Re-runner

Hitting the Road (and Trail)

2009-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

I have decided to stop updating this blog...and it's not because of the economy! I have started a new online journal, one that promises to be bigger and better. Check out Road and Trail!

Final Run of the Year

2008-12-31T12:00:00.000-08:00

During last year's snowboarding season, my running mileage dropped dramatically. In fact, from January through March, I barely managed to run more than five miles per week...a slip which likely led to my meltdown during the Palos Verdes Half Marathon. So, to keep on track, I needed to run today, my first day home after a five days on Mammoth Mountain.

That said, my real reason for running today was more about achieving 800 miles in 2008 than anything else. Yes, I was curious to see if all that time at higher elevations would help my breathing (which I think it did). Yes, I wanted to see if my legs could endure pounding even though they were still sore from snowboarding (no issues to report). Yes, I needed to know if a five day break from running would kill my pace (a 48:38 10km split suggests it did not). But those were all secondary goals to achieving this milestone.

Of course, I did not begin the year with any mileage goal in mind. Should I target more miles in 2009?

It's Snowboarding Season

2008-12-26T04:30:00.000-08:00

And I'm on my way to Mammoth Mountain with no plans to run over the next five days...

More Lunchtime Personal Records

2008-12-09T13:50:00.000-08:00

My crazy ultra running coworker continues to treat our lunchtime training runs as races...or at least it seems that way to me. Right from the get go, he pushes me to run at a sub-7 minute pace, refusing to slow down despite my constant bitching and moaning. Though we have agreed to make Tuesdays our "short" and fast run, there is no way I can keep this up for 6.4 miles.

He gets away from me as I drop off the pace through miles two and three, which is not unusual given the slight incline during this segment of our run. That said, my 5km split of 23:15 is something I have not achieved since running cross country in high school.

I catch up with my coworker stretching at our turnaround spot a tenth of a mile further. He says the rest of our run will be "a fast recovery".

Riiiiiiiight.

We start back way too fast (my watch pace indicates that I'd run a 6 minute mile if I could maintain it), so I ease off the accelerator and let him take the lead. I am surprised to cross mile four in under 30 minutes...definitely a PR. 37:10 at mile five is another personal best...as is 44:38 at mile six. I estimate my 10km split at 45:32...nearly a minute off my previous best.

I have never seen myself as someone who could run a 10km in less than 45 minutes. If I let my coworker continue to push my pace like this, I might get there before the end of this year. Fortunately, he will be on vacation starting next week and our lunch runs will not resume until January. A New Year's Resolution perhaps?

An interesting footnote: Pre-marathon, my average pace over 69 miles of lunchtime running was 8:22/mile. Since then, we have run as many miles together, but my pace has dropped to 7:52/mile.

Sub 2hrs Without Pushing

2008-12-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

There's something nice about achieving an unintended goal.

Week Off = 9 Mile PR?

2008-11-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

I completed 9 miles in 1:10:33 during lunch today (7:49/mile). This is a personal record for this distance...highly unexpected given I had not run since last Thursday and felt very stiff at the start of the run. That said, had I run as fast as last week's eight miler, I would easily have beat this time.

I feel more than a little beat up.

I blame my crazy ultra running coworker.

It Never Rains...It Burns

2008-11-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

Another major series of wildfires has filled the sky with smoke, so running is on hold until the air clears.

Getting Faster

2008-11-13T18:30:00.000-08:00

Proving last Thursday's run was not a fluke, I pulled out a slightly faster time on the same route today...without really aiming to do so. My 10km split was the same, but my last mile-and-a-half was quite a bit faster.

This brings this week's total to 32 miles. Now to figure out how much I should run on Saturday...

Blown 18 Mile Attempt

2008-11-09T14:36:00.000-08:00

I planned on running 18 today, but ended up just shy of 15. Strong (and chilly) gusts provided numerous challenges (along the Esplanade I needed to lean into the wind to keep from being knocked over...while holding on to my hat). The roads and sidewalks were littered with debris (I even witnessed palm fronds falling nearby). I probably could have completed the full 18, but I did not look forward to attempting a significant incline against a 30mph headwind.

Today's goal was not to achieve any specific pace, but to simply see if my post-marathon joints could endure 18 miles with little or no issues....to finalize a decision on whether or not I should attempt a 30Km trail race in two weeks. Totaling 22 miles last week while setting some personal records was pretty encouraging, but, after failing today, I am convinced I should pass on this upcoming event.

100th Mile from Dog Runs

2008-11-06T23:00:00.000-08:00

Less than five months ago, my crazy ultra-running coworker somehow convinced me to skip our Thursday lunch hour for a six-to-nine mile run. At that time, I was unsure if I would be able to keep up with him, how often I would be willing and able to join him, and whether or not I could survive the midday heat.

Even with a break for all of September and half of October, our distance total has now passed the century mark. And, despite having a fast Tuesday, I am fairly certain that I have set personal records today (five miles: 39:06, six miles: 46:22, 10km: 47:52, seven miles: 53:46, eight miles: 1:01:25). Is training with my coworker worth it? Definitely!

Two-sday Dog Run

2008-11-04T18:30:00.000-08:00

My crazy ultra-running coworker and I decide to run on a Tuesday, hoping to up our lunchtime routine to twice a week. Sore joints and my weekend off have not affected my pace...in fact, this is the fastest I have completed eight miles while training. That said, his average of 7:09/mile is considerably faster.

I am crossing my fingers (and toes) that my knees will be up for this kind of speed twice a week. We may try for nine on Thursday.

Not Running Due To Cold

2008-11-02T10:15:00.000-08:00

Temperatures are dropping, it is raining, but the reason I have not run this weekend is due to illness (or, at least, fear of making something worse). A bug has been going around the office and I started feeling its ill effects after Thursday's lunchtime run. I hit a low on Saturday night, but am feeling a little bit better this morning (thanks end-of-DST).

After clocking 26 miles the previous week, I only managed 8 during the last. I blame my crazy ultra running coworker, who wanted me to run with him on Tuesday, but then backed out at the last minute due to a quad injury (I didn't feel like going out during a hot lunch hour on my own, couldn't leave the office until well after it was dark, and didn't want to run on Wednesday knowing I'd be doing a fast eight on Thursday).

At this point, I do not see how I can get myself back up to 30km in time for the next race. Good thing I have not yet registered for it!

Cheesecake Orbit Revisited

2008-10-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

This is my first 13.5 miler since my full marathon...and, judging by how my legs feel, it will be some time before I feel up to entering another half marathon (note that I have registered for one in 2009).

Resuming Lunch Hour Dog Runs

2008-10-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

My crazy ultra running coworker has been trying to get me to run with him since I left for my Maui Marathon vacation in early September, but today is the first day that both of our schedules have allowed it...and, perhaps more importantly, my legs have felt good enough that I can try and keep up with him.

Unfortunately, Santa Ana winds are present today, accompanied by wildfires (fortunately, the one in nearby Sepulveda Pass is extinguished before lunch hour) and 90+ degree dry heat. My coworker and I mutually decide to shorten today's run to only 7 miles...and we allow ourselves to stop at every traffic light on the way back to the office.

Despite the harsh conditions, I am able to clock my fastest post-marathon run and one of my faster lunch hour runs. Even better, I do so with absolutely no pain at all in my left knee, not even a slight tingle. Flat sections of my previous post-marathon runs have bothered it, so I am pleased. And this workout features more than two miles on concrete!

Out-and-Backs

2008-10-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

I believe I have mentioned before that I am not a fan of out-and-backs. I hate to retrace my steps. I hate running laps too (800m - two laps - is my threshold on a track). That said, both can be means to an end.

For instance, today I am still trying to test my post-marathon limits...unsure if my legs have sufficiently recovered to complete the distance of a half marathon. By planning an out-and-back, I can simply turn back when my legs are starting to have issues.

I am also trying to push my wife to run longer distances, hoping I can get her to consider running an 18km trail race in November. By planning an out-and-back, we can start together, she can find her distance threshold within mine. When she needs to turn around, I can head back, meet up with her, and we can run the rest of the way together

I strongly encourage my wife to run all the way to Miramar Park (4 miles from our home), fully expecting that I can reach Cheesecake Factory (6.5 miles) in the same amount of time it takes her to get there. I tell her to call me as soon as she reaches the park at which time I will turn back regardless of how far I get. She should not have to wait more than 15-20 minutes for me to get back to her...a good amount of time for stretching before the uphill climb home.

I am shocked by how quickly she reaches the park. I receive her call as I approach Knob Hill...which is only 5 miles from home. She has not run many sub-10 minute miles in her training, but, this morning, has already averaged such a pace for three of her four miles! I am actually glad she has called me when she did though. I have been feeling some slight discomfort in my left knee after my run flattened out, so attempting a 13 miler today is probably not a good idea anyway.

I meet up with her and we immediately start our climb. Now that we are running together, I decide to make some course alterations so we can cross Palos Verdes Blvd at a controlled intersection...which adds a little distance. I am pleased that my wife is keeping up with me (I am not intentionally holding back, but I am not pushing my pace either). She is not running like someone who has never run 8 miles before.

As we get closer to home, the road gets steeper for roughly a half mile. My pace really drops here, but my wife needs to walk. She has held a great pace for over seven miles, so she deserves a break.

When we complete our run, she has managed to average 11:19/mile for 8.31 miles...a better pace than many of her shorter runs and a longer distance than she has ever attempted! I am impressed!

Wife's data:

My data:

2008 = 600 Miles (and Counting)

2008-10-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well...today's run may not have gone as well as I had hoped, but the 5 miler pushed me across another significant milestone: 600 miles in one year! What amuses me is that I have run about as many miles as my crazy ultra running coworker (I must apologize for not running with him today...my wife wanted me to run with her instead).

I may have postponed my next marathon until next year, but I am certainly not done running in 2008. My last planned race for the year is still substantial - a 30km trail run in the mountains overlooking Point Mugu, so I cannot afford any more breaks in my training.

Pace Recovers

2008-10-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

On the heels of once again feeling comfortable running 8+ miles, I am also regaining my pace. It helps having a rabbit...my wife is running the same five mile orbit and has a good head start. I first see her around 3.1 miles into the run and need the next 0.65 miles to overtake her.

I am pretty excited that my wife has run five miles today since she did nearly the same orbit on Saturday. Even better, she did so while improving her pace (two sub 10 minute miles!). Now if only I can convince her to up her mileage in time for an upcoming 18km trail race....

Wife's data (she started more than seven minutes before me):

My data (note how my pace improves between miles 3 and 4...when I could see her):

Adding Mileage

2008-10-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from running 8.37 miles in 1:22:21...not great, but not bad either. Averaging near 10 minutes per mile is actually pretty decent considering the amount of elevation change. Even better, I did it without walking.

Having totaled more than 16 miles for the week without significant pain, I can say with certainty that I have recovered from the injuries. Next week should be over twenty with at least one half-marathon distance run.

No More Pain, No More Endurance

2008-10-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I survived five miles on my favorite local trail without aggravating any of my joints. I just had a few issues with actually running the whole distance. That said, this was the most elevation change I have faced since leaving for Maui and this morning was particularly hot (Burma Road happens to be very exposed to the early morning sun)...so I really should not let myself get too down about it.

I am happy the pain is gone and thrilled my first miles were sub 8, but I am left wondering how long it will take to build mileage for a second marathon attempt.

Recovery Update

2008-09-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

Despite having issues with my joints all last week (enough discomfort that I could not risk running), I wake up this morning feeling pretty good...so my wife and I decide to run our basic three mile orbit.

It is unexpectedly hot and humid this morning, but I manage to complete the orbit in 27:52. More importantly, I did so without aggravating any of my joints. I finish my last mostly downhill mile in 8:07 (the last 0.2 miles is a steep incline), so, even having taken so much time off, I have not really lost much speed.

That all said, I am fairly certain I will rollover my entry fee for this year's Long Beach Marathon to next year. I now know what can happen over 26.2 miles when my legs feel like they are in perfect health at the start of the race...I do not need to learn what can happen when they are not.

BTW, for those of you who are infrequent visitors to my blog, you should check my earlier posts for the Hana Relay and Maui Marathon because I have been adding details and links to photographs as they become available.

Recovery / Safe Mode

2008-09-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

A week and a day has passed since I completed my first marathon, but only today have I dared to run again. On Saturday, I went for a nice four mile walk with my mom on Burma Road (my better half ran the full five mile out-and-back), but I have been afraid to run because a number of my joints and/or muscles still ache...and I do not want to risk a more serious injury.

That said, I do need to resume my training because I have a second marathon within the next few weeks (I registered for the Long Beach International Marathon before I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon simply because I wanted the bonus technical shirt...greed will be my undoing).

I do my favorite five mile loop because, though it starts uphill, it features a longer gentle descent. I take it easy at first...and my legs feel okay (breathing rhythm is off, but not horrible). I let my stride naturally open up as the hill crests, and my pace easily improves. By the third mile, I am back under nine minutes per mile (wondering why I did not try running again earlier). I have no difficulty sustaining this pace for the rest of the run, but I feel my left knee twinge over the fourth and fifth mile. I do not experience the same painful sensations I did during the marathon, but the tingling implies a potential setback could occur at any moment given harsher conditions (steeper grade, angled pavement, concrete, longer distance, stepping on a rock the wrong way, etc.).

As soon as I return home, I realize that the discomfort I have been experiencing has definitely increased. My right hip and right ankle (both of which first got tweaked during the Palos Verdes Half Marathon) are definitely worse for wear, likely due to over compensating to protect my injured left knee. My right foot's arch/heel pain (possibly plantar fasciiatus) is also more pronounced, but strangely continues to bother me only when I walk. Rolling my foot over a tennis ball usually relieves the latter pain, but now not nearly as much or as instantaneously.

If these issues do not go away any time soon, I may have to postpone my second marathon attempt until next year.

The Day After

2008-09-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

My crazy ultra-running coworker sent me this video awhile ago...I can now fully appreciate it!
This morning, I wake up at 1:15am...probably because I was asleep last night by 7pm. Still, I would have expected to need more after yesterday's ordeal.

I try to get out of bed. OMG! My legs don't work! I must use my hands to shift each leg off the bed and on to the floor. I try to stand up, but it is slow going and requires a lot of upper body strength. For some reason, I thought I would avoid a lot of this by getting a post-race massage (an amazing deep tissue massage at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua's beautiful new Waihua Spa), but apparently my muscles will need a bit more time to recover.

I lie back down and try to fall asleep. I re-watch one of the videos I put on my PSP before the trip. It helps...I probably am out again by 3:30am.

The alarm goes off at 5:30am. I must have slept oddly because my neck now hurts. I still need to assist my legs out of bed. The bottoms of my feet feel like they have no padding whatsoever, so my first steps are painful. At least I am able to walk somewhat normally. Yesterday, when I first attempted to stand after sitting down to consume my post-race snacks, I was wishing for a wheelchair. It was damn near impossible to get up. At that time, I could not even fully extend my legs when I walked.

Somehow I manage to walk up a hill and climb a few sets of stairs to reach my rental car and then drive myself to Gazebo for breakfast. This is one of the rare times I am glad to be driving a car without a clutch.

While waiting in line for the restaurant to open, I am soon congratulated by an older guy who is wearing the same "Maui Marathon Finisher" T-shirt as I am. The fun thing about wearing a shirt only awarded to those who actually finish the race is instant recognition...for most, completing a marathon seems a significant enough achievement that times do not matter (although I find it strange how few people realize that marathons are 26.2 miles long). That said, this particular gentleman claims to have run 91 marathons (this being his first on Maui)! Two of the women he is with ran the half. None of them are hobbling around like me. In fact, this guy even ran three miles this morning! I feel humbled.

I need protein, so I order an Spanish omelet instead of my favorite banana-mac nut-pineapple pancakes (I'll be back tomorrow for those). The waiter congratulates me...mentioning that she saw us runners while driving between here and Kahului yesterday.

As I leave the restaurant, another lady approaches to congratulate me. She did not run this marathon, but has run several others. I find out she will be participating in next month's Long Beach Marathon...my next marathon (crossing fingers that I will be ready for it).

This is funny. Marathoners seem to form an instant bond. I also noticed this in conversations I overheard while sitting on the shuttle bus yesterday morning. This reminds me of when I took up snowboarding. The first days are painful. Everyone who tries the sport has had to endure the same and makes it easy for everyone to relate to one another. Marathoners must endure more. Perhaps that's why this acknowledgment and encouragement seems all the more genuine.

