Short story: I did successfully complete 2 full marathons this weekend. Just in case you are wondering, I have no desire to run two in a weekend ever again.
Once again, I’m linking up with Tara at Running’n’Reading and Erin from Her Heartland Soul to recount my weekend.
It was amazing. It was exhausting. It was so much fun. I’ll share actual race reports later in the week, but here’s how the weekend went down.
Kim arrived Thursday evening with no issues, despite thunderstorms peppering the DC area. We loaded the car and headed out of town as soon as we could to head up to Birdsboro, PA for her race on Friday morning. 4:30 am came way too early, but we got her to the race on time. I spent the time chatting and eating. Yes, spectators are just as welcome as runners to eat. In fact, I may have been told by Norm that I HAD to try his pancakes. Blueberry pancakes. Freshly cooked and hot. During a race. Yep. (They were REALLY good.) I definitely got some good carb loading that day for my race the next day!
After Kim finished racing, we headed up to Clinton, New Jersey where we checked out the Red Mill Museum and then joined everyone for dinner. I love hanging out with the people from these series. Everyone is so friendly and someone at the table can usually give you the insight on any race you want to hear about because they’ve run them all. Seriously, these people race a LOT. Then it was back to the hotel and early to bed because I was racing the next morning.
Saturday morning dawned quite chilly and I was glad that we would pass the “bag drop” area multiple times. I didn’t feel like starting cold, so I planned to drop layers as I went. I caught a ride over with a friend from a previous series so that Kim could sleep in (the 3 hour time difference had caught up to her.)
I’ll give details about the race soon, but it was 14 laps of out and back on a pretty, not too hilly course. The race went as well as I could expect given the warmth at the end and I finished 27.1 miles (yeah, it was a bit long) in 5:08:24. Because the course was long, I made sure to note when I saw 26.2 on my watch – 4:58:34. After a quick foot soak in some icy water and a 30 minute massage (best $30 I’ve ever spent), we headed back to the hotel and I took a short soak in an Epsom salt bath. My feet were pretty sore, but other than that I felt pretty good.
Next stop was New Paltz, NY. We had planned to hit the Roosevelt Presidential Library, but I moved too slowly getting ready. We ended up doing a mini tour of the small town and then met up with people for dinner. I, of course, had a flight of New York beers and am now on a quest to find Catskill Brewery’s Freak Tractor beer locally. It was AMAZING. We stayed at an AirBnB in a lovely room on the outskirts of town. It was perfect for the two of us and much nicer than the hotels in town.
Sunday dawned a little chilly, but was expected to warm up quickly. I started the race in a long sleeve shirt over a short sleeve shirt, but finished in a tank top. My quads were feeling the previous race, but overall I was feeling pretty good and I had on my favorite cushy Altra One^2 shoes.
Yes, I did stop in the middle of the race and change shirts. I didn’t love this course with multiple loops and out and backs and a run through a cattle barn. At least there were no actual cattle in the barn.
By 10am, the only shade on the whole course was in that barn. Luckily?, we did the course 20 times, so I ran through the barn 40 times. Oy. Thankfully, these races are really about the people and the food, so I did a lot of chatting and enjoyed a few snacks. I think I finished in about 5:15, but I reset my watch after the first half. It’s all about the mind games. After the race, I was able to grab a quick shower in one of the buildings there, so I didn’t have to ride the 6 hours home feeling gross and sweaty. It’s always so hard to leave my people, but we got out of there and had a relatively easy drive back to DC.
Today, I’ve already dropped Kim at the airport, making for 4 days of 4:30 am wakeups. I’m so tired. And I’m walking like this:
Up next, Ragnar. I’m not worried about the running, but I have a lot to accomplish in the next couple of days to get ready for the start line.
How was your weekend? Don’t forget to join us tomorrow for Tuesdays on the Run and your best race!
Ok, it would be daunting to run 2 back to back marathons, but to run ones that are comprised of multiple loops? That would totally mess with my head. You are way tougher than me. Great job, ERika!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Race Recap: Great Western Half Marathon
I don’t mind the loops at these races. They are kind of comforting + seeing all the people is awesome!
That’s amazing and wonderful times!! Can’t wait for the recaps.
Thanks!
you are amazing! and you typed this blog post- WOW!!! Kudos to you! again, WOW~!
Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…The first weekend in May!
Ha, I was up to take Kim to the airport, so I had some time…
Amazing. I don’t like races with loops. You are tough!!
Darlene recently posted…Monday Running Update
These loops are different. Really.
Congrats on your accomplishments this past weekend! You’re a rock star!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Weekly Training Log – Week of April 27th
Thanks!
love this. did you go ahead and sign up for MM? it’s such a fun group and i’m so happy you are in! way to go, friend!
Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC recently posted…May Goals and Looking Back at April
I will soon. It’s on my mental radar.
You are amazing! I love how you went about this and what you accomplished. Well done. Now rest up!
misszippy recently posted…Top 5 Running Moments
Thank you! I’m feeling pretty good now.
Seriously impressive! The cattle barn thing is odd? Looking forward to hearing all about it this weekend.
Deborah Brooks @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Black Bean & Spinach Tortilla Pie-Cinco de Mayo
I think it was a combination of the director’s quirky sense of humor, needing a bit of extra distance, and a place to give us a bit of shade on a super sunny course.
Well, I’m pretty sure that you may fall into that category of people who “race a lot,” Erika – ha! 😉 After this weekend, definitely! Don’t you love having people around who have done ALL the races? It’s so great, because I never have to worry about figuring out what the course is like, the support, the porta-potties, etc., since I can just ask them! Of course, I have discovered that some folks’ idea of hilly and mine are very different. I do not like the term “rollers,” in regard to hills; is it a hill, or not?!? Hope your week is starting off well; thank you for linking up with the blog and I can’t wait to hear about Ragnar!!
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Weekend Update
Compared to many of the people at these races, I’m barely racing LOL. Some race multiple times every.single. week.
SO impressed! I can’t wait for the full recaps! I don’t know if I could do such a repetitive course!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted…Guacamole Deviled Eggs
It really has to do with the people. Seriously.
Congrats on becoming a maniac! I can’t wait to hear more details about the races… and get some rest this week– you have another busy weekend coming right up!
Lauren @ Lauren Runs recently posted…Ironman Wisconsin Training Update – 19 Weeks to Go!
I promise I’ll get them out there as soon as I can! But I have that little thing called Ragnar in the way…
Whooo hoo! So proud of you! You rocked it!!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Weekend Recap–Back with my BRF, baseball and meal planning!
Thank you!
Oh wow. I can’t even imagine wanting to run one marathon, let alone two, in the same weekend! Serious kudos to you because you’re awesome! I can’t wait to read the actual recaps- I also don’t really like loop courses so I’m curious to hear what you were thinking that whole time! I couldn’t do so many loops without having a serious case of the runner crazies 😉
Montana @ Pretty Lil Mudder recently posted…Weekend Snapshots: Random Things On My Mind
I don’t mind the loops. I’ve done a lot of half marathons that way, but this was my first time doing a marathon that way and surprisingly it didn’t bother me.
Wow, you are amazing! I’ve done half marathons on consecutive days but I cannot imagine back-to-back full marathons. You were close to us – my husband works in Clinton, NJ. Speedy recovery to you!
Kelli recently posted…NJ Devilman Sprint: Don’t forget to fuel mid-race!
Ahh, too bad I didn’t know that! Beautiful area up there.
Wait WHAT!!! 2 marathons in a weekend!!! BEAST MODE ON!!!!
Did that say ran the barn 40 times….
Rest up!
‘See’ you tomorrow on the link up.
Yes, we ran through a small cattle barn twice on each lap. I had a love hate relationship with it.
Wow!! Just Wow!!!! That . is . all !!
Smitha @ FauxRunner recently posted…Pittsburg Half Marathon – Race Report
Thanks? ;o)
Amazing and congrats! I find that video is spot on, except the guy looking up the stairs. I can go up stairs no problem, it’s the walking down the stairs that hurts. Did you see the NY Times did a video of NYC running walking down the steps to the subway?
Lesley recently posted…Tuesdays on the Run
Congratulations on two great races. You did it!! I love the video. I have felt like that, especially after a lot of downhill running. I think I would be OK with all the looping. It would give me something to count and take my mind off the race.
HoHo Runs recently posted…Green and Blue
You. are. seriously. amazing. THE END.
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Steel Challenge: Pittsburgh 5K & Half Marathon Recap