State Number 48 - Cheap Marathon

State Number 48 – Cheap Marathon

Salisbury, MA

7 April 2019

I begin with a quote from the race organizers, “If you have high expectations [for this marathon], please lower them.”  Great, this will be a first.

New England has so many great marathons to choose from.  Aside from the famous Boston Marathon held every third Monday of April, I chose one of the less expensive alternatives, over one hundred dollars cheaper – the Cheap Marathon, as the name implies.

The cost for marathons seems to be trending higher due to the ever-increasing race budgets.  With added swag needed to attract runners, race directors have no choice but to require higher and higher entry fees.  Perhaps I should follow the cheap route with a cut-rate economy sized blog write-up.

With the Cheap Marathon, organizers decided to strip down many of the expenses and focus on the essentials needed to produce a solid race.  The entry fee – $26.21 (an affordable one dollar per mile).  Swag, forget about it.  Post-race food and festivities, forget about it.  Just don’t come into this marathon with high expectations for added frills – you won’t find them at this marathon on the banks of Massachusetts’ north shore less than an hour north of Boston.

Back for its only second running, Cheap has added a half marathon (at half the cost) as a way to entice a larger field of runners.

Looped courses are quite common, the Mainly Marathon series being a perfect example.  The Cheap course comprises 4.37-mile “loops” zig-zagging through an RV park in which marathoners must complete six of those loops and the responsibility of counting each loop lies with the runner.  I don’t mind so much repeating a half marathon loop twice, but I hope that multiple loops do not work to my disadvantage and plague my psyche.  I may have to resort to some mental games and mantras to get me through, just as the pros do, for example:




Meb Keflezighi: "Boston Strong."
Desi Linden: "Calm, calm, calm.  Relax, relax, relax."
Shalane Flanagan. "Run without any regrets."
Bill Rodgers: "Relentless."
Deena Kastor: "Go faster. Push harder. Today, define yourself."

Ever since the Napa Valley Marathon weekend, I’ve suffered through on-and-off bouts of coughing and sinus issues that’s vetoed my desire to run any serious training miles.  I was worried and I won't lie and tell you that I didn't have a “what the f*** am I doing” moment on the journey to Massachusetts, because, I did.  My fitness level was nowhere near what it was a month ago.  Though it was obviously too late to turn back. 

Instead of hassling with the ordeal and torment of LAX, we flew into Boston (BOS) from our local airport via Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) on another dreaded red-eye flight.  On the bright side, it’s such a great feeling to have a stress-free forty-minute drive to the airport.  We arrived in Boston to a cold cloudy Saturday morning around 1100 EDT (more or less) giving us plenty of time to negotiate the streets of East Boston and have some lunch before hitting the highways into the old-world maritime community of Newburyport to pick up our bibs.

Packet pick-up

Jackrabbit (a local running store) in downtown Newburyport hosted the bib pick-up from 1200 to 1600.  Of course, there is no event expo; but, since Jackrabbit is a running store, one can think of the store serving as an interim expo.  As advertised, the small four-hour window was a runner’s only chance to pick up their bib numbers.  Later, I learned that was not the case.

Let’s Do This

Runners ready

The marathon begins at the south end of the Salisbury State Reservation overlooking the point at which the Merrimack River feeds the Atlantic Ocean.  This popular summertime destination on the mouth of the Merrimack is an idyllic retreat for RVers and for those who like to rough it by camping in their tents.

I arrived at the reservation around 0630 ready to run, even feeling the way I did – ill prepared.  But, I would have to see how the day progressed to assess my stamina and fitness level.  Contrary to what the marathon’s web site indicates, I found runners crowding around a portable table picking up their bibs and shirts/hats, if they pre-paid for them.  So much for the Saturday only pick up.

It was a beautiful morning as the sun rose over the Atlantic Ocean, with a bright blue sky and a brisk 37 degrees with a slight southerly breeze, making for a perfect running day.  While it was a tad on the cold side, I wasn’t stressed as I usually am – similar to how I felt at Napa Valley.  I’d be lying if thoughts about my hamstring and my lack of training wasn’t at the forefront of my thinking.

