tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59992020492368828682024-02-06T22:38:16.163-08:00Run4LifeLife, liberty and the pursuit of 65 marathons and 100s of harf marathons.
I run for challenge, health and friendship.
Join me at smsrun.ning.com
Sponsor me: http://sites.google.com/site/staten7/James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-19742258086289454222022-02-10T11:17:00.034-08:002023-05-22T13:55:49.318-07:00Races I have completed thus far<p>I started racing back in 2003 and was trained for marathons by the LLS' Team in Training group in 2004. I then became one of their race coaches in 2005 through 2012. Now I'm a running volunteer and, sadly, a patient of AFTD - I have the svPPA disease which has turned off my brain memory. <br />To support AFTD and their efforts to help me with my disease - https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/3647074.</p><p>Thus far I've completed 71 marathons and 194 half marathons. I've completed races like these, so far, in 49 US states (mostly here in California) and in nearly all continents. The remaining state for me is Wyoming. The remaining continents are South America and Africa.</p><p>Here is my full list of these races through Q4 2022.</p><p>2003 - SF Home Depot Half Marathon - California</p><p>2003 - US Half Marathon - California</p><p>2004 - US Half Marathon - California</p><p>2004 - Santa Cruz Half Marathon - California</p><p>2004 - Home Depot San Francisco Half Marathon - California</p><p>2004 - Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon - Alaska - 3:58</p><p>2004 - Honolulu Marathon - Hawaii - 3:54</p><p>2004 - Nike Women's Half Marathon - California - 3:50:22</p><p>2005 - Santa Cruz Half Marathon - California</p><p>2005 - Kaiser SF Half Marathon - California</p><p>2005 - Maui Marathon - Hawaii - 3:59</p><p>2005 - Nike Women's Marathon - California</p><p>2006 - Santa Cruz Half Marathon - California</p><p>2006 - Stinson Beach Marathon - California</p><p>2006 - Kaiser SF Half Marathon - California</p><p>2006 - Freescale Austin Marathon - Texas - 3:33:54</p><p>2006 - Marine Corp Marathon - Washington, DC - 3:54:12</p><p>2006 - Muir Woods Marathon - California</p><p>2007 - Santa Cruz Half Marathon - California</p><p>2007 - Kaiser SF Half Marathon - California</p><p>2007 - Avenue of the Giants Marathon - California - 3:28:45</p><p>2007 - Marathon de Roma - Italy</p><p>2007 - Portland Marathon - Oregon - 3:36:04</p><p>2007 - Cal International Marathon - California - qualified for the Boston Marathon here - 3:19:00</p><p>2007 - Big Kahuna Half Iron Triathlon - Half Marathon - California</p><p>2008 - Wine Country Half Marathon - California</p><p>2008 - Woodside King's Mt. Half Marathon - California</p><p>2008 - Boston Marathon - Massachusetts - 3:30:45<span> </span></p><p>2008 - Big Kahuna Half Iron Triathlon - Half Marathon - This year I peered with friends who did the swim and the bike part of this one - California</p><p>2009 - Disneyworld Half Marathon - Florida</p><p>2009 - Disneyworld Marathon - Florida</p><p>2009 - Big Sur International Marathon - South Carolina - 3:44:00</p><p>2009 - Silicon Valley Marathon - California - 3:35:00</p><p>2009 - Santa Rosa Marathon - California - 3:38:00</p><p>2009 - Potsdam Marathon - Germany - 3:36:44</p><p>2009 - Disneyland Half Marathon - 1:34:02</p><p>2009 - Spijkenisse Marathon - Netherlands - 3:38:47</p><p>2009 - Marathon de Monaco et des Riviera - Monaco - 3:35:00</p><p>2009 - New York City Marathon - New York - 3:28:53</p><p>2009 - Big Kahuna Half Iron Triathlon - Half Marathon - California</p><p>2010 - The entire Rock n Roll Race Season</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll Arizona - Marathon - 3:17:58</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll Seattle - Marathon - 3:34:00</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll Denver - Marathon</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll Mardi Gras - Marathon</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll Chicago - Half Marathon</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll Los Angeles - Half Marathon</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll Dallas - Half Marathon</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll Virginia Beach - Half Marathon</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll San Antonio - Marathon - 3:17:09</p><p><span> </span>Country Music Nashville Marathon - Tennessee - 3:28:00</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll Philadelphia - Half Marathon</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll Las Vegas - Marathon</p><p><span> </span>Rock n Roll San Diego - Marathon</p><p><span><span> Rock n Roll San Jose - Marathon</span> </span></p><p>2011 - Rock n Roll Arizona - Half Marathon - 1:14:05</p><p>2011 - Dutchy Marathon - England</p><p>2011 - Pike's Peak Marathon - Colorado</p><p>2011 - Grand Canyon Rim2Rim2Rim - Marathon - Arizona</p><p>2011 - Rock n Roll Savannah - Marathon - Georgia</p><p>2011 - North Face Endurance Challenge SF - Marathon - California</p><p>2011 - Cal-Neva Marathon - Nevada</p><p>2011 - Emerald Bay Marathon - Nevada</p><p>2011 - Double Dipsea - Half Marathon - California</p><p>2011 - Lake Tahoe Marathon - California</p><p>2012 - OktoberRun - Half Marathon - California</p><p>2012 - Capitola Half Marathon - California</p><p>2012 - El Paso Marathon - Texas</p><p>2012 - Extraterestrial Full Moon Marathon - Nevada</p><p>2012 - Napa Valley Marathon - California</p><p>2012 - Lake Chabot Trail Run - Half Marathon - California</p><p>2012 - Santa Barbara Marathon - California</p><p>2013 - Berkeley Half Marathon - California</p><p>2013 - San Francisco Half Marathon - California</p><p>2013 - Sedona Marathon - California</p><p>2013 - Los Angeles Marathon - California</p><p>2013 - Surfer's Path Marathon - California</p><p>2013 - Canyon Meadows Marathon - California</p><p>2013 - Wipro San Francisco Marathon - California</p><p>2013 - Great Barrier Reef Marathon - Australia</p><p>2014 - Walnut Creek Half Marathon - California</p><p>2014 - Rock n Roll San Jose - Half Marathon - California</p><p>2014 - SLO Half Marathon - California</p><p>2014 - Santa Cruz Half - Half Marathon - California</p><p>2014 - Surf City Marathon - California</p><p>2014 - Kauai Marathon - Hawaii</p><p>2014 - Athens Marathon - Greece</p><p>2014 - Big Sur Trail Marathon - California</p><p>2015 - Oakland Half Marathon - California</p><p>2015 - San Francisco Giants Run - California</p><p>2015 - Golden Gate Half Marathon - California</p><p>2015 - Detroit Half Marathon - Michigan</p><p>2015 - Walnut Creek Half Marathon - California</p><p>2015 - Stop 22 Virtual Half - California</p><p>2015 - Houston Marathon - Texas</p><p>2015 - Berkeley Half Marathon - California</p><p>2015 - Run Free Virtual Half Marathon - California</p><p>2016 - The Town Half Marathon - California</p><p>2016 - Coyote Hills Half Marathon - California</p><p>2016 - Key Biscayne Half Marathon - Florida</p><p>2016 - Zombie Quarry Lakes San Francisco Half Marathon - California</p><p>2016 - Berkeley Half Marathon - California</p><p>2016 - Golden Gate Half Marathon - California</p><p>2016 - Morgan Hill Half Marathon - California</p><p>2016 - Healdsburg Half Marathon - California</p><p>2016 - Walnut Creek Half Marathon - California</p><p>2016 - Lake Chabot Trail Run Half Marathon - California</p><p>2016 - Livermore Half Marathon - California</p><p>2016 - Skyline to the Sea Marathon - California</p><p>2017 - Armed Forces Half Marathon - California - 1:53:17</p><p>2017 - Big Sur Half Marathon - California</p><p>2017 - Yosemite Half Marathon - California</p><p>2017 - Iowa Guad Cities Half Marathon - Iowa - 2:00:14</p><p>2017 - Gold Country Half Marathon - California</p><p>2017 - Resevoir Dogs Half Marathon - California - 2:14:00</p><p>2017 - American's finest City Half - California - 1:44:46</p><p>2017 - Inaugural Gold Country Half - California - 1:47:14</p><p>2017 - Urban Cow Half Marathon - California</p><p>2017 - Fall Showdown Half Marathon - California</p><p>2017 - Margquette Half Marathon - Michigan</p><p>2017 - Morgan Hill Half Marathon - California</p><p>2017 - Ealing Half Marathon - England - 1:48:07</p><p>2017 - Berkeley Half Marathon - California - 1:44:07</p><p>2017 - Walnut Creek Half Marathon - California</p><p>2017 - Honolulu Marathon - Hawaii - 4:33:00</p><p>2018 - Kaiser San Francisco Half Marathon - California</p><p>2018 - Napa Valley Trail Half Marathon - California - 1:53:01</p><p>2018 - Gold Country Half Marathon - California</p><p>2018 - Rock n Roll San Francisco - Half Marathon - California - 1:48:00</p><p>2018 - Silicon Valley Half Marathon - California - 1:54:12</p><p>2018 - Pro Football HoF Marathon - Ohio - 4:17:00</p><p>2018 - Grandma's Marathon - Minnesota - 4:02:52</p><p>2018 - Rock n Roll Montreal - Marathon - Canada - 3:58:13</p><p>2018 - Livermore Half Marathon - California - 1:51:38</p><p>2018 - Mt. Rushmore Half Marathon - California</p><p>2018 - San Francisco Giants Run - Half Marathon - California</p><p>2018 - Armed Forces Half Marathon - California - 1:52:16</p><p>2018 - Los Vagueros Tarantula Run - Half Marathon - California - 2:10:00</p><p>2018 - Rock n Roll Las Vegas - Nevada - 2:03:00</p><p>2018 - Hark the Herald Angel Half Marathon - California - 2:05:00</p><p>2018 - Walnut Creek Half Marathon - California</p><p>2018 - Rancho Trail Half Marathon - Texas - 2:30:05</p><p>2018 - Summer Breeze Half Marathon - California - 1:52:20</p><p>2018 - New Years Eve Run - Half Marathon - California </p><p>2018 - Bear Creek Half Marathon - California - 3:22:21</p><p>2019 - New Year's Day Run - Half Marathon - California - 1:56:58</p><p>2019 - Mississippi River Marathon - Mississippi - 4:15:58</p><p>2019 - Brazen Victory Race - Half Marathon - California - 2:09:11</p><p>2019 - Napa Valley Half Marathon - California - 1:49:38</p><p>2019 - Rocklin Half Marathon - California - </p><p>2019 - Rotorua Marathon - New Zealand - 3:55:37</p><p>2019 - Sanville/DanRamon Half Marathon - California - 2:00:40</p><p>2019 - Danville Half Marathon - California - 2:02:32</p><p>2019 - Famous Idaho Potatoe Marathon - Idaho - 3:57:35</p><p>2019 - Summer Breeze - Half Marathon - California - 1:45:26</p><p>2019 - Beyond the Beach Marathon - Indiana - 3:57:22</p><p>2019 - Singapore Gardens by the Bay Half Marathon - Singapore - 2:04:32</p><p>2019 - Awesome Tokyo Half Marathon - Japan - 1:52:57</p><p>2019 - Golden Gate Half Marathon - California - 2:00:28</p><p>2019 - Walnut Creek Half Marathon - California - 2:14:00</p><p>2019 - Big Beach Marathon - Alabama - 4:18:30</p><p>2020 - Brazen Victory Run - Half Marathon - California - 1:44:31</p><p>2020 - Oakland Half Marathon - California - 2:00:12</p><p>2020 - San Ramon April Half Marathon - California - 1:56:48</p><p>2020 - San Ramon Rancho Half Marathon - California - 2:00:56</p><p>2020 - Tassajara Hills Half Marathon - California - 1:56:36</p><p>2020 - Landmark Academy Marathon - Michigan - 4:15:24</p><p>2020 - Keep Your Distance Race - Half Marathon - Oklahoma - 2:02:14</p><p>2020 - Hero Hustle Race - Half Marathon - Missouri - 2:00:03</p><p>2020 - Shipyard Maine Coast Half Marathon - Maine - 2:12:40</p><p>2020 - Livermore Valley Half Marathon - California - 1:59:29</p><p>2020 - Paavo Nurmi Half Marathon - Wisconsin - 2:00:39</p><p>2020 - Watoga Mountain Trail Challenge - Half Marathon - West Virginia - 1:59:24</p><p>2020 - OakTown Half Marathon - California - 2:00:05</p><p>2020 - Wilmington Marathon - North Carolina - 4:35:33</p><p>2020 - Annapolis Run for The Light House - Half Marathon - Maryland - 1:55:28</p><p>2020 - Make-A-Wish Run - Half Marathon - South Carolina - 2:13:22 </p><p>2020 - Halloween Half Marathon - New Jersey - 1:54:59</p><p>2020 - Urban Cow Half Marathon - California - 1:51:54</p><p>2020 - Ocean State Rhode Race Marathon - Rhode Island - 4:49:35</p><p>2020 - Seacoast Half Marathon - New Hampshire - 2:13:20</p><p>2020 - Give Thanks 13.1 - Half Marathon - Utah - 1:54:20</p><p>2020 - Run Santa Run - Half Marathon - Ohio - 1:57:42</p><p>2020 - Irving Frost Half Marathon - Texas - 1:58:48</p><p>2021 - Race Across Haiti - Half Marathon - Haiti, Caribbean - 2:01:00</p><p>2021 - Topeka to Auburn Half Marathon - Kansas - 2:02:09</p><p>2021 - Love Your Pet Day - Virtual Half Marathon - California - 2:02:32</p><p>2021 - Ankylo-saurus Dinosaurs! - Half Marathon - Arizona - 2:04:28</p><p>2021 - Race to Rhyme-Ville - Half Marathon - California - 2:01:26</p><p>2021 - International Day of Happiness - Half Marathon - California - 1:57:42</p><p>2021 - Be Brave - Half Marathon - California - 1:57:36</p><p>2021 - Half Marathon Unplugged - Vermont - 1:59:47</p><p>2021 - Grateful for Nurses 13.1 - Half Marathon - California - 2:16:48</p><p>2021 - Derby Festival Marathon - Kentucky - 4:34:57</p><p>2021 - Memorial Day 13.1 - Half Marathon - California - 2:01:52</p><p>2021 - Yosemite Half Marathon - California - 1:54:57</p><p>2021 - Earth Day Virtual Half Marathon - California - 2:06:53</p><p>2021 - 406 Queen Bee Half Marathon - Montana - 2:02:05</p><p>2021 - UConn Health Half Marathon - Connecticut - 2:00:53</p><p>2021 - World Music Day - Half Marathon - California - 2:16:06</p><p>2021 - American Lung Assoc - Half Marathon - Delaware - 1:55:55</p><p>2021 - Spearfish Canyon Half Marathon - South Dakota - 2:05:15</p><p>2021 - National Avocado Day - Half Marathon - 1:59:37</p><p>2021 - Day of the Dogs - Half Marathon - 2:06:19</p><p>2021 - Race Through Michigan - Half Marathon - 1:54:21 </p><p>2021 - Race Through North Carolina - Half Marathon - 2:07:42</p><div>2021 - Wherever You Go - Half Marathon - 1:54:04<br />2021 - Urban Cow - Half Marathon - 1:54:32</div><div>2021 - Granite Head Trails and Ales - Half Marathon - 1:51:19</div><div>2021 - I Have Over-Come The World - Half Marathon - 2:03:51</div><div>2021 - Denver Colfax - Half Marathon - 2:00:16</div><div>2021 - Taurus - Zodiac Series - Half Marathon - 1:56:59</div><div>2021 - Day of the Dead, Las Cruces, New Medico - Half Marathon - 1:59:52<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVZAQXUbfMI4bM6JBHdAHvF2Vlw-_45WtH9TXvERBCcY2POUeThdg0d4PBSsBBbXCrUh-QNM6A2c5V3VFAUijI6wE5gx-4LZnmWkRaotMZI5KCHQmsz0cceui8Khfy_9K3_GIK3Tc1sU3/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="20" data-original-width="8192" height="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVZAQXUbfMI4bM6JBHdAHvF2Vlw-_45WtH9TXvERBCcY2POUeThdg0d4PBSsBBbXCrUh-QNM6A2c5V3VFAUijI6wE5gx-4LZnmWkRaotMZI5KCHQmsz0cceui8Khfy_9K3_GIK3Tc1sU3/" width="320" /></a></div>2021 - El Paso Halloween - Half Marathon - 1:57:36<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CFKujs3nN1QgrlCM9PfsfMehQw-ZIYZFEhKazdECobdvEGK8BTqE8lwi7HQ7y26vLVuX5qgkGafNuZnzpJ847sTGCzU8dHvgdu4nSzj3q0M9TR9M7XrL41pJHZM-Jh3eHJ2RK2dUksD-/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="20" data-original-width="8192" height="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CFKujs3nN1QgrlCM9PfsfMehQw-ZIYZFEhKazdECobdvEGK8BTqE8lwi7HQ7y26vLVuX5qgkGafNuZnzpJ847sTGCzU8dHvgdu4nSzj3q0M9TR9M7XrL41pJHZM-Jh3eHJ2RK2dUksD-/" width="320" /></a></div>2021 - Southwest Series Race #4 - Half Marathon - 2:00:54</div><div>2021 - Aries-Zodiac Series, San Mateo, CA - Half Marathon - 1:56:57</div><div>2021 - Bela Bru Cafe Race, Carmichael, CA - Half Marathon - 1:57:29</div><div>2021 - BMW Dallas Marathon, Texas - Marathon - 4:14:45</div><div>2021 - Brazen New Year's Eve, Castro Valley, CA - Half Marathon - 2:09:46</div><div><br /></div><div>2022 - New Years-Good Vibrations, Sacramento, CA - Half Marathon - Jan 9 - 1:58:02</div><div>2022 - Pisces-Zodiac Series, Gold River, CA - Half Marathon - Jan 16 - 1:54:24</div><div>2022 - No Hands Trail Run, Auburn, CA - Half Marathon Jan 22- 2:18:14</div><div>2022 - Rock n Roll New Orleans, LA - Half Marathon - Feb 6 - 1:57:12</div><div>2022 - I Have a Dream, Tomball, TX - Half Marathon - Feb 12 - 2:07:44</div><div>2022 - Ascenesion Seton Austin, TX - Marathon - Feb 20 - 4:19:22</div><div>2022 - Shamrock'N, Sacramento, CA - Half Marathon - March 13 - 1:51:52</div><div>2022 - Knickerbocker Canyon, Auburn, CA - Half Marathon - March 26 - 2:11:55</div><div>2022 - Folsom Lake Falcon Crest Trail Run, El Dorando, CA - Half Marathon - April 2- 2:02:51</div><div>2022 - World Cancer Day, Ione, CA, Half Marathon - April 17 - 2:03:47</div><div>2022 - Forest Ranch Four, Forest Ranch, CA, Half Marathon - April 23, 1:49:56</div><div>2022 - American River Parkway, Carmichael, CA, Half Marathon - April 30, 1:53:48</div><div>2022 - Aquarius - Zodiac Series, Laguna Beach, CA, Half Marathon - May 29, 2:09:47</div><div>2022 - Poop Corn, Folsom, CA, Half Marathon - June 5, 2:05:15</div><div>2022 - Rock Tahoe Half Marathon, Lake Tahoe, NY - June 18 - 2:06:23</div><div>2022 - Crofton's Dam Race, Half Marathon, Crofton, Nebraska - July 30 - 1:56:28</div><div>2022 - Rodeo Valley Trail Half Marathon, Sausalino, CA - Aug 6 - 2:09:19</div><div>2022 - Santa Rosa Marathon, Santa Rosa, CA - Aug 28 - 4:26:14</div><div>2022 - Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Half Marathon, Sacramento, CA - Sept 25 - 2:01:52</div><div>2022 - Scheels BurliMOT Half Marathon, Minot, North Dakota, Oct 1 - 2:00:34</div><div>2022 - Peach Officer Memorial Half Marathon, Modesto, CA - Oct 2 - 1:57:12</div><div>2022 - Clo Cow Half Marathon, Petaluma, CA - Oct 16 - 1:57:38</div><div>2022 - Folsom Blues Breakout Half Marathon, Folsom, CA - Oct 23 - 1:49:13</div><div>2022 - Run the American River Parkway 20 Miler, Rancho Cordova, CA - Nov 6 - 3:01:38 </div><div> Did the Half Marathon part of this race in 1:55:40 - My 179th half</div><div>2022 - <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLMh8r1IqoaC1xeH1sE_aQyE7njFqgKavhoHFdX5AUFPvaKS07s0ivICkHSp6Cdj_CokuEDGVG824tqEq2rnRRx_vKpUQw8GSrT9fUXurN-w0CMViPsobQ6wFinXbFeaMAazg9FIOO5_cL_ZnFEI9Hgrbu1LtDM3Jon4JLYgSAT0VcDJI9BRoA7hUOGg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="443" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLMh8r1IqoaC1xeH1sE_aQyE7njFqgKavhoHFdX5AUFPvaKS07s0ivICkHSp6Cdj_CokuEDGVG824tqEq2rnRRx_vKpUQw8GSrT9fUXurN-w0CMViPsobQ6wFinXbFeaMAazg9FIOO5_cL_ZnFEI9Hgrbu1LtDM3Jon4JLYgSAT0VcDJI9BRoA7hUOGg=w548-h240" width="548" /></a></div> Placerville's Holiday Jingle Race - Half Marathon - Placerville, CA 12/24/22 - 1:53:47</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhNFRiQVpa8MNCH93mOZcZVn2XY1H_jxfR0va2QaKamRyYNbCB4Z4YvT5pA_AcIjBna-PCjelmdi7Ra0wbllujEXcjXVPhGcUby-Uza50wOlw61hIk4iH0mJPYdSKij0VzB8Oc13iYAr-_meUnnWjEDPMLZUJoWJKgvc1hgko-rquCGzkrJ0pCdkyO6Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhNFRiQVpa8MNCH93mOZcZVn2XY1H_jxfR0va2QaKamRyYNbCB4Z4YvT5pA_AcIjBna-PCjelmdi7Ra0wbllujEXcjXVPhGcUby-Uza50wOlw61hIk4iH0mJPYdSKij0VzB8Oc13iYAr-_meUnnWjEDPMLZUJoWJKgvc1hgko-rquCGzkrJ0pCdkyO6Q" width="180" /></a></div><br />2023 - Bella Bru Cafe - Half Marathon in Carmichael, CA, 1/28/23 - 1:56:43</div><div>2023 - Jed Smith Race - Buffalo Chips - Half Marathon in Sacramento, CA 2/4/23 - 2:00:27</div><div>2023 - Buffalo Chips Sacramento Race - Half Marathon in Sacramento, CA 2/11/23 - 1:59:00</div><div>2023 - Victory Race - Half Marathon in Richmond, CA 2:25/23 - 1:55:02</div><div>2023 - Livermore Valley Half Marathon - Livermore, CA 3:5:23 - 1:53:55</div><div>2023 - Shamrock'n Half Marathon - Sacramento, Ca 3/12/23 - 1:54:02</div><div>2023 - Virtual United Airlines NYC Half - Sacramento, Ca - 3/8/23 - 1:57/46</div><div>2023 - Knickerbocker Canyon Half - Auburn, CA - 3/25/23 - 2:26:51</div><div>2023 - April Half Marathon - Amsterdam, CA - 4/5/23 - 1:57:42</div><div>2023 - Virtual United Airlines NYC Half - Gold River, CA - 4/8/23 - 1:67:46</div><div>2023 - Amsterdam The Netherlands Race - Neterland, CA - 4:16:23 - 2:01:21</div><div>2023 - Innenstadt Half Marathon - Cologne, Germany - 4:19:23 - 2:05:40</div><div>2023 - Breisach Half Marathon - Rhein, Germany - 4:23:23 - 2:08:13 - My 194th half marathon</div><div>2023 - Providence Half Marathon Sweepstakes - Sacramento, CA - 5/7/23 - 2:03:42</div><div>2023 - Trail Run Half at Sly Park - Pollock, CA - 5/13/23 - 2:08:56</div><div>2023 - Gold Country Half Marathon - El Dorado, CA - 5/21/23 - 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/><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div>James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-47481298901506537232017-06-15T12:00:00.002-07:002017-06-15T12:01:38.067-07:00From 2005 - Bonk Management<link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cjstaten%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cjstaten%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cjstaten%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> 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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Note: My blog was originally posted on AOL's Journal service. Then they ended the service and I lost a ton of blog postings. This one I was able to recover. It originally ran in 2005 but seemed to still be relevant, especially as summer temperatures are peaking in many places around the country. Hope it is valuable.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yesterday was the infamous <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/hm_tnt"><span style="color: blue;">Team in Training SF Peninsula's</span></a></span></u> Woodside run. This is a challenging 12 to 20 mile trail run through Woodside, CA and <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/smc/department/home/0,,5556687_12305995_12328420,00.html"><span style="color: blue;">Edgewood Park</span></a></span></u>. It is easy on the knees and joints but has some tough hills. Weather was perfect but for some reason I had a mid-run bonk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I'm a month away from the the <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.mauimarathon.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Maui marathon</span></a></span></u> so needless to say this was a bit concerning to me. I've done runs longer than this and have been training on hills a lot this season with no bonking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Started the run very strong, maintaining a great pace with good cadence and comfortable stride length. Was able to maintain a comfortable conversation and good breathing pattern. Hit the first hill and hammered it, which felt great and recovered quickly on the backside. Kept this pace for the first 10 miles no problem. Downed a <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.e-caps.com/za/ECP?PAGE=PRODUCT&CAT=NUTRI&PROD.ID=4040&OMI=10103,10082,10047&AMI=10103&uir=product.category,NUTRI,Gels%20%26%20Fuels"><span style="color: blue;">HammerGel</span></a></span></u> at this point and powered on. Then the trouble began. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">By mile 12 I was hurting. Maintaining pace became a struggle and found myself really slowing down. By the time we entered Edgewood Park I was in full bonk and even the smallest uphill grades forced me to walk. Ugh!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I was mainlining <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.accelerade.com/index2.php"><span style="color: blue;">Accelerade</span></a></span></u> at this point, hitting every water stop for more Gatorade and chose to take the second HammerGel a bit early. This helped. My energy recovered a bit, but I couldn't maintain a steady pace until I got out of the park and back onto Canada Road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The last water stop was a godsend (can't tell you how fantastic it feels to have a cheering group of volunteers encouraging you on when you are feeling this way. Thanks gang!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">After a bit more Gatorade I pulled myself back onto Canada Road and found I was able to get right back into my usual cadence. Stride length wasn’t there but the energy returned my body fell back into the efficient relaxed state and the last 3 miles were a breeze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">So what happened?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I made two mistakes that caused this bad experience:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. I did not bring a watch. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. I ate too late.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’ve found through my training that I function best when I hydrate and eat regularly. I don’t have a set meter for drinking Accelerade but I do eat an energy gel every 40 minutes, whether I‘m hungry or not. This day, <i>I didn’t take my first energy gel until 74 minutes in and it cost me.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The other thing I learned, though, was that I could recover from a bonk. While I certainly did not recover to the level at which I did the first 10 miles, I was able to regain my cadence and finish efficiently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Big lesson and better learned on a training run than during my goal event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Go Team!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-5409807961397228892017-06-15T12:00:00.001-07:002017-06-15T12:00:12.453-07:00What better place to be a VIP than LA<!--StartFragment--> <br />
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The gauntlet of half marathons is over and I’m<b> just two events away</b> from my goal of being the <b>first person to complete the entire 2010 <a href="http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/">Rock n Roll Marathon Series</a></b>. The final half marathon was a special one for me thanks to San Francisco 49er great Roger Craig and fantastic Southern California fall weather. </div>
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After finishing the Rock n Roll Denver marathon I had just six days to prepare for Rock n Roll Los Angeles and my legs weren’t too thrilled with this news. I’ve been nursing sore quadriceps and an IT band for several weeks and they could have used a bit more rest. I took it easy on them that week choosing short hikes with my dog Scout and brief recovery runs over the usual push before an event. And it paid off.</div>
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At a Forrester Research conference, the week prior, I had run into a client who works at the same company as Roger Craig who said that the hall of fame running back had access to VIP passes for this upcoming race and could hook me up. He came through midweek when I got an e-mail from Roger confirming this news. </div>
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I had seen the VIP tents and roped off areas at prior Rock n Roll events but had not partaken myself. Guess I wasn’t worthy. I was certainly curious about what special treatment Competitor Group provided to the elite runners, celebrities and other important people it invited into these areas and would find out for myself in four days.</div>
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The weekend started early Saturday morning when Reesa and I flew down, picked up our Rental car and immediately got nostalgic. We both had earned our Master’s degrees from USC and met in a class our first year. And had lived for a short while in Manhattan Beach so made that our first destination. It was only around 9am when we arrived so we stopped into an MB institution, The Kettle, for pancakes and omelets. We then walked down to the pier and along the strand as surfing and beach volleyball got underway as they do nearly every day in this fantastic community. </div>
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That afternoon we hit a few other LA hot spots, the marathon expo and then took a long nap. It felt good to get off my feet and rest up for the next day’s race. That evening we headed down to West Hollywood for a fantastic vegetarian meal at Hugo’s on Santa Monica Boulevard. Even if you aren’t a veggie, this place is worth visiting. Creative dishes mixing genres and flavors are their specialty. After the dinner we walked down to Barney’s Beanery, another local institution to watch the final game between the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. In a dramatic 9<sup>th</sup> inning duel, SF’s Brian Wilson put the tying an go-ahead runs on base before striking out the final batter and sending the Giants to their first World Series since 2002. In typical LA fashion the bar grew silent as the umpire signaled the final out. Dodger fans can’t stand the Giants. </div>
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We returned to the hotel on a major high, which made turning in early before the race, a bit of a challenge. Plus all that great food from Hugo’s was making us both feel like stuffed ticks (great image, huh?). I don’t know why it is but no matter the race, I can never sleep the night before. I awoke at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5:24am that morning – six minutes before my alarm. While the race didn’t start until 7:30am, we had to board a bus from downtown to Griffith Park where the race would start an you never know how difficult it will be to get to the start with over 12,000 people going to the same place. </div>
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This was the second Rock n Roll event that bused us to the start and as before, Competitor was very much up to the challenge. I got to the corner of Chick Hearn Court and Cherry Street and there were buses lined up four across and ten deep awaiting runners. I got on immediately, the bus quickly filled and we were off. Thirty minutes later we were at the starting corrals. Great organization.</div>
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Since I had 90 minutes to burn before the start of the race, I slowly made my way towards the VIP area in hopes of relaxing a bit and maybe getting some coffee. When I arrived and showed my pass I found a nice spread of fruit, bagels, coffee an other drinks awaiting us. And to the right of the food sat Roger. I had seen him at Rock n Roll San Jose Half Marathon and being a rabid football fan, certainly knew what he looked like. So I walked up confidently, introduced myself and thanked him for the hookup. He couldn’t have been a nicer person. He introduced me to two of his children who were also running in the event – their first half marathons – and took me around to meet others including the president of Competitor Group, as if I were an honored dignitary. Thanks, Roger. I will never forget your incredible hospitality.</div>
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The other benefit of being a VIP, in LA especially, is being in the same area as the celebrity runners. Having worked in LA and been around actors and other celebrities before I’m not typically one to get start struck but it was nice seeing Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jerry O’Connell among the star runners. I’m a big fan of O’Connell’s new drama series on CBS, The Defenders, and told him so. I ran along side Jerry for a short while during mile two; it was his first half marathon and I think he went out a bit fast as I didn’t see him again after that.</div>
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I started the race along side fellow Heavy Medaler Adam [name]. He too was coming off Rock n Roll Denver and so we both viewed this as a recovery run. </div>
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About mile 5 I started feeling really strong and left Adam as I picked up the pace. I had done an 8:15 min/mi pace for the first mile or so – part of the recovery run mentality – but felt up to a bit more after loosening the leg muscles. </div>
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The course was a net downhill run from Griffith Park, where the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory make their home, down through a few nice LA neighborhoods, along the Sunset strip and into downtown where the race finished in front of the Staple Center, the home of the LA Lakers. </div>
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Much of the course was new territory for me, which made it engaging to visit. The Silver Lake district and Echo Park had some nice parks and interestingly architectured homes. There were a few uphill sections along the way which suit me well and helped me to pass several runners who were unaccustomed. With each mile I felt stronger and upped the pace a bit as I progressed. When we hit mile 10 I was doing under 8 min/mi. This turned out to be the first reverse split half marathon of my career, something I wasn’t sure I’d ever achieve. It was an incredible feeling. </div>
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I crossed the line at 1:35, stretched my aching muscles, hugged Reesa (who was a little reluctant due to how sweaty I was – can’t blame her), showered then went down to the VIP tent to greet the other finishers. It was at the finish that VIP status took on its meaning. Competitor laid out a fantastic spread. There were organic breakfast burritos for the early finishers, followed by a fantastic lunch with salad, sliders, pasta and fresh fruit plus beer and wine. Nice.</div>
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We closed the day by heading over to the outdoor stage where Neon Trees put on an incredible, high energy show. I knew the band only from their biggest hit, Animal but was blown away by some of their other songs. Lead singer, Tyler Glenn was an adrenaline-filled force on stage – at 10:30am, no less!</div>
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Thanks Competitor Group for yet another fantastic experience. </div>
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Onward to event number 13 – Rock n Roll San Antonio Marathon.</div>
<!--EndFragment--> James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-78553733882178300702017-06-15T12:00:00.000-07:002017-06-15T12:00:02.581-07:00The Relay 2012 - Our Fastest Team Yet<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5617866313550621"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s a couple months past our annual rite of passage here in the Bay Area -- The Relay, a 194-mile tour from the Napa wine country down to the beaches of Santa Cruz County -- and I’m relaxing in our </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.jacuzzihottubs.com/j-300/j-325/" target="_blank">Jacuzzi J-325 hot tub</a></span><span id="goog_963356940"></span><span id="goog_963356941"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> reflecting on a fantastic time, new friendships and awesome weather. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.therelay.com/" target="_blank">The Relay</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, now in its 17th year hosts over 300 teams of 12 runners who take turns running 6-8 mile segments of the course that winds through grape fields, past cow and sheep pastures, up to and over the Golden Gate Bridge, down along Ocean Beach, through the streets of Silicon Valley, up into the Santa Cruz Mountains along the always-nasty Highway 9 and down to an organic strawberry farm at the beach. Whew. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The beauty of this event comes through its incredible scenery but more so through the bonding all teams get being packed into vans for two days. This year, </span><a href="http://www.teamjacuzzi.com/" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jacuzzi </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">returned as our sponsor providing awesome racing shirts, hats and towels (no, they didn’t throw in the hot tub; I had to buy that).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our running team, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are We There Yet?,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is one of the original teams from the very first running of The Relay, which is how we have maintained the elite team number 4. Only one member of our squad this year was from that original team, Rick P; and this was his 14th running. Awesome.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joining the team this year were a few veterans and long-time SMSers Kent and myself along with veterans from the 2011 team, Christine and John and a passel of rookies: Zach, Jen, Anne, Aram, Travis and Nipun. Just a couple weeks before the event we lost 2011 veteran Steve, to a stress fracture. Recover well, my friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We normally start the weekend with a kick-off party at my place the night before the race but this year, due to our new-found blazing speed (yes, Jen and Anne, this means you!) we were given a late Saturday start (1:30pm) so we opted to kick things off Saturday morning with a breakfast meet and greet. Aram grabbed the spatula and whipped up a batch of incredible eggs while Reesa made the coffee and I manned the waffle irons. Meanwhile everyone pitched in to packed sandwiches to sustain us over the two days, decorate our vans and carbo-load.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around 10am we sent off Van 2 who drove up to Calistoga to sign in and start us along the 25 hour trek. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day One – Calistoga to San Francisco</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each team loaded up their vans with coolers full of sandwiches, a case each of water and electrolyte drink, fruit, salty snacks and Oreos. Van 1 hit the trails at 1:30pm (our seeded start – yeah, we’re fast). Here’s each runner’s take on each leg (in racing order).We're still awaiting the accounts from a few of our runners. Hopefully seeing their names in "lights" will push them to share their stories!</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After Van 1’s successful take-down of the first six legs, Van 2 took over at the </span><a href="http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=25" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Napa Prime Outlets</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Kent grabbed the wrist band from a blazing fast Anne and carried our team South through Napa:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kent</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anne was so fast on the previous leg that I almost missed her at the exchange point. Our van was just chatting away in the parking lot, when we heard them call out our number. I had to sprint over to the line just to make sure that Anne didn’t finish alone. After taking the wrist band, I set out with two other runners on the course. The heat got to us early and we quickly set into our own paces as we tackled the first hill. We did a good job in pushing the pace with each other in a little friendly competition. By the time we made it to the end of the leg, we were all glad to see the next runner’s and to have a chance to grab some more water.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: As many of you know, I am working on speed this year in hopes of finishing a marathon in under 3 hours, so I took this first leg, which was mostly flat, as a tempo training opportunity. I grabbed the wrist band from Zach and took off like a rocket - too fast (yep, I know) and was panting for breath but quickly gaining on the runner ahead of me. I took the pace down to a more comfortable 6:26/mile by the second turn and tried my best to hold this pace which was a push but manageable. I was able to pass several runners on this leg but was passed like I was standing still by the pro runner from Team Google 1. These guys always finish in the top 3 for the Relay and if this runner was any indication of their strength this year, they were going to win easily. But it was still a let down to be Googled. Anyways, it was a gorgeous early evening and the conditions were perfect for a run. I hit the transition line in 55 minutes. Not a bad time for 8.1 miles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b></b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the Rymer boys split up leg 12, we arrived at the Cheese Factory near Petaluma and handed the wrist band back to Van 1 who would take us through the evening down to the Golden Gate Bridge</span><br />
