Taper Not Required: DC Road Runners Club George Washington Birthday Marathon

Usually before a marathon, I plan my pace, my taper, and my carb load. This race was different as I didn't expend much energy in preparation. I didn't have a proper taper - seven days out, I completed my third consecutive 100 mile week. The week leading up to the race, I took off Sunday and Monday, ran my usual pre race tempo (5 repeats of 4 minutes at 6:20 pace with a 1 minute standing rest), and planned to run a few more miles Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. But, with reports of snow between 1-3 inches on Saturday and cold temperatures Sunday, I thought the race would be canceled since it has been in the past. I was in Pittsburgh for work, so I ran 10 miles on Wednesday and 15 on Thursday thinking why taper if there won't be a race. Then the forecast changed and I received an email from the race director saying the race was on. Well, shoot! I didn't run at all on Friday or Saturday. I went into the race with low expectation. I chatted with my coach on Friday and we thought a 6:50-7:00 pace was the goal. I was going to treat the race as a long marathon pace tempo.

The start line

Friday night, my wife and I watched Bohemian Rhapsody and I bought the album, meaning I had Queen stuck in my head the whole race (We Will Rock You, Radio Ga-Ga, and Killer Queen cycled through my head during the race). Before the race, I tried to assess if there were any 40+ runners that would challenge me for first master. I thought there was a good chance I could claim that prize. We have access to the Greenbelt Youth Center for check in and to wait. The race starts a short walk away in the neighborhood and runs out to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, three loops, and then back to finish not far from the start. They introduced the two elite athletes and off we went.

Early in the race

Turning a corner

The first mile of a marathon can be tricky. I don't want to get sucked out and run too fast: too many runners usually do that and this race was no exception. If I go out too slowly, I fear that I won't be able to get to my pace. I have to remind myself that I cannot "win" the marathon in the first few miles. I was pleased that my pace was fine. The second mile was only fast because it was mostly down hill. In the third mile, a fellow club member started to run with me. He's a 2:40 marathoner and was going out slow as he had a 100 mile week recently as well. We ran together for most of the first loop. I told him I was going to try to keep it to a 7:00 and didn't want to hold him back. We chatted casually about running, race strategy, and other topics. As we went by the on ramp to the BW Parkway, he picked up the pace and I wished him a good race.

The short out and back section before the loop

Headed to the loop

I have run this course before as I competed in the relay portion. I know where the rolling hills are. That familiarity was helpful to me in pacing and strategy. Despite not having tapered, my legs felt okay and I had settled into a slightly sub 7:00 pace. I hit the end of the first loop in about 1:07, which was on target for a sub 3:05.

First lap complete

Finishing first lap

The first few miles of the second loop have climbs, so I took it easy. I hit the half in 1:31:02 - happy with my effort and figured an even split would give me a 3:02-3. After the half, there was a chance to pick up the pace with some down hills, so I did since I felt good. At the 16 mile mark, I passed a guy I thought was a master runner. He was in his late 30s and starting to fade - he went out too fast.

Feeling good!

Thumbs up!

At this point of the race, I was lapping some runners. They served as rabbits in my mind, something to go and catch and pass. It kept me motivated and my pace steady. In my head, I had Freddy Mercury's Live Aid performance from 1985. I was able to pick up the pace slightly, dropping my average mile down to 6:55. At about the 20 mile mark which is on the third loop, I caught my friend from earlier. I encouraged him to come with me, but he was done and jogged it the rest of the way.

Having a good time!

I don't remember much about the last loop other than feeling pretty good. I started to do math to figure out my time. I thought I was in 2:59 to 3:02 range. Breaking 3 was going to be tough because of the long hill in the 26th mile. But 3:00 and 3:01 were in the cards. One by one, I was able to pick off runners ahead of me. Leaving the last lap, I saw a guy I hadn't seen and asked volunteers if he was relay. They didn't know. I caught him - he was a solo marathoner. As the climb up the final hill began, I tried to make sure I put space between us so that he wouldn't catch me. I also wanted to leave something for the final kick. Then, I heard two runners approaching, so I tried to pick up the pace. At the top of the hill, I began my kick with the goal of not getting passed. With less than .2 left, I caught one more runner and crossed the finish line, good enough to earn a top ten finish.

My finishing kick!

With a 3:01:15, it was my 5th fastest marathon (2:59:31 Houston 2016, 2:59:32 Rock N Roll DC 2018, 3:00:58 Bismarck, ND 2015, 3:01:06 NYC 2018), second consecutive 3:01, and my 45th total marathon in 27 different states. 15 of my 45 total marathons are sub 3:10 and Boston Qualifiers according to my age and qualifying standards when I raced them. While I had already run Baltimore, Maryland, in 2007 (3:49), this one gives me Maryland in under 3:30 and puts me on track for 50 states sub 3:30 (I have to redo California). It was also my first marathon in February. Once I race in August, I will have run a marathon in every month.

Finishing in 3:01:15

I was really pleased with my race. My only disappointment was two men over 40 that finished ahead of me. I wasn't going to run a 2:46, but the runner who placed ahead of me put down a 2:59:06. My effort was good for 10th out of 181, 3rd over 40, and technically 2nd age 40-49. And I did this on a course that was rolling hills with a few tough climbs.

My miles: 6:55 / 6:49 / 6:59 / 6:59 / 6:58 / 6:59 / 6:51 / 6:56 / 6:49 / 6:53 / 6:53 / 6:58 / 6:58 / 6:40 / 6:37 / 6:52 / 6:48 / 6:47 / 6:57 / 6:48 / 7:02 / 6:51 / 6:55 / 6:55 / 6:59 / 7:25 / 5:37 (final .3)

Splits:
Mile mark = Overall time (Overall pace)
2.2 = 15:11 (6:54)
5.8 = 40:35 (7:00)
9.7 = 1:07:27 (6:58) finished first loop
Half = 1:31:02 (6:57)
17 = 1:57:16 (6:54) finished second loop
20.4 = 2:20:51 (6:55)
24.3 = 2:47:49 (6:55) finished third loop
Finish = 3:01:15 (6:55)
Second half = 1:30:13
47 second negative split

Results: https://results.chronotrack.com/event/results/event/event-47603

A sampling of the comments I received:

"Nice job, Kenny. Glad one of us continued to move forward after the half way point."
"You were strong! No taper and top 10 with negative splits! Congrats!!"
"This course was harder than NYC and you nailed it!"

"Excellent time on a real bear of a course!"
"Nice job Storm!"
"Great job Kenny - proud of this effort!"
"You looked like having fun the whole time! Too bad it takes 100+ mile weeks to look that relaxed and fast at the same time!"

Thanks to DC Road Runners for hosting a fun and well-organized race and to my supporters and fellow runners! Next up: Boston!!

P.S. For Boston, my brother is fundraising for Dreamfar High School Marathon, the charity that provided his bib. If you are able to support Team Ames, it would be greatly appreciated!