So like a few of the other marathoners-in-training, I have also missed a few of the longer weekend runs recently. I have been doing them at other times, trying to run the same exact routes when I am in town. This weekend I found myself on a business trip to Fairbanks, Alaska. This was really a challenge to find a 14 mile course for the long run. (I must say however the 22 hours of sunlight made it convenient for my long run on Sunday night.) Also, as some may have experienced, people tend to look at you funny when you respond to their question as to how far are you going to run - 14. As an aside I spoke to the hotel desk clerk who I overheard saying she has been doing a lot of running recently. I asked," Where do you run around here?" Answer - "Outside." Yeah... So I did some internet research on possible running clubs etc. in Fairbanks and came up with a few routes courtesy of the U.S. Triathlon Association. They have a seven mile loop around the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. (Also big news in the Fairbanks paper, they had 37 people register for the Sourdough Triathlon.) Well, I ran around the city for a while along the Chena River and decided to run the 7 mile loop. Mistake #1 - City boy did not take into account what some would refer to as "hills" or 3/4 mile long hills. I did some math and figured I run pretty standard pace of 10 minute miles so the run should take roughly 2hrs 20 minutes.
So I stopped running at 2:20 only to find myself 4 miles from the hotel, saturated in sweat, and a decreasing outside temperature. (Mistake #2) All of which have lead me to purchase a garmin running gps to hopefully minimize future mistakes. Back at the hotel, I found myself cold and a bit uncomfortable. Knees were sore and apparently suffering from some pretty uncomfortable abrasions in various places. All minor and felt better after a shower and 2 extra strength tylenol. Now back in Arlington, resuming "normal" life. I'm not going to be in town again this weekend but no where as exciting as Alaska. I'll be doing more research on where to run...
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Two points:
1) When Alaskans say "Outside," they often mean all places outside of Alaska or the so-called "Lower 48." The hotel clerk might have meant she had been doing races down in the contiguous states.
2) If you want hills, try the Equinox Marathons in Fairbanks. It climbs 2,000 feet between miles 8 and 13, and then drops 2,000 feet between miles 17 and 22. It's a knee killer. A course profile can be seen at http://www.course.equinoxmarathon.org/EquinoxProfile.pdf.
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