2020 Runners Run Marathon
Scroll down to the end for the tl;dr version.
Prologue
After a disappointing 2019 New York City Marathon in November, I paid a visit to a primary care doctor in the hope that she could explain my fatigue. On the day of the appointment, I presented in a hypertensive crisis and was immediately put on blood pressure medication. I spent most of the winter seeing additional doctors so they could assess if anything else might be wrong with me.
The winter wasn’t all gloomy, though. Unexpectedly, I was invited to participate in the inaugural 2020 Wanda Age Group World Championships at the London Marathon! I eagerly accepted even though it meant running two marathons six days apart!
My training cycle for the 2020 Boston Marathon started back in mid-December. I followed Hanson’s style training method through the LHR Virtual Boston Training Group thinking that running “with” people would add an additional level of accountability.
I ran a few “tune-up” races along the way. In January, I completed the 2020 New Day New Year 10K in 50:16 (8:04 pace) and three weeks later, I ran 1:45:49 (8:31 pace) at the 2020 DCRRC JFK 20K. On March 8th, I had a good showing at the 2020 Reston 10 Miler running a 1:21:32 (8:10 pace). I might just re-qualify for the Boston Marathon after all!
But later that week, both the 2020 Boston Marathon and the 2020 London Marathon were postponed until the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic. But, I’m a runner. And, runners run. So, I knew I would run 26.2 miles anyway – just as I did when the 2012 New York City Marathon was canceled after Superstorm Sandy.
Goals
Likely (“B Goal”): My primary concern with running 26.2 miles on my own was that I didn’t want to become a burden to medical personnel. To reach this goal, I would keep my pace around or below what my long run pace would be.
Achievable (“A Goal”): Maintain social distancing of six feet to decrease the chance of asymptomatic spread of the COVID-19 virus. I assessed that this goal would get progressively harder as the day went on and more people ventured outside, so I should try to hit the trails early.
Stretch (“C Goal”): When I thought about a time goal, sub-4:00 (9:10 pace) came to mind. It wasn’t based on fitness, I just didn’t want to be out running past noon.
Strategy: Run by feel.
Course
Unlike neighborhood jurisdictions in Washington DC and Maryland, Virginia did not have a strict stay-at-home order – we were allowed – even encouraged – to go out for exercise.
Initially, I planned to run an out-and-back on the Mount Vernon Trail to the estate but was concerned about feeling unwell so far from home.
That morning, I settled on dividing the distance into 8 3-mile segments with a quarter-mile recovery. I chose a segment from approximately the 6.5-mile mark on the Four Mile Run Trail to the Mount Vernon Trail up to Gravelly Point.
Of course, there would be no crowds or anything of that sort.
The only water fountain on the route – near National Airport, was not working. However, I ran with a Camelbak filled with 1.5 liters of water and a 12-ounce flask with Gatorade.
(My Guide to Washington D.C. Area Running Routes)
Playlist
I’d been working on my playlist for the 2020 Boston Marathon but hadn’t finished. I just went with what I had – 48 songs and 3 hours and 4 minutes of music.
Pre-Event
When Boston and London were canceled, I didn’t doubt whether I would run 26.2 miles anyway. But in the days leading up to the race, I started having doubts – should I be running so far outside?
Most of my apprehension mostly came from a thread on the London Marathon Facebook group page where a runner in the United Kingdom, where there was a “lockdown”, was criticized as being selfish, arrogant, and reckless for running 26.2 miles in a park area in place of the Paris Marathon. I think mostly because it exceeded a 30 or 60-minute guideline for outdoor exercise. Meanwhile, local runner Michael Wardian won a virtual ultra-marathon by running laps in his neighborhood.
[dropshadowbox align=”center” effect=”raised” width=”800px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”4″ border_color=”#fde583″ rounded_corners=”false” outside_shadow=”false” ]Was it irresponsible and self-indulgent to run 26.2 in the midst of a global pandemic?[/dropshadowbox]
On the morning of the run, I woke up at 6 a.m. at my boyfriend’s house which is where I’d been sheltering-in-place. Earlier in the month, I listed my townhouse for sale and decided to stay away from it as people went in and out.
