| Marathon Training & Racing from Joe Bowman All 50 States & DC under 3:00 |
7/12/08 - Grandfather Mountain Marathon - 3:11:01 - Ran this race exactly as planned and yet didn't scare sub3. Getting
to the 7 mile mark was pretty tough work so I knew not to look at my watch. Once I got it going after the half (and
particularly after 17), I thought I was making time, but apparently not. It's a tough course, Chuck Engle the Marathon
Junkie says it's the toughest road marathon he's run (100+ marathons); I'll give it a solid top 10 spot. There just isn't
anywhere on the course that you can consistently make up for lost time...and you're consistently losing time on the
hills. My splits, pics and such
6/14/08 - SOAR 2008 - 8 hours 5 minutes - I was fortunate to at least be in decent shape when I took the plunge around
May 1st and committed to doing this 50 mile (12 hour) adventure race (solo) in Highlands, NC. I thought I'd be on alot of
familiar terrain and it turned out I knew at least 90% of the course. This meant it was going to be more of a speed and
endurance event rather than a typical adventure race where your need your map skills. Turns out two other guys (Chris
and Micheal) were in about the same physical shape as me and trusted my course knowledge enough to push the pace
early without much map interference (though they were prepared to work the map if need be...and we did use it alittle
near the end). My weakness showed on the bike (had only gotten in about 15 rides prior to start time), but I did fine...until
the chain broke. I had asked for more running miles, and sure enough, I got 5 extra...pushing my bike. Lost 25 minutes
to Chris and Micheal, not bad, and still came across the line in third. All in all, fun time, great new friends and I'll probably
do it again next year...and get a new chain.
1/27/08 - Callaway Gardens - 3:14:10 - Our goal (mine & Travis') was to get Travis under 3:20 so he could participate in
the April 21st, 2008 festivities...uhhh...The Boston Marathon! DONE!! Slowed some over the last 10K, but Travis held it
together with no major issues.
11/24/07 - NCR Trail - 2:53:17 - This is a beautiful, beautiful run. It technically runs uphill of the trail first then down hill
back, but you don't feel either. This is a fairly narrow trail, but very enjoyable. In the rain it would be pretty sloppy, but
probably alot of fun. Not much 'other traffic' on the trail today. My splits and things
11/10/07 - Chickamauga Battle Field - 2:52:36 - This is a new course, and it's wonderfull! It's two loops, which some
might view as a negative, but I don't. In doing so, they kept the course on good roads, mostly in the shaded woods of the
park, and took out any hills of size. Very pleased with my run...my splits and stuff
10/28/07 - Spinx Runfest Marathon - Sub3, but just barely (2:59:35) - The plan was for me and my buddy Mike to go after
sub 2:50. Thought I probably wasn't ready, but what the heck. We were right on pace through 13 miles, but I knew I didn't
have the ability to maintain. Mike did though (2:49:58)!!...nice job Mike. Me, I started my meltdown and hamstring
crampfest. Pretty sure I wasn't going to make sub3, but got lucky. Terrible way to run a marathon.
10/14/07 - DuPont Forest USATF Trail Marathon Championships - What a great run I had - 2:53:04 (6:36). I took 5th
place at 3 miles and though I made up alittle ground on the 4th place guys at the end, I finished 5th overall and was the
first masters runner. Tough trail marathon, but alot like my Highlands gravel training. Close to 70 degrees when it was
over, but lots of shade. Great to be back racing. I love the strategy of a marathon. Thought I might have a negative, but
the last 10K was pretty demanding.
3/25/06 - Oak Mountain 50K - Wellll...that didn't go so good. Another tough, but beautiful, course; I just didn't have the leg
turnover today. 6th place overall in a 5:11. At least I got in some good recon for next year.
3/12/06 - Silver Comet 10K - Man I hate 10Ks! They start too darn fast. I think I was out of breath in the first half mile.
Ran a respectable 36:51 for an age group victory. Just needed a 38:00 for a Peachtree Seeded Time Group number so
I'm good with that.
2/25/06 - Mount Cheaha 50K - This was an amazing first year event...many thanks to Todd (the race director) and his
family and friends! On a rainy, muddy, yet wonderful day, I mustered up a 3rd place overall finish in a time of 5:10 (yeah 5
hours!). Did you see the elevation chart? How 'bout one of the 'creek' crossings...and some other pics.
1/29/06 - The Callaway Gardens Marathon - 2nd Place Overall - 2:58:14 - It rained for the first two hours, but I still found it
to be a nice and enjoyable race.
1/15/06 - The FA 50K - Kennesaw Mountain - 4:01 and fourth place overall...and check out the bloody knee!!
