Atlantic City Marathon

Published October 21, 2018

Late wake-up, late marathon START. That time of year: less sunlight, cooler temps. 8am guns ok & not get heat-walloped by race end. Nite sleeps just 500ft from today’s FINISH banner, plenty of time for pre-race breakfast. A new era. Oatmeal, fresh fruit – nothing crazy, but 100% not my pre-race norm.

Expecting sunshine later but strong winds gusting off the Atlantic this day. Overcast & breezy. Mighty nice ocean view though 😊 Burrito-wrapped in last weekend’s mylar throwaway (PEI), wait/waiting to run.

Good headspace. Diet on point, training miles logged. Boardwalk run.

Would collect almost all Monopoly pieces over 26 miles. Couldn’t help [but] think of Ash; she’s collected different board versions since childhood. Classic Monopoly today – would tag all properties but the railroads. Tourist shops, food trucks, casinos – but NO RAIL (no B&O, no Reading) on AC’s boardwalk.

North toward Hard Rock, combined Half & FULL Start. Wider Boardwalk passage than most asphalt routes. Notta lotta pedestrians. Sunday morning early; still sleeping off the effects of a hard casino night.

First 2 miles Board, before pushing west into Atlantic City. Would rejoin AC’s famous landmark at marker 8, last 5 miles of Halfers’ journey to Bally’s & Caesar’s – day’s FINISH ticker. FULL runners veered left of the shoot, continued our trek south – collecting the yellow properties: Ventnor, Atlantic, Marvin Gardens.

Cold, strong headwind. RAW. Regrouped at 14. Thankful for my Twin Cities glove swag, lotta use past 3 weeks. Caught appreciated windbreak on a 5-mile subdivision loop thru Ventnor City. Boardwalk last 4 miles. Legs tired but wind at my back. Walk, jog. Push, push, push. Ran mile 23. Walk/jogged 24, ran in the last mile. Course lined with tourists, amused by the action, grabbing a morning coffee/breakfast bagel.

Boy’s on a tear. Not as fast as last Sunday, but darn close – 2^nd best of 2018. Work put in, good consistent results. Another bonus to a four hour marathon? No begging for a post-run shower. 2 hours to Newark, FOOD, 4 ½ hour flight home.

Tomorrow: Monday, Monday – but today, a 4:13 finish. FAAAANNTASTIC!

2018 AmeriHealth NJ Atlantic City Marathon & Half Marathon

October 21, 2018 Results presented by AC Marathon Race Series and timed by SVE Timing Mid-Atlantic

Bib Name Division Chip Elapsed City

1237 KEENAN HAGA MARATHON 04:13:19 LOUISVILLE