Northern Central Trail Marathon, 26.2 miles
30 November, 2002
Sparks, Maryland

"Working off thanksgiving gluttony the cold way"

Reported by Steve Thorne
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Course Description: This smallish marathon is staged on an out-and-back course that follows a section a rails-to-trails conversion north of Baltimore. The surface is primarily compacted dirt and gravel. The course is very flat, with a 1/2 percent grade climb on the way out and a corresponding 1/2 percent grade on the return (it's rated a 2+ on the 10 point marathon difficulty scale, 1 for the fastest courses, 10 for the most challenging). I can recommend this race for anyone wanting a flat course and/or for those who prefer softer running surfaces.

The Race: At the start, it's 40 degrees under quite spectacular cloud formations and a sharp blue sky. As a wee race of 311 participants, we bunch together in the Sparks elementary school parking lot, listen to a bugler play a frilly version of the stars and stripes, and then dash off in a down home version of vim and vigor.

The pack spreads out immediately and I run the first mile alone at a 6:25 pace along country roads that lead us onto the northern central trail path. A group forms and I stay tucked behind someone or another for most of the first 8 miles. The running surface, compressed gravel, is firm and yields just an ideal smidge. The course takes us past Gunpowder Falls and winds through forests and parks. Periodic reminders of more moderate seasons, namely the sign "Danger -- venomous snakes!", draw spiteful smiles from blue lips.

The average pace at the 10-mile mark is a reasonable 6:50. My legs and energy level are neutral -- no massive exuberance such as occurs on the blessed days of invincibility, nor am I suffering the muted spark of compromised mitochondria. My taper went according to plan but the antibiotics (for bronchitis that had started earlier in the week) may have tempered things a bit. But save for being pudgy, nay, kind-of-fat, I have no complaints.

The pace picks up at the 10 mile marker and I jump with the break away runner. Together, we drop the others but only by a minute or so. I can sense them in the near distance crafting their counter-attack. The temperature jumps markedly the further north we run and I strip off my arm-warmers and gloves and put them into my jersey pockets.

The mid-point clock displays 1:29:40, slower than I'd thought would be the case. At the turn-around (just past mile 14), I joke with the course official and, as is typical for me, feel a dynamic rush of motivation knowing I am headed home. Now on the return leg of this out-and-back, I see a number of friends heading out to the turn-around -- Scott Prudham from Toronto is first and only a few minutes behind me. He looks smooth and strong. Next I see the first of the State College crew, Jim Janson, cruising forward with an efficient stride. Tim Simpson is next. He waves from afar and is the sharpest of any of us wearing all black, a very suave look! Dave Gamson, another Penn State faculty member, appears next and seems to be experiencing a fit of joy. As he passes he shouts big encouragement as I do to him. It is here that I see my wife, Cecilia, smiling broadly. She ran this marathon last year but this year is cheating by riding a bike. She has an explanation though, something about being 17 weeks pregnant (!).

The mid-teen miles are the variable zone, so I pick up the pace to avert negligent slow-down. Despite an increasing ache in the legs, energy levels remain constant up through the 21-mile mark. At this point, I keep my attention focused on pushing ever faster knowing that gravity is inexorably increasing while I regress further from light speed and the event horizon. Suddenly I'm at 24 miles and just have to grit my teeth for the last 2+ mile 14 minute push. Despite the usual weariness at the close of an endurance event, I'm surprised at how quickly this marathon has gone.

The final mile marker comes and goes and the finish banner is visible in the distance. My hope of dodging below 2:59 is fading and my legs and energy are pretty much done. As I cross the finish line, the sun comes out, the BBQs are going, the beer is flowing, and the crowds are heavy. Oh wait, that was Boston. Here, the announcer good-naturedly cat calls runners as they come in, there's cold water on a cold day, and it starts to rain.

I'm pleased, though, since I feel quite reasonable despite my earlier fears of ill health, and far more important, my friends were all successful in meeting their goals -- Scott qualified for Boston (3:12!) and Jim, Tim, and Dave, all finished in good spirits. Another great day of running in the woods!

Finish information: 2:59:37, 8th place overall. Though I didn't approach a PR (it was only a distant hope to begin with), this marks the 3rd marathon I've run within a 10 second window (2:59:31 to 2:59:41). Would that other life matters be so consistent!

Addendum on in-race nutrition/fuel: I tried more frequent feeds and this worked well. I used CarbBOOM, a sports gel product, and took one at approximately 30-minute intervals. I slowly consumed each packet over a roughly one-mile stretch which alleviated the immediate need for water. I also took electrolyte pills at hour 2 and this stopped incipient cramping (which I felt coming on at mile 17 but which never materialized in incapacitating intensity).