Marathons are funny things. You train for them for weeks and months on end. Through all kinds of weather. Trying out various combinations of gear and fueling strategies. All to simulate what you may experience on race day.
Then race day comes, and you hope for the best. The best weather, the best attitude, and your best effort. No matter what anyone says, you always give your best on marathon day because everyone in the running community knows what a marathon finish time means, even if they don’t say it.
As a result of this dedication, marathon runners are focused on race day and can be a quiet, intense group. It is not the Turkey Trot or a run in the woods, this is the pinnacle of road racing ? the marathon distance.
And some days, despite your best efforts, the race doesn’t work out the way you planned. However, there are times you find a different kind of magic to get you over the rough patches and bring you home.
Coach Nathan Nudelman led the Naval Academy Club Marathon Team into the Chicago Marathon on October 13 and sprinkled some of that magic on the course.
In a rarity for a competitive road race such as the Chicago Marathon, Nudelman sacrificed his own goals to help others around him that were struggling with motivation.
One of those persons was Alex Odenkirk of Seattle, who trained for 18 months and was running his first marathon at Chicago. Due to some pacing errors, Odenkirk had all but decided to drop out at the 22-mile mark when Nudelman pulled up behind him with a pack of beat-up first timers.
Nudelman, who has paced many races in the past, used a variety of motivational tactics to help Odenkirk and others in the group keep going.
“We’re going to run to that light pole or water station up there then walk some more. If you want to finish, come with us,” Nudelman would say.
Nudelman led this group to a finish that, as Odenkirk would later note, “otherwise would not have” happened.
“Nathan sacrificed his own race and ignored the griping of quite a few grumpy runners to make sure I got across the finish line,” Odenkirk said. “I can’t thank him enough for that inspiration, and hope I have the opportunity to do the same for others someday.”
Nudelman’s actions in sacrificing that elusive “good marathon time” to lead others is a wonderful example of the camaraderie and companionship of runners, while also serving as a testament to the Naval Academy Marathon Team.
Notable Achievements: It is not often that a marathon record is broken, and two important marathon distance records were set in the past few weeks.
Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei won the Chicago Marathon in 2:14:04, besting second place by over 7 minutes and breaking the previous record of 2:15:25 that was set in 2003 by Britain’s Paula Radcliffe at the London Marathon.
On October 13, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge became the first person to run the marathon distance in under two hours, finishing in 1:59:40 in an event specially designed in Vienna to beat the elusive two-hour goal. Although the run does not officially count as a marathon as it was not an open event and standard pacing and fueling rules did not apply, it is an impressive feat and proves that, given the right circumstances, it is possible in an event open to all.
Perhaps that person will be Kipchoge, who set the official marathon world record in Berlin in 2018, completing that race in 2:01:39 – not far above the two-hour mark.
And in ultra-marathons, this past weekend saw Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. This is the world championship of backyard running, a “last runner standing” contest, where competitors run a 4.166667-mile loop every hour.
The race continues every hour, on the hour. Each participant has one hour to run the 4.1 miles. How you spend the rest of the hour, if you finish before 60 minutes and should there be any time left, is up to you. The race continues until there is only one runner left.
This year brought an internationally ranked field and the first-ever female champion, Maggie Guterl of Durango Colorado, who lasted 60 laps (that’s 60 hours!) and 250 miles – outlasting New Zealander Will Hayward.
Guterl had the fourth-highest mileage in the history of the event and beat her run of 183 miles from last year. All the other competitors are considered “non-finishers,” including Hayward who made it a little over 59 laps.
Charm City Results: The Baltimore Running Festival saw impressive times for many local runners. Patricia Walsh, 44, of Severn was the overall female master’s winner of the Baltimore Marathon in 3:18:29. David Phipps and James Narimatsu, both of Arnold, placed first and third, respectively, in the 55-59 age group with times of 2:56:45 (who, that’s fast!) and 3:44:21.
Kaitlin Govatos of Edgewater was the women’s winner of the hilly Half Marathon in 1:23:46, while 15-year-old Jaminson Wildt of Arnold finished first in his age group with a time of 1:29:54. Last but not least, Charlie Schindler of Severna Park was the men’s winner of the 5K in an impressive 15:48 (5:05 a mile).
Local Race Rebranded: Annapolis is getting a rebranded race on May 30, 2020. What was previously known as the Zooma Annapolis and Wayfarer’s Annapolis Half Marathons and 10Ks will now be the Naptown Half Marathon & 10K.
Legendary Sports Group (LSG) of Annapols will organize and manage the revamped event.
“We are extremely excited to be managing this event,” said Matt Florio, vice president of operations for LSG. “This is a great race in a great town, and we believe with a fresh new look and some creativity this will become a staple race on the mid-Atlantic running calendar.”
The race will be looking to work with local charities to be beneficiaries of the race and to give back locally to meaningful organizations that share in the company’s values.
“One of our core values is giving back to the community,” said Ryan Heacock, president of LSG. “Something we say often is ‘You don’t get back if you don’t give back’. We realize that events are all about community and bringing people together. It’s our obligation to give back to the community so it can continue to thrive and do well for others.”
Registration for the 2020 Naptown Half Marathon & 10K will open in October 2019. For more information on the race or to register you can visit www.NaptownRun.com.
Running Calendar
October 26 (9 a.m.) – Greasy Gooney 10K, Brownstone, VA, Information: gg10k.com
October 27 – Marine Corps Marathon, Arlington, Virginia, Information: marinemarathon.com
October 27 (8:30 a.m.) – Ninth annual Al’s Run Anne Arundel Community College, Information: www.active.com/arnold-md/running/al-s-run-9th-annual-2019
November 2 (8:30 a.m.) – Downs Park 5-miler, Downs Park, Information: annapolisstriders.org
November 9 (8 a.m.) – Rosaryville Veteran’s Day 50K, Rosaryville State Park, Information: annapolisstriders.org
November 10 (8 a.m.) – Run for the Wreaths, Odenton, information: triannapolis.org/events
November 16 (7:15 a.m.) – Annapolis Running Classic, Navy Marine Corps Stadium, information: annapolisrunningclassic.com
November 23 – Alumni Challenge, National Harbor, Information: TheAlumniChallenge.com.
December 8 (10 a.m.) – 41st annual Anniversary Run, Quiet Waters Park, Information: annapolisstriders.org
Send running news or calendar items to Bob Cawood at rhbc@cawoodlawfirm.com