When I return to the hotel, a member of the staff asks me how the race went. Between running the Hana Relay with two guys who work here and meeting those who work with my wife, word has definitely gotten around. Yesterday, the waiter at one of the hotel's restaurants even presented me with a congratulatory platter of chocolate covered strawberries and truffles. Here I do not need to wear the shirt.

This definitely helps me get over the frustration I had with my knee.

As the morning continues, I focus on loosening up my legs. I alternate between spending time in the jacuzzi and swimming in the pool...by the time I am done, I am walking much more normally and can handle stairs with ease. I will probably head back down this afternoon, but first I must blog!

Maui Marathon

2008-09-14T12:30:00.000-07:00

My wife and I are up at 2am, giving me just enough time to have coffee and a light snack before she drives me to Ka'anapali. Shuttle buses to Kahului will depart from there at 3:30, but she wants to leave early to avoid potential gridlock on Ka'anapali Parkway.

We leave Kapalua with plenty of time to spare, but need to stop for gas. The station in Kahana is closed! Thankfully, the car has enough to get to Ka'anapali...and I am able to find a seat on the first bus. My wife calls from a station in Lahaina...also closed. Hopefully the car has enough gas to not only get her back to the hotel, but also to Kahana (there are no service stations in Kapalua).

My worries soon shift below the belt. Apparently, one of the biggest mistakes a runner can make is drinking coffee and pre-hydrating before sitting down towards the back of a school bus. Just as our shuttle departs from Ka'anapali, I suddenly need to go. I must grin and bear it over every little bump our bus hits en route to the starting area. Making matters worse, our driver takes us on a longer and slower route through Wailuku before arriving at our destination behind Queen Ka'ahumanu Center. People can't get off the bus fast enough for me. Fortunately, ours is one of the first busses to arrive, so the port-a-potties are vacant (and the one I have found looks unused).

As I look around the staging area, I can hardly believe I am about to run my first marathon. A day shy of one year ago, I ran my first race since high school (and that was only five miles long). I step up to a table, set my things down, and pin my bib number to my shirt. Ouch...I have pricked my thumb! I guess I am not dreaming.

I ask around...seems like I am the only first time marathoner in my immediate vicinity. Another Eric standing nearby says we need to team together, but, when I tell him my pace goal of 9 minute miles, he replies that he'll be lagging far behind me. I start talking to the lady next to me. Her husband couldn't be here today because he hurt his ankle doing a trail run. She has not run Maui before, but has done marathons in Chicago and San Diego. She says that San Diego's Rock and Roll Marathon course (which was almost my first) is quite hilly, so I was smart not to start there.

An announcer welcomes us, provides some statistics (1,035 runners have registered for today's race representing 20 countries...500 or so from the State of Hawaii), and warms up the crowd by having us give a shout-out when our home state or country is called. I am getting anxious. Time to stretch. To my right is a large contingency of Japanese runners (who appear to be on some kind of group tour). They are stretching in unison. They look serious.

A half-an-hour before our 5:30am race time, the announcer confirms it is time to walk to the starting line. We are told to follow a truck up the driveway by the Macys and around a corner away from the mall. How far are we going? It seems like we are walking forever before we gather in the middle of a dark residential street (Google Maps measures our walk at just under a half-mile). I wonder how residents must feel having so many people crowd their street before sunrise. I notice that I am far closer to the front than the back of the field. That's good.

The announcer once again has us shout-out when our state or country is called. The countdown has begun. Apparently, the start time for the half and full marathons are synchronized. I overhear someone make the comment "I wonder how the slower half marathon runners will feel when they are passed by the elite marathoners". The guy behind me mentions that this is his first full marathon. I tell him this is mine too. We wish each other luck.

At 5:30am, the horn sounds! The announcer reminds us to cross the timing mat, but it is too dark to see the ground. My feet touch something that feels like carpet just as the field spreads out enough to run. This must be the mat...time to start my GPS watch. I pass between two Polynesian guys holding torches before proceeding into the darkness. The course begins flat with perhaps a slight dip. I am making a conscious effort to keep my pace between 8-and-a-half and 9 minutes per mile for the first half of this race, having noted that the next four or five miles will be a slight incline followed by more significant hills when we reach the coast.

According to my watch, I complete my first mile in 8:32. I am off to a good start. My legs feel great and my breathing is calm and controlled. As I reach the intersection of Puunene and Dairy Road and turn on to the Kuihelani Highway (380), however, the air turns foul. I am guessing that the source of this stench is fertilizer for the sugar cane fields adjacent to the highway. Stalks of sugar cane continue to the horizon. I hope the smell does not.

As with the Hana Relay, the road is not completely closed to vehicles (I suppose it would be impossible to close the only highway connecting Kahului with West Maui) and participants must stick to the left. Though I would have preferred being able to run in the center of the pavement (where it is least sloped to the sides), cones have been placed so that we can at least run within a portion of the slow lane and not just upon the shoulder. That said, pre-dawn traffic is light in both directions. Generator powered lights dot the highway, so we are not running in total darkness. I grab a cup at the first water station. Expecting heat, I plan to take at least some water or Gatorade at every station...I will not make the mistake of waiting for my body to tell me it is thirsty.

Despite the slight incline, I have no difficulty maintaining my target pace over the next few miles. The sky starts to lighten up. Shortly after passing the fourth mile marker, I notice my pace has improved to nearly 8 minutes per mile. The road has flattened so gradually that I may not have noticed the slight downward slope if not for my watch.

As the intersection of the Honoapiilani Highway (30) comes into view, a runner behind me says that she is patting herself on the back for reaching this point by sunrise. I look over my left shoulder and can see a tiny spot of bright red over the northern slope of Haleakala. The sky has an odd haze about it (yesterday, I heard the Honolulu news refer to "vog" - volcanic smog - but this is my first time seeing it), but, otherwise, there are no clouds. I am glad I have made it this far this fast because I suspect that the temperature will soon begin to rise.

After merging with Highway 30, I encounter a much more pronounced downward slope. Without any effort, my pace accelerates (I do not realize I am averaging sub-8 over the next two miles). With the island now bathing in dawn's light, I can more fully appreciate my surroundings. I pass the Maui Ocean Center and Maalea Harbor. The coast is in view. Through the haze, I see Wailea, Molokini, Kahoolawe. This is truly running in paradise.

The hilly coastal section of the race begins, but the initial grade is nowhere near as steep as I anticipated. Training around Palos Verdes, Kapalua, and participating in the Hana Relay have prepared me for elevation changes far worse than this. I grab my first sponge from one of the aid stations and apply it to my forehead. WOW! It is ice-cold! That will wake anyone up.

Winding roads and rolling hills (followed by one last significant incline) overlook rugged coastline for the next few miles...similar to some stretches of Palos Verdes Drive back home. The banked turns, however, prove to be far more challenging than the final ascent. The longer the turn, the longer one leg must compensate. Though my joints do not like the sustained uneven strain, my pace never drops below 9 minutes per mile.

As I begin the descent towards Ukumehame Park, I let my pace improve knowing that all significant elevation changes are now behind me. My legs and breathing feel great as I pass through the at tunnel (the momentary blip in pace recorded by my watch is simply where it lost communication with the satellites). My half marathon split is actually the second fastest I have ever recorded, yet I feel fully capable of doing the second half at the same pace...or even faster. Four hours seems totally doable.

I reach the flat section of highway that is adjacent to the beach...a stretch of the course that I have been looking forward to ever since I decided to run the full marathon. Unfortunately, the road does not feel nearly as flat as it looks. I start pushing myself just to maintain my pace (unaware that I have slowed below nine minutes per mile). This is the first time today that my muscles really feel the effort. Adding discomfort, I feel the sun on my back. There is no shade. There is barely any sea breeze. I start looking for the next aid station, now eager to take on water, Gatorade, and sponges.

According to my watch, I complete fifteen miles in 2:08:23. During one of my longer training runs, I remember being impressed when I reached this distance in 2:15:00, so I am obviously pleased (failing to notice that my pace has continued to fade). Over the next mile-and-a-half, my breathing remains very comfortable, but I definitely am pushing my legs harder than expected...seemingly convinced I am running slightly uphill.

Suddenly, my left knee gives out...and I hop upon my right leg until I reach a complete stop. This is totally unexpected. I have never felt anything like this while running before. I try walking, hoping the pain will pass quickly. Since my average pace is still well under nine minutes per mile, I can take it easy for a bit and still finish in four hours. Even more encouraging, I am able to walk pretty fast. A quarter of a mile later, I try running. The knee appears to be holding up.

As I approach the aid station near the seventeenth mile marker, the pain returns. It seems centered behind the joint, perhaps in the ligaments, and becomes more pronounced as I relax the muscles around the knee. The slower I jog, the worse the pain grows, so I walk through the aid station. Even more frustrating, I am unable to run through the only shaded stretch of the entire course!

I hate watching my average pace drop. I must try running again. The pain is not too bad for the first few strides, but becomes unbearable as my pace drops to a jog. I repeat this frustrating cycle several times. I keep passing and being passed by a short Asian gal who has been maintaining a slow but steady clip. I have no idea what she must think of my technique. Now my knee hurts when I walk too. The road here slopes to the left, causing additional torque on my joints with each painful step. I cannot let myself stop.

After I pass the eighteenth mile marker, I try running again. Despite having already been on the course for more than three hours, I feel confident that I can still finish this race within four hours. My mind is going. I am deluding myself. I have never run eight miles in one hour...and I have more than eight to go. Perhaps the sun is starting to get to me. Shortly after crossing the 30K timing mat, I start walking again.

I reach the turn-around point for today's half marathon. I remember how good I felt after running 13.1 miles...and start regretting my decision to run the full 26.2. Course workers remove cones used for separating incoming and outgoing participants running the half. I guess their race is over. Lucky them.

The next few miles are a blur.

When I see a sign for medical assistance at the aid station near mile 21, I grab a seat and describe my injury to the volunteer working there. She thinks the pain sounds deep, rubs some form of relieving cream (perhaps IcyHot) on the back of my leg, and then tells me I can catch a bus from here to the finish line if I feel like stopping. I cannot believe what I am hearing. I am only five miles from completing my first marathon. I refuse to quit, immediately stand up, and resume a brisk walking pace. I soon feel heat working its way deep into the muscles behind my knee. When the course turns down Front Street, I start jogging again. My leg feels pretty good!

Unfortunately, it is even hotter in Lahaina than I had feared. Residents offer to hose me down. I accept as long as they don't spray my shoes. My pace drops back to a walk as I reach the next aid station. Ack! Warm water is bad enough, but warm Gatorade is nasty! The sponge helps, but not for long. I walk through Old Lahaina Town. As I pass Bubba Gump Shrimp, I keep hearing "run, Forrest, run!", but my body says "stop, Forrest, stop!"

Continuing down Front Street, I encounter a series of official looking photographers. Before I reach the first, I somehow manage to start jogging while morphing a seemingly frozen grimace into a very forced smile. I am able to strike nearly the same pose for each photographer. Perhaps this is the motivation I need to finish the race! But, when I pass the last of them, I start walking again. It does not help that Front Street has slight inclines at a bridge and as it merges with the highway.

The incline continues for a bit past the twenty-fifth mile marker, but I decide to try running again. The knee is a bit iffy, but seems solid enough to endure one last push. I slow my pace to save energy for the descent into Ka'anapali. I grab a cup of water and a sponge at the last aid station. I am so over walking. I want to run as much of the home stretch as I can, no matter how badly I feel.

As my pace improves, my wife tries calling my cellphone. I answer, but she cannot hear me. She tries again, hoping to hear where I am on the course. I am unable to tell her that I am close to the end, struggling to maintain my rhythm. At least I am running. By the time I turn on Ka'anapali Parkway, my pace is sub-10 and improves as the course continues downhill. I see many cheering people, but no one I recognize. I cross a timing mat as the finish comes into view. Still no sign of my wife. The announcer calls out my name and hometown, giving me one last boost. I muster enough strength to throw both arms up as I run across the finish line.

Relief.

My wife finds me as I proceed down the chute, collect my finisher's medal, and pose for one last official photo. Since she has missed snapping a photo of me crossing the finish line, she takes a couple now. I am not winded, but my legs and feet feel thoroughly abused. I grab my finisher's T-shirt, gather much needed post-race snacks, and then my wife helps me find a spot to sit down. I cannot sit comfortably. All of my joints ache. I am not yet enjoying the fact I completed my first marathon. I am not sure if I ever will...

Official photos of me

Article in The Maui News

Official stats:
Time: 04:41:59
10K split: 0:52:37
Half split: 1:52:52
30K split: 3:12:35 (left knee went out before mile 17)
Place overall: 302 (of 808 finishers)
Place division: 42 (of 75 finishers)

Marathon Training Complete

2008-09-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

My first full marathon is on Sunday (just a few days way), so this morning's run is officially my last until the big day...to give my legs one last chance to rest before making them suffer! My training on Maui has taken me close to the northern end of the Honoapiilani Highway to as far south as the Kahana Gateway (and even further if you count the Hana Relay...blog entry still being worked on), but I have yet to run upon any segment of the 26.2 mile stretch between Kahului and Kaanapali that defines the Maui Marathon.

I am getting somewhat used to the humidity, but I have not yet run in the late morning heat (my 11:20AM leg of the Hana Relay was in a full downpour). Unfortunately, low winds and higher humidity is forecast for the weekend. I am crossing my fingers that, during the race, I will be able to get through Lahaina before it gets too hot.

Until Sunday morning, I am going to take it easy and spend a lot of time in the pool. I have managed to stay healthy and injury free this long, so I do not need to take any chances. I have to pick up my race packet either tomorrow or on Saturday...and then it is once again time to carbo-load!

Friday's run: 4.08 miles (8:44/mi)
Hana Relay: 9.49 miles (8:15/mi)
Tuesday's run: 10.6 miles (9:34/mi)
Today's run: 6.21 miles (8:49/mi)

Total on Maui: 29.36 miles (8:52/mi)

Total YTD: 542.43 miles (9:42/mi)

Hana Relay

2008-09-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

If Nike's Run Hit Remix is "more fun than run" and Disneyland's Half Marathon is the "happiest race on earth", then I am totally at a loss for how to describe the wacky and highly spirited relay that takes place on the infamous 52 mile long road to Hana.

On our pre-dawn ride to Kahului, I meet my teammates, learn that our team is called "Off the Couch" and that our official baton is a TV Remote (an actual IR remote with batteries removed), but this hardly prepares me for the circus-like atmosphere surrounding the start of the race. Unlike many of the participating teams, we are not wearing crazy costumes or riding in a decorated support vehicle. Some guys apparently have no issues with their sexuality as we see everything from running nuns to Super Fairies. The women are no less enthusiastic with instantly recognizable teams like G.I. Janes and Disco Divas. And there are mixed sex teams including a rowdy band of pirates (their truck is decorated like a pirate ship...complete with mast and sails) and a team of rock stars featuring a bald guy wearing a dress that is supposed to be Sinead O'Connor. What have I gotten myself into?

Jorge, our team leader, has run this event before and is indeed a runner (he has run a half marathon in the low 1:30's). Unfortunately, he has not had time to run much this year. Since I am the one with the most training, I have volunteered for the first and thirteenth legs, both of which are recorded by the timing chip...and, since we agree to maintain our team order for the duration of the race, I will also take the seventh. I'll be handing the remote to Mike, Mike to Jorge, Jorge to Paige, Paige to Joe, Joe to Mitch, and Mitch back to me until he crosses the finish line in Hana.

Having arrived only 15 minutes before our start time (the start is staggered based on how long each captain estimates his or her team will take to complete the entire 52 mile course), I have just enough time to put on my bib, strap the official timing chip to my left ankle (which I will hand to Mitch after I complete the thirteenth leg), stretch, make one last pit stop, and pose for a team photo before I must hand my camera to Mitch, grab the baton, and line up for the start of the race. Runners are warned to stay left because the road to Hana is not closed (say what?) and are advised to use good judgment because we will encounter traffic. Some team captains are scolded for bringing two or more support vehicles...with a record 121 teams participating, parking will already be difficult around the hand off zones. For those of you who have not done this drive before, the road to Hana features many narrow sections, blind corners, and one lane bridges. This will be interesting to say the least!

Leg 1:
2.4 Miles - Start at the JUNCTION OF KEOLANI AND AALELE ST. Run East on Aalele St., left onto Old Haleakala Hwy., then straight on Haleakala Hwy. Juct. To Kala Rd. (Which is one-way: Support Vehicles must turn right on Haleakala Hwy., left on Hana Hwy., then park along Hana Hwy. for hand-off.) HAND-OFF POINT IS ON KALA RD. about 150 meters from the Hana hwy. intersection.

