Vermont City Marathon (Relay) Race Report

All set and ready to rumble!

I had an unbelievably good time at Vermont City Marathon this year particularly considering a few days before it I was not looking forward to it at all.

But mix:

• a mother, a daughter and a son
• great weather that never gets too hot but stays  pleasant
• a well organized race
• the best spectators anywhere
• a scenic lake to run by
• a fast sister/daughter to help family members get a PR or improve recent times 

And you have a great race for all of our family!

Before it was my turn to race I did some spectating catching my children in two spots before I caught the bus to the relay zone.

They're off!  

My two!

One of the wonderful volunteers.  You get a smile

on your face at this corner.

Racers coming up Church Street. I spot my guys coming

Jameson is so easy to pick out! Makes it so much easier.

Before they get to Church Street they come down

Main.....

and turn up Church.......and I head for the bus.

I always like this race but today was the best of the best. It was not my best time ever at it and I have had a good time before but nonetheless it was an extra special day. No, it was not as good as my first marathon here but it came close.  I don't think I have run a whole race with my daughter before and that was extremely special. It was great to have the relay hand off from my son who had an excellent PR.  Emily never made me feel I was doing anything other than the perfect pace but just being with her pushed me more than I would have pushed myself alone.  We talked some but not too much.  (I'm not a chatterer as I race.)  I started out with one fast mile but then had my slowest miles and often when I looked at my watch I would see 10 something.  Okay I thought, this is going to be the slow half you have thought it would be so be prepared to get a PW. It just isn't going to be a fast half. I really didn't check my splits for many of the first miles. Because of the relay my miles didn't come when I hit the mile markers and I wasn't that concerned. Once I did start checking many of them were in the mid 9s.  The neighborhood that I always hated in the marathon flew by.  There were miles that I was sure were mismarked because the next mile came up so quickly. We were on track to come in under four hours (because of Jameson's stellar first half) but I knew I often blew the last three miles in a half and was not convinced the dying wasn't coming and I would blow it.  Yet, as I checked splits they seemed to be getting better and I felt great. I was passing many people on the bike path - the last 4 miles.  (It was strange as right from the start I was amongst runners that run a marathon under 4 hours and that is not my speed at all so we were passed a lot.  The relay makes it strange how you are not running near racers of your speed.) I began to have no doubt that we would make it in under 4 hours.  Before I knew it we were at Waterfront Park where there are thousands of spectators. I loved running through the crowd with Emily.  I saw my friend, Heather, who has gone with me to other races.  I saw my husband cheering us on.  And then we were at the end in 3:55:50.  Woot Woot Woot!  

I ended up doing my half in 2:07:24 which really killed my negative expectations I wrote about in my last post.  I am especially pleased that no mile went over 10 - I rarely do this in a half.  And my last 3 miles rocked!  Rocked!  My overall pace was 9:40.  It was my second fastest out of 4 this year.  The Unplugged was faster which is also on the bike path and is the half I "train" for.  This half was my 13th fastest out of 22 overall so pretty much in the middle which is great when I thought I was going to have  a PW!

Mile 1: 9:17

Mile 2: 9:57

Mile 3 9:57

Mile 4: 9:36

Mile 5 9:39

Mile 6: 9:35

Mile 7: 9:56

Mile 8: 9:47

Mile 9: 9:32

Mile 10: 9:52

Mile 11: 9:47

Mile 12: 9:24

Mile 13; 9:31

.19 8:32

Woot Woot Woot!  I had so so much fun!  I loved running with my kids!  We had a great meal after and took our time and just enjoyed sitting!

After the half - I should have gotten a better shot as this 

was very cute but I couldn't motivate myself to get up

and take it.

We go out for lunch and Jax settles in under the table.

The crowd for this marathon is so great!  All the people in the neighborhoods are out with hoses to cool you off, water, snacks, freezer pops (Emily thought this was the best thing ever) and watermelon.  Families set up their own aid stations and are so kind.  This is such a great race. And  I am not just saying this because I am local. I saw very few people I knew - two on Battery Hill and two at the finish so my enjoyment of the crowd was not because I knew them.  It was just fantastic - so much fun!  I wish I always felt this high after a race.

Okay a few more stats.  Here is how Jameson and I did as a relay team.
We were at 34% of the racers - all types

We were at  34% of relays - all types

We were at 36% of 2 person relays

Much better than my usual below 50%.

I negative split my second half.

89/236 for mixed teams!  We rocked.  

242/728 for all 2 person relays.

8:59 overall pace! Woot Woot!  I could never do that alone.

We rocked rocked rocked!!!!!!


And today I feel quite good. I did a brick this morning - an easy one - 12.6 bike ride (but hilly) and 4 mile run which didn't feel bad at all!