To the Farm

Wow!  The Winni relay exceeding all of my expectations-  I had a blast getting a chance to bond with fellow Mansfield runners and was impressed with the scenery of New Hampshire. Oh, and the run kicked my tail ;)  Many thanks to Warren for sharing this unique race with us and to Rachel for organizing so many logistics.

I ran leg #5--10.6 miles from a ski area to Morgan Farm.  I waited with team members at the ski area for Alicia to arrive.  Around 1:30, I lined up very seriously in the exchange zone and was stoked to see Alicia finishing strong. I grabbed the baton and took off, but then my visor flew off!!  So I actually had to turn around and grab my visor. Geez, I'm a klutz!  That inspired me to take off a bit quickly.  After a few minutes, I passed a dude wearing a purple singlet.  It was hot and the sun was glaring down on me.  The course was on the side of a somewhat busy road. I was sweating a lot and had to deal with the extremely slick baton.  I felt like I was running pretty strong and powered up a couple short hills.  My first two miles were under 9 minute pace.

It was getting hotter, and I drank water at every opportunity. At a couple spots, folks were stopped on the side of the road, handing out water, and their cheering really helped out.  I could see a couple runners ahead of me, and I was glad that I wasn't lost ;)  By mile 4, I could tell that I was expending a lot of energy. The course was scenic- going by farms with traditional New England stone walls.

At mile 5, I took a gel.  I was a mess during this race!  I was running in a sports bra and shorts and was still boiling. I guess that's what happens when you race in the middle of the afternoon!  I started dumping water on my head to cool myself down. I did NOT want to overheat. I pretended that I was doing an Ironman- where they end up running a marathon in hot, brutal conditions. There were some extended downhills, and I knew they'd shred my quads but I also wanted to make up some time. I tried to let myself float down those hills. 

At mile 7, I had to bribe myself to get to mile 8. I checked my garmin a ton, hoping that the miles would click along.  Fortunately, there were a few shaded sections of the course and some clouds rolled in.  I passed a couple people and crossed my fingers that I could stay ahead of them. I sang a few Lady Gaga songs in my head. I reminded myself that my comrades from Connecticut were waiting for me and that really, really motivated me to keep running. It made a huuuuge difference to be running as part of a team.

By mile 9, I knew that I'd make it to the finish. I wanted to finish strong.  My leg ended with a downhill, and I forced my jello legs to move to the exchange zone. I was elated to hand off to Stacey.  I couldn't believe that I survived this race.  Apparently, Lake Winnipesaukee means the"smile of the Great Spirit."  I think someone was smiling that we had the moxy, the fierceness, and the sense of humor to run all the way around this fine lake.

Lake Winni Relay

I had an awesome time running with the Mansfield Trail Runners' relay team at Lake Winni.

My leg required mettle:

I will put together a proper race report soon on this hardcore New England race and my fantastic relay team!!

Cinderella

This weekend was chock-full of running!  On Saturday, I ran the Cinderella trail 10k in the East Bay Regional Park system.  The race was fun and well organized. This was my first race of 2012. Since it was a trail race, I just ran by effort, also letting the terrain dictate my pace.

I started pretty hard and worked to weave my way around people on the single track trail. I was cruising on the flatter sections! I ran some of the uphills but hiked a long & super steep uphill around mile 4.  Closer to the end of the race, my legs were achey from the terrain. There was a rocky downhill that I walked down, and, unfortunately, several women sped down past me :O  I kicked it in at the finish and felt like I'd worked hard throughout the race.

On Sunday, I went for a scenic, classically San Francisco run with R....We ran down Golden Gate Park, up past the Cliff House, and absorbed a misty but awesome view of the GG Bridge!  I tried to soak up the views since I'll be moving eastwards & won't have views of the Pacific Ocean. At the end of the 10 miler, my legs still had some pep. All in all it was a fantastic long run.

Kaiser 5K

Last weekend, I raced the Kaiser 5k in Golden Gate Park.  Gracias to my friend, Jenica, for helping me out with parking/driving/coaching.....Of course, she also convinced me to race in buns, which contributed to narnar race photos :)

It was unseasonably warm for February in San Francisco (60s & sunny), and I was happy that I wasn't doing the half marathon.  At the start, I lined up very close to the front and went out pretty hard. For the first mile (7:05 pace), I settled into a good groove and let myself work hard on a couple short hills. There were mainly men running around me, and, of course, I enjoyed passing them! I tried concentrating hard on each individual mile.  In the second mile (6:55 pace), I focused on staying close to people around me and kept driving my legs.  I relished the downhills, too.  A couple times, I looked at Garmalade and really didn't believe my pace :> Frankly, I don't remember the 3rd mile (6:43 pace), but I believe that I kept telling myself that the race was almost over!

I know that once I hit 3.0, I left it all out there (6:29 pace) and knew that I couldn't accelerate even one more tiny bit.

