50 by 50: Virginia: Richmond Marathon

Anthem Richmond Marathon, November 15, 2014
Background:
I signed up for this after learning about this club called Marathon Maniacs. If you run 3 marathons in 90 days or 2 in 15, you can join this club. Call it peer pressure or drinking the koolaid... I signed up for this one as well...before ever running my first!
Spectators:
My aunt was able to go with me for this one, though she only got to see me finish and didn't get to see me around the course like she had at Marine Corps. We had talked about her meeting me partway through for me to give her anything I didn't need anymore after warming up but that never happened, so I told her not to bother and just meet me at the finish!
Hotel:
The hotel we stayed at was the race hotel, Omni Richmond, and I loved the little sign they gave us for the door that showed sheep and said "Sssh, runner sleeping!" It was just a couple blocks uphill to the start.
Temperature:
Race day was COLD! I had a throw-off robe to keep warm while waiting, thankfully. I don't think it ever got above 30 degrees and it might be an overshare, but my butt was a block of ICE at the finish! It never did warm up!
Plan:
My plan was to start slow and stay slow, because I had signed up for a THIRD marathon in December, so I was treating this like a "supported training run."

I wound up wearing both shirts, the windbreaker, the pants, the Smartwool headband and socks

Race recap:
After starting, the mile signs were confusing because I passed 3 different "mile 1" signs, due to the staggered start locations of the 8K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon. That was confusing :-(
I was told from the ladies I was running with that from behind, in my robe, I looked like an old lady who had escaped from the Nursing Home and somehow wound up in the middle of a marathon!
I wore the robe until I reluctantly parted with it at mile 3, not wanting to start to sweat and then be wet. I gave it a proper ceremony, and I hope that whoever received it is enjoying it to this day. For those unfamiliar with this: the big races collect discarded clothes, launder it, and give it to a local charity.

My throw off robe, plus what were supposed to be throw off gloves, and my layers! I didn't care how bad I looked!

My favorite part of the course was the portion along the river. That was just beautiful! The old home section was great too. Running down the avenue with all the Confederate Statues is a bit odd, but ... it's Richmond, so whatever. Worst part of the course: the whistler. There was one runner whistling. Not a tune, just a repetitive note over and over. I couldn't take it - I had to speed up! I mostly ran just to avoid him!

Along the river, before the bridge

After the bridge, feeling great!

I was starting to hurt by mile 19 and mile 20-21 were no fun at all. I was faster than I meant to be, but the banked roads were doing a number on my left knee and hip and thigh. The finish is 4 blocks or more downhill, which initially seems like a great thing, but by the time you get there, your legs are unreliable jello! It was actually pretty brutal! I like the fact they give you a fleece blanket at the end :-) Overall the course was okay but after the Marine Corps, this was one was a little disappointing and far hillier. Lots of dead zones.
I beat my MCM time even though I didn't want to, but hey, I'll take it!

Medal:
I loved the medal! At first I thought the two lines were so you could engrave your name and finish time but then I held it up to the light and realized it was glass!! Beautiful!