In awe

I finished the Roanoke Blue Ridge Double Marathon. It was my third time at this event. It might seem so long ago when I did my first event there. Roanoke Marathon has it history and how it shapes me to be a runner indirectly at least. My friend was studying at Virginia Tech at the time and did it as her first marathon.  I wanted to run it too to test my own ability. Yet I was afraid of the course at the time and did not do it until 2019 after I was more confident as a runner.

The year I did it, I found out there were people crazy enough to run it twice the same weekend. It was unbelievable who would do such a thing. I believe one of a few if not the only marathon in the whole nation that does that.  It started imformally and later became as a real event.  This year there were around 80-90 runners who attempted it.

For those who know, I attempted it last year but did not finish (due to weather cancelation). This year, I got to have it done. 

We had good weather. Optimal weather for running, 50-60F.  I could see my breath during the night but it was not cold. 

I started on time this year (see last year, 2023 or 2019). I did not try to sleep beforehand, due to being afraid I might overslept like last year. I got to the course early around midnight, which was only 5 mins away from my hotel and elected to start at 1 am. We could choose to start either at 1 am or 2 am.  Last year I needed 6:20 to finish the first marathon.  1 am start would give me that 6 and half hour needed. Spoiler, I finished the first run in 5:30 hours, so I had about an hour rest before starting the second marathon.

I ran into a friend, Chrissy, at the parking lot. She remembered me from the Lake Claytor event last year. We talked and got ready.  She said she would rather choose the 2 am start.  I said, she must be fast.  Indeed, she finished almost 45 minutes ahead of me.  My fastest time was in 2019, when I ran it in 4:45.  So to do it in that time is fast. Her second loop is almost as fast.

As I remembered not many people picked the 2 am start. There were about 75 finishers.  I think might be 80-90 runners.  About 10 did not start, but they might have swapped to the 2 am. Chrissy could have done the 2 am and be fine.  She told me she actually preferred the 2 am start so that after she finishes she could start the second marathon immediately.

As for me, I like a little buffer in between the two marathons instead of feeling under pressure to finish the first under a certain time (6:30 max). Note, if we could not get back to the start of the second marathon in time, we would be disqualified. It is not like a 52 mile run where you could take your time early and catch up later at the end.

It was quite fun to see such a big group of runners who were just as crazy as I was as we ran on this middle in the night marathon to “preview” the course and then run it again in the morning with the general crowd. I missed all this last year. I felt it was very boisterous.

This year, running with a bunch of people, I didn’t have the fear of getting lost going up to the Roanoke Mountain.  In fact, I felt like a pro.

Later though, when the race was spreadout, I did rely on my turnsheet to get me through.  By mile 20 or so, the three guys I was running with took off ahead and I did not see them again (They finished like 20 mins ahead of me). Overall, there were a lot of people around me in the beginning. Finding the way around the course was not an issue. The course was well marked. Some navigation skills though also required. The course was not marked like an ultra with ribbons, so there is a chance of missing a turn. It was an urban adventure.

Last year, because of my late start, I had to chase up to the last runner, which was hard and lonely time.

This year, I started in the rear as the last guy to leave the start line.  “Cooper Emily” dropped her bib.  An older gentleman picked it up for her and chased her down.  I chased with him.  We caught up to Emily and handed her the bib.  By then she and I were the last two runners.  I told her there was no need to rush, we still had plenty of time. 

She was getting out of breath.  In my mind, I know the pace needed to do a 6.5 hr marathon, you could do walk and run and make it to the finish.  After talking to her a bit, found out why she did not pin her bib on her shirt was because she did not have the safety pins.  I gave her two of mine.  Usually I only pin the top two corners of the bib and leave the bottom corners unpinned, so I had extra pins to spare.

She also said due to her mom’s passing away in the winter, she has not trained since.  It seemed this was her first marathon. I had no clue why she wanted to run a double marathon.  She seemed to be not ready for this extremely hard marathon. I wished her the best because her pace was too slow for me.

After that I ran my own race.  I was surprised I could catch up to many earlier (faster) runners once we reached the climbing section to the Roanoke Mountain. I was kind of in the mid pack.  There maybe 20 or so runners in front. Probably were more, but front runner pack were just too fast.

People around me were pretty strong runners themselves.  We ran and hiked to the top. This year, I am more familar with the distance between various point on the course. I knew the top of the mountain was 7 miles. 

Once we reached the top, we ran back down.  I love the downhill.  Many people were way stronger than me. Many passed me by on the downhill stretches.

I mostly stayed with the three guys. I called them the three brothers. They seemed to be friends and they kept a steady pace. I usually don’t pass anyone unless they were super slow.