Approximately 400 half and full marathon runners toed the starting line.  After some brief messages from the race director, it was go-time.  In the for-what-it’s-worth department, this is my second marathon event without the national anthem. ☹

The first half: (9:53, 9:51, 10:02, 9:51, 10:01, 9:56, 10:07, 9:55, 9:52, 10:12, 10:24, 10:43, 10:19)

Course map

Red light, yellow light, green light GO!  As the race director signaled, we were off and running.  It wasn’t much above freezing, but the sun was shining with an aura of a mellow vibe warming the starting area.  So, while I was cold, I wasn’t super stressed, and that was a nice change. 

Only three pacers (4:20, 4:35 and 5:20) implanted themselves into the runner’s queue to assist anyone who desired to meet a certain time goal.  I began my run with the 4:35 pacer, but it seemed a little too slow and relaxed.  But, as it always seems to happen, I charge out ahead and ignore the advice to start out slow.  I kept the 4:20 pacer in sight and without burning up too much energy, I slowly caught up with the group within the first mile.  I figured, with a 9:55 pace, I am quite comfortable since I routinely pace 2:10 half marathons. 

The first thing I noticed were the absence of mile markers set up on the course.  Were they too expensive to acquire?  Were materials too expensive to purchase to make their own?  Whatever the case may be, when it comes to no frills, this is it. 

The first mile and a half consisted of a straight shot along swampy marsh lands followed by a hairpin turn at the entrance to the reservation at the junction of Highway 1A, only to come back in the other direction. 

As runners veered off the entrance road and into the camping area shortly before Marathon Mile 3, a thought entered my mind.  “OMG.  That was a boring two-plus miles and I have to do that five more times!  This may end up being a long day.”

Marathon Miles 3 and 4 zig-zagged through the reservation’s multiple unoccupied RV campground sites before finishing the full loop at 4.36 miles.  The course was well-marked preventing runners from making a wrong turn – yet, they couldn’t supply simple makeshift mile markers?  After one lap, I realized the intensity of the challenge confronting me.   The course was flat, yes.  But that hairpin turn at the reservation entrance was cruel, with a very slight uphill gradient facing a headwind, and knowing I had to do that each time was a bit unnerving.   Regardless, I settled into what I thought was comfortable race pace, somewhere between 9:50 and 10:00, and I told myself to just zone out, enjoy and focus on completing my final New England state. 

I felt good.  Surprisingly good.  There were no hamstring, ankle or calf pains, which I thought was awesome.  My legs felt strong, but psychologically, the thought of running multiple loops created a constant pain within my inner self.  While I had some sense of what to expect in the days leading up to the marathon, I was now wondering if I would not only finish but maybe even equal my time at Big Beach, AL. 

The pace group completed the first loop on pace with a time of 43 minutes and change.  I felt strong as we began our second loop and thought the first lap wasn’t so bad after all.  Listening to various conversations within the pace group made the out-and-back boring section a lot more palatable.  We completed the second loop in a time of 44 minutes, putting us slightly over pace.  Runners rarely run the shortest possible route causing courses to run long, and without mile markers to judge time, correct pacing using only a Garmin watch becomes problematic.

It was right around the Marathon Mile 11 point as clouds began to fill the sky, providing relief from the sun’s intensity.  I made the mistake by stopping at an aid table to drink some water and choke down some energy gel as the group continued to proceed, leaving me to either drop out or fight back.  In lieu of fighting back, I decided to keep them in sight, by running my own race.

I felt my legs quickly becoming more and more tired as I fought to complete the third lap.  I crossed the timing mat completing the half marathon with a respectable time of 2:12 while overlooking those runners around me as they finished their half marathon run.  My focus was straight ahead to the next aid station.

Course map

The second half: (11:31, 11:49, 12:21, 12:55, 13:14, 11:40, 12:23, 11:46, 12:47, 13:07, 13:20, 13:30, 13:38, 11:13 projected pace [final 0.19 mi])

Fortunately, the wind worked in my favor as I proceeded down the lonely boring section of road leading to the turn-around point.  With the temperature beginning to rise, the sun poking through sections of broken clouds, even with the wind at my back, I felt my energy levels draining.  Whether it was psychological or physical, I was getting hot, and for those who know me, I don’t do well in the heat.