When the horn sounds, I sprint to the lead, but then quickly back off (letting a few guys pass me) when I realize my pace is around six minutes per mile. I want to use this flat and short segment to warm up, not burn out! That said, I am not entirely sure how I should pace such an event because, while my total run will be over nine miles, the long breaks in between might provide me with fresh legs or nasty cramps.

As the course turns towards Haleakala, I can see the sun rising through the clouds, rays streaking across the sky...an inspiring sight. The early morning temperature is pleasant, so the humidity seems manageable...for now.

I complete the first mile in 6:47.

As the road turns near runway 2 of Kahului International Airport, another runner gets by me. We are on one of those deceptively slight inclines, so I try to keep him within view without pushing too hard. When the road dips towards the first hand off zone, I start reeling him in...but I cannot catch him before handing the baton to Mike.

Though only four teams handed off ahead of us, the staggered start times make it impossible to know our place in overall race even at this early stage. My teammates seem pleased with my effort and my legs are feeling pretty good, so I am pumped when I return to the van.

Leg 7:
3.4 Miles - From TWIN FALLS (HOOLAWA) BRIDGE to EMI BASE YARD IN KAILUA . Rolling hills, then mostly level on winding road.

At this point, everyone on our team has had a turn and everyone is looking pretty good, but our van is really starting to smell. Jorge seems especially fast, but he was seriously winded after his leg. Joe had a bad reaction to the 5 hour energy gel he consumed prior to running, but he was able to keep it down until completing his leg. Though Joe had an especially hot leg under direct sun, things have cooled off since Mitch took the baton. I have been blessed with overcast skies and light winds.

Over two hours have passed since I was out there, so I actually feel quite rested...and I have time to make a pit stop and stretch before Mitch hands me the remote.

The descriptions "rolling hills" and "winding road" apply to most of the road to Hana, but Twin Falls is really where the crazy drive begins. Having trained on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, I do not fear this section...it is not unlike running along Portuguese Bend.

Two miles in, the course starts an uphill climb and I feel my pace drop. Still, I am able to use the incline to pass a couple of people. I am feeling pretty good about not being passed until one guy in particular flies by me...and, no matter how hard I try, I cannot stay with him. His bib color is pink, meaning he is from the last group to start. After a couple of turns, he is no longer within view. I have a feeling he is going to be on the winning team.

I am still climbing as my watch indicates 3.4 miles, so I start worrying when I cannot see the next hand off zone. Fortunately, the road soon levels off, so I am able to pick up my pace and stop thinking about the discrepancy between my GPS watch and the stated length for this leg. By the time I pass the remote to Mike, I am really moving.

Leg 13:
3.3 Miles - From WAILUA BAY LOOKOUT to PUAA KAA STATE PARK. 2.1 miles uphill. A tough leg. Put the guy/gal you don't like on this leg. Bathrooms and water available.

Since my last leg, parking around hand off zones has become nearly impossible. Lots are tiny, road is narrow, shoulders are practically non-existent, turn outs are rare, bridges are barely wide enough for a car plus runner. On the plus side, the views have been spectacular and the tropical vegetation especially lush. With the ride being broken up for these hand offs, the drive to Hana actually does not seem nearly as long as I remember (ironic because we have already been out here for more than four hours and we still have a long way to go).

As I get ready for my next leg, I start looking for a restroom since the description states one would be available. Unfortunately, this stop is merely a scenic overlook with no place to go unless I am willing to risk falling off a cliff (that does not stop one girl from trying). Aggravating the situation, it starts to rain. Another runner mentions this precipitation is not nearly as bad as last year...just minutes before it gets worse. I wait nearly ten minutes in a tropical downpour, the kind with thick and heavy drops (feels like I am standing under a waterfall). The wind is chilling. My hat, clothes, and, even worse, shoes and socks get drenched. Did I mention I really have to go?

Mitch hands me the remote and I am off. This leg starts on an incline...and continues upward endlessly with very few moments of respite. Some sections are quite steep. The rain continues to pour for most of my ascent. I am barely able to enjoy the view. I can hardly concentrate on my breathing and I completely forget how long this leg is. I just keep thinking about the official descriptions "2.1 miles uphill" and "put the guy/gal you don't like on this leg". Before the course flattens, I suffer my first slower than ten minutes mile of the race.

As I reach the top, I am thrilled to see that the course actually starts to descend. With this being my last leg, I start pushing the pace hoping to improve my overall average for this leg. While the rain has stopped, the road remains wet, so I have to be careful not to slip as I lengthen my stride. That said, I no longer need to leave anything in reserve. The faster I finish, the faster I can go...and I really need to now!

When I cross the timing mat and hand off to Mike, I am more relieved than anything...relieved to see an actual restroom just a few steps away!

Back in the van, I hand my timing chip to Mitch. Paige and I actually consider joining him on the anchor leg, so we can cross the finish line together, but, as we continue our ride towards Hana, Mitch reminds me that I have a marathon to run next week. Ditching my soaked shoes and socks for flip flops feels so good. I am so done.

More details about our finish coming soon...

Official photographs

My photographs

Unofficial Personal Results:
Total distance: 9.49 (according to GPS)
Total time: 01:18:21
Average pace: 08:15/Mile

Official Results:
Overall time for team "Off the Couch": 07:14:03
Team pace: 8:21/Mile
Overall place: 60 out of 121
First leg: 17:37 (37th)
Thirteenth leg: No data (WTF?!?)

Arrived on Maui

2008-09-04T14:15:00.000-07:00

And I just got confirmation that I will be running the Hana Relay this Saturday!

Last night, while I was still packing for this marathon trip, my wife forwarded an e-mail from a coworker whose fiancee had been looking for an additional runner for the race. I was already familiar with the event, having read about it a couple of months ago, but figured it would be impossible to gather the necessary team of six runners with such little notice especially because I live on the mainland.

The Hana Relay is categorized as a "fun run" and none of my teammates are serious runners. In other words, I'll be treating this as a warm up for the marathon...to help me acclimate to the heat and humidity here (today it is in the mid-80's, but feels a LOT hotter!)

Disneyland Half Marathon

2008-08-31T14:00:00.000-07:00

Walking around both Disney parks and the Anaheim Resorts until 9pm yesterday could have worked against me, but the always pleasant diversion combined with significant energy expenditure probably improved the quality of my slumber (no pre-race jitters!). In other words, I have no problem waking up with the alarm at 4am.

I arrive at the pre-race staging area at 5am and, shortly thereafter, meet up with two coworkers also participating in the race (one of them being the crazy ultra trail-runner I train with once a week). We have been assigned different adjacent starting corrals (I'm in B) and, since officials are indeed checking bibs, we cannot sneak into one together. We will definitely not be seeing each other again until after the race.

Nearly all of today's conditions appear to be perfect. My legs feel good, my new pair of Kayano 13s are sufficiently broken in. I have adequetly carbo-loaded over the past two days. I am already feeling my morning dose of caffeine (hotel room coffee made more palatable thanks to the light snack included in the goody bag I picked up with my race packet). I remember to bring enough gels for consumption at 45 and 15 minutes before the gun and one for 45 minutes into the race...and I have brought a disposable water bottle so I can keep myself thoroughly hydrated until the moment the race starts. I do not even feel the need a last minute restroom break. The pre-dawn air does seem humid and perhaps a bit too pleasant this early, but the marine layer should prevent the temperature from rising too high.

After some purely Disney theatrics (the announcer proposes to his girlfriend...Mickey and Minnie's friends arrive via monorail stopping directly in view through the starting gate), it is finally time to run. The race begins at 6am as scheduled. It takes me over a minute to cross the line and start running (I can only imagine how long it will take corral G to get here). I start my watch and music...and, just a few moments later, I realize I have made one major mistake.

In the process of deleting slower songs from my Walkman phone before the race, I have forgotten to place the MP3 player back into shuffled track mode. It must be in album mode because I can't change tracks (I only ripped one song from the selected album). I can't change playback modes without stopping to take the phone out of my armband. A-ha's The Living Daylights is holding my pace back, so I decide to race without music.

Fortunately, there is plenty of entertainment along the course, from classic Disney characters and parade performers found throughout Disney's California Adventure and Disneyland to dozens of drill teams, cheerleaders, marching bands (not to mention a Mariachi band and Polynesian dancers) lining the streets of Anaheim. I give high fives to a number of boy and girl scouts along the way, thanking them for their support. And, since first names are printed on the bib, complete strangers are cheering "You can do it, Eric!"

It's nice going into a race with a definite plan...and then being able to stick to it. From my training, I am confident I can hold an 8 minute per mile pace. I do not let my pace drop much during slight inclines (and actually use these as opportunities to pick other runners off). I do let my pace increase on the slight declines (for the most part, this is a really flat course). I am using my watch to monitor my overall average pace and am encouraged each time it updates another second faster than 8...even splits are great, negative even better! I consume fluids at every station, I stick to my own schedule for consuming a Cliff Shot rather than wait for the freebie at mile 9.

When I pass ten miles having held my fastest eight mile training pace with absolutely no issues, I grow even more confident I can finish this race in 1:45. I am actually smiling as I attack the slight incline after mile 11 (look for runner 2001 in photo to the left)...and it ends up being my second fastest mile of the race.

My mood changes with a mile-and-a-half to go. I see my pace momentarily slow and I must struggle to get my legs to turn over any faster. I am not winded...just feeling my burning muscles and a general sense of fatigue. We cross back through California Adventure and twist our way through the Downtown Disney. Where's the finish line? My watch says I've already run 13.2 miles!

One final turn near the Disneyland Hotel and I push hard through to the finish line. The clock reads 1:46:55 when I cross the line, my watch 1:45:47...and my chip time is officially 1:45:46. I really feel like I had done a 1:45 flat, so that extra 46 seconds bother the heck out of me! My GPS data suggests the course length is just a couple tenths of a mile longer than it should have been. It's not just my watch either. Both of my coworkers recorded a course length longer than 13.34 miles (of course, we all have the same exact GPS watch). My official 5K split sounds a minute too slow. I am pretty certain that my 10K split was faster than the logged 50:40 (just a couple of weeks ago I ran a 10K that felt much slower in 50:38...and my watch disputed the length of that course as well).

After meeting up with my coworkers and consuming post race snacks, it starts to sink in that, regardless of whether or not I hit 1:45 flat, I still beat my personal record by eight minutes. I have finished 75th out of 749 men in my age division, 418th of 4442 men overall, and 515th of all 10,849 participants who completed the course within the four hour time limit. My coworkers, both also within my age division, both set personal records today as well.

Disney calls this event the "Happiest Race On Earth." I should be happy. I am happy that I can walk back to my hotel. I am thrilled that I do not have to drive home (my best bud not only provided transportation but also got me into both parks yesterday). And Monday is a holiday...I should be enjoying a total high.

That said, I know I will not be able to hold this pace for a full 26.2 miles. Am I a bit worried that my first full marathon is just two weeks away? Absolutely!

Asics Kayano 14 vs 13

2008-08-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

Last week, my crazy ultra trail-running coworker was forced to buy Kayano 14s because the Disneyland Half Marathon is fast approaching and his 13s have completely lost their spring. Like me, he loves the 13s, so I was curious to hear his review.

He says the new generation fits differently...takes some getting used to...and has hot spots.

Today, my wife and I drop by Sports Authority. I try on a pair. Just like my coworker, I immediately notice a tightness in the toe-box. One of the things I love about my 13s is how free my toes are to wiggle and flex, but the 14s definitely pinch and a half-size up would be too big and sloppy. This new shoe would definitely take some getting used to.

Why, why, WHY does Asics have to change a good thing?

I am glad I have still have an unused pair of Kayano 13s that I will be rotating into my routine starting tomorrow morning. I will be using this fresh pair on both the Disneyland Half Marathon and the Maui Marathon...one less variable to worry about.

Asics GT2120 vs Kayano 13

2008-08-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

When I got my first pair of Kayano 13s nearly a year ago, I knew I had finally found the perfect road running shoe for me. I started using a second pair when my first started to flatten, but I kept the initial pair in rotation for shorter runs until the last month (when my short runs grew to five miles).

When she picked up my second pair of Kayanos, she also bought a pair of GT2120's for me, a deal too hard to pass up. I rolled them into the rotation a few months ago, hoping to save my precious Kayanos for longer road runs and races (I have Kahanas for trails).

At first, I appreciated the extra spring in my step from my youngest pair...especially on harder running surfaces (like cement). The 2120s felt comfortable, though I immediately could tell that they fit a little differently than my Kayanos.

Today, however, I have deduced that the GT2120s caused last week's nasty blisters...the arch support is catching my left foot too high and forward, especially when my foot packs down to the back of the shoe as I run up steep hills. At first I thought it might be the insole, but I can feel an extra firm bump using my fingers even with the insole removed. The shoe does not bother me on downhill stretches or flat terrain, but I incorporate hills in all of my workouts (he who runs down, must run up).

Fortunately, my wife also got a great deal on Kayano 13s before they were discontinued. I plan to start wearing this third pair using next week so they'll be ready for the Disneyland Half Marathon and Maui Marathon. Until I'm done with these races, I am placing the GT2120s aside so that today's blister (which is nothing compared to the one pictured above) will heal.

That said, blisters haven't stopped my pace from improving on the flat and downhill stretches of my 5 mile orbit...

Miraleste/PVHSXC 21.5+ Mile Orbit

2008-08-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

After last Saturday's 10K, I took some days off from running hoping that my blisters would finally heal...but perhaps a bit too much rest for my legs. My 9 miler lunch time run on Thursday was considerably off pace as my legs felt rusty and, even worse, I could not keep them going for the whole distance.

With that in mind, I am debating whether or not my legs are ready to pass another distance milestone this morning. With the Disneyland Half Marathon on the 31st, I really cannot afford to wait until next weekend. The weekend after the half, I will be on Maui attempting to acclimate to heat and humidity with just a week to go before the full. In other words, I do not have a choice. I must try to run at least 21 miles today.

To make things a bit more interesting, I try a new route...one that takes me from Palos Verdes Drive North to PV Drive East and PV Drive South. I have not driven PV Drive East in ages, but, having run the Palos Verdes Half Marathon and done a few obrits through Portuguese Bend, I am familiar with the entire stretch I will traverse along PV Drive South. I will go out slow to conserve my energy for the hill I expect to encounter on PV Drive East and then try to pick up the pace as I descend past Trump National.

I think it is a good plan. Then I actually start running down Palos Verdes Drive North. In all the times I have driven along this stretch, I never really noticed that heading east is almost completely downhill. In a way, this feels like the beginning of my runs to the beach cities...just without the flat section that follows. When I reach Palos Verdes Drive East, I am very aware that I have a long uphill climb ahead.

And it is a twisting one...making it hard to know how much further it continues to ascend. I try to keep below a 10 minute per mile pace, but do not want to push this early into my run. Making matters worse, the road descends after mile 5, but then goes back up from miles 6 to 7. I will have to make up some time on the long downhill to Palos Verdes Drive South and keep the pace as I continue to descend around Portuguese Bend.

I reach my half marathon split around 2:10 somewhere along PV Drive South. My leg muscles are now burning and one of my arches aches. Maintaining a decent pace is not going to be easy...and I know there are bigger hills between here and home.

As I approach Golden Cove Plaza. I spot a Starbucks...and, having skipped coffee to get out of the house earlier this morning, I cannot ignore the call of the siren. Shortly after I step inside, one of the patrons notices I am a runner and, being Jamaican, cannot resist spoiling the results of the Olympics 100m finals. I decide to spoil myself with a tall caramel Frappucino. I figure I have already run 15 miles, so I could use the caloric boost anyway. Plus, a bit of rest might give my legs a chance to work thorough some of the pain.

Yeah, right.

Now my muscles have tightened up. I have a major climb before hitting the home stretch and must walk most of it to avoid cramps. The sun starts to poke through and the temperature rises just as I finish the last drop of water in my bottle. Though I am able to pick up the pace over the final few miles, I do not feel very good when I finally reach home. This has been a rough run/jog/walk/crawl/beg for mercy.

The Hills Are Alive 10K

2008-08-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

As I head out the door for my first true 10K race since high school (and first trail race this year), nearly everything is going according to plan. I say "nearly" because my blisters are still swolen and the marine layer has decided to stay away another day.

To warm up (and to get myself to the start of today's race), I run down to Ernie Howlett Park, my final half mile on the actual equestrian trail being used for the course. This gives my feet a chance to reacquaint themselves with the surface I expect will cover the majority of the 6+ mile course. Without even trying, I clock a nearly 8:08 mile...my legs are certainly ready to go.

