The Wineglass Marathon was one of the best races I’ve ever run and I had such an incredible experience that this race recap is going to be tough to cut down to a reasonable length. I’ll do my best. You might recall that I was planning on using the Wineglass Marathon as a training run to help prepare me for the Marine Corps Marathon that I’ll be running in just a couple of weeks. I set my goals for Wineglass accordingly and hoped for a great day with great weather. Man, were my prayers answered!
Where to start? The race was set to begin Sunday morning in Bath, NY. It’s a point to point from Bath to Corning and is a net downhill, with just a few little rolling hills. On Saturday, my friend Jess and I drove five rainy hours up to the Finger Lakes region of New York and went straight to the expo. It was tiny and a bit tight inside the gorgeous Corning Museum of Glass but I didn’t mind much because I’m not really into expos anyway. The best part of the expo was getting to meet some of Oiselle teammates who were also running (pic below). So great to meet these ladies and see how they rocked their races! Love the Oiselle team (I also met a really sweet girl while running – she was wearing Distance shorts, so of course we became friends!).
After the expo, Jess and I retreated to our hotel (just a few minutes outside of Corning) and did our shakeout run (in the rain) and then proceeded to watch college football the rest of the day. I got super pumped after watching Alabama whoop up on Georgia (roll tide!!!). I laid out my outfit, and headed to bed around 10pm. Here’s what I wore:
In the picture: Oiselle Distance shorts, Oiselle singlet, Oiselle arm warmers, Injinji socks, Zensah calf sleeves and (not pictured) Adidas Boost Glide sneakers. I carried my Nathan handheld and had my phone in my back pocket of my shorts.
Race morning dawned a bit chilly, but it turned out to be a beautiful day, weather-wise. I wore pants and a long sleeve over my race day outfit and around 6:30, Jess and I drove the ten minutes to where we would pick up the bus that would take us to Bath. The race requires each runner to ride the bus to the start. It’s a 30 minute trip and I didn’t mind. I used the bus ride to eat my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and drink a bottle of water. By the time we arrived in Bath, I was ready for a bathroom pit stop and then we had plenty of time to freak out get ready. I was a bit cold, so I threw a poncho over myself until it was time to take our bags to the bag drop.
The race was so easy to manage. We didn’t head to bag drop (which was right by the start) until about ten minutes before the race and that was perfect. We dropped our bags, wished each other good luck (I was starting with the 4:40 pacer and Jess [who was also using this – her first marathon, she’s amazing, as a training run] was starting with the 5:00 pacer, and got settled in. The next thing I knew, we were off!
As you can see from the elevation chart, the course is pretty flat. There were a couple of small hills (with the largest coming right after the half way mark), but nothing that made me even think of walking. Definitely a flat and fast course. Since I stayed with the pacer from the first mile until around mile 19, I won’t recap mile by mile because that would be boring. I will talk about sections of the race though.
Miles 1-6.2 took us through Bath and down near a river. It was really pretty and the energy was so high during these miles. I was running a pack of about ten or so runners and had so much fun chatting and running. (10:38, 10:41, 10:31, 10:38, 10:35, 10:38).
Miles 6.2-13.1 were more of the same – gorgeous views and awesome conversation. I felt really good and was constantly pulling myself back from speeding up ahead. I wanted to stay with the pacer as long as possible and see if I could push the last few miles (haha, how naive of me!). Our pacer was really awesome – high energy and fun and supportive. (10:46, 10:37, 10:23, 10:39, 10:36, 10:35, 10:36).
Miles 13.1-20 were where we encountered the most significant hill of the course. Honestly, the hill was not bad at all. In fact, I welcomed the change from the flatness. After charing up the hill, we eventually settled into a long boring stretch where we were running alongside a highway. This was the point where people started to drop off from our pace group. I was started to feel a bit tired and remembered that marathons were hard. (10:42, 10:29, 10:49, 10:42, 10:36, 10:38, 10:51).
