The Return to the Maine (Half) Marathon

September was a pretty successful month including a second place overall in a 5K this past weekend.  Miles are on the increase, legs are feeling up to par, and the weather has been mostly cooperative. 

As October makes its introduction, Portland will play host to one of the biggest races of the year in Maine - aptly named the Maine Marathon.  The 3 heats are the Marathon itself (26.2 miles), Half Marathon (13.1 miles), and Marathon Relay (a team of 4 split the Marathon distance).  Attendance is at the cap (3,500) for the race which is no surprise.  Preliminary weather reports look typical as well, as temps will peak around the 60-degree mark and there will be plenty of sunshine.

I will be running in this race for the fourth year in a row - however I am running the half marathon instead of the full.  There are two reasons for this:  one, I am not fully trained nor have I had the time to train to run a marathon distance at the moment.  Two, I feel that there is no pressure to run a fall marathon now that I've qualified for Boston this year.  I suppose there may be a third reason to this as well:  I have only completed 3 half marathons in my running career.  Since I feel that I'm long overdue to set a new PR for this distance, I should take advantage of the opportunity to run another one.

The new logo for the Maine Marathon

Maine Half Marathon
Sunday, October 3 @ 7:30AM
Course Length: 13.1 miles
Personal course best: 2:03:15
13.1-mile best: 1:30:44
Course Map

As you can see, my best on this course for the H-M length won't be too difficult to break.  It was only my second road race and the longest distance I had ever run at once.  If everything feels good I should easily break the hour and a half mark on the course.

Fourth Year of Road Racing Begins

A third place and first place finish in the last two road races are a really good way to end August and my third road racing year.  Along the way, I've set new PR's in every noable race distance category except for three places: the 1-mile, the 5-mile, and the half marathon.  On Monday, I'll have a chance to knock down one of those three distances.

Bangor Labor Day Road Race
Monday, September 6 @ 9AM
Course Length:  5 miles
Personal course best:  33:45
5-mile best: 32:20
Course Map

In case you didn't know, this is the race that started it all for me.  This is also the most challenging 5-mile race that I've run so far, and each year it seems to throw me for a loop.  The first two miles are open and flat enough to post a great pace, but that's where it traps you.  By the time you realize what you're in for - usually when you turn off the road while going uphill and into a goat path.

To get to Holland St. direct from 14th St., one needs to go through the 'goat path.'

Though it's pretty rough and definitely a 'trail' grade path, the incline has only just begun.  Holland street is all uphill.  It definitely takes its toll.  Luckily, there is a break down Wiley St, but the hill begins again just before mile 3 is completed.  West Broadway is the salvation in this course as the uphills finally stop and the remainder of the course is slightly downhill and wide open.  However, runners live or die by the aforementioned hills.  It's very well possible that the energy levels are so low that the final two miles might as well be in the river.

My goal this year is to not let those hille kill me.  If I get to 3 miles in 19 1/2 minutes or less, I will get a personal best in this race.  The weather conditions are somewhat favorable  (55-60 degrees by race time) so that should help.

2007:  46:45, 96th overall, 9:21 pace
2008:  33:45, 22nd overall, 6:45 pace
2009:  35:39, 30th overall, 7:08 pace

Labor day race photo - left, 2007 - right, 2008