Best news, I have a new 5k PR of 22:26 on a loooong course (Drat! It was almost 3.3 miles long!). I was the 9th woman in a pretty big race.  So, according to my Garmin, I ran at 6:53 pace.  I was SOOO excited after the race to average sub-7 for a 5k :)

Windmill 10K

On Sunday morning, I ran another DSE race in San Francisco.  This was a 10K race that went up and back down Golden Gate Park, starting and finishing at the windmills near the Great Highway.  I'd trained quite well for the past few weeks and tried my best to do quality workouts while on blizzard-cation in New Jersey  :> In addition, my coach had planned some tuning-workouts last week that were hard in a very good way.

I ran the race in 46:36 (7:29 pace) and was the 5th overall woman!! This is a personal best for me, and it represents a breakthrough in my race pace since the Fall.  Soooo, what does a breakthrough race feel like?

Well, I did a good warm up and lined up near the front.  It was a clear, cool, and crisp morning for a race. I worked hard but not too hard in the first mile.  I checked my heartrate and trusted my coach that Zone 4 was okay for racing, and that I could hang on for 40+ minutes in Zone 4. I focused on people in front of me and closing the gap. I also paid attention to the terrain---if it was flatter, I pushed myself, if it was the end of an uphill, I'd work my arms, and if it was a downhill, I'd let myself cruise.  I reminded myself it was only 6 miles and celebrated getting to the turnaround at 3.1 miles :) I also reminded myself that it was supposed to hurt and to go that "hurty" place :O

With less than a mile left, I just told myself to bring it in and keep moving.  I was pretty out of it for the last 1/2 mile and really could only concentrate on one stride at a time.  There's something about driving down to the finish line in which your vision ONLY sees the finish line. Woh, I think I might be addicted to 10Ks!

Angel Island Race

I had a blast running Enviroport's 12K yesterday! The morning began with coffee, breakfast, and driving over to Tiburon. After finding parking and meeting up with a couple running buddies, it was time to get on the ferry.  The boat ride to Angel Island took only 15 minutes, and then we waited at the starting area. It was damp and gray---with tons of fog hanging around.

The first couple of miles involved a lot of uphill.  I felt pretty good and just let my pace vary according to the terrain & the pace of people in front of me :) Part of racing on singletrack trails is dealing with being 'trapped' behind other runners. Due to the fog, our views of the SF Bay were extremely limited :(  But the trees and birds and ups and downs of the course kept it interesting!

Around mile 3, there was some flatter ground, since we were running on a ridge, and I let myself pick up the pace a bit.  But when the course threw in some more uphills around mile 4, I could feel my heartrate shooting up and had to back off a bit.  I reminded myself that there would eventually be some downhill, and when I got to the flatter and downhill segments, I let myself cruise.....That meant relaxing my body, concentrating on the trail and my footing, and just running. I worked hard on the last 1.5 miles, including kicking it in near the finish :)  My finishing time was 1:12, and I finished in the top 25% of women.  I think I'll be doing more trail races in the future!

I learned a few lessons from this race:
1) Trail running is very peaceful
2) Trail races also give me post-race glow
3) It can be tricky to figure out an appropriate racing pace/effort when the terrain varies
4) Extended uphills are tough on your lungs and heart
5) Racing with friends is the BEST way to kick off the holidays!!!

Halloween Highway

This morning's 4 mile race went great! I woke up early to head to San Francisco for another DSE race.  The route was an out and back--down the Great Highway and then back up to Sloat. At the start, I went out pretty hard because I didn't want to be trapped behind people on the narrow path.  I felt awesome during the first mile and had to reel myself in to run a 7:21 mile. Of course, this meant that I wasn't listening my coach, who'd suggested that I start at 7:40 pace and then go-negative ;O

I felt good on the second mile (7:35) and tried to enjoy the gentle, rolling hills along the Great Highway. At this point, I realized that a few women were running right around my pace.  But mile 3 felt harder, and I was huffing and puffing. I eeked out a 7:46 mile and could tell that my legs weren't too happy with me....On the 4th and last mile, I just hung on--7:50--and worked on pulling myself closer to the women in front of me.  It felt like a lonnnnng mile, and I was very ready for this Halloween "trick" to be finished!!  I kicked it in just a bit at the end, finishing in 30:40 & getting 5th place overall woman.  I think I'm getting addicted to the finisher's ribbons ;)  Now it's time for treats & more treats, as I am a pumpkin & candy addict  :P 

A couple reflections:  My average pace was 7:39, and now I should work on starting smarter in races....the going out fast probably hurt me a tad in this race. If I'd started under control, I may have been less of a pumpkin in the last 1.5 miles. Going to races with friends & meeting other runners at races is very, very motivating. So, I'm happy that I'm now in the habit of racing every month or so, instead of just a couple times a year.

Fierce

I had a blast running the DSE 5 miler at Oyster Point.  It was cool to really, truly race today.  That meant that I focused on passing people--instead of just considering my pace and time.  The nice & flat course traced around the San Francisco Bay near the SF Airport.  Though it was a glaringly sunny and hot day, I warmed up well, paced myself, and pushed myself to a strong finish.  And, guess what, I was the 2nd place woman!! My race time was 39:02 (7:44 pace). I need to thank my coach, Mary,  for encouraging me to do hard workouts, dig deep, and believe that I can run fast.

