Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon Race Report - 2009!

I traveled over to Alamogordo, New Mexico on Friday, although the race wasn't until Sunday. I stayed with my brother-in-law Gary and niece Amanda on Friday night, and Gary pulled his large travel trailer onto White Sands Missile Range on Saturday so I could be by the race start on Sunday! I slept great Saturday night on the queen size bed knowing that I didn't have to worry about getting up so early and traveling to the base (either Alamogordo or Las Cruces are about 40-50 minutes from the base). Thanks Gary!! Here I am in my temporary casa before the race:

This race is to memorialize the soldiers that were forced to march long distances, without food/water in the intense heat of the jungle, when they were surrendered to the Japanese in the Philippines on the Bataan peninsula in WWII. Many died, but there were survivors who are celebrated at the pre-race ceremony.

You can shake their hands as you head to the start line. A huge flag is held up by a monster crane (the flag must be the size of my house.) 2 stealth bombers flew overhead right before the race started, looking like they would collide and then flying off to each side of us with a big WHOOSH! Guns went off, the amputees head out first (these guys are amazing!), then the rest of us. It was fairly cold at the start (around 40-45 degrees), but it sure got to be smoking hot before long. I wore this huge grey sweatshirt for about 5 miles, then ditched it as a throwaway at an aid station.

Total distance: 26.2 miles (although my Garmin calculated only 25.9)

Total chip finish time: 4:19:21 (9:54 pace) I beat my 2008 time, which was 4:35:46. My 2007 time was 4:54:03. The 2007 race was my first marathon ever. I have only raced 3 marathons and all have been at Bataan (I've also run 3 50k's as well).

Place: 9th out of 587 total civilian and military women light category. There are different categories (team, military, civilian, light, heavy (w/ a 35 lb. pack). This race does not provide overall/age group rankings.

Total cumulative elevation gain/(loss): 2,829/(2,815) ft.

This might not be interesting to some people, but I like to document my pace per mile for this race. I like to look back and see how I did to see how I can improve.

By mile:

1: 8:56 I decided I was going a little too fast (for me). I had a lot of caffeine in me. Pavement.
2: 9:10 I think the dirt road starts during this mile and continues until about mile 9. The first 6 miles are slightly downhill.
3: 9:16
4: 9:13 I saw Darryll B. of the Tucson Trail Runners as he passed me. He is the only person at the race that I knew. He recognized me and said hi, although he was careful not to trip this time (remember Pemberton...)
5: 9:11
6: 9:08
7: 9:23
8: 9:58 Beginning of the elevation gain.
9: 9:49
10: 10:55 I am on the road now, heading straight uphill. There is a HUGE misting station on this road, which we pass back through on mile 19.

11: 11:21
12: 11:31 We jump off the paved road and start on a trail/dirt road, but it is still uphill. I really need to work on the uphills. I'm terrible at them. I had to do some walking.
13: 12:08
14: 10:03
15: 8:38 Yep, I'm finally heading downhill. Feels great! I'm not able to keep up with a guy in front of me running with a 35 lb. pack. Holy cow.
16: 8:34
17: 9:52 More uphill before getting back on the road.
18: 9:45
19: 8:40 Back on the road heading downhill. I love the wall of 'marchers' headed uphill against us. They just cheer you on and it is so motivating! At this point, the runners are pretty spread out.

20: 10:00 Stopped to go to the bathroom, which I had been holding for quite a while. I was quick, though; only cost me about 30 seconds.
21: 11:51 Oh man, it starts uphill again as we veer off the pavement and head onto dirt/sand road.
22: 11:57 This is about where the sand pit (wash) is. I just couldn't run through that deep sand very well. Did a lot of walking.
23: 9:19 Out of the sand pit!! Woohoo!
24: 10:11 The wind is picking up. The forecast today was for 20 - 30 mph winds.
25: 11:27 Running into a gusty headwind. This race is cruel!
.9: 8:58 Into the chute and done! As I mentioned previously, my Garmin only calculated 25.9 miles, instead of 26.2.

