I Won the Cross County Trail Marathon!

I WON! I won a marathon! I have won shorter races (5 miler, 5K) but this was my first (and possibly only) marathon win!! I overtook the leader with 2.5 to go and hung on for the W. I finished third overall and second male in the Hatfield McCoy Marathon in 2016. I came in second overall and first master's runner in 2018 at Deadwood, South Dakota Marathon. This victory, however, will forever be special. What an amazing rush and feel to be able to cross the finish line of a marathon first overall!

First place!

This was my first marathon wearing my Montgomery Road Runners Club singlet. I figured since I did many morning track sessions and hill routes with the club, I should represent. The day started out fine. It was perfect marathon weather in the 30s/40s to start - I was shivering on the line, as it should be. I had felt lightheaded 20 minutes before the race due to a head rush, but that had passed. The Cross County Trail Marathon is actually run on a trail - go figure! I would say about a third of it is on a rocks and roots course while the rest is mostly paved. There was a part that went alongside the back of a fence to a baseball field - it was muddy and tough footing, so caution was wise. The race director gave us instructions to follow the ribbons hanging from the tree, to follow the signs, and to not cross the white line lest we veer off course. The route went out north on the Cross County Trail a little over four miles, mostly uphill, then at the turnaround you ran back through the start. The next turnaround was about 2.5 miles south, mostly on a paved trail, and then back to the start line. Half marathoners were done, but marathoners repeated the course. It was unlike any course I had previously run.

Bib number 1 - alphabetically and race place!

At 8AM over 50 of us started (I think there were a few early starters). Half marathoners started at 8:30AM. The first few miles were brutal. I led off the line for a minute before another runner passed me and set the pace. I didn't quite have my legs, so I let him go. The terrain never let me get into my desired pace, especially since I was doing a lot of climbing. Nothing on the course was technical: some parts were similar to the C&O Canal and others were pounded dirt with rocks and roots attempting to trip or twist an ankle. I was in negative headspace for most of the first half coming up with all sorts of excuse: my dizziness, my upset stomach from the previous day, the course, etc. I didn't blame my taper since it was good - that was about the only thing I hadn't blamed. I just held onto the notion that anything could happen in a marathon, so if I just ran by feel, then maybe I would have a shot. I wasn't wishing injury on the leader, but if he went out too fast or was prone to fading late in marathons, that was on him and fair game.

At the turnaround around 4.2 miles into the race, I figured I was a quarter of a mile back, so 90-110 seconds behind the leader. At the second turnaround at the southern-most point of the course - let's call it 10.75 miles - my deficit had grown to half a mile. When I came back through the start which completed the first half, I was at 93 minutes. I had to figure that out after the race because my Garmin had me only at 12.9. However, I forgot to take into account all the tree cover that messed with GPS. It would also explain some slow miles if the GPS was off. I think according to my watch, I hit the half just about 1:34:30-45, putting me on target for a 3:09. Shawn met me in the 14th mile, about a quarter of a mile north of the start, and started pacing me. I shouted out to him that I thought the course was short, that I had an issue pre race, digestive issues the previous day, and that I was in some serious negative headspace. But Shawn kept a decent pace. I wanted him to run with me, but he was constantly 5-10 meters ahead of me. It frustrated me for a bit, as I wanted to tell him I had given up my goal and to just pull back. In hindsight, he paced me perfectly.

At the 17.3 turnaround, I figured the leader was still just half a mile ahead of me. That gave me hope that I could catch him, because he hadn't distanced himself any further from me, and in the back of my mind I thought I could make up 3-4 minutes if he hit a wall. With Shawn pacing me and a renewed sense of a shot, my competitive spirit kicked in. As we ran south on the course, I tried asking runners (half or full) coming north how far ahead the leader was. Some didn't hear but a couple gave me decent intel. They told me I was 3 minutes then maybe 2 minutes back. Then I had a scary moment as I came back through the course near the merry-go-round, I landed hard and let out an audible yelp. I was worried I had twisted my ankle. I felt some pain and feared the worst. But no pain persisted, so I counted myself lucky. As I passed the start line to head south for the final 5 miles or so, I was cautiously optimistic. The rest of the race would be on pavement, and I still had my legs so I could lay down the hammer. As I continued to flyby other runners headed north, one told me he was just a minute ahead. That ignited my killer instinct! As we were within a mile of the final turnaround, I kept hoping not to see the leader headed back to the finish line. The closer I got to the turnaround without seeing him, the better my chances to catch him. Finally, as we were within a third of a mile of turnaround, I saw him up ahead: maybe just a minute if that, probably closer. Shawn brought me in closer, and the leader made the turnaround seconds before we hit. Then we went for the kill and kicked it into next gear, leaving him behind. A minute or two later, I asked Shawn if he could look back to let me know how far ahead we were. He shook his head no and just said, "He's done."

A successful day for two MoCo runners

He was right! My best mile was the mile I overtook the leader - a 6:33! My fastest 5K was the final 5K. I managed to put 2 minutes and twelve seconds on him at the end. That final couple of miles I was just elated that I was actually going to win! Now-second place was nowhere in sight! And with my impending victory, I grew more confident and excited. Shawn was pumping his fist and waving me with his hand to run faster. I tried to hold that feeling so I remember it forever.

I did something strange when I crossed the finish line: I kept running! Due to tree coverage, my watch read 25.8. I ran another 3 minutes (90 seconds out and back to the finish) to ensure that my Garmin recorded 26.2 so I could get the marathon badge. My official time was 3:04:34 - 3:07:37 by my watch if counting to 26.2. I'm obviously pleased that I didn't just jog it in. I persevered through adversity, the doubt monsters, and other excuses to earn my first marathon overall victory. I will be able to tell the lesson of this marathon for years, and that is don't ever quit! I stayed the course and gave myself a chance just in case the leader faded. And that is exactly what happened. I kept the pressure on and took advantage of the opportunity when it arose. And forever, I can call myself a marathon champion!

When I got home, my wife was so excited for me and surprised. My older son kept telling people that his daddy won a marathon this morning. I spent the afternoon in the backyard with him and our younger son, playing soccer and just enjoying being a father. After the boys went to bed, my wife and I enjoyed a feast of burgers (veggie for me), an éclair, and a good IPA.

Victory feast!

Thanks to Shawn for pacing. Thanks to Ira for driving and congrats on your accomplishment - in his third marathon, he set a PR, shaving an hour off his previous time. Thanks to fellow MCRRC Tuesday morning track and Thursday hills for helping me get in shape. Thanks to my new running friends in Silver Spring. Thanks to my first club, DCRRC where I really learned how to run and race and share that love of running with others. And thank you to the Cross County Trail Marathon race director and crew!

Result

Splits

7:33/22/13/06/6:45/7:12/05/33/6:55/7:04/22/06/25/32/14/06/00/6:49/7:02/ 12/34/07/6:52/33/57/ 5:44 (.80) to the finish = 25.8 by my Garmin (off due to tree cover) and another 3:02 for the final .40 to get to marathon distance.