Equinox Marathon Relay

Yesterday was the annual Equinox Marathon here in Fairbanks. This year I opted to run the three leg relay with two friends. 2008 had the biggest turnout of any Equinox. There were more than 100 relay teams and who knows how many hundreds of individual runners. I had forgotten how much I enjoy participating in races. I love the energy of the group, the anticipation and the camaraderie, and of course that spark of competition. The race started in low overcast and some light mist. Cool and nearly perfect weather for running (at least at the start).

I had opted for the middle leg of the relay which is the shortest in terms of mileage (8.2 miles) but has more than 2500 feet of cumulative elevation gain. My friend who ran the first leg took off at a moderate pace when the gun (a huge military howitzer) went off. She kept up a steady pace over her rolling 8.6 mile leg. In her last mile she crashed a bit slowing her pace to finish in about an hour and half. At the bottom of the dome I took off running up the trail. The weather started off well with a very light mist falling in the cool autumn air. Unfortunately it got colder and wetter during the ascent and I was grateful to have worn a fleece vest. Some other runners were not so lucky.

When the trail leveled for a short stretch about mid-way up I lengthened my stride and started to pass runners. I pushed myself and finished the rest of the climb at a good pace. At the top the notorious "Out and Back" begins which can be a demoralizing section for many runners. Somehow it is one of my favorite parts of the course and I enjoyed every step of the rolling trail. I enjoy this stretch because you can see every runner as they pass in the opposite direction. It is a great opportunity to cheer on the other runners (and check out the state of the competition). This stretch is also where many of the individual racers hit the wall. The strain on the faces of those with their noses against bricks was apparent and painful to watch.

On the return I picked up the pace and just rolled along the trail on the outer edge of my comfort zone. I was still picking off other runners, using each I passed as an incentive to push a bit harder. In the last mile I pushed out of my comfort zone and just ran. Despite my gasping there were parts of that last mile when I was sublimely happy. I felt more than good. Euphoric even. When I came down the chute to pass off to my girlfriend who had the final leg, I was grinning broadly and wishing I had a few more miles to go. In the end I finished the leg in 1:47 and change and had moved our relay team up more than ten places.

I stood around in the cold and rain for a few moments watching the other runners before wondering just how I was supposed to get back down to the finish. My friend who ran the first leg had disappeared. And so I ran. I trotted back down the road to another dirt track that meets up with the race route about three miles down the hill. On the descent I just let my legs roll over at a comfortable pace and hoped to beat my girlfriend to the junction. I arrived there feeling strong and felt for sure I'd gotten ahead of her. After a few minutes standing around I trotted on up the trail against the flow of runners looking for her coming my way. I went about a half-mile before realizing she must have been further along than I thought. So I turned around, ran back to the road and hitched a ride the rest of the way down the hill.

I eventually found her two miles further down the hill. She had cooked down the hill clocking fast miles in the steep descent before stalling out a bit in the flats. We live at mile 22 and when we reached our driveway I ran to the house while she continued on the course. I changed clothes and then hopped on my motorcycle to cheer her along for the remaining miles. When I caught up to her again at about mile 24 she was hurting and mixing in periods of walking. By the time she reached the finish, she was toast but happy to complete here 9+ mile leg.

Well we didn't win, but we weren't expecting to. As a team we finished toward the back of the pack and it doesn't matter. I had a great time and today I'm more fired up to run and ride my bike than I was yesterday. I can't ask for more than that.

Mileage 20 September
Running: 12 miles
21 September
Biking: 11.5 miles

September Totals:
On Foot: 56 miles
Biking: 88.5 miles