Date : 2 March 2013 (Sat) | Location : Usery Mountain Verrado-Mesa Riverview |Distance : 42.55km | Time : 4:48 | Pace : 6:46’/km | Condition : a cooling morning, ended with a super hot morning | Route : first 3rd running downhill, then mostly flat | Satisfaction level : 3/5
Wow.. never know it took me so long to write this Phoenix Marathon blog.. >1 month later !
This was my 3rd marathon in 6 weeks, something I will cherish in a long time.. but a bit insane to say the least ! The race swag was pretty good with loads of discount vouchers and a sleeve warmer. The race was to start @ Usery Mountain and we are supposed to park our cars at the shopping mall @ Mesa Riverview. There was a long queue turning into the mall area, I reached the school bus with 5mins to spare ! Pheww..
Here’s a description of the Marathon from the home-site : The Phoenix Marathon has a beautiful race course that begins below the large white Phoenix sign painted on the Usery Mountain. Marathon runners will experience nearly 1000 feet of net elevation loss in this fast Boston Qualifier. The race has thousands of parking spots available around the finish at a large shopping center in Mesa. Phoenix Marathon runners will enjoy the diverse scenery from cactus desert. The Phoenix Marathon has spectacular views of the Phoenix Valley from N. Usery Pass Rd”
This is a race of 2 halves - rolling for the 1st (did my best half in a full @ 1:58), reeling in the 2nd half with the super-hot desert sun. It must be one of the hottest run in all my 3 runs here. Ambulance was kept busy, some runners threw up and fainted/taking a rest by the road-side. I was nearly one of the stats but luckily dug deep to stay alive ! Timing was 4:48. Not the best of the timing but really cannot complain. Just glad I survived !
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| Elevation Map |
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| The race bib collection area @ Tempe Marketplace |
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| The route |
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| race result |
