In awe

Tag: Roanoke

  • [625] Roanoke Marathon

    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. 

    Runners arriving at Mill Mountain – the Star (our second big climb of the night). We stop here every time to take a picture
    Lining up for a second start – I lined up with the run/walk group, 6 hour target finishers. The last corral. Pacers are to my right (not shown). She was kind. We were just here lining up earlier at 1 am. It was supposed to start at 7:20, but was delayed (no reason given) until closer to 8 am. I did not mind.
    finishers
    Roanoke City view, day vs night. See various mountains in the distance
    The Star of Roanoke on Mill Mountain

    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.

  • [624] – I’m feeling it

    My excitement is bubling up as we step closer to May!

    Wait, April is not even over.

    To other people, I always have a bunch of races. True, so many, even I can’t keep track of them.

    We just finish the BRR 50, which was a big race for me.

    Before then, I ran the New Taipei WJS Marathon, kind of big.

    And before then, it was the Clearwater Marathon.

    I tried to cover up my excitement. It is just the first one. A izzy bitzy race. Nothing to it.

    All them is setting up for this month! My first true 100 mile for this year (coming in two weeks).

    I will be running with a friend, Lynne, in two weeks and I am getting her excited too. (Trying to persuade her to sign up another 100 mile, Forgotten Florida, before we dive into this monster, aka, C&O100). I tried to hide it, like you not suppose to name it before the race start, otherwise bad thing will happen.  Think of Burning River.  I told my mom don’t get too excited before the race because you don’t know if there will be a finish at the end. Runners (me) are superstitious. Don’t jinx it.

    Actually, I will be running with many friends. It is near where I am so a lot local runners will be doing it. Which race? The C&O Canal!  I have been waiting for this race since the begining. A very long time ago.  I will write more in my race report when it is done.

    But for now, here for this week, I will be doing the Roanoke Double Marathon (last year event). This is also a marathon I wanted to do for very long time ago.  I can’t remember when I did the first time, in 2019 maybe?  It is billed as America’s hardest road marathon with 7000 ft of climbing (I think they lie, because they might of included the down elevation with the up, maybe only half of that is real), but yes it is very hard compare to a normal marathon, where usually you see 100-200 ft change with the exception of Lake Hayden in Idaho.  Most people want to run on a flat course, but for those into bruishing themselves with hill workouts, come to run the Roanoke Marathon.  It’s actual name is something like Blue Ridge Bluecross Anthem Marathon or something.  I always call it the Roanoke Marathon.

    Here is the kicker, I want to do a doubler, that is to run it twice.  Run one at night before anyone show up and run it again with everyone in the morning. It is actually a thing.

    Huhuhuhu.  I am puffing myself up.  Actually for trail runner, the elevation is not that much.  It ia a lot but compares to trail, it is quite normal. A lot of my friends actually are heading to the Promise Land to do real mountain running.  So I can’t really brag that mine is the baddest. Where for them, they would say what are you crying about.

    Why I am doing it?  I needed a bit of road running for my up and coming 100 milers.  This is a good fit.

    A bit of bad news, my one and only marathon in a new state this year, Providence Marathon in Rhode Island, has been canceled.  That state is messed up. I should have run the New Port Marathon last weekend if I knew earlier it was going to be like this.  There is another Newport Marathon in the fall. Yes, the state is messed up, trying to confuse out-of-state runners. How many new ports are there? (3)

    I am a bit heart broken. Yet it is also an opportunity.   I quickly signed up for a 100K in Atlanta, the Great Southern Endurance Run.  I have been also longing to do this one since I started my 100 mile journey in 2020.  Those who have been followed my post for long would remember couple summer  ago, I took two trips to Atlanta but came back with nothing.  This year is it! I am doing it. (GSER first attempt, second attempt). Granted those two times were a 100 mile attempt, this time it is just a 100k (62 miles). Also this time, we no longer need to climb up to Kennesaw Mountain to start the run. That was a wicked climb. We will start at the foot and no need to climb up. Park service would not allow us to go in. Oh well. I wish I could stay an extra day to snap a photo up there. Please let me finish this big project. GSER.

    Why am I doing this?  Last heat training session and last long run before everything goes crazy. (MMT and OD100).  Yes everything. And Western States. Saying it 10 times fast. I am going crazy and hyberventilating. I will talk more about it in my race report.

