M.A.'s Running Blog

Big Sur Marathon Relay May 1, 2011

2011-05-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

"What I learned from the miles of uphill my coach put before me was the simplest bit of math: The faster you run it, the sooner you're over it." -Sara Corbett, RW Writer at Large

11 April 2011: Santa Cruz Half Marathon

2011-04-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

Source: http://www.firstwave-events.com/races/Santa-Cruz-Half-Marathon-10K-Santa-Cruz-Beach-Boardwalk.aspx

I'm coming back from an IT band injury so I wasn't even sure I would be able to run Santa Cruz 1/2 Marathon. This is the second time I've done the Santa Cruz Half either injured or healing from an injury. I was also injured for the Disney 1/2 so I ran/walked that one as well. This time I made my race plan and talked it over with my coaches. They were great about reminding me to stick with it and not get carried away with all the excitement of the race. The plan was walk out and run back.

I was fairly disappointed about the whole event as I got ready in the morning. I kept thinking to myself, "Why run a race when I can't go all out?" and "Why did I pay money to run a race and now my body can't deliver?" I was so disgruntled about the matter I ate my toast dry without the usual peanut butter and banana. My heart wasn't in it but I also had none of the pre-race jitters. I slept amazingly well the night before.

Honestly, I was intimidated to go out and run a half marathon after taking seven weeks off running. I wasn't totally inactive as I rode my bike occasionally and daily walked the dog. I also did physical therapy at the SOL Clinic on Seabright Ave. in Santa Cruz. When the seven weeks of rest was over and I was pain-free, I began to running again. It was hard not jumping in with the marathon training group with their workouts. I just wanted to be back with them doing their 20+ mile long runs on Sunday. I got in 14 total weekly miles three weeks before the race, 14 total weekly miles two weeks before the race, 22 total miles the week before the race, and ran 8 miles the week of the race (before running a little over 7 during the race).

The morning of the race, I met some great people from the 1/2 and 10K Fleet Feet training groups. It was nice to have new and familiar faces to hang out with before the event started. It was rather cold so our huddle kept us a bit warmer. Coach Amiee was great about leading us in a warm up with some dynamic stretching and strides. It was also fun to band together and wriggle our way through the crowds to find a good waiting point on the street right before the race began.

I kept to my commitment of walking the first half of the race. I walked from the Boardwalk, along West Cliff, and out on the paved path to Wilder. Once I got on the bluff trail I ran. I took my time easing in to my pace. I held a 9:30 pace for a few miles and then dropped into an 8 minute pace for a few miles. The last mile split was 7:48 so I was happy. I was happy about the time, happy about being pain-free, and happy I made the most of the race. I ended the race with a time of 2:13:48. My finish time was unexpected as I had estimated finishing somewhere between 2.5 and 3 hours depending on my walking pace and if I encountered pain.

All-in-all, it turned out to be a good race. I enjoyed the sights along the coast with clear skies and blue water and have never felt stronger at the end of a half marathon. Holding back and the beginning of the race and sticking to an appropriate race plan goes far in having a successful and satisfying race. I was all full of giddiness and endorphins as I drove away to enjoy a bright sunny Sunday. I even had enough energy to walk the dogs for an hour and play with my friends kids. I wasn't depleted. I really did feel filled and grateful.

Dec. 5, 2010: California International Marathon

2010-12-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

I had a great race on Sunday at the California International Marathon and although I went to Sacramento by myself, I ended up running the marathon with two guys from Aptos that talked to at the race expo the day before the race. We ran together at least once before in Nisene so it was certainly welcome to see familiar faces in the crowd of runners at the expo. The race would not have been the same without them. I am grateful for their positive words and encouragement. They really kept me going and it was great to have someone celebrate with after crossing the finish line. What are the chances that we'd finish within about thirty seconds of each other?

I am a bit surprised that I did the marathon in under 3 hours and 45 minutes. Since my birthday was days before the race I bumped up to the 35-39 age group which made my finish time a qualifying time for Boston! Amazing. All that training with the Fleet Feet group paid off (especially Jon's track workouts and all those long runs in the rain).

Lessons Learned:

Marathons are unpredictable
Tapering is good for the body
A good taper in Hawaii is strongly recommended
Starting the race with a friend or two is a great way to do it
Getting in and get out of the water stops as quickly as possible is easier if you wait and get water a few tables in
8,000 marathoners are much better than 20,000
Rain the night before and predicted showers the morning of do not guarantee rain during the race
Wet roads and fall colors in the trees make for a beautiful marathon
Familiar faces (or their backs) make the miles go by quickly
The Garmin is now my friend - holding back early on helped me save something for the last six miles and my body won't tell me to slow down early on but the Garmin keeps me honest
The last 0.2 miles do feel much longer than the first mile of the marathon
Having a friendly face or two at the end of the race is better than any medal around my neck
Post-marathon legs are funny when negotiating crowds and curbs
Foam rolling and a hot shower make a marathon body much happier
A celebratory dinner post-marathon while wearing a medal is a must (and might I suggest cedar plank-roasted salmon?)

Unofficial CIM Results

Loving Life & Loving the Gift of Running

2010-10-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

I am so happy right here, right now - in this moment. Maybe it's the runner's high left over from yesterday or maybe life is just good. It is.

It was a year ago this month that I thought I'd give running a try after taking a year and a half off due to the trouble with my achilles. I wasn't sure I could run for a mile without a walk break. I was afraid of the injury coming back but I was able to build slowly with the Fleet Feet group in Aptos and get back into running. Right now I am training for the Nike Women's Half Marathon on Oct. 17 and training for the California International Marathon in Sacramento on Dec. 5. I thought it was pretty much over after the Big Sur Marathon in 2008. It's so nice to be wrong.

Training Firsts This Time Around

A team (Fleet Feet's No Boundaries Training Group)
Coaching (Ed and Jon from Fleet Feet)
Partners - Awesome women to run with
Friends - Good connections made with the Fleet Feet group
Fueling - Learning to consume gu and electrolytes during my long runs
Hydration - Running with a hand-held water bottle
Recovery - Drinking my chocolate Rice Dream & rice protein powder w/ agave nectar "shake" after I finish (homemade but I'm trying to hit the 4:1 carbohydrates/protein ratio)
Post-run - Feeling good enough after long runs to actually be able to do something on Sundays without crashing on the couch at four in the afternoon (fueling and hydration _are_ important)
Terrain - Most of the miles have been on fire roads or trails
Shoes - Running in the Brooks Ghost 3 for Women (they come in AA!)
Recovery - Using the black foam roller and the Stick at least once a day, twice is preferrable
Cross Training - I'm aiming for a spin class at the gym and road ride two or three times a week
Cutting Back - I'm only running three times a week. (I know, how can that be possible?)

Road Trip to Alaska

2010-08-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a fantastic five week camping trip with my dad. We drove through Canada to Alaska, drove around Alaska, took the ferry from Haines, AK to Bellingham, WA, and then drove home.

1 Dodge Ram w/ a Lance camper
2 tents (because I found out the hard way that first tent was not water proof)
3 dogs
7 grizzly bear sightings
countless bald eagles, bison, caribou, moose, reindeer in a pen, musk ox, etc.
many vast landscapes

Here are the Facebook albums because I haven't the words to describe the beauty of Alaska.

Summer 2010 Cell Phone Highlights

Alaska's Inside Passage

Haines, Alaska

The Glenn Allen Highway to the Haines Highway

From Hope to Palmer, AK

Homer, AK

From Anchorage to Seward, AK

Denali National Park

Fairbanks, AK

Summer Road Trip 2010

Santa Cruz Firecracker 10K 2010

2010-07-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

I waited to sign up for the Santa Cruz Firecracker 10K the week before the race but there was plenty of room. I even got to pick up my race packet the day before the race instead of the day of. It was fun to meet some of the other runners.