As usual, I woke up early and enjoyed my coffee, peanut butter toast, and banana :P  Then I picked up Jenica, and we headed down to South San Francisco and had a fantastic warm up jog.  I felt calm and ready to rock the 5 miler.  I lined up close to the start and noticed a few speedy looking women.

I started strong (7:37 pace) but was careful to keep in control, especially due to the heat. Then I just kept working my legs and tried to catch the runners ahead of me :)  At the halfway point, I heard that I was the 4th woman, but I knew I wanted to place.....And I saw women up ahead, so I knew I had work to do! I passed one woman & then another woman---yeehaw!  My breathing got tougher, but my legs still felt strong.  At points, I had to convince myself to push, and I tried some different mantras to maintain a speedy rhythm. With less than a mile to go, I heard footsteps and was certain that one of the women was going to pass me back.  But then I saw that it was an older man, and he helped push me to the finish. Whew!  I finished with a kick but had definitely left my energy out on the course. 

This race taught me a few things. First, heck yeah, I have the fierceness for racing. Second, even if your training runs are dragging, you can have a great race. And, third, it's just plain ole FUN to get out there, try your best, and kick some tail in the process ;)

Santa Rosa race report

My pre-race week was extremely hectic, but the day before the race was chill. On race morning, I woke up super early, took a quick shower, and had a nice breakfast of toast with peanut butter and banana. Of course, I drank coffee :P

We drove up in the pitch-black darkness, and I felt pretty calm. We found rockstar parking in a garage close to the start/finish of the race. Score for free parking! The start area was pretty calm at 6am, and the portapotty lines were fairly short, too. I checked in, but they'd run out of bibs. So, I got a timing chip but no bib :( I was bummed about not getting a bib but went about my pre-race business. As per my coach's raceplan, I did a solid one mile warmup with three speedy bursts. At one point, I wondered if I should save more energy for the race :O I hugged my hubby, and then I took a gel about 10 minutes before the start.

The start was on the road, and I couldn't really hear the announcements. So, I got freaked that I wouldn't notice when the start happened. Fortunately, I heard the gun & started...I was weaving a bunch at the start, and people were clumped together on the road and sidewalk. I made to sure to average around 8:10, which felt fine. Then we were on a fairly narrow path, and I could tell that I was slowing down behind people and had to accelerate around them. The first few miles on the path were uneventful. I felt in control when running around 8:10 pace. I noticed some hardcore runners around me, which made me wonder if I belonged up there. And then I'd remind myself to just stick to the race plan :)

I took my first gel at mile 4.5. I grabbed a cup of water at the next aid station and probably only got in a gulp or two. Around mile 5, I challenged myself to speed up a bit. It kept me focused, and I could tell that I was working harder at 8:07 pace. I still felt strong. A few miles of the path were gravel---rather than paved; this made the running tougher.

Around mile 8, I started feeling tired. I think I got a side stitch. I tried concentrating on my breathing. But Garmalade was letting me know that I wasn't quite on track for a 1:47 halfie. I told myself to buck up and keep going & keep pushing my legs. I was running next to a man who was extremely encouraging and knew the route very well. He was giving me tips about where the aid stations were, etc. I took another gel at mile 8.5. My tummy wans't too happy after that gel, but I reminded myself that I needed the energy. I grabbed water & electrolyte drink at aid stations and even walked through one station to get some extra fluids. During mile 9, the doubts got louder, telling me that I lacked the endurance to do this. I forced myself to stay present and somewhat positive. At the same time, I felt like I wanted someone to scream at me to run faster!

When mile 10 hit, my legs were mad, or sad, or something :O I tried convincing myself that I was starting a 5K, and then spent a lot of time convincing myself that I just had to run one more mile, another mile, etc. Every little, tiny uphill felt insurmountable. And there were these tiny hills up to bridges that went across the creek/river. Yikes, I even groaned (moaned?) while running this segment of the race. Several other runners encouraged me by cheering me on, and the volunteers told me I looked great (I'm certain they were lying!). When mile 12 hit, I just concentrated on driving my legs, but they felt SO weak and eeked out a 9 minute mile. I wanted to race to be done, with a capital D. When mile 12.5 arrived, I attempted to trick myself into thinking I was on the track. When I saw the finish line, I kicked and ran the last .2 miles in 7:48 pace!

According to the race results, I finished in 1:50:48, which was 38/289 women!!

Racin' Lake Merced

I think this was one of the coldest races that I've ever run....and, yes, it was in San Francisco in July :) But, I never complain about running in cool weather!! My coach wanted me to treat this as a tune-up for the half marathon. So, I got a tiny-taper and made sure to gel-up, etc. I ran the 4.5 mile race around Lake Merced in 34:47 (7:46 pace). Here's the beef on my race:

7:43-- I started out with the speedy peeps, felt strong, and held myself back to not be a jackrabbit...

7:31--There was a rad downhill, I relaxed, and I passed a couple strong women runners. I was concerned that they'd pass-me-back, but....I got 'em!!

