The Next Level - Sugarloaf Marathon 2010 Results

I did it.  I finally did it.  Here's how it all went down.

Wake-up Call:  5:30 AM
This was a self-wake up call as the cellphone greeted me with its obnoxious song (this is part of why it's always on vibrate).  I didn't have to be down tot he lobby for a half hour so I took my time, drank part of a bottle of water, ate a few triscuits (I had zero appetite but I at least ate -something-), and slowly changed to my running clothes and attached my bib.  I pocked everything up and brought it out to my car, then checked out of the hotel right at 6.  I met with RK and his wife shortly after and we drove to the start line, stopping briefly at my car to pick up my watch which I had almost forgotten (like I did in 2008).

6:30 AM:  T-30 Minutes
It was a chilly spring morning in the deep western Maine woods but the gigantic pine trees kept all the wind at bay.  I jogged lightly to warm me up, stopping whenever I passed by a peek of sunshine between the trees.  There's a bit of irony to this because I knew that in a couple of hours, that sun would not be so welcoming.

The crowd this year was definitely much bigger - about 350 runners alone, and the spectators/volunteers/officers drove the numbers up much higher.  I begin to wonder how the logistics will be pulled off once that number pushes past 500..

Start Time - (roughly) 7AM
My watch just passed the 6:58AM mark when the cannon went off.  I didn't expect it that early but I at least had everything ready and was lined up before then.  (Coincidentally this is why I try not to get any last-second warm-ups within 5 minutes of the projected start time.)  My hands were still a bit numb but I knew that wouldn't last long.

First 5 Miles:  The Flat Stretch
Mile splits:  7:15, 7:03, 7:15, 6:51, 7:15 
5-mile split/time so far:  35:39 (7:07.8/mile)
The first mile - as it has been for the last several races - was spent weaving my way through knots of people.  Knowing that this was a marathon, I was less concerned about being further back.  This was an opportunity for me to ease myself into the pace I wanted.  After the first two miles went by I kept myself at what I figured was an even pace in spite of what the time was telling me - it felt like the mile markers were slightly off in a couple of places.  Even with the slightly broken-up road due to construction on mile 4, the flat stretch through Stratton village felt fine.

Miles 6-10:  The Ascent
Mile Splits:  6:48, 6:49, 7:01, 7:49, 6:55
5-mile split:  35:22 (7:04.4/mile)
Time so far:  1:11:01 (7:06.1/mile)
The hills started to roll on 6 and 7 but there was still a lot of ease in this run.  It was 8 and 9 that would really push down on me.  8 had some bigger inclines followed by some small plateaus to recover on, but 9 really felt like I was going up the side of a mountain.  My legs felt like fire and for the first time in a while, I was getting short of breath in a Marathon run.  For about a half mile, it was a 500-600 foot rise which seemed like it would never stop.  (Ironically, I passed 3 people up this hill, one of them being RK.)  When it did, though, and I passed mile 10 at 1 hour, 11 minutes, I took a deep breath.  Things would finally start to level out and what goes up would come down.  

Miles 11-15:  The Drop
Mile Splits:  6:54, 6:41, 6:57, 7:03, 7:09
5-mile split:  34:44 (6:56.8/mile)
Time so far:  1:45:45 (7:03/mile)
Even before the big downhill after the 11-mile marker I had quickly built momentum and adrenaline and aimed to bank some time.  I followed fellow runner Judson Cake's advice (something he suggested to a running group a few years back) and took the dirt shoulder down that descent all the way, passing another 3 or 4 runners as I went.  I went back to the pavement as soon as it leveled out and cruised through mile 12 with my best mile split so far.  I eased up to put myself back into that more comfortable pace and let momentum increase or decrease as needed for the rest of this stretch.  I was a bit surprised to see how much time I had made up by the end of 15 - that stretch was run below 7 minutes per mile.

Miles 16-20:  Steady Momentum
Mile splits:  6:59, 6:38, 7:03, 7:11, 7:25 
5-mile split:  35:16 (7:03.2/mile)
Time so far:  2:21:01 (7:03.1/mile)
After 15, my calves started to tighten up and ache a bit.  Part of me was a little worried that I had gone out too fast and that the marathon pain was catching up to me quicker than I could prepare myself for.  I remained steady and rode the momentum down the hills like before, backing time where I could.  The next two miles surprised me because I was indeed going faster.  After 17, my watch read 1:59:22, which is the first time ever that I had finished 17 miles under 2 hours.  Though it was my fastest mile in the entire race, it would be the last time I got under 7 minutes in a mile.  The calves were complaining a bit more and I knew there were 9+ long miles left.  My momentum was slowing but I was determined to hold on.  The achievement at mile 17 was encouraging, and what I got after 20 was even more so.  At 2:21:01, my 20-mile split was the fastest I had ever run over that stretch by well over five minutes.