Despite being sequestered here for a month, I hadn’t learned my way around the kitchen so I hunted for something that would make a good pre-marathon meal. I settle on two scrambled eggs and toast. I also drank some water with a scoop of BPI Sports Best Aminos.
Having trained for the Brazos Bend 50 Miler the previous year, I felt prepared to run unsupported for a good while. For gear, I had a Camelbak Circuit Vest that I filled with water. I also filled a flask with Gatorade and put it in one pocket. In the other, I put items I hoped I wouldn’t need such as SaltStick FastChews and a Sword Energy Chew. I carried three energy gels with me – two Crank Sports e-Gel and a Clif Energy Gel.
(My Guide to Running Nutrition)
For clothing, I wore a Lululemon Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve because it was a little cool outside and Lululemon Fast and Free 6″ Reflective shorts so I could carry my gels as conveniently as possible. On my feet were a nearly new pair of Mizuno Wave Rider 23s.
I squashed whatever reservations I had about running and headed out for the run.
I went over to my townhouse briefly to pick up one more thing. Or, three things. I also grabbed some bracelets that would serve as motivation if my spirit flagged – the bracelet from 2014 Boston Marathon made of the banners from the 2013 marathon (I’m fairly sure mine is a piece of Ryan Hall‘s face), the bracelet from the 2013 New York City Marathon given to runners who missed out on the 2012 race due to cancelation, and a bracelet from my Ragnar Relay team.
After gathering everything that I thought I would need, I got in my car and drove down to Mile 6.5 of the Four Mile Run Trail in Arlington, Virginia. I parked next to the Giant supermarket on Glebe Road thinking I could go into the store to use the restroom if needed. I gathered up my gear and headed out. The parking lot was a far cry from the Athlete’s Village in Hopkinton.
I crossed the street to Four Mile Run Trail and at 7:54 a.m., I was off!
Weather
It was good running weather but not ideal. The temperature was around 43 degrees when I started and never hit 60. But, the winds increased to 10-18 miles-an-hour winds from the west with 20-36 mph gust. This meant when I started from the Four Mile Run Trail I would have a nice tailwind but then, a strong headwind coming back.
The Event
Early Miles – Miles 0 to 3.25 (Out to Gravelly Point, Trip 1)
From the moment I started, I could tell the Camelbak Circuit Vest that I was wearing was rubbing against my sports bra in a very bad way. It was so painful that I thought about going back to change. “Into what?”, I thought. Instead, I tried moving my shirt so it would serve as a buffer.
As I made my way along the Four Mile Run Trail, I couldn’t help but wonder at what a beautiful morning it was. Along the way, I also scoured the landscape for places I could exit the trail in case I started feeling bad. But overall, I felt pretty good. My ankles hurt a little but that was it. I also looked for places where I could pee if it came to that.
As I switch to the Mount Vernon Trail, I noticed there weren’t a lot of people out. I might have passed five other runners.
I arrived at Gravelly Point and noticed the parking lot was closed. (I ran past the location the weekend before and the lot was packed, so I imagine the National Park Service closed it!) I turned around right where the trail is perpendicular to the runway at National Airport.
3-mile segment pace (by Garmin): 9:20. Recovery segment pace: 11:51
Early Miles – Miles 3.25 to 6.50 (Back to Glebe Road, Trip 1)
Along the way, I thought to myself, “Well, you’re finally getting your ultra.” I spent some time thinking about not running the Brazos Bend 50 Miler in December after training so hard for it. I decided it wasn’t going to happen and just moved on.
[dropshadowbox align=”center” effect=”raised” width=”800px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”4″ border_color=”#fde583″ rounded_corners=”false” outside_shadow=”false” ]Why was I able to put it in my rear-view mirror so easily while feeling the need to complete this training cycle?[/dropshadowbox]
It dawned on me that I hadn’t been drinking much water and I made a conscious effort to sip from my Camelbak on the return trip.
When I got to the Arlington Water Pollution Control Plant on the Four Mile Run Trail, I noticed a lot more people – especially walkers. It was hard to pass them and maintain a 6′ of distance at the same time.
During this recovery segment, I had my first gel at that point – a watermelon flavored Crank Sports e-Gel. When I reached the starting point, I turned around and I mentally prepared myself for the monotony and thought, “Okay. Do that three more times.”