7:55--Midway through this mile, I thought I was toast. My legs felt like jello, my breathing was off, there was a gradual uphill. I kept truckin' away and tried looking ahead to pull myself forward.

7:49--I'm really proud of this mile (even though it's slower than my goal 7:45 pace) because I convinced myself I was almost done. So, I pushed through some pain--with plenty of arm swinging and wheezing. My breathing felt a bit off by this point. Oh, and I was feeling pukey, too, which is GREAT sign that you're racin' and not just out for a run :O

7:57 (final 0.48)-- Oh, boy, I was giving it my all just reminding myself to move my legs. I lacked a kick. Near the finish, we had to run across a patch of grass, and I really had to concentrate to maintain my balance. My vision was wonky, too-- like I couldn't really focus. But, hey, I made it across the finish!

Post-race, there were plenty of refreshments (the chocolate cookies were delish), and I chatted with a few runners. Kudos again to the Dolphin South End running club because they put on really nice & low key races...this race had about 70 runners and the entry fee was $1! I'll be running more DSE races in the future.

Polo Field 5K

My coach encouraged me to race a 5K because racing helps you gauge your fitness/heart rate zones and gives you practice in pacing, racing, and dealing with pain :> So, I found a DSE 5K (3.1 miles) race in Golden Gate Park. This morning, I had a good breakfast (1/2 bagel w/ peanut butter & coffee) and sipped gatorade while driving over to SF. Then I jogged two warm up miles with Jenica and threw in three strides. I got nervous and took a gel about 10 minutes before the start.

Mile 1 included a fun downhill and my pace (7:22) felt too easy--probably thanks to adrenaline. But the second mile had a serious, neverending uphill (earned an 8:14 pace). I reminded myself that I run lots of hills where I live and kept working up the hill. It really helped me to focus on a man just in front of me, and then I passed him on a flatter section. Next, I targeted a woman in front of me.....I really worked to gain on the woman and was close behind her at the very top of the hill. My legs burned (third mile @ 7:52), and I kept checking that I was in zone 4, which is sub-threshold....Translation?? Painful!!

With about half a mile to go, I tried convincing myself that I was just doing an 800 interval on the track and really worked my legs. This part was downhill (final .14 @ 7:00 pace), but by the finish, I was pretty out of it. I finished in 24:26 and felt totally woozy & pukey in the finish chute. Later, I found out that I was the 6th overall woman!! This race was a successful 5K experience, and I'm happy with my new speed & strength training.

Avenue Race Report

You take the good, you take the bad,

you take them both and there you have

The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life.

A fact of running is that you take the good AND you take the bad.

I did not PR at the Avenue of the Giants, but that doesn't mean it was bad, either! I could share several theories for why I didn't PR (e.g., not adequately rested vs. peaked early & over-tapered, or some kind of intestinal and/or electrolyte issue), but I'd rather embrace what was good---or even great---about the race. The trees were beautiful. It was a new experience to run such a TINY marathon. I liked seeing other runners on the out and backs. I didn't go out too fast. I enjoyed listening to my playlist. The roadtrip to and from the Humboldt area was fun & chill.

Here's how the race played out.....

Miles 1-6 (Surprised by the lack 'o' flatness)

The start was uneventful, and I found my appropriate starting pace quite easily (8:56-9:05). Then I noticed hills, and more hills. Very few sections of this marathon were flat. Plus, potholes and more potholes. I really had to concentrate on my footing and found myself dodging around a bunch on the course (which helps explain why I ran an EXTRA 1/2 mile in this race).

A couple stretches of the course were very exposed and sunny, and I felt really hot. So, I dumped water on my head and hoped for the best...

Miles 7-13 (Attempting to stick to my plan and follow Garmlade's orders)

I tried taking advantage of the downhills, but--dang--there were still uphills. It was fun seeing Jenica after I turned around. The trees continued to amaze me, and I got a chance to do some moving meditation on this segment of the course. In this part of the race, I ran several miles in the low 8:50s but a couple miles around 9:20, which led me to believe that 3:54 wasn't gonna happen at the Avenue. But at the half, I thought sub-4 was possible if the card aligned on the second half of the course.

Miles 14-20 (Yes, more trees)

I was feeling decent when starting the second out-and-back. I tried talking myself into believing that this segment would be flat. But I think the ups and downs from the first out and back had already done me in, and I was working very, very hard to eek out 9:10-9:20 miles. I ran and chatted for awhile with a woman who was running this race with her niece. She helped me pick up the pace for a couple miles, and I think it was a good strategy to stick with her while I could. But after miles 17-18, I just didn't have any poof in my leggies.

Miles 21-26.7 (Aargh for running over 26.2!)

I definitely hit the wall, and my legs paid zero respect to orders from my brain to move. Specifically, I ran 11+ minute miles and needed walk breaks. I saw some giant, grody slugs (perhaps banana slugs?!?!) on the course. A couple were smooshed---aka slugkill. I felt a little slugkill-like myself :( At an aid station, I grabbed a few orange segments and hoped that the sugar would kick in. I had a tiny kick at the end of the race, finishing in 4:17:59!!