Oh yeah, they also serve a real meal afterwards, either bratwurst on a hoagie or a burger and the fixin's. Yummy!
I'm already plotting and planning my strategy for next year. My goal was 4:15, so I was happy with 4:19. Even if I had run 4:15, I still would be 9th place female. So...next year I'll most likely be back. This race course is so hard, with the hills, sand and heat, and I have to conquer it! It is my nemesis.

I don't have any races planned for a while (had to cancel my CO Sageburner 50k because of money - sorry Kathleen), but I have some good long group runs coming up over the next few months, which I'll got over in a separate post.

Yay for my 3rd Bataan! It was the 20th anniversary of the march. I love this race.

Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon Race Report!

This was my second year doing this marathon in White Sands, New Mexico. It is a primarily military marathon, but many civilians enter as well. The course is surrounded by mountains in high desert and is held on the White Sands Missile Range. The purpose is to honor the soldiers that died in the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines when they were surrendered to Japanese forces during World War II. They were forced to march 65-100 miles in 100 degree heat through jungles without food or water. Some survived, but many died. They do a ceremony before the race to honor the men. Before the race starts, all runners/marchers get an opportunity to shake the hands of the survivors who are still living. It was very moving and one of the reasons I do this event. During the opening ceremony, a fighter jet flew over us and the underbelly of it was painted like an American flag. An American flag is flown at the start line that is so big, it is held up with a crane.

Another reason I do this event is the running terrain. Here is the approximate breakdown of the course:

Miles 1 and 2 - pavement through the base installation

Miles 3 through 8 - dirt road, lots of sand, last several miles uphill, mountain views

Miles 9 - 12 - pavement, all uphill, surrounded by mountains

Miles 13 - 18.5 - dirt road, trail, sand, uphill for the first few miles, around a mountain through a range

Miles 18.5 - 20.5 - pavement

Miles 20.5 - 21.5 sand pit. Here is a picture - just like running in a 'wash'. Looks like dirt, but the sand is fairly deep.

Miles 21.5 - 26.2 - dirt road

I woke up late for the race! I stayed in Las Cruces in a house by myself on the same property as my nephew's girlfriend Valerie. Valerie and her mom Leslie were doing the 15.2 mile option, so they were leaving at 4:30am, also. It is about a 45 minute drive to the base and they said lines would be long and to arrive early (the race started at 7am). Well, I had a rough night's sleep and Valerie came in the house at 4:20am wondering why I wasn't up! I guess I either didn't hear my alarm or it didn't go off. They went ahead and left and I didn't get to the base until 6am. They said lines were crazy for them, but I just drove right in and parked! So, I had plenty of time to stand in line at the port-o-potties and was able to see the starting ceremony. Needless to say, the panic

I felt upon awakening did not feel that great, but it all worked out fine thankfully.

Here are my times and reports by mile (s):

1 & 2 - 18:42 (9:21 average) Not sure where mile 1 was. I realized I went out a little fast so I slowed it down. My shins felt tight and I was worried, but they loosened up later on.

3 - 9:35

4 - 9:37

5 - 9:31

6 - 9:36 I'm thrilled with my 'Steady Betty' pace the last 4 miles.

7 - 9:56 Starting the 8 straight miles uphill. My legs are really feeling it.

8 - 10:38 I'm enjoying watching the comraderie among the teams out there. Some of these guys and gals are wearing 35 lb. packs (heavy category - I'm in the light category).

9, 10, 11 - 33:39 (11:13 average) I think I was in an uphill zone and kept missing the mile markers. The big misting machine is at about mile 10, which was such a welcome sight.

12 - 11:44 The view is wonderful - I'm surrounded by mountains on all sides. The 8 mile uphill section is relentless, though. I cannot believe I am still running and did not walk any portion of the uphill. I'm passing a lot of people on this part, which feels great! I can see an aid station at the top of the hill - looked like a mirage in the desert! I did wear my camelbak (about 2 liters with Heed), but it was so hot that I stopped and drank small cups of water at about 6 different aid stations.