12/10/05 (a week later) - The Rocket City Marathon - 2:52:26 - a two minute negative between 10 miles and 20 miles, but
ended up with a even split overall. Also...Thanks Linda!! She's my running buddy Mitchell's wife and she took these
pictures.
split. Went after this one alittle harder hoping for a top 5 finish, but the competition was very solid.
minute negative split. The day got pretty windy; tough course.
marathon that Tri-Atlanta mapped out (super fun course I might add). About 5 miles into it I really started feeling good...
and went on to win it!
minute negative split. Great day; good course
(click) - nearly a 3 minute negative split. Great day; good course.
to the 7 mile mark was pretty tough work so I knew not to look at my watch. Once I got it going after the half (and
particularly after 17), I thought I was making time, but apparently not. It's a tough course, Chuck Engle the Marathon
Junkie says it's the toughest road marathon he's run (100+ marathons); I'll give it a solid top 10 spot. There just isn't
anywhere on the course that you can consistently make up for lost time...and you're consistently losing time on the
hills. My splits, pics and such
6/14/08 - SOAR 2008 - 8 hours 5 minutes - I was fortunate to at least be in decent shape when I took the plunge around
May 1st and committed to doing this 50 mile (12 hour) adventure race (solo) in Highlands, NC. I thought I'd be on alot of
familiar terrain and it turned out I knew at least 90% of the course. This meant it was going to be more of a speed and
endurance event rather than a typical adventure race where your need your map skills. Turns out two other guys (Chris
and Micheal) were in about the same physical shape as me and trusted my course knowledge enough to push the pace
early without much map interference (though they were prepared to work the map if need be...and we did use it alittle
near the end). My weakness showed on the bike (had only gotten in about 15 rides prior to start time), but I did fine...until
the chain broke. I had asked for more running miles, and sure enough, I got 5 extra...pushing my bike. Lost 25 minutes
to Chris and Micheal, not bad, and still came across the line in third. All in all, fun time, great new friends and I'll probably
do it again next year...and get a new chain.
1/27/08 - Callaway Gardens - 3:14:10 - Our goal (mine & Travis') was to get Travis under 3:20 so he could participate in
the April 21st, 2008 festivities...uhhh...The Boston Marathon! DONE!! Slowed some over the last 10K, but Travis held it
together with no major issues.
11/24/07 - NCR Trail - 2:53:17 - This is a beautiful, beautiful run. It technically runs uphill of the trail first then down hill
back, but you don't feel either. This is a fairly narrow trail, but very enjoyable. In the rain it would be pretty sloppy, but
probably alot of fun. Not much 'other traffic' on the trail today. My splits and things
11/10/07 - Chickamauga Battle Field - 2:52:36 - This is a new course, and it's wonderfull! It's two loops, which some
might view as a negative, but I don't. In doing so, they kept the course on good roads, mostly in the shaded woods of the
park, and took out any hills of size. Very pleased with my run...my splits and stuff
10/28/07 - Spinx Runfest Marathon - Sub3, but just barely (2:59:35) - The plan was for me and my buddy Mike to go after
sub 2:50. Thought I probably wasn't ready, but what the heck. We were right on pace through 13 miles, but I knew I didn't
have the ability to maintain. Mike did though (2:49:58)!!...nice job Mike. Me, I started my meltdown and hamstring
crampfest. Pretty sure I wasn't going to make sub3, but got lucky. Terrible way to run a marathon.
10/14/07 - DuPont Forest USATF Trail Marathon Championships - What a great run I had - 2:53:04 (6:36). I took 5th
place at 3 miles and though I made up alittle ground on the 4th place guys at the end, I finished 5th overall and was the
first masters runner. Tough trail marathon, but alot like my Highlands gravel training. Close to 70 degrees when it was
over, but lots of shade. Great to be back racing. I love the strategy of a marathon. Thought I might have a negative, but
the last 10K was pretty demanding.
3/25/06 - Oak Mountain 50K - Wellll...that didn't go so good. Another tough, but beautiful, course; I just didn't have the leg
turnover today. 6th place overall in a 5:11. At least I got in some good recon for next year.
3/12/06 - Silver Comet 10K - Man I hate 10Ks! They start too darn fast. I think I was out of breath in the first half mile.
Ran a respectable 36:51 for an age group victory. Just needed a 38:00 for a Peachtree Seeded Time Group number so
I'm good with that.
2/25/06 - Mount Cheaha 50K - This was an amazing first year event...many thanks to Todd (the race director) and his
family and friends! On a rainy, muddy, yet wonderful day, I mustered up a 3rd place overall finish in a time of 5:10 (yeah 5
hours!). Did you see the elevation chart? How 'bout one of the 'creek' crossings...and some other pics.
1/29/06 - The Callaway Gardens Marathon - 2nd Place Overall - 2:58:14 - It rained for the first two hours, but I still found it
to be a nice and enjoyable race.
1/15/06 - The FA 50K - Kennesaw Mountain - 4:01 and fourth place overall...and check out the bloody knee!!
12/10/05 (a week later) - The Rocket City Marathon - 2:52:26 - a two minute negative between 10 miles and 20 miles, but
ended up with a even split overall. Also...Thanks Linda!! She's my running buddy Mitchell's wife and she took these
pictures.
split. Went after this one alittle harder hoping for a top 5 finish, but the competition was very solid.
minute negative split. The day got pretty windy; tough course.
marathon that Tri-Atlanta mapped out (super fun course I might add). About 5 miles into it I really started feeling good...
and went on to win it!
minute negative split. Great day; good course
(click) - nearly a 3 minute negative split. Great day; good course.
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