Small parking lot right at the start, but I get a spot. Restrooms open! Wet yesterday and supposed to get very rainy tomorrow, but today is dry. Cool, not unlike last Saturday. It was just six days ago that I had a very good run (4:15) at In Unity We Run. With that decent race out of my system, I can run 4:45 here and be happy. I feel good now , but know that the soreness and aches from last week's effort will slow me down at some point today and that is fine.
Start - About 45 runners in the half and full (one in the 50K) but lots of people took early starts. Official marathon start is 8AM with the half at 9AM, but I think most are already out on the course. Small group lines up for instruction and off we go. Over the bridge and I am in first place. Thankfully it does not last long as a fast guy takes off.
Mile 1 - Wow that was an 8:58 mile. No wonder I am close to the front. So much for easing into it. Run with early Maniac James for a while. But he is faster than me and will cruise ahead.
Mile 2.2 - Last week my strategy of walking just long enough to take a Cliff Shot Block and drink some water about every two miles seemed to work so well. I decide to do the same today. The walk breaks will have me off and on with John Anderson for the first thee quarters of the race. Other participants took photos and shared them with me.
Familiar course along the Sammamish River paved trail. This is my fourth time racing out of Bothell Landing Park, in the past five years. So I know the course but am not tired of it.
Mile 4 - Pigtails sighting!
Mile 6.55 - Turn around for this double out and back. And here is the bench that we had installed in memory of Adrian Call. Finishers medal will have the bench and the traditional rainbow turn around markers. Today it is white chalk only.
Mile 13.1 - Reach the half in 2:04. That is a minute faster than last week. Comfortable running, it is weird but great that I have stepped up the pace in marathons the past two outings. Very sure that I will slow at some point. But another flat course that is easy to run an even pace on.
Mile 17 - Now it gets harder. Nice to be running with John. We make ourselves keep going. At that point in the course where there is a long straight section with a bridge in the far distance. We resolve to run all the way to the underpass. Then a well deserved but short walk break.
Mile 19.7 - Happy to reach the bench for the second time and start heading to the finish. Pace has been creeping up, but still about where I was last week.
Mile 21 - Now it gets hard. I left John behind and wonder if he will catch up. Tired. A few trouble spots slow me. Left heel is acting up and I take a few walk breaks to get it under control. Looks like I can run 13 minute miles and still beat 4:30 so I have confidence but it is not easy.
Mile 24 - Start looking back now and then to see if anyone is gaining on me. No one in sight and not much motivation to do much other than beat 4:30. Aches and pains, mostly in my feet, but nothing severe, I just keep plodding along.
Mile 26.2 - Bring it on home and am happy with how it went. Stay for a little while and with Monte, help celebrate Sabrina's finish.
Tomato soup from Mike is so good. Nice event that I would do again. Now a recovery week for sure and probably no race until December.
4:24:53
7th of 18
Race#430, Marathon or Ultra#161, Race out of Bothell Landing#4
*****
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