<b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was an absolutely gorgeous morning for running with the full moon illuminating the whole bay area. Anne and Jen came in all smiles and handed off to Kent as Van 2 took over for the legs that would cover the wee hours of the morning.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kent</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This leg is one of my absolute favorites in The Relay. It’s an amazing experience to run in San Francisco when it’s completely quiet at 3am. Not only were the roads deserted, but you could hear the waves crashing on the beach from a few blocks away. By this time in the morning, it was pretty cold, so I set out as fast I could just to warm up. By the time I got to the top of the first hill, I settled into a nice pace that kept me going for the next seven miles. There are some amazing views in San Francisco as you approach the beach from the Cliff House, and the Moon and stars provided plenty of light to take in the views.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: This leg was a bit hilly and wound its way mostly along Skyline Road. It was labeled as Easy by the Relay crew but was definitely not. I had run this road before and biked it many times but didn’t really recall exactly how much up and down it entailed. I pushed the pace as best I could but needless to say was glad to see Nipun at the end of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b></b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nipun and I split leg 24 and I had the honor of passing the wrist band back to Christine who took off like a bandit despite two broken toes and nearly no sleep. How does she do it?</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three hours after arriving at crash pad #2, Van 2 was off, heading toward Highway 9 East of Saratoga to take over for the final push to the finish. Van 1 could start celebrating and that’s exactly what they did - driving down to the Santa Cruz beach to have some beers and margaritas and celebrate seis de Mayo and a massive accomplishment. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kent</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I was feeling pretty refreshed in the morning after enjoying 20 minutes in James’ Jacuzzi during our break (especially considering that we had only gotten about an hour of sleep. We awaited Anne at the top of the hill, and I got the privelage of running down the hill after she did all the hard work of running up it. Since I’m training for another downhill race in the area, I took the time to practice pushing the pace on the road trying to keep my pace under a 7 minute mile. By the end of the long, windy, and downhill run, my legs were definitely ready for a break.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: My leg was the second toughest in Van 2. It started out with a nice flat city run in the rising heat but then turned uphill and kept going up for 4 straight miles. I love running hills and took advice from John, who had this leg last year, to take it easy through the town. That helped a ton. By the time I hit the hill I had enough steam left in my legs to power up it and finish with a strong average time. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kent/John: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I took the last 3 miles of the final leg, and I was glad I didn't have to run the entire thing. As we turned the corner onto the coast highway (Highway 1), I was greated by some heavy head-winds and some surprising hills for a final leg. But it was great to see so many other runners and supporters out there with me. As I turned into the farm where the finish area was staged, I was greated first by Nipun and then by the rest of the team. It was great to see everyone and be able to cross the finish line together.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all gathered for finish line pictures, beers, Barbera wine from </span><a href="http://www.jacuzziwines.com/" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jacuzzi Family Winery</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (thanks!) and lots of hugs and congratulations. Then you could feel the fatigue from two days of running settle in. We climbed back into our vans for the final time and headed home. It was another incredible year and my thanks and love go out to all our runners and volunteers. We finished the race in 25 hours, a top 25% finish and were all winners. You don’t run The Relay to win; you do it for the experience and the friendship.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tips from a veteran team:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’re team #4 in The Relay and 16 years of experience has taught us how to do it right. Here’s how to make the most of this incredible event – and the rapidly growing list of other relays across the country. Want to do it like a pro? Heed Rick’s top tips – sage advice from a 13-year veteran.</span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12 passenger vans</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: If you are going to cram six increasingly stinky and tired runners into a vehicle for 19-48 hours it’s important to have room to stretch out and catch a few moments of sleep. Minivans might be great for hauling pre-teens to the soccer field but they are torture on aching runner’s muscles. Go for the big daddy, the </span><a href="http://www.ford.com/trucks/eseries/" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ford F-350 12-passenger van</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It gives lots of room for stuff, people, food and of course cowbells.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rick’s top tip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: remove the first row of seats in the van. This gives you extra room for runners to get ready for their legs and stretch after a grueling hill climb. It also gives you extra room for the cooler which is much easier to access when it isn’t buried by bags, towels and pillows.</span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crash pads</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: when your Van is off, the last thing you want to do is stay in the van. Sadly many teams do just that cramming themselves into inhuman poses trying to get a few hours of shut eye. You can go the outdoor route and pull out sleeping bags to rest at the Van Exchange but they are never quiet and not all that comfortable (plus you gotta cram the bags and tents into your van leaving even less room to stretch out. The </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are We There Yet?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> plan is to coordinate with family or friends who live near the van exchanges to serve as crash pads. Everyone gets a chance to shower, sleep on a bed or couch and fully rest.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rick’s top tip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Don’t throw anything at the van leader when he wakes up up at O-Dark-30. It is not his fault that the other van is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 hours</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ahead of schedule. Sit up and say thank you sir, may I fix you coffee.</span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plan ahead on when to leave the pad</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. While each team tries its best to calculate when it will arrive at the next van exchange things never go as planned. Runners hit a high and take off faster than planned, routes get shortened by construction and the blood lust for roadkills results in a PR. The running Van’s responsibility is to call the resting van when they are starting to approach the end of their last legs but cell phone reception is a problem in the hills where the exchanges take place and you can’t miss a hand-off. If you finish a leg and the next van and next runner aren’t there, you gotta keep running.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rick’s top tip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Plan on leaving the crash pad between 30-60 minutes earlier than you scheduled and ask the running van to call you when their fifth runner is on the course or as soon around that hand-off as they have cell reception.</span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Headlamps and blinking reflectors</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The Relay mandates reflective vests and carrying a light when you run at night but we err on the side of greater visibility for the cars on the road and for the runner. As a coach for Team in Training I usually advise runners who have to share the road with bikes and cars to run at traffic as this gives you and the oncoming vehicles equal visibility to each other and equal chance to dive in the bushes if your eyes are more alert than the oncoming driver or rider. But The Relay mandates running with traffic. Since no one wants to be slapped on the back by a cranky old biddy in a two-ton Volvo it’s in your best interest to be as visible as possible and that’s where the blinking red reflector on the back comes in. Looking forward you must carry a flashlight but I find that a handheld breaks up your natural arm swing to hold the beam where you need it, right in front of you. Headlamps are better as they keep the light right where your eyes go so you always have a safe step ahead.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rick’s top tip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: For added visibility, carry the hand-held flashlight anyway, but point it behind you. This gives drivers even more visibility to you. And you can quickly flash it into the woods if you hear scary noises at night. Miriam, no watching scary movies the night before The Relay.</span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Register and reserve your vans early</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. When I first joined Are We There Yet? for The Relay the even capped the number of teams at 199 (matching the total mileage of the event most years). Now there are well over 300 which means sellouts are inevitable and renting 12-passenger vans from the local rental car agencies can be difficult. The most famous relay is </span><a href="http://www.hoodtocoast.com/" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hood to Coast</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in Washington and has sold out every year for the past several years. Registration for most relays opens up to a year in advance and rental car companies take reservations that far in advance too. Don’t risk being a minivan moron.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rick’s top tip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Next year’s vans are already reserved (at the same price). It pays to know people.</span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recover like a champion</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. While I missed out on running this year, I’ll be back again until they tell me I can’t (and probably a year or two after that). With nearly 30 marathons, 5 relays and a few ultras under my belt I can tell you that proper recovery is the fastest path back to the trails. My recipe: chocolate milk followed by lots of stretching, a good go on the foam roller, a long soothing shower, and a dip in a </span><a href="http://www.jacuzzihottubs.com/" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jacuzzi hot tub</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. At 101 degrees and its jets on full blast there’s little else that beats it for relaxation and recovery. I like to rotate between the seats of my J-325 starting with jets pulsating on my lower back muscles, then to the spine-tingler opposite the foot jet for a nice arch rub, then over to the seat with jets hitting the shoulder blades. Pop open a bottle of Jacuzzi Family Winery’s </span><a href="http://www.jacuzziwines.com/2009Barbera" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">award-winning Barbera</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. invite in the wife and a couple other runners and let recovery take over. Sweet.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Run it next year</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: May 4-5, 2013 </span><a href="http://www.therelay.com/" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.therelay.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-90744911840166512842014-11-16T09:43:00.002-08:002014-11-16T09:43:48.509-08:00And Athens Makes 50<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63e-bnu_IQIy4Rpm0IhEZQHYePtGYUl6N930YmrXGpFLz7cUTgGeMIrsA8gHgdjZ-9L25loEbrJFAD6EkHOy7KeAYbV7oh5VQOwNlPWowz7nxA29CAeroZbasJD6r4pxZbpjuXuiIhHfR/s1600/2014-11-09+07.36.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63e-bnu_IQIy4Rpm0IhEZQHYePtGYUl6N930YmrXGpFLz7cUTgGeMIrsA8gHgdjZ-9L25loEbrJFAD6EkHOy7KeAYbV7oh5VQOwNlPWowz7nxA29CAeroZbasJD6r4pxZbpjuXuiIhHfR/s1600/2014-11-09+07.36.18.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve been running marathons for the last ten years and with this, the grandaddy of them all, I mark the milestone of 50 races. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">What better way to mark the occasion than with the event that started it all, <a href="http://www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr/" target="_blank">The Authentic Athens Marathon</a>. Now all I had to do was have a better finish that the man, <em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheidippides" target="_blank">Pheidippides</a></span></em>, who inaugurated this crazy obsession so many of us have.</span><br />
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For those who have been following my blog posts, or at least their dates of publication, you have undoubtedly noticed a significant lag in postings in 2014. This is because I have been fighting an emotional and physical battle with running this year which had me doubting myself and unwilling to document this year. In fact, I wasn’t sure this day would come as planned because of it. The year 2014 started with a sense of mortality for me, a partial injury that set back my running, put me at risk of potential season-ending surgery and dispelled a false belief I had in myself and the human body. Over the past six years or so, I had been running injury free as I slowly adjusted my body from traditional running shoes to thinner and lighter shoes as preached in the book “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_to_Run:_A_Hidden_Tribe,_Superathletes,_and_the_Greatest_Race_the_World_Has_Never_Seen" target="_blank">Born to Run</a>.” I felt its teachings were a revelation, as I was logging longer and more frequent runs with greater love and appreciation for running. With each success, I took its teachings farther but never to the true barefoot running it spoke of so highly. I had run in <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.it/" target="_blank">Vibrams</a> and even <a href="http://xeroshoes.com/" target="_blank">XeroShoes</a> but never for longer than 6 or so miles. Beyond that made my feet hurt and I felt I needed more cushioning. Good thing because a lack of cushioning bit me in the beginning of 2014 as I learned I had slowly eroded away the natural cushioning in my knee and was risking bone-on-bone contact at this point. Make it worse, and my running career was over.
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Every athlete faces the mortality of their athletic career when they push it too hard or too far and I had hit that mark, unknowingly at the end of 2013. I was <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2014/11/marathon-aborted-slo-much-for-this-one.html" target="_blank">facing possible knee surgery</a> at this point and that’s what put my Athens milestone at risk.</div>
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Eleven years ago, a coworker at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Microsystems" target="_blank">Sun Microsystems</a> and I were out for a run in Dallas, Texas, during a business trip when we got to talking about taking running beyond the warm up event to a business trip. She challenged me to take on a half marathon which I accepted in January of that next year. It nearly killed me. I finished that race with a great sense of accomplishment but vowed to train better the next time so the feeling of complete exhaustion didn’t accompany it.
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That led me in late 2003 to join <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/" target="_blank">Team in Training</a> and push, not for a half marathon, but the full thing, in <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2009/07/path-to-my-first-marathon.html" target="_blank">Anchorage, Alaska</a> in the spring of 2004. I finished that race like many first-timers do, sore, exhausted and asking when can I do this again? I was a wreck for the next two hours but the following day was ready to take on the next challenge. This turned into a passion bordering on obsession. And that fall, when I turned 40, my great friend Stephanie suggested I make it my goal to run 50 marathons by the time I turned 50. I accepted her challenge knowing it would mean 4 to 5 marathons per year for the next ten years. A lofty goal but I love a challenge.
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Seven years later (three years early), here I was, arriving in Athens, Greece after a two-week business trip in Europe for what would be that lofty milestone.
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Athens was more than a racing milestone for me, it was also the very first place I had come for a beachfront vacation with the women who would a year later become my wife. Reesa and I had met in graduate school and both signed on for a <a href="http://annenberg.usc.edu/Prospective/Student%20Experience/Study%20Abroad.aspx" target="_blank">European studies program</a> that summer. I shyly failed to approach her with my admiration during our initial two weeks in London but got up the courage in the capital of romance, Paris. We kissed for the first time along the banks of the Seine - all too poetic - and after the program finished up in Switzerland, traveled together down the boot of Italy and across to Greece.
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Everyone knows the <a href="http://www.athensmarathon.com/marathon/history.html" target="_blank">history of the Athens Marathon</a>, so I won’t recite it here. It is for this reason the race serves as a key milestone for so many marathon fanatics like myself. In fact, while touring <a href="http://www.olympia-greece.org/delphi.html" target="_blank">Delphi</a>, a key historical site in Greece, I shared the bus with a man from the US East Coast who had come for his 100th marathon.
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While it is unlikely the race course is precise to the steps that Pheidippedes took that fateful day the <a href="http://agathe.gr/democracy/the_athenian_army.html" target="_blank">Athenian army</a> <a href="http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/marathon.htm" target="_blank">beat back the Phonetians</a>, the course does run from the village of Marathon to Athens. What makes it doubly historically significant is the fact that it starts on the track in the Marathon Arena where the <a href="http://www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=157&lang=en" target="_blank">marathon flame</a> is lit each year in honor of the sport and <a href="http://olympics.ballparks.com/1896Athens/index.htm" target="_blank">finishes on the same track</a> where the 1896 and 2004 Olympic marathons finished.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzpBHRZoBqwht45sgAG81CtgkPqVAwKEDa50vK8iW1B5GFvTw-S3py5NIJxjD6V9Vh44_lLt6OJrJBXUzbHGds_xC224cSoORTrnHl737IcKflrLnLlm1W2UGf1yLGkOr1xDSy3tLLu5S/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzpBHRZoBqwht45sgAG81CtgkPqVAwKEDa50vK8iW1B5GFvTw-S3py5NIJxjD6V9Vh44_lLt6OJrJBXUzbHGds_xC224cSoORTrnHl737IcKflrLnLlm1W2UGf1yLGkOr1xDSy3tLLu5S/s1600/image1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>For me, this race was an additional milestone in my charitable work for the <a href="http://www.lls.org/" target="_blank">Leukemia and Lymphoma Society</a> and its endurance racing program, Team in Training. through ten years with the society I had helped raise over $60,000 in the fight against blood cancers including a $10,000 campaign in 2010 when <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2010/12/reflecting-on-grand-achievement.html" target="_blank">I ran the entire Rock n Roll Marathon Series</a>. This year would prove especially important however, as my best friend John was hit very close to home by the disease. His young granddaughter (his first) is a beautiful young girl named Liana who just two weeks earlier Reesa and I had met for the first time. John was planning to come to Greece with me to run this historic race but called, in a panic, to let me know that he wouldn’t be able to make the trip because little Liana had been diagnosed with <a href="http://www.cancer.org/cancer/leukemiainchildren/" target="_blank">childhood Leukemia</a>.
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What initially was a personal milestone, quickly turned into a fight for her and all children like her. I had been planning to raise funds for the LLS once again purely in honor of 50 marathons and the role TNT has played in my life but I had a higher calling now. By race day the generosity of so many of my friends, work colleagues and those in our industry had helped us raise over $17,000 in her name. This alone, I knew, would be all the strength I would need to cross that finish line.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQjrtKDUUCksNGHiIvJ7KVMbTgIM1c8ZyuXbeeYj7835FU-al_Zg2kSj0NTXwUGQhKgIjimErwPkumZ88hn5-WhIoI7k0ygM4Ny6mfZgb29Xr39MZafueEfJVyX1FiZvj-EZ32W9I77Og/s1600/2014-11-09+05.57.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQjrtKDUUCksNGHiIvJ7KVMbTgIM1c8ZyuXbeeYj7835FU-al_Zg2kSj0NTXwUGQhKgIjimErwPkumZ88hn5-WhIoI7k0ygM4Ny6mfZgb29Xr39MZafueEfJVyX1FiZvj-EZ32W9I77Og/s1600/2014-11-09+05.57.58.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZK9yF0X0AO4o1p6uoNpjz4yZB1eOJP25PcvqH6vuRWGLH3yevIuXNP1vy6WyOFoJM0RFsegJ-O5VN70iyVw_zUN_AlZ_KUsm9ZiADsSlryy5pt0ylKALJxgJOJL7suoQXh-BHqrVMpnG/s1600/2014-11-09+05.57.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZK9yF0X0AO4o1p6uoNpjz4yZB1eOJP25PcvqH6vuRWGLH3yevIuXNP1vy6WyOFoJM0RFsegJ-O5VN70iyVw_zUN_AlZ_KUsm9ZiADsSlryy5pt0ylKALJxgJOJL7suoQXh-BHqrVMpnG/s1600/2014-11-09+05.57.41.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a>Race day started at 6:15 in the morning in front of the Greek Parliament building in downtown Athens. We weren’t running to Marathon but boarding a bus for a half hour ride to the village. I rarely sleep well the night before a marathon but this evening was an exception, so I boarded the bus rested and ready to run. The trip gave me a preview of the course I was see later that morning which proved very fortuitous, because as the kilometers built up, I would pass a building or storefront I had recognized on that bus ride to the start.
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We arrived in Marathon about 90 minutes prior to the 9am start time - European marathons tend to start at this much more civilized hour. The start was in a small track and field stadium with Greek flags lining the arena. Off in the corner, high upon a pedestal sat the official Marathon flame, burning in an Olympic-style torch pit. That was my first destination upon exiting the bus so I could get a photo with this important symbol of my favorite sport. Runners ascended the stairs to the flame in pairs so we could take each other’s photos. My partner was a German man who had lived in the US, among many other countries in his work for a large hotel chain. We chatted a while, sharing race stories, then took our pictures, admired the view and returned to the stadium.
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Here I found my Team in Training colleagues. Over 70 people had <a href="http://www.teamintraining.ca/en-CA/events/tnt-your-way" target="_blank">chosen this event as their charitable cause for the year</a>, including yet another runner marking a key milestone of 100 races. We chatted a bit, walked the track and prepared of the race ahead. About an hour later we descended to our corrals and awaited the starting gun. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDTVFbTHB5w" target="_blank">The Greek national anthem played</a>, a prayer for runners was said and then we were off. The race took us first past a park containing a <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/greece/marathon-around/sights/landmarks-monuments/marathon-tomb" target="_blank">memorial to the fallen soldiers from the battle of Marathon</a> where the Athenians had beaten back the heavily outnumbering Persian army. Presumably it was in there, because you couldn’t see it from the road. Pheidippedes, by the way, hadn’t simply observed the battle and run back to Athens with the news. He had fought in this battle and then run 26 miles. No wonder he collapsed and died (<a href="http://www.coolrunning.co.nz/articles/2002a007.html" target="_blank">myth/reality?</a>). Such would not be my fate today. I was taking it easy, nursing my knee and would finish, for sure, and walk away proudly.</div>
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After the loop around the tomb, we got a chance to see the lead runners who were doubling back to the main road and on towards Athens. I got to this point too late to see the lead men, but saw a pack of women runners with their names on their bibs, instead of numbers. The leaders were African with a few Europeans just behind.
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The course mostly went in a straight line to Athens from Marathon but not a flat one. The first ten kilometers when up and down through low hills before beginning a very long, slow incline that kept climbing, literally, until kilometer 31. From this point on there was nary a downhill, let alone a flat section. I knew this going in and thus prepared myself for what I thought would feel a lot like a <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2014/11/kauai-marathon-hot-humid-hills.html" target="_blank">Kauai</a> repeat. thankfully it wasn’t nearly as hot or humid as that island day.
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There were about 13,000 marathoners in the Athens race this year, mostly Europeans, which means you heard just about every language along the course. The most common phrase heard was “Bravo” coming from the locals lining the course and between runners.
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One of the most courageous runners chose to honor history, literally, as he ran in full Athenian robes with a helmet, shield and sword. I lost him at the finish so never saw if he actually logged the full 42 km in costume; and was glad I wasn’t running next to him as he wielded that sword.
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Where Kauai’s climbs and heat had forced me to walk parts of the course, Greece did not. I ran the whole way, stopping only to refill my bottle a couple of times after 26 kms. It was warm, clear and, by the end, hot on race day, despite cloud cover and threats of rain the week prior. <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/" target="_blank">Accuweather</a> reported, up until hours before the race, warnings of thundershowers midday on race day. It must be nice to have a job where you can be wrong 100% of the time, for it was clear as a bell from Marathon to Athens that day.
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After the long slog, kilometer 31 finally came, bringing with it a level race course that slowly turned downward. We crossed under a gorgeous arched suspension bridge around kilometer 36 and in the distance you could see ancient Athens before us. I was straining from the long climb but had wisely taken the hill easier so I would have energy for these last few miles. At 32 kilometers I began self-talk saying, “just a 10k remains. You can do a 10k in your sleep.” This refrain fell to “just a 7k” and then “just a 5k” and worked its magic on my brain.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJi8cm27uOgTqZeGJWN-MxVBmVWvcNJt-uDJvKGLNJmwYFAVb4t8BFxldGh_lU9prC7aK8aPzP7Xf7DrswA85jZzvHT0BLoFMpg-8YeY4ezhHX40YSxaTgVJfRCHcF8gzuHTiJP8_dxhEm/s1600/2014-11-09+13.04.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJi8cm27uOgTqZeGJWN-MxVBmVWvcNJt-uDJvKGLNJmwYFAVb4t8BFxldGh_lU9prC7aK8aPzP7Xf7DrswA85jZzvHT0BLoFMpg-8YeY4ezhHX40YSxaTgVJfRCHcF8gzuHTiJP8_dxhEm/s1600/2014-11-09+13.04.50.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>We reached the park before the Olympic Stadium and my legs started to gain much more energy. The crowds grew thick with supporters all yelling “Bravo!” and clapping enthusiastically. As the Olympic Stadium appeared before me I immediate<br />
ly saw flashbacks in my mind of the finish of the Olympic marathon in 2004 that finished on this course. I would be following in their footsteps. When my feet hit the soft track padding, a turbo charger kicked in and I blasted to the finish with all the remaining energy I had.
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Up to this point, I had treated this race like any other, focusing on my form, pace, strength and endurance. But after crossing this historic line the gravity of this accomplishment set in. This wasn’t just another marathon. This was my 50th. I had done it. A ten year goal accomplished. And I felt amazing.
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Even better, Liana had been with me the whole time. I ran with her picture clipped to my back so she, in spirit, could experience this incredible race. When the course got tough, I thought of her and her fight against blood cancer. She wasn’t going to give up, so neither was I. My 10 year milestone can’t possibly match up to what she will accomplish in 10 years - a key milestone for cancer survivors that I’m sure she will hit. And with any luck we will eventually arrive at a day in which children like her no longer have to hear what she heard this summer. A world free of cancer is the milestone we all should strive for.
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On to the next 50! </div>
James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-57397399737324424292014-11-14T17:18:00.000-08:002014-11-14T17:18:01.279-08:00Kauai Marathon - Hot, Humid, Hills<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?-->
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After deciding to abort on the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2014/11/marathon-aborted-slo-much-for-this-one.html" target="_blank">San Luis Obispo Marathon</a>, it was time to plan its replacement run as I needed to get in another marathon this summer to leave sufficient time to recover and train anew for what would be my 50th marathon - <a href="http://www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr/" target="_blank">Athens, Greece</a>. There were many great races to choose from and I love making a race event into a vacation, so I concentrated my search on races in August or early September. This would coincide with the time of year Reesa and I normally go on vacation and still leave ample time to prepare for Athens Marathon in November. As I searched the marathon calendar web sites up popped my favorite island destination - Kauai. Its marathon fell at the end of August, right in the sweet spot of my target date range and what could be better than a beach vacation.</span><br />
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I had already completed two Hawaii marathons, the <a href="http://www.honolulumarathon.org/" target="_blank">Honolulu Marathon</a> was my second 26.2 and my all time favorite remains to this day, the <a href="http://www.mauimarathonhawaii.com/" target="_blank">Maui Marathon</a>. Both are fantastic beachfront races that wind through great little villages, pass fantastic vistas and stay pretty much at sea level throughout the race. Once more like this? Sounds great.
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However, Kauai isn’t like the other Hawaiian Islands. It’s beaches are rockier, its cliffs higher and the whole island is basically a sunken mountain. So you have fewer flat areas, much lush greenery and lots and lots of hills. The race would turn out to be much closer to my experience in <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2013/11/great-barrier-reef-marathon-beachfront.html" target="_blank">The Great Barrier Reef Marathon</a>, than other Hawaiian events.
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Thanks to a long endurance break since <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2014/11/surf-city-marathon-socal-challenge-to.html" target="_blank">my last marathon in February</a> and a lot of physical therapy and the <a href="http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/osteoarthritis-of-the-knee-hyaluronic-acid-joint-injections" target="_blank">hyrulonic acid treatments</a>, my training for this race had mostly gone well. My knee I fear will never be the same. It creaks more now and crunches often when I flex it. And it nearly always hurts at the start of a run. But it quickly seems to get in a groove and leave me alone as I run, which gives me the confidence that I am doing all the right things to avoid injuring it. I had hoped this would all prove true in Kauai.
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The week prior to the race, while vacationing on the island was glorious. Warm, dry and clear as a bell. All good things for a vacation; all not so great for a race. I jokingly asked my father-in-law to do a rain dance the night before the race, as Hawaii, like other tropical destinations specializes in humidity and heat, which become serious detriments to a runner by mile 20 or so. His dance must have worked because as I walked to the start line, down came the rain, scattering runners under palm leaves.
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<a href="http://www.parrishkauai.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tree-Tunnel-Hero-949x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.parrishkauai.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tree-Tunnel-Hero-949x450.jpg" height="151" width="320" /></a>The race starts very early in the morning <a href="http://www.thekauaimarathon.com/course/" target="_blank">on the main road in Poipu</a> with local Hawaiian warriors bearing torches and giving a prayer in local language for a great day. Then, after the traditional singing of the national anthem we were off. No beach run here, the Kauai Marathon immediately turns inland and up the road toward Lihue, the largest town on the island. We started climbing, gradually, but almost immediately. After about a mile or so we came to a fantastic stretch of road called the <a href="http://www.kauai.com/tree-tunnel" target="_blank">tunnel of trees</a> which is a section of road lined with local trees that form a natural canopy over the road. It’s quite the site to see and as it was still raining lightly, was a nice break from the wetness. From here the race moved along the highway only a short distance before heading into some nice inland neighborhoods. By this point I was running along side a woman who had flown in from Michigan for the race hoping to spend the week following the event with her boyfriend who was stationed on the island as part of his military service. She found out three days prior to the race that he wouldn’t be here, as his unit had been deployed to the Middle East. She would make the most of the trip enjoying the island, she said, but you could see the disappointment behind her eyes. As we were talking, a local Kauai resident ran up alongside us and joined the conversation. He was a transplant from Michigan now living on the island and working in agriculture. He had run this race before and gave us a valuable tip: Take it easy on the first half, as the second has more hills and is tougher.
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I knew the race was going to be hilly but wasn’t really sure how hilly it would be when I signed up. I was sensitive to the hills at the time I selected this event because I knew they might be tougher on my ailing knee. I guess I must have misread the elevation profile or simply carried too much confidence when reading it, because his warnings seems misaligned with my expectations. “At the half way point we’ll start to climb again, and it will keep climbing for the next 8 miles,” he said. Ooh, kay.
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The two Michigan youths were younger and stronger than me today, so I let them go on as I joined other runners passing along. One very cheery runner and her boyfriend came along doing the strides of a half marathoner (feeling good that only a few miles remained). She said hello and we got to chatting, all the while both thinking we had met before. Turned out she owned a small bakery that exhibited at a local farmer’s market three days prior. Reesa had bought cookies from her which were some of the best ginger cookies I had ever eaten. Once I put two-and-two together, I told her of my recognition and love of her baking. She smiled with appreciation and came to the same recognition. Her supportive boyfriend had also been at the farmer’s market and was again being supportive today, as he confessed she had talked him into today’s half marathon. It was clear from his tone that this was the longest he had run and was feeling a bit overwhelmed, but still supportive. Love makes you do strange and wonderful things, i thought. I wished him well through the next mile as we had topped the last hill in the first half and it was all down hill for him from here. For me, however, that long climb lay dead ahead.
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Up to this point, my father-in-law’s rain dance had proven to work but too early in the race. About six miles in the rain clouds cleared it was turning out to be another fabulously gorgeous, clear, sunny day. Normally I’d smile at this but as we full marathoners took the next turn I found myself looking up at a long climb and a full sun overhead.
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Prior to my knee injury I lived for hills. I could climb for days and cherished the pain and challenge that came with them. Today, however, the feeling a shifted to a bit of dread masked with confidence in myself and my training. The hill was indeed as long as the local had said. About six miles in, I was running low on steam and sadly had to walk. I rarely walk during a marathon. Even though many people successfully execute a run-walk method and even do so and turn in better times than mine. I find walking drains my energy and makes restarting a run tough. But this time the heat, humidity and incline got the best of me. Each time the hill leveled off, I returned to running, hoping that at the next incline I’d have the energy to return to a full run but each time, I was beaten back by the heat. I think I walked about five of the final 13 miles. After the big, long hill, the course didn’t go right back down, it went into a pattern of climbs, declines and more climbs for about the next four miles. It wouldn’t relent and fall into a steady decline until nearly one mile to go. While this might sound miserable, the views were spectacular. You couldn’t see the beach that often but the ocean was always in view and the gorgeous mountains, covered in spectacular greenery were ever-present. They don’t call Kauai, The Garden Isle, because it sounds good. As the course wound its way through the hills there were many friendly residents who came out to the road to wish us on. I was running low on water when I came upon a cute young boy who had set up a makeshift water station in front of his house. Good timing and a friendly smile were all I needed to partake of his hospitality.