The morning of the race was cool and foggy. I was glad to meet up with two of the guys from my No Boundaries Fleet Feet running group. We walked around before the race and started the race together.

The hill in the Pogonip was challenging but nothing compares to what we did at the Nisene Marks Half. I felt like I did have some sort advantage having run it before. I ran the whole time but realized that some of the people hiking the hill were keeping up with me.

Once we were out of the Pogonip, it was mostly down hill through the neighborhoods. It was great fun to see all the people in their yards cheering us on. I even saw one of my students and his family.

I took advantage of the terrain, relaxed, and picked up speed. I even got my fastest mile split on mile six (7:36). That is definitely a first for me in a race. I pushed hard at the end and when I was in the chute I felt close to vomiting. Thankfully, I did not but some day I kind of want to just to know that I have given it may all.

I didn't meet my time goal but was happy with my finish time. It is amazing to me that just a year ago I was injured and thought I would NEVER run a race again. I am happy to be out on the trails again.

Nisene Marks Half Marathon

2010-06-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

Photo from Fleet Feet's No Boundaries Group: http://www.fleetfeetaptos.com/photos

The half marathon went well for me today. It was my first trail race and I loved it. It was nice and small. I think there were only 400 people total in the marathon, half marathon, and 5K. People were friendly on the trail and out there in the forest to have fun.

I hate carrying fluid with me on the fuel belt but given that there were only three water stations, I decided carrying it would be the best idea. I am glad that I did because it was hot and I felt ready for water when there wasn't a station in sight. Ironically, I didn't go through all my water because I ran the race faster than when I ran the course during training. I could have gotten away with two fuel belt bottles instead of three.

Most of the race took place on the single track trails. It was great to be in the redwoods. I was surprised that it went by so quickly and that I felt strong throughout the race despite the hills. The forest is not without its perils and the guy behind me got stung by a yellow jacket. The poison oak was present but since I don't get poison oak I wasn't too worried. I did trip twice but thankfully I did not go down.

I was able to strike up a conversation with a guy riding his bike right at the end so I am fairly certain that I did not push myself enough. There was a whole lot more left when I was done than there should have been. Given how my legs feel seven and a half hours after the race, I know I could have gone harder but I was happy to finish uninjured and feeling good.

As for my time, it was about 20 minutes slower than my first half marathon in 2005. The Nisene Marks Half certainly had more hills and was warmer than the Santa Cruz Half. I've also run less per week this time around but my goals were pretty conservative. I didn't think I'd run it any faster than two hours given the course and thought I wouldn't run it any slower than two and a half hours. I was right - 2:08:50.

Photo from Fleet Feet's No Boundaries Group: http://www.fleetfeetaptos.com/photos

I'd love to train harder and get faster next year but honestly I am so happy to be able to run again. I did it! I ran and I finished - that is what I am left with. I came back after a year and a half off due to the achilles injury and finished the half marathon without any pain. When I started out in October I didn't think that I could run more than a mile without taking a walk break. So here's to setting a goal (run a mile) and surpassing it (run a trail half marathon).

More trail runs and races to come.

Here's a link to the Nisene Marks Marathon (just in case you want to run it next year): http://nisenemarksmarathon.com/index.htm

A Must Read

2010-06-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

Kristin Armstrong just posted to her Runner's World blog. It's a must read entitled 90mph. Go ahead; read it!

Nisene Marks Half Marathon

2010-06-04T13:29:00.000-07:00

So many firsts ...

The Nisene Marks Half Marathon will be my first

race that is less than 10 miles from my house
trail race
race since I've been injured
race of 2010
race on a Saturday
race after training with a training group (check out the Fleet Feet Aptos group)
half marathon that I will bring my own water and electrolyte drink
half marathon where I am actually thinking about eating a Gu since it won't be over as quickly as most 13.1 miles I've run in the past

I am so excited as it's less than 18 hours away.

Motivation

2010-05-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Terri Schneider (http://www.terrischneider.net) came and talked to our Fleet Feet training group (http://www.fleetfeetaptos.com/training) before our run. It was great to hear her talk about motivation. She's right, everyone struggles with it but it's important to be clear why I get out of bed or off the couch and out the door.

I love how running makes me feel.

I love the quiet of being alone on the trials.

I love spending time in nature.

I love working hard and clearing my head of the day's troubles.

She also suggested sitting down and writing the positive aspects of a run not just what was covered and how I felt. She gave the example of "the hard run taught me mental toughness." I'm going to do it so I can look over it later.

Last nights workout was new to me. We ran a ladder 400-800-1200-1600-1200-800-400 with a 400 recovery. The goal was to keep an even pace. I gotta keep working on my pacing but I kept it all right at or under an 8 minute mile. My last 400 was 7 seconds faster than my first 400 but my perceived effort was much greater. It felt a lot harder than that first 400. The 1600, however, wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and coming down the ladder felt great. I think I need to recover more to keep the pace more consistent. I'll try out the heart rate monitor next time.

I wish that I would be able to train for Terri Schneider's Dirt Inspires Half (http://www.terrischneider.net/ditrailruns/) on Sunday, August 29 in Nisene Marks. It looks like a great race but I'm not sure I'll be in shape for it after camping my way through Alaska for a month. We shall see.

Oh, have you seen the photo on the Fleet Feet Aptos site? There's a ton of our training group. Here's one of us in Nisene Marks:

Source: http://www.fleetfeetaptos.com/photos

Christmas 2009

2010-01-05T12:38:00.001-08:00

I had the unbelieveable opportunity to spend Christmas break with my cousin in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Facebook Album of Christmas with Betsy

Patagonia, Chile

2009-12-02T10:20:00.001-08:00

I think this is going to work. Check out the pictures I put in Facebook albums. I may have time to post photos here as well.

Puerto Natales, Chile: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042102&id=14403340&l=ebb0223ab3

Patagonia I: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042103&id=14403340&l=eb756e64fe

Patagonia II: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042124&id=14403340&l=1379a72f04

Patagonia - Kayaking w/ the Icebergs: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042125&id=14403340&l=1cc47b0ed6

Patagonia - Glacier Trek: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042126&id=14403340&l=5202105774

Patagonia - Nature Walk: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042127&id=14403340&l=eab613dd88

Patagonia - Torres del Paine Grande: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042128&id=14403340&l=6e62a39000

Fleet Feet Wed. Night Workout

2009-11-11T21:12:00.000-08:00

The Fleet Feet No Boundaries Group went over to the track again for a timed mile. Malia and I went to the park for a nice walk in the dark before I did the run with the group. She loves running around smelling everything while I walk around the loop at the track. It wasn't as cold as I thought it would be so I was glad. Also, unlike two weeks ago, there wasn't any wind. It was quite a nice night to be out.

It was a smaller group than usual but everyone was really enthusiastic. We warmed up, ran a timed mile, and warmed down. I was hoping for a faster time but finished in 7:10. That was three seconds slower than two weeks ago. However, I felt strong this time and more evenly paced than last time we ran the mile.

It's funny that tonight I went home after work, ate dinner, and started watching a movie. I got so comfortable that I didn't want to go run in the dark. I almost convinced myself to stay home but this was the last Wednesday night of this training group before I go to see Kim and Todd in Patagonia. In the end, I am glad that I went with the group and ran around the track. It was great to be out with everyone. I always feet great after an evening workout so this will motivate me the next time I feel like staying home instead running in the dark.

