Train Kept a Rollin' or Did It? Tobacco Road Marathon

There are a lot of choices for marathons in March.  It took me awhile to decide which marathon to run. Generally, I use the early year marathons as supported long runs to help me have better marathons later in Spring. The Tobacco Road marathon could be considered my "home" marathon. It's held on the American Tobacco Trail (ATT), a Rails-to-Trails project that now consists of over 22 miles of pavement and crushed gravel trail from downtown Durham to Apex spanning Durham, Wake and Chatham counties. Frankly, it is a wonderful resource for runners, walkers, bikers, dogs and even equestrian. When we moved to the area in 2012, the section from Scott King Road to Southpoint Crossing had not yet been completed which included a proposed bridge over I40. Later in 2013, the entire trail had been completed and made for one of the best running and biking areas in the Triangle. In the summer, it is shaded providing coverage from the brutal sun and in the winter it is open enough to feel the warm sunshine. The greenway systems in the Triangle are the best I have ever seen and many races are held on them; RACE13.1 Raleigh, RACE13.1 Durham, City of Oaks Marathon to name a few along with the Tobacco Road Marathon.

We live just 2 miles from the Scott King Road portion of the ATT which is basically in the middle of the trail.  Thus, I run on some portion of the trail nearly every weekend. That was the consideration.  Did I want to run a marathon on the trail that I run on nearly every weekend? I know the trail and I also know how monotonous it can be in the sections where the marathon is run. Don't get me wrong, it is truly a beautiful trail through a tunnel of tall North Carolina pines but it can be quite monotonous and deceivingly difficult. Flat and fast is how the website describes the course. Compared to the other local marathons like Umstead, City of Oaks, Rock n Roll, I guess one could describe it this way. However, it is not Wrightsville Beach Marathon flat but it is not hilly either. So, what is it? There are long stretches of inclines that appear to just keep going on and on and on. Conversely, since the marathon has two turn-around points at mile 8 and 19, you'll be running down the same long inclines to balance the elevation changes. If it isn't the long inclines it might be the long straight stretches that get monotonous.

The event is one of the best organized I have seen. When there was a threat of rain, they put up big circus tents for the runners to take shelter in both before and after the marathon. There appeared to be plenty of port-a-potties, decent food, great volunteers, good aid stations and some unofficial beer and moonshine stations. Packet pick-up was easy at the small expo. There is limited parking at the marathon site so they sell passes for you to park right next to runner's village, otherwise it is a 15 minute bus trip from NetApp parking area.  I had Cindy drop me off at the runner drop zone.  She then came back to the finish around the time I was to finish and was easily able to find parking at the runner's village.

Cindy and the dogs met me at mile 8.7 which is the turn-around at Scott king Road for the first out and back. It was also an aid station supported by volunteers of our Parkwood Muslim community. It was great to see them sponsoring an aid station and they did it with diligence and enthusiasm. I didn't fair well in the marathon. It was warm and humid for mid-March. I knew by mile 8 drenched in sweat that the humidity was going to be an issue.  Of course, my last few marathons have not been pleasant and this one was no exception finishing in 5:27.  To me, it is hard to fathom the times from my last 3 marathons but it is what it is and I have still finished in the time allotted. So the train on the tobacco trail stalled but I finally pulled it into the station with Cindy's hand in mind as we both crossed the finish line together.

Would I run this again? Likely not as a marathon but maybe as a half. The only reason I wouldn't is because of running on the trail nearly every weekend. However, I would highly recommend it for other runners.

Enjoy the pictures.

Pre-race meal with Maniacs Kevin, Kathy and Diane

USA Baseball

Sporting Sandstone - new InknBurn

At the start

Waggin' Wild

Casey got his introduction to competitive running in the Waggin' Wild 5K on March 5. Gabby got her introduction to crowds, dogs and humans alike. Both did great! I have run miles with Casey before including a few 3 milers.  Although he has a little greyhound in him, he isn't the fastest paced runner. Of course he is a big dog, big enough that he won an award at the Waggin' Wild for largest dog.  He's lean and tall but because he is mostly Great Pyrenees, he is a solid, strong dog - a gentle giant with a laid back demeanor, as they are known.  However, being Pyrenees, he is a protector of the perimeter. When he is home, any approach to the house is welcomed by deep, loud "my house" kind of barking. Gabby, a spaniel mix, has an opposite personality, happy-go-lucky, "I'll lay in anyone's lap" kind of dog.

When Casey and I run alone, I need to coax him and sometimes even pull him. I wasn't sure how he (or I) would react in a competitive race which included dogs.When we lined up for the start and as Cindy and Gabby watched, he seemed a bit shy, or like all of us in races, having some nervous energy. So, the horn sounds and off we go.  To my surprise, he really wants to run and he runs with a perfect four-legged gait. The first mile felt really fast compared to our training runs, maybe around a 9 minute mile (I forgot to start my watch.) At one point I had to say, "hey boy, slow down, you are going too fast!" I used a 2 foot leash which kept him by my side and out of other runners' way, particularity on the two down and back's.

The first mile included a climb up a hill and then back close to the start where Cindy and Gabby were waiting to see their favorite fellows and for us to see our favorite gals.  Casey noticed "momma" right away and as we ran past started to turn around and look.  Casey always likes to look for momma, even when she is not there. Finishing up mile 1, he slowed to a normal pace as we traversed a lake over a wooden bridge.  Like all of us who start out too fast, Casey seemed to be feeling the effort. We get to the turn-around at mile 2 and I showed him the water bowel to see if a drink was in order. He wasn't interested so we continued our merry way. For the last mile, I did have to gently pull him a bit, in an easy coaxing kind of way, always saying, "who's a good boy, who's a good boy?" He looked at me like, "I am Dad, I am!" By this point we had actually passed a decent number of runners, those with and without dogs. At the finish line awaited Cindy and Gabby cheering us on as we made the last strides uphill to cross the chip-timed 5K finish line.  "Yes!", just under 30 minutes at 29:48 which is 6 minutes better than our practice times. It was a fine run for Casey in his first competitive 5K.  After crossing the finish line, a lady came up and asked me his name as he was going to get the award for largest dog. I've run hundreds and hundreds of races with one third place age-group award and he wins an award the first time out.  Gabby was just loving the people always thinking that they were there to pet and play with her. She would just cuddle up in the laps of strangers and make herself at home.

Of all the events I have run, including marathons in all 50 states, these types of moments stand out as the best, just like when I ran with Bree two years ago in Cincinnati at the diaper dash. Those 25 yards and this 5K are moments to be cherished.  There are many other moments like these that stand out more than my own achievements.

Loving Pet Inn Adoptions was the recipient and sponsor of the event. The Waggin' Wild Facebook page is here and Cindy (in red) is seen on the banner walking on the course with Gabby. There are also a lot of pictures here from one of their volunteer professional photographers. I've included some of our own pictures below. Particularly enjoy the last one.

Going on an adventure

Casey's first packet pickup

Gabby getting attention

Cindy and the pups milling around

Casey focused for his run

Gabby reading signs

I wanna go

The winner of human and dog

Here we come, "where's Momma?"

Will you pet me?

Casey receiving largest dog award and looking at me for approval

A man and his dog

Family shot

Gabby Noelle

I like everybody!

The boy is proud to be largest dog!

Momma and her kids!

Maybe Casey didn't like his results or maybe it was running 3.1 miles he didn't like