At Marathon Mile 14, I swallowed a couple of my acetaminophen/caffeine pills to smooth out the rough edges and to boost my energy level for two miles of easier running.  It may be only temporary, but it’s worth it.

I felt my pace slowly dwindling as I made the dreaded turn, confronting a headwind challenging my every step.  I had no choice but to reassess my goal time to five hours.  Sure, I was disappointed, but with injuries and illnesses hampering my training, it left me with no other option.  With two hours and forty-eight minutes to finish the remaining three laps, I felt confident.  But, I had to continue to keep grinding.

I managed to keep a steady pace after Marathon Mile 16.  As the finish line drew closer with every step, I felt confident of beating my five-hour time goal.

I closed out the fifth lap in a time of 3:58, just as a young runner dashes past me raising her arms above her head celebrating her accomplishment.  Demoralizing? Undeniably.  I had one more lap to finish – in less than an hour.

A steady consistent pace ruled the final 4.36 miles, walking every so often giving my tired legs a chance to energize themselves.  I was hot, worn out and ready to end this run and I even talked with myself, “There’s that pothole, I won’t see you again, and that drainage grate and rotten fence post, so long.”  As I approached the final quarter mile, I gave everything I had, amped up my pace until my calf began to camp.  I quickly adjusted my gait to minimize the discomfort, crossing the finish line with a time of 4:57:07, thus meeting my goal.

A few seconds after crossing that final map, a young girl approaches me and hands me a bottle of water with my symbolic finisher’s “token” as I best describe it, attached to it. 

I thought, “This is it?  A crappy ribbon similar to what I earned in grammar school that reads, ‘I ran, I conquered and I didn’t go broke at the Cheap Marathon.  I ran a full marathon and all I got was this lousy ribbon!’”  I reckon it’s cheap, but at least it could be a cheap medallion or something resembling a medal.  It just doesn’t fit well into my medal collection, but it’s light weight and easy to hang among my extravagant medal collection.  They said race participants need to lower their expectations.  Well played. 

Almost there...

Whew! Six done, zero left

Really?

RACE STATS:

Distance: Marathon (26.2 mi) – my Garmin clocked it at 26.19 mi

Date: 7 April 2019

Bib No.: 145

Weather at start: 37°F, sunny and clear

Gun time: 4:57:32

Chip time: 4:57:07

Average cadence: 156 steps per minute

Average pace: 11:20 per mile

Overall rank: 171 of 194

Gender rank: 83 of 89

Division rank: 10 of 10

Elevation: 102 ft gain / 102 ft loss

Half split: 2:12 (10:04 pace)

Average finish time: 4:11:19

Standard deviation: 0:38:55

Age graded score: 48.28%

Age graded time: 4:14:41

Garmin splits: (9:53, 9:51, 10:02, 9:51, 10:01, 9:56, 10:07, 9:55, 9:52, 10:12, 10:24, 10:43, 10:19, 11:31, 11:49, 12:21, 12:55, 13:14, 11:40, 12:23, 11:46, 12:47, 13:07, 13:20, 13:30, 13:38, 11:13 projected pace [final 0.19 mi])

LIKES / WHAT WORKED:

• Small and pancake-flat course on Massachusetts North Shore. 
• Very well organized event from bib pick-up to the multiple aid stations along the course.
• Super friendly volunteer support.
• Hats off to the great spectators displaying their support!
• Easy parking race morning.
• FINISHING!!

DISLIKES / WHAT DIDN’T WORK:

• The multiple loops of the 4.36-mile course.
• I understand the cost-cutting, but a finishers ribbon?  
• No food at the finish – but everyone was warned.  At least there was water.
• Seeing others finish when you still have one lap to go.

Post-race merriments at the finish line?  Forget about it.  With that said, my wife and I quickly vacated the area.  In the meantime, we asked three people sitting in the parking lot as they took the load off their achy dogs enjoying their beer the whereabouts of the post-race party.  They said, “The beer’s right here” as they pointed to several cans in front of them.  Funny, as they kindly gave us two cans of craft beer.  Such nice friendly people!

Salisbury Sports Pub in nearby Salisbury Beach hosted the post-race party.  The pub was packed with people eating and having a good time with classic rock n roll blasting through the speakers, but I don’t believe there were many runners left among the patrons. 