Starting Week #6 of the Fleet Feet No Boundaries Training Group

2009-11-09T10:31:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that this is my basically my last week of the group. I only have this Wednesday night practice and the Sunday long run before I leave for Chile. This Wednesday is our timed mile and I hope that I'll be able to run faster than I did last time. I wonder if two weeks between mile times is long enough. When I ran track in junior high we had meets every Friday. I noticed some decrease in time weekly but the biggest difference was obviously between the first and the last meet.

I loved our Sunday run in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. We were supposed to go out and back for a total time of 70 minutes so I was able to make it from the store up to the second gate before I had to turn around. It was great fun to be able to run for that length of time. I learned from last time and made sure to use the foam roller before I went out and I also took one minute walk breaks every four minutes. It helped my leg feel much better the next day.

I wonder when I'll be able to run more than twice a week. I have learned that walking has really helped me feel better when I do run. For now, I'll run when I can and walk Malia the rest of the time.

Running Group

2009-11-03T15:48:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow's the challenging workout for the Fleet Feet running group and I'm looking forward to it. I can't believe there's only five workouts left. I'll be sad when it's over. Who am I going to run with when it's dark?

We had a great run in Nicene Marks State Park on Sunday. It was the 60 min. run and I actually opted out of the walk breaks because I was feeling so good. That might not have been a great idea because I my achilles felt tight and sore the next day. After talking to the podiatrist, Dr. Michele Kraft, at the group on Sunday, I made sure I used The Stick to massage my legs and I've been using my black foam roller in the mornings before I go out for my morning walk with Malia. She's loving that there isn't a run in sight for her as she prefers a nice walk.

Track Workout w/ the Fleet Feet Group

2009-10-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

Last night was the dreaded track workout. I haven't run around a track with a group of people since track workouts in junior high. I was excited and a little nervous all day. It was silly, really, because I've been running with this group for a few weeks. Tom Griffen, the leader of the group & owner of the Fleet Feet in Aptos, told us that we'd be doing a timed mile. I thought of it with dread because I'm not in shape and am just getting back in to running. I thought about it and set a realistic goal: run a mile under ten minutes. In junior high I ran a mile in the low six minutes (maybe 6:10 or 6:05). Running something in the sixes was not a realistic goal but something in the nine minutes sounded reasonable.

Yesterday, I filled up on spicy Mexican food at Taqueria La Cabaña (a mistake before running but not a bad idea after) and took Malia to the park for a half hour walk before meeting up with the group at the track. It was dark and windy when we did our warm up. It was hard to relax but I tried to. We started the timed mile and I just went for it. I really had no idea what kind of pace I was holding because I forgot to look at my watch. I held a decent pace most of the way but when it came to the kick I didn't have one. One of the ladies from the group kept me going and just passed me at the end. She was so nice about it and so excited when we finished.

When we finished I was shocked that I not only beat my goal but did better than I thought I'd do. I ran a mile in 7:07. It's not amazing but for me it is. After one and a half years of being injured, I've joined a group, run two times a week, and ran a mile pain free (at least in my achilles). I am quite happy to be running again. This Fleet Feet No Boundaries running group is awesome!

Samuel P. Taylor Park

2009-10-26T18:41:00.000-07:00

I spent the past weekend with my aunt and uncle in Marin. While I was there I found some information about dog-friendly places in Marin on DogFriendly.com. One of the suggestions was Samuel P. Taylor State Park. It was so much fun to hike w/ Aunt Dar, Lola, and Malia. We were able to let the dogs off their leashes while we walked on the trail by the river. They loved smelling everything and I loved not having to hold the leash. We did have to watch out for other dogs and bikers but it was worth it. There's nothing like a walk through the redwoods.

We stopped at the bridge to take some photos.

Los Gatos Creek Trail

2009-10-17T22:51:00.000-07:00

Malia and I enjoyed a great walk on the Los Gatos Creek Trail today after we dropped my dad off at the airport. Many walkers, runners, and bikers were also out enjoying the afternoon. One woman even stopped me to say how good looking she thought Malia was. Kim would be proud. Malia's a show stopper. She gets lots of compliments when we go out.

Map of Los Gatos Creek Trail (http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/LosGatos/LosGatosMap.asp)

Pictures of the Los Gatos Creek Trail (http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/LosGatos/LosGatosPhotos.asp)

One Year Since Posting

2009-10-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it has been over a year since I posted on my running blog. Lots have changed in my life but sometimes there can be a lot of good things in "different." I'd rather be out there training for marathons but I had to take some time off to slowly recovering from my achilles injury. I joined the gym, cross trained, rested, and walked. I have been dog sitting Malia since late February so I have been motivated to get out and hit the trails with her.

I also joined the 5K training group at Fleet Feet in Aptos, CA. It's been great to have something to look forward to on Wednesdays and Sundays. I don't feel like I have to run because most of them are walkers. It's great. The people are extremely friendly and Tom has great advice and coaching tips.

I couldn't make it to the Wednesday night training run so I went the weekly Sat. run at Fleet Feet.

Hike in the Tennesse Valley

2008-09-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

I went up to visit my family in Marin Co. We went on a great hike/run in the Tennesse Valley. We started by running to the ocean and then hiked up the hill for views of San Francisco and the bay.

It felt good to get out in the fresh air and go for a run. It wasn't very long or very fast but was a good continuous 20 minutes. I didn't even take a walk break and I'm not sore this morning. Maybe I can start adding more runs to my weekly routine.

Waiting

2008-05-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

I rested my achilles for a few weeks and walked the Santa Cruz 1/2 Marathon without pain. Just to be careful given what I'd read, I decided to continue to cross train instead of pushing it and trying to jump back into running. I took it easy for two more weeks and ran the Big Sur Marathon. It was a great race and I was pain free for the first half. I eventually has to run for three minutes and walk for one minute during the second half of the race. I rested it another week and ran six miles a week later. Everything felt great (except I was still fighting the end of a cold) but the pain came back after the run. I have now resolved to take off an entire month and not run at all. Since my membership at the gym ran out, I have been swimming, hiking, and biking. I have also been doing exercises and stretching. Nothing is quite the same as running but I am managing. I can walk at a 12 min. mile pace for an hour so I do feel like I'm sweating but there's nothing quite like a run. I'm looking forward to a few good long runs as soon as I can build back up to them.

The Big Sur Marathon 2008

2008-05-03T23:06:00.000-07:00

Almost done! 0.2 miles to go.

Andy, LowOz, my medal, & dry clothes

Mike & Carol brought me flowers

I have been looking forward to running the Big Sur marathon since I was in grad school at MIIS and saw the KSBW special on it in 1999. I thought there was no way I could do it but I wanted to do it some day. 2008 turned out to be the “some day” for me. I got my race entry as Christmas gift from Andy’s parents. I was excited but kind of sobered as it meant that I really had to stop wanting to do it and run it!

I knew that I could run the distance because I ran the San Diego Rock’n’Roll marathon last June but I was not sure about the hills. I figured that it’s one thing to run hills during shorter training runs but run a marathon with hills. I had no ideas about what that would be like.

Things were on track despite several minor illnesses. It seems like I’ve either gotten a chest cold or the flu each month for more than a calendar year. This year I even got fevers and threw up. Training did not go as well as I had planned and it even took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do. I couldn’t figure out how to work in track workouts to do intervals so I didn’t do any. I just worked on trying to do a few tempo runs at a 9-9:39 pace. In addition to minor heath challenges, I got injured three weeks before the marathon. My achilles tendon has been giving me trouble. It was painful and then inflamed. I took time off and rode the bike at the gym so I’d be able to run on the day of the marathon.

Andy and I stayed at the Econo Lodge in Monterey so we’d be close to the Embassy Suites where the busses loaded up at 4:15. I got up at 3 a.m. the day of the race and was a bit discouraged to find that the cold I’d been fighting for the past few day had not gone away during the night. Andy drove me to the pick up stop and while we were driving I saw a guy w/ his GU gear bag running the two miles to the pick up. I guess he was getting in his warm up.