I collect my race packet and bib number and meet up with my dad (who has brought his video camera) and my wife (who will take photographs of me today). I have been sticking to the shade and pre-hydrating all morning long, but, as always, I am concerned about hot it will be during the race. I do not want to carry my water bottle during the race, but should not have to since there are three water stations on the course. Still, I worry about the more exposed areas of the course...especially since the course map does not really tell me exactly where I will be running.

As race time rolls around, I warm up by stretching and doing short sprints and then find a spot closer to the front of the pack. The paper has reported that 700 runners are expected, but the crowd in the starting area seems significantly smaller than what the similar sized Palos Verdes Half Marathon. Of course, the competitors are also spread among a 5K run and a 5K walk which will start after us...and I suspect there are more participating in the shorter events.

The race starts shortly after 8:30am and, as usual, I am tempted to go out too fast despite starting with an uphill climb. I feel really good (don't even notice the blisters), but, after seeing that my pace is lower than 7 minutes per mile, I ease back a tad. Though a 10K is now among the shorter distances in my training routine, it is still long enough that I cannot expect to maintain a sub 8 pace...especially if the course features significant elevation change.

The first mile is entirely on nice (soft, but not too soft) equestrian trails, cutting under Hawthorne Blvd. I have run by this tunnel on a number of occassions, but never bothered to go through. Road apples are present, but easily avoided. At this point, the course is mostly uphill (only one downhill stretch right after the tunnel), but not so steep that I cannot complete the segment under 8 minutes.

The second mile continues along the trail, through another tunnel under Crenshaw Blvd, and then branches up towards Palos Verdes Drive North. From here, we encounter a mix of dirt and asphalt as we run along the street. Turning downhill at Rolling Hills Road, I open my stride and start to pick up the pace again...just enough to bring my average pace back below 8 minutes per mile.

The third mile takes place almost entirely within the South Coast Botanic Garden upon a looping asphalt path...and, making matters worse, the last half features the first steep uphill climb of the race and with decreasing shade. Thankfully, we twice encounter the water station within the garden before, but I am starting to feel the heat and have noticed my pace drop. That said, my average pace for mile three is almost as fast as my first (likely due to the initial downhill).

Unfortunately, mile four continues uphill. The course returns to the equestrian trails as we exit the garden, but it seems to be an eternity before it turns downhill again. My pace drops significantly. Somehow I confuse the tunnel under Crenshaw for the one under Hawthorne.

I am thrilled to increase my pace at the beginning of mile 5, but only because I think the end is near. Not long after I begin my descent, the surroundings become unfamiliar...and realize my mistake as soon as I reach the street. The course briefly runs alongside Crenshaw Blvd before crossing through gates normally closed to the public and continuing uphill upon a gravel road around the northern boundary of the Palos Verdes Landfill (at least now I know I could not have trained upon the course). The ascent is painful. There is little shade. I am getting passed.

The course levels out as mile 6 begins, but not for long. The turn up towards the Hawthorne tunnel is perhaps the most brutal of the entire race. Exposed. Steep. Long and straight. I am still on target for a 48 minute 6 mile split, but I am fighting to do it. The course volunteer marking the turn towards the tunnel encourages me to push on, but then yells, "Just two more uphill switchbacks and you are home free." Great. I have been looking forward to a final descent!

Sure enough, the course is not entirely downhill through to the finish line. Even worse, my watch displays that I have traveled 6.21 miles, but the finish line is not even in view. My goal of finishing this race under 50 minutes is now out the window.

As I reach the final turn, I see my dad and Valerie and make one final push, officially crossing the finish line in 00:50:38. Not bad, but is it good enough to earn medal?

From looking at past results, I knew I would need a time between 40 and 50 minutes to finish near the top of the 30-39 age group (and only the top 3 from each age division earn medals). This year's third place finisher completed his race in 00:49:26...so I would have been close if my race ended when my watch said it would. Still, I finished 33rd of 205 overall and a respectable 7th in my age group. Maybe next year?

Blisteringly Fast?

2008-08-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

For today's lunchtime run, my coworker and I set out to run 8 miles. Since I have a 10K on Saturday, I do not want to push too hard...a good thing since the sun is hitting hard this afternoon. It is hot!

For some reason, his Garmin is not working, so I am now in charge of monitoring our pace. Our goal (especially mine) is to not go out too fast today, but, as usual, we somehow find ourselves starting with a sub 8 minute per mile pace.

We finish just as strong. In fact, my average over the entire eight miles is 7:58 (including a sub 50 10K). Only problem? I now have blisters on my blisters!

This is definitely my PR for an 8 miler (and for a 10K as well)

An Inspiring 19 Mile Run

2008-08-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

I wake up at 5:30am, but once again don't make it out the door before 6:15. That's what I get for sipping coffee and throwing together a new route at the last possible minute.

I have changed today's run fearing another hot day...at the moment there is no marine layer over my home. That said, with the Hills Are Alive 10K next week, I need to spend quality time on the rolling hills of Palos Verdes, so I start by heading uphill and chance spending my first several miles on the peninsula. Thankfully the early morning air is pleasantly cool. I just hope it stays this way.

The first part of my run goes according to plan. Despite tweaking my ankle on Thursday, I feel no pain at all today. My breathing is very controlled. I do not let myself go slower than ten minute miles on the ascent. I let my pace continue to drop as descend towards the coast.

On the hills of the peninsula, I see a lot of cyclists. Closer to and along the coast, I see more runners and walkers. I usually say or reply "good morning" to people I pass, but rarely does a conversation go beyond that. Today, however, as I catch a runner also heading north on Palos Verdes Drive West he unexpectedly asks, "Am I no longer running alone?" If this question is not an invitation to converse, I do not know what is. I reply, "Guess not any more" as I run alongside and match his pace.

This runner is particularly chatty...even more so than my coworker. We learn that we are both running significant mileage today (20 in his case)...and immediately (and correctly) conclude that we are both training for marathons. I tell him I am training for my first. He, on the other hand, has run 47...which includes consecutive Boston Marathons since 1999! When he tells me that he is heading towards Manhattan Beach along the coast, I decide to alter my course to stay with him. I had planned to cut inland to South High School today...but this is so much more interesting (and potentially more valuable).

Did I mention he just celebrated his 70th birthday?

He looks really good for his age. He is running a solid 9 to 10 minute per mile pace, but has already run 13 miles! His form is smooth, almost casual...and he is obviously not pushing his pace because the conversation continues. He even suggests turning up one of the side streets off of Palos Verdes Drive just to get one more hill into our workout. After passing Malaga Cove Plaza and rounding Palos Verdes Blvd, we continue down towards the beach.

I learn a bit about his running history, about how his wife (who also runs marathons) got him running again, how his competitive juices really started flowing after he finished towards the back of the pack, and how he now often finishes first in his age group. I learn that he prefers point-to-point races over loops and out-and-backs especially because he hates watching runners try to cut the course (and apparently people even try to cheat at Boston Marathon qualifying races...which makes absolutely no sense to him). He no longer does the Palos Verdes Marathon because the route has been part of his normal training routine for years. His stories about the Boston Marathon really gets me excited about it...reinforcing that it should be one of my goals (Maui Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier).

I finally introduce myself. He introduces himself as "Sus". When we reach the Esplanade, Sus tells me he normally heads down to the strand for his home stretch. I tell him I prefer the asphalt, which he totally understands. I thank him for making this four mile stretch unexpectedly fun. Sus says that we will see each other again. I do not doubt it...and I certainly hope so.

Feeling totally inspired, I resume my originally planned 19 mile run (albeit in the reverse direction). I turn right at Torrance Blvd, continue inland as far as Anza, cut south towards Calle Mayor and eventually South High School. I run 800m on the dirt track (something I swore I would never do after high school), take a short break, and then head up the hill towards my mom's house (where I refill my water bottle). After another short break, I resume my uphill run towards home.

I am able to run all but the final incline...but since I am well aware I can complete the entire workout within three hours (significantly faster than my previous and much flatter 19 mile run to Manhattan Beach), I walk as fast and as briefly as possible.

Shortly after I get home, I hop on Athlinks and try to learn the full identity of "Sus". Knowing his age and running history make figuring out his full name quite easy. Looking at his results and the number of races he has entered over the past decade, I am even more impressed!

Tweaked

2008-07-31T20:00:00.000-07:00

For four weeks in-a-row, my coworker and I have sacrificed our lunch hour to squeeze in nine mile runs. Today, however, we decide to go for ten.

Bad idea. It is hot. Damn hot. Even worse, both of us have not run all week. We go out way too fast. We cannot seem to get a good breathing rhythm going, but the air seems to be affecting me more. On the slight incline through Palisades Park, I drop way behind. My coworker is not in view when I need to stop at the beginning of San Vicente. I have no idea how long he had been waiting when I finally reach him at the five mile mark.

Instead of going for ten, I decide that we are better off turning our ten mile out-and-back into an orbit of Santa Monica. We have not completed this orbit before, but we know the route will take us into Brentwood and I am pretty sure it will still total around nine miles. The only catch with going in this direction is that we do not get the benefit of running back down the hill we just ran up. Ideally, we would have run the orbit counterclockwise.

The road flattens out as we reach Brentwood, but we have to move to the sidewalk as San Vicente's center median seems less runner friendly here. It is then that I catch my right toe on a lifted block of concrete and start to fall forward, just catching myself by flinging my right leg forward, locking my knee and ankle into a rigid structure to catch my fall. In absorbing the momentum, I lose my breath, but manage to stay upright.

Shortly thereafter, the concrete sidewalk turns to dirt under a canopy of trees. While the shade is a pleasant reprieve from the heat, it makes it hard to make out the terrain. My right foot lands awkwardly on a rock embedded within the dirt and rolls inward. It hurts. I come limping to a stop. I stop for a bit to walk off the pain.

My coworker suggests we take a shortcut directly back to the office, but I feel that Bundy is close enough by that we can complete the orbit I originally wanted to do. My ankle, though feeling funky, seems to be holding up even at an increased pace.

We make it back to the office. My pace is off, but still respectable. I just hope I have not screwed up my next few races.

Burma / Portuguese Bend Orbit Take 2

2008-07-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Not entirely satisfied with the route I forged last weekend, I decide to try alter my over-the-top-of-the-hill hoping to take further advantage of trails while adding miles.

I am also a bit more successful getting an early start (more out of fear considering that I started a 5 mile run yesterday at 6:15am...and it was already warm and humid). This morning's marine layer is not nearly as thick, so visibility is not an issue either.

Since I have not run the complete Burma Road bit since spring, my first alteration to the run is to run to its end...which adds a steep hill around mile 5. As I ascend, I notice two marked downhill trails to my right ("Panorama" and "Barn Owl"). Both appear to reach Palos Verdes Drive South, so I will have to choose one on my way back down.

The descent is quick and short. When I again reach Barn Owl Trail, I decide it looks much wider than Panorama Trail...so I branch off of Burma onto it. After a few steps, however, I realize I have made a mistake. It is a lot steeper than it looks. I can barely maintain a solid footing because the dirt and loose gravel is sliding out from under my heels. I lean back and proceed slowly and carefully. When I pass someone coming up the hill, she says "It's a lot harder going up." No doubt. I will never take this trail again! As I descend towards the canyon, Barn Owl has numerous branches, but each appear a lot narrower than the one I am on. I stay the course until I reach the trail head at the bottom...exactly where I expected last week's trail to deposit me on Palos Verdes Drive South.

Continuing my run north, I pass a sign on my left for the tide pools of Abalone Cove. I have been thinking about checking out the coastline here, so I decide to follow the gravel road as it descends towards one of the bluffs. As I reach this particular outcropping, I find an area completely enclosed by fences and warnings (including "nude sunbathing prohibited"). A trail follows the fence along the top of the cliff, so I orbit the area...stopping to take a few more pictures.

The only way down to the water appears to be the gravel road I came in on, so I return to the road and continue down the hill.

At the bottom, I figure I can try running along the coast, but the dry surface here consists of loose rocks...too unstable. I start back up the hill and attempt to take one of the dirt trails branching off of the road hoping that it connects to the neighboring beach. I see wild rabbits. Then I come to a dead-end. I try another trail that goes along the ridge, this one much narrower due to encroaching plants. I run face first into a massive spider web. Not only do I have to pull the sticky stuff off of my face and glasses, I get bug guts all over my white t-shirt. Ewwwww! Have I ever mentioned my fear of spiders? And, to make matters worse, this trail also dead-ends.

This has killed my adventurous spirit for the day. No more detours. I climb back to Palos Verdes Drive South and head home. Or, should I say, mom's home. After nearly 17 miles on these hills, my legs are done.

Dog Eat Dog Run

2008-07-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

I know better than to eat a meal thirty minutes before a run, but, having forgotten to bring a gu and not wanting to put off lunch until after 2pm, I decide to do just that...and can feel my meal sloshing around in my gut for the next nine miles.

I have also forgotten my water bottle, which is sitting on my desk (frozen in anticipation of bringing it with me). The sea breeze does little to help me stop thinking about my thirst.

My cellphone armband is still in my laundry hamper, so I am going the distance without tunes...first time I have ever run this far without music. I should not complain because I will not be able to wear headphones during the Maui Marathon. I have nothing to distract me other than conversing with my coworker. Unfortunately, now that he has been running more frequently, he is maintaining sub 8's with ease and starts pulling away on our third mile. Halfway up San Vicente, we get further separated by a long red light.

Excuses aside, I still run this faster than last week's nine miler. The pace is basically the same as our first eight miler from the week before that. Though I can still sprint at the end, I do not feel all that great about it.

Thirty minutes later, my energy drops. My joints (both shoulders and right ankle) ache. And, of course, I have work to do. Fun.

Burma / Portuguese Bend 17 Mile Orbit

2008-07-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

Over the past few weeks, I have upped my mileage by extending runs further north along the coast. Sticking to flat terrain has certainly been one less challenge for me to mentally and physically overcome while training for my first marathon, but doing so overlooks the huge benefit of pushing oneself on the hills.

With that in mind, I wake up early hoping to get started before the temperature rises, but I still manage to not leave the house before 8am. On past weekends, temps would already convince me I should head to the beach, but this morning's marine layer seems particularly thick and is keeping things cool and quite moist. I stick with my plan to start today's run by heading up the hill.

Burma Road is the dirt trail I have visited with my wife and friends for a few runs, but this is the first time I have tried running from home to the trail head. Fortunately, the connecting streets have shoulders and/or sidewalks...and, even more surprisingly, Crenshaw Blvd has asphalt sidewalks above Crest Road. I try not to run on concrete, so this is a nice discovery.

While I am happy about my running surface, I cannot say the same about the weather. I have run into the marine layer. I have less than a quarter mile visibility. Much less if you factor in that my glasses are covered with condensation and my eyes are watering. Still, the moisture is keeping me cool.

When I reach the trail head, I know that my next few miles will be downhill. My average pace over the first three miles exceeded 10 minutes per mile, so I really have to avoid the temptation to compensate by running too fast over the descent. Today's goal is not speed, but endurance over hilly terrain. Still, as I head down to the bottom of Burma Road, I naturally hit my stride...and click off two sub-8 miles without even trying.

I usually stick with Burma until it ends in Rolling Hills, but today I am looking for trails that branch away from the main trail hoping to hook up with Palos Verdes Drive South. From looking at Google Maps and a brochure about the Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve, I do have some familiarity with how the trails branch from here, but, until I am actually on the trails, it is hard to know for certain which way to turn. I take the branching trail at the lowest point of Burma Road and cross my fingers I will be able to reach Palos Verdes Drive. Visibility is still too low for me to see the street from here.

I run across a couple of bicyclists on the narrow trail, one rider confirming that I am heading the right direction. The high brush made it impossible to see them until they were upon me, so I am extra cautious as I make my way around every blind corner. My ear catches a spider web. As I pull the sticky stuff from my ear, I cross fingers that it did not also catch a spider. I must also be mindful of ticks and rattlesnakes while I am on the trails. My ankles and chins are getting dirty. Gnats buzz around my legs when I stop to take pictures around what appears to be the end of the trail. I have not yet reached the street, but can see it just over a small hill...and it looks as though I can reach the street by two or three of the trails branching from here. I just pick one and go for it.

The next thing I know, I am standing on Palos Verdes Drive South at Portuguese Bend...a familiar stretch of road that I ran upon during the Palos Verdes Half Marathon. I feel infinitely better here than I did during that race thanks to the presence of the marine layer. And I am well enough below the clouds now that I have good visibility. Since I am wearing trail shoes, I stick to the dirt to the side the road whenever possible and head northwest.

I decide to take a brief photo detour as I reach Abalone Cove Shoreline Park. The view here of the Palos Verdes Peninsula is nice. There's a path down to the beach below, but I will save that for another run in the near future. I have plenty of miles and hills to go...do not need any significant last minute additions.

