Tacoma City Marathon

The Tacoma City Marathon was just a long, slow run for me and a chance to visit with a few friends while adding another tally to the Marathon Maniacs scoreboard. I decided to take the early start again this year and follow a 5/1 minute, run/walk ratio. I was still feeling a little tired from Boston, the travel and the head cold I developed afterward so slow and steady seemed like the best possible idea.

The early start was fairly large this year. As we lined up, the race director gave us a few quick instructions then went on to explain that there were a few course changes. I tried to listen but since I am not that familiar with Tacoma, the changes didn’t make much sense. The only one that stuck out was that we wouldn’t be running down South Tacoma Way this year. If that was the case, I knew I would enjoy the course.

A little after 6:00 we were off, pounding down the quiet streets at the base of the “hilltop”. I kept my eye on the lead bike as we wound around, ignoring my first walk break. I continued trying to keep an eye on the bike while ignoring the beeps from my watch that signaled “walk time”, then at mile 3, decided it was best to stick with my plan… after all the course was marked and I wouldn’t get lost. WRONG. I passed the Stadium High School aid station and realized I had no idea where I was. There were no course markings, no traffic cones and no other runners. I doubled back and after much searching found an old, faded mark on the concrete leading down an alley. I followed, wound around a bit more, then ran out of course markers again. I searched, doubled back, went west, turned east…. No markers. Finally I sighted an aid station but when I approached it, noticed it said “mile 6”, my Garmin indicated I was at mile 5. The aid station volunteers tired to encourage me to just keep going and forget about the fact I was a mile short, but I couldn’t, so I headed uphill in search of an extra mile. I didn’t really care if it was the right mile, I just didn’t want to be short at the finish, I signed up to run 26.2, and I was going to run 26.2. 10 minutes (and 1 mile) later I was back at the mile 6 aid station and ready to continue. By that time there were other runners to follow and the course was well marked. I had a great time running along the waterfront, passing through the Asarco tunnel and finally entering Pt Defiance Park. We ran by the zoo and I could hear the animals contained within issuing their morning greetings. I brought my headphones and kept thinking I should listen to some music, but the sounds of the morning were much more interesting.

My run/walk ratio was working well for me. I had lots of spring in my legs, my heart rate was low and I was feeling fresh. The hills that seemed like such monsters last year had tamed down considerably. After emerging from the park, we wandered through residential neighborhoods and down a bike path along highway 16. The bike path was hot and lonely until we pasted by a Top Foods parking lot where an employee had a shopping cart full of bottled water. It was a welcome relief during this aid-less stretch.

We eventually found ourselves right in the middle of the dreaded “hilltop”. Thankfully, gangbangers seem to enjoy sleeping in on Sunday’s and the city had posted several police officers at each street corner, so in general it felt fairly safe. The few residents that wandered outside encouraged the runners, even gangsters appreciate the efforts of a hard marathon. We finished with the familiar screaming downhill and sharp right turn, followed by 2 miles of a nice, gentle glide to the finish line. The marathon volunteers held up the finish tape for every marathon finisher to break through as the announcer read our name and anything notable about us. A very nice touch that I haven’t seen before.

After the race I met up with my childhood friend, Ali, whom I haven’t seen in 30 years. Seeing her again brought tears to my eyes and it was the best reward for finishing a difficult marathon. We walked around a bit, I changed into my sweats, then we settled down for a cold beer and an hour of catching up. It was a perfect day.

Finish time 4:34.