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!

Bipolar Legs

After I complained during the beginning of our long run on Saturday, Sarah made the comment that she thought I'd either be faster than my goal, or way over it for the pace part. I think she had a good point. My legs either seem to feel really great, hence surpassing my goals, or really bad, hence not coming too close to them. I'm sure my diet, sleep patterns, work life stress etc play a huge part in that. Maybe I over do it for some workouts and then don't feel up for others? I wish I could figure out the winning combination to always hit those pace targets and have my legs always feel great.

This morning was the upswing in my bipolar legs. Sarah and I decided to switch our medium long run to Tuesday but after I headed out, started running and the sun came out, I decided to run it today instead of the recovery run. This will probably result in tired legs for the rest of the week, but they felt great. It was one of those runs that just feels good - the air and scenery are sweet and I am glad I'm a runner. My pace was great even as I climbed up the hill from Baker Beach to the bridge and the the hill back up Presidio on the way home. Overdoing it? Probably. But I'm just going to pretend that ups and downs are just a sign that I'm getting in better shape. Who knew I could run 18 miles on a Saturday, and feel great on a 10  miler two days later?

This week is over 50 miles with a 35 minute steady state and a 20 mile run on Saturday.

12 Mile run along the Crystal Springs/Sawyer Camp Trail

It felt a little like vacation today on our 12 mile run on the Crystal Springs/Sawyer Camp Trail, the second to last weekend run before the San Francisco Marathon. We experienced beautiful views of the Crystal Springs Watershed, fog covering green hills, and deer crossing the trail. The paved 6 mile trail ends at the San Andreas Trail for a 12 mile out and back route. Bikers, groups of runners and walkers made the trail a little bit crowded, but it was nice to go somewhere we hadn't run before. Between mile 5 and 6 it's a pretty "nice" uphill (if started on the south side) with a nice downhill after we turned around. All in all, it was a very nice mellow run. Next week is mellow as well with an 8 mile run on Saturday. I am going to try and encourage myself to rest, hydrate, stretch and think positive thoughts over the next two weeks so I can do my best to do my best on July 26th. As cheesy as it sounds, I think all of that could only help. Cheese is good.

Running in Franconia Notch State Park

Last weekend and the beginning of this week I was in New England, pretty, cozy and sophisticated New England. Me and Dan spent a weekend in Maine with his brothers and their wives and kid before heading to New Hampshire. Sarah recommended staying in Franconia because it was pretty and had spectacular pancakes. Dan and I stayed at the Sugar Hill Inn for two nights. For the first night, his brother and sister in law also stayed at the inn, but the second day Dan and I toured the park on our own. Since I had a hill workout in my schedule, we found a place to run. The recreational trail in Franconia Notch State Park is a multiuse trail and had some very gradual rolling hills. We found a couple of hills to alternate between. It was very warm and I kept looking around for bears, but other than that, it was a great place for a run.


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A short race is a different kind of drug

Sarah scheduled a 4 1/2 mile race into our training plan for the SF Marathon. I've always seen this recommended in training plans, but it somehow always seemed like crazy talk to me. The race Sarah found is the Summer Evening Race Series at Lake Merced 4.5M loop which only costs $1. This is the shortest race I've done - in fact, it's the first thing I've ever called a race. Marathons are not really races, at least according to my legs. We got a bit intimidated by all of the serious runners there that seemed to know each other but it went really well. I ran faster than I thought I could and got such a rush out of it. I think I want to run shorter races more often.

Now I am still on my high and am thinking of signing up to do the New York Marathon for charity. I should probably do so while I'm in my post running stupor.

ps. Lake Merced is a 4 1/2 mile paved loop and is so pretty.

Tiburon makes me run faster

Yesterday was our first "pace run" - this is where we run for 12 miles at a easy pace, and follow it with several miles of our marathon goal pace. We started by doing 4 miles at goal pace with 3 more in store for the coming weeks. We choose a flat route which Sarah researched online - a 17 miles adventure in Tiburon. Most of the route is flat, with a paved bike trail and a sandy running trail on both sides. I couldn't believe how amazing the views are, even on an otherwise dreary foggy day.

The first part of the run went by pretty fast. We tried a new type of gel named Octane which I think gave our legs a burst of energy, and took off for the 4 miles. It went well - I started out a bit to fast and that ended up being the best mile. The third one was good and the last one was the slowest. I also stopped for a few seconds on those two miles to catch my breath and have some water. All in all it went well and I am almost excited for the next three. almost.

Monday is a 80 minute run. I am going to continue speeding up the medium runs to maintain a consistently faster pace.

Baker Beach and back

Monday of week two starts off with a medium paced 70 minute run. I choose an out and back to Baker Beach because it has a good portion of flatness, with a few hills. Actually, according to my Garmin it's only a little less hilly than running down Presidio, but it didn't seem as bad. I think it's more gradual. I ran past Baker Beach to Battery Chamberlin which seemed a little spooky on a foggy Monday morning run - I couldn't even see the bridge.

Summer, fog, fall

Today it felt like Fall running in the Presidio. Gone was the heat or the fog. Replacing it was a lot of sun, blue skies and wind. I'm hoping it will stay this way tomorrow when Sarah and I go running. This feels like the last "easy week" before our training really sets in. My concerns? Will I be tired for the next few weeks? Will I still finish the same even though my training will be harder. Dear Diary, I am scared and excited about it. At work, I am always "sprinting" and every once in awhile, I need to take a breath. Ahhh. I hope this training allows me to do really well, to sustain myself over the 26.2 miles. I can only do my best. To quote our new poet laureate W.S. Merwin, "I could do anything."