    Anyway, there are just too many races to keep track of.  I will take one race at a time. If I am to die today, I am dying happy, but I always want to do just one more race! Just one more time.

  • Roanoke Double Marathon [Day551]

    It was a novelty when I ran the Blue Ridge Marathon in 2019. It was known as America hardest road marathon, the footlevelers, with 7000 ft of total elevation (gain and lost). I finished in 4:45 and I thought I was slow because I had expected myself to finish under 4:30 or less. Now four years later, I had a chance to redo it and up the game to run it twice in one day also known as doing the Double.

    Blue Ridge Footlevelers is one of the few marathons (might be the only one) that has an event where you could run the course twice and receive a time and an award for it.

    I became aware of the double marathon during my first time there when I saw the doublers finishing their first lap of their marathon as we were about to start our race. They would be then joining us on their second lap. It was beyond my imagination those days of anyone capable of running a marathon twice.

    Now fast forward to November that year, I ran the JFK 50, my first 50 mile race. I probably knew I was going to do a 50 miler since I usually plan things a year in advance, but still since I hadn’t run it at the time, it was a wonder for me that there were people out there capable of running two marathon distance on the same day.

    By February 2021, I ran my first 100 mile race. The rest is history, because I ended up doing several more by 2022 and 2023. I was just a matter of when I would to go back to Roanoke to do a double marathon.

    By then the challenge was no longer that hard to me, since I could run a 100 mile on trails.

    MMT has way more elevation gains than Roanoke of 17 or 18 thousand feet of elevation change meaning 32000 feet of total elevation (about 4 to almost 5 times as many), so 7000 feet at Roanoke seems minor. I did the MMT last year, well 95% of it at least.

    Note most races are measured by elevation change instead of total elevation gain and lost.

    Spoiler: Before reading further though I didn’t finish the double marathon. Not because it was too hard for me but because the race was canceled halfway due to a storm. I only finished the first lap, and had a time of 6:22:00 for my first lap. Compared to my 2019 time of 4:45, over 6 hours finishing is slow. Not that I would mind. I am pointing it out my understanding of slow also has changed.

    I was at least 6 miles in on the second lap before the race was called. I had a good time nonetheless.

    I drove down to Roanoke after work on Friday. The drive was long. It was about 200 miles away. It normally takes about 3.5 hours. I ran into some afternoon rush hour traffic and it was over 4 hours before I arrived. My eyes had glazed over. We runners joked about couldn’t drive more than an hour but don’t mind running 6 or more hours out there. Indeed, I don’t like driving that far.

    I arrived around 6-7:00 pm and made it to the expo, which closed at 8 pm. There were some people still around, but not a lot. There was a free concert happening at the amphitheater. I brought two pairs of new shoes at the expo, Altra Rivera 3 and Estalante 3. I feel comfortable in them. The volunteer asked me if I would wear both of them the next day since it was obvious I was running the double marathon because I was holding my bib and race shirt in hand. Hell no, because rain was forecasted. I don’t wear new pair of shoes in the rain. Rain ruins good shoes.

    The forecast had 100% of rain for race day. So I chose to go with my beat up trainer pair. I had two old pairs with me but I know if my feet feel fine, I would not even have to change shoes midway.

    My hotel Econo Lodge was only a mile from the start. I decided to rest early that night. I brought a Subway sandwich from next door. Price has gone up and my dinner cost me nearly $20 and I was grumbling about my footlong and drink being expensive since I could get a chinese buffet of an all you can eat at around that price (Hibachi Grill I think was under $20, same for a large bowl of Pho and drink, $16). Traditionally, I go for a buffet the night before a race and Pho afterward. They are my comfort food.

    I did not want a buffet this time because I did not want to go bed with a heavy stomach. After eating, I tried to sleep early since I know my double marathon event start in the middle of the night at 1 am, but I was unable to fall asleep until closer to 11 pm.

    I don’t know when I felt asleep, it might have been 10 or closer to 11 but I slept like a baby with the light on and my clothes unchanged. I had my REM sleep, which was great because that all I needed to have energy for the run.

    The race, my first lap was going to start at 1 am. We had a choice to either start at 1 am or 2 am depending how fast we think we were going to run. The rule was we could not finish before 5:30 am or after 7:30 am. I chose 1 am and was planning to need a 6 hour to do this for my pace. 7 am finish.