Not quite my day

I ran Avenue of the Giants in 4:17:59---so snuck in under 4:18 ;O I'm sure I can learn a lot from this experience, and, don't worry, I'm still celebrating & know that killer races are in my future.....

The course was humbling on many levels, and the Redwoods were gorgeous. I will post a real race report with pictures later in the week.

Big congratulations to Jenica for PRing & for Dan's rad half marathon time!!

Experience this

To summarize the NYC marathon, I laughed, I cried, and I got an apple. Oh, and I PRed (4:07!) and learned 26.2 things about New York, running, and myself....

The morning started normally enough- with toast and coffee in NJ. I took a quick shower and got dressed with all my warm layers on top. It was sprinkling. We drove to the Meadowlands. I waited for a bus with about 100 other runners, and then we were informed that we were waiting IN THE WRONG PLACE. With not much time before the *last* bus from NJ to Staten Island, a kind dude offered to give folks a ride in his truck. Three girls plus me and another dude fit into the back of the truck. We drove around to the other side of the arena and found the *real* buses--like 15 of them. I got on a bus and thought the drama was over with. However, the bus driver had *no* clue how to get to Staten Island, so two nice girls from NJ read and translated the directions into Spanish. Yes, we did arrive--on time and all--to the starting village. The time at the village was interesting and boring and anxiety provoking all at once. I chatted with a few fellow runners. I sat down and relaxed for awhile and took care of bathroom needs. I figured out where my wave 2 corral would be. I lined up with plenty of time to spare...

Start

I almost started crying at the start because there was so much excitement and joy. Wow. People from all over the world--ready to go. The start was up and over the Verrazano Narrows bridge. Shockingly, it never felt uncomfortably crowded. I mean, there were people all around, but- for the most part- you could go along at your own pace or navigate around people to find a good space for running.

Brooklyn

SO many fun bands and cheering crowds--offering bananas (I took one and ate half), kleenex, gum, and waving signs. Hooray- a street party that I get to run through--a bit speedier than my designated goal marathon pace. And runners of all ages and abilities--including a young man with a prosthetic leg and athletes in wheelchairs and blind marathoners. It was extremely humbling. I also thought of the elite runners who'd flown down these identical streets and bridges a bit before I did!!

Queens

Still feeling strong- a few uphill stretches. There was a hard bridge--59th St. Bridge into Manhattan. Had to work hard but really could not believe that I was more than halfway done!! The miles were flying by, and I even thought to myself that the race was going by *too* quickly :)

Manhattan/The Bronx

Running up First Avenue was incredible, and I was heading toward my fan club (Jeff, his parents, plus M, D, and little Z!). I cruised up First Ave. and was having a total blast. Even though I'd run over 16 miles, I had plenty of pep and was motivating myself to run hard till mile 20. I saw Jeff and the gang: gave everyone high fives and Z a squeeze and a g'luck kiss. Then I was on my way. For awhile, I was fine. Around mile 20, I realized I *was* working harder, much harder, and not going quite as fast. Oh well. Miles 21 and 22 were about 10 min. miles; that wasn't my goal pace. But I thought that if it didn't get worse, then maybe I could pick it back up ;) Running through Harlem was cool, and the crowds and music (including "Take On Me") were terrific.

And the finish in Central Park

Mile 23 hit bad--a 12:20 mile. I had to walk a few times, got a side stitch, and tried to harden up. Then Mile 24 arrived--an 11 minute mile accompanied by weird quad cramps/spasms and general exhaustion. Somehow, I worked it in miles 25 and to the finish--at 9:20 pace. Amazingly, one of my ALL TIME favorite running songs "Don't Stop Believing" was playing as I turned from Columbus Circle into Central Park :) Totally rad. It took concentration but I kicked and finished in 4:07-- a 12 minute personal best!!

After finishing amidst thousands, you walk into a sea of staggering marathoners. I was alright for awhile--walked slowly and got my snack bag and heat sheet. Then I got dizzy and queezy and totally weak. I didn't know what to do--stop and sit down (and how the heck would I get up?!?!) OR keep trying to move. I felt awful and told a very, very kind medical volunteer how awful I felt. And she escorted me to the medical tent. We walked--arm in arm--for another 10 minutes or so. I was checked-in and two super sweet medical volunteer gave me water and salt and took my vitals. Just sitting in the warm tent with supervision made me feel better :O Apparently, I need my entourage after races ;) I was able to leave the tent and slowly made my way toward to exit (and had to stop to deal with a massive foot cramp, go fig). I think I may have gotten dehydrated during the race.

A few reflections

I ignored the 'pace police', went out pretty hard, and felt great for about 20 miles. The last 6 miles weren't so pretty, and I didn't hang onto an ideal pace. BUT- I know I left it all out there on the course. I toughed it out and kept going. I also had a blast. I understand why they call this a race like no other, and it was awesome to experience NYC and marathon running in this light! Yes, I could complain about minutes here or there or debate how to use Garmalade or when to eat my gels, but I'd much, much rather bask in my PRdom, knowing that there are other races out there to share with family and friends :)

Racing up, down, and around SF

Here's an epic report of the 2009 San Francisco marathon, but if you want the hilariously short version, view this video!

