Number 15 - Marshall University Marathon in Huntington, WV
Well this is the first time I ran 3 marathons in a calendar year. I thought that was an accomplishment until I met a man who was running his 481 marathon that weekend. This is not a typo, really 481. He has been running for about 20 years and does about 25 marathons a year. Wow!!! Some have thought I was a compulsive runner; thanks to this person I am reasonably normal.
The course was flat (I prefer these as I am too big for pulling this body up hills or holding it back going down hills); this time around the Ohio River town of Huntington. Huntington is known for the railroad industry and their university. Some may have heard about the catastrophe in 1970 when their entire football team, including coaching staff, died in a plane crash. A local restaurant has a hall of fame for the university including photos and newpapers from the time of the crash and a walk of fame for well known alumni, Randy Moss and Chad Pennington from the NFL and Hal Greer from the NBA (you have to be as old as me to remember Hal Greer). In December a movie is being released about the tragic event, starring Mathew McConneghy. It will be enjoyable to see the movie and reflect on my time around the city and university.
The course was enjoyable, running through a park, alongside the Ohio River and around the campus, finishing on the football field. Everyone was given the opportunity to carry a football the last 100 yards. I ran the course in 3:52:34. I was trying to run faster than my last marathon of 3:50, but ran out of gas at 20 miles. I managed to maintain a pace about a minute slower than planned the last six miles, but it put me over my goal. Maybe it was too soon since the last one (9 weeks) or not enough training. I could not blame the weather; it was perfect (low 40's to start and finished about 50).
I am off for a few months. Next stop is likely to be Louisville, KY the last weekend in April.