After mile 20, I lost the pace group – there were only three or four of the original group still together then and I just had to drop back. I did end up coming upon one of the girls I was running with late in the race. She was cramping pretty bad so I gave her my last pretzel – I’m happy to say that I saw her cross the finish just about ten minutes or so after I did. Anyway, miles 21-25 were what I’m affectionally (kind of) calling “the dark miles.” I was in pain and my brain convinced my legs that they didn’t want to run anymore. The frustrating thing is that, yes, I did hurt, but I hurt because I’d just ran 20 miles, not because I was injured. I just honestly couldn’t get myself to run. So I did the best I could in those miles. I ran when I could, I thanked volunteers, I took a shot of beer at mile 23 (really, why not?) and tried to have fun. I was feeling pretty bad about myself because I knew I could run faster but I just couldn’t convince my brain of that. I stopped and prayed a couple of times and stretched but that really didn’t help (the stretching, I mean, the prayer did help). Finally, I reached the bridge that brought us into downtown Corning and I’d never been so happy to see a finish line! (11:49, 11:40, 12:50, 12:37, 14:04, 12:08, 9:46 [last .2 miles]).
After I crossed, I was handed water, a medal (which is so pretty!), and a heat sheet. I signed up for the free stretching and then sat down because it’s really all I wanted to do. I felt really uncomfortable for about ten minutes but then went and got some food and that helped. There was an excellent spread of fruit, hot soup, pizza, bagels and more and what was great was that they gave you a bag to put everything in – so clutch! After I started eating food, I actually started feeling pretty good. I hung out, talked to folks and waited for Jess to finish. We relaxed the rest of the day, hung out at the official Wine Down after party and then headed back to DC the next morning.
Official time: 4:51:18 – a 15 minute marathon PR. I’m pretty happy with that. I have so many thoughts about this race but if you’ve made it this far, I’ll just say this: it was a fantastic marathon. There was so much course support, the local towns really came out in full force and that was awesome. The course is gorgeous and really flat and fast. The race day logistics were very easy, which I really appreciated. This is one I’ll be coming back to – probably next year!
Fueling: I drank water with Nuun in it for the first couple hours. Around mile ten, I started taking Gatorade when it was offered and stopped and had volunteers fill my bottle with water a couple of times. I took four salt sticks while running (on the hour mark) and ate a few pretzel sticks and gummies. No cramping and no hydration issues! I plan on using this same plan for subsequent races (a bit more on hydration coming in a future post).
I’m still riding the high (and the soreness!) of this race and hope I’ve inspired some of you to sign up for next year!
Did you race recently? Tell me about it! And who’s in for Wineglass 2016???
This post contains affiliate links for some of the things I wore.
Congrats on such a solid effort last weekend and a 15 minute PR? That is truly incredible. I’m glad everything went well for you and I cannot wait to see how you do at MCM.
Hollie recently posted…Welcome to New York…
Thanks Hollie – it was a great weekend!
Congrats congrats + Loved this recap!! So glad you posted your progress to your FB page, it was so nice following along! Well done and a marathon to consider for next year! One down…MCM to go!
I was glad the tracking system worked!!! 🙂
Congrats on a well executed race and a PR…on a training run!!!! The course seems like a great one. How was the crowd support? Hope your recovery from the race goes well!
Jess @ jess runs atl recently posted…New Tune Tuesday: Songs You Forgot Existed
The crowd support was amazing. I really didn’t expect that much crowd support from a smaller race – it was great!
Congrats on such a huge PR! This sounds like a great marathon to run and I loved your recap. You’re going to do so well at MCM!
Kimberly G recently posted…Strut Your Stuff Sign Company Review + Instagram Giveaway!
It was a fantastic race!
Congratulations on a great race and huge PR!
Thank you!
Awesome! I haven’t run a marathon yet but I’d really like to do this one!
Rachel recently posted…Recent Workouts
It would be a lovely first marathon!
What a great race, Courtney; I’m so excited for you and for MCM, too! You had a great run and what great mental practice for the marathon to come; I’m going to have to start reminding myself that marathons hurt, too, so that I can get through the dark miles in a few weeks – ha! I loved reading that! I’m so glad that you had a fun experience, met up with lots of fun Oiselle ladies and I’d love to do this race; I’ve got a couple of local friends who’ve done this one and they enjoyed it, as well. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Sweet Dumpling Squash
2016, Tara! Let’s do it. And yes, it was a huge reminder how much these hurt. I do think I’ll be mentally more prepared for MCM in a few weeks!