I had never ridden a bus to a race start before and was surprised that it was a fancy charter bus. I was expecting a yellow school bus. Other people rode the school busses but I got lucky (besides the broken seat) to ride the fancy bus all the way to the start. We got off the bus around 5:30 or so while it was still dark. They a little marathon "village" of millions of port-a-potties and tables of bagels, bananas, and juice. People hung around in clumps until the start of the race. I felt like I was in the middle of some strange ritual a summer camp.

The didn’t get everyone to line up on time so I was on the side of the road in front of the race start. It was great because I actually got to see the festivities. There was a man w/ bagpipes, the singing of the national anthem, releasing of the doves, and the race began.

KSBW's News Clip of the Race Start
Watch this closely because you'll see me run by the camera. I'm adjusting my black visor and am wearing a white and blue shirt.

The Monterey County Herald's Slide Show of the Big Sur Marathon

I was surprised at how comfortable I was in a shirt and shorts. Given that I was sick and injured, I took it fairly easy for the first half of the race. It felt good as I ran between a 9:30 and 10 min. mile pace. It was like going out for a long run not racing in a marathon. Right around the half-way point, my achilles started hurting. I stopped and stretched out. The pain subsided, so I started running again. It came back, so I was forced to walk. I eventually worked out a rhythm of running for three minutes and walking for one minute. I was disappointing to train for that long and have to walk but I didn’t want to further injure my achilles.

Instead of hating the hills, I found that they gave me something to focus on; they broke up the monotony. I loved the fantastic ocean views and thoroughly enjoyed the great musical entertainment. My favorite had to be the Taiko Drummers of Watsonville. The hills are fairly rolling hills with the exception of Hurricane Point. It's about 2 miles incline beginning around mile 10 and ending at mile 12 followed by a less steep decline because it's spread out over a greater distance than the incline.

I loved the race because people really seemed to be out there to enjoy the whole experience. Runners were out there w/ cameras snapping photos the whole way. Hurricane Point was my favorite. I felt like I earned the view by the time I had made it to the top. The course organizers also had landmark signs so I could know what I was looking at in addition to mile markers. You can never just run on highway 1 so it was fun to be out there w/ 5,000 marathoners and who knows how many others from the various other races. I made sure to run on the orange and black line - just because I could.

It was great to see my dad on the bridge right before the finish line. I gave Lisa my fuel belt and ran on in to the finish. I was so glad to be done. Andy, Mike, Carol, my dad, and his girlfriend were there at the end. I ran to the port-a-potties and quickly changed into dry clothes. We all headed to Phil’s Fish Market in Moss Landing for lunch. It was a great day.

I can tell that I took it easy during the race because I was only somewhat sore for two days. Today (Sat.) was my first day back running and it went well. It was not painful while I was running but uncomfortable during the rest of the day. I looks a bit swollen again so I’ll be resting it, stretching it, and hoping for a quick recovery so I can run the Big Sur marathon again next year.

Event Photos (MarathonFoto )

Big Sur Marathon 2008 Race Results

2 More Days Until the Big Sur Marathon

2008-04-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

Wow! I can't believe that there are only two days left until the Big Sur Marathon. Actually, there is only 1 day 8 hours and 49 minutes until the marathon. I am excited but also nervous, anxious, and dazed. I've wanted to run this race for SO long - ever since I saw the inspirational coverage of it when I was at MIIS in Monterey in 1999.

I feel a bit under prepared due to resting my achilles for three weeks. I was able to cross train on the bicycle and a did a bit of walking. I have a good base and logged a lot of miles so I know that I'll cross the finish line. I've decided that if I need to run/walk it, I will. I am hoping that the rest will have helped my achilles tendon and it will be an injury free run with great views of the ocean.

Boston Marathon 2008

2008-04-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

I've been tracking Aunt Kay (Kay Chernoff) and Alison Black as they run the Boston marathon. It's so exciting but I'm sure more exciting in person.

Go to http://www.bostonmarathon.org/ if you want to track a runner before the Boston marathon is over.

The Santa Cruz Half Marathon 2008

2008-04-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I participated in the Santa Cruz Half Marathon last Saturday. I use the word "participated" because Sarah actually ran the race while I walked the race. I wanted to run but was advised by the podiatrist to take it easy and not run the race due to my inflamed Achilles tendon.

I took a week off with high hopes of getting addicted to the gym. It didn't happen. I made it once to the gym and realize that I do, indeed, loathe the exercise bicycle. It is my favorite piece of cardio equipment but the boredom factor is strong and only permits me to participate in spinning in place for about thirty minutes at a time. I look forward to the times when people come up stairs with their personal trainers. It's a live show and gets my mind off the mind numbing monotony of riding in place.

I got up at 5 a.m. to get dress, eat, and drive to Sarah's house. We got to the race start about 6:15 a.m. and parked on the wharf. We saw a spectacular sunrise over the water and were worried that it was rather cold. We both opted not to wear jackets as I was convinced that it was going to heat up. We were both glad to be in tank tops at the end of the race.

Sarah and I warmed up together and started the race together. She ran up the hill and I moved over to the side to let the through of racers move past me. I ended up falling into a group of race walkers and stayed with them until I hit mile marker 8. My achilles tendon felt great the whole way so I did not turn around after an hour. I made it the whole way and enjoyed the experience of being in a race without worry about my pace or where how I was feeling. I didn't push it; I relaxed and enjoyed it. I did miss the feeling of being exhausted yet satisfied at the end of the race but would rather save it for the Big Sur Marathon in two weeks. My time for walking the race was almost exactly an hour slower than when I ran it in 2005.

I borrowed some of Sarah's photos from her Facbook album and have decided to repost them here:

A view of West Cliff - what a great place for a run

The finish line - the crowds are waiting for their runners to come in

Sarah & me post-race - we match and we didn't even plan it that way

Sarah's sister, Sarah, and her mom

Race Results

Race Photos (Brightroom)

NBC 11's Slideshow

Achilles Tendon

2008-04-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

I am so upset because after my 20+ mile run on Sunday, my Achilles tendon has been acting up. It was hurting at the beginning of the run and remained tight during the run. The pain came back near the end my ankle showed signs of inflammation and swelling. It didn't clear up so I went to the podiatrist on Tuesday who told me to rest it, put ice on it, and elevate.

The worst part is that I can't do the race on Sat. No Santa Cruz Half Marathon for me. I picked up my race packet at Central Coast Running yesterday and I'm still going to get dressed and start w/ Sara. I'm going to walk what I can and take pictures. I am disappointed because I kept consoling myself at the Carlsbad Half with being able to do better at the Santa Cruz Half. Not true but if I play it safe now I am hoping to still be able to run the Big Sur Marathon. I need to hit the gym and become friends with the exercise bike.

Wharf to Wharf 2008

2008-04-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

Central Coast Running is offering a free training group for the Wharf to Wharf race. The sign up for the group is this Friday, 4 April 2008 from 7-8 p.m at the store. Click here for directions.

The Wharf to Wharf 10k will be held on 27 July 2008. I've never run it but I am looking forward to it.

Monterey, CA

2008-03-19T04:55:00.000-07:00

We just went to Monterey for the weekend and stayed at the Victorian Inn thanks to Sara & Andy's parents. It was nice to get away, especially after the chaos of moving.

I was able to do lots of walking, hiking, and running. I especially enjoyed the Sun. run I did on the Montery Rec. Trail. I did somewhere between 14 and 15 miles. Wahoo. Maybe I'll be able to pick it up and put in the long runs before the Big Sur Marathon.