I pass the turn around point for the PV Half Marathon and continue nortwest along Palos Verdes Drive South. If I had run the full marathon, the next few miles would be familiar, but I have never run along this stretch before. Thankfully, dirt continues along the side of the road...and, as I reach the construction site of Terranea Resort, the sidewalk becomes a nicely maintained running path.

I take another photo detour as I approach Point Vicente Light House, but the electric gate is closed and signs warn that this is Federal Property. I did not realize this site is closed to the public. Oh well.

I pass Hawthorne Blvd and Golden Cove...and am now back on a stretch of Palos Verdes Drive West that I have run on before, albeit on the opposite side of the street. I can still run on dirt here, so I stick with it until sidewalk begins. Fortunately, the dirt running path on the median begins at this point, so I cross over as soon as it is safe to do so. I stick to this path until it ends.

I hit my 13.2 mile split on Via Arriba at just under two hours and four minutes...way better than my PV Half Marathon time, but slower than my previous distance runs on flatter terrain. The reason I am on Via Arriba is that I am hoping to find a trail...one I usually approach from the opposite direction (and been on only once since high school). I really have to look for it because it is tucked between houses. When I do find it, I am not prepared for how steep the initial descent is. It takes a lot of effort to keep myself from tripping and falling. The extra effort has killed my energy and I find I have to push to keep my pace around 10 minutes per mile even as I continue downhill.

The remaining miles are uphill. My legs feel useless. I must walk, but now I cannot even maintain an 20 minute mile. I try to jog when the incline is not as steep, but I cannot do so for long. I decide to take a short break when I reach the Palos Verdes Country Club. This gives me a chance to stretch and recover some strength to pick up the pace for the next mile or two, but not enough to conqure the final steep incline.

With this run, I have completed 48 miles this week. I have a feeling that running every other day is helping me avoid injury as I build up the miles because I definitely have some persistent pains that do not seem to go away, but also do not affect me while I am actually running.

Manhattan Beach Pier 19 Mile Orbit

2008-07-13T14:00:00.000-07:00

19.03 to be exact.

Despite getting an even later start than any of my previous *long* runs, this time I run most of the distance...and pretty quickly too. My first 5K split is under 24 minutes, my first 10K split is roughly 50 minutes...both in the ballpark of Thursday's run. My half marathon split is around 1:55...not far off my PR set at the Silver Strand Half Marathon last year. I hit 15 miles at exactly 2:15.

As I reach my mom's house to pick up another water bottle, I start feeling I can finish this entire distance within three hours. Unfortunately, this moment immediately fades as I continue my way up the hill. I struggle to keep my muscles from cramping on the final ascent.

Though I walk for roughly half the uphill distance home, I still manage to keep my overall average pace sub 10.

This run has pushed me past another significant milestone - since getting my Forerunner 205 last September, I have now recorded over 500 miles (502.11miles, 84:15:24.88, avg pace 10:04, 67445 calories...). Crazy!

Lunchtime Dog Run

2008-07-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

My crazy ultra running coworker convinces me to skip lunch and go running today. We have an hour-and-a-half to burn, so we figure we can get somewhere between six and eight miles in and still have time to eat. We leave The Water Garden and head west on Colorado towards Santa Monica Pier. As I expect, my coworker is setting a quicker pace than I am accustomed to, but I do not complain. My legs are feeling good, the road is slightly downhill, and I want him to push me.

Our first mile comes just before we reach Santa Monica Place. At this point, we are already running a sub-9 minute per mile pace. I suggest we turn north on Ocean Avenue since the dirt path in Palisades Park provides a soft surface to run upon (not to mention the view is quite nice). Though heading north is slightly uphill, we average sub-8 over the next mile. At the California Incline, I forget to restart my watch after the light...and I do not realize I have done this until we have run another 0.3 miles (thankfully my coworker also wears a Forerunner 205, so he keeps me updated as to our actual distance and time).

At the end of the park, we turn right on to San Vicente and run on the grass median. It is a little soft, so I try to run on patches of exposed dirt when possible. We decide to keep going east until shortly after completing our fourth mile around the intersection of 10th and San Vicente. If I can keep up with my coworker, I should have no problem recording my fastest 10K split.

After a short stretch break, we head back on San Vicente and back down the path on Palisades Park. We record another sub-8 over our fifth mile. Our time after completing six miles? 48:40. I am certain I have reached 10K in my fastest time yet.

We turn east on Santa Monica Blvd and have to navigate through the crowd as we pass the Third Street Promenade. As we continue east, we encounter a lot of red lights...the starting and stopping is almost as annoying as intervals! I start to fall behind my coworker as we pass 10th Street. The heat is starting to get to me. I start thinking about lunch. I wish I brought water with me.

As annoying as they are, the red lights allow me to catch up to my coworker who keeps pulling away, but never so far that he has to skip a light to wait for me. I can see that he is starting to get tired too. That said, we are still running a sub-9 pace.

I get a second wind as we turn down Cloverfield and towards our office. We both finish the run strong. His watch says we did over 8 miles in roughly 1:06. Mine shows 7.75 miles in 1:04:23. Not bad for him, but excellent for me.

Jean-Luc 10K Orbit

2008-07-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

The last few times I have taken care of Jean-Luc (mom's cat) while mom is out of town, I have run to her house for his morning feeding. Today, I made the trip there just a little bit faster than usual. If only I could maintain a sub-8 minute mile pace on the way back up the hill, I'd be ready for The Hills Are Alive 10K.

Manhattan Beach Pier Broken Orbit

2008-07-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

Once again, I get a later-than-planned start...and, thanks to spending most of yesterday at a 4th of July barbecue, I'm more than fully fueled for a long run, My latest attempt to set a new distance milestone takes me all the way to the Manhattan Beach Pier. I have already run more than nine miles by the time I round the aquarium/cafe at the end of the pier, so, if I can make it home, I am on track to run close to 19.

While in Manhattan Beach, I consider picking up a Jamba Juice to refuel. Figuring I would enjoy a smoothie more when I finish running, I pass on the juice, but, since I have climbed this far into town, I decide to continue up the road to Valley Drive.

Here I find a soft (and, in some places, nicely shaded) dirt running path that parallels the Valley Drive and, if memory serves, descends all the back to the border of Hermosa and Redondo Beach. Unfortunately, I find the trail to be too soft...running upon the surface requires far more energy than I have to give (plus I keep getting wood chips in my shoes).

I do not make it home, but run more than 14.1 miles before my wife picks me up in our SUV. I will have to attempt this again next week.

Note how many miles I have run this week...wow!

Hermosa Beach Pier Orbit

2008-06-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Ambitious? Yes. Success? Mixed.

I start today's run more than an hour later than I would like, especially given Palos Verdes' high is forecast in the low-to-mid 80's. I make a last minute decision to redirect my run towards the Hermosa Beach Pier largely hoping that sea breezes or perhaps a touch of marine layer (which is not at all present over the peninsula this morning) would cut down the heat.

My instincts prove to good today--the beach weather is definitely comfortable. Unfortunately, the sea breeze is coming out of southwest...not a problem for the first half of my run, but headwinds will compound the fun as I climb the hill towards home.

The first 12 miles are either downhill or flat. I feel pretty good until I get closer to the Hermosa Pier. It starts to become work, but I am able to keep my pace below 10 minute miles. I decide to actually run to the end of the pier since I am trying to total at least sixteen today...and I reach the end just shy of eight.

For the return, I run off and on the bike path and around the Redondo Pier. I hate running on concrete. Pavement is better, but, unfortunately, the bike path is mostly concrete. After my previous attempts to add sand to the mix, I stay off the soft stuff so I can work on managing my pace for the full distance. Despite running against the wind, I succeed at maintaining my pace through the end of the bike path. This marks the beginning of RAT Beach and the start of a long climb towards home.

At this point, I have run twelve miles. If the next mile had been flat, I am fairly certain I could reach the equivalent of a half-marathon in exactly 2 hours. Unfortunately, I am currently just above sea-level...pretty much anywhere is up from here.

That said, I reach my half-marathon split at around 2:03.

Though I am not treating today's run as a race, I have bettered my Palos Verdes Half Marathon time by over ten minutes. It is hard to really compare times considering that the terrain has been helping me thus far. Now I face the climb up Via Del Monte. Normally, I would start a run like today's by coming down Via Del Monte, but, for some reason, I have reversed directions thinking that Via Del Monte is longer, but less steep than Palos Verdes Drive. As soon as I start up it, I realize I have made this mistake before.

I walk nearly all of the next two miles. I can feel my legs starting to cramp up, so I am extremely careful how I jog as I attempt one final push towards home.

Can I actually claim 16.73 miles as my new distance record? I did complete today's workout in under 3 hours, but I am not proud of how much I had to walk. At least I got a decent half marathon out of it. Time to rest.

15 on Father's Day

2008-06-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

With a few alterations to my Cheesecake Orbit, I run my longest distance run yet. Not a fast run, but one that I could at least finish without walking.

Cheesecake Orbit

2008-06-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

Though it seems like a good idea to take a short break after running a half marathon, I really cannot afford to go any weeks between now and my attempt to complete a full without at least one run of such or even greater length. So, this morning, I have resumed my training with another 13+ mile run.

I try something different today...running most of the distance from the start of RAT Beach to the Redondo Beach Pier on the sand. I am no stranger to running on the beach, so I stick to close to the water where the Terra is firmer.

When I reach the pier, I decide to stop and take photos of the pier and the soon-to-close Tony's Fish Market. I forget to pause my watch many of the times that I stop to take pictures...so my pace average is no longer meaningful and there are now gaps in my GPS data. Since I am not targeting any particular pace with today's workout, I do not worry too much about it.

Cheesecake Factory is today's halfway point simply because it stands roughly 7 miles from where I started...and I am hoping that this run will total 14 miles. Of course, I will probably fall a bit short of that distance since I do not plan to retrace my steps on the beach.

I turn uphill and run back by the pier on Catalina Ave. Though the hill is not all that steep, I am having surprising difficulty regaining my stride here. The bike path and sidewalk is a little harsh on the feet, but I cannot really run on the street due to all of the parked cars.

I turn on to the Esplanade so I can overlook the beach below. Parked cars continue to keep me off the street (I hate running on sidewalks). Palos Verdes still seems far away. I think the heat is starting to get to me because it is flat, but I cannot seem to maintain a pace below ten minute miles.

Palos Verdes Half Marathon

2008-05-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

My alarm goes off at 5:30am, coffee is already brewed. I down my wakeup juice with a bowl of cereal, throw on my clothes, and am out the door shortly after 6. The sun rises as I make my way east along Palos Verdes Drive North and south along Gaffey Street. Unfortunately, there is no marine layer...today will be as hot as I feared.

After following signs for "Race Parking", I find a spot in the back of a lot near the Marine Mammal Care Center more than twenty minutes before the full marathon is scheduled to start. I am glad I did not arrive any later because I am three-quarters of a mile uphill from the start/finish line. Return trips to the SUV are definitely out of the question. I must get ready now.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), it is already more than warm enough to ditch my windbreaker. I lather on plenty of sunscreen. I debate bringing a bottle of water with me, but decide to leave it in the car figuring I will have no problem finding water around the start/finish line. The shorts I am wearing today do not have pockets, so I can carry only one Gu Gel (which I plan to consume 15 minutes before the start of the race). I lock up the car, loop the key through my shoelaces, and begin my walk towards Point Fermin Park.

As I head down the hill, I detour through Angels Gate Park to take a closer look at the Korean Friendship Bell. It is not something I expect to find on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and it has a prime location overlooking the race course, so I decide to take pictures of it with my cellphone. With the full marathon starting in less than five minutes, I realize I am better off finding a spot to watch the start from up here. I look around and find a trail descending towards spots that overlooks the start and the stretch from Paseo del Mar towards Palos Verdes Drive South.

The full marathon gets underway shortly after 7am. I now have only half-an-hour to reach the bottom and get ready. Fortunately, I find a trail that continues down the hillside directly to the start/finish line...a good shortcut. Point Fermin Park is pretty crowded and filled with vendor tents and registration tables (glad I pre-registered and already picked up my bib). As I notice the long lines for the port-a-potties (and remembering how crazy it got at the Silver Strand Half Marathon), I decide I better hop in line now.

I am still far from the port-a-potties fifteen minutes before my scheduled race time. Conversing with the people around me in line is a pleasant distraction, but I am starting to worry that I will not make my pit stop before the race begins...and I now need to go. I also need to consume my Gu, but must now do so without water since I did not think to look for a hydration station before hopping in line. My pre-race strategy is falling apart.

Even as I reach the front, I debate leaving the line. It is now 7:30am. I faintly hear the announcer over the P.A. system. Though the race could start any second, I take my pit stop...and then quickly run over to the start/finish area. Thankfully, the race has not yet started. I expected a small field of runners, but find over a thousand ready to go. I find a space for myself probably three-quarters to the back of the pack and take one last picture before putting away my cellphone.

At around 7:35am, the horn sounds. It takes roughly a minute for everyone to navigate through or around the narrow start/finish line. As we spread out along Paseo del Mar, we finally get up to speed and I start advancing through the field of slower runners. Though the temperature seems pleasant through a shadowy stretch of the first mile, I am already sweating so profusely that I can barely see where I am going. The first water station cannot come soon enough.

As I down my first cup of water, I realize that I need to maintain as fast a pace as I can handle early on because, as the heat rises, I will have a much harder time doing so. There is no shade after the first mile. The hill begins after mile 2 as the road turns up Western Avenue. When I drove the course yesterday, this hill did not seem as steep as any on my training runs, but, now that I am on it, realize that it is similar. Typically I expect to drop to a 12 minute/mile pace on such hills, but, today, I foolishly try to sustain a sub-10 pace. I manage to do so for half the distance to the top of the steepest segment. Again I feel the heat. Fortunately there is a water station before we turn on to 25th Street.

Though the half marathon's steep uphill is now behind me, 25th Street is still a slight incline...and it remains such for more than a mile. I try hard to regain a sub-9 minute pace, but find it surprisingly difficult to do so. I start worrying that I went out too fast.

A two-and-a-half mile long mostly downhill stretch begins after the fourth mile marker as 25th Street becomes Palos Verdes Drive South. When planning my race strategy, I looked forward to this segment hoping I would be able to lower my pace to at least 8 minute miles. Unfortunately, the heat has really started to get to me. I barely can sustain under 9. This is even more disappointing given that I am running much of this stretch on a dirt path that parallels the road. I barely can enjoy the view of the coast or Trump National Golf Course. I grab two water cups at the next water station, one to drink and one to pour over my head. My pace does improve, but only as long as my head stays cool.

My pace slows far more than expected as the road starts to flatten out around mile 5. I had no problem sustaining an average 8:30 minute mile during my first half marathon...which was nearly flat for the entire race...but now I find myself having issues keeping sub 10. Of course, the road around Portuguese Bend is not really flat, but rolling. Adding to my frustration, the race leaders have already passed us going in the opposite direction. I cannot see the turnaround point, but can see that the next water station is up a considerably steep (albeit short) incline. Ugh.

When I reach this aid station, I decide to give my legs a break...at least until I finish drinking the cup of water. Due for Gu, I ask the volunteers if there is any available, but apparently none of the stations have Gu today. They do not appear to have Gatorade either. I vow will not make the mistake of running without pockets full of Gu or Shot Blocks ever again. As I leave the station, I get my legs sprayed with a mist of water. Feels great, but not a feeling that lasts long in this heat.

I can see the turnaround point as Wayfarer's Chapel comes into view, but, rather than be encouraged that my race is half over, all I can think about is how I have to go back up the three mile stretch I just came down. I am even more discouraged as I see the race clock has already crossed the one hour mark. Though I never expected to PR today, I did hope to finish sub-two.

I periodically walk as I ascend back towards the top of Palos Verdes Drive South, unable to regain a rhythm. The lack of breeze or shade along this stretch does not help. Aid stations seem farther apart (they have not moved...it is just taking me longer to reach them). I cannot wait for this to be over.

When I reach mile 10, I start feeling pain in my right ankle. I sometimes get this sensation when I first step on to the cold floor when I wake up in the morning, but never have I felt it when I run. Now it bothers me almost as much as the heat, making it even harder for me to run. Unfortunately, this is also when I should be able to regain my pace since the course is starting to go descend.

As the course turns down Western Avenue, I decide to go for it...one last hurrah before the final two mile stretch to the finish line. I am able to regain a sub-8 pace, but cannot sustain it as the road starts to flatten.