I don’t like dark or hoppy beers with that bitter craft beer taste, but rather a light beer that’s mild and easy to drink.  Among the selection, I chose a Shiner light blonde as my free 16-ounce sample.  As with all craft beers, I was skeptical about this brand, but to my surprise, I found it delicious with a light crisp taste, similar to a Coors Light.

In the parking lot

Grande burrito

Following a refreshing shower, we satiated our appetites with some Mexican cuisine at Casa Tequila across the New Hampshire state line.  The giant chile verde burrito certainly challenged the capacity of my crop.

With the rainy weather and water-logged roads, combined with Boston’s predictable morning rush traffic, we left our hotel in Amesbury around 0530, giving us ample time to arrive at BOS for our flight home via LAX.

Final thoughts

There you have it – a cheap economy-sized race review paralleling the marathon’s theme.

As far as races go, The Cheap Marathon was about the most low-maintenance event I had ever attended.  And that was the point.  It was cheap, easy to deal with, no shirts (unless you bought one), no awards, basically, no frills at all.  They did, however, provide us with water and UCAN, thank you very much.  The downside of this event may be the repetitiveness of six laps; but the upside being that there were people along the way the entire time.  I honestly never thought I’d do a race like this, particularly a marathon, but there is a first time for everything, right?  Just because something may be cheap does not necessarily mean it lacks quality.

From my perspective, the more serious runners comprised a large portion of the runner field.  For those preparing for or qualifying for Boston, it’s a solid course.  With cool weather and flat terrain, it’s no wonder runners wouldn’t flock to such an event.

Not long after I finished the marathon, I began to digest my experience and give it some thought. I was proud of myself for being able to rebound back from a hilly Connecticut course by putting myself back out there, albeit a pancake flat course, and I was truly happy with my performance. 

On the other hand, I was also dissatisfied and somewhat unfulfilled.  I’ve made many attempts to break the 4:30 barrier, but seems like such a rare occasion.  Deep down, I know I have it in me. But for the last several attempts, there’s always some outside factor, something out of my control that I couldn’t necessarily prepare for (heat, sickness, injuries, wind) that has kept me from reaching my goal.   I’m not providing excuses, but I just couldn’t get it done.  There are always going to be variables out of my control and there is not a damn thing I can do about it. 

At times, I just don't know where to go from here.  I’ve worked at it for a long time and I can’t seem to get the time I want.  I just keep fighting, and at times, it seems to feel like a losing battle.  

Perhaps I need to let go of the time goal obsession and just run for the joy of running – I just want to be able to run tomorrow and the next day.  It doesn’t mean it’ll never happen.  But, time goals shouldn’t be my primary focus anymore.  I am getting older and I must face reality – the body slows down with age.

I don’t want to lose the joy of running and to forget why I do it in the first place.  Rather than celebrate what I’ve done over the years, I’m just getting more and more down on myself. 

In 2018, I completed a demanding twelve marathon schedule averaging 5:07:56; with each race ranging somewhere between 4:29:39 and 5:52:30.  Forgive me if I sound like I’m boasting, but the point is despite this inordinate achievement, I’ve never once given myself credit because I’ve been focused on the fact that I didn’t hit my goal time – except once.  Which, when I think about it, is really kind of stupid.  My fifty-plus-year-old body has been nothing short of a miracle for me as I plodded my way through some niggles, heat, humidity, snow, rain, wind, hills, cold temperatures and double weekends. 

What really matters here is that I truly love to run full and half marathons, not only to do well, but because I enjoy the process and the fifty-state experience as a whole.  I’ve lost sight of that this past year and I’m realizing that I need to hit the reset button or I’m going to start resenting running as a whole, and that would suck. 

Am I going to maintain my training?  Of course.  Do I want to improve?  Absolutely.  Do I believe I’ve plateaued?  I really don’t.  But, my focus clearly needs to shift if I’m going to stick with it.  So, that is what I’m working on at the moment, which may take a little time to decipher.  It’s not necessarily a totally new story, I suppose.  It’s just a new chapter in my book of life, one that centers around my love for running, not around meeting a particular time goal.

Onward and upward.