Scale matters. Take the Marine Corps Marathon elevation chart. Elevation varies from 0-250 feet. Which is enough to add excitement, but is not ridiculous. The chart, however, sends shivers down my spine to my little stick legs. Stick legs that would be challenged by mountainous terrain. I look at this chart and three monster hills stare back at me, sizing me up. This chart is misleading, but maybe that’s a good thing. Prepare for the worst and expect the best, or something like that. It may only be a 250 foot climb, but on legs that need to conserve energy for a 42.2k journey the rule is to multiply every elevation gain by three. I made up that rule just now, but I stand by it. Using my marathon math, the first hill climbs to 750 feet, the second hill to 450 feet, and the final hill to 300 feet. I’m still not sure what kind of twisted person ends a race at the top of a hill, but I kind of like it. Today. I probably won’t like it on Sunday.
Scarier still is the forecast. Sunny. High of 18C. The horror. I fall to pieces when the mercury rises above 10C. Oh. Dear.
Title Reference: Diana Ross – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. From the album Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand). 1970.
I naively thought that the Marine Corps Marathon was completely flat! While this isn’t terribly hilly – I do think ending on an uphill is just cruel.
Good luck this weekend!
To my surprise as well, it’s flat at all. Three “hills” but constant grade changes – which I don’t mind for relief on the legs. Those gentle inclines can be draining at the end and the on/off ramps are surprisingly hilly. I loved the route and the undulations, but it was more than I expected. This one goes on my recommend list!
Good luck on the weekend. Hope it goes better than the scotia half. 18C is a bit scary, but hopefully the relative humidity will be low and you will have a low dewpoint.
My mantra, Suck It Toronto Waterfront, seemed to work. The temp peaked at 15/16C, which is still too warm but the saving grace is that it was not humid. It definitely could’ve been worse, so I’m not complaining. It’s hard to order 5C and <50% humidity, although I try.