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Ocala marathon
"Florida’s Most Scenic Marathon"
February 1, 2004
by Charlotte Hartwig

 

It is a real treat for us when we see someone from home at one of our out-of-state races. Thus we were delighted when we found that Jesus Ceja and Kathleen Jacob were going to join us.

The famous Spanish explorer De Soto met with Indians in a village named Ocali (from which Ocala is named) in 1539, making Ocala one of the oldest place names in U.S, history.

Ocala is located in Marion County Florida and is known as the "Horse Capital of the World." There are more horses in this county than in any other county in the country. It ranks with Lexington, Kentucky; Newmarket, England; and Chantilly, France. There are over 1,000 horse farms and training centers. This is an area for outdoor recreation with more than 200 spring-fed lakes and rivers.

Organization: Packet pickup went smoothly and easily. There isn’t an expo per say. The race director’s wife is from Salem so had a nice chat with her. Although this is a small marathon I didn’t have any concerns about getting off course as it was well marked with plenty of volunteers. Aid stations were every couple of miles until mile twenty when they were located every mile. They gave out water and a sports drink at every station and a couple of times gave out Power Gel and orange slices. Charlotte said she was offered a choice of flavors of Power Gel. Who ever set up the aid stations obviously was a runner. The Power Gel was offered first, before the water, and the packets were slightly opened to help you. Galloway practitioners should have appreciated the aid station locations in that they were all a few feet past mile markers. Thus you could walk and get your water/sports drink/Power Gel at the same time. Little things like this are appreciated. The only complaint we had (which is minor) is that we had a hard time finding the start! We parked at the finish where there was lots of lighting and several porta-potties plus water and coffee. The start was a third of a mile away with almost no lighting and no porta-potties. For Charlotte it was another Boston portable porta-potty in a park across the street.

Race Course: The race flyer speaks to "taking you through the scenic rolling countryside of Marion County passing nearly fifty horse farms." You also go past a couple of goat farms. Rolling is probably a good description. Jesus and Kathleen said, "Ron, you said it was going to be a flat course." Ron didn’t know that flat was Orlando (sixty miles south of us) south on to Miami. At about mile four in the marathon (5 and ½ in the half) you come upon the largest hill and highest point of the Marathon. This is a climb of 100 feet up to the towering peak of 183 feet above sea level.

The horse farms are beautiful. The horses really have it made here. At mile fifteen we ran through an upscale planned subdivision that was open and spacious. In fact many of the homes were actually little horse farms on their own.

The running surface for the race was usually quite good with only moderate cantering. On one stretch we ran facing traffic with cones set out. It felt like you had only a foot or so to run on so much of the time we ran on the right of the cones. You only ran on concrete for a couple of blocks as you were making a major turn late in the race.

Weather: The forecast for Ocala changed every day before we left. It was sun, then rain, and then sun. The night before it rained pretty hard and we were thinking we could have stayed at home for this. Just before the race started it quit. The temperature was between forty-five and fifty so that was good. It was perhaps fifty-five at the finish. The only complaint we had was the wind in the second half of the race AND the downpour nears the finish. Ron had less than a mile in it but Charlotte ended up with a bad hair day. We felt sorry for the people who were out there for a couple of more hours.

How we did: The entire Salem contingent came home as winners. Jesus and Kathleen ran in the half marathon as part of their training for Boston. Ron was disappointed, as he had hoped to follow Kathleen as long as he could keep up in the marathon.

Jesus finished second in his age group. Kathleen was awarded the second Female Master finisher. Ron said months ago he wanted to peak for this marathon. He whined before the race that with the snow and ice storm and some minor injuries most of his training had been in the pool at the Courthouse Fitness Center. He ended up winning his age group and having his best time in three years. Charlotte was the fourth female finisher and was awarded the First Female Master finisher. The race director’s wife appeared to be proud of all of us.

Tourist Stuff: The day before a marathon we usually run for twenty to thirty minutes. We drove ten miles south of Ocala to a park, which took us to the Cross Florida Greenway Land Bridge. A bridge was built over the freeway to connect two parts of the 110-mile greenway, which occupies land formerly known as the Cross Florida Barge canal. The bridge is fully landscaped with native Florida vegetation. The trailhead was trails for horses, mountain biking, and hikers. We ran the trail and each only fell once. Marathon shufflers don’t do well when there are lots of roots around.

