Friday
My wife and oldest daughter and I drove up on Friday night. It was a boring (mostly) drive up I-75. After a wrong turn in a parking lot, we got to the hotel around 10:00 PM. The hotel was mediocre – all the rooms with two beds have two doubles.
T-1 Day – Expo and Stuff
On the morning before, I got out for a 4 mile shakeout run. The weather was decent, although a little chilly. I didn’t go particularly hard, 4.04 miles in 34:07 (8:27 min/mile pace). I did get to run on a path in one of Toledo’s Metroparks.
On the day before, my wife, eldest daughter, and I went to the expo and picked up a little something in addition to my race packet.
We didn’t spend much time at the expo, it was small but had pretty good representation from the local running stores and some nearby (Cleveland, Akron) races.
After the expo, we stopped at a local grocery store to get some bagels and peanut butter (and a few other groceries). I checked their beer aisle. Everything they had that was local was pretty easy for me to get, and everything not local was either Cleveland (Great Lakes) or Cincinnati (Madtree, Rhinegeist).
Later on, we went to Maumee Bay Brewing Company for a pizza and some beers. We went to go to Black Cloister Brewing Company, but it is in downtown Toledo and the nearest lot wanted $15 to park there. I don’t know what was going on, but it didn’t work in their favor! It had started raining, so walking a few (or more) blocks was out of the question. We went back to the hotel room to relax.
Sometime during the afternoon or evening, I prepared my stuff for the morning. Shorts, a long-sleeve shirt, headband, and gloves for the race, and not knowing what the weather would do, I packed a towel, pants, sweatshirt, and compression socks in my check bag. In addition, I packed my waist pack with several Gatorade Energy Gels, made sure my watch and AfterShokz were charged, and made sure my RoadID, Bib Boards, and bib were where I needed them.
The Race
I got to the starting line courtesy of the hotel shuttle with about 40 minutes to spare. Since it was still drizzling and chilly, I kept my sweatshirt on until about 20 minutes to spare when I stuffed it into the bag and went to gear check. The race started without a hitch.
First 6 Miles
Miles 1 and 2 were a tad on the slow slide, partly because I was still warming up and partly due to course congestion. The mile 1 aid station was particularly bad – it was half a 2-lane road with water on both sides and very eager volunteers. Mile 3 was another congested aid station. First three mile splits: 8:30, 8:04, 7:59.
The congestion from other runners started to clear up in miles 4, 5, and 6. There was still several runners, but there was a little more room around. I remained conservative in my pace through 4 and 5, and started pushing a little in mile 6: 7:58, 8:04, 7:51.
I took Gatorade at every other aid station through this first quarter. I took a Gatorade Endurance Gel in Mile 5.
Second 6 Miles
I maintained my momentum from mile 6 through 7 and 8. Mile 9 had several turns and some small hills, which slowed me a little, but it was still solid. Beyond 9, I started laying down some solid splits that I maintained for a while. The split for half and full was between mile 9 and 10, and the course really cleared. At that point, I used the Google Assistant via my AfterShokz to shuffle my “Epic Running Playlist” and got into a groove.
I took Gatorade at every other station EXCEPT I also took at the mile 11 station unsure of whether it was the last before 14 or if there was another. I debated on skipping mile 12, but decided I would be okay to take in some Gatorade before getting into the lesser-supported section. I took a gel at mile 10. Miles 7-12 splits were 7:56, 7:54, 8:03, 7:49, 7:53, 7:57.
Third 6 Miles
I really maintained my sub-8 groove here, despite the sun coming out and getting into a crummier portion of the course that is along a “stroad” (a wide suburban highway) as well as getting into some turns and hills in a subdivision. In addition to the crummier course, the road was very wet in places and there was a particularly nasty sun glare. There was a location with a tunnel for “recovery”. This was apparently for an alcohol recovery group. Having “I RUN FOR BEER” on my Bib Boards, this was somewhat awkward. Note to self: get some non-prescription sunglasses that I can carry with me! Through the subdivisions, there was some cheering, and some were serious about it! 😊.
I took Gatorade at all the stations through here, as they went down to a station every-other-mile. In addition, I took a gel at mile 15. Mile 13-18 splits were 7:53, 7:53, 7:52, 7:51, 8:01, 8:03.
Fourth 6 Miles
This is where the wheels started falling off the A train. Mile 19 was still solid, but 20-24 became more difficult. This section starts along a busy street and then goes into a nature preserve before getting onto a bike trail. The bike path became boring and monotonous. Additionally, my quads were ON FIRE.
Gatorade at every other station, and my final energy gel at mile 20. The splits for miles 19-24 were 8:08, 8:35, 8:16, 8:29, 8:38, and 8:48.
The Last 2.2 Miles
Continuing with quads of fire, at some point in mile 23 I looked at my watch and thought that I can break 3:30 with some seriously fast splits… and well, it didn’t exactly happen that way. Mile 25 was not my slowest mile of the day, but it was close. When I saw the mile 25 sign, I released the Kracken. I really wanted to accomplish the Strava last-mile challenge and have my best mile be my last mile. I kicked it into high gear and started passing a ton of people – including a few that were not completely happy about getting passed (I heard one lady say “🤬” quite loudly after I passed her 😂 – she passed me a few miles before and was kinda close about it, so it serves her right!). In addition, about 1/3 the way past mile 25, the race starts going downhill!
Mile 25 was 8:44. Mile 26 was a 7:46, and the last 0.2 was 1:53 (7:29 pace). My speed across the line was nothing short of amazing, and I accomplished the last mile challenge!
Total time was 3:32:58. 12 minute PR!
In addition, I think this race gets an all-time high for mustache compliments. No joke, I’m pretty sure it exceeded all other races COMBINED by a factor of two!
Afterparty!
So the afterparty began with entering a parking lot, receiving a glass mug, and then waiting in a long line for a banana, orange, a few more snacks, some garlic bread, pizza, and a cookie. The garlic bread was garlic-y, the pizza was okay. The cookie was good. After eating those, I went to baggage claim to get my bag, which was of little security (glad my phone and cash were with me the entire time). I put on my compression socks and then went for the beer. The selection was better than expected, but not great. I did get a Michelob Ultra (Lime and Cactus Pear or something like that) and a Shock Top. I walked around a little and then headed towards the shuttle bus pickup, getting stopped by security on the way because I still had 1/3 of my beer 😒. I finished it and walked up a 🤬🤬 ton of stairs to get to the shuttle bus pickup, and while I waited there I ate my banana and orange.
Drive Home
I normally wouldn’t care about this part, but I-75 was closed due to a massive crash and I have pics courtesy of my wife.
That’s it! My next race is Friday, May 3: The 50 West Mile.
Cheers!