Roll to Live, Live to Roll
Metrodome Inline Marathon
It's flat, it's smooth, and there's no wind. . .should be easy right? I found this marathon to be a true test of what you can do when there's nothing to aid and/or hinder you.
It starts off like this: You're waiting in a stairwell with other eager and nervous skaters, gradually making your way to the second level where you tell them you bib number and roll out of the shoot one at a time. At first everything is a blur, locked up snack stands, trash cans, the numbers marking the seating sections, it all goes by so fast. As you are just finishing the first lap, there's the cheering section, a welcome site. Lap after lap your feeling great the crowd is cheering you on, legs and lungs feel good. We could do this all day. . .
Then the mental game sets in after about lap 20 of 70 (but you don't know it's lap 20 cause in all the excitement, you stopped counting) You start thinking, "We've gotta be at least half way done if not more." "When should we take our mandatory break." By now the crowd doesn't really cheer as you go past, it more of a "yep, there they go again." You begin noticing every little detail of the second level in the dome. Round and round you go, wondering when they will call your name which lets you know you are half way done. I would say that lap 25 to lap 55 are some of the toughest laps (mentally). it's after the excitement has died down and before the anticipation kicks in that you are near the end.
As you get closer to the finish the crowd begins to cheer more and more with each lap. Finally you hear your name annouced that you only have five laps to go! "Five laps? I can do that!" Even though my ankles are weak and my legs are cramping, I can do five laps. with each pass by the spectators we held up our hands counting down the laps 4, 3, 2, . . .One lap to go! We gave it everything we had and crossed the finsh line. Cow bells and cheering erupted as we did, we wern't the fastest, but that didnt matter we had finished and we had a great time skating it.
This 70 lap experience has it's (+)'s and (-)'s. Obviously everybody wants the insde track, (shorter distance traveled) at times it is tough to contiune focusing on what you're doing when either someone is passing you on the left, or your line is the one taking the inside and passing on the left. This format does allow for some one to take a break and rejoin the line. They can slow down or stop, and rejoin the line when it comes around again. ( a lap at 15 MPH takes 1 min 28 sec). The 5 person paceline is a good idea due to the limited sight and congestion you may face. It does make a lot more work for the team as a whole, which is why I said in the beginning that this marathon will truely test your "true" ability.
It starts off like this: You're waiting in a stairwell with other eager and nervous skaters, gradually making your way to the second level where you tell them you bib number and roll out of the shoot one at a time. At first everything is a blur, locked up snack stands, trash cans, the numbers marking the seating sections, it all goes by so fast. As you are just finishing the first lap, there's the cheering section, a welcome site. Lap after lap your feeling great the crowd is cheering you on, legs and lungs feel good. We could do this all day. . .
Then the mental game sets in after about lap 20 of 70 (but you don't know it's lap 20 cause in all the excitement, you stopped counting) You start thinking, "We've gotta be at least half way done if not more." "When should we take our mandatory break." By now the crowd doesn't really cheer as you go past, it more of a "yep, there they go again." You begin noticing every little detail of the second level in the dome. Round and round you go, wondering when they will call your name which lets you know you are half way done. I would say that lap 25 to lap 55 are some of the toughest laps (mentally). it's after the excitement has died down and before the anticipation kicks in that you are near the end.
As you get closer to the finish the crowd begins to cheer more and more with each lap. Finally you hear your name annouced that you only have five laps to go! "Five laps? I can do that!" Even though my ankles are weak and my legs are cramping, I can do five laps. with each pass by the spectators we held up our hands counting down the laps 4, 3, 2, . . .One lap to go! We gave it everything we had and crossed the finsh line. Cow bells and cheering erupted as we did, we wern't the fastest, but that didnt matter we had finished and we had a great time skating it.
This 70 lap experience has it's (+)'s and (-)'s. Obviously everybody wants the insde track, (shorter distance traveled) at times it is tough to contiune focusing on what you're doing when either someone is passing you on the left, or your line is the one taking the inside and passing on the left. This format does allow for some one to take a break and rejoin the line. They can slow down or stop, and rejoin the line when it comes around again. ( a lap at 15 MPH takes 1 min 28 sec). The 5 person paceline is a good idea due to the limited sight and congestion you may face. It does make a lot more work for the team as a whole, which is why I said in the beginning that this marathon will truely test your "true" ability.
Comment
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Comment by Chowley on April 2, 2009 at 4:16pm - Congrats on the podium finish! The Weasels start off '09 on the right track! Yeah!
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Comment by Titanium Tone on March 30, 2009 at 7:26pm -
The Weasel "4 pack" held together for 35 laps (13.1 miles) at which point our female weasels dropped off and continued at a slower pace. Brad and I then picked up the pace just a bit and finished together around 1 hour 46 min. For me that was 2nd in my age group (30-39) for Brad it was 3rd in his age group (40-49). Cherie was next to cross the line at 2 hours and 2 min, 6th in her age group (30-39) and Diana finished one lap after Cherie at 2 hours 4 min, 3rd in her age group.
Yes! This is a tougher course than any outdoor marathon, unless your compairing it to Duluth 2007 with a 15 MPH head wind. You realize how much the long paceline and the scenery help. The 70 laps do have there benefits, but this one is more of a mental struggle than anything else.
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Comment by Chowley on March 30, 2009 at 11:45am
- Congrats on finishing and thanks for the report! I was wondering what that would be like. Around and to the left for 70 laps...did you and Cherie finish together? I bet your legs were more tired after this event than a Duluth or other outdoor marathon - am I right?
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