3-mile segment pace (by Garmin): 9:27. Recovery segment pace: 12:26
Early Miles – Miles 6.50 to 9.75 (Out to Gravelly Point, Trip 2)
During this segment, the seeds of doubt starting swelling in my head. I spent most of the training cycle just trying to gather the energy to run consistently again and never really got to a point where I was consistently running goal marathon pace. Stringing together these early miles, I wondered if this entire endeavor was foolish. I knew today would be about finishing, though, so I hid my watch and just focused on running a comfortable rhythm.
On Four Mile Run Trail, I passed my first runner in a mask. In Virginia, we were staying at home but wearing masks hadn’t been recommended, yet.
2020 Runners Run Marathon – Tulips Near Airport
By the time the hard segment was ending near National Airport, I felt my discomfort easing. I felt myself relax when I realized I made it through my first rough patch.
As I came into Gravelly Point and prepared for my return trip, I texted my boyfriend. I hadn’t started Garmin Live Track when I left but tried turning it on.
3-mile segment pace (by Garmin): 9:34. Recovery segment pace: 11:32
Middle Miles – Miles 9.75 to 13 (Back to Glebe Road, Trip 2)
Leaving Gravelly Point, there was a short stretch where I was running due west and I felt resistance from the wind. As I turned the bend, I wrapped up my text conversation with my boyfriend. It wasn’t the same pressure as live tracking for a race but I didn’t want him to worry about me – particularly after the 2019 New York City Marathon where I almost stopped.
Along the way, I noticed a song I had already heard was playing again. Somehow, I put my music on shuffle. I continued listening but was annoyed.
On the Four Mile Run Trail, I could tell the crowds were increasing now that the sun was out. Whenever I needed to pass someone, I ran as far to the left as I could. There wasn’t much oncoming traffic though, so it wasn’t particularly difficult to create some distance between me and another trail user.
3-mile segment pace (by Garmin): 9:55. Recovery segment pace: 11:37
Middle Miles – Miles 13 to 16.25 (Out to Gravelly Point, Trip 3)
At the turn-around, I took my phone out and changed from my playlist to an episode of This American Life. I also took a quick picture of my Garmin to record my half marathon split.
Before picking up the pace, I had a chocolate Clif Energy Gel. This was not my preferred gel but I had trained with them for the Boston Marathon.
By this point in the afternoon, the wind had picked up significantly. When I turned north and up the Mount Vernon Trail, I could feel it whipping my face.
3-mile segment pace (by Garmin): 10:19. Recovery segment pace: 12:13
Middle Miles – Miles 16.25 to 19.5 (Back to Glebe Road, Trip 3)
At this point in the game, I pulled out a Camelbak flask and drank Gatorade.
Running had become so difficult that I thought about quitting. “This doesn’t even matter.” Why am I putting myself through this for nothing? But, I silenced that voice with, “Because you need to finish this.” My mental resistance was strong and for a moment, I thought of the Brazos Bend 50 Miler. “You didn’t finish that.”, it countered.
[dropshadowbox align=”center” effect=”raised” width=”800px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”4″ border_color=”#fde583″ rounded_corners=”false” outside_shadow=”false” ]I could put both of those training cycles behind me if I finished today. I just needed to slow down.[/dropshadowbox]
In the meanwhile, the podcast I was listening to was also weakening my resolve. It was titled, “The Test” and it featured stories of how some Americans were coping with coronavirus. Some of the stories were heart-wrenching and my feelings of self-indulgence bubbled back to the surface. But, this far in, I decided to keep going.
I switched to watching my heart rate to make sure I wasn’t over-exerting myself. My first and primary objective was not to be a medical emergency.
3-mile segment pace (by Garmin): 11:21. Recovery segment pace: 12:17
Later Miles – Miles 19.5 to 22.5 (Out to Gravelly Point, Trip 4)
Just after the turn-around, I hit another rough patch. I knew I was running much slower than even the previous three-mile segment but didn’t check to see by how much. My car was just a few hundred yards away! But, I pressed on knowing I needed to put as much distance between myself and Glebe Road so quitting wouldn’t be a consideration. I had another watermelon flavored Crank Sports e-Gel and tried to enjoy the scenery.
Then, “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore played and I got a boost of energy!
