I got into the NYC Marathon 2015!!

Anthem Richmond Marathon----all you've ever wanted to know!!

* Runner's World Magazine named us a "Must Do" marathon in 2005 & 2009 and twice selected us as the site of their Marathon Challenge!
* The January 2005 issue of Runner’s World magazine had this to say in touting Richmond as one of the 12 must-do marathons that offer “big fun, big scenery, big rewards”:

This marathon starts and finishes in charming historic downtown Richmond, once the capital of the south. The scenic, fast loop course takes in all of the city’s old neighborhoods, traveling up Monument Avenue, past statues of Confederate soldiers and Richmond native and tennis star Arthur Ashe, through the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, then alongside the James River. Along with the typical water and sports drink stops, this is probably the only race in the country that offers junk food stops, at miles 16 and 22, stocked with Gummy Bears, cookies, and soda. There are also two wet-washcloth stations, at miles 17 and 23, perfect for cleaning up for your finish-line photo. Three party zones set up along the way with free food, prize giveaways, and noisemakers for spectators and family means lots of enthusiastic, cheering support. The last mile features a fast downhill to the finish in the trendy Shockoe Slip area, where there are plenty of postrace goodies, including bagels, fruit, and pizza, and a band to celebrate your finish. (Runner’s World, January 2005)

* From Marathon Guide: 

* "impressed with organization. "

* "Music bands and DJs were numerous "

* -Course relatively scenic and mostly flat 

-I got more food during this race itself than any other I participated in. 
-Spectators not many but very supportive 
- Wet towels during the race were very nice touch! "

-"there were no out and backs. "

-"The expo was not so good. You do have to pay for parking and wasn't real easy to get to."

-"The expo was not so good. You do have to pay for parking and wasn't real easy to get to."

-" scenic course"

-"The post race food was fine-Papa John's pizza never tasted better"

-"First parking in Richmond for the race is tricky because of the many roads that are closed. Fortunately even with the closed roads, it is easy to circle back around but I could not get anywhere near the finish of the race as I planned. Coming back to my car, I met several runners who were struggling to find their cars. Make sure you know the intersection of where you parked because there are several parking lots available. "

-"The only rub was the line to pick up your 'Drop Bag', it was close to an hour wait, thankfully it was a warm sunny day."

-"The volunteers were awesome. The wet wash cloths and cups of Coke were to die for."

Online Race Recaps:

* http://www.fannetasticfood.com/2013/11/18/richmond-marathon-race-recap/

Online resources for 50K race training schedule

                            I have been considering doing this 50K that is taking place in Virginia in August. Below are the list of resources I have been looking at to see if this is even possible. I am still on the fence about it and will be deciding in the next few weeks. Right now I am just trying to focus on the half-marathon run I have coming up this Sunday and trying to stay calm. Bring a mom, there are a lot more factors that go into the planning of any race, such as who will have the car, how will my son get to his baseball game without the car? who will watch my youngest? getting the kids ready for me not to be there that morning, etc. I am very excited about the race, yet, until I pass the first mile I will not be totally relaxed. Once the run begins I will be fine and will be able to relax into a rhythm....

                            Below are the links I have been looking at....will come back later and give an update on which ones were most helpful. So far, I am just getting informed about the framework of a training for a 50K and how it might differ from a marathon, there are some very significant differences which I will share later. If you have done a 50K, I would love your feedback on which sites helped you most. Thanks!!! Have a great week. 


1. * http://www.trailrunevents.com/ul/schedule-50k.asp (I prefer this one), contact ultraladies@yahoo.com for more info.
2. * http://running.competitor.com/files/2012/11/46_nat_r1.pdf
3. http://running.competitor.com/2012/11/training/going-longer-how-to-train-for-your-first-50k_61887
4. http://www.nttr.org/html/training_guidelines.htm
5. http://www.scrunners.org/ultrasch.php
6. http://www.marathon-training-program.com/ultra-marathon-training.html
7. http://www.ultrunr.com

Considering a 50K in August 2013.....

Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail 50 km

Date	August 3, 2013
Time	6:30am
Start/Finish Located at	Rt 605 Trailhead 10400 Bloomsbury Rd King George, VA 22485
For Ages	15 and older
Entry Limit	Race limited to 200 entrants

Historical Race Data	Lists of Course Record, fastest runners and all finishers of first 4 years.
Course and Aid Information	All Course related information
DHRT Website	Link to trail website with trail and area maps, permit requirements for training use. DHRT is a private trail and a permit must be granted for pre race training.
Area Map	Road Map with Hotel, Restaurant, Start/Finish and Crew Location
Runner Instructions	Final Runner Instructions
Crew Directions	Driving Directions to Reach Crew Accessible Aid Stations
Parking	Please carpool to the start/finish. Main lot opens at 5am and holds about 100 cars. Overflow parking will be on Birchwood Creek Rd. There is very limited parking on the course. When parked, all wheels must be off the pavement and no part of your vehicle may overhang the road.
Fees	Until May 31, 2013 $79 June 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013 $89 July 1, 2013 to July 31, 2013 $99 After July 31, 2013 $110
Premiums	Short Sleeve Technical T-shirt, Finisher's Award, Post Race BBQ
Registration	Entry Form  On-Line
Registered Runners	List of Registered Runners
Awards & Categories	Overall Top Three Males and Females Cash ($200, $100, $50) Event Record Bonuses First male finishing faster than 3:39:04 and first female finishing faster than 4:20:51 Cash $100 Age Groups 19 & Under, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & Over Top Finisher
Packet Pickup, Trail Briefs & Late Registration	Mandatory Trail Briefs Each runner must attend one of three trail briefs. After the brief, you can pick up your race number and T-shirt or register for the race. Trail brief will be about 15 minutes. Thursday August 1, 2013 6:30pm VA Runner in Central Park, Fredericksburg, Virginia Friday August 2, 2013 5pm Rt 605 Trailhead Saturday August 3, 2013 6am Rt 605 Trailhead. Pick up you race number and shirt, starting at 5:30am.
Mandatory Race Day Runner Tracking	All runners must check in at the start line on Saturday Morning Runner numbers will be recored at Wal-Mart and Indiantown Rd. Make sure your number is recorded upon arrival. If you drop, you must turn your number in at the next aid station on the trail. A runner will be financially responsible for any search and rescue if they fail to follow tracking procedures.
Race Limit	200 participants - strictly enforced
Directions from Fredericksburg	from Fredericksburg 9 miles east on Rt 3. Turn left on Bloomsbury Rd (Rt 605). Trailhead is 1.5 miles on the right. Parking at the trailhead is limited, please carpool and arrive early. Lot opens at 5am.
Hotel Information	17 Miles from Start/Finish on Rt 301 in Dahlgren Holiday Inn Express 540-644-1500 Comfort Inn 540-663-3060 Hampton Inn 540-625-2333 12 Miles from Start/Finish in Downtown Fredericksburg Courtyard Fredericksburg 540-373-8300 16 Miles from Start/Finish in Central Park Area of Fredericksburg Hilton Garden 540-548-8822 Hampton Inn 540-786-5530 Primitive Camping Will be available at Rt 605 Trailhead on August 2 only. No fires, no electricity and no running water. Porta Pots available. Anything outside of your car will need to be moved by 5am to allow for parking.
Information	Email: vic@farc.org, phone: 540-310-4803

There is a little secret that you quickly learn when you begin running and it's this:

'If you can imagine it, if you can almost taste it, it will happen'. 

            Running teaches a huge lesson about manifesting your own reality. Last year at this time I could not even run 1/2 a mile and here I am running a combined milage of about 24 miles a week, with 15 of it being during the weekend. Therefore, imagining a marathon, even an ultra run of 31 miles is now just a matter of manifesting that reality, creating it in my mind and poof, it happens. As I investigated all there is to know about the race this morning, I could see it in my husbands face that he knew before I even knew that it was a done deal; I will run this race....Once the 'seed' is planted it's virtually impossible for me to turn my head away.