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The race passes through farmland, cattle ranches, horse country and back down toward the beach. All beautiful and worth the pain.
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As the course finally declined consistently I was eager for the finish line. I had thought it would wind back onto the same road where it started; and where my wife and in-laws would be waiting, but then the course turned from that road and proceeded closer to the beach. A bit confused and worried that it might just climb back up again, the always welcome 25-mile marker made its debut. There wasn’t enough distance to return to the higher road where we started so it must be staying down along the shore here. I was right. The race ran through some pleasant condo complexes and past a few resorts before I began to here music in the distance. I was worn out by this point and looking forward to the finish, which came on a flat road with a view of a sandy beach. I crossed the line, winded and sweating. After getting my medal, I was handed a bottle of water which I immediately lifted over my head and doused myself. Next up were cold, wet rags which went right under my hat, followed by cup after cup of cold water released over my body. After what felt like ten minutes of dousing I was finally feeling cool. That humidity was killer.
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Right across the street from the finish line was the <a href="http://www.sheraton-kauai.com/" target="_blank">Sheraton beach resort </a>which had a very inviting sandy beach. I immediately walked over and attempted to stand in the waves to give my legs an ice bath. But 26 miles had sapped my strength and the strong Kauai waves took me right off my feet. I didn’t care because the water was cold and comforting, so I battled the waves with what strength remained in my body as the cooling sensation flowed over me. Recovery took a bit longer from this one but it’s hard to argue against the need to play in the waves.
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Victory was tough coming but well worth it as today marked 49 marathons completed. </div>
James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-65752012964011566012014-11-13T14:56:00.002-08:002014-11-13T14:56:37.709-08:00Marathon Aborted - SLO Much For This One<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?-->
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In February, after the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2014/11/surf-city-marathon-socal-challenge-to.html" target="_blank">Surf City Marathon</a>, I returned home from SoCal feeling good knowing I was just two marathons away from a 10-year goal -- 50 marathons. I was feeling good but had challenges with my right leg and left achilles the past two months leading up to that race and thus had little confidence in this respite from pain. </span><br />
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Next up on the marathon schedule was a nice break from marathoning until May when I would run a race I had supported as a coach for <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/" target="_blank">Team in Training</a>, in a city I fell in love with at first sight. The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/slomarathon" target="_blank">San Luis Obispo Marathon</a> gives runners a great tour of the downtown area of this classy little college town, then takes you up into the hills for an out and back through wine and cow country. I supported mostly the first half of this race that year and was eager to see what the rest of the course had in store for runners.
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But up first was a return to the <a href="http://www.smiweb.org/" target="_blank">Sports Medicine Institute</a> for a diagnosis of the pains I had felt prior to Surf City. I nearly cancelled this appointment because I was feeling so good right after that marathon but felt it was probably prudent to get the check up. And my favorite therapist had fit me in. She had helped me through a painful IT band problem early in my running career and was a star therapist for TNT and the Stanford Track Team.
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She laid me on the table and got to work immediately feeling for tight spots and irregularities. She found them rather quickly and went to work smoothing them out. It was painful, as expected, but I was hopeful it would put an end to my problems earlier in the year. The following day, pain shot through my right leg. I called her back, got a quick follow up appointment and at her advice reached out also to <a href="http://www.pamf.org/dr-amol-saxena.html" target="_blank">Dr. Amol Saxena</a>, the sports podiatry wizard at <a href="http://www.pamf.org/" target="_blank">Palo Alto Medical Foundation</a>. He knew me well, due to my on-going achilles issues and had put the kibosh on that pain a couple years earlier with an experimental <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3070010/" target="_blank">shock wave therapy</a> procedure. I was hoping for similar miracles. This time, <a href="http://smiweb.org/about/therapists-and-staff/dr-catherine-ryan-dc-cmt-art/" target="_blank">Catherine</a> from SMI was in coordination with Dr. Saxena, communicating her diagnosis as she worked on me in the follow on appointment. Her assessment: Unclear but appeared to be related to the knee. Uh oh.
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The following day, I was in the office of a work friend and fellow endurance athlete conveying my recent woes when he grabbed a card, copied down the personal mobile number of his doctor and insisted I call him. “He fixed me up and is the best in the business,” he said. This friend is far more the athlete than I will ever be and has certainly maintained a high level of fitness, so I don’t know how I could refuse him. So off to his orthopedic surgeon I went. He sent me for an <a href="http://www.menshealth.com/health-conditions/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri" target="_blank">MRI</a> and the following week I entered his office with films in hand. His diagnosis: Thanks to the guidance I was following in the book “<a href="http://www.chrismcdougall.com/book.html" target="_blank">Born to Run</a>” I had aschewed cushioning in my shoes to the detriment of the ligaments in my knee and had created tears and scar tissue which were causing the pain. <a href="http://www.menshealth.com/health-conditions/arthroscopic-surgery" target="_blank">Arthroscopic surgery</a> was his recommendation. Uh oh. The SLO Marathon was off.</div>
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He also recommended a return to cushioning in my shoes. I quickly sought out the most cushioned shoes I could find but was still a believer that flat and flexible shoes were partially responsible for my last 6 or so years of injury free running. And the doctor did not disagree. This led me first to try the <a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/shoe/hoka-one-one-clifton-mens" target="_blank">Hoka One</a> running shoes. They were relatively new on the market, very popular with runners coming back from injury yet retained a mostly zero drop. On the flip side they looked like Frankenstein’s running shoes. They were bright yellow, humongous and had padding running under the entire shoe that looked to at a quarter inch to my height. I tried them on and found them relatively comfortable but the lift was more than just an impression. The reviews were strong and so I gave them a try. That lasted about a day. I took them for a trial run and found them stiff and awkward. The cushioning, while nice, raised me way too high off the pavement making me feel a bit unstable and with knee and achilles issues already in place, the last thing I needed was to feel unstable. Back to the store they went.
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Next up was a new brand of shoe, <a href="http://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank">Altra</a>, that seems to be the Goldilocks choice of running shoes. They had ample cushioning - about half the Hoka but still around 20 percent more than the average running shoe, and a commitment, like I had, to zero drop and flexibility. And they had a highly confident return policy. Where most running shoes, and running shoe stores will only take back “new” shoes with no major marks on the sole, this brand of both running shoe and running store, <a href="http://www.roadrunnersports.com/" target="_blank">Road Runner Sports</a>, took back the shoes no questions asked. That gave me confidence to give them a long test drive and their confidence was rewarded.
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The <a href="http://runblogger.com/2013/01/dirty-runner-altra-torin-shoe-review.html" target="_blank">Altra Torin</a> isn’t the most handsome of running shoes but looks should be meaningless in this sport of endurance running; performance should be all that matters. And that proves just to be the case with these. Running quickly felt more comfortable. I was still having knee pain and the occasional achilles flare up but these issues seems minor compared to the flare up that sent me to the doctor. I pulled back quite a bit on running distance and added a lot more cross training to strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee as I prepared for surgery.
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As the surgery date approached I shared my worries over the procedure with my friends on Facebook who mostly wished me luck and shared their success stories with the procedure but one friend’s comment caught my attention. Ellen questioned the procedure by asking if I had tried a new therapy called <a href="http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/osteoarthritis-of-the-knee-hyaluronic-acid-joint-injections" target="_blank">hyaluronic acid injections</a>. I followed the link she sent and began wondering if I might avoid the knife after all, as the process seemed to fit my symptoms. Rather than go off the facts of the Internet, I decided to get a second opinion so I visited the office of Dr. <a href="http://www.pamf.org/sports/staff/chenf.html" target="_blank">Frank Chen</a> at PAMF, a colleague of Dr. Saxena. He looked at the same MRI films and drew a very different conclusion. “Given what I see on this film, I don’t think arthroscopic surgery will help,” he said. This was an orthopedic surgeon talking and I had not prompted him with my interest in an alternate therapy so these words threw me aback. He then said, “I think what might be more successful in your case would be a relatively new procedure, hyrolonic acid injections. What? Had I heard that right? He explained what I had read on the Internet (I’m paraphrasing here - follow the links for more detail): Your knee’s natural protections from bone on bone injury were your ligaments and some natural fluids that fight friction at the muscles and bones move back and forth. My MRI, he said showed that most of that natural fluid was worn away due to over exercise and it needed to be replaced. Hyaluronic acid is this same natural fluid and could help prevent bone on bone friction and help the remaining ligaments. It wouldn’t be a permanent fix but could be conducted every six months and had been used successfully in Europe for years on people with similar joint problems.
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The prevailing thought that remained in my head throughout his discussion and the days that followed: no surgery required. I’ll take that option. So I immediately started the procedures.
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None of the shots hurt, the needle went in easily and there was pressure at the insertion point as the fluid pushed into my knee. The bursa quickly went down as the fluids spread out across the joint. I laid off the knee for a day, then, per doctor’s advice, went for a short run the day after. So far so good after one shot, still some pain but certainly no worse. After the second, the pain receded a bit and by the third shot was down significantly. Wow.
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Come May, I still didn’t trust the knee fully but had already registered for the SLO Marathon and had our hotel, so Reesa and decided to go down for the race with our friends. For the first time in my life, I switched from the full to the half, wisely treating SLO as a test run for the knee, as this would be the longest run I had done since the injections.
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There’s a famously tacky hotel in San Luis Obispo called the <a href="http://www.madonnainn.com/" target="_blank">Madonna Inn</a> that serves as the race hotel and host to the expo and finish line of the race. The hotel itself is pink, inside and out and uniquely architected from wood and massive stone boulders that mold its shape into something of a Swiss Chalet folded into a river bank. The hotel has a famous restaurant inside that is also overflowing with pink, a massive pink cake that local’s line up to buy and themed rooms that make each visit unique. Some of the rooms mirror a cave, others a fairy tale but all feature massive intruding stone work that. honestly is the coolest architecture I’ve seen. Our room had a Peter Pan theme and our stone work lined the bathroom and shower. It was like walking into a perfectly shaped cave that was at once bold and intimidating, and cozy and enriching. This is the kind of contradiction that makes the Madonna Inn so famous. Tacky might sound like a turn off, but I highly recommend staying here at least once. I’m glad I did.
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Race day was cool and comfortable at the start, which was a short run from Madonna to downtown SLO. The race loops through the classic college town streets of this beautiful little town. It takes you past some gorgeous 1940s-era homes, past old storefronts that look right out of <i>It’s a Wonderful Life</i> and intermixed with truly California style architecture. The half marathon course winds up and down the streets giving you a good mix of climbs and declines. As it starts to leave town, it slowly climbs a hill heading toward the wine country and away from town. This is a tough hill and you get to do it twice as the half turns around after it. As I approached the turn point, I was sad and conflicted. Part of me wanted to carry on, and do the full marathon course. It was what I had signed up for, I was feeling strong with eight miles behind me the hills had not tasked my knee too much. But the longest I had run prior to this race was 10 miles and I had enough experience as a marathoner to know that such training was nowhere near sufficient for a full 26.2. My friends had tried to reassure me that the second half of this race really wasn’t worth it anyways, since it simply kept climbing off into the hills providing little scenery or distraction before returning to this same point for the last seven miles. So with disappointment in myself but wisdom as my guide, I turned around and returned down the half marathon course.
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From here the race returns to town before then exiting and heading for the Madonna Inn. But rather go back the way I came to the start, the race moves out of town another way, along the railroad tracks where there is a nice bike and walking trail. It winds alongside the tracks with some nice greenery lining the trail. I tried to run on the dirt as much as I could, to limit the pounding on my knee by the pavement. From here the race goes up and over a spiral staircase and bridge suitable for bikes that takes you over the tracks and down to the train station on the opposite side. It’s an odd feature in a marathon and after the ups and downs of the prior miles can be a significant challenge. Once past the train station the run carries under the freeway and on an underpass before rising up to the fields behind the Madonna Inn. By this point you’ve clocked nearly 13 miles and with the end in sight you start to feel optimistic about a strong finish. But that’s before you see the final hill. Yes, this race ends with a last, long, slow climb. And I was feeling it. While I’d completed 48 marathons by this point, half the distance can still remind you the importance of proper training. All the rest and recovery for my knee had prepared me for a half, but any regrets I was feeling about not doing the full quickly subsided as I struggled up this last hill.
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Once you reach the top there’s just 0.1 mile to go and the full downside of the hill is lined with cheering friends and family. I quickly caught site of my bride which always puts a spring in my step and down the finish I strode. It was certainly not my best time at this distance but definitely the most humbling.
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The knee held up well confirming my decision to forego the full and I still had six months in which to fully recover the knee, get in my 49th marathon and prepare for Athens, which would be number 50. </div>
James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-52677406957406117752014-11-13T14:18:00.003-08:002014-11-13T14:18:30.081-08:00Surf City Marathon - A SoCal Challenge to Cure All Ills?<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
The year 2014 started with a mix of emotions, milestones and roadblocks as I prepared for the official marathon of Huntington Beach, California - <a href="http://www.runsurfcity.com/" target="_blank">Surf City</a>. Yes, there is an o<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz,_California#.22Surf_City.22_nickname_controversy" target="_blank">n-going battle between Huntington Beach and NorCal’s Santa Cruz</a> over the claim to the name but for now it resides here. ’Nough said. </div>
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In 2013 I had what I thought was a fantastic year of running. I stayed in marathon shape nearly the entire year which let me <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2013/06/hey-its-saturday-i-think-ill-run-trail.html" target="_blank">drop in on a marathon, on a whim</a>, which is quite an accomplishment if you understand how much training and preparation is involved in getting ready for a 26.2-mile run. I completed eight marathons that year, the most in one year in my running career thus far. And I finished nearly all of them feeling good, if not worn out. Over the past six or so years I had been running injury free. I thought my success was due to changes I had made in running shoes, progressively moving to thinner, lighter and more flexible shoes. I was a student of the book “<a href="http://www.chrismcdougall.com/book.html" target="_blank">Born to Run”</a> and was reaping its rewards; or so I thought. </div>
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I ran most of 2013 in a mix of <a href="http://runblogger.com/forum/discussion/217/skechers-go-bionic-ride" target="_blank">Skecher</a>s and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Inov-8-F-lite-195-U-U-195-Shoe/dp/B008V6M05S" target="_blank">Inov-8</a> shoes with zero drop from toe to heel and very thin cushioning. I even ran several shorter distances in <a href="http://xeroshoes.com/" target="_blank">XeroShoes</a>, basically Jesus sandals with a string to hold them to your feet. I have a very natural running stride; I don’t heel strike and my form involves lots of achilles and foot flex giving me lots of natural injury protection. I exited 2013 injury free like all the earlier years and was feeling very confident about 2014. I exited that year having run 47 marathons, leaving just three until the big 5-0 which I had already planned out to be the original marathon from Marathon to Athens, Greece. That race in is November leaving me an entire year to get in two marathons and do lots of cross training.
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My early training in January was feeling good as the miles were coming along strongly. My new Inov-8 shoes I received for Christmas felt lighter than air and I ran that way too. Until early February. It started on a 16-mile training run during which I started to have pain in my lower right calf muscle. During long runs its typical for various muscles in my body to wake up and alert me to their presence but then calm down and keep doing their job. That’s what I thought was going on here but the calf kept talking to me. It wasn’t the kind of pain that screams injury, just the occasional bite that says soreness. What worried me more was when the calf kept talking to me after the run and the next day too. Rolling it, stretching it and ice weren’t doing the trick so I decided to up the prevention with a few rounds of physical therapy. The therapist concluded that it was muscle weakness, not in the calf but in many of the small muscles surrounding it and gave me a few exercises to fix it. I asked her to look at my left achilles as well, as it had developed a lump and was a bit sore too. Needless to say i kept up the running with what I thought was little ill effect but the problem wasn’t getting better.
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So with just a week before my first marathon of the year, I upped the therapy again to a sports massage from <a href="http://smiweb.org/" target="_blank">Sports Medicine Institute</a> in Palo Alto. I got turned on to this clinic during my first year of <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/" target="_blank">Team in Training</a> and they worked miracles on my body as it adjusted to the marathon distance.
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The therapist who took me on, gave me a thorough leg massage which hurt a lot (you expect that) and the leg did seem to feel better afterwards. But the next day I now had pain radiating up my leg. No longer was the calf the problem but the pain kept moving from my thigh muscles, to the achilles, to the knee and back again. And the pain level was definitely above the “saying hello” stage. Worse still, I now had weakness in the leg too. I didn’t know what to do and was running out of time to get another therapy appointment. So I kept rolling it, stretching it and icing as I prepared for my flight to Los Angeles.
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After a couple days the pain subsided but I still had some weakness in the leg, so I pulled back the running significantly in Southern California hoping rest would cure me and if not, I would take it easy on the marathon to ensure I didn’t get injured. But for the first time since my very first marathon, I had a seed of doubt as to whether I would finish.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SWPrQcFYUDxPLmnHkMePLAyLrKU6U05ppufZZ6ZJ1_X_5RRVQ88e_E9w1UNRN5f33RRQYR69tSrsEF6IJeczDYqayHeWVIGBkXuF7rekhBsLVYnH62TG-kTi64PnI8jSw-TGJVyPf7_F/s1600/2014-02-01+11.21.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SWPrQcFYUDxPLmnHkMePLAyLrKU6U05ppufZZ6ZJ1_X_5RRVQ88e_E9w1UNRN5f33RRQYR69tSrsEF6IJeczDYqayHeWVIGBkXuF7rekhBsLVYnH62TG-kTi64PnI8jSw-TGJVyPf7_F/s320/2014-02-01+11.21.39.jpg" width="320" /></a>After a few days of work in LA and Orange Country, a drove down to Huntington Beach after picking my wife up from the airport and we checked into the <a href="http://www.huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com/" target="_blank">Hyatt Regency </a>beach resort for race weekend. This is a fantastic hotel right across the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_1" target="_blank">PCH</a> from the beach. The race expo and starting line are literally right in front of this resort. My good friend John and his wife joined us for this race and we hit the expo together which had a great beach theme. The night before we kept the beach theme going with dinner at <a href="http://www.dukeshuntington.com/" target="_blank">Duke’s </a>the Hawaiian restaurant chain named for the famous surfer.
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The following morning the race began under an early morning fog. It was cool and there was a light breeze - perfect for running. The crowd along the beach was smaller than some of the bigger races in the nation which made for a clean and simple start. We kicked off along the PCH in the pre-dawn morning. I took it easy to start, torn between fearing a tough day and hoping for the best. The course turned inland to give us a view of Huntington Beach away from the ocean. It was a great mix of local stores and restaurants, condo complexes and charming homes with high windows hoping for a view of the water. As we kept going inland we came onto the <a href="http://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/" target="_blank">Golden West College</a> campus, something I didn't know was here and thus I didn’t expect to see. It’s mix of 70’s style buildings and ample parks was a great setting for a run. The trails were thinner here but the racers had spread out so that most of the time you were no more than 2-3 people thick - good enough for the trails. By this point the sun was rising, the fog had lifted yet it was still cool and comfortable. The runners were in a good mood as many were thanking the supporters and sharing good wishes for each other. To my surprise, my calf and the rest of my body were protest free.
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From here the race looped through some nice neighborhoods some small inclines and past some quaint shopping areas before working its way back to the PCH. Still no physical ailments and as such my mood greatly improved. By mile 20 I began to tire, however and my pace declined quite noticeably. I didn’t let it bother me until my left achilles decided to say hello in a rather loud way. I kept this slower pace hoping to work through the pain. It subsided as usual and my calf took over the talking, then my quads, then my hamstring. Each in turn decided now would be the time to greet me and protest the distance as if each was passing the baton of complaint to one another. By mile 24, however, all had said their peace and settled in for the final miles. I crossed the line a bit slower than my usual marathon, sore but not broken.
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The sun was high in the sky at this time but kept a cool in the air, making for a great feeling of both accomplishment and pride to be in this gorgeous place with the people I love, doing what defines me. I cheered John across the line with Reesa by my side.
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After the race, and a good bit of stretching, plus a quick dip in the ocean to ice-bath the legs, I was sore but feeling good.
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I had made an appointment back at SMI for the Thursday after the race, fearing I would need it given my declining health prior to the race. The Monday after the marathon, I woke up feeling fantastic (despite the Super Bowl that took place that Sunday night; we won’t talk about that). I had client meetings in Orange County that day before my flight home and despite the tough run was walking fine. No marathon shuffle, no protesting knee and no pain from my achilles. One prevailing thought rest in my head: can a marathon cure all ills?
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So it had seemed. </div>
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James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-88472580067376890292013-11-08T08:17:00.001-08:002013-11-08T08:31:31.512-08:00Great Barrier Reef Marathon: A beachfront marathon isn’t without its hills<br />
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Or so I learned about 13 kilometers in to the <a href="http://www.greatbarrierreefmarathon.com.au/" target="_blank">Great BarrierReef Marathon</a> in <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g255070-Port_Douglas_Queensland-Vacations.html" target="_blank">Port Douglas</a>, Australia. This marathon, my 47<sup>th</sup> and
last for 2013 was in the middle of a two-week Asian business trip and couldn’t
have been a more beautiful respite. Port Douglas lies about an hour northwest
of Cairns in Queensland, Australia, which is a gorgeous tropical state at the
top of the continent down under. This quaint little fishing village turned top-notch vacation spot when Sheraton bought up several acres for a luxury golf
resort. Since then several other resorts and vacation rentals have moved in
along with a collection of admirable chefs to satisfy the foodie tourists (like
me). The best part is that the resorts haven’t overtaken 4 Mile beach which is
the main attraction here. Instead they have left it pristine with only palm
trees and rainforest hills visible from this gorgeous stretch of sand. And it’s
here that the 42-kilometer challenge began on a foggy pre-dawn morning at 5am.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRg9HRZGgtbV5B7oEoLY0zT8pOsC0RNKQZKTNP0h8RwWV22FuUYq4mZXqRxk556gai_ba5t9u3_RTzx8ZAZdnDtqwxD9JtDhpliL3LSTEs5Rx50ggm_PJ-4FBG3TkSp1JUyr_irTV-KFV/s1600/FourMiBeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRg9HRZGgtbV5B7oEoLY0zT8pOsC0RNKQZKTNP0h8RwWV22FuUYq4mZXqRxk556gai_ba5t9u3_RTzx8ZAZdnDtqwxD9JtDhpliL3LSTEs5Rx50ggm_PJ-4FBG3TkSp1JUyr_irTV-KFV/s320/FourMiBeach.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas</td></tr>
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When I found this treasure of a marathon I looked over the
course elevation map on the event web site and saw a mostly flat course with a
bump in the middle that rose a few hundred meters. It looked like an overpass or
bridge at the most, so I signed on thinking this would be a nice, flat easy way to
finish off my running year. Oops. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The race started on the sand of Four Mile Beach and covered
about 80 percent of this distance. It was a glorious start as the sun barely
rose over the water’s horizon and lit up the clouds that barred it from our
view. The prior year’s race had started with clear skies which was a bad thing
as that meant quickly rising temperatures that peaked in the high 80s and
humidity above 60 percent nearly the whole time. Keeping the sun at bay was key
to keeping this year’s race cool.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Near the end of the beach, we turned inland toward the outer
suburbs of Port Douglas and from there faced the rainforest. There’s a small
highway that runs along the coastline linking all the beach towns to Cairns.
Instead of the headache it would be have been to close and cross this road, the
marathon ducked underneath it giving us our first taste of why the term
rainforest starts with rain. Thanks to ample showers the Saturday before, our
underpass was completely flooded. Anyone with clean shoes at the start of the
race was out of luck just 6 kilometers in. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL4hmiYAOJSRoaU9a1g8wKQtUHWJJr9Ge_u6429-G9s2_6kYOgnw0Zxh-9FDfuK23nZNf-cQeMMZ7oB-wMTm5GAgCeN9EYg4__8dMOtTBVyYSDAo3KjMKUKYhY1BVMQdbO1K74hyyykdk/s1600/Crocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL4hmiYAOJSRoaU9a1g8wKQtUHWJJr9Ge_u6429-G9s2_6kYOgnw0Zxh-9FDfuK23nZNf-cQeMMZ7oB-wMTm5GAgCeN9EYg4__8dMOtTBVyYSDAo3KjMKUKYhY1BVMQdbO1K74hyyykdk/s200/Crocs.jpg" width="200" /></a>Past the underpass the course stayed flat as it ran inland
past several large farms and over a bridge crossing a murky creek – if you come
to Queensland stay away from any waters like these; crocs love them. From here
we ran further inland to a turn around point at 11 kilometers. We only
backtracked about 3 kilometers before heading back toward the rainforest hills
and up what was definitely not a bump, as I had perceived it on the elevation
map. Instead we started climbing a steep, muddy hill at about a 30 degree
angle. The Bump Trail as it is called is used in local triathlons, mountain
biking events and other local activities. It’s steep, rocky, uneven and after a
rain, definitely hazardous. The hill quickly got too steep to justify running
up the hill, given the over 25 kilometers left in the race, so everyone
switched to a walking pace. We slowly climbed for about 3 kilometers before it
started to flatten out, climb again, then flatten. It was about 5 kilometers in
before you could run consistently. At this point we were high in the rainforest
surrounded by thick palms, vines and eucalyptus trees. The trail gave us some
nice downhills, flats and short climbs the rest of the way toward the second
turnaround point. <o:p></o:p><br />
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As I approached the turn, the leaders came streaming by.