Night before:
After a very slothful Saturday, I enjoyed a pasta dinner at home with Trader Joe's marinara sauce and red velvet cake from the Grand Lake farmers market for dessert! I got in bed before 10pm and actually managed to fall asleep without too much tossing and turning.

Rise and Shine:
I woke up with my 3:45 am alarm. I chugged some water, made coffee and toast with peanut butter and watched a few minutes of Valley Girl on tv (who knew that great 80s movies would be on at 3 am?!?). I took a quick, hot shower to help warm up. I got dressed and sunscreened up and felt surprisingly awake and alert. Thanks to adrenaline, it really didn't feel like 4 am. By the time we got in the car, I had the butterflies. Fortunately, the drive to the start was easy, and I only had to walk a couple blocks to the starting area and, oh so important, porta potties! After taking care of business, I walked and hopped around to get a little blood flowing and burn off nervous energy, and waited for Jenica in the dark with a zillion other runners doing their thang.


We lined up together in the 4-4:15 corral with full and half marathoners mixed together. I need to mention that races that combine fulls and halfs are kind of demoralizing for fullers. It's really not fair to see the halfers at mile 12- they have 1 mile to complete, but you have 14 to crank through. And at mile 20- they've done 7 miles, while your leggies have already done 20.

Start it Up: Miles 1-4
I stuck to my race plan for the first few miles. I kept reminding myself that it should feel too easy. If the pace felt at all hard, I forced myself to relax and jog a few steps. My breathing was easy and there wasn't a niggle or ache in the leggies. It was quite grey and cool- absolutely perfect running weather. I tried my best to run in straight lines and not do too much sprinting around people or weaving around because that only wastes energy and adds mileage.

Over and back the Golden Gate Bridge: Miles 5-10
Crossing the bridge was hectic, to say the least. I couldn't get in a relaxed groove because we were so packed on the bridge. Not everybody was so-well versed in race etiquette; there were walkers on the left and people stopping to take photos. So I had to dodge some mayhem. I felt really strong around mile 8 and ran with a really nice woman from BC, Canada, which was a great distraction.

Happy Miles: Miles 11-12
I worked hard getting up the Presidio Hill but had a blast cruising downhill toward Baker Beach, which was the most scenic part of the race course. The Pacific Ocean looked rad. I turned on my iPod, enjoyed the playlist, and found a good groove. These miles were pure flow because they felt more like a dance than a run.

In Da Park: Miles 13-19
I admit that the downhill through the park was fun, and I felt strong and terrific at mile 12ish. I looked around and was proud to be surrounded by other tenacious runners and was feeling confident in my ability to hang on! In fact, it was feeling too easy, but I told myself to concentrate on these middle miles of the race. Then there was an interminable, gradual climb through the park with the 2nd half marathoners. We had to read a bunch of signs to stay on course, and, at one point, I thought I'd gone in the wrong directions and almost broke down. But then I realized that I *was* on track with the full marathoners. Oh lordy, so many miles in that park. To add insult to injury, I've trained so much in that park so the views didn't provide any distraction.

Haight Street: Miles 20-21
I had some pep at the beginning of Haight Street because I was stoked to have exited the never-ending Golden Gate park. My legs still felt decent , and I think my music and the mile 17 roctane was helping me. I was smiling and encouraging other runners, which also motivated me.

Mission Runpossible: Miles 21-22
Running down 16th street is when things got a bit weird...A bit past Mission St., I noticed that my visor was sliding down over my eyes, so I had to keep pushing it up. This had never happened before on any long runs, so I was a little annoyed and took my visor off. This might not sound like *that* much of a big deal, but you can ask anyone, I wear a hat or visor for 98% of my runs. Therefore, in hindsight, I'm deeming the visor removal around mile 21.5 as the beginning of the wall. I just don't think my brain worked quite right after this point!!

Potrero H-E-L-L & Dog Patch: Miles 22-24
To be fair, the Potrero neighborhood is totally rad (ie- delish Goat Hill pizza!). Plus, a friend from grad school was oh so nice to come out on Connecticut St. (at mile 23) to cheer me on (thanks, Lisa!). But, honestly, I was in my own personal runners hell during the segment through the Potrero Hill and Dogpatch neighborhoods of SF. There were some odd hills and plenty of turns. Yes, my legs were moving. In fact, I felt like I was working really, really hard to eek out a slooow pace. Oh well. I was progressing along the course and not stopping. Just telling myself to go another mile. I was staring at the ground.


At that point, there wasn't that much reflection or body-checks happening, and I'd forgotten about the various strategies for dealing with handling long runs. In future races, I'd love to remember to use my strategies to dig deep, breathe deeply, and say positive mantras during the final miles (I honestly think that's the #1 thing I need to work on!).

Ball Park: Mile 25
Yeah, I could see AT & T Park for awhile before getting there (due to the sloooowed down pace). I think I recall 'Highway to Hell' playing on my iPod- yikes! At this point, my breathing felt strange- somewhere between a hair ball (well, what I imagine a hair ball feels like for my cat, Amiga) and an asthma attack (which I've never really had). I actually forced myself to slow down to remind myself to breathe in and exhale; it was almost like I lacked the coordination of my nose, mouth, lungs, etc.