We reached Mill Mountain.  It was still downhill. We had a good view of the city from here. This year the weather was good. we could see way into the distance. Supposing you could see Tinker Cliff, Dragon Tooth and Mc Afee Knob – the triple crown of the Appalachian Trail from here.

We continued the descent and reached back to the city. By then there were directional signs and stickers on the road for us to follow. It is easier to navigate. We headed to Peak Mont. This is not as high as Roanoke mountain but by then mile 15-18, it was a hard climb.  The top was mile 18. To me the toughest climb of the night.

This year, I reached it around 5 am.  I was hoping to get down before sunrise.  I headed back to the start. The three brothers already left me.  I was mostly by myself. I was hoping some of the faster runners would be out of breath soon and I could catch up.  There might be one or two runners I passed. There were more than a few that passed me. They were probably the 2 am starters.  I reached back at the hospital and I knew I had about 5 miles left.  It was still dark. It distinctively remembered running this section in  the morning light last year, so to be still dark made me feel quite good.

I did not remember when the sun rose. Probably at my mile 24 at the last aid station. It felt good knowing this year I was ahead of my pace. Soon I reached the finish coming in under 5:30 (actual time of day was 6:30 am). I then had 1.0 hr before the next marathon start.

I felt good. My legs were tired but they were not too tired.  I went to my car, had breakfast and tried to keep myself fresh. I stretched a bit. Others who finished aheaded of me were there too in the parking lot.  Supposedly, they had a conference room at the host hotel for us to rest while waiting for the second start. It felt better to just stay at our cars. I did not got to the host hotel.

The second start was great. I met many people. Many were surprised that we already did a marathon during the night and ready for a second go.

My goal on the second marathon was if I could keep the 6 hour pace. Initially, it was hard to run again.  I could not keep up with the pacer during the first mile. Gradually, my legs warmed up and the fatigue faded away.  I was able to move with my usual ultra pace around 12 min mile. I felt my legs were as strong as the first lap during the hard climb up to Roanoke Mountain.

I knew I would not able to run nearly as fast as I did in my first marathon.  I tried. I passed the 6 hour pacer, then the 5:45, then 5:30.  I was joking with the guys who were doing the double marathon that we should aim for a negative split. I was hoping to catch the 5 hour pacer but they seem to be too fast.  Secretly, I hoped to stay in front of the 5:30 pacer. I knew deep down though eventually, they would catch up to me.

The rest of the race was uneventful.  I saw a lot of same people on the out and back sections.  We cheered the double marathon runners. I almost recognized everyone. A lot of them were much slower on this second half. I felt so good to be ahead unlike in other ultras where I was normally in the sweep position. Some were in way back even behind the slowest marathon runners near the sweeper.  Our Sweeper was on a bike. I know as long as they keep moving the would finish. I gave them words of encouragement.

I knew my pace was decaying as is normal. Even running down hills was hard for me. Harder still was going up. Peak Mount was even harder still. I was struggling with all the marathoners.  I encouraged them. This is where we face our wall I said.

I pulled through setting up goal of a mile at a time.  Many marathoners were passing me at the last 5 miles.  I again was hoping there got to be some who went out too fast and would slow down so I could pass them. There were a few but not as many as those who passed me. I just had to struggle the last three miles. There was no way I would not finish.  I had about 1.5 hours to do 2 miles.  Having been on the course just 6-8 hours beforehand, I knew the turns and upcoming hills.

At the final miles, those around me picked up their pace and so did I.  I was able to follow a lady who pulled me in to run fast. I finished the second marathon to my surprised in a time of 5:30. I was only a minute behind the 5:30 pacer. So my total combined time was just under 11:00.   I was pretty pleased.

Afterward, I stayed and watched the finish until the last runner came in. End up, the last runner is my friend I met at Rock n the Knob in PA two years ago, Sean. We had a happy reunion.

I had a good run.  It is a good preparation of some harder races I will be doing. I just enjoyed my day out there with some runners.  My soul had its fill. The race had it shenagans, like jello shots, “Moo-mosa”, and likes.  I took part in all those. That what makes running fun. 

There was something I wanted to write but forgot what it is. I did a lot of marathons. They are usually the same. I went there, accepted the challenge, completed it. Sometimes I asked if there is any deeper meaning. Yes, there is.  For this marathon, I had to climb some mountains (on the Appalachian Trail — I did almost the triple crown, hiked over 16 miles) on the following day. I got my answer I was seeking. I did not come down from the mountain until after 10 pm, but that is a whole different trip and I don’t have time to tell. Mostly, it was being at peace with myself and nature. It was part of a bigger journey. For those who know, yes, I have many bigger races coming up, kind of a secret but not a secret. I hope to lead everyone through my experience. Roanoke Marathon is only the first.