Ah, the marathon. The culmination of months of training, endless hours spent on your way to the Guilford docks or on the way back. And then the months of over analysis and “what if’’s”.
2008 marked the second year that the Breakers marathon was run on the “new” course, that is, starting in downtown Newport, bimbling along the coast and then heading out to Middletown for the second half. Fellow runners told me tales of yore when the entire marathon was run in Middletown, circling four laps of an unchanging course. Happy for the variety in scenery I was about to experience I dashed off at the gun with approximately 700 other runners only to find myself negotiating some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Newport. It was shocking to observe the blight of urban decay and the real life examples of how the credit market collapse has affected main street America – Rockefellers, Carnegies, and Astors sleeping in cardboard boxes on street corners, topiary animals gone wild, crumbling mansions by the sea. I found myself wondering if I could manage to scrape up a few million dollars to purchase one of the many properties for sale along the course – do my part for the local economy. But, who am I kidding? Dan doesn’t have time to mow those lawns and train for Hellgate at the same time.
By the halfway point the course leaves the old robber baron neighborhoods and guides you across a causeway towards Middletown and past the finish line for the first time. I was happy to see Dan and Ellie waiting for me there, offering some smiles and words (barks) of encouragement for the second half. Ellie was being lavished with attention from endless dog lovers and thinking herself to be a very pretty girl indeed. I headed out looking forward to seeing them at the finish area again.
The second half of the course proved to be stark contrast to the first half. While it still offered plenty in terms of beautiful ocean views and lovely New England properties the terrain was not as forgiving. Miles 1-18 held true to the description on the website as “gently rolling”. Nothing much to speak of, I think I could even describe it as “mostly flat”. This, however, changed at mile 18. The “mostly flat” course became “mostly hilly” for the remainder of the race. Long, steep sections greeted me around many corners. I realized that I had burned too much of my energy early on and started to see the wall coming up quickly. The rest of the story is a typical tale of a marathon. Girl suffers, girl grits teeth, girl limps towards the finish. At long last I shouldn’t forget – girl is welcomed home by loving and attentive crew.
All in all, the Breakers marathon offers spectacular views, a nice small town atmosphere and a great challenge to your body when you are really tired. It is a tough course and I find myself wondering, did I go out too fast? Was it the hills that killed me in the end? Ah, all the questions that make us go back and try it again.
In case you didn’t know, Jen finished in 4:01 – nice one!
Another great report from another great Bimbler!!
Awesome job Chipper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys write real good!!
Iggy
Great report and great race, Chipper. I had a hunch some of the course would be pretty, and some would be hilly, and some would be pretty hilly. Given your historic roots (and now routes) in South Eastern New England, I think you should carefully consider some of those “fire sale” prices on waterfront property in Newport. As they say “You can do it”. Just get yourself a non-conforming NINJA loan from your friendly neighborhood mortgage broker (oops, that was last year’s way to buy a house, sorry) As for Spuds and his endless lawn mowing duties… Hellgate training season and lawn mowing season don’t overlap THAT much. Besides, I heard that Claus von Bülow is looking for a part-time job. Yes, I know he is 82 years old, so don’t pay him by the hour.