The last two miles on Paseo del Mar are not quite flat. In fact, this slight incline proves a lot more torturous than it should. The once shadowy stretch is now only such over the sidewalks...and I find myself needing to stay in the shade to keep comfortable. I hate that I am walking much of the last mile. I probably have just added ten minutes to my final time.

I make one last effort to run across the finish line, crossing with an official time of 2:16:23. My actual time for completing the course is 2:15:31 (I started and stopped my watch on the start/finish line...it took me nearly a minute to reach the start line at the beginning of the race), but individual timing chips were not used today.

I am surprised to see my dad as I step into the park. He apparently has video of the half marathon start (though he couldn't pick me out of the crowd) and may have a shot of me crossing the finish line. We hang out for a bit as I down bread, fruit, and fluids trying in an effort to recover from the race.

I am not terribly happy with my results (I could not even beat the top times of the oldest runners) or with the way I finished the race, but I have to remind myself that this is training for a marathon. That said, if today's 80+ degree temperatures have already gotten the best of me, how will I survive Maui? In September?

'Twas the Night Before...

2008-05-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

...and it is hot inside my house. Heat is one of the few things that gives me trouble sleeping at night. That and butterflies before a race. I will be lying down at 9:00pm. Cross fingers that I will actually fall asleep shortly thereafter.

I drove the course this morning...and left the area around the time I figure I will finish tomorrow's race. If the sky is overcast and/or there is a sea breeze, I should be okay. If not, I am doomed. There is very little shade on the course.

I have to be up no later than 5:30am tomorrow morning to give me time to have a light breakfast, drive over to Point Fermin, find parking, and warm up. I already have my alarms set with my bib and all of my running gear set aside ready to go. Remind me why I am doing this?

Two Days Before 2nd Half

2008-05-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

With record temperatures forecast for today, tomorrow, and possibly race day, I am growing concerned that heat, not just hills, will be a factor during my second half marathon. Even though I am running today's 3 mile orbit during race hours, I can already feel the heat even though clouds are still reducing the direct impact of the sun's rays. Fortunately, it is not stopping me from hitting my pace target, but I am not sure how far into the morning I would be able to maintain this if it gets much hotter.

One Week To 2nd Half

2008-05-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

Last year, when I was figuring out my last training run for my first half marathon, I spec'd out a run that would orbit a section of the peninsula, only to find that I would need to extend it a bit down along RAT Beach to reach the full distance. That said, when it came time to try that run, I improvised a bit by taking a loop on the PV High Cross Country course, decided not to go further than my mom's house, and then ended a bit short of 13 miles.

So, this morning, I decide to stick to the original run...continuing north from the peninsula as far as Avenue E...and I end up logging close to 14 miles. Through 13, I am pretty pleased that my average pace is around 9:40 per mile, because I definitely have not been trying for speed. The incline over the last mile, however, proves brutal...and I end up walking most of it.

While the Palos Verdes Half Marathon does not have nearly as much elevation change as my training workouts, my previous half marathon was nearly flat. I do not expect to set a personal record, nor is it in my best interest to try since this is really more of a stepping stone to my first marathon anyway. I am a bit concerned that my muscles have tightened much more than usual after finishing (uncomfortably so). My right ankle, knee, and hip are also a bit sore (likely from running awkwardly on a downward sloping side of Palos Verdes Drive West), so I am crossing my fingers that the pain subsides over the next couple of days. That said, I am now feeling a bit more confident that I am ready to run my second half marathon.

Two Weeks To 2nd Half

2008-05-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Finally having registered for the Palos Verdes Half Marathon, I can no longer afford to mess around. When my wife asks me to drop her off at LAX this morning, I realize I need to be dressed and ready to run by the time we need to leave...because I will not get home until later than I would ideally want to start.

As I drop my wife at LAX , I realize I do not need to start today's run from home. Continuing my drive back towards the Palos Verdes Peninsula, I start thinking about places I can park that would, for once, allow me to finish one of my orbits on a downward slope.

I decide to park at my mom's house. I have memorized more than a few ten plus mile runs that include her house en route, so it should not be hard for me to improvise an orbit from here. The toughest thing psychologically will be if I can see my house while running, but I do want to climb into my neighborhood to be able to compare times with orbits that start from home. My belief is that starting low rather than high should improve my average pace.

In practice, my average pace does improve, but not by as much as I would have thought. On previous long runs, I found myself walking before I reached the top. On this run, I do not recall walking at all, yet I have ended up with a similar average pace (probably because I could not achieve downhill speeds that I naturally achieve on nearly fresh legs).

What Am I Thinking? Part 2

2008-04-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

With three weeks to go for the Palos Verdes Half Marathon, I figure it is time to try for the full distance. Unfortunately, this is another summer preview weekend with highs forecast into the 80's today and 90's tomorrow.

I try to get an early start, but somehow don't leave the house much before 8am...strange since I have been up since 4am (have had a hard time sleeping this week, not sure why). The sun is already hitting the peninsula hard...definitely my first mistake of the run. My second comes as I near the intersection of Silver Spur and Hawthorne...I forget to stop my watch as I wait more than a minute for the light to turn green.

My third mistake comes from my choice of routes. Unlike previous 10+ mile runs I have attempted on the peninsula, I decide to head over the top of the hill, taking Hawthorne Blvd all the way to where it meets Palos Verdes Drive West. I make a fourth error by running on the west side of the street while the east side still enjoys shade. This lapse of judgment is compounded when I decide against crossing. I have a good pace going and don't feel like waiting for the lights to change again.

There is a gravel sidewalk for much of the descent along Hawthorne Blvd, which is nicer on the legs. When I hear rattling sounds from the wild brush covered hillside, I hop back on to the pavement. I've never seen a rattlesnake in real life, but I know they are around the peninsula.

Even better, the center divider for large stretches of Palos Verdes Drive West sports a dirt trail. I am able to hold a strong pace until the road begins to turn upwards towards Lunada Bay. Another mistake: I am running in a new pair of Kayanos and, since I had not adjusted the tightness of the laces since I started, they have worked their way loose enough that my feet are starting to blister.

As I approach mile 8, I reach the Palos Verdes High School cross country course. My planned run is to go around it, but I decide to go on it. I forgot how hard some of the steeper sections are, so I end up walking to peak and stopping to take pictures. I didn't realize how nice the view could be from the course...like Burma Road, the trails are flanked by high wild flowers.

Yet another gaffe...I attempt to run through the narrower trails along the fence...and plants are leaning into the course to the point where I'm brushing up against some and having to push others out of the way. The plants are making me itch. Great. When I exit the course and start heading up Via Coronel, I realize I have used what little bit of energy I had left in my legs in trying to navigate the cross country course. And Via Coronel is a long winding ascent. Of course, it is also my most direct route home...so I start walking.

Ugh. As if my Garmin data from this run wasn't already messed up enough, I realize I had forgotten to start my watch when I paused the timer for picture taking on the cross country course. I have traveled just over a half a mile too...and I had been looking forward to reviewing the GPS data from the course. With all of the growth, I do not plan to do the course again any time soon. I'll just have to try again in the fall.

After miles of walking uphill, I get a break as I reach the end of Via Fernandez. Unfortunately, my legs don't have any strength left. Even worse, there is absolutely no shade on either side of Montemalaga. When I do try to run, I feel like I am pounding...and I really want to avoid getting chin splints. I run as much of the downhill stretches as I feel comfortable doing, but pretty much walk most of the way home.

When I get home, my watch reads 12.25 miles in 2:23:04.58. If I factor in watch mishandling, the data would read closer 12.75 miles in 2:28...not bad given the heat, the significant elevation change, and how much of the time I actually spent walking. Will I be able to do the Palos Verdes Half Marathon in under two hours? It certainly won't be as hilly as this workout...

First 9+ Mile Orbit of '08

2008-04-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

This morning, Valerie and I head out together, west along Montemalaga, and then down Via Del Monte. Unlike our previous attempt last weekend, we enjoy cool temperatures along the way. I reach the bottom of Via Del Monte ahead of Valerie, but not by much. And when she reaches me, she does not want to stop...continuing on to Via Campesina and eventually back home (totaling just under seven miles).

Having already decided this would be my first ten mile run of the year, I turn towards Malaga Cove Plaza, but, rather than head out to Palos Verdes Drive West, I decide to look for the first trail I ever ran upon. It's not hard to find. I just turn left one street before the bottom and follow it to its end. The trail begins there and continues up the hill. Currently surrounded by the same wildflowers I found on Burma Road, it is not exactly as I remember it, but I do remember the big dip it makes before a steep climb up to Via Arriba.

After working my way back to Palos Verdes Drive West, I head south towards Palos Verdes High School's cross country course. This stretch is a bit longer than I remember it, probably because I am used to running the opposite direction. This way involves a slight incline...nothing challenging, but definitely draining enough to make me not look forward to the climb up Via Coronel.

When the real ascent begins, I start to feel my legs sooner than expected. I decide to detour on to Via Zurita...assuming this street might be a bit steeper, but more direct. Unfortunately, it seems to turn as far to the north as Via Coronel twists to the south, so I am not really sure this is a shortcut. I am walking long before I reach the top.

That said, I still have plenty of energy left to pick up the pace once the incline starts to diminish. I am moving along at a good clip by the time I return to Montemalaga. I finish my run strongly, but just shy of ten miles. My alternate routes obviously took a little distance off of my planned run.

What Am I Thinking?

2008-04-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Despite temperatures forecast into the 90's today, my wife and I foolishly attempt a seven mile run. Obviously, we are not looking to improve our pace...but to even think about such a workout when the Santa Ana's are blowing is more than a little unusual.

Part of the reason I decide to push forward is that I have started to solidify my race calendar for 2008. With the Palos Verdes Half Marathon only a month away, I need to start adding distance especially on weekends when I have the time to do so. But my primary incentive for trying to endure the heat is my foolish decision to attempt the Maui Marathon this September. I cannot shy away from heat or humidity if I want to properly prepare.

Of course, Los Angeles rarely gets humid, so I plan to train on Maui for the two weeks leading up to the event. Am I insane? Well, a year ago I would have laughed at anyone suggesting I attempt even a half marathon. I guess everything is relative.

Today, however, my wife and I let the heat get the better of us. At Malaga Cove Plaza, our halfway point, we decide to detour to my mom's house which is only a mile away...and we end up walking that stretch. A 4.5 mile workout in such temperatures is still a solid effort, but I am far from ready for another half marathon. Fortunately I have still have plenty of time to train for Maui.

Springtime on the Peninsula

2008-04-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

Thinking back to high school, I do not think our distance track team ever trained on trails. Obviously our cross country team did, but such training did not start until well after the hills had turned brown under the summer SoCal sun.

So imagine my delight as my wife, friend, and I descend down Burma Road and find the peninsula painted in shades of green and bright yellow. New signs alerting us to ticks and Lyme disease are a bit disconcerting (as are the always present rattlesnake warnings), but we enjoy the setting too much to care.

If my wife hadn't talked me into carrying the water bottle, I would have brought my camera along. That said, I cannot resist pulling out my cellphone to start recording our surroundings as I reach the lowest point on the trail.

Though we started later in the morning than I would normally want to, the marine layer has kept things cool...until now. The sun is starting to poke through. I do not look forward to climbing with the temperature. After all, we still have more than half of our five mile run to go.

Since all of us have not really been training all that much this year (this is actually our first trail run of 2008), I have no problem waiting for everyone to catch up...and then walking with them on the inclines. This simply gives me more opportunities to snap pictures and enjoy the view.

Garmin Forerider?

2008-01-14T22:00:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned on Friday, this is my first snowboarding trip of the season. I forgot to mention that this is also my first time wearing my Garmin Forerunner 205 while riding. I am doing so not to chart progress, but more to satisfy my curiosity about how fast I actually go downhill, how much distance I cover on a typical run, or how many calories I burn on a typical snowboarding trip.

I am surprised to learn that my fastest runs reach speeds between 30-40 miles per hour, with averages in the 20's. I suspect that running is going to seem very slow by comparison. I am also surprised to see that many runs on the mountain are only 3/4 of a mile long. When first learned to ride, I could spend 30-40 minutes trying to get down these runs!

I could not resist recording a few of the chair lifts to see how fast they actually ascend. High speed lifts like the new Cloud Nine Express climb around 10mph, while older ones (like nearby Chair 25) barely reach half that speed. One thing this proves is that my slowest average downhill speed is still faster than the fastest lift. In other words, I really do spend a lot more time riding the lifts than riding the slopes!

I have no idea how the Garmin watch calculates how many calories are burned (especially if these numbers have any relevance outside of running), but I wouldn't be surprised if I burn more than 4,000 calories during our snowboarding trips. I am fairly certain that I consume more than that while dining at Mammoth.

Snowboarding Season

2008-01-11T20:00:00.000-08:00

Our first day back in the mountains is invariably going to be rough, not just due to the high altitude but because our bodies have spent many months not using the muscles that snowboarding abuses. That said, we have hopes our distance running would diminish the effects of both.

Unfortunately, my wife and I are not feeling the benefits. We still feel excessively winded after hiking from the SUV to the lift. Our legs are still wobbly when we stand on our boards...and they burn after our first long run. This is not to say we do not have a great first day...it's just not as good as we expected given how much more exercise we have had during this off season.

Perfect Storm

2008-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

The latest storm hitting California is drenching my home (had to run a sump pump overnight just to keep the pool from overflowing). On the bright side, it has dumped a whopping 3 to 5 feet of snow on Mammoth Mountain thus far and looks to continue dumping multiple feet of snow over the next few days.

What does this mean for my training? Well, I did start running hoping to get and stay in shape for snowboarding...

Garmin Forerunner 405

2008-01-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

A friend just updated me on Garmin's freshly announced Forerunner 405. This is certainly the nicest looking (and smallest) GPS watch they've produced and, aside from the price, seems the ideal one for my wife...who I gave a Forerunner 305 just before Christmas.

Given the choice, which would you prefer?

Ka'anapali to Lahaina and Back

2007-12-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

Since I may one day consider participating in the Maui Marathon (or its half-distance configuration), I figure I must try running here at least once before I fly back to the mainland. Plus, I really need to work off all of the wonderful meals I have been enjoying while on the islands.

Unable to stay at our usual hotel since it is undergoing extensive renovations, my wife and I are staying at the Sheraton Maui Resort on Ka'anapali Beach. Looking at Google Maps, I figure I could easily run from the hotel to Lahaina Cannery Mall, but the round-trip is six miles. Having totaled less than 7 miles last week, I am not comfortable running such distances this morning, but I have another option: The Sheraton has a shuttle bus that regularly stops at the Hilo Hattie parking lot in Lahaina. If I run as far as Banyan Park and then come back to Hilo Hattie, the run would only be 4.5 miles...and I would get to see more of Old Lahaina Town.

Clouds and the West Maui Mountains block sunrise as I step on the beach next to Black Rock, but the sky overhead and to the west is mostly blue. It looks like a great morning to run and an even better one for taking pictures. Good thing my cellphone has a 2 megapixel camera

I run along the soft sand for as long as I can, but I have to cut through a park as I leave Ka'anapali. The park is nice and grassy with a bit of a dirt path through the middle, so it is nice on the feet. When the park ends, I try running upon a narrow wall along the highway, but the thought of falling upon the rocks below isn't exactly appealing, so I hop over the guard rail and hit the pavement. The sun has not yet come out by the time I reach the sign for Lahaina. The temperature is perfect for running.

Proceeding down Front Street, I pass the Old Lahaina Luau just as the sun and a rainbow begins to touch its roof. I realize I am going to sacrifice my pace to capture many moments of this run. I am really enjoying myself by the time I reach Old Lahaina Town.

As I cross under the banyan tree at the edge of town, I head west towards the lighthouse and then northeast towards the Hilo Hattie. When planning this run, I never once thought about the store being closed at this hour...and I only now realize it may be a few hours before the first shuttle will arrive.

I have little choice but to continue running. The weather alternates between rain and sun as I run to the highway, by Lahaina Cannery Mall, and on to Ka'anapali. The tropical rain does not feel unpleasant, so I really cannot complain.

Once back on to the soft sand in Ka'anapli, I make my final push towards the Sheraton. I can hardly believe I have run more than nine miles...it's not like I have been running such distances since starting this vacation. Heck, I haven't run this far since my half marathon over a month ago!

For more photos from this run, check out my SmugMug gallery

Waikoloa Beach

2007-12-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

The Hawaiian Islands are quite possibly my favorite vacation destination, but this is my first trip to the Big Island...and my first time running on any of them.

Since my wife, brother-in-law, and I are staying at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa (and could see ourselves coming back here in the future), I figure I should find a good running orbit around the hotel, but the lava rock coastline and the incomplete roads make it hard to find an ideal 3 mile circuit.