Local marathon hero and past Olympian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Moneghetti" target="_blank">Steve Moneghetti</a> led them all by a wide
margin on his way to a 3:15 finish – not bad for a guy in his mid 50s. Before
you think that time’s a bit of a slouch for a marathon finish, remember the
hills and mud I talked about. This is definitely not a PR course. Every runner
who passed gave out a word of encouragement, “Good on ya, mate!” “There ya go,”
“Great job,” were heard often. Many of the participants were local and
knew each other, so you heard lots of first names and teasings in the banter
too. An Aussie was on my tail with the turnaround just 200 meters ahead
when a vine sticking just a bit too far out onto the trail grabbed my leg and
held on. It wrapped around my lower thigh and dug in its barbs, bringing me to
a near standstill. My new Aussie friend caught me and helped steady me as I
unwound the offending plant. I had no idea what kind of vine it was nor what poisons might lie within its barbs so at the turnaround I asked if it was
poisonous. The officials told me no and that the pain would subside quickly. A
wiseacre local added, “only to tourists.” Guess I deserved that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I smiled, sped up my gait and started the return along the
muddy trail. I would have loved to pick up some time at this point and
certainly would have down the hill but wasn’t able to do so fully due to the slippery
conditions. Running on the trail itself was the most hazardous as the mud was
thickest here. So I ran along the edges of the trail, footfalling on the leaves
and plants that gave more grip. It’s this edge running that led to the vine
catching me so I kept a watchful eye on the plants around me and hopped over
any vine I saw for fear of being entangled again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When we hit the bottom of the hill a practice more races
should consider was seen. Instead of mile markers (kilometer markers in this
part of the world) counting up to the finish, the signs counted down starting
with 13 kilometers remaining. It was mostly flat from here on out and a repeat
of the course back to the beach. The hills had wiped out my energy so I needed
a few kilometers of flat to build back up my reserves. But even this was slow as
the sun peaked out at this point for the first time all day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We couldn’t have had better conditions for a topical
marathon. Morning clouds kept the sun at bey most of the day and brought
cooling rain showers four times during the run. As a result the full sun at
39kms was very short lived. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We returned to Four Mile Beach at high tide and most of the
beachfront was gone which meant we had to run in the soft sands or at the
water’s edge. I chose the latter as the surface was more firm but my shoes got
soaked by the waves a few times. We didn’t go back the full length of the beach
but cut in near the Sheraton resort. The course designers didn’t plan a visit
to the center of town for us but instead skirted the main road for a different
approach to The Esplanade where the finish line was placed. But it was here
that the course got mentally cruel. As you entered the neighborhoods near the
finish you could hear the finish line cheers and see the 2km to go sign before
you. It felt good to be nearing the finish but once you could see the line you
could also see the cones directing you right past it. Yep, ahead of you was the
length of the Esplanade which you would be traversing first, going right past
the finish line, turning at the end and then finally running the last 20 meters
to the actual finish. For those of you who have completed the <a href="http://www.nike.com/events/register/werunsf/" target="_blank">Nike Women’sMarathon</a>, you know how cruel it is to emerge from Golden Gate Park in San
Francisco, look to your right and see the finish, then turn to your left to run
the length of Ocean Boulevard. This was a similar feeling except running right
past the finish felt worse. You could literally see the faces of the runners
flip from relief to frustration as they went past the line. I wanted to reach
out and knock over some cones so badly. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But there’s few feelings better than the one that comes from
finishing a marathon – despite the pain, agony and frustration that comes in the
final miles. And I wasn’t about to cheat myself by cutting it short. I crossed
the line at 4:31 and a happy finish to a great running year.<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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After stretching and taking in a few boxes of fruit juice, I
stripped down to my shorts and walked into the ocean. Unlike San Francisco’s
beach, the northern shore of Australia ain’t no ice bath. The water was in the
low 70s but felt right. Trying to hold myself upright in the face of the waves
wasn’t easy but it felt great to play in the waves after a hard run.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTP8mKCqDBe0gZKgUAOnNEC5vEeOhAI3mda_t6w3Zi2E_k7MWuZ0dIc8_3Iqe-XMsontsG_7uaVVzIwgPaSI66uejPTEmFlxKY4f_Ydap1QLiHGERs43wJFd_TDQD2vtecJeMOupp1Yf9/s1600/Stingers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTP8mKCqDBe0gZKgUAOnNEC5vEeOhAI3mda_t6w3Zi2E_k7MWuZ0dIc8_3Iqe-XMsontsG_7uaVVzIwgPaSI66uejPTEmFlxKY4f_Ydap1QLiHGERs43wJFd_TDQD2vtecJeMOupp1Yf9/s320/Stingers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jellyfish warnings and in the back, the white line is a jellyfish net</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By the way, for those who are curious, yes I was safe in the
waves. Spring and summer in Queensland (and most of Australia’s coasts) are
jellyfish season which can be very dangerous. The stingers down here can be
deadly if not very, very painful. However Port Douglas, like many other beach
towns strings jellyfish nets in the waters or marks clearly the safe spots to
swim. I chose a safe spot. And I clearly chose a gorgeous, challenging and
fantastic marathon. While I still think the <a href="http://www.mauimarathonhawaii.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Maui Marathon</a> is my favorite, The
Great Barrier Reef Marathon is a very close second.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-16574937259208913782013-06-30T12:55:00.001-07:002013-06-30T12:55:16.734-07:00The Double Dipsea - Body to James: Time for a break<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
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<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">June has been a busy running month for me and it finally took it toll at </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX17883063" href="http://www.doubledipsea.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">T</span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">he</span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> Double </span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Dipsea</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">. On Saturday, June 29th I found out that there wasn't as much endurance left in the tank as I had hoped.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{37}" paraid="421817039" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX17883063" href="http://www.dipsea.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">The</span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Dipsea</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> is a Bay Area legendary trail run. It is the second oldest organized run in the US, second only to the Boston Marathon. It runs from Stinson Beach, up through the Marin Headlands and down into Mill Valley where it descends an </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX17883063" href="http://stairwayfreedom.weebly.com/6/post/2012/06/the-famous-dipsea-steps.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">insane</span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> set of very vertical </span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">staircases</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">. The Double </span><span class="SpellingError SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Dipsea</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> runs the same course from Stinson Beach to Mill Valley, then back. It's only 13.7 miles but has some very challenging hills and is rarely flat. And </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX17883063" href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2013/06/san-francisco-makes-three-marathons-in.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">after</span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> 3 marathons in the past eight </span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">weeks</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> it kicked my butt.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{40}" paraid="873434674" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">The morning started off very promising. It was going to be a very hot weekend in the Bay Area. Friday reached 92 degrees on Friday and in Marin it was going to be topping 85 by the afternoon. But at the start of the race it was in the low 60s. The skies were clear which meant a lot of sun and it was already out. The Double, like the original </span><span class="SpellingError SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Dipsea</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">, is a handicapped race, which means that the start is broken into waves based on your age and gender, with the oldest participants getting a generous head start. My wave, 45-49 year old men was third from last and we started 8 minutes before 9am. I'm used to earlier starts and on a hot day that would have definitely been preferred, but as I said it was in the mid-60s by start time, so the temps were promising.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{44}" paraid="710031749" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">The start is up</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">hill right away from Stinson Beach into the headlands. The initial climb includes some stairs which made for easier footing but a slow take off. I was feeling good and it was only </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">a half marathon long, so I went ahead and ran as much of the climb as I could. This was probably not smart in hindsight but seemed necessary at the time as the course was a bit crowded</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> and it was easy to get caught behind someone going really slow if you didn't. Plus you kind of always felt like you were holding up others if you walked too much, as there were younger, more fit runners coming up from behind. Passing was a bit challenging though, as the trails were narrow and there was poison oak along the trail nearly the whole way.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX17883063" href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2013/04/la-marathon-from-walking-wounded-to.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Having</span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> been bitten badly by poison oak earlier this </span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">year</span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">,</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> I had take</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">n</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> extra precautions for this race. I ran in tights and a long sleeve but very breathable shirt</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> and did my best to ensure all my skin other than hands and face were covered. And I had a bottle of </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX17883063" href="http://www.tecnulabs.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Tecnu</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> at the finish, just in case. The plan worked. Although the black running tights were maybe not a great choice. They were breathable but black and sun don't go well together.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"></span> </div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{50}" paraid="2089131869" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Back on the trail and after the first major climb we were above the trees and in an open field with great views of the coast line. The trail was still narrow so I spent most of my time (here and throughout this race) looking down at my feet. It was a good thing because nearly every time I looked up or out at the view, I tripped over a root or rut in the trail. Thankfully I never went </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">down (but saw a few folks who did). </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{50}" paraid="2089131869" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{53}" paraid="1978885089" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">In this clearing there were a few </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX17883063" href="http://dipseabook.blogspot.com/2012/06/dipsea-shortcuts.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Dipsea</span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> short </span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">cuts</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">. I didn't know where they would be but followed the faster, more experienced </span><span class="SpellingError SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Dipsea-ers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> as they cut off the main course. I felt a little bad taking shortcuts but I don't think they saved that much time or distance. Mostly they just paralleled the main trail so they were less crowded. We were in direct sun most of this section but it still wasn't much above 70 degrees.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">..yet.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{56}" paraid="421940175" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">After the clearing it was back into the shadowed woods and again, a climb. This time up to the summit of Cardiac Hill, which tops out at 1350 feet. The climb was mostly pretty gradual which made it runnable but you really had to watch your step as large roots popped as much as half a foot up creating natural but very uneven steps. </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{56}" paraid="421940175" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"></span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{59}" paraid="1026227380" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">At the top we were greeted by a team of very enthusiastic volunteers handing out water, </span><span class="SpellingError SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Ultima</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> and a buffet of runner-friendly foods. I was feeling good and had my nutrition on me, so I waved them thanks and pressed on.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{59}" paraid="1026227380" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"></span> </div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{65}" paraid="1582485424" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">The backside of Cardiac was a steady and often steep decline, again filled with roots and the occas</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">ional</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> set of man-made steps. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">On a couple occas</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">ions</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> I stepped way up onto a root and literally leaped off and I couldn't see the landing site on the other side. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">A lot of 20-somethings were now caught up to me and passing rapidly. I stayed as far right as possible to let them pass and so we didn't collide and tumble down together.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">But there were times they felt the need to pass when there really wasn't enough room. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">I got into the habit of announcing myself before passing anyone with a friendly, "passing on your left," then a "great job."</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"></span> </div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{68}" paraid="1247672752" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">After Cardiac it was more down as we approached the M</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">ill Valley </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">stairs. I was definitely feeling good and feeling fast. Shortly before the stairs there was another uphill this time on the road to Stinson, not on the </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Dipsea</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> Trail. This made for easy footing and a chance to see the first place runners coming back from the stairs. They looked strong and ready for the rise up Cardiac. </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{68}" paraid="1247672752" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{71}" paraid="400167592" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">The stairs in Mill Valley are legendary. They aren't a single long set of stairs but a collection of stairways between the windy hillside roads. There are 671 stairs in all, if you count down and back up. When I got to the rest stop at the bottom of the staircase, I ran into my buddy John who was getting a quick drink. He had started 10 minutes ahead of me. It was good to see him. I gave him an encouraging shout out, r</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">a</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">n under the makeshift shower a volunteer was providing from a garden hose</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> and headed back to the stairs. No running now, everyone was walking back up. A few hearty folks were taking the stairs two at a time but I knew I had a long climb ahead of me so I needed to conserve energy. I double-stepped only when I needed to pass a slower participant. </span></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{74}" paraid="1058318361" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">As I got about half way up the stairs I started to realize just how much harder the double would be compared to the original </span><span class="SpellingError SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Dipsea</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">, where you only go down the stairs. Going back up and then facing down Cardiac Hill was going to be a serious challenge. Why did I want to do this, again?</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"></span> </div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{77}" paraid="2082166987" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">I made it through the stairs and was seriously winded. I was beginning to regret having run the first hill. After a short level section between the stairs and the beginning of the </span><span class="SpellingError SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Dipsea</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> trail that ran into Muir Woods, I got a welcome breather as I mentally prepared for Cardiac Hill. I needed it because the constant down we had on the way out would be a grueling up this direction. And it took me down.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{80}" paraid="1741367277" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">I smartly chose to walk all the hills and run i</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">f</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> flattened out. But there was a lot of climbing on this hill. About three quarters of the way up, I was getting exhausted. I could no longer run the flat sections, I needed them to recover for the next climb. Everyone was passing me at this point. As I got about 400 yards from the top, my buddy John caught up to me looking way too fresh for this point of the race. John clearly had been doing more hill training than I had and definitely had legs that hadn't been on three straight 26.2s. He was greeting everyone he passed and sharing cheery statements of encouragement. He asked me how I felt and sadly I didn't have the optimism we shared at the start of the race. </span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{80}" paraid="1741367277" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{83}" paraid="755592573" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">He went on his merry way and I continued to struggle. With about 200 yards to go my legs were super heavy and each step was a push. I dropped to a very slow walk at this point and was beginning to wonder if I would make it to the finish. But I plodded along. About 100 yards from the top I was passed by an 80-year old who was gasping as well but clearly had fresher legs than I. That didn't help my mental state.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{83}" paraid="755592573" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"></span> </div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{86}" paraid="1226338822" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">When I got to the top of Cardiac Hill, it clearly had earned its name and I was out of gas because of it. I hit the aid station to add water to my Amphipod bottle. On the way up the high concentration of electrolytes in my bottle was starting to upset my stomach a bit - this often happens to me on hot runs. So the water thinned them out. I drank about half the bottle and contemplated another hose shower but noticed that I was actually very cool. The </span><span class="SpellingError SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">dri</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">-fit shirt and tights I was wearing had wicked the sweat away from my body but stuck around on the fabric creating a cooling moisture barrier around my skin. Plus most of Cardiac Hill on this side was shadowed so the water from the first hos</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">e</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> shower was still with me. </span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{86}" paraid="1226338822" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{89}" paraid="252755228" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Having chose to pass on the second hose shower I stumbled over to the food table and grabbed a few watermelon slices. After this it was my intention to start the long decline from the Cardiac Hill ICU but I was now a bit dizzy. I slowly walked over to the medical tent and initially just stood there hoping the feeling would pass but then an aid worker asked me how I was feeling and I felt obliged to tell the truth. He quickly created an opening to the tent and ushered me inside and to a seat. It felt good to sit for a while but I was hunched over and this started to upset my stomach. I had a bou</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">t of stomach upset Friday night from too much Greek Yogurt, which I thought had passed by early morning but it was back now with a vengeance.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{92}" paraid="1431948533" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">I leaned way back in the chair and that helped a ton but the dizziness was still there so I settled in for a while. I think I was laying this way for about 10 minutes before the bad feelings subsided. While resting I saw my buddy Kent at the aid station, getting a hose shower and some water. I wanted to call out to him and cheer him on but didn't have the strength. </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{92}" paraid="1431948533" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{96}" paraid="1090355098" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">A few minutes later, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">an aid worker check</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">ed</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> in on me and I said I felt better and started to get up. He looked down at me, not very encouraged and said, "Are you bored and pissed off yet?" I said no and he replied, "</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">T</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">hen you better sit back down. We don't let people leave here until they are fully ready and you know they are when they're bored and tired."</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{96}" paraid="1090355098" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{99}" paraid="1038319780" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">His order was easy to follow. I wasn't bored or pissed off but nor was a really up for the 1.7 miles I had left. Had it all been downhill, maybe, but I still had Swoop Hollow, Steep Ravine and Insult Hill ahead of me, which all had significant climbing this direction. So down I went for another 5-10 minutes.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{99}" paraid="1038319780" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{102}" paraid="1449559996" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">I was finally getting bored and didn't want to get pissed so I got up, refilled my water bottle, ate some more watermelon and took a deep breath. It was time to go. John and Kent now had at least 20 minutes on me and I knew I could do 1.7 from here now.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{102}" paraid="1449559996" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"></span> </div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{106}" paraid="1022137878" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Cardiac Hill has a gradual down from here in mostly direct sun, so I walked/ran until I felt able to run/run. That lasted until Swoop Hollow, then it was back to walking up the hill. I had recovered a bit at the top of Cardiac but definitely wasn't more than 60% from here. I definitely walked more than I ran the rest of the way. After Swoop, I hit Steep Ravine and was back to walk/run - or really walk, walk, run a little, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">more </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">walk</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">ing</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">. After this was</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> wide open flat stretch from the start that had a few short cuts. I definitely took the shortest route I could</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> running slowly and getting far to the right for those who </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">weren't hurting like I was. </span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{109}" paraid="1384192647" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Then came the</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> last up that</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">definitely earned its name - Insult Hill. This isn't a steep climb but comes with just about a half mile to go and was very much not wanted at this stage of the race. John told me after the race that he was definitely insulted by its presence but wouldn't tolerate the insult and ran up it in spite. I had the spite but not the spirit</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> so I walked. </span></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX17883063" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{112}" paraid="2128224736" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Thankfully the rest of the course was downhill and mostly in the shade. I passed up the 80 year old who had passed me earlier but he caught back up to me at the very end and crossed the line before me. At this point I simply applauded him a</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">nd crossed</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">few m</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">om</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">ents</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">later. I've never been so glad to finish a race. </span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{115}" paraid="1830424691" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">If the Double </span><span class="SpellingError SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Dipsea</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> taught me anything it was that there is a limit to my endurance and need for recovery one race to the next. I probably didn't do enough hill training for this either. And that's the last time I scoff at a 13 mile race. </span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{115}" paraid="1830424691" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX17883063" paraeid="{30945a0c-27d4-4be1-8d92-cf32c3713af6}{121}" paraid="261966061" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Bi</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">g </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">congrats to John and Kent who finished strong. I'll be back for the </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCX17883063" href="http://www.envirosports.com/default.asp?PageID=20876" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Big</span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> Sur Trail </span></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX17883063" style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">Marathon</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">in September </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">- </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX17883063" style="background-color: inherit;">guaranteed. </span></span><span class="EOP SCX17883063" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-32774407841306198962013-06-24T16:08:00.000-07:002013-06-24T16:08:45.700-07:00San Francisco Makes Three Marathons in Six Weeks<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">There must be something wrong with me. In my training for the <a href="http://thesfmarathon.com/" target="_blank">San Francisco Marathon</a> I somehow convinced myself that it would be a good idea not to do an 18 mile training run, nor a 20 mile training run but to instead run two marathons along the way. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With six weeks to go until this my goal event, I joined my buddy John down in Santa Cruz for the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2013/06/hey-its-saturday-i-think-ill-run.html" target="_blank">Surfer’s Path Marathon</a>. Four weeks out I nearly killed myself on the upper hills of Oakland in the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2013/06/hey-its-saturday-i-think-ill-run-trail.html" target="_blank">Canyon Meadow Marathon</a>. And now it was time to face down the hills of San Francisco for the event I originally intended for early summer.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the trail marathon in Oakland my body was beat up. It took me much longer than usual to recover. My quads were talking and my ankle was crying uncle. I took it very easy the week after that one. Then I had a work trip to London the week prior to SF Marathon, so I decided to run again but super easy. My company put me up at the Lancaster London which is right across the street from Hyde Park, my favorite place to run in London. It has <a href="http://www.goodrunguide.co.uk/RunDetails.asp?RunID=318" target="_blank">an endless maze of trails</a>, all flat and all easy on the body. A perfect recovery course. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By the end of the week there I felt ready to take on another race. Or so I had hoped.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I woke on race day at about 3 in the morning. For some reason, the SF Marathon starts at the rude hour of 5:30am. This lets them clear the course and open the roads (especially the Golden Gate Bridge) to all traffic by 11am. But it still felt cruel to get up so early. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kent and I carpooled into the city and were parked and in our corral by 4:45 and ready to go. It was an incredible morning in The City. At that hour the skies were clear and the lights on the Bay Bridge lit up the waterfront. It wasn’t windy and thus was warmer than expected. The gun went off to start the race and we were off. At this point I was immediately feeling the Canyon Meadow Trail Marathon - I was sluggish. I was barely able to hold an 8-minute mile, which is a slow start for me. Kent, quickly moved ahead. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The race starts along the Embarcadero waterfront, and follows the same course as our <a href="http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=170905" target="_blank">SF to Tiburon training run</a> - out to Crissy Field, into the Presidio and up to the Golden Gate Bridge. The race takes the rightmost two lanes from the roadway, leaving the pedestrian pathway clear for spectators. When we hit the bridge it was still clear and calm and the sun had begun to rise in the East throwing gorgeous light across the water. About half way across, coming at us, were the first place runners. I’m always amazed at how relaxed they look, despite doing 5 minute miles. How do they do it?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we had made the turn on the Marin-side of the bridge and were coming back, it was starting to get warm and I was beginning to worry about my wardrobe plan. The forecast had been for low 50s the entire morning so I had pulled out my SMS long sleeve running tee, PowerBar vest and black running tights. Here on the bridge it was already well above 60 degrees. But as we turned off the bridge and started heading toward Golden Gate Park, there was fog overhead and the weather turned colder. Perfect.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next ten miles or so took place entirely in this incredible city park winding from ocean beach, through to the Haight and back a few more times. At mile 13 we split off from the half marathon runners and went West into the park for 4 miles before looping back to the half marathon finish. It’s kind of disheartening running past a finish line knowing you have about eight more miles to go. But a few of the spectators and runners who were finished, turned toward us and cheered us on. Thanks. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the race left the park is where it got weird. This is the only race I’ve done where the course splits at several intersections. You’ll be running along and all of the sudden the volunteers who sent those before you straight ahead, now direct you to the right. The SF Marathon does this strange course splitting about 5 times. I don’t know if it actually serves any purpose. It certainly isn’t controlling runner crowds because there weren’t more than 10 of us at a time, going through. I don’t think it helped with traffic flow because while the split does shift us from Northbound to Southbound lanes, we ultimately have to cross those same lanes when we rejoin the main course. And at times it felt like these detours elongated the course. Kent said his Garmin showed 26.37 at the finish. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I had successfully done during the Canyon Meadow Marathon, I was continuing to take advantage of my new technique for downhills - no braking. On this part of the course there was a lot of up, flat, then down. I would pass the folks around me on the ups, they would catch back up on the flats and then I’d leave them in the dust on the downs. I really like this new change to my marathon running as it really gives me a serious breather on the downhills while gaining speed and not taxing my leg muscles with braking actions. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite the gains of the downhills I never caught Kent. We were back and forth with each other the first 13 miles but then he was able to hold a stronger pace than I and off he went. He is really becoming such a stronger runner. Way to go, man!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The second half of the SF Marathon isn’t very scenic until you get past mile 22. It goes through some well known neighborhoods but they are mostly inland and there’s a fair amount of warehouses and body shops along the way. When it gets toward the water then it gets good. By mile 24 we were approaching AT&T Park. When I did the SF Marathon second half, a few years back, we ran on the Embarcadero to the finish moving along the road in front of the home of the SF Giants. This time we ran along the waterfront trail that encircles the park - definitely a far better trail. Being along the water always relaxes me and the views were great as there was no fog once again here in the east side of the city. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite the miles, my body was feeling good again as the final two miles came upon me. I held pace and pushed on as we put the ballpark behind us and could see the Ferry Building up ahead. I crossed the line in 3:36, a strong time for me. Kent, the stud, crossed 4 minutes earlier. Awesome.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite the hard training with the prior two marathons the SF Marathon was a very steady race for me. Usually I have a faster first half than second but in this race my splits were even at around 8 minutes a mile the entire way. I attribute a lot of things to this - good nutrition planning, the no-brakes downhills and solid, steady pacing.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not a bad way to reach number 45 in my marathoning career. </span></div>
James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-75024525941128979782013-06-06T17:53:00.001-07:002013-06-06T17:53:15.288-07:00Hey, it's Saturday, I think I'll run a trail marathon this timeAbout two weeks ago, I decided, on a whim to run the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2013/06/hey-its-saturday-i-think-ill-run.html" target="_blank">Surfer's Path Marathon</a> in San Jose. I did well, I felt great and I recovered pretty quick. I'm two weeks out from the <a href="http://thesfmarathon.com/" target="_blank">SF Marathon</a> and was due for my 20-mile training run - the longest I train before a marathon but most of my <a href="http://smsrun.ning.com/" target="_blank">SMS Running Club</a> buddies were either out of town or committed to run <a href="http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/san-diego" target="_blank">Rock n Roll San Diego</a> that weekend. So I said, "huh, what if I ran a marathon instead of my 20 miler? That would certainly be a good substitute. There's a trail marathon happening tomorrow in Oakland that would fit the bill. I can still register, it's got some hills (which I'll certainly encounter in San Francisco). Hmm, this might be perfect." And so was born a very bad idea.<br />
<br />
The race I chose was the <a href="http://www.coastaltrailruns.com/cm_wntr_canyon_meadow.html" target="_blank">Canyon Meadow Marathon</a> in <a href="http://www.ebparks.org/parks/redwood" target="_blank">Redwood Park</a> in Oakland. It was put on by <a href="http://www.coastaltrailruns.com/" target="_blank">Coastal Trail Runs</a> a great local race manager. I had run their Golden Gate Trail half marathon a couple years back in the Marin headlands, so it seemed perfect. The course was a double loop through gorgeous hills I had never been on before and Saturday had been a warm but not too hot day. Heck, I could always give it a shot and if after 13 miles I was tired or the heat got to be too much I could always quit. After all I had done a 26.2 run just two weeks earlier. Let's go for it.<br />
<br />
I rose at 5am Sunday morning feeling good but not well rested - pretty typical for me as I never sleep well before a marathon. After obliging the dogs on a short walk (rarely can I leave the house without succumbing to their insistance) I loaded up the car and took off for the Oakland Hills. Google maps clocked the drive at 1 hour. With little traffic at 6:15am I got there by 7. After registering and prepping my gear for the run I decided to take a look at the course map just to get my bearings and see where the aid stations would be located. Unlike road races, trail runs require you to carry your own nutrition and have a good hydration plan, as they are usually very limited in where they can place an aid station. On this course there would be two such spots, roughly a third of the way through the 13 mile loop, each. The loop didn't look too challenging until I saw the elevation chart. The first 5 miles were pretty much uphill the whole way. Not one, long crazy climb like <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2011/08/pikes-peaked-up-complete-pikes-peak.html" target="_blank">Pike's Peak Marathon</a> or even the <a href="http://www.redwoodhikes.com/Skyline/PGE.html" target="_blank">PG&E Trail </a>at Rancho San Antonio Park, but more of a quick climb, leveling off, then long climb succession. In total, the race would give me about 3,000 feet of climbing per loop. I got my head around this, sort of.<br />
<br />
Shortly before 8am the race organizer got on the loud speaker to gather the troops and explain course marking, race rules and other things. This race had 5-mile, half marathon, 30K, marathon and 50K options so if I weren't up for the full 26.2 I had outs. But who was I kidding. I'm a marathon man. While we were waiting for the start, I overheard a few veterans of this race describing the course to a few newbies - so I listened in. "You're going to be pretty much climbing the whole first half of the loop and those hills will take their tool, so I recommend walking them," he said. Good advice. "Watch out for the poison oak out there, too. It's everywhere." Yikes. After my bout with poison oak last month I wasn't excited at all about cross its path again. Good thing I brought a bottle of <a href="http://www.teclabsinc.com/products/poison-oak-ivy/tecnu" target="_blank">Tecnu</a>. Now I'd have the chance to find out how well it really worked.<br />
<br />
"Five, four, three, two, one...Go!" And we were off and running. Sort of. More like slowly climbing as the start was indeed uphill. It was a relatively gradual dirt climb so most people were running slowly, jockeying for position and passing those who were taking the hill more slowly. I passed a few people but was determined to heed the wise advice I had heard. When the hill got much steeper, after about 500 yards, I was walking.<br />
<br />
Just as advertised, the first half of the first loop was a lot of up and very, very little down or totally flat. I walked all the steep ups and switched to running anytime the course flattened out. The morning was cool and overcast so there was little risk of overheating.<br />
<br />
About two miles in, we flew past the yellow ribbons denoting the turn for the 5-milers and the runners ahead of me started climbing yet another hill. They were following the signs and ribbons designated for the half and full course and so I followed suit, until I saw those ahead start coming back down toward me. Turned out some Boy Scouts, thought it would be funny to turn the sign and send us up to a parking lot, rather than on our designated course. Thanks, kids. I was just glad I hadn't gone more than 30 yards up this detour.<br />
<br />
I reached the first aid station in just 45 minutes, which I think was pretty good given the slow pace. I wasn't wearing a Garmin or using <a href="http://www.ismoothrun.com/" target="_blank">iSmoothRun</a> on my iPhone so I had no idea the mileage. Since I had my own nutrition, I ran right past the aid station, putting several more runners behind me. After this stop, the course started to decline a bit and seemed to be more shaded. I propped my sunglasses atop my Honolulu Marathon visor and picked up the pace considerably.<br />
<br />
One of the more recent lessons I'd learned about running was <a href="http://www.runningplanet.com/training/downhill-running.html" target="_blank">how to avoid braking</a> when running downhill. It's very tempting to brake when running downhill so you don't get out of control and get going so fast you run out of energy. But braking actually costs you more endurance as your muscles have to engage in the braking motions and in doing so degrades your momentum and cadence. To overcome this, it's actually more efficient to not brake but to shorten your stride length and increase your cadence. You, at least this is how has been for me, gain better control at speed this way and let your body and gravity work together to determine your actual pace. It's much easier on the body, I felt.<br />
<br />
So with each downhill I flew down passing folks each time, then would recover on the flats and climbs (I know, recovery on climbs? Sound strange but was actually true for me. Remember, I was walking the hills - thus the recovery).<br />
<br />
After about the half-way point in the first loop the course got significantly more wooded and the trail more narrow. At one point the trail got so thin and had such high banks that I had to put my feet directly in front of each other. Overgrown poison oak and dry grasses sporting foxtails stuck out at all angles and you couldn't help but brush your legs against them. I think I ran through these parts a little bit faster. Come on, Tecnu, you gotta work.<br />
<br />
I hit the second aid station 45 minutes after the first one and was feeling good. So I ran past it, leaving another two runners behind and started hearing cheering. Was I that close to the finish line for the half? Turns out, no, the cheering was for a game taking place at a family picnic just off the trail to the left. Oh well, I still told myself the cheers were for me.<br />
<br />
From this point forward the trail was not deep in the woods but running along some picnic areas and camp sites in the park. And these trails had significantly less non-race traffic on them. Canyon Meadow wasn't closed for race day, so there were multitudes of hikers, walkers and dogs on the trail with us. Not having the competing foot traffic on these narrower trails was a good thing, though.<br />
<br />
With about two miles left in the first loop the course ran East along the picnic grounds and far below you could see runners ahead going the other way, towards the finish. This is usually a good and bad sight. Good in the sense that a turnaround point must be ahead soon and bad because, "where the heck is that turnaround? I've been running East for twenty minutes now!" Or so it felt at the time.<br />
<br />
We finally turned around on a very steep and technical turn. It was definitely an ankle twister so I had to be careful and take it slower than normal. After that it was flat, wide and straight away to the finish.<br />
<br />
As I approached the half marathon finish line I was feeling great so with just under 2 hours on the clock, I confidently turned left and restarted the loop course. I ran confidently past the aid station that was here, thanking the volunteers for being here but not needing anything from them and then after they were out of sight behind me, slowly began walking up the steep hill once again.<br />
<br />
It was around 10 am now and most of the early cloud cover had burned off. I pulled my sunglasses back off my visor and told myself to be calm and comfortable walking the hills because I still had 13 miles ahead of me and would need every ounce of energy. Yes, I could take the 5 mile cut off and just do 30km today, but no, that just wouldn't be my style.<br />
<br />
I passed the 30k turnoff, stayed straight at the Boy Scout detour (fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me) and kept climbing. It was definitely warmer this second loop but was still in the low 70s, so doable.<br />
<br />
By the time I hit the first aid station again, only 45 minutes had passed so I was on pace with my second loop so far. Good news. I stopped here to refill my <a href="http://www.amphipod.com/products/hydration/bottles-handhelds/handhelds/hydraform-handheld" target="_blank">Amphipod</a> bottle and at least peruse the food items provided. They had the usual gummy bears, M&Ms, nuts, Reese's Pieces and other ultramarathon staples. But none of these are part of my race regimen. They also had <a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/potatoes-perfect-carb?page=single" target="_blank">baked potatoes</a> which are surprisingly good race food. I didn't need anything and still had a <a href="http://www.clifbar.com/food/products_shot_gel_turbo/" target="_blank">ClifShot</a> left in my bag so I moved on.<br />
<br />
About a mile or so past the aid station I started feeling like the second loop was longer and definitely more exposed to the elements than I had remembered. I also realized my recollection of the first loop being mostly downhill at this point was wrong. We were still climbing most of the time and I was definitely tiring of the ups. About 30 more minutes in came the downhills. On much more tired legs these technical downs were much more treacherous. I kept to my goal of not wasting energy braking but was taking the descents far more carefully. I also started cursing my <a href="http://www.skechers.com/style/53519/skechers-gobionic-prana/ccor" target="_blank">Skechers</a> running shoes as the front toes caught on rocks or roots a few times causing me to stumble and nearly go down. My worst fear: a forward fall face-first into poison oak. Not good at all. So I kept the pace well under control.<br />
<br />
I was about a mile out from the final aid station and feeling very tired. The hills kept coming and the downhills seemed shorter, more uneven and less forgiving. I stumbled a few more times but always caught myself and kept going. But I was definitely much slower now and got comfortable with those I had passed in the first loop catching me and drifting by. I was <a href="http://www.grovehillcoaching.com/2011/04/running-your-own-race-marathon-pt1-3/" target="_blank">running my own race</a>, and just a training race at that, so falling behind <a href="http://running.competitor.com/2013/05/training/why-you-shouldn%E2%80%99t-%E2%80%9Crun-your-own-race%E2%80%9D_24463" target="_blank">wasn't going to bother me</a>.<br />
<br />
Shortly before the final aid station was yet another uphill. Was this here the first time around? Sheesh! I walked up, using strong arm swings for better momentum and to assist my tired legs. By now I was also noticing that the second half of the loop which I could have sworn the first time through was all wooded and shadowy, proved to also be mostly exposed to the sun which was quickly warming the park. On a particularly sunny section, on a slight downhill, my worst fear came true. The Skecher on my right foot caught once again on a rock and this time I wasn't able to get my left in position to stop the fall and went straight down. I landed full-body down on the trail before me. Thankfully there was no poison oak here as this section of the trail was in full sun. But there were plenty of foxtails, burrs and other things there to catch my fall and inject themselves into my clothing and body. I got a nice road rash down each arm and my right leg too. What fun.<br />
<br />
The fall sapped the energy from me and felt like I laid there about half a minute before mustering the strength and emotion to get up and get moving again.<br />
<br />
At the final aid station I was low on energy so stopped for another full refill of the Amphipod and a couple potato wedges. I also grabbed a cup of <a href="http://dallanmanscill.com/2012/04/14/coke-and-running/" target="_blank">Coke for a quick caffeine injection</a> and found that it wasn't flat and thus would not sit well in my stomach. Oh well, too late. I thanked the volunteers who told me I had only 2.3 miles to go. Thank goodness. I couldn't take much more.<br />
<br />
All that remained was the mental challenge of the wooded trail heading East while I watched the few ahead of me on the lower trail heading for the finish. Normally such a sight would give me a boost of energy to get it over with but I was sapped and the lower trail felt more like it was teasing me when I really wasn't in the mood. There were a few spots where I could have shimmied down the hill and cut to the lower trail and home but as tempting as that seemed in my current state of exhaustion I would never do it. So I plodded on to the ultimate turn for home.<br />
<br />
No acceleration to the finish was happening today. I was spent. The course had gotten the better of me for sure but I was going to finish one way or the other. I'd love to say I ran that whole last mile in but I didn't. I walked about half of it. But I ran the last 100 yards and finished in 4:25. It was sunny and hot when I crossed the line and few participants were still there so there was no cheering, except for a gracious 8 year old and his mom who were sprawled on a blanket under the tree. I smiled a thanks to them, lowered my head to receive my medal and starting walking to the car. I had only one thing on my mind -- Tecnu.<br />
<br />
I slathered my entire body with the stuff when I got there, then changed out of the Skechers and into flip flops. After stretching a bit I walked back to the finish line to see how I did and found I finished 7th overall and second in my age group. I was super pleased and just as I was wondering who had finished first among the 40-somethings, I turned around to see an Englishman with a steel medal stating "1st" on it. We exchanged congratulations and war stories about the hills. He too had decided on Saturday to run this race, so I guess I'm not the only crazy one.<br />
<br />
I left desperately seeking a hot shower and cool ice bath. Marathon number 44 was in the books.<br />
And yes, Tecnu did the trick.<br />
<br />
<br />James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-28268598233519585342013-06-04T18:27:00.001-07:002013-06-04T18:27:35.267-07:00Hey, it's Saturday, I think I'll run a marathon tomorrow in Santa Cruz!Yes, that's exactly how my brain was working that day - with a little help from my wife.<br />
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<br />
As usual, I was in mid-training between marathons. The <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2013/04/la-marathon-from-walking-wounded-to.html" target="_blank">LA Marathon</a> was back in March and I was adding mileage in prep for the <a href="http://www.thesfmarathon.com/" target="_blank">SF Marathon</a> on June 16th. I needed a good 12-16 miles according to the training schedule and was planning to run that at Sawyer Camp. I woke up that morning and mentioned to Reesa that my good friend John Rymer was running the <a href="http://www.surferspathmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Surfer's Path Marathon</a> the following day and her response: "Why don't you run it with him?" She should never say such things to me.<br />
<br />
At first my response was, "No way! I'm not in marathon shape!" But the more I thought about it, I actually was pretty close. Two weeks prior was <a href="http://therelay.com/" target="_blank">The Golden Gate Relay</a> and I had put in about 20 miles (over two days). And Surfer's Path is a relatively flat course. Plus it would be fun to surprise John and run it with him. After a few hours of contemplation, I had rationalized my way into the affirmative. Next thing I knew, Reesa and I were in the car with the kids heading to Capitola to register and pick up my bib.<br />
<br />
It was a gorgeous weekend in Capitola. By the time we arrived, around 1pm, it was about 78 degrees, not a cloud in the sky and only a light breeze was blowing. An absolutely perfect day to go to the beach (which we did). The race day forecast called for low 60s in the morning, rising to only the mid 70s by the finish of the race, which was perfect marathoning weather. OK, let's do this thing!<br />
<br />
The Surfer's Path Marathon was just in its second year and is a combination of two popular but shorter events: <a href="http://www.wharftowharf.com/" target="_blank">Wharf to Wharf</a>, a 6 mile sprint from the <a href="http://www.beachboardwalk.com/" target="_blank">Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk</a> to the Capitola boardwalk; and the <a href="http://www.firstwave-events.com/events/santa-cruz-half-marathon-10k/" target="_blank">Santa Cruz Half Marathon</a>. I had done both these events many times and did the half marathon in this event last year, so I knew the course really well. It's a coastal run with great views of the water nearly the entire way. It definitely isn't flat, as the coastal trails here go up and down constantly so I knew hills would have to be my friends for this to go well. But perhaps hills is overstating it, as nearly everything in this race is between 0 and 100 feet above sea level.<br />
<br />
I arrived about 40 minutes prior to the start of the race and noticed it was substantially larger than the inaugural year. In 2012 there were less than 1,000 people registered and not even 150 for the marathon. I finished 9th overall in the Capitola Half Marathon that year; third in my age group - is every endurance runner in my age group? This year there were about 1,500 runners in total and about twice as many prepared to go 26.2 miles. It was a brisk morning, just as I had expected. I wasn't sure how quickly it would warm up so I kept a long sleeve shirt on just in case.<br />
<br />
After a few minutes I saw John walking toward the start from the main parking lot. I walked up casually and said, "Wow, you're running this too?" fully knowing he had registered well ahead of me. We had a good laugh and prepared to take off together for the run. It was a pretty casual start which I like - prevents t<a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Run-a-Marathon" target="_blank">he mental hurdle of getting caught up in the crowd</a> and weaving an extra mile or two into the start. Instead I was able to take off at a leisurely sub-8 min/mile pace as the course moved from the boardwalk up the first hill towards Capitola. <br />
<br />
Knowing what you are in for is a great feeling in a marathon. The course was a double out and back so you could easily plan out the run knowing when hills were coming and when you would get a nice downhill. I let my body dictate the pace as we weaved up the roads toward Capitola, which is a very cute, small beachside town. At the turnaround, we ran down the beachfront street with good views of the water and a string of fun little restaurants and bars, then down the main street which is lined with cute shops and art galleries. Most of the way back to Santa Cruz was downhill so I was able to hold a comfortable pace, crossing the halfway point in 1:40 minutes.<br />
<br />
The second half of the race is just as gorgeous but stays on the coast for much longer. Once you leave the boardwalk you stay on West Cliff Drive for about 4 miles winding along the cliff's edge where you can see crashing waves and surfers galore to your left and pricey, envy-inducing homes to your right. When the road comes to <a href="http://www.thatsmypark.org/cp-parks-beaches/natural-bridges-state-park/" target="_blank">Natural Bridges State Beach</a> you turn away from the beach and start heading for UC Santa Cruz. You never enter the campus but instead skirt around it and head into farm country for the big turn around. It's not a straight shot to a turn but a winding, climbing path of dirt trails that snake you through farms and coastal hills. If it weren't for the mile markers you never would have known when you had hit the turnaround.<br />
<br />
The interesting part about this section of the course was the solitude. With less than 300 marathoners in total I was alone most of the time, only occasionally seeing a runner I was chasing down or had chased me down. One runner in particular was about 200 yards ahead of me the full first half. I started pulling him in around mile 16 and just as I passed him, I saw his right calf tighten up and he pulled up with cramps (first time I'd actually seen a cramp hit a runner). What made this runner particularly memorable was the fact that I saw him later in the farm trails - ahead of me. Nope, never saw him pass me. Whatever...he's only cheating himself.<br />
<br />
About 21 miles in it was back to West Cliff Drive for the flat run to the finish. I was feeling good throughout the race, having kept my nutrition and hydration consistent and the pace manageable. But there's very few runners who don't feel the miles accumulating once you're in the 20s. This feeling hit me at 24 as I noticed my pace slowing significantly. A wave of exhaustion started to hit me so I had to mentally push it back. <i>Look at that gorgeous coastline, James. How can you be tired with two miles to go looking at such an incredible sight?</i> The <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=H0g9F9nNtlYC&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=self-talk+statements+in+marathoning&source=bl&ots=M33sAItgvX&sig=Ygu3xRrT8hHp-vuafhBx_nsjVSM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=AJOuUe2LFszFiwL_t4GQCA&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=self-talk%20statements%20in%20marathoning&f=false" target="_blank">self-talk</a> worked and by mile 25 my pace had returned.<br />
<br />
The finish to this race is downhill and dumps you right on the beach with your toes in the sand. I hit the line at 3:36, a fast finish for me and one hell of a fun training run. Real exhaustion hit after I crossed the line. I stumbled over to the aid station to get some water and a banana to replenish. After a few more minutes I decided to walk back up the hill to look for John who typically finishes about ten minutes above four hours. Not this time. By the time I reached the top of the hill and started to stretch, there he was, moving fast and looking great. He hit the line at 3:52 for his first sub-4 finish in at least a year. Well done, sir!<br />
<br />
We celebrated a great race with burgers and beers at <a href="http://99bottles.com/" target="_blank">99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall</a>. It was a good choice as according to the <a href="http://guinnesspours.net/2009/09/17/guinness-pub-finder-iphone-app/" target="_blank">Guinness Pub Finder app</a>, they had the best pour in town - and I concur.James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-5003116222705111552013-04-28T19:27:00.000-07:002013-04-28T19:27:30.167-07:00LA Marathon: From Walking Wounded to Winner<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The weeks between the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2013/04/is-my-aura-glowing-sedona-marathon-2013.html" target="_blank">Sedona Marathon</a> and <a href="http://www.lamarathon.com/" target="_blank">Los AngelesMarathon</a> should have been focused simply around an abbreviated training
schedule but instead became a lesson in unintended consequences. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a sunny Saturday morning I took my young cairn terrier
Kelty with me for what should have been a short run through one my favorite
hiking (and running) spots, <a href="http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/waterdog.html" target="_blank">Water Dog Park</a> in Belmont. I try to take Kelty here
about once a month as it provides tons of great smells for him, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>challenging hills, interesting technical trails
and sweeping views of the South Bay. Kelty’s been through basic obedience
training and was very good at sticking by my side when walking off-leash in
this park. We hit the park and took off at a run, six legs moving in stride, and
then hit the switchbacks that take you up towards the back of the Hallmark
Drive neighborhoods. Kelty fell a little behind but I looked back before taking
each switchback to ensure he was making each turn. However, about half-way up
he wasn’t behind me. I stopped and called him and heard him scurrying<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and barking. I called him again but figured
he had heard a rabbit or bird and was taking chase. However, when I reached the
prior switchback he was not there, nor on the one below or anywhere on the
trail below or above. I listened for him but now he had grown silent – not even
the jingling of his collar could be heard. Uh oh. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I kept calling him, looking and listening for him and
running up and down the trail in hopes of any sign of where he had gone. After
twenty minutes with no sign, I began to panic. I called Reesa and she rushed
down to the park to help me look. After twenty more minutes, we still hadn’t
heard him. Not good. A few other walkers and runners went by and none had seen
or heard a small dog either.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was very worrisome as the woods and bushes in Water Dog
Park get very thick the moment you get off the trail and if he had chased a
rabbit far off trail the chances of finding him; and he finding his way back to
me were slim. And a fact I tried to keep in the back of my mind was that Water
Dog Park is also home to coyotes and mountain lions. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Kelty had disappeared just one switchback behind me and so I
knew from where he must have disappeared into the bushes. Time was not on my
side and so I decided I needed to go further off-road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my running shorts and technical tee, no
gloves, no long sleeves and just a phone, I started stomping and pushing my way
through the bushes where I surmised he most likely left the trail. I wished I
had had a machete as working my way through the bushes was incredibly tough
going. I went straight, or as straight ahead as I could, for five minutes
calling Kelty then stopping and listening. No sound. So I pushed on. Looking
back the bushes were as thick behind me as ahead. I could easily get lost in
here, just as Kelty had. Five more minutes passed calling and listening and then
there it was. The sound of jangling dog tags. I frantically tried to pinpoint
the direction of the sound. I smashed bushes to the west, the sound waned. I
switched to East, better but still faint. I pushed further south away from the
trail, better still. I pushed even further south, lost my footing and went down in a
heap snapping branches, snagging my shirt on thorns and scraping up my legs.
