Hi Everyone! Hope you are all doing well! Any recent races or ones coming up? Which ones? How's training going? Who's ready for "fall" weather?! We had a tease a couple weeks ago, but still have summer temps going on! :( After a couple races and a little recovery time, back to following a training plan. Picking up at Week 12 of 20 until Philadelphia Marathon! My Week in Training: Monday: 6 miles before work. Sunday, did 2 hrs of yard work, and relaxed remainder of the day. Tried to get a good night's rest, but could of used more. Coffee and workout (core and arms, shoulders). Head out the door by 6. Knew those temps last week were a tease. Back to summer for a bit. humid to start, going up to 90 later. Sticky right away. Tired and feeling it early. Cussing and questioning things before mid way. lol.. inclines along the way, 8:30's before the worst hills, 8:40's after, and losing pace. Tired, heavy legs, and humid. Good times!
Tuesday: 5 miles before work. (Tues is usually streak day for me, flip flopping a couple days this week). Ice bath yesterday. Decent night's rest, but slept until my alarm. Coffee, workout (core and chest), stretch, and out the door by 6:10. I was originally going to flip a couple other days, but saw I was on sched to head out in time, may be close, but doable. A bit more comfortable early, but did lose pace through the hills. 8:30's after the hills and maintaining, tried pushing several times, but didn't gain much. Felt better than yesterday, but legs got a bit heavy towards the end. Will be doing another ice bath later.
Wednesday: 1 mile before work. 1 mile day, I try to sleep 15 extra minutes, but that rarely happens. Decent night's rest. Coffee, workout (core and arms/shoulders), Legs feeling a bit better, but having some lower back pain. Don't think I lifted anything funny, but you never know. Worked on cadences beforehand. 7:30's to start, but pulled back a bit due to the back pain. Will be sure to foam roll and a bath of some sort.
Thursday: 5 miles before work. Wednesday, did an Epsom salt bath (lower back much better) and got a decent night's rest. Although, I slept to my alarm again. Coffee, workout (core and chest), and out the door by 6. First couple minutes a bit slow and picked it up. first mile sub 8, comfortable, but maybe pushing a bit. Tried to get a bit more comfortable before the worst hills. 8:10-8:20 through the hills. Tried picking it up a bit more, but pretty much just maintained. Felt pretty decent today vs earlier in the week.
Friday: 5 miles before work. Thursday, was up way past my bedtime, midnight! Watching sports (Philadelphia Eagles!), had some beverages. Was very tired this morning, not ready for my alarm to go off. Plan was to do 1 mile streak day today.
I even rotated my schedule to do this. But for some reason, I did another 5 miler today. May have felt the need to sweat out the toxins. Tired throughout, "comfortable pace", occasionally tried pushing it, but not really. Was pretty much a through the motions day today. Will
be sure to hydrate throughout the day and maybe do a bath tonight.
Saturday: 10 miles. Friday, did an Epsom salt bath, carb loaded, relaxed. Decent night's rest. Up just before my alarm, but waited it out. Coffee, foam roll/stretch my back out, and out my trail by 6:30. 6:30, and there was 15 cars at my trail already, barely light out! My trail Pennypack Creek. Park in the middle, Welsh and Terwood Rd. Sunrise pic is from the crosswalk by my starting point. Today, I started with the more wooded side to Byberry rd and back. Started out trying to push it, but was a bit tougher than preferred, decided to stick to comfortable 9 min pace. 8:55 ish for a while. Humid, drenched early, but cooler temps for the morning (going up later!). Around mi 2.5 bumped into most of the group that started ahead of me. Ladies club, that starts at 6. Surprised they haven't adjusted for the dark morning, but they had headlamps. On the way back to the mid point, paused for a moment, morning "routine" not done yet. Ugh. Resumed. Fueled at 5 mi, hydrated as I passed my car at 5.25. Off to the more open gradual incline side to Rockledge Park. Maintained pace. At 7 mi (by Lorimer Park), bumped into a couple regulars, turned around and did 1.5 with them, relaxed pace (avg fell to 9:12). Great catching up with them, but turned around at the parking lot again to do .8 ish and back. Picked it up for a neg split to avg closer to 9. Felt good today!
Saturday was also new shoe day! Saucony Ride ISO. When I purchased the 2's, decided to see if I could find the 1's as well. The 1's were only $45 from Jackrabbit. I don't mind buying an older model if they are comfy. Seemed to do the job so far.
