Video and Life as a Marathon

Because the Hamptons race was so small, Brightroom posted both video of the finish as well as the usual photos from throughout the course. There is about 35 seconds of video of me lumbering across the finish line while the announcer says my name, my time, where I'm from, and how many marathons I have completed (all from the registration form).

Apart from being kind of cool in its own right, it got me thinking about generalizing the marathon experience to other accomplishments and life experiences. Wouldn't it be great if someone would say over a loud speaker when you taught a great class, published your nth article, drafted new tenure regs, helped a student land a clerkship, cooked an awesome meal for friends, got all your errands done in record time, etc and then handed you a medal (and a bagel)?

A Rare Opportunity

I started my teaching career with a couple articles on the FTAIA. Then I did a couple regarding Twombly. On the day after my birthday, the Seventh Circuit decided Minn-Chem v. Agrium, an application of Twombly to the FTAIA.

Race Day

The rain held off, temperature not too bad in the mid to high 60s but really humid. Ted J. came out to Hamptons the night before and crashed with me in the large two bedroom ocean front condo I rented for the price of a mid-price hotel room. Van from Running Away (great travel company for marathons and owner of Berkshire marathon) took us to East Hampton high school where race began. Less than 550 marathoners although the half sold out at 2500. Almost missed starting gun while in line for porta potties. No harm although no real time to stretch.

Went out fast with Ted pacing me. Half-marathoners split off at mile 5 or so. Prettiest course I have ever run. County roads, paths, and a few trails winding through the east end of the Hamptons with some nice views of fancy houses, dunes, the bays, and a glimpse or two of the ocean here and there. Kept my pace through mile 15 or so and then wilted in the humidity. Slow with cramping through mile 20 or so. Didn't need the hills from 17-19 but very pretty stretch. Managed to pull it together after that and finish in my third fastest marathon, a few seconds faster than my first one back in 2003 and my fastest since May of 2008. Nice to run without injuries for a change, it makes a difference. Now if I can just figure out a way not to walk so much.

Ted was great company pacing me through mile 19, and then.... (the rest is his story).

Very grateful for hot tub back at the hotel and my favorite lobster roll place which was less than a mile from the hotel. Finished, had fun, no injuries, made my rough time goal. Not even that sore. Life is good.

2:03:38

A new world record yesterday in the men's marathon, by Patrick Makau. The NY Times report I read describes pace-setting up to Mile 20, with pacers actually forming a migrating-bird-style echelon blocking the wind. (At a 4:43 pace, wind drag presumably is real. I wouldn't know.) One pacer managed to hold on for second place, somewhere in the 2:07s. Former world record holder Haile Gebraselassie was on pace until he blew up somewhere after mile 20 and dropped out.

A question: I noted a few days ago this article which says women-only races are required for a women's road racing record to count. The rationale is that Paula Radcliffe, among others, gained pacing benefits in some races, helping her to run faster than she otherwise could have run. (Giving the lie to the proposition that it's somehow an unfair advantage, Radcliffe still holds the IAAF marathon world record -- after having her two fastest marathon finishes retroactively disqualified -- and finished third in Berlin yesterday at age 37.) Is it any better to hire a ~2:07 marathoner to establish a record pace and hold it until he can't any more, just so the favorite can break a record?

Big Sur

Big Sur is supposed to be one of the world's epic marathons. The early May race follows the California coast for 26.2 miles. The pictures of the course are beautiful. Just signed up yesterday. Including Boston it will be a double-whammy spring.

Swag Bag

All races and celebrity events are judged by the goodie bag. The Hamptons Marathon gets a strong A- for their free merchandise and registration experience. First a flat out A for having a Manhattan pick up location instead of having to wait until you actually get out to the Hamptons. Logistics of pickup a B+ with a long line down a narrow set of stairs to enter the room to get your bib and the goodies. Long wait but quick processing once yo made it to the front of the line. Not particularly friendly though.

Merchandise itself also an A. First you actually get a small gym bag with a tasteful logo so you can use it in real life after the race. Slightly flimsy though but still an actual bag not a plastic shopping bag. No coupons, ads, or cheap filler. No weird food samples unrelated to running or even general fitness (Once got a box of white rice). A dark blue technical running shirt, nice design, also not smeared with gaudy logos or sponsors. Dark grey winter hat. Some sample of sports tape. And finally the Spanky, a full sized lens cloth for your glasses printed with the map of the course. Kind of cute even if brand name is a little iccky. Bib has built in chip.

Overall a solid A-.

Learned bit more info for Saturday. 600 runners for the full, 2500 for the half. low of 62, high of 72 chance of light rain. Hilliest at miles 17-19. Good after race party somewhere in Amagansett, Most importantly, van picks me up at my hotel at 7 AM. Race starts at 8.

Heading to Hamptons tomorrow. See you at the finish line.

Record Problem

I see in the NY Times that Paula Radcliffe had her world record, er, changed. Apparently the new rules discount races in which women start with men and thus garner pacing benefits (it doesn't say drafting, but that makes sense, too). Actually, I'm not quite clear whether it's any mixed race, or only races where male pacers are deliberately lined up for the elite women.

Just want to say that if anybody on this blog sets a record while being paced by or drafting on a biologically faster runner, as far as I'm concerned it still counts.