San Francisco Marathon Race Recap

Marathon: #4
State: #4
California Marathon: #1
San Francisco Marathon: #1

Because I can’t keep it in, here’s a spoiler alert at the beginning … 3:58:00!!!!

Okay, back to the start… (and prepare for lots of words!)

It was weird to arrive at the start with it starting to get light out. The late July start really makes a difference on this front.

However weird that was, I was certainly acting weirder, or should I say just a bit freaked out. Months of training came down to minutes left before I embarked on a journey towards an audacious goal. Little did I know how hard it would be to get there.

Miles 1-5
Mom and I ran this section together (plus a little bit beyond the mile 5 marker) and it was so much fun. Looking back, I know this was the section that hurt me. I knew I would go out too fast but couldn’t hold myself back to a 9 minute pace, which was my goal. Instead I averaged about 15-20 seconds faster than that. Oops.

I’m proud of Mom for sticking with me as far as she did. If the infamous hill at mile 5 hadn’t been there, I’m pretty sure we would have been able to cross the bridge together. Unfortunately, it really winded her and she had to slow down a little to catch her breath.

Thankfully, we’d talked about this ahead of time. Since I could tell that she was struggling, I hung back for a few steps but then ended up saying “If I don’t see you again, I’ll see you at the finish!” and heading off on my own.

Miles 5-10
I still felt really great through here (even though I had to use the restroom since the start but was waiting for a portopotty with no line). I still couldn’t keep myself from running 15-20 seconds faster than my goal pace. Even mile 9 which included the portopotty stop came in under 9 minutes. (8:50) Whoops

It was at this point that I started noticing my lack of ability to run tangents. At each mile marker I realized how much father apart those mile markers were becoming from my Garmin distance alerts. (I ended up running 26.70. Yes, I am a glutton for punishment.)

Miles 10-13.1
I don’t remember much about these miles; they were pretty middling. I do remember looking longingly over at the first half finish but that’s about all I remember.

Miles 13.1-18
Almost immediately after I crossed the halfway point my left calf started to tighten. I haven’t mentioned it but the past few days this has become a nagging problem. I hesitate to call it a problem because it hasn’t interfered with my running, yet. I’m sure it’s just because I’ve been neglecting proper foam rolling. I was a little worried last night but thankfully, the calf didn’t start tightening until the second half. (By the way, I noticed it until everything else started tightening and aching. Fun! Fun!)

Then came mile 16. That’s when the wheels started to fall off, big time. I struggled emotionally through these miles, especially when I walked through my next fuel point (16 miles). I could feel my goal slipping away. The negativity in my head had me convinced that that was the case and I did not want to look at my Garmin to confirm that. (Plus, I’m pretty sure that it would have taken too much brain power to do the calculations.)

There was one bright point in these miles. At the point where the full marathoners break away from beside the first half marathon finish (and you can see others who’ve already made the loop around Stow Lake) I heard someone call out “I made that shirt!” (I was wearing my “I Run This Body” shirt.) I looked up to see Pavement Runner but didn’t have enough brain power left to get out his name. I loved seeing a fellow blogger out on the course.

Miles 19-26.7
(Yes, I’m horrible at running tangents. We’ve already confirmed that.)
I’m pretty sure these were the most miserable miles I have ever run. I just knew that my goal time was slipping away from me so I used these miles to console myself with my B and/or C goals.

I walked every hill. I walked every water stop, taking two cups of electrolytes and two cups of water. (It was not enough! I definitely should have brought my hydration belt with me.) I even struggled with the most awful side stich that forced me to walk much more than I wanted to. (Although, on second thought, that was in the Park so I should have included that in the previous mile section.)

At the same time, I kept glancing down at my Garmin and (since we were much closer to the finish) figuring out that I, somehow, was still on track for my goal finish. I have no idea how that happened. The only thing I can think is that my body decided to try to keep running at the earlier pace (even though it was about 15-25 seconds slower than my first half splits).