Sunday: 1 mile. Rest day, one for the streak. Run Streak Day 1345. Saturday, did an ince bath. Hydrated. Offset by a couple beverages, but not too many. Up slightly past my normal bed time (11pm). Sunday is usually the one day I let myself sleep in, woke up a couple times, but slept until 8am! Slow moving this morning. Some light tightness in my calves, slight lower back pain. Coffee, stretch, foam roll my back, and out the door by 9:15. May have had some slight soreness, but did feel somewhat fresh. Decided to try speed work for the one. First alert, thought my alerts were off, nope a few feet faster than normal, first couple pace alerts started with a 6! Alright, it's on! Not reasonable to go for 7 flat today, but 7:15-7:30 felt attainable. my 1 mile is short steep hill, flat, down hill, uphill, even/incline. 7:20 and fading on the up. But maintained somewhat. Will be taking it easy remainder of the day. Hope to be ready for 7 miler tomorrow. Would be nice if fall weather actually showed up to stay!
Weekly Summary: Miles: scheduled 26 miles / completed 33 miles Strength Training: scheduled 80 minutes/completed 104 minutes What type of strength training do I do? Core: crunches, planks, leg raises. Weights: biceps, triceps, chest. Hydration goal (gallon) met: 7 days
This was week 12 marathon training, using the below plan.
Good luck to everyone with training! Kick some butt!
If you do any races, please remember to review them on BibRave.com! Your opinions help other runners decide what races to run! #BibChat Follow me on BibRave Joe G
Hi Everyone! Hope you are all doing well! Any recent races or ones coming up? Which ones? How's training going? I'm two weeks removed from Via Marathon, one week removed from Rock N Roll Philly Half, decided to try take a recovery week before resuming marathon training for Philly. Didn't follow a training plan this week. We'll see how this week went.. My Week in Training: Monday: 1 mile before work. Sunday... ran 13.1 miles. Hydrated plenty, but offset with a few drinks. Stayed up way past my bed time (midnight!) to watch football. Definitley tired this morning. Light workout done and one for the streak.
Tuesday: 3.11 miles before work. Monday, in a tired fog most of the day at work, made a point to get a good night's rest. In bed early, and actually slept until my alarm. Groggy early. Coffee, light workout and stretch and out the door by 6:05. Comfortable pace most of the way. Faded a bit through the worst set of hills and pushed slightly to bring it back down a bit after.
Wednesday: 4 miles before work. Coffee, light workut and out the door by 6. Started at a comfortable pace, 8:30 ish and was not dropping. Usually lose 5-8 seconds at the worst hill. 8:40ish and quads were feeling it today. No pace recovery after. Maintain in the 8:40's-50. Legs were heavy today. Will be doing an ice bath later for sure.
Thursday: 1 mile before work. Wed, had a work outing after work. A couple beverages, but home and in bed on time. Up a few minutes before my alarm, but could of used a few more. Coffee, light workout, stretch, and out the door by 6:15. Legs still heavy, but wanting to see if I can push it yet. Slight hip pain before starting. Worked on cadences at take off. Started in the 7:30's-7:40's, back to the 30's and then faded in the hill and incline back. Not much speed yet, but coming along.
Friday: 3.11 miles before work. Decent night's rest. Up a few minutes before my alarm but waited it out. House windows open, nice cool breeze. Opened the basement door to wake me up during my workout. Coffee, light workout, stretch my back and hips, and out the door by 6. Air felt great. Before I started, I was tempted to change my route to do more miles, but resisted. Comfortable to start, a bit slow, but gradually dropped. 8:30 after the worst set of hills, got it down a few and maintained through the next set of hills. Still a bit tight, but was great.
Saturday: 16 miles. Ok. My plan was to take it easy this week, do some sort of routine, but cut back in mileage and resume my training plan on Monday. At some point this week I noticed next week's long run was a cutback week and today would of been 16 miler. Internal debate yesterday into last night, but was feeling up to resuming the plan today. Decent night's rest. Carb loaded, and relaxed. Up a couple times, but still decent rest. Coffee and light stretch, at my trail before 6:30. Just starting to see daylight at 6:30! My trail Pennypack Creek.. Park in the middle, Welsh and Terwood Rd. Did the more gradual incline side to Rockledge Park and back. 9:05 to 9 avg at 5 mi. Just before the mid way parking lot, bumped into a group of regulars. Turned around and did this side again! Relaxed pace a bit. One of the gentlemen (73 yrs old) hanging with us. We slowed down, he picked up. Haven't been to my trail since before my two races, was great catching up with them. 9:28 pace when we got back to the mid way parking lot. 10.5 ish. Hydrated and fueled. (I skipped my 5 mi fuel/hydrate, 'doh!) Broke off from the group with another Philly marathon runner that does a similar pace. Head off to the more wooded side towards Byberry Rd and back. Picked up the pace slightly, could feel it 14-16, but maintained without struggling. The weather was great, and great company today! Glad I made the decision to do all 16!