But better, the jingle was right ahead. I grabbed a large branch and pulled it
hard and behind was a small clearing and down on all fours looking back at me
with a mix of worry and shame was Kelty. He knew he had done wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I worked my way through the bushes the rest of the way to him
and pulled him into my arms hugging him tightly while saying to myself for the
millionth time that morning that I would never take him off leash again. After
we both calmed down and greeted each other, I called Reesa to give her the good
news and then turned around to see which way would be the easiest back to the
trail. Uh oh. Which way was the trail? In every direction the bushes were
thick. I was pretty sure I knew how to go North and that the trail would be
found that way. After pushing through about 50 feet of bushes, I could find no
trail. Was it left or right from here? I couldn’t see the clearing either
direction and no one was on the trail this morning. And then someone was. A
group of hikers went by and their sound pointed me out. I fought back the
branches with one arm while cradling Kelty in the other protecting him from the
snap back of each branch as we moved finally out to the clearing and back on
the trail. Whew.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I took Kelty home, ensured he wasn’t hurt then took to the
shower and to applying first aid to all my scrapes and cuts. There were a lot
of them but I felt they were a small price to pay for getting Kelty back and I
certainly deserved it for putting him at risk like that, I told myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following day was back to normal and I went on a long
training run in Pacifica. The following Monday I flew off to the east coast for
work. As I sat in my seat on the five hour flight, I noticed a few of my cuts,
especially on the backs of my legs were getting itchy and seemed to be oozing a
bit. I didn’t think much of it until I got off the flight and the backs of my pant
legs were completely soaked with it. I got to the hotel and took off my pants and
found both my legs, from ankle to upper thigh were red, covered in welts and
several were actively oozing clear yellowish liquid. What the heck? I felt fine
the day before. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As the week wore on, it got progressively worse. More oozing,
strong itching and growing redness were taking over my legs. Poison oak had
struck me hard. I flew back home mid-week and immediately went to the doctor
who said it was one of the worst cases she had ever seen and immediately
prescribed antihistamines and a steroid cream. I got into a routine of nightly
oatmeal baths and wore long underwear under all my clothes to keep my garments
from rubbing the wounds and keep any ooze from ruining my suits. This went on
for more than a month before getting significantly better. And of course I kept
accidentally reinfecting myself which prolonged the affects. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through all of this I had to find time to train and of
course tolerate that training. Three weeks in, it was time for the requisite 20
miler before the marathon and it’s hard to find a course that isn’t near
or through the woods. And as I had learned, once you have a bad poison oak
attack you are overly sensitive to it for the rest of your life. So for the
long run I covered every inch of my body and after it was over rubbed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecnu" target="_blank">Tecnu </a>all
over my body. The run was okay, not too uncomfortable. It was sitting, walking
and generally just going about everyday life that was worse.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A couple weeks prior to the LA Marathon, I was thoroughly
frustrated with the weeks of poison oak attacks and was having a particularly bad
day when, while exiting my car, I accidentally caught my thumb in the door as it
closed. I jerked my thumb free and let out a primal scream of pain. It
immediately turned dark purple filled with blood beneath the nail and swelled
up to twice it’s normal size. The pain was worse than a bone break for sure. I
immediately elevated it, doused it in cold water and reached for the iPad to
<a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/how-treat-smashed-thumb-finger-toe-3789392.html" target="_blank">research what to do</a>. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ziY1f2DwE" target="_blank">Oh boy</a>, this was going to be another fun recovery. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So when it came time to travel to LA for the Marathon, here
I was dousing my legs (and now my arms) in steroid cream, popping antihistamines
and tenderly trying to make sure I didn’t bang my thumb. Heck of a way to
prepare for a marathon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Obviously I didn’t have any expectations for this marathon
except to finish. We arrived at our hotel in Santa Monica around rush hour on
Friday, which provided a quick reminder of why I don’t live in the LA area any
more. We avoided the freeways of course but it still took over an hour to go
twelve miles. When we arrived the <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/santa-monica/" target="_blank">Fairmont Hotel</a> was a great oasis. Our room
overlooked the pool and ocean but you couldn’t tell because the fog had rolled
in. We rested in the room and planned for a nice day visiting family and
friends, picking up my race bib downtown and shopping for a spell on the <a href="http://www.santamonica.com/visitors/what-to-do/shopping/downtown/" target="_blank">Third Street Promenade</a>. Saturday evening we met up with our fellow LA Marathoner
friends at a killer Mexican tapas restaurant in Santa Monica, <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g33052-d3246269-Reviews-Mercado-Santa_Monica_California.html" target="_blank">Mercado</a>. They
served the freshest, most inventive dishes I had ever had in the Mexican genre.
Everyone went crazy for the roasted cactus and the incredible desserts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following morning, I took the bus from Santa Monica (the
finish line for the race) to <a href="http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/ballpark/index.jsp" target="_blank">Dodger Stadium</a> where I again met up with my fellow
racers. Yan, whom I had met through TNT in the Bay Area had moved to Brentwood
so was the local in our group. Kent grew up in Brentwood and so was using the
trip to see family, while the rest of us were looking forward to the tour.
Having lived in LA while in graduate school at USC, I knew the town pretty well
and knew the course would hit all the hot spots. After leaving Dodger Stadium,
it wound South to downtown, past <a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/what-to-do/activities/olvera-street?gclid=CLSTnbno7rYCFUFo4Aod_nAA2Q" target="_blank">Olvera Street</a> with its little Mexico City
feel, and through various neighborhoods on its way to Hollywood. We got a taste
of both Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd and a short jaunt down Rodeo Drive in
Beverly Hills. Through the first 16 miles Kent and I ran together and had a
great time. We were reminiscing about things we had done in LA while living
here, noticing what had changed and being surprised by a few things you don’t
see when you are driving around trying to stay focused on traffic. Once of the
things I will always love most about LA was very apparent during this race <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- the oh-so friendly people. We said hi to
many other runners and tons of spectators. Everyone was so supportive,
encouraging and helpful along the way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At one point I jokingly asked those running around us, “So
how long is a marathon anyways?” and got several helpful replies as well as
more than a few chuckles. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was feeling fantastic throughout the race. It had been
cool at the start and mostly overcast throughout which made for perfect
conditions. Around mile 17 we headed into the grounds of the West LA
Veterans Hospital which is home to one of the oldest, still standing buildings
in LA. I hadn’t visited this huge park-like location before and was checking
everything out and before we had left, noticed Kent was no longer with me. After
seeing his family and pausing briefly for a hug and photos, we lost sight of
each other as he, I later found out, had started to feel the effects of the
distance and pace we were sharing. </div>
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<br /></div>
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In Brentwood I was surrounded by other runners holding a
similar pace, so I stuck with them as we entered the 20s. I still felt great
which is unusual for me this late in a marathon, and when we passed the 25 mile marker, I
knew today was going to be a great day. My nutrition plan was working
perfectly, I had the right gear, the right shoes and definitely the right
mindset. I felt good enough in fact that I decided to pick it up for the last
mile. Rarely do I have the energy and stamina for this but LA was different. So
did a woman near me apparently as we jockeyed for the lead back and forth over
the final mile and straight up the finishing shoot. I crossed the line at 3:39. It was a hard finishing sprint and I felt its effects as I cooled
down in the finishers area. But the overwhelming feeling I had – all day in
fact – was joy. This was a great race. And the poison oak and smashed thumb
barely even registered in my mind. </div>
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<br /></div>
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After stretching and cheering on other racers I met up with
the rest of our group at a <a href="http://www.finnmccoolsirishpub.com/" target="_blank">classic Irish Pub</a> in Santa Monica wear we toasted a
fantastic course, great day and the sense of accomplishment with, what else,
Guinness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man, I love running. </div>
James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-22509149765106381762013-04-11T08:44:00.002-07:002013-04-11T08:45:53.294-07:00Is My Aura Glowing? Sedona Marathon 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zcOvm2oIWeaoGLO7hUSXUJRBzefihxnw_JkFDWJAkc23dZNzjTF2atdwECJAqSKPoVUeIqxAppV6l_upp9YZt_eqEn-VRdkq8XJmt_Q5oatxoaA5PrI2o4HpHrORVo80K_7KSEgLqjuF/s1600/Panorama+Boynton+Canyon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zcOvm2oIWeaoGLO7hUSXUJRBzefihxnw_JkFDWJAkc23dZNzjTF2atdwECJAqSKPoVUeIqxAppV6l_upp9YZt_eqEn-VRdkq8XJmt_Q5oatxoaA5PrI2o4HpHrORVo80K_7KSEgLqjuF/s400/Panorama+Boynton+Canyon.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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With a tough, mentally challenging but at the same time
rewarding year of running in 2012, it was time to start 2013 with new
experiences and in the process I think I found my second favorite place in the
world.<br />
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<a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2013/04/santa-barbara-marathon-2012-homecoming.html" target="_blank">If 2012 was all about speed and a goal unattained</a>, I felt
2013 should be about healing. Seemed appropriate then when my good friend John
called up to say he had just registered for the marathon in Sedona, Arizona and
wanted to know if I would join him. I’d wanted to go to Sedona since my wife
and I <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/HFD" target="_blank">hiked the Grand Canyon</a>. On the bus trip to the biggest hole in the United
States (<a href="http://www.fixthedebt.org/blog/now-that-house-and-senate-approved-budgets-its-time-for-leadership_1#.UWbRF5OG2Ag" target="_blank">outside of Washington, D.C.</a>) we passed the byway to Sedona and everyone
chuckled about having their <a href="http://www.myintuition.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61:what-does-your-aura-reveal-about-you&catid=34:newsletters&Itemid=30" target="_blank">aura read</a>, <a href="http://www.arizona-leisure.com/mystical-vortexes.html" target="_blank">mystic vortexes</a> in the mountains and the
wacky artists that populate the place. It sounded like a cross between Santa Fe
and Haight-Ashbury. I had also heard it was home to some of the most renowned spas
and rock formations in the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To make the trip more memorable we decided it shouldn’t be
about the run but a chance to bring our wives and make it a vacation – with a
short 3-4 hour Sunday morning interlude. Boy was this a good decision. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Reesa and I had spent the holidays with family and our work
years had started off fast and furious so a break from the action in early
February sounded like a great decision. We booked bungalows at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g31352-d74253-Reviews-Enchantment_Resort-Sedona_Arizona.html" target="_blank">The Enchantment Resort & Spa</a>, not knowing much about the place other than its excellent reviews on
<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/" target="_blank">TripAdvisor</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As for training, I had taken it easy after <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2013/04/santa-barbara-marathon-2012-homecoming.html" target="_blank">Santa Barbara</a> and
was running for myself, not the miles. I worked up to 16 because I felt like
it, not because I had to. I had also started the year by focusing on
reconnecting with the <a href="http://smsrun.ning.com/" target="_blank">SMS running club</a> and making running more social. When it
was time for a 20-miler, I went back to my mainstay – San Francisco to Tiburon
and on an absolutely gorgeous January morning 10 of us took in its incredible
sites and a fabulous breakfast out of the patio behind Sam’s watching the sun
rise over The City. </div>
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It was a good omen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My wife and I flew to Phoenix that weekend then had a
wonderful organic breakfast at <a href="http://www.thefarmatsouthmountain.com/the-farm-at-south-mountain-morning-glory.php" target="_blank">The Farm at South Mountain</a>. The place is less
than two miles from the airport and literally is in the middle of a farm. It
was a perfect setting on a beautiful sunny day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hPfWVNzN8nvwuyghbSELLqskBIFmgJk-AZZRTR8RJoYbq-dgtl99MkHxzCzaMKavcf-kN6e_nCU6N_3ofbey-DrRrERYrGidghVpxq_KMEUZ_1busXJxIMozpJb5zj_oBh-8jGYdbJn-/s1600/Byway+1+sedona.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hPfWVNzN8nvwuyghbSELLqskBIFmgJk-AZZRTR8RJoYbq-dgtl99MkHxzCzaMKavcf-kN6e_nCU6N_3ofbey-DrRrERYrGidghVpxq_KMEUZ_1busXJxIMozpJb5zj_oBh-8jGYdbJn-/s320/Byway+1+sedona.29.jpg" width="320" /></a>Heading North from Phoenix about 90 miles up we hit the same
scenic byway we had seen that weekend with the hike team but this time we took
the turn and literally no more than five minutes later I got a sense of what
was in store for the weekend. Looking North towards some pretty standard
Arizona desert mountains a crack appeared at the top and behind it was a rich
red stone as we turned the corner further that crack turned into a valley
ringed with rich reds and oranges that created a valley unlike any I had ever
seen. I lost count how many times I said, “wow,” and “amazing.” I drove slow (which
is a big deal for me, as those who have carpooled with me will tell you) looking
for the best, any, place to pull over, step outside and take it all in. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw5o_F-VnyLMNNDPZWs7IbiOaCvzHzQlfrg6aKH9f8PmI-5kx0I3MLkTupAWBSNawYQ6-507YkWn63mQuW3k9o1rIZPBgYf-GKOP3fEtEZUqPh6a8oom16a334fF-YXqcUmVhIHZBtmxP/s1600/Courthouse+Rock.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw5o_F-VnyLMNNDPZWs7IbiOaCvzHzQlfrg6aKH9f8PmI-5kx0I3MLkTupAWBSNawYQ6-507YkWn63mQuW3k9o1rIZPBgYf-GKOP3fEtEZUqPh6a8oom16a334fF-YXqcUmVhIHZBtmxP/s320/Courthouse+Rock.25.jpg" width="320" /></a>Sedona’s red hills were everywhere we looked and created
incredible formations. Now I know why so many people come here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We hit the town and nearly ran out of town looking for the
resort. Good thing we kept driving because it was past the town, down deep in a
red rock valley nestled up against the hillside. Constructed in a deep red
adobe, the resort blended in beautifully with the canyon and there were views
of the mountains everywhere you looked. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVAnjna3U-uGZObapq5IKmceiRMw8RP-E5Tcere5CsuvARy9q2jSNryITp7KNao16-BHMfcWb5gLeNj9AR8ofQ27MxzZfQ3gdSQhzpYNtt1B4JYbP0tmZ7yVHnh_er6ELzaaq5uuixUlF/s1600/Sedona2.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVAnjna3U-uGZObapq5IKmceiRMw8RP-E5Tcere5CsuvARy9q2jSNryITp7KNao16-BHMfcWb5gLeNj9AR8ofQ27MxzZfQ3gdSQhzpYNtt1B4JYbP0tmZ7yVHnh_er6ELzaaq5uuixUlF/s320/Sedona2.58.jpg" width="320" /></a>Saturday we took simple hikes around the valley and visited
the center of town. If you go, know that the attractions here are the nature,
not the town. There’s enough town to sell gear to all the hikers, curios to
take home to the curious relatives and galleries to show off what it seems
everyone does for a living here – make art inspired by the surroundings. I mean
no disrespect to the native economy; even Rodeo Drive would land a distant second
to these mountains. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On race day morning, John and I drove from our resort up to
the race start which sat on a plateau overlooking the incredible mountains. As
the sun began to rise we saw hot air balloons in the distance gliding over the
scenery making for some incredible pictures. The temperature was nearly
perfect. Desert mornings, especially this time of year, can be very nippy but
with no clouds in the sky and the sun rising quickly it was in the mid 40s by
race time. We shed our layers, left them in the car and headed to the start. </div>
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How’s this for an envious beginning: The start was a downhill slope overlooking
the canyon so that everyone lined up to race could look straight ahead and see
over everyone’s heads and above the Welcome banner to see the sun turning
sandstone every shade from red to brown. If a gun hadn’t gone off, I might
still be standing there staring in awe. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If there’s any downside to all this natural beauty it’s that
there’s no flat in Sedona – anywhere. Certainly not for 26.2 miles. So the
marathon was a constant up and down. No climbs were significant but the race
starts at 4,000 feet and you go up and down every mile or so gaining 500 feet
at a time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The course is an out and back through the same canyon where
our resort was located. It starts out on paved roads and about seven miles in
switches to red dirt trails, which felt great on the feet and knees. John and I
started off at different paces so we lost sight of each other after about
three miles. No more than two more miles in and I found myself side by side with Pete a
professor of Forestry at <a href="http://nau.edu/cefns/forestry/" target="_blank">Northern Arizona University</a>, in Flagstaff. He had
driven down that morning to run the race and turned out to be nearly my exact
pace. We shared life and running stories for the next 15 miles. I’m sure he got
sick of me ogling the mountains and constantly muttering, “just incredible”
but if he did, he kept it to himself. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There’s a big reason I run with friends – the miles go by so
much faster and easier. This was certainly the case that day. Normally in a
race with so many ups and downs of this magnitude each subsequent climb would
drain you for the next. But we held pace.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The race was very close to our resort and our wives simply
had to walk about a third of a mile to the fork in the road to see us at around
mile nineteen. As we rounded the bend, there they were and not just waiting.
They had been drafted into the volunteer water stop and were cheering for
everyone. I like to think they cheered a little louder when we went by. I’m
pretty sure I was the only one to get a big hug. :)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shortly after seeing Reesa, another hill came and I started
feeling the miles. It was warming up as well but I don’t think that was as much
of a factor as the 20-plus miles that were now behind me. During the next
downhill, I slowed considerably wanting to maximize the recovery but that might
have been a bad idea as the next hill was more than a mile long and I didn’t
have it. Pete, and his fresher legs left me, which didn’t help and I found
myself walking a bit towards the top of the hill. The course leveled off again with
less than a mile to go then turned into the small village. I looked up ahead
and there was the finish – up yet another hill. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Knowing I was close, I poured on what little energy I had
left and finished strong. Okay, semi-strong. But felt great. In fact, I felt
amazing. Not because I wasn’t tired but because I had regained what I had lost
in 2012 – the love for running. Nothing beats the feeling of crossing the
finish line after a hard effort and I remembered that this time. It was an incredible
day, in an incredible place. I feel like it healed me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYG3EG3wDtJ7SWkF1Ysg3MmAazmb2Ix72wuUbTqwfXDFsaPgojGrUEROFdZXhYAUDtcXdaDw83qZ-2NXLmQm6XIeSR_4UJQj3j0KUD5_VJhE8p5s_7A8XLnqq399F72rsea8kHcOwJe7J/s1600/Sedona2.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYG3EG3wDtJ7SWkF1Ysg3MmAazmb2Ix72wuUbTqwfXDFsaPgojGrUEROFdZXhYAUDtcXdaDw83qZ-2NXLmQm6XIeSR_4UJQj3j0KUD5_VJhE8p5s_7A8XLnqq399F72rsea8kHcOwJe7J/s320/Sedona2.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thanks, Sedona. <o:p></o:p></div>
James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-51354070851890924812013-04-08T13:36:00.000-07:002013-04-08T13:36:15.578-07:00Santa Barbara Marathon 2012 - A Homecoming MarredMy first real college experience was <a href="http://www.ucsb.edu/" target="_blank">UC Santa Barbara</a> so
running the marathon here was set to be special treat. It wasn’t for several
reasons. First and foremost, it’s taken me a long while to return to this
running blog because 2012 was a year I messed with my mental state about
running. Second, <a href="http://www.sbimarathon.com/" target="_blank">Santa Barbara mapped the race</a> around its best features – gotta
fix that. Third, a revised nutrition plan failed.<br />
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I’m someone who thrives best when I have a goal and, as many
of you know, a marathon alone isn’t good enough a goal anymore. So at the end
of 2011, I set out to make 2012 the year of the personal record. And not just
besting my Arizona Rock & Roll time of 3:17 but <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2012/02/what-is-it-with-freezing-texas.html" target="_blank">to break an elusive mark –3 hours</a>. I asked a friend and former <a href="http://www.newbalance.com/Team-New-Balance-Roster/team_nb_roster,default,pg.html" target="_blank">New Balance Running Team</a> member to coach
me. He set out a realistic plan mixed with long runs, speed work at the track
and lots of hill work. It was a reasonable plan and one that helped me with
speed for sure. If you’ve read my blogs from the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2012/08/et-midnight-marathon-lit-up-sky.html" target="_blank">earlier runs in 2012</a>, I
struggled all year to see the benefits of that training come earlier than planned
and messed up my race plans a couple times. The goal event for that race plan
was this one – Santa Barbara. <o:p></o:p></div>
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All my training runs since the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2012/08/et-midnight-marathon-lit-up-sky.html" target="_blank">ET Midnight Marathon</a> had been
good – sort of. Work travel had picked up in the latter half of the year and
that had some effect on how much I was training. I was also forced to resign as
a <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/" target="_blank">TNT</a> coach due to work travel – I simply wasn’t able to be there often enough
for the participants. Having been a coach since 2007 and a member of this incredible
charity organization since 2003, this was a very hard decision for me. I feared
I would lose touch with many of my friends – and sadly, I did.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shortly after leaving the program, however, I was still
staying in touch with a few TNT coaches, mentors and captains. One of the
coaches told me about a<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Waterlogged-Serious-Problem-Overhydration-Endurance/dp/145042497X" target="_blank"> new book</a> he had read on endurance sports nutrition that
drew the conclusion, backed by significant research, that endurance drinks and
gels provided no greater endurance or energy effects during sustained
activities (including marathons). It suggested that athletes using water and natural
foods, like raisins and such would achieve greater performance than those
succumbing to the marketing from Gatorade and its brethren. So I read the book
(or at least the first several chapters) and decided to heed its advice in prep
for this race and during it. I tested this new plan first at a <a href="http://www.surferspathmarathon.com/" target="_blank">half marathon inSanta Cruz, California</a> where it seemed to work perfectly. Thanks to the extra
speed work I was able to finish this race in 1:21, sustaining a strong sub-7
pace the whole way and achieving a negative split. This was a huge
accomplishment for me as I rarely accomplished a negative split in a race of
this length and the pace I held gave me great confidence I could hold this pace
for longer – maybe even the full marathon, which would get me my 3 hour finish.
My time at this race was good enough for third in my age group but sadly the
race was just under a mile short of 13.1 so no PR. But the new nutrition plan
had worked. I had good energy the whole way with just water and raisins. <o:p></o:p></div>
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With my success in the half I felt ready for Santa Barbara
but noticed something else about my training that I really didn’t like. I wasn’t
enjoying it. For me, running is a passion, stress reliever and motivation. I
hate the days I don’t get a run in most of the time. Lately, however, I was
hating getting up to go run. I knew the training would help me achieve my goal
if I just did the work but I was finding that I wasn’t meeting the speed goals in
my training runs and it was demotivating. As the race got closer, the pace
needed in speed work and the pace needed to be sustained in long runs got
lower. On the track I was meeting my goals but on the long runs I wasn’t. I don’t
think this was physical – I simply wasn’t enjoying running any more. It had
become work, rather than passion; rote instead of joy. It had become so much so
that outside of my 20-mile run in Marin County, which is impossible not to
enjoy, I just didn’t feel like being out there. On top of that I was finishing
these runs far more tired than I felt I should be. Was it the pace? Was it the
new nutrition plan? Was it the business travel? I think it was all of the
above. <o:p></o:p></div>
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By the week before the marathon, I simply wanted it all to
be over.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was early morning the Friday before the marathon and I
woke up in a strange bed. My friend and work colleague John Rymer and his son,
Zach, the lead baseball writer for <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/baseball" target="_blank">BleacherReport</a> were carpooling down to Santa Barbara to do the marathon with
me and I had taken BART over to John’s home the night before. After waking in
his guest bedroom, it was time to wash up quickly and quietly so we could get
on the road early that morning for the 5 hour drive. We decided to head down Friday
so we could spend some time with a company client and cloud computing leader,
<a href="http://www.rightscale.com/" target="_blank">Rightscale </a>at their headquarters. John hadn’t met them before and I was overdue
for a refresher on the leading cloud-first DevOps management vendor. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We arrived in Santa Barbara to cool overcast skies, a good
omen for the race. My wife and friends from the SMS running club came down
later that day and we met up that night at a fantastic restaurant for the pre-meal
well-wishing and hopes-sharing for race day. The following day we spent
downtown walking State Street, visiting the beach and just relaxing and
enjoying this great city. It had been 27 years since I had walked State Street
yet it was still the heart of Santa Barbara. The street is filled with fashion shops,
head shops, surf shops and the odd sandwich shop. We passed by the movie
theater where I first saw <i>Back to the
Future</i>, a fond early college memory. We didn’t make it over to the campus
of UC Santa Barbara or over to Isla Vista or Goleta beach which were popular
college hang outs. I figured I would see them all during the marathon. I was
wrong.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I tend not to look at a marathon race course before race
day. I prefer to be surprised by the scenery. I look over the elevation
profile, however. Not an issue in Santa Barbara. On race day I wondered whether
the marathon should be renamed the Santa Barbara suburbs marathon instead. We saw
several outlying neighborhoods of Santa Barbara, skirted the university, passed
through the town of Goleta but missed the campus, IV, State Street and
everything else that makes Santa Barbara what it is. The finish was along the
ocean, which was perhaps the main saving grace.
Or maybe it was just my mood.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sadly, for me, Santa Barbara was supposed to be the
fulfillment event of all my year-long training to break three hours. I wasn’t
even close. After feeling strong through the first half, my new nutrition plan
of water, raisins and a Cliff Bar at the start were failing me. My long run
experiences of not being able to handle the pace, proved true as I slowed
substantially in the second half. I had resigned to myself that 3 hours was
likely out of reach even before I started the race but had said I would go out
at the pace that felt good and listen to my body. My mind told my body, about
18 miles in, that today wasn’t the day and that if Santa Barbara would go as
anything it would be the end of a year of training that, frankly, I just didn’t
enjoy. At the end of the day I didn’t even try to break 3 hours. I instead,
simple wanted to get it over with. It didn’t help that my hopes of visiting the
campus, running down the bar-filled streets of IV and triumphantly flying down
a downtown street would be squashed by an anticlimactic course. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To me, that was just icing on the cake. I was more relieved
than happy when I crossed the finish line. It was a tough finish. I was much in
need of nutrition. The new plan had slowly depleted me of what I needed and
made the final five miles agony – a far contrast from the half just a month
earlier. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s disappointing because a marathon should finish with an
incredible sense of accomplishment. All my marathons prior to 2012 had been
exactly that. My conclusion about 2012 was that pursuing an unrealistic goal (I
know that now) took the love of running from me, instead turning it into a job.
Sadly it was a job I really didn’t like. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That day was tough for everyone. It was hotter than expected
and the lack of scenery seemed to sap John, Zach and others as well. We took
our solace in a warm shower, great Mexican food on State Street and Guinness.