Source: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/6016/montereybike.gif

I've got all my runs plotted out all the way up to the race. I am quite optimistic that I'll get the milage in but don't know about the speed work. I'm not going for a time goal as I just want to finish the marathon so I'll do what I can. My plan is to integrate tempo runs and chunks of going at a harder effort into longer run instead of just doing laps around the track. I gotta make the training work with the rest of my chaotic life.

Santa Cruz 1/2 Marathon Training

2008-03-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

There are only 29 days, 19 hours, and 15 minutes until the Santa Cruz Half Marathon and I have yet to commit to a training schedule. What am I doing? I've been trying to run 3-4 times a week for 4-6 miles each and trying to get in a long run of 10-13 miles on Saturday or Sunday. Sadly, I've also gotten the flu w/ a fever, had a cold w/ a fever, and had to move since January. These events have negatively cut into the training I was hoping to do for both the SC 1/2 and the Big Sur Marathon. Life's complicated so I will have to change my goal from doing better in the SC 1/2 than last year to being happy with finishing under two hours.

Training for the Big Sur Marathon

2008-02-17T15:12:00.000-08:00

Long runs are my favorite part of marathon training. I look forward to each week's run being longer than the previous one. Last week my long run was about 12 and a half miles of hills. It was great. I felt so strong when I finished that I thought today's run would be even longer and better. I was hoping for 13 or 14 miles. When making my plans, I didn't take into account that I'd wake up at 5 a.m. with the flu this morning. I threw up three or four times before 7:30 a.m. and also had some lower gastric issues. I was convinced that my troubles were over because I didn't have a fever. I should have paid more attention to the led weight I felt in my stomach and the queezy tingle that continued to plague me.

I forced my way out the door and into the fog this morning for a 65 minute run. For the first fifteen minutes I kept looking for good places to throw up but was hesitant to do so in someone's landscaped front yard. By the time I hit the trails, I felt sluggish but no longer nauseous. I didn't feel like turning around and running home so Andy came and picked me up at Safeway.

I thought my run had cured me of my stomach troubles so on with my day I went. I drove to Santa Cruz and was the passenger in the truck as we drove to Watsonville on Highway One. Suddenly, I frantically began searching for a place to pull over. I couldn't tell if it was urgent but I thought it could be fairly soon. I asked the driver to pull over and suddenly as he slowed down I pushed myself out of the window as far as I could go. Somehow I vomited all the water I had drunk post run. Most of it went up my jacket sleeve while the remaining liquid bathed the freshly washed truck in yellow fluid. I made it out of the truck and watered more of the shrubbery along the side of the highway. Then I drank some water and tried to dump the rest of the bottle on the window and down the truck door. The good news is that I am feeling better but am not going to get in any more miles today. I'll have to be a short run today. Next Sunday will be better.

10K #3 - Santa Cruz Track Club's Super Bowl 10K

2008-02-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

Sarah and I just finished our second 10K together by running the Santa Cruz Track Club's Super Bowl 10K. It was raining at first but cleared up by the end. What a great way to start off Super Bowl Sunday.

And now begins the training ... SC 1/2 & Big Sur here I come.

The Santa Cruz Half Marathon (April 13, 2008)

2008-01-30T05:48:00.000-08:00

I just signed up for the Santa Cruz Half Marathon so I've got 2 months and 2 weeks until I have a race. I'd like to have a strong half-marathon this year given the disappointment of getting sick right before the Carlsbad 1/2. I'm hoping it'll be a good part of training for the Big Sur Marathon two weeks following the S. C. 1/2. It has been rainy lately but I'm optimistic about getting in some good hills and trail runs as I train. Aunt Kay suggested hill repeats and joining a track club. I think the hill repeats are doable but Wed. night doesn't work because I want to get involved in teaching an evening ESL class. Maybe some day I'll join a club and have others to inspire me as I run my intervals around a track but since running around a track is one step above the tred-mill at the gym it will have to wait.

I did break down and join the gym so I can cross-train and figure out how to lift weights. It worked out well when I was in grad. school so I think it will work now. I just wish there was a pool at the gym. I love to run, bike, and swim (in that order). Maybe I should think about doing a triathlon. Too bad I hate swimming in the frigid waters off Santa Cruz. Junior Guards has left its indelible mark on me and I can't force myself into the murky cold water.

Santa Cruz Track Club's Super Bowl 10K

2008-01-27T06:38:00.000-08:00

I forgot to post this earlier but I signed up for the Super Bowl 10K. Here is the information in case you see this before Sunday, February 3, 2008, and would like to run in the race.

The 3K run starts at at 8 a.m. and the 10K run starts at 8:30 a.m. the day of the Super Bowl (Sunday, Feb. 3). The race start is on the back side of Natural Bridges State Park (2300 Delaware Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA). The race is nice because it's a small well supported event with great views of the ocean. You can go to Santa Cruz Track Club's website and download the registration form and mail it in by Jan. 29 or register online at Active.com. Race registration opens up at 6:30 a.m. the day of the event so if you can't register by mail or online you can sign up the day of. If you do preregister then you still have to get there early to pick up your race bib the day of the event.

Half Marathon #3 - The Carlsbad 1/2 Marathon

2008-01-23T05:59:00.000-08:00

Andy and I drove down to Carlsbad on Saturday so I could run in the half-marathon on Sunday. We made pretty good time and it took us about seven hours to get to the race expo.

I wondered how I'd feel during the race because I was forced to basically take the two weeks prior to the race off due to the flu. Thus far I have been able to avoid running with a fever and didn't feel like trying it out.

I was disappointed to have trained since September for a race only to get sick right before but I was glad that I didn't have to skip the race. I did have to skip my first half-marathon in Monterey because I got bronchitis/an upper respiratory infection.

My goal for the race was to FINISH. I thought that a goal of a 9 minute mile was realistic since that's what I had been doing on my faster training run (but not the ones around the track). It turned out to be a decent strategy because my over all pace was 9:02 per mile. I did run the first half a little faster than the second but I finished in 1:58:26. It was about 9 minutes slower than my first half marathon and three minutes slower than the first half of the San Diego Rock'n'Roll Marathon in June but I was still getting over being sick as evidenced by the constant coughing up of flem during the race and how I felt the next day.

Overall, the race was great. I'd do it again. I liked how small the expo was. They stagger the marathon starts so the course wasn't too crowded and we ran on roads so there was plenty of room. The ocean was beautiful and we got to run along it for several miles. The water stops were well attended and I love the medal and finishers technical t-shirt.

Lessons Learned:

1) Racing too soon after being sick results in poor performance so it's a good idea to modify your goals.

2) Visit the port-a-potties first thing before the lines get too long.

3) Find a pace group if you're struggling with keeping a consistent pace but don't pace off the runners in the pack; pace off the leader.

4) Set mini goals for the race. For example, "I'll get water at mile marker 2 and 4" or "I'll take my long-sleeve off at mile 5."

5) If someone's meeting you at the end, let him/her know that you're on the last mile by calling him/her on your cell phone. I gave Andy a call but I didn't talk to him. I hit the speed dial and let it ring. Who wants to talk on the last mile of a race? I thought he could enjoy a few seconds of the music along the course. It worked. He was ready from when I came in.

6) Don't skip the cool down after the race and sit in a car for five hours. You may feel ok the day of but you might not be pain-free the next few days. Trust me. People look at you funny when you walk down stairs backwards.

Look at what I got in addition to the medal, t-shirt, & bag of food at the end of the race - a blood blister. The blisters weren't nearly as bad as in previous races. I didn't even know I had this one. I guess I'll wear a thinker pair of socks next time but the narrow shoes are a better fit than the ones I wore in the Santa Cruz Half-Marathon and in the San Diego Rock'n'Roll Marathon.

