Hills make City of Oaks Marathon hard; here's a finisher's guide to survive
Running 26.2 miles is no joke.
A common refrain I heard after finishing the City of Oaks Marathon on Nov. 5 was: “Oh, this is your first City of Oaks Marathon? It’s your last one too, right?”
I’m still making up my mind.
Raleigh’s marathon course is humbling, challenging and hilly.
Finishing the course was gratifying not just because of the distance, but the estimated elevation gain of 1,123 feet and decrease of 1,151 feet. Remember, a mile is 5,280 feet.
The hilly terrain is a major reason why only a few of the 859 City of Oaks entrants qualified for the prestigious Boston Marathon.
To qualify for Boston, men younger than 35 must run a marathon in less than three hours. Women younger than 35 must run it in less than three hours and 30 minutes.
As people reach the age of 35, the time needed to qualify increases every five years.
Raleigh’s views make up for the difficulty of the course. Also, qualifying for Boston isn’t the reason most people run.
Here are some of the lessons I learned after completing the City of Oaks Marathon with a 4:14:49.6 chip time.
Beautiful views throughout Raleigh
Having the downtown Raleigh streets blocked off for the runners was incredible. This event truly showcases Raleigh for runners and spectators alike.
There are breathtaking views of the Capitol Building, the North Carolina State University Bell Tower and Raleigh’s trails along the route.
The marathon provided an opportunity to see Raleigh through a lens most people don’t get to enjoy.
First 20 miles vs. last six miles
There’s an adage that a marathon is composed of two halves: The first 20 miles and the remaining six.
Thanks to Hal Higdon’s book, “The Ultimate Training Guide: Advice, Plans, and Programs for Half and Full Marathons,” I was mentally prepared for this part of the race.
Personally, I started to slow up after mile 16.
Finishing the back half of the race would be difficult enough on flat terrain; Raleigh’s marathon course adds another challenge.
Beware of the hills while trying to get back to Hillsborough Street
The Meredith Greenway off of Hillsborough Street is beautiful, scenic and hilly. This is the portion of the race that was the most grueling, in my opinion.
Around the 18.5-mile mark, runners are at 217 feet above sea level. Over the next 3.5 miles, that elevation almost doubles. By mile 22.5, the elevation is 466 feet.
Also, there are no hydration stations between mile 17.5 and 21. Plan accordingly!
My mantra became: “Get back to Hillsborough Street” so I could finish the race.
One thing to note: Once you get back to Hillsborough Street, you have to go north on Gorman Street until Beaver Dam Road (almost to Wade Avenue). I badly wanted to skip this part of the race, but you have to follow the route to get the full mileage in for the marathon.
Then, you can cruise down Hillsborough Street to Glenwood Avenue to the finish line.
Reaching the halfway point
Another mental hurdle: When you reach the halfway point of the marathon – 13.1 miles – along North Hills Drive near Hillock Drive, you still have to run nearly three more miles north before you can turn around to run back toward downtown Raleigh.
It seemed like forever before I started to recognize runners heading in the opposite direction..The course isn’t as simple as: I’ve run 13.1 miles, I can simply turn around and head back now.
Running up Ashe Avenue near Pullen Park between miles 5 and 6
I am thankful I ran the first 5 miles with my friend, who was participating in the half marathon. He warned me to save my legs early in the race because of the hill running up Ashe Avenue just east of Pullen Park.
I was prepared for this part of the race because the adrenaline at the start of the race can work against runners.
Going out too fast
Perhaps I went out too fast, but honestly, I wouldn’t have changed my approach given my mindset before the race.
I completed the first half of the marathon – 13.1 miles – in 1:46:56.3. It is an 8-minute, 10-second-per-mile pace.
I slowed significantly in the second half due to cramping, fatigue and the hills.
It means it took me about 2 hours and 28 minutes to finish the remaining 13.1 miles. There were a few times I had to slow my jog to a walk to recover.
My marathon chip time was 4:14:49.6, about a 9:44 per mile pace.
I suppose more training would have helped, but I also wonder what would have happened on a course with flatter terrain.
Utilize the hydration stations, take the gel and thank the volunteers
People cheering on the runners make a true difference. The parts of the course where people are cheering you provide runners with a boost of energy compared to the other parts of the race in solitude.
Once I got to the 10-mile mark, I used each hydration station, even if it was just for a drink of water. Each station had water and purple sports drink. I honestly don’t normally like this flavor, but I sure did the day I competed.
I was so grateful one volunteer handed me two sports drinks at a station near miles 14 and 15. I’ll never know the man’s name, but he helped provide me with replenishment when I desperately needed it.
Certain rest stations provided runners with GU Energy Gel. It tastes funny, but runners should consume at least one packet during the marathon. It tastes a bit like peanut butter.
The gel helps a runner’s depleted carbohydrate stores. It provides portable and easy-to-digest calories from carbohydrates that deliver immediate and sustained energy while reducing the risk of stomach distress.
Funniest sign I saw
It almost felt like ESPN’s “College GameDay” reading all the signs people had while watching the marathon. One stands out in my mind.
About halfway into the race, I saw someone hold up a sign that read, “Don’t trust a fart after 10 miles.”
This is sage advice.
Best part about finishing the City of Oaks Marathon
When I finally got back to Hillsborough Street and eventually onto Glenwood Avenue, I knew I was almost done.
Toward the end of the race, I saw friends of mine from different walks of my life. It inspired me to finish strong because they took time out of their weekend to watch me.
My mom also flew in from Kansas City for the event. The look of wonderment on her face after I finished the race is a memory I’ll always cherish.
The support I received from family and friends was the best part of the race. All the preparation, hours running and the sacrifices I made were worth it.
Replenish with food and drinks
Food has never tasted better in my entire life than after I ran the City of Oaks Marathon.
After the race, I had a banana, chips and snacks, water, two Michelob Ultra beers and even more purple sports drink. The tents and beer garden were a wonderful way to replenish.
I also walked around a little bit because I knew this was needed for proper recovery.
After the race, I also feasted at Plates Kitchen, which is near the finish line.
Marathon recovery
When I got home, I iced my feet and legs. A lazy afternoon nap watching the NFL helped too.
I didn’t do any exercise the Monday or Tuesday after the race. It’s best to take at least two days of no physical activity to properly recover.
Three days after the race, I did a very easy yoga session to start to stretch out. It took about a week for my legs to feel totally normal again.
Perhaps what was the strangest thing after the race: It was easier for me to walk up stairs than to go down them. This lasted a few days.
Registration for 2024 City of Oaks Marathon
I’m still debating on whether to run the marathon again. Perhaps I’ll settle for the half marathon.
Sign-ups are already underway for the 2024 City of Oaks Marathon. The event is set for Nov. 3, 2024.
