The Pandemic took a toll on many small businesses. One need only stroll any Main Street to see the turnover of old haunts sitting empty save for fading “For Lease” signs to witness this first hand.
A lot of niche businesses were forced to sell to larger conglomerates or lose everything. The running community was not immune (get it?) from this phenomenon and many races, unable to hold on through cancelled events and virtual options, were sold by small outfits. This included the Mesa Marathon which is now owned by the Revel running group. I’ve done a few of their events in the past — in fact, I have a twice rescheduled race with them in April — and they are well known for putting on net downhill events with fast courses. So their purchase of this event makes sense.
With the exception of a long, slow hill in the early miles, the Mesa Marathon starts high and descends over the first half. Many people BQ here or find their PR. Years ago, 2019 to be exact, I ran into a running friend at the expo who was sure I would hit my PR. It did not happen.
It did not happen this year either.
The weird thing about downhill events is that it can really do a number on your quads. I don’t know the science of any of this, just my own empirical data points — but a long downhill seemingly uses different muscles that can start screaming, “This really hurts! We’re not trained for this! Uh, WTF, dude?!” Side note: WTF stands for “Where’s the Finish?”
As has often happened, even in the before times, I was on a pretty good pace for the first half, but paid for the “going out too hot” amateur mistake of running too fast in the opening miles. Any time I bank there, I give up more than that in the back stretch. Those folks who can run a negative split, i.e. running the second half faster than the first? The only way I could do that is I walked the first half and ran the second… and even then, I’m not sure I could beat the split. I don’t know if you know this, but 26.2 miles is a long way. It takes a toll.
Just a quick recap of the, ahem, Covid-adjacent protocols. Signs asking people to wear a mask at the expo were almost universally ignored (I’ve always wanted to say this — I’m the 1%! There were a few of us who masked up). The point-to-point course required a 4 AM bus ride 26.2 miles away… and while they handed out facemasks to all runners who didn’t have them before the journey, they crammed us all into school buses. On a good day, it’s hard to fit two adults into those seats; during a pandemic, it’s all the harder as people should be trying to socially distance.
Such is life, as the French say. Whatever will be, will be I guess is the new new normal.
Anyhoo, stray shots from the weekend that was are below.