As I got closer and closer to Gravelly Point, I became more and more concerned that I couldn’t do this. When I reached the area short of the runway, I stopped and turned around. It’s only a quarter-mile away but I don’t want to push it. It turned out LiveTrack wasn’t working but I texted my boyfriend anyway to let him know that I was alright. I also took two SaltStick FastChews.
One lesson I learned from the 2019 New York City Marathon was that stopping to walk didn’t help much, so I trudged on. I was boosted knowing at this point, every step was bringing me closer to the end.
3-mile segment pace (by Garmin): 11:34. Recovery segment pace: 17:20
Later Miles – Miles 22.5 to 26.2 (Back to Glebe Road, Trip 4)
On the last segment back, I tried to ignore all of the pain signals that my body was sending. I couldn’t ignore them on the pedestrian overpass near the airport and walk for a little while. Once the trail was flat again, I resumed my shuffle.
Back on the Four Mile Run Trail for the last time, I felt I was finishing at the perfect time as more and more pedestrians and a cyclist had visited to enjoy the outdoors. Running under Route 1, passing a group of four people safely took a great deal of effort.
I reached the end of the route but because I had stopped short on the previous segment, I turned around again. I re-passed some people and wondered if they thought I was strange.
For some reason, I stopped my Garmin but immediately restarted it to make sure I got the right distance. When I finally hit the Start/Stop button for good, I felt incredibly relieved that this run was finally over!
3-mile segment pace (by Garmin): 12:08, recovery segment pace: 12:39, 0.26-mile segment pace: 11:20
Result
My time was 4:38:56 (10:39 pace) [Log Details]. It wasn’t particularly fast – not even for a slow, long run – but the goal was to cover the distance.
2020 Runners Run Marathon – Finish
A few days later, I entered my time on the LHR Virtual Spring Races website, which was open to all of his runners not just those training for the Boston Marathon, and was awed at how well some people ran! I will probably end up 20th for marathon participants (out of 20), 9th for women (out of 9), and 3rd in my 5-year age group (out of 3) – last in all categories! Our coach talked about distributing medals and prizes, which I thought was a nice gesture.
Post-Race
As I hit the stop button, a runner passing me stopped to chat.
As I walked back to my car, the run felt anti-climatic – no one handed me a medal! I keep a New York City Marathon poncho in my car at all times and wrapped myself in it before driving home. Feeling the warmth of the felt brought back memories of marathons past.
I drove to my townhouse to park my car and then hobbled over to my boyfriend’s apartment. My legs didn’t feel post-marathon terrible, just post-very long run weary. He had a pizza and beer waiting for me but first, I took a shower. The water stung my back and revealed just how much the hydration pack chewed up my back.
The self-indulgent feeling stuck with me for the remainder of the day. I was glad I ran 26.2 miles but didn’t feel the need to boast about it.
Epilogue
I called this the “Runners Run” marathon because when the postponements were announced, it was what I used to get out the door and run when I knew I didn’t need to – without a race to prove myself, did it matter? Yes.
[dropshadowbox align=”center” effect=”raised” width=”800px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”4″ border_color=”#fde583″ rounded_corners=”false” outside_shadow=”false” ]I’m a runner, so I run.[/dropshadowbox]
As far as the training cycle itself, I spent most of it just trying to get my health back on track. By the time I was feeling better in early March, my races were canceled! I enjoyed the camaraderie of the LHR Virtual Boston Training Group, though.
My focus for the next week will be on moving out of my townhouse and into my new apartment! Selling my place feels like I’m starting a new chapter in my life.
Next race: It’s impossible to know when we will be able to race again. I am registered to run the postponed 2020 Boston Marathon on Monday, September 14th, and the rescheduled London Marathon on Sunday, October 4th.
Abridged Version
I was having a rough training cycle, so when both the Boston Marathon and London Marathon were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was disappointed but also slightly relieved that I wouldn’t have two struggle-fests this spring. But, I knew I would “run anyway” as I did after the 2012 New York City Marathon was canceled.
Race day was April 12th and was beautiful weather. I was lucky that due to ultra-marathon training the summer before, I had the right gear and fueling strategy. I ran well for the first 13 miles but hit a wall at Mile 19. My time was 4:38:56 (10:39 pace).
Over the next few weeks, I plan to spend a few weeks moving before focusing on the fall.
