Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon (Part One)

Sometime in September, I had chosen to work toward a December marathon and, investigating races in 33 states, came across the third annual Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon.  I had not known of the course length error at last year's race (which might have scared me off) - all I saw was a flat race on a point-to-point course in what seemed like a beautiful area.  I had only ever driven through Mississippi on the way to Louisiana and Texas, so this would be a perfect opportunity to spend some time there and visit with a friend of mine who lives in the area.

Training with Hal Higdon's Advanced 1 program involved 800-meter track repeats, hill sprints, tempo runs and pace runs, all of which I did as if I was gunning for a personal record.  While I was aware that beating my 3:04:42 from almost a decade ago was a bit pie-in-the-sky, it was important to train as if it was the goal; that way, I could decide how to approach race day on race day.  If the conditions and my body felt right, I could go for it.  If not, no big deal - run the best race that the day warrants. 

In the days leading up to the race, the forecast was showing rain, but the storm front moved quickly and, instead, it poured the entire day on Saturday.  This made for a soggy occasion for the 5K and beer mile participants, but it worked out for the Sunday marathon and half-marathon runners.  We had a cloudy day in the 40s (F), with some strong winds blowing from the north-northwest on a course that ran mostly due east.  

Cool temperature, a tailwind for most of the course and no sun.  Perhaps a PR would be in the cards, after all.  If nothing else, I could easily sail into a Boston qualifier, especially now that my qualifying time is 3:20:00 as I head into the males age 45-to-49 group.

I had topped off my training last month with a 22-mile run along a course that involved a 400-foot incline during the 16th mile.  If I managed to do that run at a 7:30 pace on the day after doing an 11-miler at an even 7:00 pace, I was pretty sure that this flat course that involved exactly one hill would present little challenge.  

It has been a long time since I have been able to approach a race with this much confidence (or, at least, this little worry). Everything leading up to the race had gone smoothly - the flight arrived on time in New Orleans, where Gloria spent Friday afternoon enjoying the last bit of sun until Monday.  Our room at the IP Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, Miss., was lovely.  Packet pickup was easy.  Our just-for-the-heck-of-it drive through Alabama to the Florida border was a fun adventure.  Parking at the Beau Rivage (near the finish line) was hassle-free on race morning.  The shuttle buses got us out to our respective starting lines (Gulfport for the half-marathon, which Gloria was running; and Pass Christian for the full marathon) with ease.  Save for the chilly morning air with cold winds blowing, everything was going perfectly at 7 a.m.

Nothing left to do, then, but run my best race.

Gloria and I flew to New Orleans on the Friday before the race, and had drinks on the plane at 8 a.m. Why not?

In New Orleans, we had brunch and drinks at Atchafalaya.

MGM Park, where the finish line would be on race day.

We headed to Mississippi on Friday afternoon to pick up our race bib packets at MGM Park, so we would have nothing to worry about on Saturday.

We checked into our room at the IP Casino in Biloxi, Miss., on Friday night and had a couple more drinks. 

Despite the rain on Saturday, we took a road trip through Alabama and to the Florida border, just because.