Cape Cod Clam Chowdah Challenge Rpt

This was my 2-day race. A half marathon on Saturday and full marathon on Sunday. I had my goal marathon at the end of September and never trained specifically for this. I was just hoping to get by on current fitness and thought it would be fun to see if I could do it. My only real goal was just to finish.

We had a nor'easter hit on Saturday that wrecked a little havoc.

Met up with Michael Enright a mile into the marathon on Sunday. It was great meeting him. It was amazing he spotted me just from my picture and I had a hat on.

Day One - Half Marathon - Temps at start was 42 with some wind. Not bad. The course was down to Woods Hole and back although a different way to come back. We got going and I felt pretty good. I kept having to hold back a bit. Around 10M I was starting to get restless, I was thinking about the full the next day. The last 2M I went faster than I wanted. Finished in 1:57:57. Got done and started eating and drinking. Unfortunately I didn't sleep one bit because of the howling from the nor'easter.

Day Two - Full Marathon - Temps at start was 40 but with strong wind and gusts from the nor'easter. It felt a lot colder than Saturday. I felt terrible at the starting line. We got under way and within a couple of miles I was already looking for mile markers. Not good. Knew this would be a long day but knew this was as much mental as physical today. Around 10M in I was feeling the marathon pain I would normally feel much later. At 15M I started crashing and got a little dizzy. But I had a gel and came around. At 19M the death march began. I started walking the uphills. By 24M I was running/walking. I finished and was never more happy. 4:17:46.

I got a special clam chowder bowl and shirt for completing both.

Unfortunately I went home a disaster zone from the storm. Had to shovel out the driveway. No power. No heat. I still have no power and my house is 42. I'll be lucky to have it by the end of the weekend. Oh well. Can't do anything about it.

Thanks for reading.

Alex - I sure hope you get your power back soon. I am one of the lucky 30% in my town who never lost power - though the power line to my house has a tree dangling on it, and the conduit on the side of the house is half torn off! No cable or internet either, which slowed down the race report. Good to meet you!

Nice job, Alex!