Congratulations! A 15-minute PR is huge and well deserved. I hope you are proud! I’m happy to hear the course was so beautiful and it was just a great marathon overall. I really love the Finger Lakes region, so it figures it would be so pretty. That picture of you is the best–you can tell how happy you are! I’m in awe that this was basically just a training run for you and you still had a great race. Really awesome job!
Jennifer @ Running on Lentils recently posted…Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Springs & Norris Geyser Basin
Thank you so much. I really am happy with this race (except for the “dark miles”) and it was so beautiful. I now know and remember what to expect for late in the race for MCM. 🙂
Congrats on your 15 minute PR! I’ve heard nothing but great things about Wineglass, and that’s awesome that there was as much crowd support as there was. I also like that the course was a net downhill. Continue riding your race high – you definitely earned your bragging rights!
Kathryn @ Dancing to RUnning recently posted…2015 Clarendon Day 10k Recap (and Run Now Beer Later Recap)
Thanks! This was a fantastic race – I really really loved it. Almost positive I’ll go back and run it next year! 🙂
so awesome!! Wineglass is definitely on my list – has been for awhile. If I hadn’t been doing Ragnar this past weekend, i would have been there! Half in 2016 for sure… not sure about future fulls. But awesome job on the PR!! Proud of you 🙂 xoxo
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Ragnar DC Recap – Day 2
thank you! it was so beautiful. i’m definitely planning on going back next year!
congrats on the race and PR! i definitely want to run this one one year. the whole idea of a wineglass marathon is super appealing, and i have friends who grew up in that area. i’m from upstate NY myself, just not over that way. hope you’re feeling good still!
oh cool that you are from that area. it was so pretty – i really enjoyed the course!
Congrats on a huge PR. I have loved following along with your progression!
thanks friend! it was a great race!
congrats on the PR!!! That’s awesome. I had a similar race in 2013 at NYCM and also PRed (4:50 or so). Those last few miles really are so hard, and that is honestly what I’m afraid of in Chicago. I am trying to improve my mental game as I lead up to it. Way to race strong!! I’ll remember you as inspiration for my own “dark miles” on sunday 🙂
Patty @ Reach Your Peak recently posted…Chicago Marathon Training Week 17 – It’s Marathon Week!
YES! just try and tell yourself that it is SUPPOSED to hurt and keep pushing. you can do this, patty! i’m rooting for you!!!
I know of someone else who ran Wineglass and was gushing about it. Great job on the PR too, and what a great way to head into MCM.
Lesley recently posted…Race Week
It’s really a great race!
Sounds like you ran a smart race! And how did that feel, my friend, breaking that 5 hour mark? Pretty awesome, I’m sure!
Good for you! And I love that finish picture–you look SO happy!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Tenacious
Breaking 5 felt AH-MAZ-ING! I almost choked up and cried because I was so happy to have gotten past that barrier 🙂 Thanks for your support. I’m so excited for you to rock Chicago this weekend!
Congrats on your PR!!!! I’m so glad you had such a great experience at the race, this is definitely one I will be doing next year. The half at least. I would have this year if I didn’t have a wedding to attend. I’ve always heard great things about this race and you just confirmed them for me. Congrats again!
Annette @ Sweating Through Life recently posted…Life as a Colorful Warrior
YES! I’ll be back next year as well. I loved it!
Great job! I totally know that feeling when you’re just DONE running in those last few miles. I hope to run Wineglass one day because it’s somewhat close to my parents house.
Heidi recently posted…Sterling Robert’s Birth Story
Oh yes! Come do it with me in 2016 🙂
Way to go girl! We all knew you could do it! Congrats on your shiny new PR!!!
