8/18/05 NORBA Nationals Marathon @ Snowshoe WV
A few minutes after the start it began to rain, and the rain continued almost the whole race, sometimes heavy. Temperatures @ 3800-4800' altitude were around 60 degrees F all day. Fog was so heavy that a marshal asked me how we could even race. Trails were wet, rooty, muddy.
First and second place pros (Trek/VW) averaged 10 mph. Third place pro averaged 8 mph. I averaged 5 mph, finishing in just over 8 hours. Finishing got me 1st place 40-49 age group. I understand the finisher rate, including pros, was about 78%.
I actually enjoyed the racing, even though I spent a fair amount of time pushing. To me it was a much more satisfying race than a two or 2-1/2 hour XC race.
The event was very well run, with a water station placed at an intersection that you passed twice each lap. If you had a cooler or snack bag they brought it out to the water station for you. I really appreciate them keeping scoring open late so that everyone who hadn't quit could finish. A big thanks to all the volunteers who stood out on the mountains in the rain all day manning checkpoints/water stations. I heard two reports of black bear sitings, and I had a total of seven deer jump out in front of me.
A few minutes after the start it began to rain, and the rain continued almost the whole race, sometimes heavy. Temperatures @ 3800-4800' altitude were around 60 degrees F all day. Fog was so heavy that a marshal asked me how we could even race. Trails were wet, rooty, muddy.
First and second place pros (Trek/VW) averaged 10 mph. Third place pro averaged 8 mph. I averaged 5 mph, finishing in just over 8 hours. Finishing got me 1st place 40-49 age group. I understand the finisher rate, including pros, was about 78%.
I actually enjoyed the racing, even though I spent a fair amount of time pushing. To me it was a much more satisfying race than a two or 2-1/2 hour XC race.
The event was very well run, with a water station placed at an intersection that you passed twice each lap. If you had a cooler or snack bag they brought it out to the water station for you. I really appreciate them keeping scoring open late so that everyone who hadn't quit could finish. A big thanks to all the volunteers who stood out on the mountains in the rain all day manning checkpoints/water stations. I heard two reports of black bear sitings, and I had a total of seven deer jump out in front of me.
