It's been a good year for running part 2

Took the two weeks off after Philly. Didn't have anything planned but someone posted some info about a trail race in Staten Island, a 10K, 25K and 50K, 99% on proper forestry trails!
SO I couldn't miss that, once I'd secured a lift, as it was also only a 30min drive.... albeit in a direction that nobody normally goes due to some aversion with Staten Island having some kind of Essex-like connotations.

I reckoned if my legs could recover enough then my leftover marathon fitness could get me round the 25K at a decent pace albeit not knowing the course and how hilly it was, it was kind of difficult to see a lot of previous race info for this event.

I researched previous years results and it was normally a smaller field of sub 100 runners in each event. Then they said this year that the 25K was a USATF championship trail event and members were eligible for the cash prizes on offer for the overall and age groups. So after much though, I gambled and paid the $30 annual membership with the hope of at least 3rd in my age group which would net me $50.

They clubmate I ran it with is a fast runner (2.53 NYC marathon) but inexperienced on the trails. Within the first few hundred metres we were leading! There was a group of 4 of us for the first few miles. I thought either we've gone of too fast, not knowing what lay ahead or because it was a smaller (non-roadie) field I would indeed have a good chance at an award.

After about 5 miles Shan and I were on our own. I led the whole way with him happy to follow on my heels. Apart from going the wrong way a couple of times, banging my knee of a log and waiting for 2 secs as Shan picked himself up after falling, we raced round averaging 7.46 pace and finishing together in 1.53.03. Shan was gallant enough to let me cross the line first mainly as he said I'd done all the work and he said he wouldn't have run that hard on that type of course without following someone.

We were a good 7 mins ahead of 3rd place and despite now having to wait for the USATF to get the results etc, I'm pretty confident of a $150 cheque arriving in the mail, ha ha.

The other funny moment was when we were waiting for the awards I overheard a couple of Scottish sounding voices and then when they went up for the 10K awards realised I knew a couple of the girls from the Aberdeen running scene. Then it turned out they were visiting the winner of the 50K who moved here earlier this year and is hill/ultra runner from Scotland.

In terms of 'it's a small world' that is right up there with the previous weekends Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot that I volunteered at and while taking entries met a couple from Elgin, she came from Inverness and he came from Aberdeen!!

Great last race of the year. I had three vastly different top 3 races, Bear Mountain Marathon, Philly Marathon and this more relaxed one. Along with PB's in the 5K, Half Marathon and Marathon.

It's been a good year for running part 1

Came back from Europe and had the small matter of dealing with my Permanent Resident Card. After two years you apply to get the conditions removed so we filed the paperwork/fees and I went for more fingerprints just to check I'm the same person and we're still in a valid marriage! Hopefully that will come through okay anytime soon.

Fine tuned my marathon training. The long runs finishing with marathon pace went well, I was managing 6.50-odd for the last 7M of the last key session and 7.46 for the lat 20M run.

I then had to decide on a race pace strategy. For this I was peer pressured into pushing myself!
The guys and girls around me on the Tuesday speed sessions ran 2.53, 3.01 and 3.03 in the Chicago and NYC marathons in the previous couple of weeks. So in theory I should be around the 3 hour mark too!

Everything was great in Philly. The weather was cold but sunny and good for running. Our AirBnB place was 0.5M from the start/finish and less than 15mins walk from the race expo.

First race I've done where I stood in the coral in warm clothing (and with handwarmers inside my gloves) that I could throw off just before the start.

I was able to get into my own race pace very quickly, none of the shuffling and jumping about to avoid other runners that I had feared given the 30,000 entrants and combined half marathon race.

I knew 6.52 pace was the three hour time but as they had 10K, 13.1M and 30K splits (timing mats) I tried to remember that 42.40, 1.30 and 2.08 were my guiding times rather than obsessing over every mile split especially as there were a couple of short moderate inclines and descents along the way.

I stayed relaxed and well in control. Went through 10K in 43.12 and reached the turn off at halfway in 1.30.47. I knew the last few miles were mildly downhill and also remembered a good quote/advice I'd read before my marathon debut that 20M should be considered halfway in a marathon, not 13.1M.

I was through 30K in 2.08.57 so roughly guessed I'd need 10secs under the 6.52's for the last 10K+. There was a run out to a township at about 19.5M then a turn around and after a slight downhill, a good run all the way to the finish so I picked it up after the turn. 6.38, 6.37, 6.29, feeling good, reeling in a lot of runners.
6.35, 6.29, I knew I had this when they had a clock with 2 miles to go and I had 15mins to play with even with a .2 after that!
A 6.27 last mile meant I covered the last 12K in just over 50mins and I crossed the line elated with my 2.59.09 (6.49 average pace). 280th position and 23rd in my age group for what it's worth AND a high-five from the Philly Mayor who was waiting on the finish line.

It was only the last mile when I really went for it that my body just wanted it to be all over.
But when I crossed the line and stopped running I was both so cold and ached all over. My calves and quads were the worst but even my biceps and back were aching.
Most pain passed and I was just left with really tight calves and sore quads for a week or so.

But I had that sub-3 glow!

A good meeting place

Best medal EVER