My “goal event” this year is the Pine Creek Challenge, a 100k that I will run in “beautiful Wellsboro, PA!” 🙂 I had been looking for a 50-miler, but couldn’t find one that seemed doable from either a schedule or travel standpoint. After looking at dozens of sites and race reports, I finally happened across the Pine Creek Challenge, which is billed as “beginner friendly.” I am looking forward to a beginner friendly first 100k attempt!!! (I look forward to pretty much anything described as beginner friendly at this point in my running career.) Pennsylvania really is beautiful and there seems to be a lot of enthusiasm from runners who have run the course, so I think it will be good. Read More
Tag: Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Marathon
Philadelphia
20 November 2011
4:50:17
I ran this race 2 1/2 minutes slower than my first marathon, while shooting for 7:00 minutes faster.
Despite regular hill training, hills tend to be my downfall in any long-distance race. That held true today. The first half has two pretty good hills, but short. The entire second half was a series of rolling hills, with at least one fairly steep, long hill. By mile 18, my hamstrings were becoming a problem and I was having trouble getting full leg extension because they were both so tight. I had to stop a couple of times to stretch and the final three hills I just gave up and walked up, then ran down the other side. I’ve got to figure out something when it comes to hills. They generally don’t bother me, so I’m assuming this is an imbalance that shows itself when fatigue sets in. I’m only slightly disappointed, because I know there’s a learning experience in every race and I just like to run, even when it sucks. Read More