Look at me! I just ran 14+ miles. I'm showered, my hair is clean, and I'm wearing my finisher's t-shirt.

Upcoming Races in 2008

2007-12-30T18:04:00.000-08:00

I just looked at the Carlsbad Half Marathon website and my entry in the race is confirmed. It'll be fun to run a half marathon in Jan. I hope to see friends and family in the L.A./San Diego area.

I also got my race entry to the Big Sur Marathon as a Christmas gift. I'll be training for the marathon after I run the Carlsbad Half Marathon.

Santa Cruz Track Club's Turkey Trot 2007

2007-11-20T15:02:00.000-08:00

The Turkey Trot was well organized and small. Every was friendly and there were lots of people out on the course cheering on the runners. One of the best parts was seeing all the kids run in the one mile fun run. They were so excited! It makes me want to do the Super Bowl Sunday Run with the Santa Cruz Track Club.

10K #2 - Applied Materials Turkey Trot 2007

2007-11-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

I signed up with a friend to run on Thanksgiving morning in the Applied Materials Turkey Trot in San Jose. It'll be my second 10K. I think I'm partial to the half marathon but I'll give it another try.

I'm fighting a cold so I hope that I feel better than I did today when I ran in the Santa Cruz Track Club's Turkey Trot in Santa Cruz. It was fun but the chest cold made it challenging.

10K #1 - The Turkey Trot

2007-10-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I have signed up for Santa Cruz Track Club's Turkey Trot on Saturday, 17 November 2007. It should be fun.

Saturday, November 17. 2007
Santa Cruz Turkey Trot

10K/5k & 1K Kid's Run

Click here for the registration form.

Back from South Africa

2007-09-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

We're back from South Africa and I'm trying to get back in shape. I went for a 70 min. bike ride on Wed. and a 60 min. hill run on Friday. It felt good but I can tell that I lost a lot over the summer. I have to make up for lost time while getting over jet lag and a getting used to the warm weather. It's hot here in California.

Taking a Break

2007-07-14T07:11:00.001-07:00

I am taking a break from training and running while I am in South Africa. It's hard to do but it's not really practical for me to go running here. Too many people have told me that it is not safe. I did go on a long walk today. It was about a 45 min. walk from a family's house to the grave yard. If you want to read more about what we are up to then go to my other blog at http://michaelannsnyder.blogspot.com. If that does not work then you can try http://www.michaelannsnyder.blogspot.com.

Recovering from the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

2007-06-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

Sunday (the day of the marathon) -

I felt ok the day of the marathon but it wasn't fun driving 9 hours in the car the next day.

Monday (the day after the marathon) -

I got stiffer and sorer with each stop we made. I forced myself to hobble around (with the encouragement of Andy). I felt like it was a million miles away from the car to the restaurant. I kept drinking lots of water as well. It helped me rehydrate and forced me to keep moving. I learned that squatting instead of sitting to go to the bathroom was much easier. I couldn't get up from the sitting position on Monday or Tuesday if I didn't use my arms.

Tuesday (two days after the marathon) -

I discovered the necessity of walking down the stars backward. My goddaughter saw me doing it and said she'd do it with me. A few days later she asked me why I went down the stairs backwards on Tuesday. I had to reminder her of the marathon and how sore I was. I also went for a 30 min. walk on Tues. It hurt but I felt better after I had walked.

Wednesday (three days after the marathon) -

I definitely started feeling better. I was still a bit sore but nothing like the previous days. I went for an hour walk on flat surfaces and felt better. I stopped waking up during the night because rolling over made my muscles hurt.

Thursday (four days after the marathon) -

I felt really good on Thursday. I even went on an hour hike in the hills. I wanted to run but my body wasn't ready. I made it to the top of Bear Mountain and learned from one of the Mt. Hermon naturalists that banana slugs, like spiders, can lower themselves down from trees and other high places. They use their slime the way spiders use their webs.

Friday (five days after the marathon) -

Yesterday I was pain free and feeling good. I went to Fleet Feet to look into some new running shoes. My feet run narrow (AA) so I decided to order some narrow Asics. I've had good luck with them in the past. The only trouble is that I still have blisters. In an effort to let them heal, I have decided to do more biking. The blister on the toe on my left foot is pretty bad. It goes all the way over the tip of the toe and continues under the nail. It's starting to discolor and I'm afraid that I might lose it.

Anyway, I opted for a great 2 hour bike ride in Nicene Marks park. There were a lot of hills but it felt great. I actually got a little cold riding back down.

San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Photos

2007-06-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

I was excited to get the medal but all I really wanted was for my leg muscles to stop burning. Thank goodness Dr. Lonky gave me some LowOz. It was great. I felt better immediately after drinking it and making a quick stop at the port-a-potty. The port-a-potties are the most popular spot before and after the race.

Aunt Kay looks great after running 26.2 miles. Here age equivalent time for a 30 year old female is a 3 hour marathon. How amazing is that? She makes it look so easy.

Our next stop, after making our way out of the racers only section, was to stop off for the free beer. Yes, I don't like the flavor so Andy happily obliged and drank it for me but Aunt Kay said it was great because it was nice and cold. The water at the water stops got warmer and warmer as the race went on so something cold after the race was welcome.

I couldn't help myself. I had to include photos of my blisters. I need new shoes, what can I say? The blisters are an unwelcome plague since the 1/2 marathon in April. This time I had great blisters filled with fluid. The good thing is that I couldn't feel half of them. The total count is six blisters. One is under the callous on the ball of my right foot and one is on my toe (even under the nail) on my left foot. I've got to figure out how to rid myself of these. For the record, I've tried every type of sock available and have decided it's my shoes.

Look! You can see the palm trees in the distance. We must be in Southern California. How scenic (minus the blisters).

The good news is that none of my toe nails are black and I am free from blood blisters. I also barely even chaffed. There's only one tiny scab. Wha hoo. I can also stand up without the use of my arms today and the big news is that I don't have to go down the stairs backwards. I'm so relieved that my quads are coming back. I went out for an hour walk today and it felt great.

Videos from the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

2007-06-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

I can't find the cord to download my photos so these videos will have to suffice until I can find it.

The San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon: The Crowds and the Music

2007-06-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

This was my first marathon and although there were about 20,000 runners out there and 20 starting corrals, I didn't feel claustrophobic. I thought it might be overwhelming but it wasn't too bad. I was amazed that spectators were cheering for the runners all through out the course. It was really encouraging. There were even cheer leaders out with pam pams.

I have to admit that I didn't really pay much attention to the music. I did like watching the musicians. It helped the race go a bit faster. I usually don't run with an Ipod or any type of music so it was different to hear live music playing along the way. I liked the band after mile 22. They were doing some old cover songs. At one point, the guitarist was on a wireless electric guitar and he jumped off the stage and was running around in front of the band. One of the singers was trying to encourage the runners by saying, "Come on! Elvis just ran by. You have to beat Elvis!" Another singer yelled out, "You guys are looking good. I've only seen one bloody nipple." It was pretty funny, especially after I watched the Flora London's video (see a few posts below this one). At the end of the race New Balance was handing out a free mix CD of the bands. We listened to it on the way home and I didn't recognize any of the bands or the songs so I don't think I was paying too much attention.

Marathon #1 - The San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon - We Did It!

2007-06-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

Aunt Kay and I ran the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon together. It was amazing to run my first marathon. I believe Aunt Kay when she says that I will never forget my first marathon. My day started at 4:30 a.m. I got up, ate some granola, and got dressed. I met Aunt Kay by the marathon parking lot. Traffic was so congested that we went down a few exits to Zoo Ave., got dropped off, and followed a trail of runners who were walking to the start. Luckily, we found some port-a-potties before we got to the start. I couldn't believe the lines. People were still standing in line when the race was starting.