Miles 21-26.2:  Going All Out
Mile splits:  7:24, 7:27, 7:36, 7:41, 8:28, 7:36, 1:09 
10K split:  47:20  (7:34.2/mile)
Final time:  3:08:21  (7:11/mile)
That 20-mile split was what I needed to get me to push this last stretch.  I knew that all I needed to do was at least match what I did last year - I fell apart at 22 and lumbered my way to the finish with a 50-minute 10K split.  There were places where I was worried because of the condition of my legs.  I didn't have a lot of room for error.

21 and 22 were still downhill which were greatly to my benefit.  I ran them much like 20 which allowed me to bank some time early in this stretch.  Once the iron bridge passed near the 22-mile marker I saw the hill that I knew threw me for a loop last year.  I fought it hard this year and realized by the time I got to the top that there was an equal downhill that would allow me to get back some of that time.  24 was just like 23 which was more of a relief than anything.  With 2 1/4 miles to go, my watch was at 2:51:09.  Still not a lot of room for error with the legs begging me to stop but I wasn't going to let up. 

I was too close to what I wanted.  I worked too damn hard to let go now.

25 was tough.  It was a gradual incline and with the sun evaporating what moisture I put on myself at the last water stop, it was a rough segment.  It was here that I recorded my first mile over 8 minutes and would be my worst mile of the race.  Now the time was 2:59:30 with 1 1/4 miles to go.  I had less than 11 1/2 minutes to get to the finish.  I wasn't going to lose any ground; I wanted this too much and I knew that somehow, somewhere, I had energy reserves left in my body and I was going to use them.

I was taking my running to the next level.

There were still some small but tough hills in the first part of 26 but I put myself in the soft dirt shoulder and pumped my dying legs harder.  There was a guy I had been drafting since roughly mile 3 or 4 (he had gotten out of view for a couple of stretches) that I was going to use to slingshot myself to the finish with.  On the final turn that revealed the 26 mile mark and the finish line area, I pushed past him and churned out everything I possibly had.  I briefly glanced at my watch crossing 26 - 3:07:12 - and I knew I was home free.  I finished that last stretch at around a 7:30 pace, something I did not expect myself to so at this stage of the race.  When I got the the finish sign, my hand went up in the air in victory.  I qualified by 2 minutes, 34 seconds.


Aftermath
All the familiar pains rushed up to meet me after I stopped but I had such a euphoric high that I didn't care too much.  I had a small calf massage and then spent the next 15-20 minutes laying in the shade next to RK's car with a small smile on my face.  I had finally done it - another big stage in the running world has now opened to me.  2011 and 2012 Boston Marathons, here I come.

Sugarloaf Marathon 2010 Preview, Part 4

For the remainder of the week I'll be posting a 4-part breakdown of the Sugarloaf Marathon course. The fourth and final part covers the last segment of the course that leads into Kingfield village.

At this point, the long road has been good, the slight downhill giving no real surprises.   Even past 20, things still stay more of the same.  The downhill has leveled out now that the road hugs the river, so there wasn't a lot of downhill left to go anyway.

What can start to happen is that the time spent racing can wear down the legs fast.  Whether it has been a 2, 3, or 4 hour run at this point, the body still feels the mileage it has put down.  Weather can be crucial at this point because if it's sunny, temperatures will climb into the 60s and even touch 70.  An under-hydrated body feels this warmth badly as the sweat from the exposed part of the skin has long since dried or evaporated.

On the left, the iron bridge comes into view right before the mile 22 marker.  Those experienced with the course know that as a marker for the rolling hills coming next.  Yes, they're small in comparison to the earlier ones, but at 22 miles, every small incline feels like a mountain to climb.  Mile 23 is usually where the energy is knocked out of the legs and it becomes more of a mental game to keep any sort of consistency for the next 4 miles.

