Good Times at the Vermont City Marathon

I arrived Saturday without any problems on the road or finding the expo. I did the usual things there and right away saw someone wearing the Utica Half Marathon tee. I didn't see Suzie or Sam (Sue Reynolds and son Sam Familo), so I went to check into my lodging. Once settled in, I went out for my carbo (meal). I had just finished when Sam & Suzie showed up and I joined them for their carbo-loading.

This was to be my third attempt to finish Vermont, and it was to be Suzie's first attempt.

We met race morning at Dunkin Donuts. At the start lineup, we met a few New Yorkers that we knew -- names escape me. I didn't hear the start, but we started moving. Suzie wanted to start at a slow pace, so she chose me. However, if any runners didn't make the cutoff at 8 1/2 miles by two hours, they would be taken off the course. Five miles of this would be on the Beltway, which was severely banked. Also, there were several underpasses and overpasses. To be sure of not getting cut out, we pushed harder than usual. I made the cutoff in 1 hour, 45 minutes. We are trained to start off using intervals and therefore saving strength for the ending miles. Because of pushing hard, we both tired early (myself more than Suzie), but otherwise the event went well.

Plenty of water, Gatorade, orange slices, energy bars and oatmeal raisin cookies. The weather also was great for running, and the view across to New York's mountains was breathtaking. Since both my ankles were getting very painful, I had to do a lot of walking. All services on the course were removed at 6 hours. Everyone behind me had been taken off the course. I finished dead last, and got my medal. Suzie also finished and Sam was waiting for her to give her an engagement ring. Whew!!!

-- Joe Familio