From: mvm@caesun6.harris-atd.com (Matt Mahoney)
Subject: Grandfather Mountain Marathon
Reply-To: mvm@epg.harris.com (Matt Mahoney)
Organization: CAE Design Center, Harris Corp., Melbourne, Fl.
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 20:57:41 GMT

Also for the Space Coast Runner's newsletter, Aug. 92...


                  The Grandfather
                 Mountain Marathon
                  By Matt Mahoney


The course for the Grandfather Mountain
Marathon was deliberately chosen to be difficult,
with 1000 feet of descent and 2000 feet of
climbing.  That, and ten thousand cheering
spectators at the finish line, was reason enough
for 250 runners to line up at the Appalachian
State University track in Boone, North Carolina
for the 25'th running to the mountain top 26
miles away.

The course's reputation as "America's Toughest"
attracted some of the most hard-core endurance
athletes.  Everywhere I went, I heard stories of
100 mile runs and Double-Ironman finishes.  Dr.
Joan Joesting of Tampa had perhaps the most
amazing story.  Sixteen years ago, in her first
race of any kind, she became the first woman
ever to finish this race.  Since then, she has
completed three Hawaiian Ironmans, the New
Zealand Ironman, and has held an age group
record in the 100K run.  She has bicycled across
the U.S. and twice around the 9600 mile
perimeter of Australia, alone and unsupported. 
Today she ran 5:23, placing second in the
women's 50 and over age group, with only a 6
minute spread between the top three.

Finish times were about 30 minutes slower than
normal, according to most of the runners I
talked to.  The median (50'th percentile) finish
time was 4:14.  The winning times were 2:40
for the men and 3:40 for the women.  My finish
time of 3:32 was 40'th overall and 10'th in the
mens 35-39 age group.  About 95% of the
runners finished within the 5:30 cutoff for the T-
shirt.

To train for the race, I decided not to increase
my 15 miles per week of mostly speedwork and
racing in triathlons.  However, I did need some
hills, a real problem in Florida.  So about a
month before the race, I did my one long run --
20 miles -- with 16 bridge repeats on the
Melbourne Causeway.  I strengthened my calves
by running barefoot on the beach and on grass,
including a 10 mile race on Daytona Beach
about 2 weeks before the marathon.  I also
worked on a stairmaster to simulate hills,
racewalked (as a backup), and lifted weights.

The first couple of miles leaving Boone were
pretty easy, flat or slightly downhill, so I ran an
easy 8:00/mile pace.  As it started up hill, I
slowed to 9-10 min/mile, then had to walk up
some very steep hill.  The road turned to jagged
gravel that poked into my racing flats.  Back on
pavement at 5 miles, I ran a 6-minute mile down
steep residential streets, passing lots of runners,
just letting gravity do the work.  There were two
more long climbs and descents by the halfway
point, which I reached in 1:43.

The second half was mostly uphill with a
variable grade, along winding mountain roads
shaded by lush forests.  The temperature was in
the mid 70's, quite pleasant compared to
Florida.  There was a spectacular view of the
mountain top at mile 22, but my legs were
starting to hurt.  By mile 24, my form was
deteriorating, so I could no longer take
advantage of the occasional downhills.

The race finished with the sound of bagpipes
and one lap around a dirt track at MacRae
Meadows, where thousands of people have
gathered for the Scottish Highland games.  The
crowds applauded, but I was in too much pain to
notice.  A runner I just passed hugged me at the
finish line.  I couldn't believe I ran only 2
minutes off my best marathon time.

--------------------------------        _\/_
Matt Mahoney, mvm@epg.harris.com       |(TV)|  Drug of the Nation
#include <disclaimer.h>                |____|