I was definitely looking forward to seeing that baseball stadium because I knew that meant that I had just another mile to survive. You'd think I was a crazed Giants fan or something, but I'm not! I ran for a little while with a really nice woman with long braids. We encouraged each other, and she was so sweet. It was helpful to get the positivity at this point in the race. After passing the stadium, I tried to figure out how to pull myself together so Jeff (who was going to be spectating around mile 26) wouldn't think I'd totally lost it. At one point, I was going to beg him to walk with me. Then I told myself that I needed to pick it up and force the speed when I saw him. But I also *had* to share with him that I was in pain. Don't know why, but it was really helpful to tell the hubby that I was suffering. I suppose I needed him to carry a bit of the exhausted pain for me :(

Finito: Mile 26
With the finish line in sight, I knew I needed to book it to get in under 4:20. I kicked and couldn't really feel my legs but focused on the big finish line banner and finished in 4:19:30. I'm proud to report that I finished in the top 30% of female finishers.

A fun statistic is that, according to Garmalade, I actually ran 26.6 miles (dang those extra .4 miles!) at an average pace of 9:46 min/mile, so if I'd run exactly 26.2 miles at that pace, my finish time would have been a smokin' 4:15!


The post-race celebration included fried chicken at Luka's plus grapefruit cocktails to die (or run 26.6 miles) for! And about 36 hours post-race, I have extraordinarily sore hamstrings and quads but I can say that I still love running and crazily want to complete more marathons ;)

Lake Merced race

In lieu of this week's tempo run, J and I decided to try out a Thursday evening race put on by SF's Dolphin South End running club. The $1 registration fee included race number bibs, water, cliff bars, fruit, and brownies :P About 50 people entered the race.

The 4.5 mile race was on the path around Lake Merced. My final time was 36:20, and I worked hard during the race. I averaged 8:08 miles, so I beat my goal of runnning under 8:30 miels!! I focused on runners ahead of me and saved some energy for the last mile, though my kick was nothing to write home about :O It was really fun to get out there & race against people. After the race, I felt like I was on cloud 9 (yay for runner's high!).

Bay to Breakers '09

It was a hot, hot, hot California day. Bay to Breakers was a great race, and I'm pleased with my time of 1:09!

Garmalade calculated my average pace to be 9 min/mile (with a mile 2 of 10:05 and a speedy mile in GG Park of 8:25). The official results told me that I placed 178th out of over 1500 female runners in the 30-39 age group; the 1st place runner in my age group was Olympic medalist-Deena Kastor :) This is definitely a race that I want to run again.


I kept a relaxed pace for the first couple miles and then raced up Hayes Street Hill--very fun and some hard work for the legs. I was a sweaty mess on the top of the hill. I got a pretty bad side stitch (might have been caused by the post-Hayes St. downhill running!) around mile 5 but still managed to finish with a kick :O Yes, there were costumed and nekked runners! Yes, there was fun music along the course, and the course itself covers the diverse terrain of SF.



Here are some race pix...thanks, Jenica, for documenting this event!

Halfie

Everybody says that distance runners shouldn't go out too fast. I always nodded my head and listened to that advice. And then I had plenty of energy for a kick at the end that was better suited for a rave than a road race.

This time, I probably went out too fast. I relished running in a higher gear, took advantage of the downhill miles in Golden Gate Park (miles 4-6ish), and I definitely felt like I was racing. Yay! Of course, this strategy led to me feeling a bit low on steam on the quite boring Great Highway. But I hung on- sans kick- and set a personal best time for 13.1 miles, 1:51:43! Moral of the story, sometimes it's a good thing to ignore the yabbering and philosophizing about how to do this or that!

Ultramarathon race report

Skyline 50km Ultramarathon Race Report
August 3, 2008

Running an ultramarathon was a 30th birthday gift to myself, a way to motivate myself to train hard, the next step after two marathons (Chicago 2001 & New Orleans 2005), a way to stay busy during a long summer, and a way to dedicate myself to trail running. I had some ultra surprises: I had fun and did not get bored on the course; ultras make the marathon length seem reasonable; recovery was easier than road marathons.

Days before- Pretty big taper- only two 30 min. runs on Tuesday and Thursday. A bit nervous; hard to sleep 2 days before; got lots of sleep the whole week before; major hydration and carbo loading from Wed-Sat

Sunday morning-woke up at 4:40; ate peanut butter toast, coffee, some water, some Gatorade. Dressed, double checked that I'd packed all my running supplies. Picked up Jenica, listened to Ultra music mix (including Bruce Springsteen, Journey, and Coldplay), and drove to Lake Chabot.

At the Start- a little nervous and intimidated. Many racers seem very, very experienced with ultras. We were the new kids on the block, er, trail ;)

Start- pace was faster than I expected. peopled walked all uphills, including small ones at the start. Jenica and I separated after a couple miles. I pass a few groups of people who seem somewhat confident. Kinda gray and cool- great running weather.

