Marshall University Marathon Race Report

While the NYC Marathon was canceled due to the hurricane, I did run in the Marshall University Marathon in Huntington, WV.  With a fan club of Laura and Sammy, we had a good drive there and back.  I bought an iPhone car adapter so we could keep our phones charged and listen to our iTunes rather than have to listen to 420 miles of country music.  Also, I was asked by a friend to use a new photo and video site, mobli, to blog our trip.  I've posted videos and pictures before, during, and after the race at: 

http://www.mobli.com/kennyames

The race went well.  I finished in 3:18 - the cool part about it was the final few meters as the finish line is inside Marshall University Stadium on the goal line - they give you a football to carry to the end.  I was exhausted so I'm not sure I spiked the ball as much as it spiked me.  The course was two loops around downtown Huntington with some running along a path and by a river.  The volunteers were friendly, and it was cool to add my 13th state (CA, ID, UT, MN, OH, GA, VA, MD, PA, NY, RI, MA, and now WV) to my 50 state quest and finish my 21st marathon (my marathons are now old enough to drink!).

A Subway in West Virginia labelled our lunches for us.

Ready to race!

Laura and Sammy spot me crossing the 13.1 mile marker.

The final sprint to the finish.  I've got the ball in my right hand.

Laura and Sammy pose at a scenic rest stop on the drive home.

I finished the race in 3:18:28.  It was not my best and not my worst.  The hotel room I stayed in was a smoking room - in the morning I reeked of smoke and my lungs likely were not operating at full capacity.  I knew early on holding my 6:45 pace wasn't going to work, so I backed off until I found a decent pace.  The half was run in 1:32.  As the race wore on, I backed off some more and since I knew I didn't need a BQ and wasn't getting a PR, I just enjoyed the run.  Plus, I have some other races on the calendar (5K on Thanksgiving, 10K first Sunday in December, and a half marathon the following week), so I didn't think killing myself was worth it.  But, I'm pleased I am in good enough shape to consider 3:18 a "slow" marathon.  The day after the race I feel a little sore, but I could run if my life depended upon it - that wasn't the case after my 3:04 last month.

I'm glad we ran this neat marathon.  I can check off West Virginia and look toward 2013 and more states, races, and marathons.