Farm Park Challenge Marathon - May 4, 2024

Bigfoot, or bare foot, or little Bigfoot?

Century!

I ran my first marathon, the now-defunct Frederick Marathon, on April 30, 2006. Today, completion of the Farm Park Challenge Marathon marks my 100th marathon or longer race. More details below, but let's get to the sloppy details first.

Weather or Not

The forecast for race day remains unsettled as the day approaches.  The probably of showers yo-yos up and down but never disappears. Temperatures are predicted in the low 50s. It sounds like perfectly miserable running conditions.  But registration remains open until 1159 Thursday evening, so I wait to hear the 11 p.m. TV weather forecast before making a final decision. When the forecaster says that he does not think Saturday will be a rain-out, I sign up. Showers are manageable.  And I had run FPC in 2022 under similar conditions, so I knew what to expect and how to prepare.

Repeat five times.

I bring three bags: one with dry clothes and a towel for when I'm finished, one with four shirts and hats, three buffs, a pair of socks and towels for in-race changes, and an empty one to put wet clothes in.

Friday night, after turning in, I'm awakened by the sound of a downpour and thunder, with lightning flashing. I figure it is 1better to get that over with before the race begins.

The morning is cool and there is a sight drizzle and I put on tights, a pair of long-sleeve shirts, a buff and gaiters to keep mud from my shoes. To minimize time at aid stations I use my hydration pack, which also provides pockets to carry gels and other food, and most importantly, a poncho.  Before we start I put on gloves.

The only stream crossing, just before the turnaround.

Out and Back (Repeat five times)

There are three other events at the challenge in addition to the marathon: 3-, 6-, and 10-hour challenges, each of which require the entrants to complete the 5.1ish mile out and back within an hour, then do it again starting at the top of the next hour.  Marathoners have the luxury of not having to meet the one hour requirement, and have the full ten hours to finish.

The 17 marathoners start at 650. It is not quite raining but not quite not raining either. The grassy sections of the course quickly get my feet wet, but the dirt single and double track are not muddy. Since the field is small it quickly sorts itself out. There will be little or no passing or changing places after the first couple of miles. I catch no one and no one catches me.

Turn-around.

The ten 10-hour competitors and the 39 6-hour competitors start ten minutes behind us at 7 a.m.  Within a couple of mile the leaders have caught and passed me.

Almost at the turn-around there is a small stream crossing, but conveniently located rocks make it possible to cross without getting wet feet. The faster runners don't waste time doing that and simply dash across.

Back we go, and I finish the first lap in 1:03.  This gives me a 7 minute head start on not only the 10- and 6-hour challengers, but also on the 27 3-hour challengers, who join us for the next three laps.

It doesn't take long for the challengers to catch up with me and then pass.  I exchange greetings with familiar faces, both passing me and returning toward the finish while I am still outbound.

"Crowded" second lap.

The rain picks up on the second loop and I put on my poncho.  It helps keep me from getting too much wetter, although I'm already a bit wet from the mist and light drizzle.  

At the end of the second lap (1:15) I go to the car and change my shirt and hat.  It is refreshing to feel partly dry, even if that won't last for too long.

As the day proceeds the course becomes increasingly muddy.  Puddles start to appear. The temperature is stuck in the low 50s, and I put my gloves back on. That is a bit of a struggle, as they are wet and my hands won't slide into them.  It takes a combination of tugging, pulling and interlocking fingers to get them on.

First lap not muddy.

Sloppy fifth lap.

Back to the start/finish at the end of the third lap (1:13) and back onto the course.  More muddy, and on the way back the rain picks up again the the poncho comes out again. With four laps finished (1:20) it is back to the car to once again change the wet shirt and dripping hat.

Back for my fifth lap, there are fewer runners on the course as the 4-hour challenge entrants and finished and the remaining 10 and 6-hour challenge runners are on their sixth lap. In fact, the 6-hour challengers will finish their event before I have made it back to the start/finish at the end of my fifth lap, and I'll see the remaining 10-hour challengers headed outbound while I approach the end of my fifth lap.

But the end of my fifth lap is not the end of the marathon.  There is still a mini out and back to complete. It is a mini-lap that has gotten longer than last year.  I'm confused by it, as the laps are pretty much the same course as last year.  Now, however the extra bit is about a mile. But no sense complaining; in trail races the distance is what the race director says it is. So I run and walk it, and return to the finish for the final time in 6:34:27.

On the course.

Finished now, it is the first time all day I take advantage of the aid station, getting an Athletic non-alcoholic beer and two slices of pizza. A volunteer offers to warm up the slices, and I accept. Even with the warm pizza, tt isn't long until I start to get cold. I'm wet, the temperature is in the 50s and I've stopped running.  It is shades of the 2015 Madrid Marathon.  Quickly going to the car, I change into my dry clothes, put on my hoodie and turn on the seat warmer and heated steering wheel for the drive home. The hot shower there (after a clothes-on shower to remove mud) finally warms me up.

Results

Of the 17 marathoners, I'm 12 of 17 overall, 11 of 12 males, and 1 of 1 in my age group. Six of 10 finish the 10-hour challenge; 32 of 39 the 6-hour challenge and 22 of 27 the 3-hour challenge.

Century

As I noted at the top, this is my 100th event of at least a marathon or longer. According to my records, I've run 37 marathons, both road and trail, 44 50Ks, a 32-miler, two 55Ks, two 60Ks, twelve 50-milers and two 100 Ks. I've DNF's at a 100k, two 50-milers, and two 50Ks.  I've run in nine of the United States and three European countries, 

It wasn't what I planned when I ran that first marathon.  That was a check the box event, partly spurred on by a feeling of missing out, and partly from listening to my internal clock ticking. and I did not know that it would lead first to more marathons, and then to trails.  But it did, and it has become a part of me that I'm not ready to give up.

In fact, I've got a 50K planned for the weekend following Farm Park Challenge.  That report is forthcoming. 

Swag: Shirt, 20-oz. glass, car magnet, bib, 2 non-alcoholic beers.