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Baton Rouge Marathon |
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The 15th edition of the Baton Rouge Beach Marathon organized by the Running Chicken Track Club took place on Saturday December 6 at the Louisiana capital. The event is a double loop and is run through Louisiana State University campus, and around University Lakes and residential areas of Greater Baton Rouge. The course is relatively flat with a fair number of curves. The scenery with the race around the lake and the surrounding homes makes for a pleasant distraction. The weather was perfect: sunny conditions, mid thirties at start, low fifties at the finish. Kevin Castille, 36 of Lafayette LA, won his debut marathon in 2:47:20. Autumn Ray of Galveston, Texas, took the women’s win in 2:58:57. Eleven minutes behind came Pine Belt Pacer Terry the Rocket Lawhead who set a new PR in 3:09:41 and qualified for Boston 2010 (he had already gotten his space for Boston 2009). Terry placed second in his age group. First place overall in the half marathon was local runner Matthew Manning who finished in 1:14:02. Another runner from Baton Rouge, Elle Ellender, was the top female in 1:33:03. A duet of New Born Half-Marathonians finished the race a couple of minutes behind Ellender. Nestor Raul Coach Potato Anzola and Charles, Audrey’s Little Helper, Jackson completed the distance tied in 1:46:33. In an impressive performance, Charles broke his personal record for more than 10 minutes! What a difference a week and colder temperatures makes. Charles and I improved 18 and 21 minutes respectively our times from the run at Stennis Space Center. Another big difference this week is that we carbo-loaded with a lot of yummy food the organizers had for us during the packet pickup the evening before the race. I missed dinner and breakfast before the race at the coast last weekend, and I paid the price. What happened to the battle between the fatty New Born Half-Marathon coach potatoes in the race? It can be accurately summarized in what Charles told Audrey after the race in the phone. Here is Audrey’s post about it: I can't believe it!! Charles just called, he is finished and he has a 1/2 marathon PR. His Garmin says 1:46:08!! The course was true and he said conditions were perfect. Where does he get this, how does he do this? I guess there is something to the "Nestor” training plan. It is pretty funny cuz Nestor "tricked" Charles and beat him by a split second at the line. Charles is still cursing him and he isn't sure he will give him a ride home!! The after-race event was great too. All kinds of food were offered to the finishers ranging from cookies, fruit to jambalaya, alligator gumbo and hot dogs. There were plenty of different kinds of drinks as well, ranging from water to energy drinks, beer, hot chocolate, and of course, my favorite… coffee. The Running Chicken Track Club and the volunteers, especially the girls in the raincoats | |||
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Apparently, Charles passed him around 13 miles and looked back several times and Nestor smiled his smile and said something like, "You got me Charles"!! Charles said he let his guard down, and Nestor zoomed past him at the line. I am not sure how the rest of our Pacers did, but as soon as I hear back from Charles (he is looking for the "festivities" and putting warm clothes on), I will keep you posted. -- Follow up: Terry ran a marathon PR by about 2 minutes!! Charles and Nestor have the same chip time, so Charles says it is a tie!! (He did give Nestor a ride home!!) I will let them give an official race report!! Oh, Charles did say he was motivated by the "girls in the raincoats” along the way, and that made him run faster!! Also, can you believe this? He had a cold this morning and his nasal passages were plugged up. He believes Sudafed is the drug of choice now before all his races, and it may become one of those "runner" tradition things, you know, like wearing the same underwear every time you run. (Not that I do that, really)! Oh, and Nestor says he did a PR (at this weight)!!