1st aid station- having fun and feeling very fresh- legs and muscles (including my sometimes crabby calf). grab water. I get into a good rhythm. I run back and forth with a couple women- who again- seem to know what they're doing. I go ahead. I know it's the beginning and just relax. It's neat to race on trails that we'd trained on, and it was fun to recognize different trail junctions.

Bort Meadow- Nice rolling hills with some pretty views. I walk up some hills. It's still coolish. I cruise downhill- yeehaw. I'm aware that a couple women are close by, and i feel like I can stay ahead.

Big Bear- feeling good and proud of my efforts thus far. drinking plenty while running. happy to be out on the trails. A bit of trepidation about the next section till Skyline Gate cuz I know it includes some significant elevation gains. Cross Redwood Rd. and begin Golden Spike- great single track- fun running and nice rhythm. I dedicate my strides to Rosalie and my dad. Serious uphill at Canyon trail (after picnic area). Lots of walking. I really, really want to keep up the pace to get to Skyline Gate before 10am (14.4 miles in less than 3 hours) to see Mia, Dave, and Zeke :) This motivates me to push myself to cruise on the relatively flat ridge sections but still walk on some uphills. At moments my legs feel a little tired, but at times feel surprisingly loose for 11+ miles. I tell myself to get to mile 14 and really don't think about the other (17 miles!) half of the ultra.

Skyline Gate- This is the aid station where I take the lengthiest rest stop. Hugs from Dave and Mia, and Zeke's wearing his tracksuit. Major adrenaline rush to see people I know!! Stretching, water, cookie. Yes, I ate a cookie in the middle of a race; that's the beauty of ultras! Head out and back down (well, not really downhill) to Big Bear. WAY more uphills than expected. Pass one woman. Some gorgeous redwood groves with incredible halos of sunshine peeking through. Some technical stuff- jump (and barely make it!) over logs, cross creeks on rocks, etc, and more hills ;) Quick pee-stop on side of trail. Pass many hikers/families out for the day- some provide encouragement while others barely let me through. A fun downhill section that I do with an experienced male runner who encourages me. I realize I'm much closer to Big Bear (ie- mile 20) than I thought, which is super cool news! I'm not sure if I'd ever done a long, 20ish mile run and felt that good.

Big Bear- I get gu2O diluted with water and eat a mini peanut butter and jelly sandwich plus take an electrolyte/salt pill (I'd never used one of these before) and grab M and Ms :P I do a quick sponge bath on my head/face to cool off & get some gunk off. I start this section with the experienced male runner, and then I go ahead. I know the next section will require serious effort, and I don't put any pressure on myself to maintain any pace/speed (pace was only a consideration for getting to Skyline Gate to see the Lobel-Woulfin fanclub). At moments I worry about hitting the wall (but I don't) and solely concentrate on getting to Bort Meadow- mile 23. Big long uphills in direct sun that require walking, but I run fairly loose in between the hills. I keep reminding myself that there are many reasons why I will finish; this section required more explicit effort to remain focused on the task at hand. I force myself to drink fluids and review Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen lyrics. A couple trail patrol people as well as a few hikers tell me that I'm doing great, which makes me smile and maybe even run faster.

Bort Meadow- More fluids and get rid of trash. More M & Ms. Eager to do the 5 miles to Honker Bay. Five miles sounded short at the time, but it's a very, very long 5 miles. Did I mention that miles 23-28 are a long 5 miles?? A bit of uphill, including switchbacks, which I walk. Some flat sections that cross sand (not my favorite) with dragonflies (that I'm obsessed with) and near creeks. I'm still running with decent form and some semblance of a good pace on the flats. It's getting hot. Just focusing on getting to Honker Bay. I worry that I'm off track/lost, but each time I spy a pink ribbon--hooray. At some point, I'm pretty certain that I've passed the marathon length- and that feels major. A couple trail patrol people tell me that I'm looking good and that keeps me going.

Honker Bay- Super nice folks at the aid station. They check-in if I'm feeling alright, and I am. I ask if it's really downhill, and they say yes, for the most part ;) They explain that it's 2 miles and then a little more than a mile paved around Lake Chabot. I know that I'm running way farther than ever before, but it's super exciting to know that the finish line is just 3 miles away. The 3 miles takes awhile, and I'm not forcing myself to eat at this point--just want to get to the finish. Trying to take deep breaths, relax, and remind myself that I can do it. There are daytrippers who I run by, and I'm conscious of them wondering what the hell happened to me and/or look at what the cat dragged in. At moments, I need to force myself to stay in the moment and maintain lucidity. In one part of my brain, I imagine getting to the paved section and belting out a speedy mile. When I get to the paved section, a speedy mile devolves into retaining momentum and refusing to stop. In other words, it wasn't a mile-PR ;) But I kept the legs moving, received some encouraging words that the finish was close. I get to the turn to the finish bridge and attempt to pick it up and get my form together, somewhat. As I run across the bridge, I see the finish line and spectators. I push it in and am excited to see Jeff and to absorb the fact that I'm done. My time was 6:45.