If anything, the ending was perfect. <o:p></o:p></div>
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James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-87703002533694821332012-08-06T13:03:00.002-07:002012-08-06T14:02:14.021-07:00ET Midnight Marathon Lit Up the Sky<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Back in 2009 I first heard about <a href="http://calicoracing.squarespace.com/et-full-moon-midnight-maratho/" target="_blank">The ET Midnight Marathon</a>, this wacky marathon being held in the Nevada Desert at midnight along the notorious <a href="http://byways.org/explore/byways/2029/" target="_blank">Extraterrestrial Highway</a> -- the spot in the US that has the most reported UFO sightings. It was held at midnight each year, during a full moon cycle. It was strange, geeky and challenging all at once. How could I say no. Well it took me three years to find room for it on my running calendar and it lived up to all the expectations. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I convinced my work colleague and fellow marathon fanatic, John Rymer, into joining me. We flew into Las Vegas Saturday morning and were immediately hit by the summer heat that was pushing past 100 degrees. This would normally be a warning sign that a marathon on this day was a very bad idea. But for anyone who has lived in the desert you know that temperatures can swing wildly from day to night. And <a href="http://www.rachel-nevada.com/" target="_blank">Rachel, Nevada</a>, which is in the high desert, above 4000 feet, the temperature there can be up to 15 degrees cooler. That meant 100 mid-day in Vegas and sub-70 degrees come race time. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZqAPrWq8vXxXEUTNUuQMRTBiyEHP3kHkAhAAvD3SS0pShlPRvnRbANu_8ZQuYWsFWVhaOC99F4OM_AXgDybKu9cbIJOAHD1CeaMnzIb8DYZfEb_WO1PS7QhqMNTNzZDSB5JCOBn6BHhb/s1600/photo+%281%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZqAPrWq8vXxXEUTNUuQMRTBiyEHP3kHkAhAAvD3SS0pShlPRvnRbANu_8ZQuYWsFWVhaOC99F4OM_AXgDybKu9cbIJOAHD1CeaMnzIb8DYZfEb_WO1PS7QhqMNTNzZDSB5JCOBn6BHhb/s320/photo+%281%29.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">After getting lunch at Sammy Hagar's<a href="http://www.cabowabocantina.com/cantina/vegas/about" target="_blank"> Cabo Wabo Cantina</a> and watching the <a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/other-sports/olympics/2012/08/04/farah-wins-olympic-golden-day-for-brits/loysDCJvXOEFQLOvsx93sO/story.html" target="_blank">thrilling Men's 10,000 meter Olympic final</a> from London, we headed over to the expo which was filled with similarly crazy people - about 600 or so -- who also wanted to run in alien territory. The majority of participants were there for the 10K or half marathon but about 150 hearty souls signed up for the full marathon and about ten more for the 51K. You can't have just a 50K when running alongside<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_51" target="_blank"> Area 51</a>, after all. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">We went back to our room to get a short nap, dress our chairs, eat a little dinner and relax before the 2.5 hour bus ride from Las Vegas to Rachel. Since the race is at midnight and no lighting is provided, everyone is required to wear reflective material, a headlamp and glow sticks. That's the minimum. Plenty of people went over the top, of course. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">When we got to the bus stop at the Hard Rock Cafe, John and I both had alien heads bobbing above us and sticky little aliens dangling from our belts. I joking told people they were there to ward off any possible abductions. But we were no match for some of the other costumes we saw. <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/download/145640547/Marvin_the_Martian_by_raelynn36.jpg" target="_blank">Marvin the Martian</a> from Looney Toons fame was there in full regalia - including the full helmet and mask. As was a Power Ranger, and several Hollywood-style aliens. As for illumination, I was thoroughly impressed with the women who wore a blinking bridal veil, the man who's whole back blinked and the walkers who were so covered in glow sticks that they lit the road wherever they stood.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpjBJDhZAdDBlvj-T67_UwFWW_GV3B240HX0X1VPQ7xGqOv49kr2KKDRklhSgRyVNxXhHeRqMkHNj5tU8CD0ChU4JsLCIhrTJVankbwwFJqUkJY9ppT-Bo6H-XetyMULS-uTuO22xLEFP/s1600/photo+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpjBJDhZAdDBlvj-T67_UwFWW_GV3B240HX0X1VPQ7xGqOv49kr2KKDRklhSgRyVNxXhHeRqMkHNj5tU8CD0ChU4JsLCIhrTJVankbwwFJqUkJY9ppT-Bo6H-XetyMULS-uTuO22xLEFP/s200/photo+%282%29.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The buses dropped us at the "<a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2008/aug/21/nation/na-mailbox21" target="_blank">black mailbox</a>" which signifies the start of the ET Highway. Way off to the right from here is the US Air Force base best known as Area 51 and suspected by many to be where the military is housing downed UFO spaceships. The "black mailbox." ironically is painted white and painted on its side, (in black paint) is "We believe."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">This fun, wacky setting was a perfect setup for what would be a rather tough marathon. Starting at 4500 feet, the course went up roughly 1000 feet over the first 13 miles, then dropped the next 7, arriving at the town of Rachel and <a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2896" target="_blank">The Little A "lee" Inn</a>. That's the finish line but since we're doing 26.2, not 20 miles we bypass the finish and continue along the ET highway 3.1 more miles and turn around. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Sounds simple enough but this turned out to be a very tough course and a harsh conviction of my lax training over the last few months. Work has been very stressful and all-consuming over the last couple of months, so getting sick and not getting enough sleep over this time period really did me in.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I started out strong at 7:26 for the first mile as I broke free from the crowd of 150 or so marathoners. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">By mile two I pulled the pace back to 8:20 without really noticing it, as we started the climb. By mile 5 you could really feel the climb but I was holding 8:30s.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">As the marathoners started to spread out you could really take in the beauty of this desert. As far as you could see to the left and right were fields of dirt and cacti that disappeared into purple mountains in the distance. Ahead of you was a flat road rising and disappearing at the horizon. It was a full moon with just scattered clouds so you could see thousands of stars overhead. This made the evening very special as I saw ten shooting stars throughout the race. And yes, I made a wish on every one. Mostly health, happiness and long life for those I love.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Around
mile 8 I was getting mild stomach cramps. I had a PowerGel at 5 miles
and was planning another at 10. So I decided to back off to every six miles and that
seemed to help.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I was also steadily passing other marathoners every half-mile or so. By mile eight, we started catching up to the back of the pack half marathoners so you never really felt alone on the course. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">By mile 11 the climb got more significant and pushed my pace back to 9:30, then above 10 for mile 12.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">At 13 it leveled off, then started descending but I had burnt a lot of energy climbing and so couldn't pick up the pace as much as I would have liked. I was around 8:30-8:45 each mile through 21. Then I hit the wall. Miles 22 and 23 were rough. 10 min miles. I was tired. The last 6 miles are out and back, turning at 23.1. When I turned the volunteer told me I was 21st overall, and there were two people ahead if me that I felt I could catch, so I picked up the pace and got a second wind. Their blinking lights and reflectors made them beacons in front of me that drove me forward. I wanted a top 20 finish!</span> <br />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">But pacing was still not great, I could only muster 9:15-8:40 but by mile 25 I had caught and passed them both. Now I wanted to keep that lead so I kept the pace strong through the finish and ended 19th.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Time wasn't great - 3:56 but I'll take it given how I felt.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I definitely don't think I'm fully recovered from being sick the last few weeks and obviously a midnight start put me at a sleep deficit. It's now Monday and I'm definitely feeling a bit off. John and I crashed on the bus ride back to Vegas and in our hotel room after we got back but I'm definitely still feeling it today.</span> <br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I know I could have run this stronger under the right conditions. Oh well. Now I have 12 weeks to get sleep, prepare properly, get in more consistent speed work and shoot for the magic 3:00 mark I am seeking at the <a href="http://www.sbimarathon.com/" target="_blank">Santa Barbara Marathon</a> in November. Wish me luck!</span>James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-83584881046018211302012-06-22T04:00:00.004-07:002012-06-22T04:00:24.284-07:00Finally, a negative split - Capitola Half Marathon<br />
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">After my self-proclaimed <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.ie/2012/03/go-out-like-cheetah-die-like-pig-my.html" target="_blank">disaster of a test marathon in Napa</a>, I finally got my head on straight at the inaugural <a href="http://events.lifestyleescapes.com/half-marathon/" target="_blank">Capitola Half Marathon</a>. <i>I know, I know, this race was back in May and now it's July. Suffice it to say that I have been buried with work and just couldn't prioritize writing this up so apologies if it sounds like old news.</i> But to me, it is a very big deal to have finally - after 9 years of serious running - run a negative split in a race of this length.</span><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNlhZ1S8sHFN_BXsKPqVTdDOGhISPeb3QaA9axqUbfvq8AtLMTvOz43qEh1zaKozEmFrlUm5dVpLGz9e9vKFC14PhEvIUrBQQv3HihnpHzT_SYEDPntkJEul-7_xMgR_hpPcP8TVTxKtv/s1600/Capitola+Win.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNlhZ1S8sHFN_BXsKPqVTdDOGhISPeb3QaA9axqUbfvq8AtLMTvOz43qEh1zaKozEmFrlUm5dVpLGz9e9vKFC14PhEvIUrBQQv3HihnpHzT_SYEDPntkJEul-7_xMgR_hpPcP8TVTxKtv/s320/Capitola+Win.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Receiving the prize for 3rd in my age group</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">As many of you know my goal for 2012 is to see if a man of my age can actually improve his time in the marathon and more-so, take off nearly 17 minutes and break the 3-hour mark. I started this journey back in January of this year and have been making steady if slow progress towards this goal. I <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.ie/2011/12/payback-feels-good-north-face-marathon.html" target="_blank">started the year in marathon shape</a> and after adding in several weeks of speed work, thought I'd test my training with the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.ie/2012/02/what-is-it-with-freezing-texas.html" target="_blank">El Paso Marathon</a> in February and the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.ie/2012_03_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Napa Marathon</a> in March. In both cases, as is often my mode, I went out feeling great and thus went a bit too fast resulting in a much-declined pace by mile 25. For Napa, I was determined not to do this but ended up doing it anyway, ugh. Ok, so an old dog <i>can </i>learn new tricks. Or so I hoped that would be the case as I lined up at the start of the Capitola Half Marathon. I knew the course -- it was roughly the <a href="http://wharftowharf.com/" target="_blank">Wharf to Wharf</a> course, (which I will be running in July) times two (out and back). the weather was good - sunny but cool. I had a plan - hold back and keep the pace above 7 minutes per mile until the turn around, then let it go. This would be the (psychologically) hardest thing I've ever done. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">This race was small and felt pretty informal as we all roughly gathered behind a small inflated starting line arc. To ensure I didn't take off like a banshee, I stayed well back from the arc and chatted with my friends Spencer and Kent all the way up to the gun. I then casually turned to the arc and started running. First mile: 7:01. Right on plan, I decided to pull back a bit more so I wouldn't be tempted at all to speed it up. This run has a fair amount of hill climbing so I figured that too would keep me from pushing it too much. What was working against me was that at this pace I was still passing a lot of people and the urge to chase down the leaders was rising in the back of my brain - because I could see them ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">Thankfully as the miles accumulated so did the lead they had and so I was able to surpress that desire. I stuck to the plan as we weaved our way from the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk and into the cute town of Capitola. The course was nearly the same as Wharf to Wharf except for one turn we didn't make which would made this course a bit shorter I thought. As we entered Capitola we passed right down the street where Reesa and I had taken her mom and step-dad several years ago for what would turn out to be his last vacation before succumbing to cancer. I immediately thought of our time there sitting on the beach watching the waves and waves of bikini-clad girls go buy, which always brought a smile to his face. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">We turned right toward the wharf in Capitola and off to our left were the leaders who had rounded the town square and were coming back. I started counting them just to see how many were ahead of me. Not that I could catch them, they had well over 5 minutes on me but just for fun. As I lost sight of them as I started to round the town, I had counted 15 runners ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">When I hit the straightaway climbing the beach road away from Capitola, I turned on the jets and pulled my pace well below 7 minutes per mile. when I hit the 8 mile marker I was running 6:25; too fast. I pulled it back but only a little, as I was feeling good and was quickly catching and passing runners in front of me. What a thrill!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">I kept the pace up repeating a mantra to myself of "keep pushing" while remaining conscious of how I felt and ensuring I wasn't tipping into exhaustion which would ruin my finish. The speed work was paying off as I was able to stay below 6:50 as I hit mile marker 11. I had passed several people by this point and if my calculations were correct there couldn't be more than ten people ahead. This would be my first top ten finish in a half marathon. Amazing! I kept pushing and was reeling in the first-place woman I had seen fly by in Capitola. Within 200 yards I passed her, said "good job" and then realized it was fellow TNT alum Riya. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmA5ZxEU2pGlu4kM_C-8rJAmYTAcB5gyq1VpFInSXxTDurA4BskRL3QlJ6CmZt-1dzbg-dBl_plRogEiF0lGIqYtttbUGDAtt1UmMR_8zmIO6UtHrQyAn1CkqQ_KJGcdcISs7AmLz0e8ax/s1600/Riya+award+Capitola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmA5ZxEU2pGlu4kM_C-8rJAmYTAcB5gyq1VpFInSXxTDurA4BskRL3QlJ6CmZt-1dzbg-dBl_plRogEiF0lGIqYtttbUGDAtt1UmMR_8zmIO6UtHrQyAn1CkqQ_KJGcdcISs7AmLz0e8ax/s200/Riya+award+Capitola.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riya with the award for faster woman</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">I pushed on with the boardwalk now in sight and calculated when I should push the pace even more, for a strong finish. I wasn't sure if the finish was back through the same arc and we hadn't hit the 12 mile marker yet so wasn't sure. By the time we got to the boardwalk I couldn't see the finish in front of me, so figured it must be a bit further ahead, but couldn't be much more, so I put the hammer down. There was another runner ahead and I wanted to take him before the tape. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">We passed the boardwalk and I <i>still </i>couldn't see the finish. Had I pushed too early? Could I catch this last runner and stay ahead of him. I wasn't sure. then I started hearing the crowds and a volunteer directing traffic. It had to be close. I pushed the hammer down even more and flew past this last runner. The course turned to the beach (which explains why I couldn't see the finish) and just as it dropped to the sand it was over. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7nbJv3074ZvAnSPCYlhePmuqC8EPAGeRXp_2bH98zL8N_Tho26kni9hDlOMD9iPgqC73wYHi-4O69hdQpg4ivkytqC1WVIIHbucaUHWo2u4ssD1GO7r5hU2YxOCm2wajv1tIo30VKGZQ/s1600/Capitola+finish+times.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7nbJv3074ZvAnSPCYlhePmuqC8EPAGeRXp_2bH98zL8N_Tho26kni9hDlOMD9iPgqC73wYHi-4O69hdQpg4ivkytqC1WVIIHbucaUHWo2u4ssD1GO7r5hU2YxOCm2wajv1tIo30VKGZQ/s320/Capitola+finish+times.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finisher results from Capitola Half Marathon. My first top 10 finish!</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">I had done it - a negative split. And I felt fantastic! i was definitely tired but couldn't have been happier with my plan. Turned out the course was a bit short of a full half marathon - 12.88 miles but I still had finished strong, landing a top ten finish and third in my age group. I was ecstatic. Now I know I can stick to a plan and overcome my own stupid brain. I could go out slower than I think and not suffer as a result. Now I just need to put it all together again at twice the distance. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">Next try: In August at the <a href="http://calicoracing.squarespace.com/et-full-moon-midnight-maratho" target="_blank">ET Midnight Marathon</a> in Area 51. Now <i>that</i> should be fun. </span></div>
</div>James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-81409969520724411792012-03-11T16:34:00.002-07:002012-03-11T16:34:15.606-07:00Go Out Like A Cheetah, Die Like a Pig: My Napa Marathon<br />
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<img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcOp_Kr_0oBqknEtnGERhUQLKsdRLxoqqdRg0x0cEeLJWC2Pq12pqZYx-0z4FF1uJpT2XMf_Hkdzm6NtVpt_nsVMhrjH33rnya-q_MFSZeYcjFVx_zvaWIFiKq41hY9j7Isii-zrbxXVd/s200/napa-valley-marathon.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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They say that doctor’s make the worst patients and I think
the same must go for coaches. In <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/" target="_blank">Team in Training</a> we have been preaching for
years that runners need to pace themselves in the marathon, going out slower
than you might feel up to, so you have energy left over for the final miles
which are always the toughest. You’d think after 36 marathons that this
learning would have sunk in and become second nature to me. Oh well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After several years of coaching our TNT participants through
the <a href="http://napavalleymarathon.org/" target="_blank">Napa Valley Marathon</a> it was finally my turn to run it. I certainly knew the
course well enough – it is one of the most scenic marathons you can do in the
Bay Area. TNT had rotated NVM out of its event list for the winter/spring
season to introduce other events and so that weekend I was finally free to try
it out myself. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MqGKi3OGEnsqdeIrZktLzetJ5xN-Z6wMREXDazxcyw-_tACtRlSf3rD4Tjieqw3CsoNNxjMEzPt3m0QqkMvFeakP2R-TvqAiffQbJrK8vdE08_t_Bv4zJ6ujeYETBoxAClye8CNo_IBR/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MqGKi3OGEnsqdeIrZktLzetJ5xN-Z6wMREXDazxcyw-_tACtRlSf3rD4Tjieqw3CsoNNxjMEzPt3m0QqkMvFeakP2R-TvqAiffQbJrK8vdE08_t_Bv4zJ6ujeYETBoxAClye8CNo_IBR/s200/photo.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelty, Scout & I in Napa</td></tr>
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We started the weekend by piling our two dogs into the car,
driving up to Napa, getting my running bib and finding a place to take the dogs for a run.
Reesa had found a fantastic park in Napa, <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/alston-park-napa" target="_blank">Alston Park</a>. It's just off Redwood Road and turned out
to be the highlight of the weekend. This park was dog friendly so our kids could play freely off leash and run around in over 30 acres overlooking the hills
along The Silverado Trail, where the marathon takes place. It was an absolutely
gorgeous weekend with temperatures in the 70s and crystal clear skies. It rains
on Napa Marathon weekend pretty much every other year and I was running it in
the right side of this binary sequence, it seemed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Living just a couple hours away from Napa we rarely stay
overnight there and so it was a pleasure to do so, especially knowing what time
I would have to get up the next morning for the race – 4:30am. Before going to
bed, Reesa and I went to <a href="http://www.fumebistro.com/" target="_blank">FuméBistro</a>, a fantastic organic restaurant in Napa for a romantic dinner.
We had excellent food in this small gourmet place and a touch of wine (I think
it’s a crime not to have wine with dinner up here – or it should be). <o:p></o:p></div>
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The following morning, Reesa graciously got up with me and
drove us to <a href="http://www.vhs.nvusd.k12.ca.us/" target="_blank">Vintage High School</a> where I caught the first bus to Calistoga and
the starting line. Sitting a few rows back was fellow TNT staffer Davina who
had driven up from Menlo Park that morning. And I thought 4:30 was an ungodly
hour! We chatted on the 25 mile ride and were fortunate to be able to stay on the
bus from the time we arrived until just minutes before the start. It was in the
low 40s in Calistoga at this hour and so we cherished the warmth. I had <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/348331-back-injuries-from-kettlebell-exercises/" target="_blank">hurt myback working out</a> Saturday morning and it was aching badly sitting in the school
bus bench seats, so I exited a few minutes early to run around and test it out.
On finding that running hurt like crazy, I
decided to lay down in the middle of the street and <a href="http://exercise.about.com/library/blstrengthenandstretchtheback.htm" target="_blank">stretch it out</a>. Very
bad timing to hurt my back but thankfully the stretching did the trick.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As you may know from my last post, my goal this year is to
run a marathon in less than 3 hours, which is shaving 17 minutes off my <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2010/01/pr-to-start-series.html" target="_blank">currentpersonal best</a>. Napa was the first test marathon of the year and so far the
speed training had been working well. The weekend prior I had completed a 10
mile <a href="http://running.about.com/od/runnersglossary/g/whatisatemporun.htm" target="_blank">tempo run</a> at my target marathon pace of 6:50 per mile and felt like I
could have held this pace for at least 5 more miles. That gave me confidence
that the 7:25 per mile pace I needed for Napa (which would lower my PR to 3:15)
was definitely doable. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here’s where my heart got in the way of my brain. I know
that to hold the 7:25 I really should start out at this pace and store energy
so I could still be running this pace the final miles. But I took off feeling
great and decided to listen to my body for the first couple miles. It felt
great at a 7 min/mile pace. It felt so good in fact that the emotional part of
me started bargaining with the logical side. The argument was, “this feels
great and is 10 seconds per mile slower than the tempo run last weekend. I held
that for 10 and could have for 15, so this slower pace should be achievable
for, what, 20 miles? That would give me a 3:08 and propel me much faster toward
my goal. Wouldn’t that be fantastic!?” Of course it would, but as it turned out,
it was also foolish. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As miles 6 and then 7 went by I was holding the 7 min/mile
pace with easy confidence. I had slowly passed a few folks who looked around my
fitness level who had clearly pulled their pace back as I should have. One in
particular was a 30-something brunette whom I would see later. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was still holding this pace at the halfway mark, turning
in a 1:31 for 13.1. At this point a collection of runners around me, started to
pick up the pace. Clearly they were stronger runners than I and had held back
so they could register a negative split. I don’t think I’ve ever done one of
those and certainly was smart enough to know not to follow them. I was still
feeling good so I stuck to my plan and the 7min/mile pace. <o:p></o:p></div>
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By mile 15, however, I began to fade. I still felt good and
so at first the slowdown escaped my notice. I checked my Garmin at the mile
marker and saw 7:25. So I picked it back up and hit 16 miles at my prior pace.
That was a mistake as by mile 17 I was clearly getting fatigued. I passed that
marker at 8:25 per mile and could not maintain anything faster the rest of the way.
By mile 24 I was dragging big time and had lost another minute per mile. And
the 30-something brunette who had pulled it back early on, sailed right by me looking
clearly stronger. I passed Reesa and our kids looking very beaten and crossed
over the line at <a href="http://napavalleymarathon.org/race-information/results-indiv.asp?bibNum=2262&year2=2012" target="_blank">3:19:42</a>. This was still my second fastest marathon but clearly not
one of my best efforts. As I grabbed a water and stumbled through the finisher’s
area I passed the brunette who was smiling and looking relaxed. Her time: 3:15.
Ugh.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Well as I’ve said before, I tend to learn all life’s lessons
the hard way and this was clearly no exception. I have 5 months before my next
marathon and clearly this experience will prepare me for that race: The <a href="http://calicoracing.squarespace.com/et-full-moon-midnight-maratho" target="_blank">ETMidnight Marathon in Rachel, NV</a>. Join me by following the link to the left.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-60592785529018669782012-02-06T08:28:00.000-08:002012-02-06T08:28:26.847-08:00What is it with freezing Texas marathons?: El Paso Marathon<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6SYrra0JH_mWSw7YcxNZsdXVIbAF7sjj4d83bWJTm_pr7cOhTZYoQo1InCuN-8TlRNVGyAHbsVQX_Khr7TUhWGT3oW6RPlQdHSvFvAta-3tEDon4-NJsB6dPJ1pbeQmgHTiAL5tDJC6F/s1600/ELPMarathon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6SYrra0JH_mWSw7YcxNZsdXVIbAF7sjj4d83bWJTm_pr7cOhTZYoQo1InCuN-8TlRNVGyAHbsVQX_Khr7TUhWGT3oW6RPlQdHSvFvAta-3tEDon4-NJsB6dPJ1pbeQmgHTiAL5tDJC6F/s320/ELPMarathon.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">After my <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2010/12/reflecting-on-grand-achievement.html" target="_blank">Rock n Roll season</a> in 2010, then 2011's <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-race-plan-down-up-and-around.html" target="_blank">Down, Up and Around</a>, I decided to pull back on the number of marathons for 2012. On deck for this year I decided on the <a href="http://napavalleymarathon.org/" target="_blank">Napa Valley Marathon</a> in March, the <a href="http://calicoracing.squarespace.com/et-full-moon-midnight-maratho" target="_blank">ET Midnight Marathon</a> in August and the <a href="http://www.sbimarathon.com/" target="_blank">Santa Barbara Marathon</a> in November. But on a training run in January my friend Kent mentioned he was planning to run the marathon in my home town in February. How could I possibly refuse the opportunity to show him the town I grew up in. That's how I found myself shivering and huddling in a school bus with about 300 other folks in sub 30-degree weather 5,840 feet up the Franklin Mountain pass facing down a 20+ mile an hour headwind. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">It had been nearly 4 years since I was last in El Paso, the Mexican border town where I was born. While some of my family had scattered, my favorite aunt and uncle still live there as does my middle cousin with her family. I love them dearly and feel bad every time I talk to them that it has been so long since we have been together in person. To make the trip extra special, my youngest cousin Emily and her family were coming into town from Albuquerque that same weekend. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">After rising at 4am for our Friday flight out of SFO, we arrived in El Paso at 11am and started the trip the way I recommend everyone start any visit to El Paso, at <a href="http://www.elpasotimes.com/bob/ci_4617880" target="_blank">Avila's Mexican Restaurant</a>. This institution, which is about 10 minutes from the house I grew up in, is an El Paso institution, serving up the greatest traditional Mexican food in town, as it has for over the past 50 years. My favorite dish there is their chile con queso, which is made from Mexican white cheese and long green hatch chile strips. None of this Velveeta and salsa stuff here. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">The whole family gathered for this first meal, so we took over their long table in the back. Reesa, I, and my aunt and uncle were first to arrive, followed by Katy and her three kids and Emily and her two boys. Their husbands Jay and Dan showed up shortly after; they had been busy loading up the trucks for their annual "Knucklehead Hunt." This is their annual male bonding event over guns, beer and campfires. After lunch they were off to the airport to pick up my other cousin, Kevin from Austin who flew in for the trip. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">If you come to El Paso, you have to take in three things at least: the incredible Mexican food that is plentiful everywhere, the views of three states and two nations from <a href="http://www.elpasotimes.com/bob/ci_4617871" target="_blank">Scenic Drive</a> and the incredibly colorful sunsets each evening. We did just that the following day when Kent arrived from San Jose.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;"> If you think you know Mexican food but haven't been to El Paso, you know nothing. Nearly every good place here makes their own tortilla chips and salsa, uses whole green chiles (not Jalapenos) and is very liberal with the cheese. It's a great place for your tastebuds - <a href="http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas/576422-its-official-texas-worst-place-live-14.html" target="_blank">no so much for your waistline</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">After Kent got off the plane we drove downtown to a small local favorite called <a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/united-states/texas/el-paso/52783/lj-cafe/restaurant-detail.html" target="_blank">L&J's Cafe</a>. Predictably it was packed with <a href="http://www.utep.edu/" target="_blank">UTEP</a> Miner fans and out of towners who had heard of the place from <a href="http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2004-12-01/feature" target="_blank">Texas Monthly</a>, Food Network or other outlets who have helped make it famous. Kent had the <a href="http://www.realfoodwholehealth.com/2011/01/chicken-mole-enchiladas/" target="_blank">mole enchiladas</a>, covered in their homemade chocolaty chile sauce. I had <a href="http://www.mymexicanrecipes.com/tortillas-and-breads/tostadas-tapatias.html" target="_blank">tapatias</a>, a favorite dish from my childhood. If you haven't had them (they are sometimes called Tostadas), these are fried corn tortillas, laid flat then covered with layers of refried beans, guacamole (homemade or course), shredded lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. Growing up as a kid, this was one of my favorite dinners.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">After this awesome meal we hit the race expo where helpful volunteers were everywhere assisting in finding our bib numbers, getting our shirts and ushering us through the hall. We then went to the local <a href="http://www.elpasoartmuseum.org/" target="_blank">museum of art </a>where some cubist works from <a href="http://www.fbuch.com/cubism.htm" target="_blank">Mexico's Diego Rivera</a> were on display. It was the first time these paintings had been shown outside of Mexico and they were part of a <a href="http://www.elpasoartmuseum.org/exhibitions.asp" target="_blank">large collection from Mexican artists of the same era.</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">After this we took a driving tour of El Paso which covered the first part of the course that started at the top of <a href="http://www.texasfreeway.com/elpaso/photos/lp375/375_transmountain.shtml" target="_blank">TransMountain Road</a>, a very scenic pass through the Franklin mountains that shortens the drive from east to west El Paso by a ton. It also takes you from 3,200 ft above sea level, where most of El Paso lies, to nearly 6,000 feet. The marathon would start at this highest point the following morning. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">When we arrived in El Paso, it was a gorgeous warm day in the 60s - perfect for a marathon. By midday Saturday, the famous El Paso winds had swept in and temperatures weren't getting below the 50s. Come Saturday night, these cold winds were howling. From there it just got worse.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">Race morning I arose in a slight panic at 4:38am because my alarm, set for 4:15, hadn't gone off and so it was scramble time to get ready. I had to get downtown to meet Kent and get on the buses to the start line by 5:30am. Made it. Barely.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">In it's sixth year, the El Paso marathon is still a small event with about 3,000 runners spread across a marathon, half and 5K fun run. Only about 350 hardy soles were on the buses with us heading up TransMountain. We arrived about an hour before the start and were very worried the buses might leave us there, because the winds were still howling, it was pitch black out and the temperature had dropped below freezing. Add on the wind chill factor and even the woman who had come in from Minnesota for the race was cold. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">I don't know what it is about me and Texas marathons. My first, in Austin, also took place during a freak winter storm that put that start line below freezing too. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">Thankfully the buses stayed put with the heaters on to shelter us until the start. </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">With just five minutes before the gun, we piled out of the buses and became a huddled mass in the middle of the road. We were tightly grouped, seeking each other's body heat as we listened to the national anthem then waited for them to find the starting gun and fire it off. Then we were off. As we started to spread out so we could run, the winds ripped right through us. I ran the first mile breathing into my gloves to keep my hands and face warm. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">The sun was just rising as we headed down the hill giving us a fantastic view of east Texas and, to the South, Juarez Mexico. The race course dropped over 1,100 feet over the first 4 miles and we were all running faster than we probably should have just to stay warm. I traded leads back and forth with a woman who eventually would win the race as we came down the hill. I was able to stay with her until around mile 8; by mile 10 she was completely out of sight. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">As we came off the mountain, we snaked around the highway and over to<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bliss" target="_blank"> Fort Bliss</a>, the local army base, which is in heavy use due to its terrain that looks so much like Iraq and Afghanistan. Cheering, friendly El Pasoans were stationed every mile or so along the course making us all feel welcome. Volunteer groups set up some really creative and fun water stops. Among my favorites were the Wizard of Oz stop where the Cowardly Lion was handing out high fives while Dorothy and the Tin Man passed out Gatorade. Just past the entrance to Fort Bliss the soldiers manned a rocking station with big speakers blasting out hip hop toons while troops in fatigues and holding M-16s bopped to the beat. It looked like a scene right out of Apocalypse Now. A few overly-enthusiastic soldiers gave us the basic training routine, so I wasn't sure if I was being yelled at or yelled on. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">As the race headed through the main post I started to feel the affects of blasting down the mountain and slowed from 7 minute miles to the mid 8s. But I picked up the pace at each water stop. The <a href="http://www.suncityrollergirls.com/" target="_blank">Sun City Roller Girls</a> were super enthusiastic and dressed in vintage (and way over the top) 70s garb. The Humane Society had an arch for us to run through along with great upbeat rock n roll blaring. Atop their arch was the name, Shelbie, a local rescue dog available for adoption.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">The course wasn't a complete down hill as there were some rollers as we passed by the <a href="http://www.radfordschool.org/" target="_blank">Radford School</a> for girls. I cherished the downsides of these and took advantage to pick up some time. As we turned toward downtown, the winds moved from in our face, to cross winds in Fort Bliss to now, at our back. As I came down the hill along Wyoming street, I came upon the <a href="http://sixgunsandshadyladies.homestead.com/1.html" target="_blank">Six Guns and Shady Ladies</a> water stop, filled with a team of folks in vintage old west duds, replete with horses and a jail. Their water stop was fittingly opposite the <a href="http://www.concordiacemetery.org/about.html" target="_blank">Concordia Cemetery</a>. Established in the 1880s this is the final resting place of <a href="http://www.famoustexans.com/johnwesleyhardin.htm" target="_blank">John Wesley Hardin</a>, the <a href="http://www.buffalosoldierselpaso.org/" target="_blank">Buffalo Soldiers</a> and many <a href="http://www.texasranger.org/today/companyE.htm" target="_blank">Texas Rangers</a> who fought the rebel <a href="http://www.hsgng.org/pages/pancho.htm" target="_blank">Pancho Villa</a> and settled West Texas. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">We turned the corner past the cemetery and headed back towards L&J Cafe. A taco stop would have been great but we sadly turned away one block before the restaurant and headed into the main town. The tailwinds made the final 4 miles much more enjoyable until a final blast in the face crossing over I-10. When we passed by the downtown square I picked up the pace to below 7 minute miles and began looking for my family. I found them at mile 26, huddled in the still cold morning but enthusiastically waving their homemade signs and cheering me on. I dumped the last of the cold weather clothing I had with them and sprinted for the finish line, coming in at 3:26. Kent came in just after I did. The marathon organizers thankfully had chocolate milk waiting for us - you can't beat that recovery drink.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">After a warm shower and lots of stretching we returned to my uncles house to get ready for the Super Bowl. It was still windy and cold at his place and I needed an ice bath to speed the recovery of my aching legs and hips. So I put my race shorts back on and several coats and sweaters and stepped into the pool. Yikes! The Pacific Ocean has nothing on a freezing cold pool in El Paso winter. I lasted only about 10 minutes before I could no longer feel my feet and legs. But today I feel great as a result.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;">As they say, pain is temporary - and so is numbness. And it was nothing a good cold <a href="http://www.crownimportsllc.com/ourbrands/negramodelo.htm" target="_blank">Negra Modelo</a> couldn't fix. </span></div>
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</div>James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-42443296655410318012011-12-04T03:57:00.001-08:002011-12-04T10:26:06.085-08:00Payback feels good - North Face Marathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back in February of this year (2011), I took on a <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2011/03/it-wasnt-my-day.html" target="_blank">marathon in the Marin headlands</a> and it got the better of me. Well I just finished the North Face Endurance Challenge Championship Marathon and got that monkey off my back in what may have been the toughest marathon I've completed to date - yes, I think this one was tougher than <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2011/08/pikes-peaked-up-complete-pikes-peak.html" target="_blank">Pike's Peak</a>.<br />
Like the <a href="http://www.coastaltrailruns.com/gg_golden_gate.html" target="_blank">Golden Gate Marathon</a>, this one started near <a href="http://www.parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/rodeo-beach.html" target="_blank">Rodeo Beach</a> and wound its way up and over several hills in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marin_Headlands" target="_blank">headlands</a>. Where GGM was a double loop of 13 miles, North Face was slightly different. It started with a loop around a hill, along Alto Trail providing great views of Sausalito and Mill Valley them swung Northwest to Pirate's Cove, then back to the loop that started it all and back to Rodeo beach for the finish. The up and over consists of five super challenging ascents, three rising nearly 1,000 ft each, and totaling only 4,500 ft of climbing. But it was the relentless up and down these very steep hills that took its toll.<br />
The morning started with a shuttle from San Francisco over to the beach at around 7:30 Saturday morning. The race started at 9am so I had plenty of time to relax and get mentally prepared for the race. Shortly before the start, <a href="http://www.ultramarathonman.com/web/" target="_blank">Dean Karnazes</a>, ever the glutton for punishment, took the mike to welcome us all to his home course. He asked how many were doing their first marathon and about 30 hands went up. I was shocked. This was a very, very tough course to choose as your first. As a <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/" target="_blank">running coach</a> I would never let one of my peeps do this one first - they might never come back to running.<br />
The weather couldn't have been better. It was clear as a bell, dry and relatively warm for a December day. At the start it was in the high 40s and never got about 70 degrees.<br />
I got right to the front before the gun went off and started in the top ten. There were some very strong runners in this group and we quickly were spread out. Everyone ran the first two hills with one guy from Spain barreling down the downhills like a mountain goat. I tend to lose time on the downhills so I don't trip and fall. This was the case for nearly everyone on the descent to Pirate's Cove as the terrain was very rocky and super steep.<br />
Several women were total rock stars in this group at the front. A blonde woman in a black running outfit was gone at mile two and kept getting further and further ahead with each mile. She was an incredible climber.<br />
The <a href="http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/" target="_blank">North Face Endurance Challenge</a> is a series of races that take place all across the US culminating in the Championship event, here in the Bay Area. Multiple race distances are run and to keep the trails from getting too crowded, the break up the races over two days and spread out the starts quite a bit.<br />
On Saturday, the morning started with the 50 milers, then those doing 50K, including my good friend <a href="http://www.forrester.com/rb/analyst/john_rymer" target="_blank">John Rymer</a>, and then the marathon and half marathon - all starts spread about two hours apart each.<br />
We didn't see 50K and 50 milers until Pirate's Cove an at the point we first encountered them we were on single track with high weeds on both sides. Made for some careful footing and leaps into the bushes to let them pass. Only once did an oncoming runner and I collide - thanks to a volunteer who instructed the 50 miler to pass on the left, which no one was doing. Oh well.<br />
Around Pirate's Cove we came to the marathon turnaround spot which was about 16 miles in. This gave me a chance to see all the runners ahead of me, as they came back down from the turnaround spot. I counted them as they went by and at this point I was running sixth overall. Holy cow!<br />
By the third ascent, up from Pirate's Cove, everyone was walking the hills and running whenever a flat or downhill presented itself. Same for the fourth and fifth ascents. This made for slow going and we got even more spread out. A few marathoners passed me at various points here but it was tough for everyone.<br />
A woman with a blonde ponytail, whom I had seen at the very start of the race, but not again, finally showed up passing me up the last ascent - and running it. She looked very strong and clearly had paced herself through the race very well.<br />
As we climbed the Alta Trail for the final time you could see the skyscrapers of downtown San Francisco between two headland peaks. The views were so clear that you could see past downtown to the peninsula and when looking East you could see Sausalito, Belvedere Island, Angel Island and clear across the bay to the Oakland hills. Just spectacular.<br />
We hit the final descent following the Rodeo Valley Trail and could see the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Everyone picked up the pace a bit here. I was feeling pretty spent but was passing people left and right as I just wanted to get to the finish by this point. My feet were sore, my hamstrings and glutes were screaming.<br />
I crossed the line at 4:19. No record by any stretch for me but given the constant climbing and rugged terrain I was very happy. After having to pull out of the last race here in the headlands, it was good to face this challenge again - just 10 months later and defeat it.<br />
I was planning to start my year in 2012 facing down the Golden Gate Marathon again but given that this race covered the same terrain, was not a simple double loop and was harder, I no longer feel that need. A well deserved rest seems in store now.James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-84077076840529253152011-11-06T14:12:00.000-08:002011-11-20T20:33:18.471-08:00Rock n Roll Savannah was a Blast...Literally<br />
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After an overcast and cold Friday, <a href="http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/savannah" target="_blank">race day here in Savannah</a>
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This was my first trip to gorgeous coastal Georgia.