The last water stop during mile 25 is a big relief even if the small hills are still persistent.  After this point, houses start to pop up with regularity.  More village-related signs pop up and speed limits start going down.  The slight left turn in the road flanked by tall pines yields the final straightaway, about 25 1/2 miles into the course.  So close, and yet so far away...this stretch always feels like an eternity because of the viewable finish line area.  Nonetheless the straight route is a blessing as it prepares you to burn everything you have into the final bit of the course.  The lumber shop marks the 26 mile, 385 yard epic that the body carried itself on.

That lawn chair on the left?  Yeah, they're pretty damn comfortable.

Sugarloaf Marathon Preview 2010, Part 3

For the remainder of the week I'll be posting a 4-part breakdown of the Sugarloaf Marathon course. The third part covers everything from the half way point to mile 20, cradled in the forests of Carrabassett Valley.

The flat roads return after the half way point and give a lot of relief from the hills that are endured in the previous set of miles.  It's at this point where the lost time on the hills can be made up.  Most of this stretch descends slightly, allowing most people to gain momentum right up through the 20th mile.  Occasionally the tree line recedes and allows for a beautiful view of the countryside (such as seen at mile 17 when passing by the Carrabassett Regional Airport and Diner) before the trees settle back in.  All the turns along the road as you move from east to south are gradual, so there's little to fear about embankment issues. 

There's not a lot to the remainder of this stretch so it's a perfect opportunity to get some really good mile splits on this secion of road.  (In fact, it was on mile 18 in 2009 that I got my personal best mile for the course - 6:45.)  At this point, a 60-90 minute stretch of flat terrain has been conquered.  That finish line doesn't seem so far away after completing 20 miles, but once you get past that mile marker...

...there's still 10 kilometers to go.  As the saying goes, "you're not out of the woods yet."

Sugarloaf Marathon Preview 2010, Part 2

For the remainder of the week I'll be posting a 4-part breakdown of the Sugarloaf Marathon course. The second part covers everything from mile 7 to the half-marathon mark, from the outskirts of Stratton village until a short distance past the Sugarloaf entrance.

So this is where the challenge factor of the course starts.  From the 8th mile to the 12th the elevation ascends and doesn't let up.  It's not terribly steep but it's long and is a silent assassin of your energy if you're not careful.

When you get to the top - approximately mile 11 - the views of the surrounding mountaintops (including Sugarloaf) are beautiful. On a nice day - or even a more dreary day - you can't beat the scenery on this course, especially at this point.  Enjoy it while you can.  After the 11 mile mark, things go downhill, and fast.

The image above is deceptive (courtesy Google Maps) - after the 11 mile marker, it really does drop fast.  It's one thing a lot of long-distane runners know:  downhills can kill a runner's legs just as badly as an uphill climb.  It's much harder to slow down which makes your quadriceps work and burn as it tries to keep the brakes on.  Often it's how this downhill is handled that determines how you'll feel the rest of the race. 

When the nose-dive into the Carrabassett valley finally levels out, the entrance to Sugarloaf looms ahead.  At this point, small crowds have formed and are cheering you on.  Civilization once again, if but for a brief time.  Once the small village disappears behind view, the trees crowd in again, broken only by the occasinal building and glimpses of the river on the left.

Half way there.

Sugarloaf Marathon 2010 Preview, Part 1

For the remainder of the week I'll be posting a 4-part breakdown of the Sugarloaf Marathon course. The first part covers the first 6+ miles of the course, nestled deep in the woods of upper western Maine, from the Cathedral Pines Campground to the departure from Stratton village.

The Eustis Ridge Road site in perfect view of the start line, accompanied by a sign that lets you know how close you are to Canada. It's quite a remote spot to be at (provided you're not a camper). The peacefulness and serenity of an early sunday morning is broken significantly by the preparation of runners, the announcer, and finally the boom of the starting cannon (yes, seriously).



The first two miles consist of perfectly flat pavement surrounded on both sides by deep forest. Aside from the runners, the air and sound for that first bit is quite peaceful, at least until the traffic opens up once again. Aside from the people gathered at the beginning, don't expect anyone on the side of the road cheering you on. The only spectator at this point is mother nature.


The next two miles approach and enter the small village of Stratton. The course remains flat but the trees give way to water and the scenery completely opens up.  The first water station is seen just after mile 3 along with many of the first spectators.  Quite a few villagers come out in the early morning to cheer the Marathoners as they make their way through the heart of the town.  If you like the spectator part of running, it will at least satiate you until the next crowd at mile 12.

At the end of the village, the forest starts to surround the road once again and the level road starts taking on elevation.  Small rolling hills litter the course at miles 5, 6, and 7, a prelude to what's next...