I was in agony the entire time. I kept trying to focus on the race and just enjoy the fact that I was going to finish, if not with my goal time…pretty close to it.

I couldn’t believe it when I figured out (and I’m still not sure how my brain got enough calories to do the math) that I could probably power walk a minute or two in the final mile and still be able to shuffle my way to a sub 4 hour finish.

It wasn’t pretty, but I got it done. The only reason I walked twice during the final mile (which I never do!) was because I wanted to be able to run across the finish line. I knew that a sprint was out of the question but since I didn’t need it, that was okay with me.

I think that the perfect song to have been playing at that point would have been Maroon 5′s “Misery.” You can tell how awful I felt in those last few meters. Mom could even tell when she saw me. She was excited for me but knew I must be feeling all those miles.

I like this finish picture the best, actually.

You can’t see my face and my form looks pretty good!

The finish line could not come soon enough. I crossed the finish line with my hand over my heart for Boston-Yay, I remembered!-then stopped the Garmin, right at 3:58:00.

My official time is 3:58:02.

I was ecstatic, though no one would have been able to tell. I had made my goal. After all that, the pain was worth it because I made my goal.

It took quite a while before I felt even slightly back to normal (normal that is for post-marathon). I was able to smile for a post-race pic.

There you have it. Marathon #4 (with a 24 minute PR!!!!) is in the books. I have a lot more to say about this race but this entry has gone on long enough. Reflection to come tomorrow.

San Francisco Marathon Week 17 Training Recap

So, I’ve laid out my game plan, now it’s time for one last training week recap.

Monday 7 miles with 800m intervals
I misread the plan. I was supposed to run 7 miles with 8x100m strides and do mile repeats Tuesday for speedwork. I ended up doing speedwork today and absolutely loved it! I felt exceptionally strong through the entire run.

Tuesday 8 miles
This run was hard. It took a while for my legs to stop feeling like I was running through molasses. The humidity nearly did me in. However, I finished strong (8:52 split) and am very pleased. I’m definitely looking forward to San Francisco’s weather.

Wednesday stationary bike
Another average stationary bike ride. The only bad thing about this ride was the fact that I was riding instead of out running on National Running Day.

Thursday 5 miles
I ran inside to avoid the predicted but nonexistent rain. (This also helped me avoid the humidity for which I am very grateful.) This was a nice easy run, nothing extraordinary, good or bad.

Friday stationary bike
It was a good ride although a little shorter because I wasn’t concentrating as much on the ride itself. I’m beginning to sour a little on (become bored with) the stationary bike as a cross training option.

Saturday 12 mile “long” run
I have three words for this run: hot, humid and hard. Other than being drenched soon after I started, I felt pretty good. I made a mistake in not bringing my hydration belt with me so I had to stop to get a Gatorade. Oh, I also lost my headband somewhere along the route. Other than that it was a pretty good run.

Sunday rest
Next week on this day it’ll be race day!

San Francisco Marathon: The Game Plan

Instead of talking about today’s long run, I want to lay out my game plan for next week’s marathon. (It’s for the best. All I have to say about the run is that I hate humidity. Actually, I think I can go on record and make that a blanket statement for all my runs this summer.)

So, it’s no secret that the San Francisco Marathon has a special place in my heart. After impulsively registering for the First Half Marathon in 2011 solely for the experience of running over the Golden Gate Bridges, I fell in love with the city and the race. The next logical step was to sign up for the Second Half Marathon and complete the Half it All Challenge. (I had bling envy.) Then, of course, I registered for the full at last year’s expo. (I’m also a sucker for a free t-shirt.)

When I registered for the full, I didn’t know if I would race it or just run for “fun.” I hadn’t been able to race either half. In 2011, I was coming off three weeks of international travel and no exercise at all, apart from one rainy 10k in England. In 2012, I was still recovering from my back injury. (I hesitate to call it an injury because that sounds so serious. This one kept me from running only three or four days though the pain/discomfort lasted longer than that.)