Non running post: Saturday afternoon, did a stroll around Morris Arboretum.
Sunday: 1 mile. Rest day, one for the streak. Tried sleeping in, up by 6:30. Back a bit tight and stairs were rough. Coffee, light stretch, and out the door by 7:30. Legs definitely feeling yesterday, no speed work for this one miler, comfortable pace and feeling it. Chores to do today, hopefully I get enough rest after to be ready for Monday's 6 miler.
Weekly Summary: I usually include training plan schedule vs completed, no set plan this week.
Miles: 29 miles Strength Training: 98 minutes What type of strength training do I do? Core: crunches, planks, leg raises. Weights: biceps, triceps, chest. Hydration goal (gallon) met: 7 days Race Schedule:
Good luck to everyone with training! Kick some butt!
If you do any races, please remember to review them on BibRave.com! Your opinions help other runners decide what races to run! #BibChat Follow me on BibRave Joe G
Disclaimer: I received free entry to Humana Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming aBibRave Pro (ambassador), and check outBibRave.com to review find and write race reviews! Hi Everyone! Hope you are all doing well! Here to review the Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon! Q: have you participated in this race or any other Rock N Roll Marathon Series race(s)? Did it rock?! Race:Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon Location: Philadelphia, Pa Race date: September 15th, 2019 Background: This was my first half marathon (2016), and I will always have some sentiment towards this race. I don't do many summer races, this usually kicks off my fall schedule. Although, technically not fall yet, and may not feel like it. (as was the case) Always look forward to this event as summer winds down. Expo: September 13-14. Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center. If you've never been, the building is several blocks long, best to note which end you are going to before parking. Believe me, I have learned the hard way. Parking for the expo: limited metered street parking, may require circling once or twice, but doable. Pay lots nearby as well. I circled once and found street parking. I did the expo on Friday after work. Although it was very tempting to go Saturday. Saturday, there was a Q&A session with Des Linden and Jordan Hasey! There was even an option to do a shakeout run with the elites on Saturday morning! Packet Pickup: very efficient. Bib lookup stations if you don't have your number handy. Bib and shirt pickup, 5 minutes, tops. After bib pickup, you are funneled through the Brooks Running section. Shoes, clothes, you can even do a running analysis on treadmills to review form and be fitted properly Additional Rock N Roll Marathon Series merchandise (wine/beer glasses, magnets, etc) available for purchase before heading to the rest of the expo. As well as fueling needs. Ex: Gatorade Endurance and Science in Sport. Vendors: several check out at the expo, here's just a few: Humana Garmin Aftershokz 5 Hour Tea (made by 5 hr energy, but sugar free) 6AM RUN So Delicsious Altra Running Before exiting, you can check out all the other Rock N Roll Marathon Series location's medals and sign up! Attended the expo with: fellow BibRavePro Chris, long time friend T'Sean (his first half, so proud of him!), and bumped in #RWRunStreak buddy Jill!
Race day: Parking: public transportation is encouraged. But I do know a large pay lot nearby that has never been full for me! Hit me up if you are interested.
No traffic issues this morning, at the race nice and early. Took it easy by the fountain in front of the museum. Also saw Jordan Hasey by the elite tents.
Portable restrooms: more than ample amount pre-race. No lines early and manageable lines just before race time.
Course/Scenery: Race starts in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A little over 3 miles in the city, including around City Hall (yo, Billy P!). Towards the Constitution Center. Around and back to the museum. Great views of the river. Down Kelly Drive along the Schuykill River (boathouse row side), cross the river, then back down the river on Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr back to the museum.