Alaina @ The Simple Peach recently posted…Pumpkin Spice Latte Coffee Syrup
Thank you so much for the support Alaina – it means so much 🙂
Congratulations on your PR and a great race :). It was fun reading your recap- one of my friends ran this race 2 years ago and really liked it. It seems to be a popular one in the blogger world too because I’ve read a couple recaps. I love that you and the others in your pace group kind of pulled each other through the marathon and stuck together and how you offered the girl your last pretzels. To me, that kind of journey is what running is all about! Best wishes in your recovery and preparation for MCM too!
Amy Lauren recently posted…Weekly Rundown: Sept 28 – Oct 4
THANK YOU! It is really a well executed race and just a lovely experience. I had so much fun and can’t wait to go back next year 🙂
Congratulations on your PR!!!!
Sounds like it was a beautiful course race, those are some of my favorite!
Definitely a flat course, I think flat courses are harder (says someone from out west) because to me I just need variety to mix it up, I would have been just like you and enjoying the hills and bumps in the road just to change things up a little:)
Since you have a PR, I bet you’ll definitely want to do this one again!
My dad, myself and all my marathon running friends always say, in a marathon the race doesn’t really begin until you hit mile 20. Anyone who hasn’t run one, doesn’t get it, but anyone who has totally agrees:) It’s all smiles and great times until after mile 20 when the pain, tired and mental game kicks in and the hard parts begin! Great job Courtney!
Runaway Bridal Planner recently posted…Run with a Purpose
Thanks Kristy! You are so right – it doesn’t really START until mile 20. 🙂
Congrats on a huge PR! Every recap I’ve read from this race has been so positive! I’m debating between wmWineglass (I live about 4 hours from Corning) and Chicago for my first marathon next year!
Jen recently posted…Time to Start Packing – Chicago Here I Come
I think that’d be a tough choice – I’d let the Chicago lottery decide for you 🙂
Roll Tide (what a great ballgame, huh?). Congratulations on a huge PR! 15 minutes is a huge amount of time to take off. I’m very impressed. It sounds like a wonderful race and that medal is so pretty. You look ecstatic in your pic! I think those dark miles are to be expected. Way to push through them!
HoHo Runs recently posted…I Am Tenacious
That game was crazy awesome! And did you see Ole Miss fall apart? What a weekend!
Wow! A 15 minute PR is awesome! Even though you had some dark miles it sounds like you pushed through and did a great job. This sounds like a lovely course. I raced the Main Half Marathon this weekend which was chilly too!
Sandra Laflamme recently posted…The Maine Half Marathon Race Recap
I love Maine – such a beautiful place. Going to read your race recap now!
Congrats on an awesome race! Congrats on the PR!!
Wendy recently posted…Weak-a$$ Glutes!
HUGE HUGE HUGE congrats!!! So happy to got to at least say hi as I was passing by though I am sorry I didn’t get to chat with you longer! Loved reading your recap, it was like running the race all over again! I ALMOST took a shot of that beer too (just to numb the pain, haha). Congrats again, I might have to sign up again next year too!
Annmarie recently posted…Wineglass Marathon Race Recap
Way to go!! Congrats on a PR!! The race sounds really pretty and well put together–and pizza at the finish is my kind of party!
Kate @KateMovingForward recently posted…Trim Healthy Mama Plan Review
thanks – it was so well organized and just a great race!
Congrats on your PR ! Loved your recap. Sounds like a wonderful experience.
Karen @ Fit in France recently posted…Cat or dog ?
it was amazing! I loved this race!
Congrats! I have heard nothing but amazing things about wineglass so i think it is time to go on my bucket list for sure!
Reading your training inspired me to do a marathon before my goal race so I will be running the Long Beach marathon this weekend as a final training run (and hoping to PR even though it will be very warm!) before doing NYC Marathon in 3 weeks.
Oh good for you! Start slow, be smart and just embrace the pain! Good luck!!!
I’m in for next year! Tell me when to sign up! 🙂 Sounds awesome – and you did SO GREAT! 15 minute PR!! You are amazing!! xoxo
Thanks! Let’s make it a big trip – it’s so nice up there! Registration opens Dec 1 – I’ll remind you 🙂
So awesome, Courtney! I’m going to need to add this one to my bucket list!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted…Never Ever Give Up Virtual 10K Race Recap
Yes! It’s a realllllly great race – you’d love it!
