Hartford Marathon 2022 Recap / Marathon #17
Hartford, CT
Marathon #17
Time: 3:48:54
Clothing: Athleta sports bra, Lululemon shorts, Rabbit tank top, New Balance Fuel Cell Prism
Fuel: Nuun Hydration, Gu Gels
Hartford was a highly recommended course for it’s cool temps and relatively flat terrain. I had just come off a terrible marathon at the Brooklyn Marathon (no recap on that but I should write one, I do NOT recommend that race) and was planning a marathon as a comeback/do I really like running marathons still.
[Quick backstory of Brooklyn: The race directors had changed the course 2-3x during my training and with one month to go announced that we would need to run Prospect Park hill 2x. Once at mile 15 and then again at mile 25. I was already dreading the hill and the change in the course made me panic. I ended up having a panic attack at mile 22 on the parkway. Hid in a porto-potty for a few minutes to cry and dry heave. I still managed to finish the race in 4:07 but was mad, upset, hating the marathon]
Fast forward to August 2022 - I had just finished coming off of Ironman 70.3 training (Eagleman) and looking forward to “just” marathon training. I booked our train from DC to Hartford on Amtrak and reserved an Airbnb downtown. Training was goin great. I was racing short races to get my leg turnover up and get used to the “suck” and “suffering” of a challenge. I even did a half marathon tune up race to “embrace the suck” and practice my fueling. I was ready.
Transportation: We took the 7.5 hour train from DC to Hartford and honestly it was pretty great. Compared to driving it was much more efficient and economic. We arrived in Hartford around 10:00PM and grabbed an Uber from the train station. My original plan was to walk (it was only .7 miles to the Airbnb) but looking around when we arrived I realized it was better to take Uber or Lyft.
Accommodations: We stayed at an Airbnb right on Main Street. I will not do this again. Next time I would stay in the burbs or somewhere that is not downtown Hartford. The race has a great parking map and free/$5 parking the day of the race. It wasn’t worth the convenience. We survived but walking down from the 7th floor when the building elevator broke wasn’t ideal after the race.
Pre-Race Dinner: There are only three streets in Hartford that had restaurants. We ended up at a great little spot, Sorella’s. Being gluten free it was important to find some place that had GF pasta or pizza. This had both, winning! The food was tasty and quick.
Ok let’s get to the race.
The race started at 8AM - much later start than most but I welcomed it as I got to sleep in until 6:30AM. We were able to walk to the start, arriving around 7:15/7:20AM. Gear check was super simple and there was ample space to do warm ups. There are two starting corrals - one for 5K and another for the marathon/half marathon. Do not be like me and line up in the 5K line at 7:55 AM. Thankfully I noticed the bibs were different than mine and quickly made my way across the street to the marathon/half marathon starting corral. You too can run 16 marathons and still screw up on race morning!
Pre Race Breakfast: Gluten free Trader Joes bagel, PBJ and coffee / Pedialyte Sport
8:00AM - Let’s race!
Miles 1-4: The first miles were crowded as the half and full marathoners started together. The race is self seeding with 3 corrals and a general corral. I started in B and thankfully everyone around me ran the pace predicted/set by the corral. Mile 4 we started down the Riverside Park and it was fall perfect with leaves of every shade of red, orange and yellow. This was the scenery I was expecting! Bonus my mom was on the bridge spectating and we got to see her!
Miles 5-8: We continued along the river for another four miles. The trail was narrow, but not so narrow that you couldn’t pass when needed. It was around this time that I had I passed a handful of runners that had started with me. One vital part of marathon racing is to start slow - no one wins a marathon (or gets a PR) in the first 10 miles. Go out too fast and you’re going to suffer. Mile 8 is when I took my first GU. I didn’t feel like I needed it, but that’s the ideal time to take it. Fuel early and hydrate often.
Miles 9-11: Final miles on the trail before hitting the asphalt to start the out and back part of the course. My strategy was to break the race into three parts (10 miles, 10 miles and a 10K) But per usual marathon math starts to kick in. My next milestone was mile 15, when I would take my next gel. I had remained at a steady pace and at the 10 mile marker was surprised by how fast the course was going by. I didn’t dare say that out lout but damn I thought about it!
Miles 12-15: The town comes out in full support of this race and it is amazing! Folks sitting on their front porches cheering and crowds around every turn. This part of the course reminded me of the Scranton Half Marathon (that I’ve run every year since 2012) - small town but big feels.
Miles 16 & 17: After a quick walk break and my second GU my next milestone was mile 17. I was very happy with how “easy” the marathon was feeling at this point. I actually felt like I could stop and take a 10 min break and then go race a 5K. Sure my feet hurt from the asphalt but damn I felt great otherwise. I refilled my water bottle with just water and had my mind set on the turn around at mile 17. Just get to the turnaround. There is a sneaky uphill during this section and all I could think about was the downhill I would get at mile 18.
Miles 18-20: Downhill baby! I didn’t push the downhill but I certainly let my body roll with it. Was running 8:20’s and didn’t feel like it was that hard. Mile 20 meant another short walk break and crossing the timing mat. One more water change out for another round of Nuun Endurance for the final 10K.
Miles 20-23: Won’t lie, I do not remember much of this part of the race. I know I felt “good” (as good as you can at mile 20) and I once again settled into 8:30-8:40 for each mile. Cruising along and doing a juvenile “kill count” of every person I passed. As a running coach I always remind athletes it’s better to pass at the end of a race vs be passed. Yes it feeds the ego but the ego keeps us going during those last miles.
Mile 23: I looked forward to this mile marker. I had seen it going into the out and back and all I thought was when I see you next I’ll be 5K from the finish. LFG.
Miles 24-26: This is when the race got tough and I felt like I would have been OK if the marathon was only 24 miles LOL My form started to suffer but I couldn’t care about that, I needed to get to the finish line. 18 mins of running, 16 mins of running, I was counting down to the finish. I also watched 3:40 pass on my watch and had the insane thought “wow a 3:35 is totally in reach for a marathon for me” (It won’t be next month but I can feel my BQ is within grasp!) That was motivation enough to keep moving forward. I had all of these thoughts while the sun started to come out and we had a bridge/overpass to crest back into downtown. Won’t lie that “hill” sucked. Not because it’s big but because it’s at mile 26. Suffer and get over it. The final turn is just around the corner.
Mile 26.2: Damn Hartford knows how to put on a great finish line. Coming off the final mile and taking that final left into the finishing shoot was amazing. It is a downhill into the park and the arch is a beautiful sight to see with the finish line.
Crossing the finish line I was out of breath but my legs felt strong. I ran in line with my current fitness, a 3:48:54 finishing time. My A goal was 3:45, so I was very happy hitting my B goal. I eventually stopped my watch and got my heat foil. I continued walking to exit the finishers shoot and was fully convinced I walked straight past the medals, don’t worry they are just closer to the exit area that I am used to for races.
Upon exiting the park I found my mom and we celebrated my new PR in the beer tent. 10 out of 10 would recommend the Hartford Marathon. Next time I won’t stay downtown though ;-)
