The course itself consists of 2 loops and a short out-and-back in the beginning. There is some overlap and one part of the course is run 4 times. Given that it was at the end and I knew exactly how much I had left, that was actually a positive thing.

My first loop went pretty well. I wasn’t tired, I felt like I was saving enough energy, my legs weren’t sore, and the cramps weren’t there yet. With about 15 miles down, I stopped to talk for a while before heading back out on my second loop. I had been giving updates on my progress via text messaging (yeah, trail running while using a cell phone is kinda of dumb, but it helped encourage me to keep pushing). So my spectators knew pretty well when I’d be coming through the start/finish area.

By the start of the second loop, I was beginning to question why I’d entered. I was a little more encouraged when the first aid station rolled up pretty quickly. I used that little mental boost to keep me going for a good while and I was making decent time even if my jog was pretty slow. I was coming up on the 18 mile mark and I fully expected cramps to get me. I’d never run more than 20 miles before without terrible calf cramps making it really tough. But I had been taking electrolyte replacement pills all along the course at each aid station and was optimistic it’d actually work. I was also downing soda, cookies, and brownies whenever I didn’t feel too heavy. I had my hydration pack on my back for the first time in a long race. I definitely didn’t want to fill up on fluids and food and feel lethargic.

But I made it to the 20 mile mark and no cramps where to be had. I just kept going, though my feet were really tired and hurting by this point. I was already heading back in the general direction of the start/finish so I knew the worst scenario would be to walk to the finish. The runners were pretty spread out by this point so it was pretty much a solitary experience. I soon got to the point where 3 or 4 trails merged and knew I was on a section I’d run before. This was a big mental boost since I could remember how much longer I had to go. With cramps still not appearing, I was also excited that my pills were doing a good job.

I got to where I knew I had just about half a mile to go and knew I had it in the bag. I still had decent energy and didn’t feel like I was going to crash. My head was still clear and I was grateful that I didn’t injure my knees or muscles given my complete lack of training. I got to the end of the loop and was unsure of how to finish the race. A few people at the finish line waived at me as a signal that I was just supposed to run up the small incline. Finally, 5 and a half hours later, my 5th marathon was done.

Finishing up the race

My biggest accomplishment at this race was definitely conquering the cramping. I’ve been discouraged to enter longer races and now I feel like it might be something I can actually consider. Maybe I’ll get in some good training this summer and be able to pull off another 50K before too long.

I got to the starting line with plenty of time. The race didn’t start until 8am and I was there by 7:40. I walked around the finish area, thought about going to the restroom, saw the huge mass of people that were waiting, and decided to just tough it out. Well, I’d be toughing it a while!

The race course was actually really nice. It started at the Art Museum before heading to the Deleware River, along South Street, across Chestnut to University City, up by the Zoo and Civil War Memorial, then back to the museum. That was only half. One of my favorite aspects of the course (and my pace) was that I was able to see the race winner right around mile 26 just before he finished. This is the first marathon where I’ve been able to watch the leaders in the final stages. Of course it was a slight mental setback knowing (and seeing) all the people that were miles and miles ahead of me.

So back to the toughing it … they ran out of water at the first 2 or 3 water stops. This was no good. There were also very few porta-potties and when they did appear, there was a line. I ended up waiting til around mile 17. I was never uncomfortable but it would have been nicer for everyone to have more options.

The residents of Philadelphia sure know how to support a marathon, particular at the toughest sections. From miles 19-21 (typically referred to as “The Wall”), we ran an out-and-back in Manayunk. Though it was hilly, the two-lane road was lined solid on both sides with spectators and it was definitely one of the more uplifting parts of the course. Speaking of hills, there were a lot more than I expected. There were quite a few climbs around the Zoo and they reappeared around mile 21 as we headed back from Manayunk to the museum.

Overall I held a very solid pace given my lack of training. I was very content on going out nice and easy since I figured I’d have to hold on for the finish. More than in past marathons, I think I was able to finish strong. I did have some serious cramping (as usual) around mile 23 and the last 3 miles were much more grueling due to that. At mile 26 with only a couple of minutes left, I had to all out stop in the middle of the road. When I managed to put my first step out, several guys were cheering me on and that’s all I needed to finish without any other problems. I even jogged most of the way home after picking up my medal. I did have the usual fatigue that would go from the bottoms of my feet to my knees to my hamstrings, but this wasn’t as painful as I expected it to be. I did have about 20 minutes worth of loopiness starting around mile 18 where I started to dig too deep into my energy reserves. I managed to snarf down some orange slices, a few bites of an energy bar, and increased my Gatorade intake and luckily it went away.

I knew a few Wharton classmates would be running the race and I did actually see a couple of them on Kelly Drive. They were way ahead and looked really strong. I also ran into a cohortmate randomly on my way back home and that was really nice.

The only other course I’ve run is Austin. While Austin’s course is easier, it’s not as populated with fans in so many spots. They do usually have more live music which is always great. I also appreciate the more frequent water stops. Having said that, the Philadelphia Marathon is a great course and I loved the fans. They really make it so much easier on the runners.