Congrats on an awesome race and huge PR! I would love to do this one someday- maybe next year!:)
Lisa @ RUnning Out Of Wine recently posted…Monday’s Meals and New Recipes
Yes! I think I’m going back next year 🙂
sounds like it was a successful race. Still think you look awesome in your finisher pic.
I hope I can finish NY with the same mentality.
Haley recently posted…Free Halloween Printables
You will!! I have so much faith in you!!
What a great race for you and such a HUGE PR! I really really want to run Wineglass next year or the year after!!!
It’s definitely a race I’m going back to!
Congrats Courtney!! That is awesome you got a PR. So happy for you 🙂
Daisy @ Fit Wanderlust Runner recently posted…Judgement Day Half Marathon Recap
I’ve heard such great things about this race and I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it. It looks like a beautiful course. I’m so excited for your new PR! You’ve trained very hard the last year and this definitely was a long time in the making. Now, let’s coordinate at MCM so we ACTUALLY FINALLY MEET! 🙂
Christine @ We Run Disney recently posted…Evolution of my Marathon Races
What a great post! I’m running MCM too and experiencing some pre-marathon jitters. Reading about your experience gave me a little boost. Good luck later this month!
You are?!?! I hope I see you! Also if you’re staying over Sunday night I’m doing HH that evening 🙂 let me know!
So Proud of you, lady!!! Rock it ouuuuut. SO happy for you. I’m not going for a PR this weekend, but just fun, but how much fun is a PR? 😀
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Chicago Marathon Goals, Mindset, and BosuStrong Conclusion
PRs are pretty dang fun 🙂 Good luck on Sunday!
Congrats again! That’s a huge PR and an awesome accomplishment. Your recap makes me seriously think about adding this one to my list for next year! Cannot wait for you to experience MCM in a couple weeks!
You would LOVE this race – and I think you’d run really really strong here. It’s so much fun. And yes, I just got my MCM bib # and I’m EXCITED!!!
Hey! I saw you in the shuttle line and said hi! Your race review sounds like one I would have written! Beautiful course and weather but man those last miles were tough. I also got a pr and loved the experience. It was so great seeing you! Good luck at MCM!
Thank you so much for saying hi! I texted MG and told her I met you! Congrats on your PR! What’s next for you?
Wow! A 15 minute PR is fantastic, Courtney! Well deserved! Prettttty tempted to consider Wine Glass 2016!
Victoria @ Ice Packs + Races recently posted…September Recap + October Goals
UM, you should! It’s awesome and would be a great first marathon 🙂
Yey!!! So happy for your Courtney!! Nothing like a good old fashioned PR. I knew you could do it!!
Congrats on your PR! I love that area and would love to run that race, but I’m swearing off fall marathons for a while. I don’t need to make myself miserable all summer…
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…I get knocked down, but I get up again
They have a half marathon…
Great job! I just did another half marathon last week and had the same thing happen to me towards the end. I wanted so badly to keep moving and not slow down but my body would not follow my heart! You made quite the improvement!
Faith @ Run the Day recently posted…Jax Marine Corps Half Marathon Recap
Sometimes your brain just takes over! Thanks for the congrats! 🙂
Congrats on your PR. I am so proud of you, I would love to run Wineglass one day!!!
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…How to Create Blog Interaction
Thanks Abby! How are you holding out down in SC?
Congrats!!!!! It sounds like you had an awesome time and it’s so cool you got a PR! You are going to rock your marathon in a few weeks too!
Kristen recently posted…Friday Five: Five Things That Motivate Me
Thanks Kristen!
Great recap; congrats on a HUGE PR, and what’s more, a pretty smooth race day! That course elevation map kind of looks like a heavenly run 🙂 MCM will be a blast for you!
Thank you so much!
Congrats on a great race Courtney and a what a PR! Sounds like such a great course – Wineglass is definitely on my bucket list!
it was an excellent race – super fun!!
Congrats girl! It sounds like a great race. I’m trying to find a good fueling plan, so it’s nice to hear what worked for you!
KiMberly @ Fit Disney Mom recently posted…The Thing About Planning & Baby #2
thanks – it was a lovely race!