Then came the HHI half marathon and my massive PR, followed by two nearly identical efforts at GHS and Greer. Visions of a sub 4 hour marathon started dancing in my head. I still wavered though, having already promised to run the first half with Mom so we could cross the Golden Gate Bridge together.

The tragic bombings at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon tipped the scale. In an instant, I knew. Come June 16th, I would race and get that much closer to running Boston myself.

Even while I threw myself into the second half of this training cycle, I kept wondering if I could actually do it, if I could actually run that fast. I have a tendency to doubt myself.

Well, race day is a week (and a few hours) away. It’s time to put aside the self doubt. The training is in the bank and I’m ready to grab that sub 4 hour marathon.

So here’s the specific game plan.

1. 9 minute miles
In reality, I’ll probably look for an 8 in front of that pace when I glance at my Garmin.

2. Run the first 6-7ish miles with Mom
This is still tentative. I still want to run with her across the bridge. She knows my goal pace (see #1) and thinks she can maintain that pace for those miles. She’s been struggling with her thyroid medication lately so she may not be able to maintain that pace. If that’s the case, we’re both flexible enough to be okay without the simultaneous bridge crossing.

3. Walk through water stops
In Savannah, I walked through water stops and fuel breaks. I’ve been practicing eating while still running (such a funny thing to practice) and I think I’ve got it down.

4. Fuel belt = race day decision
I’m bringing the fuel belt with me to San Francisco but am leaning away from wearing it during the race. I ran Savannah without my Camelbak but it was hotter than I expected so I might have benefited from the extra water. Since to wear or not to wear depends on the weather, this is a race day decision.

5. Time goals
Obviously my A goal is 3:xx:xx. I know better than to leave that as the only goal.
A goal – 3:xx:xx
B goal – 4:10:xx (my original reach goal for Savannah)
C goal – PR (faster than 4:24:32)

I’ve put a lot of thought into this race, maybe too much. I think I’m finally ready to put it all on the line and what better place to do that than my all time favorite race, the San Francisco Marathon?

Almost Half a Year!

This is coming a few days late, just a matter of timing. As I’m sure everyone and their brother has said recently…”I can’t believe that the year is almost half over!” Trust me, almost every customer said something to that effect on Friday.

A few things have changed for these goals which I’ll specify for each goal.

Fitness

1. Run 1800 miles (Reach: 2000)
Total miles ran in May: 210.77
Total miles ran in 2013 so far: 913.64
Total miles remaining (1800): 886.36
Total miles remaining (2000): 1086.36
At this rate I need to maintain a minimum of 30.9 miles per week to reach my goal of 1800 and a minimum of 36.7 miles per week to achieve my reach goal. This is about 17 miles less than April, likely a side effect of taper. (It has just started but peak mileage week came in April.) June will likely see even less miles since it’s home to taper and recover. All said and done, I’m right on track for both goals.

2. Race at least once a month.
So far so good. Technically it’s been a month since the last race (May 3) but I got it in and had a great time doing it.

3. Strength train twice a week
This has not been happening at all and I can tell. My weight is the same but I feel squishier. I’m not sure how I’ll do it but I know that I’ll find a way to squeeze it into Marine Corps Marathon training.

4. Start Swimming
Uh…nada. I might actually try to do this. Now that I’m not in school the trick will be figuring out where I can swim. Well, that’s just an added obstacle. While I want this to happen, I’m really not sure that it will.