    I set the alarm to wake up past midnight at 12:01 to be sure I get the AM/PM thing not be mixed up. Somehow I slept through the alarm or I might have messed up with the am/pm setting. It has happened before (at my MMT race when I overslept).

    It wasn’t until 12:45 I was shock awake. I was having a real nice dream of running in some race. I was happily laughing in my dream. I remember in the dream I was running yet I was late to the event. I was running around trying to find to the start. It seemed stressful but I was having a happy dream somehow. That was when I woke up, and realized my dream had become my reality and you bet I was not laughing. I was about to be late in my real marathon. Thank to the dream I woke up, because I could easily have slept till morning and I could even have missed the morning marathon.

    I already packed everything and had my bib on and water pack filled beforehand. So grabbing those, I put on a longer sleeve short, feeling it might be a cold night. I grabbed my rain jacket too and food bag, I got into my car and drove to the start. There was no time to lose. It should not take long for to drive a mile, maybe couple minutes, and at most 5 minutes.

    However unfortunately, I drove down on Orange Avenue thinking the start was on Orange, due to my half awake state. I did not realize I had to make a turn on what was like the main street of Roanoke. I drove on for maybe 5-6 miles before realizing my mistake. Then I put on google map to help me get me back. By then the race had started.

    I arrived to the race parking lot past 1 am. I put on my headlamp, my reflective jacket, and my flashing lights and walked to the start. Luckily they had a volunteer still there to check me in. I unofficially started my run at 1:12 am. I told the volunteer, I wouldn’t mind if she recorded me starting at 1 am, to make the math easier when they had to combine my time for the first lap with the second lap.

    I didn’t remember to start my garmin watch until I reached Walnut Street’s bridge crossing. It was about maybe 5 minutes later. So my watched recorded my whole race time as 6:15:00. My official time for the first lap was 6:22:00. About 7 minutes more and half mile shorter of 28.5 miles.

    It was a quiet night. About 40 other runners started ahead of me. They were now at least a mile ahead. I, having done the race before, the roads seemed familiar to me. Originally, I was worried and wanted to run with someone who knew the course. However, now having to run by myself, I just had to make it work. I did have the turnsheet/map in my hand. I also had the running app telling me where to turn but unfortunately, once I was up on the mountain, the app stopped working since it had no cell signal. I think I had the battery saver mode on, so it was interfering with the app. If I didn’t have that on, it would have drained my battery before the end of the race. Those running phone apps is kind of a catch-22. The newer Garmin watches can give turn directions and avoided this issue. You bet I want one of those.

    The first 6 miles was pretty easy. It was just one straight road up to Mill Mountain and then to Roanoke mountain. There were check points along the way, where volunteers checked us in as we passed them. They also served as race marshalls, to ensure we were on course, plus also served as aid stations, with water for us to refill our bottles. Many of them had waffles for us. Cheers to them for staying up all night for us.

    By mile 6, the fast people already reached the turn around point and were coming back down the mountain. I was able to see many of them as they passed me.

    By mile 7 I was able to catch up to some of the slow runners, like about the last 4-5 runners slower runners.

    Unfortunately on the way down from Roanoke Mountain, I did not pay attention and missed a turn at getting off of Blue Ridge Parkway. I added like 3.5 miles onto my run on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Later, I found out people did try to chase me to let me know I went the wrong way, but they just couldn’t catch me.

    I was again about 20 minutes behind everyone. It was now around 3 am and 13 miles in (my watch distance, the race distance was much less, maybe at 10 mile). Runners who started 2 am caught up to me as they came down the mountain. They were very fast and an enthusiastic bunch. There were not many of them, maybe 5-8. They gave me encouragements. I couldn’t keep their pace though and soon I was alone again after they passed me. I noted that the first crowd of runners I passed were subdue and didn’t cheer but the second crowd (2 am people), they were as excited as I was and it was fun. The 1 AM runners were too serious in their run.

    By mile 13, I caught up to the tail end again of the 1 am starters. I still knew I was about 15 minutes behind the race pace. Lucky there were no sweeps for the night run. Even though I was behind on my pace, I was not in danger of being pulled from the race. I got to Mill Mountain, it was all downhill from there so I could run much faster to make up the time.

    It had a very nice view at the Mill Mountain, looking out onto the city below from the Roanoke Star. It was one beautiful sight. I did not take a picture because it was night time.