Daytime temperatures have been just popping above 80 degrees and there is significant humidity, so I decide to run only in the early morning....as close to sunrise as possible. I do not want to repeat the mistakes I made in Miami.

On Tuesday, I tried sticking to the beaches as long as possible, but the sandy path quickly becomes a broken path covered with loose lava rock and dead coral...I constantly worried about twisting an ankle as I worked my way around to the concrete paths that surround the nearby Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Today, I lead my wife around the streets, taking her down one dead-end after another (the one called "maintenance road" is not even finished). I then divert to the golf course, hoping we can at least stick to the golf cart paths...but even those do not form a complete circuit. We take to the grass and end up looping back to where we first entered the golf course. We have only run 2.5 miles by the time we are standing back in front of the hotel...my wife is done. I however, decide to try another street that leads me back around to the beach and trails on the other side of our hotel...adding another mile to my run. I do not want to run much further because we have a four mile hike planned this afternoon.

On our next visit, I need to find a way to link the Waikoloa resort area with the not-quite neighboring Mauna Lani, but without going out to the main highway.

100th Mile From Orbits

2007-12-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

Today, my Forerunner 205 has logged my 100th mile exclusively from orbiting my house. I probably did not total 100 miles in any previous year since graduating from high school, so this is definitely a significant milestone in my return to running. Also consider that I have only owned my watch since the beginning of September, note the frequency of these runs despite longer distances involved (hard to believe I used to be satisfied jogging one 1.5 mile orbit a week) and remember that, during many of these weeks, these were hardly the only miles I have recorded.

Over the past few months, I have run more than 77 miles on road and trails that do not connect to my neighborhood...including three races that total the length of a marathon. I am pretty pleased. Hopefully rain and the upcoming snowboarding season will not derail my progress.

Burma Road Shortcut

2007-12-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

It has now been nearly a month since I completed my first half-marathon, and I have found it difficult to get back to a regular running routine. I have run a few 3 mile and one 5 mile orbit, but skip more days than I should. It certainly does not help that I have no races scheduled between now and next spring (largely because I want to leave weekends open for the frequent snowboarding trips I hope to make). My wife has not been a source of inspiration lately...since running the 5K, she has not been running at all. So, to help both of us, I push us out of bed and drive us back to the fire trail at the end of Crenshaw, hoping a trail run will get both of us back on track.

Our run starts fine, naturally gaining speed over the long two mile decline. Even my wife can maintain a sub-9 minute pace over this stretch. The uphill on the other side, however, proves more difficult than I remember...and both of us slow considerably. Before we reach the turn around point, both of us are walking. Our next descent isn't nearly as fast as the first...and, by the time we begin the two mile ascent back to our car, we both realize we will be walking most of the way.

As we complete our fourth mile, my wife and I notice a couple hiking up an adjacent hill...perhaps a shortcut to the park at the top. With our pace already shot, we agree to follow them. Unfortunately, when we get to the base of their hill, we do not find a dirt trail, but a steep incline covered in loose Palos Verdes stone.

At first, we embrace the challenge. This hill is a bit steeper than any we faced on the Point Mugu Trail Run (more than 45 degrees by my wife's estimate)...and the stones really make us work to find stable footing. We pause to take in the view. Fortunately, we can use our cellphones to snap some pictures. The weather couldn't be more perfect...sunny, but cool (in the mid-50's). The recently rain-cleansed air leaves only a slight haze between us and Catalina Island.

Continuing up the hill is a chore. I start wondering if this is a shortcut or a dead-end (the thought of descending upon the rocky path is scary). As we near what appears to be the top, more dirt is exposed, the incline gets a bit more forgiving, but the trail continues upward for a few hundred feet. When we reach the peak, we are not exactly at the park. The trail rejoins Burma Road.

I run back to the car and am happy to see that we indeed shaved more than a half mile off our planned five mile run. My wife's legs are burning, but I am feeling pretty good. I suspect I will not feel the same tomorrow morning.

Silver Strand Half Marathon (and 5K)

2007-11-11T15:45:00.000-08:00

Driving to this morning's event is a chore. There is no parking for half-marathoners near the start (Sunset Park in Coronado) nor at the end (Imperial Beach Pier Plaza). The only options are parking mid-course hoping to catch a shuttle bus that departs at 5:40am (open only to the first 200 participants) or having someone drop you off. Since my wife and friends are participating in the 5K, they can drop me off, but must give themselves enough time to drive ten miles to Imperial Beach, find street parking (there is no designated lot), and walk a few blocks to the start of their race. One would think the 5K would start later than the half marathon, but it does not. The 5K actually begins at 7:00am...a half-an-hour before my race! The event planners must assume that participants of the half-marathon do not carpool with people in the 5K.

Anticipating street closures between starting locations, we have given ourselves plenty of time to reach our respective courses. I get dropped at Sunset Park around 5:40am. It is cold...probably less than 60 degrees. I do not wear a jacket for fear of having no place to ditch it once the temperature warms up. The only place to take cover from the breeze are dozens of port-a-potties. I decide to grin and bear it, hovering near one of the light posts dotting the street. I can keep my hands and arms warm by touching the top of the post. I note that some runners arrive wearing plastic garbage bags. Clever.

Around 6:00am, my wife calls to tell me they have arrived at the start of the 5K. The streets have not yet been closed to traffic, so they did not encounter any delays.

The sun rises. Around 6:30am, sunlight slowly stretches across Sunset Park. As I thaw, I do some stretching myself. I also take a few short walks to grab cups from the water table since I left my bottle in the car. I would have been happier if event organizers invited Starbucks to cater the event...hot coffee sounds really good right about now.

The port-a-potties, which initially seem sufficient in quantity, are now backed up dozens of runners deep. Multiple lines weave chaotically within an area far too confined for such lengthy queues. Each visit now requires a fifteen minute wait. I am not sure if it is nerves or all the water I have consumed, but I frequent the facilities. There must be a better way to accommodate a few thousand runners.

The "wheelies" (hand cycles, wheel chairs, bicycles, and rollerbladers) are now ready to race. The announcer keeps repeating "do not cross the mat" to rollerbladers who are obviously not paying attention. Doing so would cause the chip they are wearing to start recording their personal time for the race...they are only hurting themselves. Their race starts at 7:15am.

I grab another cup of water to wash down a Gu Gel. I feel ready. Since this event benefits disabled athletes, runners with disabilities including those wearing prosthetic limbs will lead our race...and will be recorded on IMAX film. I find a spot between runners carrying signs indicating a "1:45 pace" and "2:15 pace". I hope to finish the race within two hours.

My first half marathon begins at 7:30am. I find it hard to establish my own pace with this many runners surrounding me (as was the case during the Nike Run Hit Remix). The beach is to our right, where it will remain for most of the run. I pass the IMAX camera, but suspect it has long ceased filming. I start weaving through the slower runners, but must keep checking my watch to make sure I do not go out too fast. Doing sub-eight minute miles this early could hurt my chances of enduring the full thirteen miles.

Hotel del Coronado marks mile 1. I pass the famous landmark in 8:17, a bit faster than my target (nine minutes per mile), but, since I feel comfortable holding this pace, I see no reason to alter my stride just yet. We are now on Southbound Highway 75 (Silver Strand Blvd) which has been closed to traffic so runners can spread across the lanes.

Around mile 2, I reach the first water station. I have decided to grab water at all stations and drink just enough to keep hydrated. I find it awkward to drink while maintaining my pace, but I do not want to miss a step. I have no idea how much liquid I actually imbibe before I toss my cup in the final trash recepticle.

As I near mile 3, I encounter a bit of headwind. A runner with whom I chatted earlier this morning warned that wind can be a problem, so I start regularly checking my watch to make sure I am maintaining my target pace. Sure enough, I have slowed a hair, but my three mile total is still under twenty-five minutes. I start wondering if my wife or friends were able to complete their 5K within this time...not a good thing to think about since I still have more than ten miles to go!

For the next few miles, the peninsula narrows so that beach exists on both sides of Highway 75. Mile 6 and stronger headwinds occur around the first incline on the course. I push to hold my pace up the hill, down a Cliff Shot with water from the station atop the hill, and extend my stride on the decline. I am pretty happy about completing my first six miles in less than fifty-one minutes...fairly certain I have set a personal record in my the 10K. Despite having more than half of the race ahead, I am now confident that I can finish it in under two hours.

The most discouraging moment in the race accompanies the tenth mile. This is the first time I can see the leaders of the race...through a fence to my right. Not only do they look much faster, they are running in the opposite direction! I had seen the out-and-back loop on our course map, but, from this spot, I could now better visualize the distance. That said, the beginning of the loop and the turnaround points are not within visual range. Have I mentioned how much I hate backtracking?

Before we reach the loop, our course briefly weaves through a residential neighborhood in Imperial Beach. Residents lounging upon their driveways cheer us on with encouraging comments like "You're almost done! Keep it up". One of the runners behind me starts laughing. Easy for them to say...we still have four miles to go! Even worse, I start feeling my bladder. I am afraid to stop for fear of not being able to regain my pace. I grab water and receive a free Cliff Shot at a station just before the loop trying to ignore the nearby port-a-potties.

The loop takes place on an asphalt path through the United States Naval Radio Station. I pass a sign that says "5K Turn Around" and start wondering why I did not run with my wife and friends. I have no idea how much further I have to backtrack. After an incline, I encounter rough asphalt. I see a rollerblader remove his wheels, frustrated that he cannot roll through this segment of the course. I cannot let anything discourage me. I see the turnaround point and the final water station. After beginning the trek back, I slow just enough to polish off one last cup of water.

For once, I am thankful that I am backtracking. The earlier incline is now a beneficial decline that helps me regain a strong pace for the home stretch. Shortly after returning to the residential neighborhood, I see my friends, one holding a camera. Despite having run nearly thirteen miles, I somehow manage to pick up my pace. I overhear one tell the other to call ahead and notify my wife that I am coming. I now know she is waiting for me near the finish line.

I pass a few runners as the finish line enters view. I see my wife and give her a high-five as I go by. I achieve my fastest average pace of the day over the last two-tenths of a mile and cross the finish line strong. I am thrilled to learn that I have officially survived my first half-marathon in 1:53:35! I did it! And I am still able to walk!

3 Days To Go

2007-11-08T09:31:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, I ran around my Honda dealership while my SUV was being serviced...an improvised run that included a couple of laps around Columbia Park, site of one of my high school cross country meets. Interestingly, this is the second time this week I have revisited portions of cross country courses. On Sunday, I actually touched two (Palos Verdes and South High).

I never thought I would say this, but I am starting to look forward to running my first half-marathon. I have run well more than 5 miles every other day this week and my pace has improved with each outing. My legs and feet feel good, my breathing is under control, and flat nines now seem very achievable. Heck, some of the hills I used to complain about no longer seem nearly as challenging as they had been (I managed my first mile in 8:33 despite having to climb the steep incline that begins my home orbit)...I just have to make sure not to go out too fast since the race is on a flat course.

This is my last post before the race...wish me luck!

Half-marathon Training Update

2007-11-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

The clock is ticking and my muscles are burning, but, seven days before my first half-marathon, I am happy to report that my training appears to be back on track. I have managed my first 12+ mile run in under a 10 minute per mile pace and on the rolling hills of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. If I don't do something stupid during the week ahead, I figure I should be able to complete next week's race averaging a respectable 9 minutes per mile. The entire course appears to be flat, near sea level. The only thing I am really concerned about at this point is the weather since we'll be in San Diego. I'm crossing my fingers because the current forecast suggests temperatures will be comfortable...within the 60's.

Home 5 Mile Orbit

2007-11-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

Getting back to speed has been as slow as the smoke clearing from the skies over Southern California. Sunday, my first attempt to run since the fires hit, proved to be far more difficult. I could not even maintain a 10 minute per mile pace for just 3 miles.

I have run twice outside since then, thankfully improving each time. I completed today's 5 miles with considerable elevation change and an improving pace over the final miles. Still, I have a ways to go to prep myself for the half marathon...now just 10 days away. I must tackle a 10-13 miler over the weekend and at a better pace than my previous attempt.

Southern California On Fire

2007-10-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

This week's fires have put my training on hold. Even today I can still smell the smoke in the air...and I get a mild hacking cough every time I come in from being outside.

Assuming I start running again this weekend, will I be able to get myself properly prepared for my first half marathon? I guess I won't know until I get out there and try.

What Does A 1/2 Marathon Feel Like?

2007-10-14T15:51:00.001-07:00

With my first half marathon less than a month away, I decide to run 13 miles today. My non-runner friend is surprisingly willing to join me, so I set our pace at a leisurely 12 minutes per mile with planned stops around miles 4 (Palos Verdes High School's cross country course), 7 (my mom's house), and 10 (my friend's house) and choose a route that is mostly downhill until the final two miles. We carry water and consume gels or shot blocks at each break.

My friend starts feeling his knees around mile 7 and, when we reach his house, decides he has had enough. I realize my legs do not have enough strength for the hill I must climb to get home, so I decide to save myself for an attempt on a later date. 10.66 miles is nothing to sneeze at, easily both of our longest runs ever, but I still do not know what it feels like to go the distance. I doubt I will be attempting 13 next week since we will be attending an auto race in Monterey. Hmmmm....

Xterra Point Mugu 11K Trail Run

2007-10-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

My wife, friends, and I arrive early for our first true trail race. The sun has just begun to rise, it is unexpectedly cold for a crystal clear morning, and we cannot help but be overwhelmed by the size of the surrounding hills. We know the course climbs into them, but my crazy trail running coworker (who will be on the18K configuration of the course) confirms what we all fear...today's 11K will reach the peak.

I have done my research. I know that this run will be long and grueling with nearly 1,200 feet of elevation change. I have trained for both distance and elevation. I am familiar with trail obstacles, but mostly from running high school cross country. I know there are single-track segments almost from the getgo...meaning this is a strategic race not just by pace, but by starting position. My plan is to place myself somewhere in the middle of the pack so I do not get stuck behind walkers, maintain a pace between 10 and 11 minute miles for the first half, and then use whatever I have left on the final descent. My wife and friends merely want to finish. We each consume a Gu gel and sufficiently hydrate, watch the 18K runners begin their race, and then head to the starting line.

The actual race proves to be a bit more extreme. We start on a road that soon funnels us into a single-file trail, but, before we can establish our pace, unexpectedly come to a stop. Everyone must carefully cross over large rocks (perhaps a stream at some point during the year)...this is truly cross country terrain! Passing is not an option as the trail has become impossibly narrow as it continues uphill and is often penetrated by brush. We must carefully watch the ground as the trail is uneven and has lots of protruding rocks. I now understand why MP3 players are not allowed on our run...we must be very aware of each other at all times in case someone stumbles. Going over the edge would be bad. We also have been warned about poison oak, but can take comfort that rattlesnakes are not much of a factor this time of the year. When we reach what appears to be a staircase made of rocks, everyone must again slow to a walk. I am discouraged that I complete my first mile just under 14 minutes, but I really do not see how I could have done much better given the conditions.

At around a mile-and-a-half, the trails for the 18K and 11K races separate. Unfortunately for us 11K runners, our course continues its unforgiving ascent for another two miles. At times I find room to pass, so I start overtaking slower competitors. I am initially relieved to reach the fire road near the northern-most corner of the course, but the incline steepens. Perhaps I have pushed too hard too early. I must walk.

I stop for Gatorade at the first water station. Up until now, I have enjoyed the shade, but the fire road is completely exposed to the sun. I pour water on my head hoping I will stay cool. Leaving the station, I struggle to re-establish a running pace mentally unprepared for the trail to continue its ascent. I reach the three mile marker after more than thirty-six minutes on the course...I feel slow and grow fatigued. I keep telling myself that it is all downhill after the next bend only to discover another incline. In fact, I am fooled by several turns with barely any moments of respite. The only thing keeping me going is the view...I have never hiked these hills before. The rugged hills, lush valleys, and glimpses of the ocean are quite inspiring.

Then something wonderful happens. The incline no longer feels as extreme, my pace improves, and I pass the mile four mark in less time than I expect. I catch my second wind and regain my stride. The descent begins. I stop briefly for water at the final aid station. It is time to really start pushing myself.