It was my first marathon so that means that got a personal record. My chip time was 4:04:26 and I averaged a 9:20/mile pace. I wanted to do it under 4 hours but I have to work on my pace. I started out at an 8:40/mile pace. I held that for the first seven miles. Then I slowed down to 9 minute miles for the next few miles. For some reason I ran a 7:47 at mile 11. I don't know what happened. My half-marathon time was 1:55, which is close to my previous time at the Santa Cruz Half Marathon. During the last 10K I slowed down to a little over 10 minutes/miles.

Next time I train for a marathon I am going to join a track club so I can have people around me to motivate me to do some hard interval training and speed work. I know it's true that in order to race fast one has to train fast. I want to run faster and keep a more consistent pace.

I am amazed at my Aunt Kay. She started running marathons in the 1970's and has lost track of the number of marathons she has completed. When I asked her what's the most she has run at once she said it was one of the 48 hour runs. She ran a hundred and sixty something miles. Talk about amazing! She also got 3rd place in her division at the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. That's quite impressive and it's her 3rd marathon this year. She's looking forward to running a marathon in China in the fall.

Aunt Kay has run so many marathons that I trust her when she says that it was ideal marathon conditions the day of the race. It was cool and foggy at the beginning of the race but the sun came out by the end of the race. All in all, I felt great for most of the course. I started feeling my blisters around mile three but the great thing is that I didn't feel all of them the whole time. One on my right foot was the most irritating but I had others that looked bad when it was all over but I didn't really notice them during the race. I took pictures and will post them soon. Oh boy, more blister shots. There will also be photos of Aunt Kay and me after we finished so stay tuned.

2 days, 8 hours, and 28 minutes until the S. D. Marathon

2007-05-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

I am well into my taper now. I am running three or four miles and wondering why it's over so quickly. I feel like I just get warmed up and then I have to stop. I'm excited that my average pace is getting faster than it was when I started in September. I can even feel a difference from when I was training before the half marathon. I am even stronger going up hills.

I can't believe that the marathon almost here. I should be MORE excited but it'll be real when I go to the Expo or when I get up at 4:30 a.m. on Sun. to eat breakfast. Right now I am going to pack and go to bed. I've got my tank top and shorts all ready to go. They have been sitting by my bed for about a week and a half. I just got some more Body Glide and my socks are freshly washed. I keep hoping that the blisters are a thing of the past. I got some gel tubing from a friend and plan to put it on my blood blister toe. The blister is gone but the toe still hurts when I run.

Basically, all I have to do is throw my gear in a bag, get some clothes to wear for the other three days, and I am ready. Well, I am almost ready for San Diego. I still need to pick up some of that horrid gel or gu. It made a difference on my long runs but I dread sucking it down.

Wish me luck. I'm not sure if I'll drag the almost broken laptop with me to San Diego as the hotel charges a wifi fee and there's something wrong with the power jack. It keeps freaking out and shutting off so this is likely the last post before the race - 26.2 miles all at once. That's the longest I've run at one time. Good thing Aunt Kay will be there. I just hope we get assigned to the same corral so we can start next to each other.

7 days 19 hours and 55 minutes until the S.D. Marathon

2007-05-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am so excited that it's almost here. I don't know if I can wait a week for the race. I don't really like to taper. I feel good so I want to log in some good miles. I'll have to wait until Sun. June 3rd. My long runs have included the 1/2 marathon + 3 miles, a 20 mile run, an 18 mile run (half of it was up hill and I'm sure you can figure out what the second half was), and a 23 mile run (with some hills). Overall, I feel prepared for my first marathon. I'm running to finish. I also hope that my aunt will be able to run it with me. It'd be nice to have someone I know at the start of the race. I hear that the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon will be crowded. From what I can read online, there will be nearly 20,000 participants, 2,000 cheerleaders, and 45 bands.

How far did you go?

2007-05-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

Figure out the length of your road route by using Gmap's Pedometer (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/). You can click from point to point along the route to map the route and it'll give you mile markers.

26 day and 7 hours left until the San Diego Rock'n'Roll Marathon

2007-05-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

Good news! My blisters are healing with the help of BandAid's Blister Block and Spenco's 2nd Skin. I ran 18 miles yesterday without any pain. It was great. Half of it was up hill but it really was great. I read that I climbed 2,500 during the run so maybe that'll make up for the fact that it was 18 miles and not 20 miles. I ran out of time and had to meet up with friends so there was just no way to tack on two more miles. I'll have to leave that for next weekend.

31 Days Left Until the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

2007-05-02T14:44:00.000-07:00

I finally got to go on a long run on Sunday. I ran for three hours and 20 minutes. I'm not sure how long it was but it must have been between 18 and 20 miles. I kept a steady pace through out the run but I did manage to make a few water stops. I know the exact distance of the last three miles and I maintained a 10-minute mile pace for the last three miles.

The best part of the run was finishing at the S. C. wharf and eating a nice Italian dinner with my dad. We enjoyed a delicious salmon dinner with grilled vegetables in a light balsamic vinegar sauce at Carniglia's (call 831.458.3600 to make reservations).

The worst part was battling my blood blister from the S.C. half marathon. I've invested in Band Aid Blister Care, Spenco 2nd Skin, etc. The good news is that it has helped my blister under the callous but the blood blister developed a friction blister either under it or next to it. Now it hurts more than before. I'll be taking a day off and resting today. I'm hoping for another long run this weekend. Wish me luck as there are only 31 days until my first marathon.

The Day After a Big Race

2007-04-27T16:54:00.001-07:00

Recovering from the Santa Cruz Half Marathon

2007-04-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

Even though I didn't run my best race and my splits were inconsistent, I am still sore from the race on Sunday. I rested on Monday, ran for 45 min. on Tues., went hiking for an hour this morning, ran for 50 minutes this morning, and then ran/walked for 20 min. this evening. I wasn't planning on going out this evening but Andy unexpectedly said that he wanted to go jog around the track. What? Andy? Yes, I know. It's true. We ran/walked the first mile in 11 minutes. All in all, we put in about 25 minutes walking and running. That's pretty good considering that the last time we went running together was the day Andy proposed to me - Jan. 5, 2001. Maybe Andy'll catch the running bug. I don't know but I thought his first run in six years deserved a post on my running blog. Go Andy! Keep it up.

Half Marathon #2 - The Santa Cruz Half Marathon - We did it!

2007-04-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

Jody, Katy, and I all finished the Santa Cruz Half Marathon. It had rained all night so I was worried that I'd be running in the rain. It's nice and cool but not so great with glasses so I was relieved that the rain cleared for the race.

Andy and I got there around six a.m. We walked around by the Boardwalk until we found Jody and Katy. I took a brief warm up jog around 6:30 on the wharf. The sunrise was beautiful. I was surprised by the numbers of people that showed up for the race. I heard that around 2,800 people registered. That's a lot more than did it last time I ran the race in '05.

Since this was my second big race, I was thrown off by the crowds. The run felt congested for the first three miles. I didn't even notice mile marker 1. All the energy from my fellow runners swept me up the hill by the Dream Inn and the first two miles went by quickly!

The race continued to be kind of crowded the whole way. It definitely thinned out after the first few miles but it was hard to pass people on the dirt trails since they were narrow, muddy, and spotted with puddles.

I felt strong the whole race. My legs felt great and my chest/lungs didn't hurt. My cold finally lifted. Next time I need to work more on even pacing. I thought I was running too quickly when my mile splits were between 7:54 and 8:15 so I tried to slow down but I slowed down too much. According to the timing chip, I finished 5 minutes slower than than the last time I ran the half marathon.