We also went to Silver Springs. This is the largest artesian water system in the world. In 1878, glass bottom boats were invented at Silver Springs. Once you pay your admission everything but food is at no additional cost. We went on a Glass Bottom Boat Cruise, a Jungle Cruise. Once you pay your admission everything but food is at no additional cost. We went on a Glass Bottom Boat Cruise, a Jungle Cruise, a Jeep Safari, visited the World of Bears, the Panther Prowl, and the Big Gator Lagoon. During January through April they have "free" concerts. Last year they had the Beach Boys, Frankie Avalon, Randy Travis, Loretta Lynn and others. The day we were there they had Mel Tillis. We were in such a hurry to see everything we didn’t take the time to see him. The best thing was the Glass Bottom Boat tour. You could see lots of fish, turtles and even a couple of sleeping alligators. The movie "Creature From The Black Lagoon " was filmed there as well as several of the Tarzan movies. We liked it and it got us off our feet.

Not everyone can maneuver through the dark in a zombie state, so I’ve sought ideas for you from other exercisers.

Theresa Motley, fitness instructor: "What gets me going on cold mornings is the exact same thing that gets me going on pretty warm days, my workout buddies. If I don’t show up I have to answer to my dear friends."

Hap Seliga, Bike shop guru: "Here’s my routine…prepare gear the night before; set alarm clock on high on the other side of the room; race the alarm clock, so as to annoy your spouse; do not lie back down in bed or ‘snooze’ the alarm; immediately dress in gear. Have a hot cup of coffee and go!"

Howard Hendrickson, leader of a Jeff Galloway marathon training club: "The first thing I think about (or maybe the second) is ‘As silly as I look in these tights today, I’m bound to make someone’s day with a good laugh.’ When I finally manage to start moving out the door, I say to myself or anyone who can hear me, ‘at least it’s not hot."

Brenda Stallings, first-time marathoner: I reverse the temperature digits. Example: Today it was 47 degrees, so I tell myself it is 74 degrees. I still dress appropriately but that little mind game gets me out of the bed and out the front door. Sometimes the mind game does not work. So I just remember where I am from (Sedentary City) and that alone will get me out the door. I’ve come a long way and I don’t want to turn around now."

Chuck Spohn, runner: "Seven easy steps: Shut off the alarm. Drink a cup of coffee. Get dressed in layers. Open the door. Begin your run by continuously repeating to yourself: ‘Time to make the doughnuts, time to make the doughnuts,’ etc. Then remind yourself that you’d feel worse by not running.

"And finally, realize that you know for certain only the first few minutes are the worst. After that, it’s all downhill."

Hobbit Singleton, captain of Little Rock Marathon walkers: "A training partner. Since I can’t find anyone to walk with in the early morning hours, I’ve rearranged some of my training to afternoon to have someone to walk with. I try to make an appointment with myself, but that doesn’t always work as I can be talked into staying in the warm bed.

Like everyone else, if I can just take that step out the door, I’m great and glad that I can feel superior to those who are still sleeping (sometimes the superior feeling does it for me as I’m basically not a very nice person!)"

Dr. Hilary Ann Petersen, triathlete: "I like to put my bike up on the indoor trainer and stick a movie in the VCR. It keeps me distracted and lets me catch up in the winter on movies that I haven’t seen. It also helps me do some needed speed work and climbing work. I don’t like to put too much stress on my body went it is cold, so the other option is a swim at the club, or the treadmill.

Another thing is to set a date with a buddy and meet them for the workout. I won’t necessarily go for my own enjoyment. I hate to let someone else down. My workout partners and I have been known to go out to breakfast on some really crummy mornings. One morning off will not ruin all the hard work you put in the rest of the time."

All true, of course, but the Rack Monster sometimes says the same thing. So for the last word, here’s Kris Mougeot, adventurer:

Set the timer on the coffee to have it ready at 5:30 a.m. My husband and I both hate coffee that’s been sitting on the burner. Thus we’re inspired to rise and shine (?), slurp a (small) cup, and head out the door.

"And there’s nothing like a winter sunrise…lovely colors."