13 - 12:38 Seeing mile marker 13 gave me a smile because I knew I was about halfway through. Only one more half marathon to go!

14 - 10:55 Uphill is starting to level out.

15 & 16 - 19:21 (9:40 average) Ahhh, we are starting to head down hill now. The aid stations are like big parties with lots of people and tents set up. Some look like 'MASH' units.

17 - 9:34 Wow, the downhill feels great. I also took some Perpetuem which revived me.

18 - 11:03 Lots of up and down rolling hills. No. More. Hills. My legs were so tired from that uphill section by this point.

19 - 9:33 Back on pavement, straight down hill, which felt so great! I was passing a lot of marchers who were still heading up and getting a lot of positive feedback from them which was motivating.

20 & 21 - 21:29 (10:45 average) Entering the sand pit, which is about a mile long.

22 - 12:58 I had to walk a good part of the sand pit. I just didn't have the energy to run it. I knew I was missing my goal time, but I didn't care at this point. I was hot and I was tired. I just wanted to finish. I don't think I could eat one more Shot Blox.

23 - 10:32 I am thinking I am paying for my previous uphill battle now.

24 - 10:48 I am trying to not think of anything at all. One foot in front of the other.

25 - 11:49 I am dreaming of an ice cold bath. I am seeing signs now about what those Bataan soldiers went through and realized I could make it two more miles.

26 - 10:11 My mind is running the race at this point. It is so mental at this stage. But, I'm picking up the pace!

.2 - 1:57 I can see the finish line and I run through the chute surrounded by lots of cheers! What a good feeling.

I finished in 4:35:46. Last year, I did it in 4:54, so I was happy. I was hoping to do it a little faster, but the conditions weren't as good this year. The sand was really deep, especially in the pit, which was probably due to all the rain over the Winter, I guess. I ended up walking that portion, because my legs were so wiped out. The heat was oppressive! Last year, I was freezing at the start of the race, so it heated up gradually; this year, I started the race already pretty comfortable in my tank top. I was going to wear my Moeben sleeves (there was a cool breeze early in the morning) but took them off at the last minute and threw them back in my truck. Good call. It was pretty dry and dusty from lack of rain, and we had a fairly good headwind for a lot of the race coming from the West. So, with all of those things going on, I felt good about my time.

Yay! I'm done! I should have some 'action' shots once race pictures are posted.

There are all sorts of 'categories' - light/heavy (35 lb. pack), civilian/military, team/individual, male/female. I came in 16th out of 508 individual women in the light category (military and civilian combined). For men and women combined (both military and civilian) in the light category, I came in 96th out of 1,623. Now, a lot of people 'march' this marathon, so if you run, you have a pretty good chance of ranking right up there. At any rate, I was happy with my accomplishment!

They have great food at the finish line, so I enjoyed a bratwurst on a french roll and called my husband Ken in Arizona to report my accomplishment. Problem was, I couldn't find my truck, so I walked about another mile or so until I found it (good cool down). I decided to go ahead and drive back to Arizona after the race - about a 4.5 hour drive. I felt pretty energized and just listened to upbeat music all the way home. I stopped a few times to stretch and got a few strange looks (was it the dirty legs? the crusty running clothes? the salt covered skin? the crippled way I was walking?)

I'm pretty sore, but was a good girl and took my ice bath afterwards. For the most part, I had no big specific aches and pains during the race - I did have a little knee soreness at some point in the race, followed by some hip flexor pain, but just felt overall worked out. My shoulders and neck are very sore - strange?

I wore my Inov-8 Rocklite 315 trail shoes and they were great! No blisters and very minor sore feet. I didn't specifically need trail shoes for the race, but the Roclite 315's have a fine mesh over the top that helps keep sand out, and I think they gave me a better grip on the sand. I also wore my Dirty Girl Gaiters over the top, which worked great!

I sent off my race entry for the Zane Grey 50k today. In less than a month, I'll be doing 33 miles. Can't wait to kill myself again.