    Location of my unofficial start (from garmin pov) Walnut St Bridge. Crossing this bridge would begin the climb to Roanoke Mountain. A lonely night
    It looks something like this on top of the mountain. This is at the turn around point at mile 7. I know it doesn’t look quite impressive, but the idea was while they sleep we run.

    The rest of the night was uneventful. Once I got back down from the mountain, it was easier. We were in the city around 4 am. There were already some occasional traffic on the roads. The signs for turns were easier to spot and there were street lights. The terrain was flatter. I followed the road markings.

    5 am. I think I was passing the hospital where the finish line was around the corner. Yet I still had maybe 8 miles to go. I had to get back to finish by 7:30 to start the second lap (2nd marathon). I remembered someone was passing me. I told the person, 40 more minutes before the finish line opens. we couldn’t finish before 5:30 am because the finish line was not ready yet. I think we had somewhere between 8-10 miles to go, likely 8 ish. I said he could finish before 5:30 (doing 5 min per mile), while I need two more hours for this. I was half joking of course. I was jealous of the fast people taking way less time than me.

    Climbing Peak Hill was hard. I had to walk. The volunteer said I was not that far behind the runner ahead. I was estimating maybe 10 mins behind the pace. I hoped to close the gap.

    By mile 20~ish, I passed the second to last runner. The sky was dawning. The time was around 6 am. I knew by then I could make it back in time. People were waking up and walking their dogs. The street was not so lonely any more.

    A beautiful morning. Looking back up at the hill I ran down from earlier during the night. We were at the foot of the Roanoke Star. Rain clouds proved later of spoiling our race.

    The final few miles I was able to see some runners at another out and back segment. I caught up to race pace of 16:20. They were couple miles ahead of me. They cheered me and I cheered them back. I am a loud and boisterous runner. I passed a few slower runners. My feet were still fresh. Catherine, I found out ran the course virtually a week prior and the year before, she finished with an hour to spare at the transition. Not this time. She came in just as the 2nd marathon was about to start.

    Less than two miles from the finish, they had police blocking the traffic for us. I felt like a king as I was only single runner at the time running on a wide road. They allow us to use the road now. People who were running in the morning race were also arriving. Some cheered me. I started having the runner’s high and crowd support motivated me to run even harder. I made it to the finish line by 7:22 am crossing the finish. At least for the first marathon is done.

    I had maybe 10 minutes to get to the car and freshen up before the start of the second race. I refilled up my water. I took my food bag with me. This would be my breakfast. I didn’t get to use the transition area they had for us. I used my car as an aid station instead.

    The food was originally for my first lap but I didn’t bring it with me, and now I took it. I did not have time to change shoes or shirt. My feet felt great and had no blisters or hot spots. I kept the same shoes on then. I didn’t have to change socks or lube up. Though when the rain came later, I regretted of not having put on some lube because my shorts were cutting into my private area.

    I got back to the start with about 5 minutes left. I missed the national anthem. There I met Iris, who was in my running club. I didn’t know she was running this race. We were excited and caught up on stories. Iris was one of my crew for the Devil Dog. It was good to finally see her again. Roanoke was her first marathon 10 years ago, she told me. This was her second time running it. She is a friend of Catherine. She said several members from my runner club was there that day. One was 4th female overall before the race was canceled.

    For second lap, I planned to go slower. Having Iris as my companion helped. I kept at her pace. The second lap we had 7.5 hrs to run it. It was an hour more than our first lap. However, we had to reach mile 20 by a certain time, which means we had to maintain 16:20 pace for the first 20 miles. We were doing like 15-16 min mi pace, so we were a bit ahead.

    6 miles in, it started raining. Then thunders and lightning started happening around us. It got very cold. I had my jacket on but I was still shivering. They called off the race around 9 am, about an hour and half into the race. We had to turn around and headed back. They reopened the roads. Police officers were telling us if we run, we run at our own risk.

    I understand their policy because for the safety of the volunteers and runners, the event had to be canceled. However, I agreed too with many runners that we were left unsupported midway through the race and there were confusion as to what to do. Most of us turned around and headed back to the start/finish area. I was not sure if there were buses coming to pick us up. My motto was, I can walk back on my own power.