Crowd Support: excellent crowd support throughout the city portion of the race. Does get a bit sparse once you pass boathouse row along the Sckuykill River. Picks up again as you get closer to the museum on the way back. Music: This is the Rock N Roll Marathon series! At least 6 rock bands along the course and a full stage at the after party. The Philadelphia Eagles drum line was along the course as well. Headliner at the post race party, Element K. Hydration Stations: Plenty of water and Gatorade fluid stations along the course. At least one Sports in Science gel station. Weather: The one factor you can't control. The day started humid! As the humidity dropped, the temp and sun rose! I was drenched by mile 2 and definitely felt the sun as it warmed up. There was one or two breezes along the river, but that was very brief.
My race: This may have been my first half marathon in 2016, but no PR's at this race since then. Have definitely learned that I PR better when it's cold out. I can go into this race knowing I most likely won't PR, knowing I will have fun, and still put in some good work. That being said... I did a full marathon the week before. (VIA Marathon). Goal for this week was to rest, get a couple recovery runs in, and hope to have a respectable outing. Without doing anything stupid. And have fun! Ice baths, Epsom baths, Cryotherapy. Come race day, still didn't have "fresh" legs, but felt decent. Drenched early from the humidity. Comfortable pace of 8:30 through about 8 miles. Feeling it 8-10. Heavy legs, + humidity to heat. Mental countdown 10-12. A bit of a struggle to maintain that last 1.1, but hearing the crowds roar as you get closer to the museum and starting to see them cheer you on as you round the corner helped me fight through! Wasn't planning on doing a PR, didn't, but still had a max time in mind. Missed it by 22 seconds. I have no problem with that considering all the variables.
Post Race: Food: water and Gatorade immediately.There was a pallet of ice nearby for the drinks, may have sat on it for a few. banana, soft pretzel, fruit cup, chips, crackers. chocolate milk. Post race party: beer garden with music stage (featuring Element K) and beer (Micholob Ultra)! Swag: Medal: City Skyline above a record. Sponsor Humana, Rock N Roll logo Philadelphia distance and date.
Beer: Micholob Ultra.
Shirt: Sponsor Humana, Rock 'n Roll. Runners with music notes. The date is on one of the runner's bibs. Distance written in graffiti, Philadelphia.
Photos: available for purchase from finisherpix. tons of professional photographers prerace/along the course, and finisher area. I was tagged in about 20 pics. Remember how I said I struggled towards the end? They got that. many worse than the ones below.
Tracking: app and sms alerts available. Multiple mats along the course to provide updates to your friends and family tracking your progress. I noted the tracking as a race I recently did had no tracking.
Post-Post Race: lunch and beverages in nearby City Tap. Although someone complains about me making them walk another .5 there and back after the race. (Pic not included.) $18 burger (with bacon add-on, but that $3 bacon add on is totally worth it! Great time celebrating at the post race party and the unofficial post-post race. ;)
Summary: I really enjoy this race and would recommend it. A great course, crowd support, music, and excitement. The only flaw is the weather can be hit or miss as it's near the end of summer. Sites and Social: Site: https://www.runrocknroll.com/en/events/philadelphia Facebook: RunRockNRoll Twitter: @RunRocknRoll IG: @rocknroll If you do any races, please remember to review them on BibRave.com! Your opinions help other runners decide what races to run! #BibChat Follow me on BibRave Joe G
Hi Everyone! Hope everyone is doing well! Any recent races or training for one, which ones? How's it going? This week was a bit of a mix for me. Marathon recovery, with a half marathon on Sunday! Who's bright idea was that? Was signed up for one way in advance and then tempted to do the other. Idea of doing both? Well, not the best idea, we'll see how that goes! Monday: 2 miles. Day after the VIA Marathon, review here! Ice bath and hydrated like heck yesterday! Woke up sore and tight! (as expected) Tried sleeping in, but not comfortable and up early. Coffee! Stretch! and a slow light workout. Still wanted to work out a little bit after taking off last week. Removed some weight and did less reps. Did not do glute bridges, glutes are still sore! Set out to do 2 miles after. Questioned that plan early, but warmed up. Not comfortable, but manageable. Epsom salt bath after.
Tuesday: 3.11 miles. Tried sleeping in, somewhat successful. Up and slow moving. Coffee, workout, and out the door by 10 (10? slept in and really slow motivation today). Feeling a bit better, decided to try to do 5k. Quads a bit heavy, right hip a bit sore. But got going. Part of mile 1 avg was under 8. Reality set in and slowed down, faded to 8:20's-30's. Did an ice bath after.
