T+1/2 day - St. Paul Marathon
Aug. 19th, 2007 05:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
goneroundthebendIt was a dark and stormy night...and it did end up raining most all of day. Ahwell...'ya gotta know how to skate in the rain anyway I guess.
It actually started out with dry roads as we picked up our timing chips and did some warm up skating short of the starting line. We had to wait for the Pro-mens categories get on by the starting area (the course is roughly 2 laps to get the 26.2 miles) before they would release the Advanced Women's and Open skate waves.
Rather quickly the road got more and more wet with the light misting turning in to a steady rain. I was surprised at how well the wheels I chose to put on that morning actually did keep traction. A few intersections along the way presented specials hazards that took a few skates down. One hazard that almost took me down part way through was a gap in some cement sections where the rubber seal was either pressed in or gone. The fact that the gap was almost exactly the width of a skate wheel made it all the more strange.
Pace lines came and went and they were of considerable help, but the final 6 or so mile push to the finish pretty much ended up being a solo skate. The 10 mph easterly headwind didn't help at all with me trying to build up energy for the final push up the hills that protected the final timing gateway.
I think I was kinda tired finally getting across that line. Ann thinks so as well. ^_^
So...a few of my hopes for the race were met. First: I did manage to finish. Second: I managed to skate it in less than 2 hours...and even nicer in about 1hr 49 min. Despite having to wade through puddles and get totally soaked skates and chilled body (once I stopped), it was actually a pretty good skate. The pace felt good, the style felt decent and everyone generally encouraged everyone else.
It actually started out with dry roads as we picked up our timing chips and did some warm up skating short of the starting line. We had to wait for the Pro-mens categories get on by the starting area (the course is roughly 2 laps to get the 26.2 miles) before they would release the Advanced Women's and Open skate waves.
Rather quickly the road got more and more wet with the light misting turning in to a steady rain. I was surprised at how well the wheels I chose to put on that morning actually did keep traction. A few intersections along the way presented specials hazards that took a few skates down. One hazard that almost took me down part way through was a gap in some cement sections where the rubber seal was either pressed in or gone. The fact that the gap was almost exactly the width of a skate wheel made it all the more strange.
Pace lines came and went and they were of considerable help, but the final 6 or so mile push to the finish pretty much ended up being a solo skate. The 10 mph easterly headwind didn't help at all with me trying to build up energy for the final push up the hills that protected the final timing gateway.
I think I was kinda tired finally getting across that line. Ann thinks so as well. ^_^
So...a few of my hopes for the race were met. First: I did manage to finish. Second: I managed to skate it in less than 2 hours...and even nicer in about 1hr 49 min. Despite having to wade through puddles and get totally soaked skates and chilled body (once I stopped), it was actually a pretty good skate. The pace felt good, the style felt decent and everyone generally encouraged everyone else.
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no subject
Date: 2007-08-19 11:46 pm (UTC)Sounds a little like the year I rode the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride in the rain. It's sort of crazy doing stuff in that kind of weather. I can barely justify bicycling in the rain. Skating? Forget it.
And I hate doing all the required maintenance after getting my skates wet. Ugh.
But you did the whole thing. Pat yourself on the back!
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Date: 2007-08-20 11:00 am (UTC)Trisha had an impressive finish with her tri- on the weekend as well! I think she said most of it was in the rain also.
Sounds like your weekend was more than exhausting as well. I'll have to head over that way when I get back to VA tonight.
Congratulations!
Date: 2007-08-22 01:10 am (UTC)If it is any consolation for the rainy-ness and it's trials, your trip seems to have let loose the rains in general, not just for the weekend. After the length of drought we've been under, this is a welcome change for those of us far enough north that it hasn't ended up as surprise flooding episodes.