Run the Bird! Part two...

The next morning we got up and walked down to the race start line right before the race. I needed to use the restroom from the very beginning, but being so close to the start of the race I would have to wait. The race started at exactly 7 a.m., which, is something they purport being known for. The very start of the race was down hill slightly and them some flat terrain on a highway. The worst was yet to come. The website claimed two particularly challenging hills on the course. Throughout, I noticed many rolling hills I would consider significant. One hill of particular notation was "Heart Beat Hill." As soon as I got to the start of this hill, at about mile 17, I decided it best to walk the worst of it. From there the rolling hills continually pounded on my legs and toward the end with about 4 or 5 miles left my right quad started to cramp and every so often I had to walk until it went back to normal. Unlike my training runs I also notice my upper back getting tight and I am guessing this is from leaning on the hills. One of the nicest things I have seen at a race was the GU they had here. Not just GU, but the presentation of cutting the tops off before handing to the runners was a great idea and whoever thought of this deserves many thanks.

One of my best memories in the race was at a water stop. Usually as runners pass through a water stop they yell out whether they want water or sports drink. In one particular instance I yelled out "Cold Beer," to which one of the laughing volunteers responded "Jello Shots."

By the end of the race, I felt like I was dead and glad to be finished. In the end I had a new marathon PR by over an hour and finished in 4:19:34. Of course, I have to be fair and explain that my last PR and first marathon was Chicago in 2007 when they canceled it because of the heat.

After the race, we walked back to the hotel to take showers. After the showers we drove over toward Second Sole to pick up our free shoes. En route, we stopped at a national burrito chain for lunch. As stated, we picked up our shoes. I was impressed that they had size 13 shoes quite ready and the store also marked all merchandise down quite a bit. After getting our shoes we went back to the hotel and crashed until dinner. For dinner we went to the Ohio Brewing Company and tried some of their brews. The beer wasn't overly exciting, but I will admit I can be a beer snob sometimes. After this we went back to the hotel for the night and the next day drove back.

Overall, it was a blast. I would recommend this race to anyone and Runner's World got it correct including it in the top 10 marathons.