Pine Belt Pacers storm Louisiana

 Bottom line is that Ray Miller and Steve Ulery both set PR’s at Baton Rouge. 

The Baton Rouge Beach Marathon was held December 4, 2004 with about 500 runners, almost 200 ran the full marathon while the rest ran the half.  The Running Chicken Track Club was a gracious host, feeding us spicy rice and pasta dishes the night before.  The goody bag was plentiful with a custom imprinted tank top, gloves and the most colorful, but gaudy running chicken socks you have ever seen.  This year’s socks were even brighter eye shockers than last year’s socks and I commented on them when I came upon runners wearing those socks during the race.  (Surprisingly, I saw half a dozen wearing these socks even though lore always warns against trying anything new during the big event.) 

An unexpected overnight rain left many puddles and some muddy areas along the race route.  However, the humidity was not high for the South and the temperature stayed mild – upper forties at the start climbing to mid-sixties by noon.  This is a two loop course with about three miles of hills at the far end of the loop.  We lined up at 7:00 am and got off to an uncertain start.  This confusion results from the half marathoner’s starting line being about 75 yards ahead of our line.  I knew to start my watch when I saw people ahead of me moving.  However, this was the only glitch in the day.  The journey was on! 

The first loop was a lot of fun and I talked to a lot of people.  I ran this first loop too fast, but even though I started back in the pack and thought I was going slowly.  However, after seeing my times at the first couple mile marks I did not slow down.  I was not going to allow any negative issues to hold me back, certainly not negative splits!  On the second loop there were a lot fewer people and I ran most of the way by myself.  I cannot remember any of the things that went through my mind, but know that during several stretches I was zoned out.  I did pass four or five people that I had talked to during the first loop.  Guess they weren’t going to finish as fast as they hoped.  I was proud that no one passed me after mile 21, but I passed plenty.  By this time I wasn’t fast, just persistent.   

I tried to kick it up the last two miles, but the legs told me to stop; so I held steady.  I did pick it up the last two tenths and think I even crossed the line with both feet off the ground.  The official’s clock added a few seconds to my watch time, but who cares.  I finished in 3:53:46.   

Ray’s goal was to qualify for Boston.  He was on schedule to do this when he got several hamstring and calf knots between miles 22 and 24.  However, he is tough, worked them out and finished strong in 3:47, just two minutes over his qualifying goal.  Even though Ray ran a PR and placed 3^rd in our age group, he was disappointed.  In fact, Baton Rouge was a last minute decision for him.  He toed the line at the Gulf Coast Marathon last month and decided not to start due to the weather.  He knew he could not run a qualifying time in the storm that ensued.  Ray is fit and fast so I am sure he will be running his dream in another marathon soon.

 A couple last notes, both Bonnie Miller and Merry offered great support and assistance during this event.  Bonnie was in her truck circling the course and shouting encouragement all morning.  Merry took pictures and replenished my gel packs at the half.  (I have been told not to mention Merry’s shortcomings, like being late with the camera last month, in future race reports.)  Also, my thanks go out to Keith Barrett, Jim Coll and Jerry Worley.  Their Saturday morning runs put more intensity into my training program and it paid off.    Keep runnin’,  Steve Ulery