Tobacco Road Recap

Ran the half marathon of Tobacco Road. I originally signed up for the full, but training fell apart mid january and this was the only run since. I'm fairly cocky about running into the double digits on little training or notice and this was no exception.

The problem I found was that I couldn't roll back the pace. I wasn't trying to catch or pass people or anything of the sort. I just couldn't run over 9 with only mile markers to guide me. This is a complaint, not a backhanded pat on the back.

A contributing factor is the main purpose of the post: The course for the Tobacco Road Marathon/1/2 M is mostly on old railway line with almost zero grade. It makes Umstead look like the Himalaya (and I've been there to know!)

I know the RA ran the Lejune one, but it seems that it was later in the year (hotter) and further away than Cary (25 Min drive to NetApp parking lot from my house.)

This is a much better deal than Kiawah and it's not a double loop. (My personal thought is double loops are bad on the soul, there are certainly some benefits to them though).

I did NOT see any bare/minimal foot runners in the marathoners or halfers. I did see one chick that didn't look the part of a runner since she could have easily been a cheerleader for a pro team. And she passed me during mile 7, never to be seen again.

So as you guys look ahead to some longer term longer run plans. Keep this late March date in mind for next year 900 Full, 2400 Half.

My only complaint was that as a solo person, I couldn't get parking at the USA baseball complex and had to park at the Net App lot about 4 miles away and use the bus. The 6am bus was easy and great, theyused full sized charters. The after race return was awful, they converted to Cary transit buses that seat 12 and stand another 7-10. There wasn't a clear site for boarding and some buses picked up people running up to them before the impromptu boarding site was reached. I ran a half in 2 hours and then spent an hour waiting to get back to my car.

A local brewery whose name suddenly eludes me set up a beer garden in one of the USA pavillion entry zones. I had the porter, it wasn't blockbuster.

that is all.