Saturday, January 15, 2011

RnR Arizona Race RUNdown (AZ-#47)

Inspiration Points...
Marathon #52!, State #47!
1. Under 5! A new state! 
2. The SUN!!!! ... After weeks of bitter cold, I'm SO excited to feel the warm sun! 
3. GE Team! I will be running for my company (GE) in this years US Corporate Track and Field marathon championship.
4. For Greg! I'm happy to report my buddy is doing MUCH better after last weekends emergency. 

AZ Race RUNdown...
Rock'n'Roll Arizona ~ Sunday January 16, 2011. (#46) 7:40am Marathon Start
Phoenix to Tempe, AZ ~ Downtown Phoenix to Sun Devils Stadium
Registration Fees: $105-$130 Early $145 at Expo
Year Running: 8th
Races Available: Marathon, Half-Marathon, 2-person relay... Currently available at the expo: Marathon and half marathon registration only!!!
2011 Expected Field: Unknown (no cap met)
2010 Field:  5,741... Females: 2535  ... Age Group: 508 (F25-29)
2009 Avg. Finish Time: 4:28:24
Certified Course/BQ Certified?: Yes/Yes
Cutoff Time and Early Start Option: No early start. There is a 7hour 15min a cutoff time. 
Weather Update: It's been dry and hot and that will continue! I spent the day out at the pool tanning so that tells you what the temp is like. We're starting at 7:40 and weather.com is calling for 50-degrees at that time. We're expecting the temps to get up to the high 60's by the time we're finishing. 

Course:

MarathonGuide Rating: 
The course is point-to-point, starting in downtown Phoenix, AZ and ending in Tempe, AZ at the ASU Sun Devil Stadium. This isn't an indoor track like last week, but it's nearly as flat! You can see from the elevation chart, this race is a slow 18-mile climb of 120 feet (that's right, I said 120 FEET.... not 1200.... not 120 meters..... 120 ft!) then a 90ft decline to the finish.
Judging from what I've seen we will be greeted with a dry, dessert scenery to admire over our 26 mile jaunt. Judging by other RnR marathons, it should be pretty scenic between city, mountains, local sites/highlights, etc.  


Race 411:
~ GU- There is only 1 GU stop for the full marathon (around mile 18-19) so bring your own if you need more!
~ Lots of H20! As per usual in RnR marathons there will be plenty of water AND potty stops. This year they will have Cytomax (I can't remember how I feel about Cytomax... I'll report back soon!)
~ Bands!!! Tons of entertainment along the course. I'm excited to have good weather that should ensure ALL the acts come out. (Nashville was too hot for them and some others I've been in have been too cold). 
~ $ Runner Track??? On a BAD note (yeah, already) they are now CHARGING for runner tracking. I think it's only like $2, but still, come ON!!!

Race Plan:
I'm actually running for a team in this race, which makes me extremely nervous. I hate unnecessary pressure and I don't perform well under it. I have to settle down and run easy (7:40-8 min/mile) for the first 10 and not go below in an effort to race. Then make a move if I need. 


I'm not feeling great as of right now. My WS100 training is just now starting to tole on me. My muscles are sore and stiff. No doubt I'll get used to it in a couple of weeks, but this is pretty bad timing for my RnR race that I'm supposed to be running fast. Definitely concerned about the heat with little shade on the course. I guess we'll know in a few short hours! 

Throw Back! Bring it back now ya'll...
Reverse the Countdown!
This is my 47th marathon-state, meaning I have 4 to go including this race. What was going on around state #4!?!? Well I was kicking OFF this crazy little adventure. I was gearing up to run the Walt Disney World Marathon which would start the past 2 years of marathon craziness... since then I've run 46 marathons in 2 years!!!! This is also when I started my blog and you all stepped into my world. :)

This time in 2010...
This time last year I was taking a few weeks off after my Mississippi Blues/First Light double and before my (expected) Myrtle Beach Marathon... as most of you know, this race would be cancelled the night before leaving my frustrated and without a SC marathon. No fear though... I completed my SC marathon in November at the Spinx Run Fest, and what a fun race that was! 

Meet up Info: 
-Pre-Race Marathon Maniac picture!!!! 6:45am at Arizona Peace Officer Memorial Statue in Memorial Park.
-Post-Race meet at the family reunion area "M" for Maniac!!!!

Happy Racing!
Stephanie
"Run to Win"-Meb

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