Reesa and I arrived on Thursday afternoon so we would have plenty of time to
see the city and take in the history, which is vast, and like most things you
hear in the South, a bit embellished. We started the weekend with a walk along
the river front which is composed of original warehouses converted into cute
shops, bars and restaurants, including the Candy Factory where they make their
own pralines and salt water taffy right in the store. We then strolled through the historical district and
walked into <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/282/1229862/restaurant/The-Olde-Pink-House-Savannah" target="_blank">The Old Pink House </a>on the off-chance we might get a reservation.
The Old Pink House, the oldest building in Savannah, is also the top restaurant
in town and it was busy when we walked in at 6pm. We took a shot for
reservations and found, as we expected, Friday and Saturday night fully sold
out. But tonight they could fit us in. We quickly went back to the hotel, changed
clothes and returned to the restaurant for what would be the best meal of our
trip. The restaurant is fantastically restored with beautiful plank hardwood
floors, beam ceilings fireplaces, loads of antiques and of course ghosts. </div>
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We closed out a very warm night with a ghost
tour, which was very touristy but clearly a must-do event in Savannah which was
named a few years back as America’s most haunted city. I can see why when you
listen to the yarns they tell here. The historic district was built over burial
grounds many times over. Several hotels in town claim to be haunted as are
several incredible homes here, one of which includes the <a href="http://www.mercerhouse.com/" target="_blank">Mercer-Williams House</a>
which was the subject of the book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Good-Evil-Berendt/dp/0679751521/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320616042&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</a></i>. The
tour took us past the abandoned <a href="http://www.examiner.com/haunted-places-in-savannah/the-old-candler-hospital" target="_blank">Candler Hospital</a> that apparently was where nearly
900 people died in the 1800s during a plague of yellow fever and was later
turned into an insane asylum. And we both got the creeps when listening to a
tale about multiple murders that took place in <a href="http://www.bethdolgner.com/432abercorn/the-legend-of-432-abercorn/" target="_blank">423 Abercorn Street</a>, a single home outside <a href="http://savannah.for91days.com/2010/12/11/calhoun-square/" target="_blank">Calhoun Square</a>. The square, by the way, was used to bury slaves and two of its giant
oak trees were used as hanging trees. Oh…kay… Not fun to hear about at
midnight.</div>
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The following day, we hit the expo to pick up my bib then had
brunch at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60814-d518671-Reviews-Huey_s_On_The_River-Savannah_Georgia.html" target="_blank">Huey’s on the River</a> a local Cajun haunt. Despite great Yelp reviews
we weren’t impressed with this place but apparently ordered the wrong thing –
they are known for the beignets. After this we got out of town and headed into
South Carolina to visit a plantation from the 1800s and see Hilton Head Island.
The <a href="http://www.rosehillmansion.com/" target="_blank">Rose Hill Plantation</a> was a gorgeous Gothic property that had been fully
restored by the wife of the founder of <i><a href="http://www.robbreport.com/" target="_blank">TheRobb Report</a></i>. Our tour guide, Cynthia, was fantastic and seems to know
nearly everything you could about the history of South Carolina from before the
Civil War on, and shared great stories about the role this house played
throughout that time. The owners of the home, who still live there, did an
incredible job of restoring it, as nearly half was destroyed in a
fire in the 1980s. Incredibly, while the occupying forces of the Union burned
down most properties in South Carolina during the Civil War, they left this one
untouched. An electrical fire was its downfall. </div>
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After the hosts plied us with homemade cookies, peach tea
and cake, we headed out to <a href="http://www.hiltonheadisland.org/" target="_blank">Hilton Head</a> to see the beach. Like many posh vacation
destinations, Hilton Head is dominated by big resorts and gated communities, so
it’s not actually that easy to get to the beach. When we finally found a public
beach entrance we learned why. The beaches here are wide, flat and gorgeous. </div>
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After the drive back we settled in to prepare for Saturday’s
race. As is usually the case before every marathon, I had a hard time getting
to sleep and then was up about every hour. I finally got out of bed around
6:30am and after chatting with my TNT colleagues and coaches in the hotel lobby
jogged over to the start. I jumped into Corral 1 and got to chatting with two
other TNT members here - one from Georgia and the other from Alabama. Prince,
the coach from Alabama was the father of a Leukemia survivor and was shooting
for a PR that day. He needed 3:09 for that mark and given the mild temperature,
perfectly clear skies and flat, sea-level course, it certainly seemed possible.
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After the national anthem we took off down Bay Street in
downtown. I got off to a fast, but not too fast start at 7:04 per mile. Priest
was just ahead of me and I tried using him as a rabbit for a few miles before
he broke off with a twenty-something friend. </div>
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The first 5K were along the river, flat and very fast. There
were some amazingly quick participants in this race and I never broke out on my
own. We weaved back into downtown then headed out to the suburbs as we
approached mile 10. I was feeling good as the course was pretty with some great
parks and neighborhoods to go through and lots of enthusiastic race fans,
cheerleaders and course volunteers along the way. </div>
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At mile 12 the marathon and half marathon split off and
those of us going 26.2 headed up toward the freeway. I hit the halfway point at
1:34 and high fived the TNT Flex Team coaches who were hanging out on the freeway
(wow, that sounds weird). From miles 14-20 the course wound up and down the highway
and around some very nice neighborhoods. My favorite was a suburb bordering
a swampy river surrounded by yellow swamp grass. Through mile 19 I was maintaining
sub-7:30 per mile and feeling great. But that all changed at mile 20.</div>
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At this milestone it wasn’t a wall I hit but a wall of headwind. It sapped everyone’s energy and didn’t let up until after mile 25. It was so strong, in fact, that it blew the clock and mile marker onto the arm and shoulder of a passing runner. He was ok. Most of
this section was on the freeway which isn’t the most exciting part of any race.
When we finally got off, my mile splits had fallen by a minute each and a PR was
long from attainable. At mile 25 I was hurting as I tried to crank back up the
speed knowing I couldn’t make up for lost time. I talked a TNT coach into
running with me the final mile then attempted to use all the energy I had left
to push through the last 0.2 miles. By the time I entered the finisher’s chute
I had painful cramps in my upper abdominals and watched the clock tick off the
final seconds of 3:19 - fifty-seven, fifty, eight, fifty nine... Ugh. I crossed at <a href="http://running.competitor.com/cgiresults_details?pId=6715749&eId=45&eiId=59&seId=170" target="_blank">3:20:01</a>. </div>
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The run was 3 minutes off my PR and I was bummed given how good a start I had. But
looking back on the race it was a ton of fun and a fantastic first time for
Savannah. This was the smallest city to host a <a href="http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/" target="_blank">Rock n Roll Marathon</a> event and
more than 50,000 people flooded into the town for the event. We were a very
welcome bunch as this is low season in Savannah and the <a href="http://savannahnow.com/news/2011-11-06/savannah-embraces-rock-n-roll" target="_blank">local paper </a>estimated
the race brought in more than $23 million to the economy. </div>
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As usual, <a href="http://competitor.com/" target="_blank">Competitor Group</a> put on a fantastic event. This
one culminated with a great concert from LA-based <a href="http://www.carolinaliar.com/" target="_blank">Carolina Liar</a>. Sadly another
<a href="http://savannahnow.com/news/2011-11-06/runnder-dies-rock-n-roll-marathon" target="_blank">participant died during the race</a>; the <a href="http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/10/whit_riske_dies_rock_n_roll_marathon.php" target="_blank">second death at an RnR marathon in lessthan 20 days</a>.</div>
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<b>Next up:</b> <i>The <a href="http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/races/2011/ca/index.html" target="_blank">North Face Endurance Challenge ChampionshipsMarathon</a></i> in December. </div>
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<br /></div>James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-16070663803585686052011-10-10T12:50:00.000-07:002011-10-10T12:50:55.488-07:00Tahoe Triple Marathon: Around proved to be the toughest challenge<div class="MsoNormal">
At the start of this year I set the theme to my 2011 running season as, “<a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-race-plan-down-up-and-around.html">Down, Up and Around</a>,” taking on 3 of the toughest running challenges in the U.S. First was the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2011/04/down-done-grand-is-putting-it-lightly.html">Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim</a>. This over-48 mile trail proved a supreme challenge but paid huge dividends on the views and the experience. Next, the <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2011/08/pikes-peaked-up-complete-pikes-peak.html">Pikes Peak Marathon</a> took me to greater heights than I had ever climbed. But it was this final endurance feat that was the hardest. The <a href="http://www.laketahoemarathon.com/indexframes.html">Tahoe Triple Marathon</a> wasn’t a single event but three straight and by the final miles I was spent – fully.</div>
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After the prior two events, with Pikes Peak coming just five weeks prior to Tahoe, I wasn’t worried too much about whether I could do the distance and knew I could handle being out there for that long. What I wasn’t sure about was how well I would do getting up on Saturday morning and again on Sunday to run 26.2 twice then three times. Two weeks prior to the event I took advantage of the long Labor Day weekend to run three straight 20 mile training runs. They were hard but I felt better after the third event that I thought I would. I felt I was ready.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After a short taper and a very long couple of weeks of work, Reesa and I drove up to Tahoe the Thursday before the race. After settling into our rental, I went over to the event headquarters to get my bib, gear and have dinner with my fellow competitors. I immediately started to feel like a loser, despite all I had accomplished. At that dinner eleven out of the eighty people signed up for the triple had run <i>more than 100 marathons</i> – including <a href="http://myjourneytoguinness.blogspot.com/2010/04/hello-my-name-is-yolanda-holder-aka.html">Yolanda Holder</a> the Guiness record holder for the most marathons by a woman in a single year, 106. While I had signed up to run 78.6 miles over three days, there were 27 people who would run 72 miles in one night, seven who were planning to do the super triple – Friday and Saturday’s marathons, then the 72 mile ultra -- and two crazy people doing the Double Dare, the 72 mile ultra twice. Sheesh!<o:p></o:p></div>
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At dinner marathoning legend <a href="http://dickbeardsleyfoundation.org/running">Dick Beardsley</a> spoke. Like me, he prefers the marathon distance and kind of felt the folks doing the ultras were a little crazy; but he said it with admiration. Unlike me, Dick, now in his sixties, still runs a sub-3 hour marathon. I was starting to feel like the rookie in the room.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After the dinner, I tried to put the evening’s revelations out of my mind and concentrate on preparing to run my own race. This wasn’t a competition to see who could take the most punishment or who could out-do each other in number of events – it was one race at a time with me against the course. I’d like to say this mental strategy helped me get a good night’s rest for the first race. Oh well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtaFG6DcUyF4WW639OzkVZweztlsCBu9qA_LMYalTuoG7-4Jy6kbRbwn6l0mHxB8TetgPz_ub2bHfGGUBfq8-Nd2eroDTj-UoAfJ_3LoDtUbm1Lp0FxQYlHqy-WrtL5awJwyCSeNmDZVB/s1600/EmeraldBaystart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtaFG6DcUyF4WW639OzkVZweztlsCBu9qA_LMYalTuoG7-4Jy6kbRbwn6l0mHxB8TetgPz_ub2bHfGGUBfq8-Nd2eroDTj-UoAfJ_3LoDtUbm1Lp0FxQYlHqy-WrtL5awJwyCSeNmDZVB/s200/EmeraldBaystart.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at Emerald Bay</td></tr>
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<u>Day One: Emerald Bay Marathon<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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Each race started with a bus ride from the <a href="http://www.horizoncasino.com/">Horizon Casino</a> & Resort in South Lake Tahoe to the start of each event. Day one took us to the southwest shore of the lake to an incredible small inlet known as <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/California/South_Lake_Tahoe-755882/Things_To_Do-South_Lake_Tahoe-Emerald_Bay-BR-1.html">Emerald Bay</a>. We started from high above the shore where we could look down on the bay as the sun slowly rose in the distance. The views were incredible. It was in the high 40s at the start and the first few miles were on the highway, along some steep downhill switchbacks. This made it easy to get up to my desired pace. After the switchbacks, we were got off the highway and onto a bike path that wove through the woods. Around mile three I experienced <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/health/nutrition/27best.html">a runner’s high</a> as we went along this trail. If you haven’t experienced this, it is a lot like a mix of the feeling you would get catching a touchdown in the Super Bowl, on your birthday while having an incredible orgasm that lasts about five minutes. If you have ever wondered why people run, this is a big part of it. My iPhone belted out <a href="http://www.daughtryofficial.com/us/music/leave-town">Daughtry’s </a> <i><a href="http://myplay.com/audio_player/myplay/5657/349244/349255?allowBrowsing=1">Feel’s Like Tonight</a></i> which struck just the right tone. I was probably doing sub-7 minute miles for the next three or so.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As the bike trail flattened out, around <a href="http://www.camprichardson.com/">Camp Richardson</a>, what I thought was a course volunteer told me to take a left down a road. “That’s what those runners did.” I looked down the road and a small group of runners who were pacing ahead of me were heading away down this same road, so I followed. This turn wound us through a series of small historic villages near the lake’s edge but I had a sinking feeling I was off course. After about two miles this trail rejoined the main bike path so I forgot about it and kept going.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As we emerged into South Lake Tahoe we were back along the highway, running on the sidewalk. This was a noisy and uneven part of the race as there was road resurfacing going on. The construction backed up traffic like crazy and we had to switch over to dirt trails a few times and dodge construction vehicles as we worked our way to the Nevada border. The halfway point came behind the casinos near the lake shore. Then we worked our way back up to the highway. From here it was past the casinos and out of town. On the one hand I was happy to get away from the traffic and congestion but on the other, we lost the sidewalk and would be running on the shoulder of the highway the rest of the way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This was definitely the least appealing part of the run as the shoulder went from more than a car length wide to less than three feet at parts. It was still morning and traffic was relatively light, and thankfully most cars and trucks gave us a wide berth. But there were a few close calls. A Ford F-350 truck with massive mirrors that stuck way out so the driver could see around anything they were pulling came within a foot of my head at one point. And as I was hugging a guard rail, a truck pulling a flatbed blew past me going 50 miles an hour and taking up all of his lane. The wind he created nearly blew my visor off.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After a few miles of slow up and down climbing we came to a tunnel that had no shoulder from the highway at all. Thankfully, the race organizers had paid to have the Nevada highway patrol cone off the lane closest to the lake for us. This gave us a wide birth that apparently runners from previous years didn’t have (and nor would those doing the ultra). There was good and bad to this tunnel though. While the cones signaled less worry, they also were the start of a grueling 7 mile climb. The grade wasn’t very steep but the hill never gave in. I pushed on as best I could but needed a couple walk breaks before the course finally turned and approached the finish, which was in a small park and ride lot off Highway 50. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When I saw the finish line, I called out to the organizers, “Is this really the finish?” There was no finish line banner and nearly no spectators, or finishers – just a small coned off area and two guys with clipboards. Part of me feared it was just a water stop and we had more running ahead but thankfully, this was the stopping point.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I finished in 3:54, seventh place. The organizers handed me the first of the three finisher medals I would collect this weekend – a big metal model of the lake with the first course mapped around the bottom. The guy who finished before me was handed a second, larger medal, for winning his (and my) age group. Shortly after me, the first woman came in and got a similar large medal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The finish was high above lake level so after stretching and refueling I was ready for an ice bath. Reesa picked me up and after fighting South Lake Tahoe traffic we headed to the lake looking for a beach. After searching a while we gave up and headed to a local marina. I considered acting like a boat and walking down the launch ramp but then decided to walk down the wharf and hang over the edge. I know I looked ridiculous but the cool lake water was heaven.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That afternoon I wanted to keep my legs moving so lactic acid wouldn’t build up so we all went for a hike through the woods by <a href="http://www.aboutlaketahoe.com/hiking/fallen-leaf.htm">Fallen Leaf Lake</a> with the dogs. We finished the day with dinner at a lakefront restaurant watching the sunset.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kent and I at the start of Cal-Neva</td></tr>
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<u>Day Two – Cal-Neva Marathon<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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The bus from the casino took us back to that park and ride lot off Highway 50 for the start of marathon number two. My good friend Kent had signed up for this race and we prepared for the start together. The second marathon started as casually as the first had ended. The race organizer walked into what seemed like a randomly selected spot in the parking lot and then yelled for us all to gather 'round. He then swept his arms parallel to his body and said, “Everybody line up here. This is the starting line.” Then after shouting a few instructions about being careful of the traffic on the highway he said, “OK, go!” and we were off. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Kent and I ran together for the first 5 or so miles, which started with a downhill along the highway through some beautiful woods and then along the lakefront. We hugged the lake most of this race and the East and North shores are absolutely beautiful. As we came to the northeast corner of the lake we passed by <a href="http://www.aboutlaketahoe.com/beaches/sand-harbor.htm">Sand Harbor</a>, a small isolated camp ground that looked like paradise. It had wide sandy beaches with gently lapping waves and crystal clear water. I’ll have to come back here sometime. After this we came to the posh<a href="http://www.gotahoenorth.com/resorts-and-towns/incline-village"> Incline Village</a>. This provided us a nice break from the highway as we cut over to Lakeshore Drive which had much less traffic and was lined on both sides by incredible vacation homes of the rich and famous. There was also a nice multi-use path next to the road so I could get off the asphalt for awhile. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As we left Incline it was back to the highway as we made our way along the lake and back into California to <a href="http://www.visittahoecity.org/">Tahoe City</a> for the finish. Kent was roughly 5-10 minutes ahead of me most of the race playing a nice rabbit. I crossed the line a minute slower than Friday but again in seventh place. This course wasn’t nearly as hilly or challenging which was a needed break from day one. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tahoe City at the end of Cal-Neva</td></tr>
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After stretching and congratulating the other early finishers we walked down to the lake and went in. Ice bath number two was easier to get to and again very, very welcome. We celebrated our victory with burgers and beers in Tahoe City. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That afternoon I kept the legs moving with a long walk with the dogs then accelerated recovery with a dip in the <a href="http://www.jacuzzihottubs.com/hot-tub-blog/exercise-recovery/">Jacuzzi</a> hot tub. Did the same Friday night as I’ve found heat and hydrotherapy to be key parts of recovery.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdv3khEXtjNuV4hJzyLMT3GAvhFHLNk8gcWw41z1du6LgdHo5fFCjRyvOH8Ojdpd1kKdNZ1i82aZNmcO1Z9QSmL3zJa9mDo1iRehueok-zpLSYPebdaBztm-FVzPQvCrGj7HGye9SBQoB/s1600/Day3start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdv3khEXtjNuV4hJzyLMT3GAvhFHLNk8gcWw41z1du6LgdHo5fFCjRyvOH8Ojdpd1kKdNZ1i82aZNmcO1Z9QSmL3zJa9mDo1iRehueok-zpLSYPebdaBztm-FVzPQvCrGj7HGye9SBQoB/s200/Day3start.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>
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<u>Day Three – The Lake Tahoe Marathon</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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I was definitely moving slower Sunday morning. The long ride to the start took us along the paths of the first two day’s marathons so I got a chance to relive these races and realize just how far I had already come. We also get a chance to see and cheer on some of the ultramarathoners who had started their 72 mile quest at 10 pm that night. About two miles before Tahoe City I saw my fellow <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/">TNT</a> coach, Cam getting some refueling and a change of clothes from his dad. I would hope to catch up to him during today’s race and hopefully help him through the finish.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The race began at the lakeshore and we got off the bus just as the sun was rising over the mountains to the east. The sky went from dark blue to purple then yellow before slowing turning a perfect light blue that would hold the rest of the day. It was warmer at this start that the previous two days and where the prior two events had been casual road starts with the select few of us who had chose to do the triple, this one was a full marathon with over a thousand people. We lined up under a real banner this time, had a singer for the national anthem and a real gun was shot off to start the race.</div>
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The first few miles were up into Tahoe City and along the highway (again) heading out of town. I had driven this race course with Cam the day earlier so knew what to expect but wasn’t prepared for the fatigue that ran through my body from the very start. The first ten miles were very tough going, especially the hills as this course went up and down all day long.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As we neared mile 11 I started feeling like myself again and picked up the pace for about the next ten miles. It was through this stretch that I had anticipated catching up to Cam but had still not seen him. He must have been having a great day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Part of the long stretch where I was feeling good included a long climb known as the highway to Hell. It took us from 6,200 to 6,800 feet in about 1.5 miles. It was grueling but nothing compared to Pikes Peak the month before and all my hill training this year had prepared me for it. I powered up it but tried to make sure I didn’t power it too hard as I had another big hill to go.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This last hill came at mile 19 and was after a long downhill to <a href="http://www.vikingsholm.org/">Vikingsholm</a>, a mansion built long ago by a Swedish aristocrat. From here we had a 2 mile climb back up to the Emerald Bay overlook that had started this crazy race Friday morning. I was hating life by the time I got to the top of this hill and was running on fumes. But worse was the downhill as my Achilles was fuming and each downhill step was agony. Like Friday, the decline from Emerald Bay overlook was a series of steep switchbacks and I was forced to take them very slow. I tried to avoid stepping too strongly onto my left foot as each time I did my Achilles sent a bolt of pain up to my brain. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After the switchbacks the course leveled off a bit and returned to Camp Richardson. The detour I had made on Friday, was indeed off course on day one and turned that race from 26 miles to 28. This time it was really part of the course as it was lined with much-needed water stops. My Achilles stopped yelling at me so much through this section and the mile markers – which counted down from 26, unlike most other races – were thankfully in the very low single digits. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sunday’s race was a celebration of running as in addition to the marathon there was a half marathon, marathon relay, 10K and 5K all on the same course. It was great having so many other runners around so you never felt alone or fearful that you had veered off course like the prior two days, but it was very disheartening to see a fresh half marathoner or relay runner blast past you. While most gave words of encouragement, as all us triplers were wearing our official bibs, I couldn’t help but envy their speed and energy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The final mile came after four hours of running and felt forever long. Eventually I turned a corner and saw Reesa, Kent and other supporters standing at mile 26 smiling and cheering. I needed their energy and picked up the pace for the final stretch. As I caught sight of the finish line in the distance memories of this entire weekend poured into me like lifelong flashback and I began to tear up. And in a supremely fitting turn of events, Daughty's <i>Feels Like Tonight </i>came out of my iPhone for just the second time. This brought my emotions to a boil and I poured on what remaining speed I had, fought back the tears and held my arms high over my head as I crossed the final finish line. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating the finish with (RtoL) Emily, Kent, me and Reesa</td></tr>
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I crossed the line at 4:19, substantially slower than the prior two days but still good enough for a top ten finish for the triple. After getting my finisher medal, I immediately ducked into the first aid tent to have my Achilles wrapped in ice. After stretching for a while and refueling, Reesa gingerly walked me to the lake where I slowly entered for a much needed ice bath. Several other triplers were there either icing or collapsed on the shoreline. We looked like the walking wounded brigade.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cam and I in a much-needed ice bath in Lake Tahoe</td></tr>
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I never did see Cam on the course but apparently had passed him on one of the hills. I felt terrible about this but did finally see him at the final mile. Despite my own pain, I handed Reesa my shoes and joined him on the trail for the final mile. I was in total awe of him having run 72 straight and wasn’t about to not be there for him at the end. We both went into the lake after that. A second ice bath was definitely in order.</div>
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Looking back on the race now, I can say that it was an incredible feeling to have fully looped the lake and it gave me a real sense of accomplishment. The views, the hills and the companionship I felt with my fellow runners were all worth it and the organizers did a masterful job – plus provided some awesome bling! But would I do it again? I think I’ll return to single marathons for a while before entertaining this question. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Next up: A return to <a href="http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/">Competitor's</a> series -- <a href="http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/savannah">Rock n Roll Savannah Marathon</a>, November 5.</div>
James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-81410245367369079162011-08-22T15:19:00.000-07:002011-08-22T15:56:04.840-07:00Pikes Peaked, Up Complete – Pikes Peak Marathon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8vFGPXYtNrZznPKQ6KpOPVEwxNwwBYLaceV-gJqqNhKmL6jw7bQJ6XNTJ46jwq-NPBmihOMjbdarNa-7py-VjdxNBS5VH_jI0CUk8RTPElo6kxWpWf69U3MpT4hTl0M96JaBBQP3oJaV/s512/pikesstart.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 383px; height: 512px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8vFGPXYtNrZznPKQ6KpOPVEwxNwwBYLaceV-gJqqNhKmL6jw7bQJ6XNTJ46jwq-NPBmihOMjbdarNa-7py-VjdxNBS5VH_jI0CUk8RTPElo6kxWpWf69U3MpT4hTl0M96JaBBQP3oJaV/s512/pikesstart.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br />After weeks of what can only be called hill training by comparison, I have completed the toughest marathon of my career, summiting the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak Mountain in Colorado. Most marathons cover 26.2 miles giving you a tour of a city or covering pretty trails through national parks. <a href="http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/">Pikes Peak Marathon</a> takes you from the cute town of <a href="http://www.manitousprings.org/">Manitou Springs</a> at 6,500-ft above sea level immediately uphill for a grueling 13 miles up to the top of one of Colorado’s famous <a href="http://www.14ers.com/">fourteeners</a>. The course is brutal, with endless switchbacks, tough rocky terrain with tons of big boulders you have to step high up and over; and Lord help you if you look up during the race as the top of the mountain looks impossibly far away.