    I wish they had closed the race in stages instead. I know there were no optimal solutions. With a canceled race, they were going get complaints. Some chose to continue on their own and were surprised no water or food served since the volunteers also had left their stations. Again the roads had reopened. I didn’t think that was safe but I think they wanted to send the message to us that we should not continue the run.

    The rain lasted only about 15-30 minutes. In hindsight, the race could have continued. Many (ultra) runners said they had been through much worse and dangerous or exposed situations before. What they experience that day was nothing. Hindsight always is perfect 20/20.

    As for me, I did not continue on. It was obvious we wouldn’t have the aid support. I had my water pack so in theory I could run a marathon unsupported. I was also having some rub burn issue so as soon as I could get to the finish area the better. I checked with Iris, she also wanted to get back quickly. It took us maybe an hour to get halfway down the mountain. We got to mile 12 and 13, where the buses made their way up. We got on the buses. We were overjoy that the buses came for us. I knew I could make it back to the start by walking or running (we were probably at most only 3 miles away) but having the bus take us back was way better than walking in our wet clothes. The bus waited until it was fully packed before heading off. There were maybe 50-60 of us on a bus. We arrived back at 10:30.

    The finish line was a busy place. They were serving food and drinks still. I did not mind grabbing myself a slice of pizza. Those that did not take the bus were coming in. I guess they were the 3 hours finishers (half marathoners/marathoners). They were still handing out medals. The volunteers though received words that the race closed at 9, but had remained for last hour and half serving finishers. They were understaffed because majority of the volunteers had left. It was a shoestring operation! I did not stay for long because as more buses arrived, it was going to get more chaotic.

    It was a hard call to whether continue the run or give up for a lot of people. There is a bit of shame of giving up on a race. RD made the call, so in a sense the RD took on the blame. The drama is still going on the social media. All runners who did not finish were converted to a virtual race. We could submit our time and get a medal. There were questions how many miles do we now run, since the race was shutdown halfway, whether we had to redo from the beginning and or how to combine the two timings and courses for the upload. Technically, I think you have to redo the course from the beginning, the whole 26.2 miles. But it is a virtual event now. Who cares. RD just wants everyone to be happy and go on until next year event. Some were calling boycotting the next year event. Some were asking for a discount or refund. Basically I think do whatever they want since it is a virtual race. The race would not count for anything. This got people upset.

    FYI I took a medal and a finisher picture and I even cross the finish line (don’t tell anyone 🤫) and I rode on the bus back! People who rode with me on the bus, asked you could do that? sure! why not! Sorry for those who did continue the race in their own power and ran to the finish without the aid station supports. They were beasts. But you know I will do the full 52.4 mile run on my own, right (I will just use part of the upcoming 100 mile race as my timeđź‘Ť)?

    My action somewhat took away their honor, but to me since the race was over by 9, anyone who came in after that would not be recorded. We made the finish celebration to mean whatever we wanted it to mean by then. Hence there were a lot of dramas happening and complaints on Facebook going on. People were discontent that they didn’t get the proper recognition or for some was the opportunity to continue. I don’t really care by then. You go out there and have fun and deal with what was given. Stop giving people a hard time. Having the race canceled is part of the journey. Iris told me in her years of running never once was a race canceled on her midway.

    There was no DQ-ing for those came in after 9 o clock (or technically we all DQ-ed) and that was why people were upset.

    For me I think, we received no words from race organization on what to do and there was a general of confusion! I mean we clearly understood the race was canceled. It was like what’s next then. None of us wanted to go home. For me it was a successful fun run finishing with a group of friends and we celebrated we survived the ordeal being three hours out on the course. It was for our friends and family also because they wanted to see that is the end of the trip and all the training. So we took photos at the finish line. Our group promised we will be back next year to do it properly.

  • Roanoke

    Day 109

    It was probably my 8th marathon, but who is keeping count? My training was about the same compare to previous times except for lacking in long runs this time. Even though it was only couple days since the race, things are getting blurry. Statistics wise I didn’t do as well as in my previous marathons. I was much slower. It shows that without working on hill runs, I did poorly on hills. The whole race was about running up the Roanoke mountain and that is about 1000ft. The whole race has about 7000 ft in change of elevation and the topographical map shows about 600 ft at the most extreme portion. Everyone just walked up except for a few who were running for prizes.

