ave was the new part of the Half Marathon Course. They wanted to take us there because of the main sponsor (Nationwide Children’s  Hospital). They have dedicated each mile to a patient which was great and it was a nice feeling going through there as we turned right going west on Livingston. Brian was able to pass me again before we got on Livingston after the hill on Parsons but I tried to follow as my Mile 9 in 48:37 (5:27 split) due to the hill on Parsons. I tried to stride it out on Livingston and Levi soon caught up again and I went with him as we turned south on 3^rd Street.

South at 9.5 going thru German Village

 

       We went on South 3^rd Street through German Village. Even though it got flatter I was still trying to keep it in the upper 5:20’s. I think I hit mile 10 in 54:07 (5:30 mile split) as the course did it’s usually turn on Reinhard Ave. along Schiller Park then on Jaegar Street to Deshler Ave to go back towards High Street as I tried to keep up with Levi. We hit Mile 59:40 (5:33 Mile split) but I didn’t know since the clock looked kind of off. Anyway I headed up on High Street with that little uphill but thankful that my back, right foot, and calves held on around this point. I had dealt with all of them at one point or a couple points throughout the year and wanted at least a good showing at this race.

Before Mile 12 up High Street

 

Mile 12 was in 1:05:15 I think but I wasn’t sure since I just wanted to pick it up around this last mile since Levi & Brian got ahead of me by 15 seconds so we headed up towards Long Street passed Broad and it got a little louder as we headed left back on Long Street. The final stretch seemed like it was forever as we went downhill on Long and went underneath the Railroad Bridge which blocked the view of the finish as you went downhill. At this point I didn’t care. I ran my last mile in 5:20 according to my watch but the course was a little longer as expected. I just wanted to have a good finish as the crowd cheered on as I ran uphill towards the finish.

Home Stretch

 

      1:11:34, over a minute from my PR of 1:10:23 and slower than last year. But, after dealing with back issues the beginning of this year, having a not so great experience at the Indianapolis 500 Mini Marathon and dealing with plantar fasciitis this year I’ll take it. I still ran some good times to remain part of the Elite at my age.

Back to the race, after almost coughing when I got through the finish, myself and the rest of the elites were escorted to the White Elite Tent where we were able to retrieve out belongings and bags, got free food and drinks, and were able to get a post-race massage. My folks left early but not before a post-photo. My buddies and I saw a couple of our friends finishing the Half or the Full before we left to prepare for the Post Marathon Party.

Mom, Me, and Dad after I left the Elite Tent Post Race

 

However, I  had to run over to Groveport-Madison High School, a few miles Southeast of Columbus, where the Ohio Middle School State Championships were held. We only had a few kids compete but they were some of our top ones. Our top Girl Claire was 14^th in the Division II race and Sophia ran her best time of the year. On the Boys Side, Grant was 3^rd in the Division II race, which is great considering he played soccer on Saturday and had Hockey Practice that morning. My 2 7^th grade boys who were our # 2 & 3 boys all year round ran their best times and both broke 12 minutes for 2 miles. I can’t wait to see what both of them can do next year. Hopefully they’ll let me be an assistant again next year. After that it was time to party up to North High Brewing with the rest of my CRC Brethren & listen to the BEST DAMN 90’S COVER BAND IN THE LAND, THE WET BANDITS!!!   http://www.wetbanditsband.com/

 

 

 

 

For me this day was not only about my accomplishments of my race but to others who race, ran, volunteer, or even watched the Columbus Marathon. One of our teammates Brandon, almost got 3^rd he was in a battle but just got edged out yet still ran a 1:05:40. Ballsy race I must say.

 

 

 I definitely want to thank Levi Fox and my buddy Brian Cull for pushing me along during the last half of the race. I made a move around mile 7 and they went along. I’m glad I was able to surge because I didn’t know how my race wouldn’t turned out if I didn’t . The course was great but we just have to get used to the start & finish at the same spot but it’s still mostly flat as it was with the old one but with a few changes it can’t all be perfect. Yet, the Race Directors still do a great job as always the support of the volunteers and the fans was unbelievable. I’ll say this is usually one Sunday that I don’t mind missing Church Service for this event. It’s great how they involve Nationwide Children’s Hospital in this race. It makes your heart smile with pics like this.

 

The last few months have been much better than what I could have asked for. I got a job promotion at work finally, I was able to coach middle school cross country with a great group of kids, and I finally as I’m typing this bought a place where I can get some value and stop renting. Yet, I know that will be a challenge I’m willing to make a few sacrifices but still work hard to keep doing what I love. I dunno if I’ll do Club Nats with the team being busy trying to move hopefully at the beginning of December but I’ll do some 5k’s (Westerville Gameday and a Thanksgiving one) to maybe finish out the year. Thinking of what I’m going to do next year but one thing for certain The Columbus Marathon(Half or Full) will be on my list. We'll see I still want a shot at that Half now that my motivation is back and I know what I can do with getting over injury and not training like I wanted to due to being busy this summer/fall. I'll get a plan going but wanna keep doing it.

That’s my two cents!!!