Wednesday: 5 miles before work. Four days off from work, time to start seeting the alarm again. :( Went to bed early, excellent nights rest. Light workout. Still completely dark at 6am, time to start wearing reflective gear! Wanted to do 4-5 miles today and then start cutting back. Legs still a bit heavy, wasn't easy, but manageable.
Thursday: 3.11 miles before work. Thunderstorm had me up around 3:30, tossed and turned, gave up trying to sleep a few minutes before my alarm. Could of used more rest, but Up! Coffee, light workout, and out the door a few minutes late? Ahead of schedule, but stomach needed a few more minutes. Out the door by 6:10. Humid! Legs heavy, blah, blah, blah, faded from 8:35-9. Soupy out there! Thought the accueweather app was going to say 100% humid, "only" 93%. Lol.. hydrating all day and going to to an ice bath tonight!
Friday: 1 mile. I try to write a brief note at some point later in the day. This was yesterday, and I don't remember. lol.. Two days before the race, no workout, and cutting it to 1 mile to have some sort of two day taper.
Saturday: 1 mile. Rest day, one for the streak. They say a good night's rest two days before a race is almost more important than the night going into it. Tried "sleeping in" Up at 5:30, but able to fall back to sleep. Up before 7, tried again, but that was it. Coffee and taking my time getting ready. Light stretch and out the door by 8:30. Not much hip pain this morning, felt a decent start. Didn't want to push it, but wanted to see how fresh my legs were. Exerted a bit, but didn't over do it. Could feel my hip tighten up a bit afterwards. May be doing cryotherapy today instead of an ice or Epsom bath.
Sunday: 13.1 miles! Rock N Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon! Sorry, no race day details. Race recap will be in a separate post. ;) Will be hydrating plenty and an ice bath!
Weekly Summary: I usually include plan schedule vs completed, no set plan this week. Recover and wing it.
Miles: 28 miles Strength Training: 68 minutes Hydration goal (gallon) met: 7 days
Race Schedule:
09.15.19 - Rock n Roll Philly Half Marathon. Use codes "19RNRBRP16" to save $16 off the half/full marathon and "19RNRBRP6" to save $6 off the 5k/10k! Race Preview, here!
Good luck to everyone with training! Kick some butt!
If you do any races, please remember to review them on BibRave.com! Your opinions help other runners decide what races to run! #BibChat Follow me on BibRave Joe G
Race: St Luke's VIA Marathon Location: Allentown>Bethlehem>Easton, Pa Race date: September 8th, 2019 Hi Everyone! Hope you are all doing well! Here to review the VIA Marathon! :) Background: Going into 2019, this race was not on my calendar or even on my radar. I was working on a spring marathon (Flying Pig) and already registered for a fall one (Philly). It may have been in April, a college buddy mentioned to me they were thinking about doing this race. It's a flat and fast course,etc. My logic was.. If I didn't have this race, I would probably "just" be doing half training over the summer until it was time to restart the full plan for the fall. Figured training for a full all yr may help get me more in full fitness, someday that wall may be pushed back a bit for me. Someday. Expo: Saturday, September 7th. Held at the Steel Stacks in Bethlehem, Pa. Steel Stacks hosts a few other race expo's and races a year. I've been to the Steel Stacks for another race (Runner's World Festival). If you've never been to Steel Stacks, it's pretty cool! The Steel Stacks has auditoriums, expo rooms, banquet halls, and bars. The scenery outside the expo building is a few cool large buildings that remain from Bethlehem Steel factory with a stage for musicians to perform, etc. Factoids: Bethlehem Steel provided some of the steel used for the Golden Gate Bridge and Chrysler Building. Movie fact: some of the Bethlehem Steel buildings are in a fight scene in Transformers 2.
Packet Pickup: bib pickup inside Steel Stacks, shirt pickup outside in the courtyard. Both were a breeze! Less than 5 minutes, tops! Vendors: small race. Not a ton of vendors. Maybe 15 vendors. Local race stands, running stores with clothes and shoes, etc, Design your own race shirts stand, salsa samples with recipe stand that also had Nature Valley Crunchy PB granola bars and Kind Oats & Honey bars. Swag bag: Discover Lehigh Valley book, brochures, Vivarin Caffiene Gum, Honey Stinger Organic Waffle, drink koozies, race and running store stickers.
