Erie Marathon Race Report

"There is a five-minute slowdown ahead. You are still on the fastest route." No problem, thinks Dan. I've got over 45 minutes to spare. Gobs of time.

"Plenty of time to spare." Brian Polen says this as he sprints by Dan with 100 yards to go to the start. Dan is sprinting as well, but of course, Brian is sprinting faster. That little slowdown turned into a parking lot to get into the Waldemeer Park Parking lot. Dan had parked with nine minutes to spare. That's where the 3/4-mile sprint had begun. The Race Director had stated in one of her emails that the race would start on time, no matter what. Pity those still parking.

"And the home of the brave! .... Boom." The Star Spangled Banner is just finishing up and the starting gun goes off as Dan arrives, completely out of breath.

"I've had some good runs and some terrible runs here." Connie is talking to Dan as they're starting their run. She doesn't know the half of it, thinks Dan. He's too out of breath to mention this out loud.

"It's a perfect day for a run," says everyone. Dan agrees. It's in the upper 50s and blustery. But the wind doesn't bother Dan. It's refreshing. The views of Lake Erie are stunningly beautiful. Dan had gone into the race thinking that he wasn't in the best of shape, and that he hadn't been feeling well for the previous week. He had planned to make this just a 'training run.' But things aren't quite working out that way, as Dan falls in with the four-hour pace group.

"Do not get ahead of this man," thinks Dan, referring the pace-group leader. He wants to keep his pace easy. In fact, this 9-ish pace may be too aggressive. Time will tell.

"Small but mighty." Dan is replying to the pace-group leader who had noted that his group had gotten a little smaller. After some small chuckling, Dan thinks of mentioning inappropriate uses of this phrase, but he thinks better of it." The pace-group leader is very nice and encouraging. Dan learns that he's from Canada. That explains it, thinks Dan.

"1:59," says the clock, By half-way, Dan has indeed gotten ahead of this man, but not by much, Dan runs through the 13.1-mile mark and begins his second loop of wonderful Presque Isle in good time. Will he be able to continue to maintain this pace for another 13 miles? Again, time will tell.

"I'll get you next time," jokes Dan. He had accidentally almost hit someone running next to him with a used water cup. The other runner had had to dance out of the way and had said that's okay when Dan had apologized. He chuckles a little at Dan's quip.

"Do you need help," Asks Dan to a couple different people who are cramping up in the latter miles.  They all answer no, hoping get themselves moving again. Dan has been there. Dan himself had picked up his pace a little. but he's still wary of the cramps.

"Good job," encourages Dan. He says this to a lot of other runners, but nearly all of them are people he is passing. At about mile 20, these two are passing him. One is the guy he nearly hit with the cup. Dan knows him - he sees him around a lot, and has probably met him at some point. He tries to stay with them, but although his pace is still good, he can't do it. Oh well. 

"It's the most wonderful time of the year," sings Andy Williams. Dan sings right along, even though it's his least-favorite Christmas song. This late-in-the-race water station is Christmas-themed, complete with a decorated tree and Santa handing out Gatorade. All the aid stations are great, as is everything else about this race. Except for the parking. Dan is singing because he does indeed think the weather is wonderful today.

"How is this possible?" Asks Dan. He spots the 3:55 pace group up ahead with less than a mile to go. He thinks about trying hard to catch them, before realizing that that isn't going to happen. Instead, he maintains, that slightly fast 8:55 or so pace that he's been doing.

"3:55." Dan finishes, and he's very happy with this much better-than-expected performance. He learns that he's second in his ancient age group. This is better than he usually does at this race. The guy who beat him? His name is Michael Juppe and he won by less than a minute. Michael is the guy Dan almost hit with the cup; the one who passed him late in the race. Dan was right to have said, "I'll get you next time!"

"Good weather trumps good training and being in shape," thinks Dan. It's the lesson of the day.

PS: "Why can't you break 3:50 anymore, Dan," You ask? Dan's answer is simple: "Because I can't even break 3:55 anymore."

Somewhere in the middle of the race

Offical chip time was 3:55 and a couple of seconds

At Waldemeer Park after the finish

The classic course takes runners around the peninsula twice