<br /> <p class="MsoNormal">My training for this event started back in April of this year with the tallest climb I had ever done, which was <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2011/04/down-done-grand-is-putting-it-lightly.html">up the North and South rims of the Grand Canyon</a>. Those rose 6,000 and 8,000 ft respectively and from April to August would be as high as I would get. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area you just don’t have access to anything approaching Pikes Peak. My weekends were filled with climbing <a href="http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/stinson.html">Mt. Tamalpais</a> in Marin County, <a href="http://www.scaruffi.com/travel/sfohike.html#dia">Mt Diablo</a> in Contra Costa County and climbing up to the Skyline ridge along the peninsula. The distance I knew wouldn’t</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUxzYX7iE-79HZuK4COWabOjUTCR7ITUUaQbRBxCoKQqCr7AEMFX3v9Ex5Qlo_v9-igmSDFvzKj2wlNdRiAX7aaIBiV91_UFqIJNT-3gl0D4Jh-fZBh4A6J0jf_94aWq3D2rZQUs-8Cim/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUxzYX7iE-79HZuK4COWabOjUTCR7ITUUaQbRBxCoKQqCr7AEMFX3v9Ex5Qlo_v9-igmSDFvzKj2wlNdRiAX7aaIBiV91_UFqIJNT-3gl0D4Jh-fZBh4A6J0jf_94aWq3D2rZQUs-8Cim/" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 191px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> be the problem. It was the altitude I was worried about.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">To acclimate to the high altitudes for this race, I came to the Denver area the week prior to the race. In between client meetings and research work I trained at <a href="http://www.examiner.com/hiking-in-denver/winter-hikes-lookout-mountain-golden">Lookout Mountain</a> which rises above 10,000 feet and <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/pawnee-peak/152833">Pawnee Peak</a> which gets to 12,000. All this training gave me a new</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0pD9V4ZK3_wFtlVmHcsooncFqBk6uWJ_7T-1MWb-N4gWK0L5C1Wo683VoZbg-Om_oje5vXUqIjXh0loe0bjjJLMiPKsve8f_CNn5ocp3-ywzjHcl2UnPNglHQ02ZDII6kh_j043fkDQl/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0pD9V4ZK3_wFtlVmHcsooncFqBk6uWJ_7T-1MWb-N4gWK0L5C1Wo683VoZbg-Om_oje5vXUqIjXh0loe0bjjJLMiPKsve8f_CNn5ocp3-ywzjHcl2UnPNglHQ02ZDII6kh_j043fkDQl/" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 191px; " /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u>
<br /></u></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAmkTMXXjgp5132MHaTZxFFT5PyhpkxucpJ48TRSmS7igKQGHX454GonwkhDtzMjbiyFLLmX7wAwfhuWQsTVmvEfQkBPCGgujgFJPiUuajxeNIB7kTrzFfW5ncgXPvFcEdEIOSjIuqt97/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAmkTMXXjgp5132MHaTZxFFT5PyhpkxucpJ48TRSmS7igKQGHX454GonwkhDtzMjbiyFLLmX7wAwfhuWQsTVmvEfQkBPCGgujgFJPiUuajxeNIB7kTrzFfW5ncgXPvFcEdEIOSjIuqt97/" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> appreciation for mountain climbing as the views were simply incredible from each mountain I summited. Plus I found that, other than some stiffness in my neck the altitude didn’t really bother me. But I was told by just about every Coloradoan I met that it would be different from 12,000 to 14,000 feet. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pikes Peak Marathon starts in the cute little touristy town of Manitou Springs, just five minutes from Colorado Springs, which is the home to the <a href="http://www.usafa.af.mil/">US Air Force Academy</a> and the <a href="http://www.teamusa.org/">US Olympic Committee</a>. Because of its high altitude, it is a fantastic town for athletic training and thus one of three <a href="http://www.teamusa.org/about-usoc/u-s-olympic-training-center-colorado-springs">US Olympic Training Centers is located here</a>. We took a tour of the state-of-the-art facility which houses a select hundred or so promising athletes who are sponsored into this program by the governing boards of their respective amateur sports – only the top 10 percent of athletes in each Olympic sport are eligible. Future Olympians in swimming, shooting, basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and hundreds of other summer, and some winter sports train here. In fact, this program is so elite that one year’s entire class of basketball players are now all in the NBA.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAmkTMXXjgp5132MHaTZxFFT5PyhpkxucpJ48TRSmS7igKQGHX454GonwkhDtzMjbiyFLLmX7wAwfhuWQsTVmvEfQkBPCGgujgFJPiUuajxeNIB7kTrzFfW5ncgXPvFcEdEIOSjIuqt97/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}">
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<br /></u></span> <p class="MsoNormal">Also down the street from Manitou Springs is an incredible park filled with massive red rock</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2CIO04rgXOYK2Fo15EzIaZ15O_4hFIKszlQkmH_JNJdvmnOqaYpfgUm5qu1NHQGNE4iOw066KIbhOtq2FWhh-pywdlgpJKYNakH8wMnVFYPJ8L7pRSpsGX0KYulaLdbnrDKUnkUc8Ha4/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2CIO04rgXOYK2Fo15EzIaZ15O_4hFIKszlQkmH_JNJdvmnOqaYpfgUm5qu1NHQGNE4iOw066KIbhOtq2FWhh-pywdlgpJKYNakH8wMnVFYPJ8L7pRSpsGX0KYulaLdbnrDKUnkUc8Ha4/" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> formations known as the <a href="http://gardenofgods.com/home/index.cfm?flash=1">Garden of the Gods</a>. Here you will find rocks hanging at what seem to be impossible angles, suspended or balancing on tiny rock bases and sheer cliffs that are straight drop offs on both sides. It’s a bit of a Mecca for free form rock</p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzHuQZwUif1ZJlcNz-CuxIT7D1UunAX9EHVpM3Cmcxlx5dASv_5nbWxCAuGPUScuaf4a5v-omI1IGFyAtW4JxUNMRj42gwzifZ8UjLP6sS6mK4p2408qSakmYaa2Y5CGDCx7D4f03DRcy/" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"> climbers, hikers and cyclists. This park also served as the start point for the new <a href="http://www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/">USA Pro Cycling Challenge</a>, a bit of a Tour de Colorado featuring many of the pro cycling teams from the Tour de France. While I was climbing Pikes Peak, Reesa and our friends from Denver saw Tour de France three-time runner up <a href="http://andyschleckofficial.com/">Andy Schleck</a> and his brother Frank training<span> </span>in the Garden in preparation for the following day’s kick-off time trial. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The night before the race, we stayed at the incredible <a href="http://www.gardenofthegodsclub.com/">Garden of the Gods resort</a> where every spacious suite-style room had breathtaking views of the park and far beyond it Pikes Peak. From arrival, through dinner and all through the night I stared down my nemesis of the following day like a gladiator might look upon his opponent. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">On first arriving in Colorado Springs and seeing Pikes Peak, I have to admit, I was intimidated. From town it looks incredibly far away and ridiculously high up. As we were walking through the Olympic Village, touring the opulent <a href="http://www.broadmoor.com/">Broadmoor Hotel</a>, and especially as we were picking up my</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOaJfEK5q4reU0Cl0O4nPNPoY52FljCWkVL-Q6D3gAIChxrmhrBk2tfTT4b3WE3x3YLQR89WYTx5LA559vte4Dk4uqMX5Og6f4T3nF_TNV8gtOUSdghM3KR48KkIfw38e51SB3HEZx5Ya/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOaJfEK5q4reU0Cl0O4nPNPoY52FljCWkVL-Q6D3gAIChxrmhrBk2tfTT4b3WE3x3YLQR89WYTx5LA559vte4Dk4uqMX5Og6f4T3nF_TNV8gtOUSdghM3KR48KkIfw38e51SB3HEZx5Ya/" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> registration packet and bib number, it seemed to get taller and more intimidating. I kept reminding myself that it was just 13 miles to the top and as I tell all our <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/sj/">Team in Training</a> participants about hill climbing -- don’t look at the top of the hill but just 50 feet in front of you and before you know it you will be at the top. I sure hoped that philosophy worked over 7,000 feet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The night before the race, a huge grey cloudbank rolled in covering the top of Pikes and pounding us with rain, thunder and lightning. There are often afternoon showers in August in Colorado and we had had similar but much lighter showers the prior two days. This was concerning because the weather at the top of Pikes Peak can be very unpredictable. It can be as much as 50 degrees cooler than at the bottom and when clouds roll in can become very windy, let loose a torrential downpour with not a moment’s notice, or let out a lightning storm that has singed runners in prior years. That night’s storm turned out to be a good omen as it rained all the moisture out of the skies giving us a perfectly clear day for the marathon. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This event is capped at around 900 runners and sold out in less than 40 minutes back in February. I registered at 5am from my hotel room in London. There is also a half marathon here that happens the Saturday before the marathon; 1,800 runners make <a href="http://www.gazette.com/sports/top-123597-peak-freakishly.html">the Ascent</a> which normally takes about twice the time of a typical half marathon. I factored that into my planning. As a 3:40 marathoner that meant it would take me about as long as a typical marathon to reach the top and about half that time again to get down.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">At 7am Sunday, I gathered with the other marathoners as the gun was fired and we headed into the mountain. On my left was Marcos a twenty-something Colorado Springs native who as attempting to break his PR on his third attempt. On my right was Phil from Los Angeles who set his sights on Pikes Marathon a year and half ago having never run further than a 10K in his life. He jumped into running hard after setting that goal, crossing the line at 4 marathons prior to this one and summiting <a href="http://www.mtbaldy.com/mtbaldy/002/index.php">Mount Baldy</a>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The course starts out by leaving town and passing the <a href="http://www.cograilway.com/">Cog Railway Depot</a>. This is home to a train that climbs to the top of Pikes Peak in about two hours. It gets its name from the massive iron cogs used to pull the train up the mountain. After leaving town the course jumps on the <a href="http://www.skyrunner.com/ppcourse.htm">Barr Trail</a> and begins climbing immediately; and nearly everyone walks the hills. With 13 miles of this ahead, you have to really focus on energy conservation; otherwise the top of the mountain can turn into a death march -- if you see it at all. Over the next several miles we traversed a series of switchbacks, known as the Ws stepping over boulders and large tree roots. This portion gets its name from how it looks on the course map – the letter lying on its side and repeated several times. It’s a long, slow climb. There are times where it levels out that you can run a bit and points where it is wide enough to pass a slower climber or two. The group I crossed the Ws with I would see nearly the entire race as we pass each other back and forth up the mountain. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When we emerged from the Ws there was a small clearing from which you can see just how high we have already climbed – Manitou Springs is a speck below us. Here it is mostly level as we shift from a foothill over to the main mountain. The clearing gives everyone a chance to run a bit as well as rest their climbing muscles for the next section which is more switchbacks. These are a bit tougher as the boulders we climb are larger and the incline greater. We were deep in the woods at this point working our way up to <a href="http://www.barrcamp.com/">Barr Camp</a> which about half way up the mountain; half way from a distance perspective but only 30 percent of the way in total climbing time. As we moved higher the incline got even steeper and when we got above treeline rocks took over the trail. For the next 3 or so miles the terrain was crushed rock which gave like a sandy beach making the footing a challenge. Each switchback was an exercise in pushing off, with each step losing a little ground. It was a perfectly clear sunny day so we were spared any rain or strong winds and at this point, you could see incredible views far beyond Colorado Springs – a perfect day for this race. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">With three miles to the top the terrain shifted to mostly rock with large boulders you had to strain your quads to step up and over. We were using our hands and arms to help us step up over the bigger ones and many had jagged edges making the going rough. The last three miles were so steep that they took over half an hour to traverse. They call the final mile the <a href="http://gazettewonder.freedomblogging.com/2008/10/10/the-16-golden-stairs-familiar-to-pikes-peak-hikers-runners/353/">16 Golden Stairs</a> (click the link if you want to know why). There are way more than 16 steps and while the rocks are kind of yellow the only thing “golden” about any of it is reaching the summit, which I do just shy of 4 hours from the start. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When you get to the top you don’t get a breather in this race as the volunteers take a bib tag from you to confirm your summiting and immediately send you back down. There’s no clearing at the top where you could walk around a bit and take in your accomplishment. That would have to come later. So I took a quick look at the view and immediately begin the descent. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The way back is the same as the way up and those still climbing did their best to get over to the left yielding to downhill runners. It was tough going at times because the trail is very narrow. Gravity pulled me down the Golden Stairs and due to the height of the boulders I was literally leaping from rock to rock. After the first couple miles down my quads and hamstrings were screaming and I knew I was going way too fast. But I have to confess, this was the most fun part of the course and I felt like a little kid bounding down the mountain. I returned to treeline about 30 minutes later and as the incline leveled a bit my legs started to feel the effects of the 16 miles now behind me. The rocks and roots jutting out from the trail made descending quickly very treacherous so I slowed way down in this section so as not to fall. Several other runners did the same and a few who didn’t, paid the price. One went by with blood streaming from his head, another twisted his ankle trying to navigate between two large rounded boulders and a third wiped out after his foot caught on a root. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When we reached Barr Camp for the second time I was heavily fatigued. I started stopping at each aid station to drink water and rest a bit. I was wearing my <a href="http://www.nathansports.com/our-products/hydrationnutrition/race-vests/hpl-020">Nathan running vest</a> which had a bladder filled with 70 ounces of <a href="http://www.powerbar.com/products/416/ironman-perform-sports-drink-mix.aspx">PowerBar energy drink</a> which allowed me to blow past all the aid stations on the way up. I still had some electrolyte drink left but by this point it wasn’t feeling so good on my stomach. Plus after 6 <a href="http://www.powerbar.com/products/442/powerbar-energy-gel.aspx">PowerBar Energy Gels</a> I needed something simple. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Once past Barr Camp the downhill became easier with more runnable surface and less jutting rocks. The miles came a bit faster now – prior to this it seemed that the miles were <i>way</i> longer than they should have been. From here down I was running most of the way. With five miles to go the clouds moved in and thunder cracked overhead. As I ran through the Ws light rain was falling over me which was a welcome coolant. Thankfully the overnight downpour had not made this trail all that slippery and there were no large mud puddles I would have expected back home.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Shortly after passing the “2 miles remaining” marker and then the final aid station, I emerged from the Barr Trail and was back on the roads in Manitou Springs. The course was still very steep at this point and the asphalt was tough on the feet. Locals were cheering us on as we wound down the hill and into town where Reesa was waiting and cheering. I crossed the line at 6:16, winded, spent and proud.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After a bit of stretching I then headed for a small creek just behind the finish line and went right</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gQJPL6wdftj_GhwdK8DeDtN6yPZLELYz6M6xeVqnM3kq10A_-E6TTYy86IwsvtTYFN6WvN2EYynQztrZslaEQ4wxW_JGQKPtBSBHs_tAkQXc-R-QGyR2F9kDVfpU_a0Ua-buh9VJ7190/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gQJPL6wdftj_GhwdK8DeDtN6yPZLELYz6M6xeVqnM3kq10A_-E6TTYy86IwsvtTYFN6WvN2EYynQztrZslaEQ4wxW_JGQKPtBSBHs_tAkQXc-R-QGyR2F9kDVfpU_a0Ua-buh9VJ7190/" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 228px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> in for an ice bath. Along with several other thankful runners I sat hip deep in the cool waters immersing my sore legs and feet. We traded stories about the Ws, the Golden Stairs, PRs and what we went through to get here. Champions all.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now I begin training for the third leg of <a href="http://smsjames.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-race-plan-down-up-and-around.html">my ultra challenging year</a>. In four weeks is the <a href="http://www.laketahoemarathon.com/ultra.html">Tahoe Triple</a> – 3 marathons in 3 days circumventing Lake Tahoe. Wish me luck.<span> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div>James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999202049236882868.post-13620088856879439232011-07-04T12:36:00.000-07:002011-07-06T12:06:37.711-07:00Detour to Provence: A worthy break from running<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve been absent from the blog for a while as I switched sports temporarily in preparation for one of the best vacations of my life – cycling through the Provence region of France. Reesa and I spent May getting reacquainted with our road bikes and riding hills, knowing we had a lot of that ahead of us and left from France at the beginning of June. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For the short version of our trip, watch <a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17352277/Provence%20June%2012%20movie%20project.wmv">this video</a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I arrived in France via Barcelona where I was for work. I flew from there to Lyon, a beautiful large city in the south of France where I had but a few hours to look around. The town by the train station is rather uneventful but due east is the Rhone River which Lyon has adopted as a wonderful park. The river is lined on the West side with walking and biking trails, green spots for a quick game of tag and a fantastic public pool. Resting in the waters are a series of floating barges converted into wine bars, restaurants and night clubs. One, a rusty old storage ship, proclaimed to be an authentic Australian bar and grill called <a href="http://www.ayersrockcafe.com/">Ayers Rock</a>. <o:p></o:p></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoygrKC3_5g7Rw4XBYKx6I6dLFouwmuhqrs3dEMrlKlBJN2EpTwMyAe5KkNeJNZGJFbqfc9Ea_dqeWaoZqI41r7V_RLXDg_pAuRi2z4sA2vg0H2pBHAuCOIs8fDEt7X4LXPj2Bjohn5cUU/s576/IMG_0538.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 576px; height: 508px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000FF;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal">I grabbed a glass of rose, which is everywhere here in the summer time and my first authentic French croissant of the trip while enjoying the sun and people watching. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">From here I took the TGV down to Avignon in the hopes of arriving just shortly before Reesa so we could relax in town before the biking trip kicked off. But no such luck. Reesa’s flight from San Francisco had been cancelled due to mechanical problems and instead of a short flight to Chicago then direct to Paris, she had been re-routed SFO to Dallas, to New York, to London, then finally to Paris. Her short 15 hour trip would be elongated by 17 more.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here final arrival wouldn’t be until nearly 1:30am that night. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So I was on my own in Avignon for the evening. We stayed at a great little <a href="http://www.venere.com/vacation-rentals/avignon/vacation-rental-autour-du-petit-paradis/">apartment hotel</a> in a quiet part of old town, just steps from the <a href="http://www.palais-des-papes.com/anglais/index.html">Palais des Papes</a>, the historic home of the pope during the 12 and 13<sup>th</sup> centuries. After settling into the apartment, with its cute little living room and view into a tiny French courtyard, I headed off to see the town. Gotta love summer nights as it remained light out until around 9pm.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I walked the gardens of the Palais, through the pretty town squares and out along the medieval town walls that are in surprisingly good shape. That night, our hotel owners pointed me to a great vegetarian restaurant in town, <a href="http://www.terredesaveurs.cabanova.com/">Terre de Saveur</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had a great tofu pasta dish and a half bottle of local red wine as I took in the local flavor, watched the sun set and waited for Reesa to arrive. Dinner was finished with a fantastic rhubarb crème brulee. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After picking up Reesa and bringing her back to the hotel we both slept soundly through the night. We were awakened by a 9am call from Stefan, one of our guides from DuVine adventures letting us know they would be by around 11:30am to collect us. I showered and headed out to <a href="http://www.avignon-leshalles.com/">Les Halles</a> and a local bakery to pick up a quick continental breakfast. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At around 11:15am, a striking young American in a matching biking outfit bounded up the stairs to our apartment to greet us and help us with our bags. David, another of our guides was in his mid 20’s, with a perfect v-shaped body, broze tan, blonde hair and broad smile. He had the looks of a character from a romance novel or TV dramedy with the personality and back story that you just can’t make up. Born to an American father and a French mother, David split his youth between Provence and North Carolina. He came to <a href="http://www.duvine.com/">DuVine</a> fresh off a bachelor’s degree from UNC and a stint in the Peace Corps in Africa building homes and schools. And to make the picture even more perfect, he’s leaving in the fall for a Ph.D. program in environmental sciences at the University of New Zealand. Ok, ladies, now you can swoon.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our cycling tour couldn’t have started out any better (see the <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/staten7/VacationInProvence">album</a> on Picasa for all the photos). DuVine took us to our first hotel of the trip, <a href="http://www.vieuxcastillon.com/">La Vieux Castillon</a> in the cute little hilltop town of Castillon-du-Gard.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This sprawling, historic hotel was a village within the village – a series of homes that were linked together to create the hotel. It’s right in the heart of town with big rooms, a sweet little garden courtyard where they serve breakfast and a pool built into the ruined walls of the village overlooking rolling hills covered in vineyards. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After unpacking and settling in, we headed down to the pool to greet our fellow travelers over a toast of local wine and olive tapenade. There were 14 people in our group, large for a DuVine trip but definitely not too large to enjoy the vacation. Six of our fellow cyclists were from within 50 miles of us, here in Northern California; one couple lived right on Canada Road where Reesa and I had been training each weekend for the last month. Along with them were two great young couples from Michigan, one celebrating their delayed honeymoon. And two more great couples from Miami who were long-time cyclists doing their second biking vacation. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After the toast we all headed down to the bikes. As we adjusted seats, helmets and as clip pedals were put on, the DuVine crew served up a crudité with fresh avocado, tomatoes, gazpacho, local artisan bread and cheese. If this sounds like a lot of food and wine before heading out for a bike ride, it was thematic of the trip to come. No one says you have to eat it! But how can you not!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our third guide, the veteran on the team, was Justin and he gave us the verbal preview of the days ride. Justin is a trim, strapping guy from Colorado who has a deep love of France and had been guiding tours for DuVine for 10 years. Reesa said he looked exactly like a young Clint Eastwood.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That day’s ride was the easiest. We headed down out of town and out to see Pont du Gard an</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_qIf2Rjql3qyKHwkluhbwKawErL0zNVOwZ-EXVJJTNYbrBvhsiqMe35MgpWs8C4PVLEb9LCNldBzzwSLHANfgVhYcHckZO_fg0OcyE1LNcKhNjQC9_H904ajR8IZv8g6V05PDarJHmG-/s128/pROVENCE%252520DAY%2525201%252520ALSO%252520121.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_qIf2Rjql3qyKHwkluhbwKawErL0zNVOwZ-EXVJJTNYbrBvhsiqMe35MgpWs8C4PVLEb9LCNldBzzwSLHANfgVhYcHckZO_fg0OcyE1LNcKhNjQC9_H904ajR8IZv8g6V05PDarJHmG-/s128/pROVENCE%252520DAY%2525201%252520ALSO%252520121.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 96px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TdHvhiwy7V_AZexe-8daq_xeVn447NuiruloPczh51K07a8HH7VuSOSaLtDtyAFtkh3QxaJvXYCMlcUBZOLLIMA1RynHyBIZ1o0sc3kdNTYvT76uTxTVOxjbqosdmjSHTX0FgcjZTvjX/s128/IMG_0551.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><p class="MsoNormal">original and mostly in tact section of Roman aqueduct built in 19 BC. We then headed out and through a couple small rural towns, Ledenon and Cabrieres before heading back up to Castillon. The ride up to town was the first of the hills and gave everyone a preview of what to expect in the days ahead. I couldn’t wait!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That night, before dinner was another wine tasting where we drank in a white, rose and red</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TdHvhiwy7V_AZexe-8daq_xeVn447NuiruloPczh51K07a8HH7VuSOSaLtDtyAFtkh3QxaJvXYCMlcUBZOLLIMA1RynHyBIZ1o0sc3kdNTYvT76uTxTVOxjbqosdmjSHTX0FgcjZTvjX/s128/IMG_0551.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TdHvhiwy7V_AZexe-8daq_xeVn447NuiruloPczh51K07a8HH7VuSOSaLtDtyAFtkh3QxaJvXYCMlcUBZOLLIMA1RynHyBIZ1o0sc3kdNTYvT76uTxTVOxjbqosdmjSHTX0FgcjZTvjX/s128/IMG_0551.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 124px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TdHvhiwy7V_AZexe-8daq_xeVn447NuiruloPczh51K07a8HH7VuSOSaLtDtyAFtkh3QxaJvXYCMlcUBZOLLIMA1RynHyBIZ1o0sc3kdNTYvT76uTxTVOxjbqosdmjSHTX0FgcjZTvjX/s128/IMG_0551.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">from a winery you could see from the pool. We then went out of the hotel to dinner served by Mario, a local legendary chef and rugby player with personality appropriate for both passions. He took great pride in serving us himself and describing each sumptuous dish in great detail.</span></a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The following morning, I woke with the sun and ran down into the vineyards below Castillon-du-Gard and ended up, quite by accident, running right past the winery from the toast last night. After a great continental breakfast – someone please help me understand why croissants taste so much better in France? – we geared up on our bikes and headed down to the medieval town of Uzes. This is the town the benefitted from the waters of the Pont du Gard aqueduct. The result, lush fields growing pretty much everything you could desire. We had lunch on the town square under a warm sun before getting back on our bikes and down through the villages of Flaux and Valliguieres. That night was dinner in the restaurant of our hotel which featured an incredible chocolate and coffee dessert. It had a small espresso mousse in a coffee cup made of dark chocolate, truffles and a steaming cup of espresso. Yum.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The following morning I started the day with a brisk swim in that incredible pool (did I mention it is not heated – so brisk it was), breakfast and packing, as we were leaving Castillon-du-Gard for our second hotel. Gotta love these bike trips where they carry your stuff from hotel to hotel for you. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We cycled out of the Gard region, across the Rhone River and up a hill to the <a href="http://www.frigolet.com/en/">Abbey de St. Michel-de-Frigolet</a> where we parked our bikes near a tiny tree-covered grove to discover an</p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBk0Ind687h7dCrhcBJJHPKWGLqCqu8DIa-gRBlfETzPiFtXmDEp1yIzOdDk1BdB3wavQ8pv1MpHFVLI5CG_0sUJMzyllZycLxHROMfLWyHxnCSLEfkGAwx8FabuFdseaBS7L8O62RwZi/s128/Provence%252520Day%2525202%252520and%2525203%252520043.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 96px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"> incredible picnic lunch prepared for us by our guide David (yes, ladies, he is single). There were four kinds of salads, three types of olives, local breads, meats and of course a full flight of French cheeses. David expertly described everything, spending extra time on the cheeses as he said he is still in search of his personal cheese. He introduced us to his mom’s signature cheese a hearty, soft cheese, and dad’s a hard, sharp white cheese. I stopped listening after he displayed my signature cheese, French camembert. This soft, ultra creamy cheese is really, really bad for you but oh so good! You can get camembert in the US but not French camembert, due to export restrictions, so next time you are here you have to try it.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We gorged ourselves on the incredible spread, then took a tour of the Abbey as the food and wine settled; for we had a full afternoon of cycling ahead of us.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That afternoon we rode through the villages of Graveson and Maillane, saw some incredible fruit and grain orchards and got a look at les Alpilles, the tiny Alps. We then headed through</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5mFLZ9FnHrZxmxbF9suBsA5od3rC99gxCAdRiMXUBGuFxmgBMe4-DFVpORL2u5dEv1NE73iKvbbJKVgT-Z_ZpNWTCJ2Xs1rgQYclkMBl8mQLHyoueHePKl6wy-NBw5ANsdgp-zCEQ-t0/s128/IMG_0596.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5mFLZ9FnHrZxmxbF9suBsA5od3rC99gxCAdRiMXUBGuFxmgBMe4-DFVpORL2u5dEv1NE73iKvbbJKVgT-Z_ZpNWTCJ2Xs1rgQYclkMBl8mQLHyoueHePKl6wy-NBw5ANsdgp-zCEQ-t0/s128/IMG_0596.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 91px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> more gorgeous orchards and past fields with miniature horses grazing and then a flock of sheep being herded by a very friendly border collie. We stopped to take a photo and he gleefully ran over, posed for a picture and nuzzled us for a pet.<o:p></o:p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpyP3yEYaSPJSiN17z1wqV08uGx9FNLxC3R1nFaZTyjudhg9MWjGzAqvQQj-fmtm_r5I-G7nQmoZ8aFKO3nxUyCxSvaZWdD1K7_Qh4jjaOFZ6-V0iSOrx2cswovBK0gebUV0QZkilDzS5/s128/IMG_0644.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpyP3yEYaSPJSiN17z1wqV08uGx9FNLxC3R1nFaZTyjudhg9MWjGzAqvQQj-fmtm_r5I-G7nQmoZ8aFKO3nxUyCxSvaZWdD1K7_Qh4jjaOFZ6-V0iSOrx2cswovBK0gebUV0QZkilDzS5/s128/IMG_0644.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 98px; " /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpyP3yEYaSPJSiN17z1wqV08uGx9FNLxC3R1nFaZTyjudhg9MWjGzAqvQQj-fmtm_r5I-G7nQmoZ8aFKO3nxUyCxSvaZWdD1K7_Qh4jjaOFZ6-V0iSOrx2cswovBK0gebUV0QZkilDzS5/s128/IMG_0644.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><p class="MsoNormal">To the right of this field was our next hotel, <a href="http://www.chateauderoussan.com/">Chateau Roussan</a>, a palatial country estate which was built in the 17<sup>th</sup> century for Michel de Nostre-Dame, better known as the prognosticator Nostradamus. His mansion was surrounded by incredible grounds that included a front balcony, which could hold an entire Renaissance ball, and sprawling gardens including a pond filled with swans and goldfish.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After dropping our bags and looking around a bit, the guides offered the first of our extra rides, for those still looking for more challenge -- a 7km climb up to a view point overlooking <a href="http://www.lesbauxdeprovence.com/">Les Baux de Provence</a>, a medieval village that once defied the local government declaring its independence from taxation by daring the rulers to scale its cliffs if they wanted to take it. This heritage is playfully honored with a display of medieval weapons including a catapult and a trebuchet which for 5 euros you could have a go at firing. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Justin and I led our small group up the climb where an absolutely incredible view awaited us.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rH-VOYHc1_IgEgWZV1VvWh3HBNgVlLlsObHmTjn4Fj5UShnhQJfKQ7jcnpUBW6pB4Bb6A_Bby2xFJk0ynJRfGMTfVahc7fDDV6xCJRcOdhNP60u3bmb0DZpIrwxgUWHy3LP9RgZaE35K/s128/IMG_0612.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rH-VOYHc1_IgEgWZV1VvWh3HBNgVlLlsObHmTjn4Fj5UShnhQJfKQ7jcnpUBW6pB4Bb6A_Bby2xFJk0ynJRfGMTfVahc7fDDV6xCJRcOdhNP60u3bmb0DZpIrwxgUWHy3LP9RgZaE35K/s128/IMG_0612.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 81px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> Les Baux, from this height was a clearly forboding site. Behind it lie les Alpinnes to the South and the Val d’Infer (Valley of Hell) to its North. The Val d’Infer, a deep, sprawling valley of grey granite was supposedly the inspiration for <a href="http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/index2.html">Dante’s Inferno</a>. I don’t think an invading army would dare take this route to Les Baux. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After overlooking the site we headed to Les Baux ourselves, passing a former granite mine that had been turned into an amphitheater, then walking the medieval streets of what our guides told us is the second most popular tourist attraction in France. It was definitely very touristy but had amazing views.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Day four started with a ride to nearby St. Remy where it was market day. The streets were covered with stands selling tons of local fare including some of the most colorful and stepford-perfect fruit and vegetable stands I had ever seen. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpwwAGt2r6yNSyberVPji5hl-aUqTrJDaNG5FPKj51YjYVPdnNe6oPZgm6w1NeM2D3w72SH7wEnjyhz4JpmIZVGqM0JR67W86P_L8_4LOshd-IER9-ds3g6a0KVI1VJytEzeCLJt2z1fP/s128/IMG_0650.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpwwAGt2r6yNSyberVPji5hl-aUqTrJDaNG5FPKj51YjYVPdnNe6oPZgm6w1NeM2D3w72SH7wEnjyhz4JpmIZVGqM0JR67W86P_L8_4LOshd-IER9-ds3g6a0KVI1VJytEzeCLJt2z1fP/s128/IMG_0650.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 96px; height: 128px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Huge flowers were displayed at several stands as were hordes of local sausages, sweets, breads, olives and more. One stand even had two massive pots filled with steaming Paella, the aroma of the fresh fish cooking in saffron rice could be smelled for several blocks. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We left St. Remy, passed a couple Roman ruins (they were actually monuments built to make the region appear loyal to the Romans, so they would be left alone) before heading out to the vast fields in the foothills of les Alpinnes. These fields were the inspiration for many of Van Gogh’s paintings, one of Reesa’s favorite artists. We then stopped for a late lunch in the cute mountain town of Eygalieres. Apparently a favorite of Brangelina, this cute town has a ruined church (St-Laurent) at its top harboring sweet views of the valleys surrounding the town. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The afternoon was a bit stressful as we had to go through a bit bigger of a town, Luberon, on our way to our next destination which meant riding on busy streets filled with tiny commuter cars and big trucks. It weared on us all and didn’t really prepare us for the long slow climb to Gordes. But when we got there, it was all worth it as this town was incredible! Another mountain town, Gordes is all packed together on a cliff’s edge. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM362BrsOoopFGRGSaRfErO70oppWL7VcbTlNaRZt_T8PMbByghdg4jqoVZlcCBNspJV-g5sy3RBHBJQF8lqtHswxnmdHbOQjphYpLxwdd1ixhA50lfqulhWsqJ0d44bqntnV3cG0Ds-d0/s128/Provence%252520june%25252012%252520day%2525205%252520020.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM362BrsOoopFGRGSaRfErO70oppWL7VcbTlNaRZt_T8PMbByghdg4jqoVZlcCBNspJV-g5sy3RBHBJQF8lqtHswxnmdHbOQjphYpLxwdd1ixhA50lfqulhWsqJ0d44bqntnV3cG0Ds-d0/s128/Provence%252520june%25252012%252520day%2525205%252520020.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 96px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bastide-de-gordes.com/fr/hotel-provence-luberon.php">Our hotel</a>, a real stunner, was literally built into the cliff walls spreading out narrowly affording every room an incredible view. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The guides offered another extra ride from here, of which I was the only taker. It included a tough but fun climb through the hills surrounding Gordes and taking us right past the Abbaye de Senanque, </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VqC9H0GyjsQ4YK1-12B11QHdBc3nTsAnZG9spb38w4dvHW1ydkhtJWIBkBGdTKeplJKWjfYVA1VwdBTo5A84jJ14VFc9cXUZGb9m6YkZSf1O5d8JMH15efxQB_GZrosV9nNteT_Rgmh9/s128/IMG_0703.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VqC9H0GyjsQ4YK1-12B11QHdBc3nTsAnZG9spb38w4dvHW1ydkhtJWIBkBGdTKeplJKWjfYVA1VwdBTo5A84jJ14VFc9cXUZGb9m6YkZSf1O5d8JMH15efxQB_GZrosV9nNteT_Rgmh9/s128/IMG_0703.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 69px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal">one of the most famous sites in all of Provence, and one often photographed with its spread of lavender fields before it.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That night we dined like locals in a great restaurant featuring regional foods. I was treated to a plate of steamed and grilled local vegetables with ratatouille and locally pressed oils. Dessert was a basket of local ripe fruit. We took it all in with incredible local wines of course, and were treated to a lunar eclipse breaking just above our table. Wow.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Day five was the final cycling day of our trip and was certainly the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi%C3%A8ce_de_r%C3%A9sistance">piece de resistance</a>. It was a day filled with hill climbing, lavender fields, rapidly changing terrain and stellar views in every direction. This was my favorite day because of all the climbing but it was tough on others. The morning included a climb up to the red rock town of Russillon. Here another local market day was taking place but we left in short order after Reesa noticed a pickpocket strolling through the crowds. Good eye, Reesa. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We then climbed up to Menerbes, through Lacoste and up to the House of Truffles for a</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWs9HErW28sHQCdN4nCoV97WQO4qlZ2a-Be0FJrErGWoD0dMq6xDxJYH_SwutADcGZcCBDc3yA76wmEM1o73gaNMVzHARwwwBnS6NqQtV9pM91mCU6NxVI71xI098zzxndcDEsvJoVyavr/s128/IMG_0771.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWs9HErW28sHQCdN4nCoV97WQO4qlZ2a-Be0FJrErGWoD0dMq6xDxJYH_SwutADcGZcCBDc3yA76wmEM1o73gaNMVzHARwwwBnS6NqQtV9pM91mCU6NxVI71xI098zzxndcDEsvJoVyavr/s128/IMG_0771.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 96px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> leisurely lunch that included a pasta dish covered in fresh picked truffles, shaved paper thin. It’s a good thing the lunch was paced because the group was tired from all the climbing. I look advantage of a breezy overlook to rest my eyes too. <o:p></o:p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmY5Oz2Cr51m_b95dHkEK2ynI23IuFDqZlzTENRTXRwNwX0lEz09S3FM6C2E4-XzybwfFL0OTacRBxwrwYPL3vwEIeP13h2A91rl0eRkRughMpaPyO03tQBIeTjPBdFB63r1cOyOeyVdn/s128/Provence%252520June%25252012%252520also%252520day%2525205%252520037.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmY5Oz2Cr51m_b95dHkEK2ynI23IuFDqZlzTENRTXRwNwX0lEz09S3FM6C2E4-XzybwfFL0OTacRBxwrwYPL3vwEIeP13h2A91rl0eRkRughMpaPyO03tQBIeTjPBdFB63r1cOyOeyVdn/s128/Provence%252520June%25252012%252520also%252520day%2525205%252520037.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 96px; " /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmY5Oz2Cr51m_b95dHkEK2ynI23IuFDqZlzTENRTXRwNwX0lEz09S3FM6C2E4-XzybwfFL0OTacRBxwrwYPL3vwEIeP13h2A91rl0eRkRughMpaPyO03tQBIeTjPBdFB63r1cOyOeyVdn/s128/Provence%252520June%25252012%252520also%252520day%2525205%252520037.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000FF;"><u><br /></u></span> <p class="MsoNormal">That afternoon was more climbing followed by a fantastic, fun downhill in some back roads where we barely saw anyone. We wound down the hill, then back up another that led us to an olive house where we got a tour of the pressing machines that make olive oil – and a taste of several varieties of course.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We got back to Gordes via the same long climb and everyone was greeted by the hotel preparing a classic French aperitif, pastis. This anise-flavored liqueur is prepared by pouring it over a sugar cube resting above your glass on a silver slotted spoon. Justin said this is a key</p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iJX5F2-a5-K_ybwcvWnKtPIah1hOhONuTrUH6idwVZbhb53e8SfNqzha1M_EyUgetSZVzEdXlnwC-MdZFKx9apolJDVrETjpQ4QGRyvsL3B5E4pHc1Q4RAFCrapM9BYUc1z6VEXftgzE/s128/Provence%252520June%25252012%252520also%252520day%2525205%252520074.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 113px; height: 128px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal"> ingredient in the secret to French dominance in cycling - their EPO (eau, pastis and olive oil). Cyclists like this joke as it plays on the illegal doping that has tarnished professional cycling for years. French EPO, is of course legal. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We toasted our trip on the balcony that night as a light rain cooled off the evening before the hotel chef served us the final feast of our trip. It was an incredible six course meal that would make leaving the next morning very hard.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We said our goodbyes then spent another day in Avignon so Reesa could finally see the city before heading up to Paris for two days to celebrate our 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary reminiscing in the city where we had first started dating. Love you Reesa! I hope we have 20 (no 50) more!</p><p class="MsoNormal">Sadly all good vacations have to end but this one will not be soon forgotten. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div></div></div>James Statenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04049325254212450838noreply@blogger.com0