Avenue of the Giants Racing Report!

Last year, Runner's World featured the Avenue of the Giants Marathon, a series of events that features a marathon, half marathon and a 10K in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park in northern California. I read the article, saw the photos and was hooked! Sarah, of course, was quickly on board as well!

On May 1st, we drove up to Weott with Dan (he ran the half) and stayed at the Best Western Humbolt House Inn and carbo loaded at Sicilittos (a combination Mexican and Italian Restaurant). The hotel was great and the restaurant was slow to serve but the food was pretty good.

Sunday morning we woke up and headed up to the park - we made sure we went extra early because the closest parking fills up quickly and the last thing you want to do is walk a long distance after a marathon. Then at 8am we were on our way!

First 5 miles

The starting line was a little bit hectic. It's located on a narrow road and cars were trying to use the road even a few minutes before the start. The first half of the marathon is an out and back (this is also the course for the 1/2 marathon, which starts an hour later). I lined up with Sarah and once the race started we both went on our own pace. I had planned on trying to start out at around 10:15. But, the course had a bit of a downhill in the beginning and many people passed me, so I ended up finishing faster at 9:58. The next 4 miles were between 10 and 10:30. There were more hills than I thought so I was slower with the uphills of course and faster with the downs. I felt some pressure in my lungs maybe due to the slight elevation or the cold but that went away after the 5th mile. The trees were lovely and I enjoyed seeing all the different types of runners in the race. Also, I got to see the faster runners whiz by as they were heading back for the second half - I'll admit, it charged me up to see them and I quickened my pace for a bit.

Miles 6 - 13 1/2
At this point I was finally warmed up and the during the breaks in shade, it really started to fell hot. I saw Sarah coming back from the first turn around point and it was great to see her during the race. I still kept up running under 10:30. Luckily the way back had more downhills so it was like a little break. At this point, I saw all of the half marathoners on their first half coming out. It was great to see Dan heading out and also gave me a kick in my pace.

Miles 14 - 20
I was pretty much cruising at this point, keeping up my pace. I even ran a few miles with one woman who'd run over 35 marathons. She was great and kept me on pace. I saw Sarah before the turn around when she was coming back (mile 21 for her) and she said to dump water on my head. It was indeed hot out. This portion of the race was really pretty as well and a little more flat. I didn't hit a mental wall at all and made sure I ate orange slices. Normally at this point, I'm starting to feel really out if it, and wondering if a nap should be in order. I never got to that point.

Miles 20-26.2
Ok, so mile 20 I did not hit a mental wall but I did start to feel like it was hard to keep up a good pace. My legs just didn't want to keep going that fast. I did the math, and figured that if I kept up under 12:00 I could still PR. Sad, but true. Looking back, I guess it was like hitting a wall, and I was ok with letting the wall slow me down. Many people say that a marathon doesn't really start until mile 20, and it feels true. That's when you have to dig deep and see what you are made of. I knew if I ran 10 minute miles I could PR at the time I planned (4:34), but I just decided that I only had 11:30 ish in me for the rest of the run.

Right before I hit 26, I saw Dan walking toward me. He had finished the 1/2 at a great time and was coming to cheer me to the finish. I ran fast the last .2 to finish at 4:48, 3 minutes faster than before. I wish I had that kick in me a little bit sooner in the race - somehow my legs felt fine knowing the finish line was just a little bit away.

When I finished, I felt like I hardly stopped during the race, so I laid down once I got my cool Bigfoot metal. The sun felt great and I was sooo glad to be done.

It was probably the prettiest marathon I've done and I'm glad I PR'ed. It was also the toughest training plan. I think the extra miles helped ward off hitting a wall, but I think I still need to maintain a faster pace on most runs and maybe even see a running coach about my posture. Weight training would also help. I'm also thinking that if I run the NYC marathon next year (which I won the lottery for), I will try and run with a pace group.

All in all, it was a great marathon and I'd do it again!

A Great Marathon Weekend

This overdue race report will begin a few days before the marathon...



Here's a video that sums it up as well

Thursday July 23

I work up in the middle of the night and never went back to sleep. My mind was racing while I was thinking about racing. I read too much about getting a PR and I just froke out. Friday morning I decided to just go out and have a lovely time and forget about getting a huge PR.