Scholastic

5. Make thesis and PhD work a top priority.
Thesis is done and I certainly made it a priority. It’s the PhD part that will see major changes. Last month I was all set to renew my search, make it a priority. Then I started my new job. I haven’t decided how many details I’m going to share on the blog for security reasons so I’ll err on the side of caution for the time being. When I started that job I could barely get over just how much I absolutely love it. I never expected it. I could see myself doing this long term. The only hitch? Technically I was hired for a summer position. There’s a tentative possibility that something will open up in the fall but it’s tentative. I’m praying hard for that. Because of this new found love (and lack thereof for PhD research), PhD plans are on indefinite hiatus.

6. Take the blog in a new direction.
I don’t think I defined this goal well enough. I think a better goal would be to focus on writing quality posts or perhaps using this blog as an outlet for my opinion on current events and etc. (Rather than Facebook which is a whole different ball of wax.)

7. Read 150 books.
So far this year I’ve read 87 books (including audiobooks), 25 books ahead of schedule. The amount of time that I’ve been able to dedicate to reading has decreased dramatically. I’m still figuring out how to make this work and still plug away at all my books. I’ll figure out a way to read more because all the books I’ve read so far has reawakened my love of reading. (Plus, pumping up the count with audiobooks is pretty fun)

Personal

8. Take 1,000 pictures/Have 8,000 photos uploaded to flickr.
This year I have taken 551 pics with 449 left to go.
I have a total of 7518 uploaded to flickr with 482 remaining.
At this rate I need to take 2.1 pictures per day to reach the 1,000 pictures goal and 2.25 pictures per day to reach the 8,000 picture total.
The only reason that I was able to pull the average down at all was because of all the pictures from graduation. It takes a conscious effort to get pictures taken with my new work schedule but hopefully I’ll be able to adjust.

San Francisco Marathon Week 16 Training Recap

Only two weeks remain! I cannot believe that this marathon is so close.

I’m officially into the taper and already itching to increase the milage again. It felt so weird to barely top 40 miles this week. (Prior to this training cycle, I had crossed the 40 mile mark only a couple times in the previous marathon training cycle.)

Here’s how the week went:

Monday 8 miles w/500m intervals
Originally this was supposed to be an interval run but thanks to the gym opening at 8 instead of 5, I decided to take out the intervals and just run 8 outside. (I could have waited until 8 since I have the day off but I prefer to run first thing in the morning.) Once I started running it took a couple miles to get warmed up. Those miles felt pretty hard and I was sure that my pace was either really close to 10 minutes or just a bit faster. (I was pleasantly surprised to see that the splits were 9:33 and 9:40.) After those first couple warm up miles I hit my stride and felt pretty good for the rest of the run. It was definitely a good idea to skip the speedwork.

Tuesday 5 miles
The only thing that could have made this run better was lower humidity. (The weather channel app said that the humidity was 76%. I think it underestimated.) I felt great the whole time.

Wednesday stationary bike at gym
This was a good ride, nothing extraordinary. I felt completely awake this week.

Thursday 10k at race pace
I seriously considered running on the treadmill since this run called for maintaining a specific pace but forced myself to run outside. I’ll have to deal with hills in San Francisco so I figured I may as well deal with them on this run. The first couple miles were hard. I’m beginning to realize how necessary warm up actually is. The second hill, especially, almost did me in. Once I crested that hill, things seemed to get just a bit easier. During miles 4 and 5, I actually felt really strong! I’m proud of my run, especially since it averaged about 15 seconds faster per mile than race pace. Plus, I maintained that pace with humidity so bad that afterwards I looked like I had been going swimming.

Friday 4 miles recovery
I ran inside on the treadmill to make sure that this was a “recovery” run. It was a pretty good run, nothing extraordinary.

Saturday 16 miles long run
Hot, humid but done

Sunday rest
It feels weird to rest today. I don’t feel like I need it but of course, getting enough rest is part of a proper taper.

Sixteen Miles – a Long Way from 2011

I almost titled this post, “16 miserable miles” thanks to the humidity which I’ll talk about later. As I thought about that title I couldn’t help remembering the very first time I ran sixteen miles, two months shy of two years ago.

