Atlantic City Full Marathon 2014

Atlantic Ocean - Beach Side

This doodle will take through my fourth full marathon run in Atlantic City on 19th Oct 2014 . This run is different from my previous full marathons. In my previous three run's, training days weren't more than four weeks. This year, followed three months training schedule with last five weekends half marathon events.

Reached Atlantic City, one day before the event to collect my race kit. After visiting the event stalls spent sometime in casino's and reached motel by 7:00 PM. After watching last 30 minutes of Gravity movie, decided to sleep early by 10:00 PM.

While neighborhood was still sleeping, alarm started signing wake up tune at 4:00 AM. Checked out of room and took bus ride to race event. After 30 minutes of bus ride, reached Bally's board walk at 7:00 AM. Morning sea breeze was pleasant, enjoying the breeze, did my breathing routines. Though it was cold outside, I was enjoying my stretches on the beach side.

Enthusiastic runners were posing for their cameras with sea waves as background. As minutes pass by, runners assembled close by start line. Air horn was blown at 8:00 AM, runner's strong legs, crossed over start line and began their first step to complete the last step after few hours.

First mile run was among the cheerful runners on the board walk. After 0.25 miles, turned left into Martin Luther King Blvd. This Blvd was narrow so I was pacing at 10:00 per mile. While gazing around the buildings, came across the board "Diving Horse", wondered why this place was named so.
On searching in internet found that during the period of world war II, "Diving Horse" is an attraction in which a horse would dive into a pool of water, sometimes from as high as 60 feet. Gazing the buildings completed first mile while my legs were set at 9:00 per mile pace.

Second mile began with uphill run to "Atlantic City - Brigantine connector bridge junction" and turned right to run down hill and pass the under river tunnel. Run through tunnels is always energetic, as runners keep shouting while running through tunnels. Looking light at the end of tunnel alerted my legs for the uphill.

Third mile was on the Atlantic City elevated highways with Casino towers on the right side and Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm's windmill fans on the other side.Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm is the first coastal wind farm in the United States and the first wind farm in New Jersey.

Fourth mile commenced with uphill Route 87  ramp that turned around towards Borgata Casino. After board walk this was the best spot for the cheerers to see and hi-fi the runners. Running through cheering crowd, checked on my pace, Legs were pacing at 9:00 per mile. I was deciding whether to increase or stay at this pace. Body was comfortable and running easy, so decided to continue at the same pace.

Fifth mile started with slight down hill after crossing Harrah's casino. Running on the side of clam creek, started feeling the effect of predicted 20-30 mph of wind. After sipping Gatorade at 5.5 miles was debating whether to increase the pace. Paced at 8:50 for a mile as it would be too early to raise the pace.

Sixth mile started on the turn towards Melrose avenue, a volunteer was cheering the runners for 10K completion. My feet stepped over the 10K mile with chip time 53:13. This run was towards King Neptune statue completing with U turn towards shore exposing the runners to wind.

Seventh mile commenced while my GPS was about to clock on hour run time. Completed 7.10 miles in the first hour. My mind was doing math on my targeted completion time as around 3:45. This mile has unique 90 degree turn to Atlantic avenue where runners can't cut corners.

Eight mile was back on board walk. I was running enthusiastically as legs were feeling soft surface after the road run. Crossing Taj Mahal Casino gazing the beach waves and hi-fi ing crowds.

Ninth mile started near start line where cheering crowd generated adrenaline rush, I was pacing at 8:00 per mile. After a mile run at this pace slowed down back to 8:30 per mile. By now board walk was with walking crowds and people with cigars, looking at us meaning what these guys doing rather gambling in Atlantic City.

Tenth mile was windy mile as we have already crossed Casino building and running on the side of resident buildings. Wind was heavy and slowing our pace. Also half marathoners started running opposite direction to reach their finish line.

Eleventh mile began by separating half and full marathon runners. I was looking ahead to see how many joyful marathoners are running to conquer the remaining miles. By now we are lone runners with few cheering crowds between each mile and gusty wind. I am still sustaining on my pace 8:40 per mile.

Twelfth mile began running down to New Haven avenue. Back on the streets through the resident buildings.

Thirteenth mile began with big cheer as I am done with half way. I was checking on legs and was glad they weren't tired much and happy to run at the same pace. Looked around and was able to spot few runners around.

Fourteenth mile run was exposed to sun and strong wind blowing through Atlantic avenue. I was pushing to maintain my pace at 8:40 per mile. Managed to complete 14.25 miles in 2 hours run clock time.

Fifteenth mile began with hope to sustain the same pace for the next hour to achieve my initial calculated target finish time 3:45. To achieve this I have to pace up in this hour and save some minutes for last few miles. I tried to pace up to 8:30 but body doesn't cooperate so slowed to 8:40 pace.

Legs showed the symptom of tiredness as Sixteenth and Seventeenth miles were through opposite wind. Starting Seventeenth mile it was trace back run through the residents, some people seated outside, played loud music cheering the runners.

At eighteenth mile my leg showed mild cramp symptom, I was reluctant to reduce the pace so still ran at 8:40 pace. Running through nineteenth mile fearing for cramp. After reaching twentieth mile which was turn around point for full marathoners. Legs reduced the pace and was tempting to walk, decided to not stop till 3 hours, continued running to complete 20.7 miles in 3 hours.

At this point I was thinking whether I can still achieve my initial targeted timing. I was able to see me going down mentally. Walked for few minutes and started running again. Once in a while thigh muscles showed cramp symptom, so was repeating run and walk pattern till 24th mile. My pace has reduced to 10 minutes for a mile. Certain times tried to run better but physically exhausted legs were said more training is required to achieve better timing.

After this disappointing last few miles run, decided to complete sub 4:00, so was trying to maintain average pace as 10 minutes for the last two mile and stepped over the finish line with Chip timing 3:59:30.

Before finish line