Friday July 24

Friday I woke up pretty exhausted and worked from home. Sarah and I met up and went to the Marathon expo. We met Bart Yasso who gave us some tips about track workouts. It was really exciting, especially for two running nerds like me and Sarah. Afterwards we went to Goat Hill Pizza for some carbo loading.

In the afternoon, I finished up some work and hung out with Dan. He then headed out to go to happy hour with some friends. I told him to not wake me up when he came home. I implored him, "I need sleep for the marathon!"

At about 11:30 I heard Dan come in. He came into the bedroom and put a ring on my finger and left the room. I said "What did you just do." He thought I'd just wake up with the ring on my finger. It was like a dream, partially because I was still dreaming and partially because I was very happy. Of course since I had just gotten engaged, I could not fall asleep.


Saturday July 25

I woke up and had to call everyone I knew to tell them the news. I laid on the couch all day, talking on the phone and looking at magazines. It was nice to just relax the day before the race. We went to Ella's for pancakes and had pasta for dinner. I went to bed at 8 and fell asleep at 9. It was a pretty good night sleep considering.

THE DAY OF THE RACE!

Woke up at 4 feeling fairly well rested. I ate some wheat toast and had coffee, called a cab and got my stuff together and went downstairs to wait. The cab NEVER Came. They don't let you reserve it the night before, but when I called in the morning they said they'd be right there. Maybe I came down too late, I'll never know. Then I walked to the corner and looked for cabs. I saw a girl at the bus stop who was heading toward the marathon as well and she gave me $2 for the bus since I didn't think to bring cash. Then we saw a cab and decided to share it. Two other girls ran over and asked if they could join us. So the four of us got to the start at around 5:50. I knew Sarah would be nervous waiting but she was a trooper and was just glad that I got there.

We ate a gel and waited at the start. 6:06 and we were off!

Miles 1-5

This section takes you from the ferry building, along Fisherman's Wharf (with the smell of sourdough bread), up Fort Mason, down past Chrissy Field and then up a pretty decent size hill to the Golden Gate Bridge. I tried starting out slow and I felt pretty good.

Miles 6-10

I should look this up to be exact, but I think these miles take you over the Golden Gate Bridge and towards the park. I still felt good. The bridge was super hectic and misty, slippery a bit but ok. Running up and down the bridge (it's hilly) felt pretty good. At some point I realized I was behind by 3 minutes on my pace band. I'm not sure if my garmin just caught up with the satelittes or what, but I don't know how I got behind. I didn't worry about it that much, I think I was still excited from being engaged. I think it calmed me in some weird way.

Miles 11-15

Still feeling good. Running in Golden Gate Park felt like being in the Blair Witch Project - the route kept going in circles and I would have been lost had it not been for the other runners around me. I felt trapped in the park for hours. I still felt pretty good. Was about 7 minutes behind my time goal at that point but felt ok.

Miles 16-20

I felt pretty strong until around mile 19. I just felt faint all of a sudden and decided to walk for about 15 seconds. I drank some gateorade and felt better. That was the wall for me for a short time. I recovered but didn't push it as much as we left the park and headed down haight. Dan was supposed to meet me at mile 20 with coke and m&m's but we somehow missed each other. I just kept going and knew that I'd see him eventually. This was a good downhill portion too.

Miles 21- finish!


The hills never stop. I am getting tired but still ok. At around mile 24-25 I run into my friend Lora who runs with me for awhile. I must have seemed manic and cried, "I am sooo happy to see you! Don't make fun of my form." I had heard that you should use your upper body at the end so I was running weirdly. Right before I saw her I was picked up the pace a bit. We chatted for that mile and she let me take off. I was so thankful to see her.

I finished pretty strongly at 4:51. Congrats to Sarah who finished at 4:19!

I think I could have pushed harder for the last 4 miles or so but some kind of survival instinct kicked in after I felt faint and I didn't push it as hard. I felt better then I ever have at the end. Sarah's training plan worked wonders. I know now for the next marathon I just have to do more speedwork, more miles and maybe some cross training and I can get toward my goal of 4:30.

What's next?

I'm running the Philadelphia Marathon in November. Sarah is running NYC a few weeks before so I thought we could somewhat train together. My cousin is running the Philly marathon with me - it's her first marathon so it should be really fun.