Next time I train for a race I'll do more speed work, focus more on even pacing, and I'll make sure I am better hydrated the week of the event. I will also make sure that I am better rested. I usually get 8 or 9 hours of sleep but during the week leading up to the race I was averaging about 5 or 6 hours a night.

It was great to see Andy, my dad, Carol (my mother-in-law), Mike (my father-in-law), and Sara (my sister-in-law) at the end of the race. Andy even had flowers for me but I got so distracted at breakfast that I think that I left them at the restaurant.

That fine blister is conveniently located under the callous on the bottom of my foot. You can't really tell from the picture but is goes under about half my callous. I should have figured out how to treat the blister that was there before I went out and ran 13.1 miles. Now I know that next time, if I have blisters, I shouldn't ignore them.

My prize for running the half marathon: 1 finisher's medal, 1 finisher's t-shirt, 4 friction blisters, 3 blood blisters, and 1 beautiful bouquet of flowers

Two Days Left Until the Santa Cruz Half Marathon

2007-04-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that there are only 2 days left! I have been good about tapering. It's ironic that I'm finally feeling good and really wanting to go for a run after being sick and now I have to take it easy. I hate these two and three mile runs. I feel like I just get warmed up and have to stop. It makes the 13.1 on Sun. sound all the better.

I am definitely looking forward to Sunday morning. It doesn't really matter that there has been an unbelievable amount of stress due to a death in the family, the fact that I've suddenly developed a sleep disorder and will not be rested, or the evil weather forecast that is calling for a cold rainy day. I have trained. I am excited. I am committed. I will be there. Besides, if it's cold I'll get to wear my fantastic running tights that are so old there are holes in them. It could be worse, I could be running on the East Coast. What is a little water and some cold air? It's not snow or ice and it'll be over in under two hours.

Bart Yasso's 800s

2007-04-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

I just found this marathon training workout. It looks pretty straight forward. You run an 800 based on the time you want to finish the marathon followed by a easy 400. So if you want to finish the marathon in 4 hours and 30 minutes then you run the 800 in 4 minutes and 30 seconds. You start out doing four 800s and build your way up to ten 800s.

Read more in Amby Burfoot's article "Yasso's 800's" posted on runnersworld.com.

Still want to know more? The check out Yasso's - Training Tools or Test? by Jim Fortner which is posted on his site Jim 2's Running Page.

Check out Runner's World's Pace Training Calculator. It includes the pace for easy runs, tempo runs, max 02 runs, speed training, long runs, and Yasso's 800s.

Watch an interview with Bob Yasso:

The San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

2007-04-09T19:55:00.000-07:00

Despite my reluctance due to how I'm currently feeling, I am going to register for the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. I don't care about a finishing time; I just want to finish. I've never run that long before. I think the longest time I've been on my feet is for sixteen miles. I hope to change that between now and June 3rd.

As an added bonus, if I register for the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon tomorrow (April 10, 2007) then I'll get a free shirt. Don't you want to register? If you miss the 10th of April then register on the 10th of May and you'll get $10 off at the Zocalo Grill.

Running When Sick - 13 days left

2007-04-09T18:28:00.000-07:00

I came down with a horrid cold last week and was forced to take four days off from my training schedule. I missed out on my long training run last weekend and had to shorten my long run yesterday. What this means is that my long run two Sundays ago was 0 miles instead of 18 miles and my long run yesterday (Sunday) was only 13 miles. I hope that this break doesn't fool my body into thinking that it's an early taper or that it keeps me sicker longer. I'm feeling better today so I'm hoping that these last last two weeks of training for the half marathon go well.

What I'm reading today:

Running with a Chest Cold by Gregory Florez and Robert Kantor, M.D. posted on healthforums.com

Feeling Sick: Running Not Always the Cure by Dr. Kamal Jabbour published in the Post-Standard

Chaffing

2007-04-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not currently plagued by chaffing but I did come across a funny article entitled What Not to do When Chaffing by Robert Key posted on Faithful Soles. You should read it if you've ever chaffed.

I've had it happen a few times, especially when I wear cotton shorts. Apparently, everyone else knows that cotton absorbs moisture and does not wick it away. I had to learn about the dangers of cotton, "the fabric of our lives", the hard way. Read more about what to wear and what not to wear while running in the article entitled The Well Dressed Runner: A guide to the features and fabrics of today's high-tech running wardrobe by Josh Clark posted on Cool Running.

Anyway, back to chaffing. The worst time I experienced chaffing was when Andy and I were in Maui, Hawaii. I got all inspired to do a run-swim-run. First, I went for a great run in my swim suit and board shorts. Next, I swam in the ocean with the other tourists. There's nothing like the occasional mouthful of salt water. Finally, I ran barefoot on the beach. Sadly, I discovered how painful it can be when bare skin rubs on bare skin with sweat and salt water in the mix. I chaffed so badly there were scabs the next day. Enough said. No more carefree run-swim-runs on the beach for me.

Blisters

2007-04-04T21:45:00.000-07:00

I'm sick of the blisters. They pop out on my toes after longer runs and I can't get rid of them. When I think that they have gone away, they come back. They started appearing after I got a new pair of shoes. I've put up with them since Nov. Maybe 5 months is too long to put up with blisters but I was hopeful that they'd go away.

In an effort to overcome my blisters, I went to Jerry's Sports a few days ago. I special ordered a new pair of shoes but someone called back the next day to say the company does not make the trail shoes in a double A. I am afraid that there is no quick relief from the irritating blisters in sight.

I was also told by the salesmen that I have long low arches and should consider insoles. I got a nice pair of Superfeet insoles and have been breaking them in. Following the advice of the salesmen, I spent one hour in them the first day and two hours on the second day. Now the real pain has begun. I wore the insoles today and rubbed off most of the skin on my left arch and part of my right arch. In addition to the toe blisters I am now the proud owner of arch blisters. Big, mean, ugly arch blisters and it's not even hot. Apparently the correct combination of friction, heat, and moisture came together in my shoes.

I also bought special socks that will prevent blisters. I have yet to try them out. I will say that I own several pairs of running socks, one pair of two layer anti-blister socks, and even a pair of toe socks. Yes, I still have blisters but I'm willing to give my new socks a try. I'm also going back to Jerry's Sports to get new shoes. I'm looking for shoes that don't have lots of extra stitching on top and ones that run narrow. I'll keep you posted. Feel free to give me advice.

What I've read lately:

Runner's World: Blisters by Marlene Cimons

Runner's World: Prevent Race-Day Blisters

Training for the Santa Cruz 1/2 Marathon - 3 Weeks Left

2007-04-02T22:10:00.000-07:00

This is my first post on this blog. I have decided to do a blog about running after getting inspired by several podcasts. The first one was Owen Benjamin's video podcast Run to 300. It's so funny. You have to watch it. It's available on nike.com or through the Itunes store. You can easily find it by entering "Run to 300" in the search bar of the Itunes store or click on the link below.

I also enjoyed listening to Peter Fernandez and Eliza's podcast "Marathon Minute". They are real people, easy to listen to, and entertaining. So go to Itunes, use "Marathon Minute" as your key word search, and subscribe.

Source: http://www.peterfernandez.net

I started training for the Santa Cruz Half Marathon in September. I can't believe that there's only three weeks left until the race. I want more time, especially since I contracted a cold this weekend and couldn't go for my long run. I hope to make it up this week if I'm feeling better. I really don't want to get bronchitis as that is what typically happens when I get a cold.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to collect some good running resources as well as keep motivated with my training. After the SC 1/2, I'd like to do the San Diego Marathon. I've never run a marathon so that should be pretty exciting.