That runner was a completely different person. Not only was it the first time I had ever run a distance longer than a half marathon, it was also the first time I had ever run on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. I knew nothing about fueling or hydrating properly. I had to walk the first tenth of every mile past mile 12. My average pace was somewhere in the 12-13 minute range. That was a truly miserable 16 miles, 16 miles I was not ready for.

Today was totally different. In the time since that post was written, I’ve run three marathons and am two weeks away from a fourth. I’ve run on the Swamp Rabbit Trail so much I don’t need to look at the mile markers to remember how much farther I have to run. My average pace hovered between 9 minutes and 9:25 (except while walking to eat Gu chomps).

Thinking back on that post helped me get through my “welcome back summer” long run. (Obviously, the quotations marks indicate heavy sarcasm.)

I knew the heat/humidity was going to be awful today so I adjusted my hydration plan accordingly. Instead of waiting a few miles to start drinking like I’m able to get away with in the winter, I started at mile 1.

(One side note: I had to avail myself of the facilities on the Furman campus and think they should start marketing that “restroom” as a sauna. I felt like I was boiling in there.)

Running felt so hard for the first four miles. My stride felt awkward. My legs felt heavy. Part of me even briefly considered bagging the whole run. Since I get those thoughts fairly routinely within the first few miles of a run like this, I have experience with telling myself to shut up.

After eating a couple chomps and getting plenty of water at the four mile mark, I felt a lot better. In fact, I felt so strong for the next few miles that I wondered what I had been complaining about earlier.

After mile 8 though, things felt really hard. I kept glancing down at my garmin expecting to see times closer to (or over) 10 minutes and could not understand how I could possibly be maintaining a pace in the 9-9:15 range when it felt so hard. That’s the humidity for you.

(Second side note: The humidity was so bad today that towards the end of the run when I wiped the sweat off my face, there was no dry place to wipe my hand. You’re welcome for that.)

Even though I guzzled water at almost every water stop and took in water every mile, I could feel that I was a bit dehydrated and kept myself motivated with the thought of gatorade in my car.

When I finished, I felt so relieved and happy. I’m thrilled with this run and the pace I was able to maintain in this awful humidity. I am determined to make this summer one where I continue to progress instead of take two step back like the two summers before.

Two weeks until San Francisco!

The Boy Scouts of America and Homosexuality

On May 23, 2013, the Boy Scouts of America decided to change their policy on homosexuality to allow openly gay boys to join and participate. (Openly gay men are still prohibited from serving as troop leaders.) Predictably, many conservative groups and individuals, mostly Christian are outraged to the point of “boycotting” the Boy Scouts. As soon as the AP alert appeared on my phone, I successfully forecasted a Facebook feed full of lamentation. One post in particular prompted this post.

This Facebook friend, who will remain anonymous, described his regret about not being able to donate to two Boy Scouts who had approached him at a home improvement store asking for donations. According to the Facebook friend, these boys had to pay the price for the BSA’s lack of moral back bone.

Before I respond to that statement, I want to give my own response to the decision, a response that, unfortunately, many of my conservative friends and acquaintances will not understand. I’m okay with the decision and I think it was the right thing for the BSA to do. (I make no comment on the reasons behind the decision. I have no knowledge of those reasons.) The rest of this post will explain my reasoning.

I base my response on two reasons. First, homosexuality is a sin equal to every other sin. Unfortunately, many Christians elevate homosexuality above all other sins. In God’s eyes, though, all sin is equally heinous. If the BSA chose to ban boys from becoming troop members on the basis of homosexuality then the organization, to be fair, would also need to ban a boy from becoming a troop member if he’s a liar or disrespectful to his parents.

Second, this policy change opens up a huge potential mission field. With careful parental guidance, a boy could learn how to build relationships and how to share Jesus with the lost (to borrow a phrase from the children’s program at my church). If I had sons who were interested, I would not hesitate to allow him to join.