Race Team Member, Owen Bradley, Places in Mercedes Marathon and pushed hard at Black Warrior 50k

Rock/Creek Race Team Member, Owen Bradley, competes close to home at the Mercedes Marathon and places 8th overall with a time of 2:24:51. Unfortunately, due to a the pavement running, Owen suffered extreme IT-Band soreness which led to his drop out at mile 12 at the Black Warrior 50k.

Race: Mercedes Marathon

Date: February 14, 2010

My Result

Low 30’s for the start temp. I donned my couture "Trak Shak" jersey which consisted of a permanent marker logo on my chest designed by a local fifth grade artisan. Went out slightly fast the first three miles but settled into a 6:20 pace. I completed the first of the two-loop course slightly ahead of my goal time of 1:23. I focused on gaining ground on the number nine and ten runners and passed them at the apex of the gradual mile and a half climb that culminated in Five Points South village.

I used my hometown course knowledge to take advantage of the down hills after mile twenty-one. I finished strong and almost caught the number seven runner in the last tenth of a mile. New Luna Racers and an all-out effort on pavement resulted in extreme IT-band soreness and foreshadowing in what would transpire the following weekend at the Black Warrior 50K.

Finished 8th overall 2:24:51.

Event Summary

-Two-loop marathon course in and around downtown Birmingham, Alabama

-Some gradual hills with a few steep, but short down hill sections

-Mainly industrial landscape

-Heavy crowd support for the first loop; decent for the second loop

-Race hat, technical finisher shirt, finisher medal, cash prizes

-Great post-race party with more beer than I could drink

-Local bar-b-que and local band

-Starts and finishes at a central Birmingham focal point-City Hall and Linn Park

-Weekend event with 5k and Kids’ races on Saturday, followed by full and half marathon on Sunday

-Half marathon had 1685 finishers

-Full marathon had 886 finisher

Results for the Marathon may be found here: http://www.marathonguide.com/results/browse.cfm?MIDD=1605100214

Race: Black Warrior 50k

Date: February 20, 2010

My Result

Event occurs in rural Moulton, Alabama in the Bankhead National forest. Course starts with a 2.5-mile gravel road section with the first mile being up a significant hill. After the gravel section, it turned into a single-track, which is heavily used for by horses. As a runner, you are frequently reminded of this by the three to four inch- deep hoof print mosaics in the soft mud. For this year’s event it had not rained the week prior, but the course was still moist which played havoc on my weak left ankle. This course would be very muddy if it had rained a day or two before the race.

After three left ankle wists and trying to push through, strong knee pain forced me to drop out at mile-twelve. After starting in the lead and ending your day handing out orange stickers to other runners at aid station number two, it is motivating to see such a wide range of people that undertake the challenge of running a 50k. Overall, the course was runnable and not overly technical.

Event Summary

-Camp-style post-race meal with red beans & rice and grilled burgers

-Short-sleeve and long-sleeve technical shirts

-Remote location with poor phone service and limited nearby hotels in a dry county

-Plenty of camp sites available in the park

-There was a decent creek crossing where you will get wet even in dry times

-Hometown feel with friendly aid station volunteers

-50k had 93 finishers (which I was not one of)

-25k had 122 finishers

-5 mile had 26 finishers