    I walked. They said we ran over and on top of three mountains. The first one, Roanoke was the hardest and longest. Mill mountain was in between and was really on our way down from Roanoke Mnt and I don’t really consider that a mountain. The third one wasn’t as high as Roanoke Mnt nor Mill Mnt but it was unexpected more difficult for me. I guess I lack the will to tackle it any more after running up the first two. I just walked along with everyone else. I did a walk run going up the Roanoke Mnt but when I got here, I couldn’t muster a run.

    Running downhill was fun. It was pure joy. They say watch your knees. I had no problem the first long downhill, but second downhill, I couldn’t manage it any more. My run was like a walk. It was still better than flat! It think it was at mile 15-16 when I broke. It came early. I had a big breakfast and ate all the right thing the night before — spaghetti. Maybe my metabolism is way too high, at mile 16, my tank was empty. It was screaming – what spaghetti, where was the spaghetti you ate. It’s not there.

    I don’t remember how I was able to recovery. The crowd support from the community was amazing. I love the volunteers, always. They were the sweetest people. At the food table, I had some gummies and fruits. I think the strawberries helped. I didn’t take some Gu (gels) they were handling out. I think some of the stuff I drank – they were offering scratch energy drink, which I never had before, kind of upset my stomach. I felt I drank too much water also. There was water station almost every mile apart and I drank at each of them until I felt i had too much water and about to release back out in the other direction. I don’t know how I was able to get to mile 20. It was a mile at a time.

    I saw my mom at mile 22. At that time it was just plain tiredness. All the hills were behind me by now. There were little ones here and there. The tip to myself was don’t find any excuse to stop, if I stop, I wouldn’t able to bring myself to run again. I was feeling loopy. I was crying, yet no tear. My emotion was all over the place. There were only four more miles but they were the longest miles I ever did. The ‘wall’ was over. I got new burst of energy. The feeling was great – hence I was crying. I saw a flag and thought of ‘the Lord is my banner’ and I cried as I ran. I think at that time there were two more miles left.

    Then there was one more mile. Everyone by then was gone at least to my mind. Those who still could run already passed me while I was feeling loopy. All those who were around my pace disappeared. I looked far ahead. They were gone. Somehow the people behind me weren’t catching up either. I passed the 4:45 pacer a few miles back. I was alone. I felt indeed it was the longest mile.

    But you know what? They had to put one last hill right before the finish line. I don’t remember seeing the 26 mile marker, but I had a sense the end was near. I saw the hill, but the finish line was not in sight. I turned and said to the runner next to me, I was no longer alone then. I felt being crowded by two or three other runners. I said last hill. The people watching also echoed out last hill. I pressed on. The runners passed me.

    I turned the corner. Saw the finishing chute ahead and the crowd. My vision grew dimmed. Only thing I saw was the finishing clock above the finishing line 4:43/4:44. I ran as I never ran before. My mom said she waited at the finishing line and didn’t see me at all because of couple other larger runners were in front of me blocking her view and suddenly I appeared, she said she couldn’t get her camera ready at all as I ran through the chute passing other runners.

    My lung was screaming. My back cramped up. I did it. They put a finisher medal over my head. Then the rain started literally. I was just overjoyed. I forgot to stop my Garmin watch! Oh no have to rerun the course. Ha!

    My exgirl friend first told me about marathon and Roanoke was her first. The things she told me about really matched up as I ran it. It took me three years to tackle this race. I know I shouldn’t think about my ex any more but I just couldn’t help it. It has been near three years working toward to this race. Every step I took there was like stepping on sacred ground. Weird feeling.

    Having obtained it now after working so hard toward this, not cheap, but I didn’t value it. It was just another medal and another marathon. Some day, I will have run in all fifty states and have 50 medals. So this is just one in many for Virginia.

    But I am happy at the same time.

    The expense of spirit in a waste of shame
Is lust in action; and till action, lust
Is perjured, murderous, bloody, full of blame,
Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust;
Enjoyed no sooner but despisèd straight:
Past reason hunted; and no sooner had,
Past reason hated, as a swallowed bait,
On purpose laid to make the taker mad:
Mad in pursuit, and in possession so;
Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme;
A bliss in proof, and proved, a very woe;
Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream.
        All this the world well knows; yet none knows well
        To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell

    Shakespeare’s Sonnet 129

    In our Sunday school class, we talked of what things we went after that in the end let us down, and I thought of running this race. Well sort of. It is done now. On to the next one.