Valiant Efforts in Two Heats at the Marble Arch Marathons

Valiant Efforts in Two Heats at the Marble Arch Marathons

QIC: Starfish

Date: 3/26/2026

PAX: Burlap (WD), Frostbite (WB), Bevo, Turnover, Lamb Chop, Burns, Woodpecker, Zima, Greenspan, Spamalot, Zephyr, Rollback, Starfish (QIC)

On Thursday (3/26/26) at #DashWIB, we ran the Fifth Marble Arch Marathons.  It has become a semiregular tradition in these parts.  At the inaugural event back in May 2017, 10 #DashPax attempted and 0 finished, although @Zima and @RustBucket came close but just barely missed the 45 minute time cutoff.  At the second event in March 2019, we had 18 #DashPax attempt and 6(!) finish! @LitterBox, @Vig, @Zima, @Huckleberry, @Greenspan and @Offsides finished all 5 loops in 2019.  So, in true Lazarus Lake fashion, we made the third one in March 2021 a bit longer and harder.  And the third core principle was in full effect (#RainOrShine #HotOrCold) as 13 pax attempted, 0 finished and 10 completed a #FunRun.  At the fourth running in April 2023, we had 10 pax attempt a revised course….0 finished but all 10 at least completed a #FunRun.  And today, we had two heats with a total of 13 competitors.  6 started early at 0500 and 7 were there for the lighting of the virtual cigarette at 0530.  0 finished but everyone got in at least a #FunRun with many somewhere between the M, the A or the R and sometimes B of the fifth lap by the 45 minute mark.

The Thang

Think of this as a much abbreviated version of the Barkley Marathons, the sadistic race in East Tennessee which is made up of 5 loops of 26ish miles and 20K feet of elevation gain per loop.  On Thursday, we attempted to run 5 loops (or 3 loops for a #FunRun) of Marble Arch Road.  Each loop was 0.84 miles and 57(?) feet of elevation gain.  At each intersection we come across, we stopped and performed an escalating number of [perfect form][ahem] reps OYO of the called exercise:

*At the start of each loop (corner of Marble Arch & Cedar Trail), performed an escalating number of Turkish Get Ups (1st loop = 1x, 2nd loop = 2x, 3rd loop = 3x, 4th loop = 4x, 5th loop = 5x) [This was a new twist for this fifth edition of the marathons.  #Crowdpleaser.

Stop 1:  Merkins (1st loop = 5x, 2nd loop = 10x, 3rd loop = 15x, 4th loop = 20x, 5th loop = 25x)

Stop 2:  Alternating Side Lunges (each leg, so 1, 1, 2, 2, etc.) (1st loop = 5x, 2nd loop = 10x, 3rd loop = 15x, 4th loop = 20x, 5th loop = 25x)

Stop 3:  Russian Twists (each side, so 1, 1, 2, 2, etc.) (1st loop = 5x, 2nd loop = 10x, 3rd loop = 15x, 4th loop = 20x, 5th loop = 25x)

Stop 4:  Burpees (1st loop = 5x, 2nd loop = 10x, 3rd loop = 15x, 4th loop = 20x, 5th loop = 25x)

Stop 5:  Lunges (each leg, so 1, 1, 2, 2, etc.) (1st loop = 5x, 2nd loop = 10x, 3rd loop = 15x, 4th loop = 20x, 5th loop = 25x)

Stop 6:  Elbow Plank Jacks (1st loop = 5x, 2nd loop = 10x, 3rd loop = 15x, 4th loop = 20x, 5th loop = 25x)

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/2433706189

First loop was clockwise.  Second loop was counterclockwise.  Third loop clockwise.  Fourth loop counterclockwise.  On the fifth loop, the leader chose his direction and then the PAX alternated directions.  Unless you were @Zima and @Greenspan who partnered up to attempt the fifth lap together.

3 completed loops within 45 minutes = #FunRun

5 completed loops within 45 minutes = #Finisher

@Burns headed up the early bird start at 0500 and was joined by @Frostbite, @Bevo, @Lambchop, @Woodpecker and @Turnover (and maybe @Zima?).  For the rest of us, the virtual conch blew at 0525.  Virtual cigarette was lit at 0530.  Lots of push and pull and we all made it further than we would have made it by ourselves.  Sound off with any observations in the comments as YHC was too busy trying to chase @Rollback, @Zephyr, @Greenspan and @Zima and trying to stay in front of @Burlap and @Spamalot.  We did have a @Lemming siting during our fourth lap.

Thanks for obliging me and letting me host a workout in my front yard.  That extra few minutes of theoretical sleep was luxurious.

Your friend,

Starfish