My Third Full Marathon Run - New Jersey Marathon 2013

Before Race Start

In this doodle I will share my third marathon run experience. After completing my NY Half Marathon on 23rd March 2013 registered for New Jersey Marathon run. My registration was confirmed on 4th April 2013.

Only four weeks to go for the event day 5th May 2013, I drafted four weekend run plan. I am in the process of changing my employer so I was aware I will be held with last minute works in office so I avoided weekdays in my plan.

Below was my practice run for this event. I was able to meet my planned target distance during all the 4 weekend runs.

First Weekend (04/06)           -   16 Miles in 2:43
Second Weekend (04/14)       -   19.5 Miles in 3:35
Third Weekend(04/20)           -   13.25 Miles in 2:03
Fourth Weekend (04/27)        -   18 Miles in 3:02

I also had plan of during some upper body strength and stretching exercises which I didn't make it happen due to weekday laziness.

After completing the above limited training I was wishing to complete my 26.2 Miles run within 4 hours and 30 Minutes. I was aware the above training is not sufficient to achieve my target easily. I had race day run plan of completing first 18 Miles in 3 hours so I will have 1 hour and 30 minutes for the final 8 miles. This is the plan I had during for my run on 05th May 2013.

As I don't have my own transport I planned to reach the start point Monmouth Park in race day special train. My boarding point was in Newark at 5:14 AM. To board this train I woke up at 3:45 AM on the race day and walked to Journal Square to board Path train to reach Newark. My plan was to board 4:40 AM Path train to reach Newark. This train was delayed by 10 Minutes which placed me in tight schedule of catching the race day train. I was glad I didn't miss the train.

In race day train met a guy from Bangalore who was enthusiastic about his first Half Marathon run. While talking with him and answering his questions I remembered my first Half Marathon run in Sep 2011. I felt happy for him and encouraged him with some tips. I didn't had chance to meet him after the event but I am sure he might have completed his run.

Train reached Monmouth Park at 6:20 AM. I walked to race expo to collect my running kit. I had some struggle in collecting my kit since I didn't go through regular self registration. It took almost 45 minutes to receive my complete running kit. Then after I change my T-Shirt and did some stretching. Then I called home since I had another 30 minutes for race start time 8:00 AM.

Assembled in my Coral D at 7:55 AM and flag was shown for Coral A runners at 8:00 AM. I reached start point at 8:04 AM and now my chip time started. This is my first event with my Garmin 405CX. I was planning to complete first 6.25 Miles(10 Kms) within the first hour so I was running at the pace of 10 minutes a mile. I was able to complete the first 6.25 Miles in 56 minutes. I am ahead by 4 minutes now which was encouraging.

I planned to maintain the same pace for the second 6.25 miles. I managed to complete the first 12.5 miles in 1 hour and 54 minutes. Now I have saved 6 minutes to use as backup at the final stage. My body was normal and I haven't become tired yet so decided to maintain the same pace for another 3 miles at least.

After 2 1/2 hours of running I started feeling tired and also the route between 14 to 18 miles had opposite wind and sun is moving to the top (11:00 AM). I decided not to push since I had a feel of abdomen cramp symptom so was running in the pace of 11 Minutes a miles. In this pace managed to complete the complete 18.75 Miles (30 Kms) in 3:00 hours. As per my plan I have completed 18 miles in the first 3 hours.

My knees started were feeling tired. I mentally prepared to keep my self running for at least another 2 miles before move to walk and run mode. I managed to run till 3 1/2 hours and made 21.25 Miles. I have to go 5 miles within another 1 hour to achieve my target. My feet started losing pace and I started paying for my weekday laziness of not building my upper  body strength. After 3 1/2 hours started doing walk and run mode. By 4 hours completed 23.75 miles.I was maintaining pace of 13 minutes a mile which went worse after 4 hours.

After my fourth hour my pace dropped to an average of 15 minutes mile by which I made to the finish line in 4:37:23 chip time. I decided to run and complete the 26th mile so managed to jog and complete my final mile.

After crossing the finish line did some stretching and collected my NY-NJ Challengers medal. This is the special medal for participating in both New York and New Jersey events. After spending 30 minute in finish line walked to long branch to catch my train back home.

I felt great after this event because this is my new personal best in full marathon. Also had small regret since I missed my planned target time today. Have to practice well for the next event.

Finishers Medal