Race day: Parking: The race is point to point. Option to park at the starting line and get shuttled back after the race, or park at the finish area (Early!) and shuttle to the starting point. I opted to park by the starting area. (had a ride back, didn't require the shuttle after the race). Road closures at 6:40. I was there by 6:20, plenty of parking spots. Pre race: the portable restrooms are maybe .2 miles (if that) from the starting area. Additional speakers by the rest area would of been nice. Did not hear the Pre Race announcements or National Anthem. Map/elevation: The elevation attracts many fast runners, as this race is listed as a top qualifier for Boston! The overall elevation is actually a descent! Although I do see a hill and few inclines along the way. (images pulled from viamarathon)
Scenery: Beautiful scenery majority of the race! Race starts out by going around some of the parks around Allentown. A few neighborhood or warehouse district streets, but minimal. After 7 miles, majority of the race is packed gravel trails (few cement or dirt, but mostly gravel) along creeks or rivers. Pass by a few small waterfall cascades, cool bridges, etc. Crowd Support: this is a smaller race. (from 2018: 750 marathoners, 600 half, 125 5k, and relay's) (couldn't find a good way to count relay, multiple categories) There is some crowd support by the relay exchanges, but overall crowd support is very sparse. Especially once you hit the trails. Hydration Stations: seems to be more than ample amount of Water/Electrolyte stands along the street portion of the course, seemed to be longer gaps on the trail portion. May consider a hydration vest if I were to do this race again. Portable restrooms: normal wait time pre-race. Didn't see any early into the race, and noticed someone asking at mile 5. (first one was around 5.5) Seemed to be an adequate amount after that. Weather: The one factor you can't control.. Humid early. Humidity dropped along the way. Temps rose to real feel of 79 by my end time. Majority of the trail portion is well shaded. Towards the end there are some open areas with sun. Temps were great in the morning, but drenched due to the humidity. Many considered the temp to be pleasant, but I could feel it towards the end.
My race: First half was comfortable. Took in all the beautiful scenery without thinking about pace. Had to force myself to slow down. 16-18 Could start to feel it, but manageable 18-20 Getting a bit rough for me. TMI time: Actually got sick for a minute! May have rushed water down, either the water with air or recent salt tab didn't agree. 20+ was a struggle. Was a long 10k for me. Once I started taking walk breaks out of water stations, started to tighten up. Too many walk breaks after that. Would try walk a minute/ run a mile, but would only go a few minutes. Very little crowd support. There wasn't pace groups per se, but as I fell back from the 4 hr groups it got to be very lonely. Just me and the voice in my head, gut check time to ignore the negative thoughts and not give up. Flat and fast? Noticed a few of the early inclines and declines, but overall didn't feel downhill. Mostly flat. Did notice the few tiny inclines towards the end. lol..
Post Race: Announcer announced names as they crossed the finish line! Not sure if he got everyone earlier then there were less gaps between runners, but was cool to hear being announced. Food: Banana, Bagel, Chocolate Chip cookies, Mike and Ike Berry Blast candy, Snyder's Snap Pretzels, Goldenberg's Peanut Chews, True Moo chocolate milk (not pictured), Wegmans Applesauce packet (not pictured), Wegman's Fruit and Nut bar cashew cookie, Wegman's Mountain Trail Mix.
Swag: Shirt: cotton blend. Very comfy! I do like repping tech shirts when I'm at my trail to show off to my other trail buddies. But I do like a good cotton tee when I'm out and about as well! Front of the shirt has the St Luke's and VIA sponsor logo's and Marathon Back of the shirt:"Go the Distance to Support People of All Abilities". Distances listed.
Medal: Sponsors St Luke's and VIA logo Marathon, year and distance. Beer: Yuengling Golden Pils. My finish time was just under 4:30. I hung out at the post race for about an hr, passed the beer truck again as we were leaving and they were closed. I feel bad that some runner's won't get their hard earned beer.
Social Media: bumped into at least three followers along the way or after! Very cool being able to support one another during training and to actually meet (albeit brief) in real life!
Tracking: the race does not have an app or provide real time tracking sms alerts to supporters. If you have support at the race, they have not way to estimate when you'll be crossing the next timing mat, be by an area, or finish.
Summary: would I do this race again? Probably. End of summer race, there may be a chance of summer weather, which can be tough. May rethink hydration strategy. Beautiful scenery. Was more trail than I anticipated, but won't complain about that since I do most of my long runs on trails. The one set back is the lack of crowd support and if you fall behind the crowd there are gaps towards the end it can get lonely.