I leave the fire road and start my way down the single-track Ray Miller Trail. Though my pace has now quickened, leaders of the 18K race (who started 15 minutes before us) have caught up and want to pass. Finding opportunities to do so is difficult, so I must scrape my legs along the brush to let them by. My stride really begins to open up, but I must remember to carefully to manage my speed because the trail makes sharp turns as it winds its way down the hill. The view of the Pacific Ocean and our base camp is spectacular, but I cannot fully appreciate the panorama as I do not want to go off the cliff. I use the runner in front of me as a rabbit and repeatedly decline his offers to let me pass. I am starting to feel blisters on my left foot, but am breathing comfortably, my legs are not hurting, and the sun really has not been a factor. Mile 5 comes and goes. Mile 6 goes even faster.

Our gang races down the Ray Miller Trail towards the finish line
Click to Enlarge - Copyright 2007 Byron W. Moore Photography

When I reach mile 7, however, I start to worry. First of all, I have incorrectly assumed that our 11K will be exactly 6.84 miles and we have not yet reached the bottom of the hill. I am not mentally prepared to go the extra distance and start to struggle. I give one final push towards the finish line. Reaching it requires a bit of careful navigation on very uneven terrain, so I am thankful not to hurt myself as I cross the line. What a relief to be done!

Though I did not quite reach my goal, I am pleased to have officially completed the 7.32 mile course in 1:12:32 (averaging sub-10 minute miles). I am even more pleased with how strongly I finished the race...it took me less than 24 minutes to cover the last three miles. It is hard to believe that I spent 45 minutes on the incline, but less than 30 on the descent! For males age 30-39, I finish 15th...49th out of 116 participants in the 11K.

My wife, friends, and coworker also complete their respective races strongly. My coworker finishes his 18K (1:40:24 for 21st in his 18K age/male group, 60th out of 190 overall), followed shortly thereafter by my friend (1:26:41 for 19th in our 11K age group, 93rd overall) and my wife (1:27:27 for 17th in her age group, 95th overall). We all agree this has been a worthwhile experience, far more interesting than a road race...and this definitely will not be our last.

Like the Nike run, this event includes a medal, t-shirt, and edibles. Today's menu includes Gatorade, water, Gu gels, Clif shots and bars, and a buffet breakfast. The buffet features runny eggs (full of shells according to my friends), tart oranges, under ripe bananas, Costco muffins, and Kripsy Kreme doughnuts (the announcer encourages us not to feel guilty about grabbing one), a meal that hardly knocks are socks off, but I am thankful we can refuel immediately after burning so many calories. On our way home, my wife, friends, and I decide to swing by Gardena and grab a bite at Pho So 1. Vietnamese beef noodle soup seems an ideal post-race meal...liquid, salt, carbs, protein, what more does a runner need?

Home 6.7 Mile Orbit

2007-10-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

After totaling nearly 25 miles last week (with only one day of rest), I have decided to take a less is more approach during the week of my first real trail race.

As planned, I began the week by returning to the 5 mile long (round trip) fire trail to give my wife and friends an idea of what they will face this Saturday. All of us got a decent downhill pace going, but we took it easy (i.e. walked) on the inclines...which was probably good since my legs were feeling the strain of my previous week's training. Unfortunately, I really needed a few days to get my legs feeling normal again, so I did not run again until today.

With the race only a couple of days away, I felt the need to give myself one last serious distance workout. I reversed my 7.1 mile orbit and took one shortcut hoping to make it exactly 11K, but fell short by 0.19 miles (one more refinement to this orbit and I think I'll have it). Surprisingly, I preferred this reverse direction probably because the incline, though much longer, is nowhere near as steep. Plus you can more fully appreciate the view when you go down Via Del Monte...it really is spectacular.

There and Back Again

2007-09-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

Since my wife and friends will be joining me in Pt Mugu a week from tomorrow, I have been looking for a trail in Palos Verdes that, for them, would prove a good introduction to trail running and, for me, a chance to break in my new Asics Kahana trail shoes while reacquainting my legs with the challenges of navigating uneven and unfamiliar terrain. My search turned up Burma Road, a 2.5 mile long fire road starting near Del Cerro Park and ending at a fence. Today I decided to scout the course to see if it will be sufficient for training.

The trail is wide enough to accommodate people hiking or biking in both directions and with room for passing. The grade, though substantial, never gets too steep to be discouraging. There are segments with more rocks than others, but my feet could usually find a smooth patch to land upon. The biggest problem I have is that the trail starts from the top...I have a tendency to start too fast when I am going downhill (I did close to 7 minute miles for the first two miles without even trying), depleting my reserves by the time I hit the inclines. I also wish this trail looped rather than dead-ends (I prefer to not retrace my steps), but there are a number of smaller trails branching from here that may be worth investigating. On the plus side, the view overlooks Portuguese Bend, so, on clear days, you should get a nice view of Catalina (I could see its shadowy form through this morning's marine layer)...and a couple of wild rabbits crossed my path providing a nice distraction as I worked my way back up the hill.

This was my first trail run/jog since high school, but it will not be my last (I had to walk far too much on the inclines). I plan to come back here with my wife and friends on Sunday.

Home 7.1 Mile Orbit

2007-09-26T08:54:00.001-07:00

With the 11K Xterra Pt Mugu Trail Run a week-and-a-half away, I can no longer afford to ease into a more rigorous training routine, nor can I wait until the weekend to test myself at this distance. I have extended the orbit around my home without shying away from significant inclines since I expect to encounter similar elevation changes during our upcoming race.

I start my orbit in what I assume will be the easier direction...downhill. Unfortunately, what goes down, must go up. My route saves the easiest stretch for the end, but, in doing so, has placed the start of the longest and steepest incline exactly at the mid-point. On the bright side, this hill features everything Palos Verdes is known for: spectacular vistas (sadly obscured by the marine layer this morning), huge multi-million dollar homes, and peacocks. As I near the peak, I barely manage to maintain a slow jog, but afterwards I am able to pick up the pace and finish my extended orbit running. Discounting a few pauses to tie shoes or wait for traffic, I probably averaged 10 minute miles. I am hoping I can improve my pace by race day.

My Forerunner data confirms I just ran 7.08 miles...my longest since high school. Unfortunately, it also proves my neighborhood is not hilly enough. Am I in trouble?

Sweating in South Beach

2007-09-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

Running once in this climate seems ridiculous. Twice is just stupid. And why I try for more miles is beyond me...but that is exactly what I decide to do before during my stay at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach.

Having already done a beach run, I decide to stick to the boardwalk today. Though initially on bricks, the bulk of my run is on wooden planks...a bit easier on the legs for sure. I am not sure how far the boardwalk extends, but decide I will let some landmark or 2.5 miles define my northern limit (whichever comes first).

I thankfully reach the end of the boardwalk at around 2.2 miles. Any further and I am not sure if I would have been able to make it back to the hotel. The sun has started to peek through the thunderheads and the temperature has been increasing. My legs feel weak, my breathing labored, my side hurts. I must walk. A jogger passes by inspiring me to pick up the pace, but I give up as soon as they disappear into the distance.

Of my 4.4 mile excursion, I have run about 3 of them. Walking has screwed up my average pace to the point where it is not even worth mentioning. I really do not feel good. How could anyone run races here?

Humidity Humility

2007-09-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I am in Florida for the first time in my life...having joined my wife who is already here on business. Though I would never have thought to run here especially in the middle of a humid day, my wife reminds me that we have an 11K run in just two weeks. She is hoping I will join her in the air-conditioned comfort of The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne's Fitness Center, but I cannot record mileage on my Forerunner if I run on a treadmill!

With thunderstorms threatening to hit at any moment, I step on the beach and head south, sticking close to the water where the gray sand remains somewhat firm. I only plan to run three miles, but decide to extend my workout as soon as I see Key Biscayne's lighthouse.

Turning around at the lighthouse, I unexpectedly encounter a strong headwind. Already struggling with the heavy humidity, I am barely able to sustain a 10 minute per mile pace. By the time I return to the hotel, I am drenched in sweat...but at least I have a record of my endeavor.

Nike Run Hit Remix

2007-09-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

For many, today's event is more fun than run. Stages featuring live music are located at every mile and draw participants (my wife and friends included) who would rather dance or hang out than worry about their time. It is hard to argue with Nike's marketing strategy...promote a healthy lifestyle, help a charity, offer freebies and hands-on (or, should I say, feet-on) experience with their products hoping to gain customers. That said, their effort backfired (my wife could not get Nike+ to register her movement, I got blisters and a black toe from their shoes...hence the last minute switch to Asics).

Having little interest in the roster of bands dotting the course, I decide to run the race, but my wife wants me to take pictures. Once I start running, I do not plan to stop, but, since I have to carry the camera, I will try. Hopefully my shots will not be too blurry.

The starting area is divided into sections based on pace much like the training sessions. Those wanting to seriously race should have no worries about navigating through the crowd...assuming everyone is a good gauge of their abilities. I line up between the 8 minute and 9 minute milers...hoping that I will be able to hold the pace for the entire 5 mile race.

An estimated 11,000 participants line up at the start, creating a sea of red in front of the famous archways of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The race starts, but it takes a minute before I actually cross the starting gate and begin running. I have never run with this many people...it is hard to find my own rhythm as I stay with the flow. I am surprised that I need to weave through slower runners and walkers early on...especially because my Garmin tells me I am sticking pretty close to an 8 minute per mile pace.

I can't help but notice all the new buildings along Figueroa. The neighborhood has changed a lot since my wife and I attended USC. The course is flat, but the morning sun is already hitting hard and there is little shade. The live music and classic cars parked in the middle of the street are a nice distraction, but I do not seem to getting any closer to Staples Center (the turning point). The stretch between Adams and the L.A. Convention Center is straight and boring...I start seriously thinking about trail runs.

At the Staples Center, we turn back on Fig, but have barely run more than two miles. I remind myself to stick to my pace, but I am starting to feel the distance early...probably more due to the heat than how fast I started. The L.A. Convention Center is familiar territory to me, but I have never thought about running around here.

I look through the oncoming runners, hoping to see (and photograph) my wife and friends as they run by, but I cannot pick out anyone in this river of red. The search makes this straightaway a bit more interesting than the first time I traversed it, but not by much. As I pass the three mile clock, I am pleased to see that I am in the low 26's (25 if I subtract the minute it took to cross the start gate). I have had worse times when I was running cross country, not that I should be proud of those instances. Two miles to go.

When I get back to USC, I start to wonder...did I ever run around campus during the five years I lived here? I seem to recall trying, but not liking the smell of exhaust fumes. I realize that today has not been too bad...perhaps because the streets are closed to traffic. Running along Exposition is not as nice as I had hoped due to on-going construction of the Metro Expo Line.

There is only a half mile left when we turn towards the Coliseum, so I decide to push a little harder. My burst does not last very long. I am even tempted to stop at a Jamba Juice truck parked outside of the stadium, but, knowing there are free smoothies inside, I stay with the runners, sprint through the Coliseum tunnel, and on to the field. This is an exciting way to finish a race...on the same turf I witnessed an Olympics and many USC football games.

Every participant completing the race gets a medal and then proceeds into a line for freebies including water, a banana, Clif bars, and, of course, Jamba Juice's Nike Protein Berry Workout smoothie.

I have completed my first post-high school race in a respectable 42:44 (based on my watch...apparently electrostatic interference prevented our official timing chips from registering our start time). I am happy that I finished the race in less than 45 minutes, but I really hoped I could do it in flat 8's.

I try to photograph my wife and friends finishing the race, but race officials prevent me from returning anywhere near the finish line (probably to prevent me from getting more freebies...or to give pro photographers an advantage over us amateurs). For the next ten minutes, I wait for someone I know to cross the finish, but it is really too hard to pick anyone out. I decide to queue up for another smoothie instead.

When I finally meet up with my wife and friends again, I learn that they did indeed stop to listen to the bands. Some waited for slower friends, only to miss when they actually passed by. MC Hammer closed out the festivities as we relaxed on the field.

For those in my group who had never run 5 miles before today's run, they now understand that such distances are within their grasp. We even discuss participating together in future (and longer) events as we head into Chinatown for dim sum.

---

Nike has finally posted official times. Due to the aforementioned loss of timing data at the start of the race, this data only reflects split and finish times relative to the overall event clock...and my personal time differs from my watch by roughly a minute (the amount of time it took me to cross through the starting gate). Of the 8,486 participants who finished the race, I was within the top 12%. Considering that most were doing this just for fun, it is not a very relevant statistic...but it is encouraging.

Home Orbit

2007-09-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

The easy run around my neighborhood still includes the killer first and last hill, but is only 1.51 miles long...a good minimum workout and one that I now plan to use to improve my pace.

Today I didn't want to push too hard since tomorrow morning is the race, but I really needed to break-in my new shoes. While training for this Nike-sponsored run, my wife and I discovered we really like Asics Kayanos. How ironic...I've been wearing Nike running shoes my entire life!

A New Runner?

2007-09-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

My wife who supposedly hates running has started to get into it, thanks largely to the Nike training runs. She is even encouraging her friends to run and surfing the Web for clubs and running events. She now wears serious Asics running shoes, an armband for her Walkman phone, and seems eager to get a runner's watch.

After hanging with the 3 mile 11 minute pace group for the last couple of weeks, she advanced to the five mile group while attending this evening's session in Hermosa Beach. She borrowed my watch and now has proof that not only she can do it (first time in her life), but at nearly a 10 minute per mile pace!

I need to start pushing my pace or my wife will soon pass me!

Another Five in Santa Monica

2007-09-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my employer was located on the Third Street Promenade for a few years and I never once thought to run along Palisades Park. Tonight's run was absolutely beautiful, with the run timed perfectly to view the sun setting over Malibu. I think I averaged 9:30 per mile once again (hard to say because I lost my map and had to stop and wait for my group to catch up...and then forgot to stop my watch when we finished), but I felt much better than on previous days. In fact, I sprinted at the end and definitely enjoyed a touch of runner's high!

Another Five in Brentwood

2007-09-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm going to have to work on my five mile workouts...I seem to have peaked, struggling to average a 9:30/mile pace once again.

Since I started this blog last Sunday, I have totalled 19 miles. My goal for next week is to cover at least that much ground within a 7 day period while remembering to take it easy on the morning before the Nike Run Hit Remix. I just hope I can do so while getting less than six hours of sleep each night...work deadlines are not making this easy (Thursday will likely go well into Friday morning)!

More than Five in Long Beach

2007-09-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day I've run more than five miles since high school, and, while staying with the 10 minute mile group won't win me any awards, it is reassuring to know that I can still push the pace without dying. Averaging under 9:30 for nearly 5 3/4 miles is pretty good for someone who really isn't in shape, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to advance to a faster group. The last mile and a half was pretty hard.

Once again I want to thank Nike for putting on these free training sessions (and Jamba Juice for providing refreshments). I've mentioned before how much I missed running with a group, but now I must add the impact of changing scenery. While running along Mother's Beach and by Joe's Crab Shack, I kept thinking how nice it is to not know exactly where I am or how much further I have to go. When I trained for cross country, I rarely knew exactly where our runs would take us...probably part of our coach's strategy to keep us going (plus it made it harder for us to take shortcuts).

My coworker is right about the accuracy (or lack-thereof) of the Garmin's elevation indicator...this run was pretty flat (and never underwater)

Home 3.03 Mile Orbit

2007-09-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

Nothing is easier to do with consistency than a workout that starts and ends at home...so, when I got more serious about running again, I sought to map out a good 3 mile orbit. My first orbit turned out to be a bit shorter than I expected, so I tried various configurations until I found one that not only hit very close to 3 miles, but also did not cross back on to itself (there's nothing a cross country runner hates more than to traverse the same path twice during the same run...which is why I hated doing the two mile when I was in track).

Up until this week, I was fairly certain that Google Maps verified my orbit's length, but was unsure of the elevation change. All I knew was that I hated the brutal hill I faced upon leaving and returning to my home. Now I know exactly what I'm up against:

Two 150 feet inclines don't seem so bad, but they are steep...and bookend my orbit. Funny thing is I hadn't paid much attention to the similar incline within the first mile.

Before this week, it was taking me longer than 30 minutes to complete this orbit, so I saved it for weekends. Now that I'm sub-30, I plan to run this every other day...and I now have a virtual partner to keep me on pace!

Small World

2007-09-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

It turns out that I may have crossed paths with my trail-running coworker back in high school cross country. Though he was a freshman when I was a senior and despite attending schools located more than 50 miles apart, we competed at several of the same invitationals including:

Woodbridge Invitational, Irvine, CA
Bell-Jeff Invitational, Griffith Park, CA
Kenny Staub Invitational, Crescenta Valley, CA
Palos Verdes Invitational, Palos Verdes, CA
Mt SAC Invitational, Walnut, CA (freshman year only...so I wouldn't have seen him here)

Furthermore, I learned that both of us may have ran against a friend of a friend who has been running with the Nike 5 mile sub-8 minute group. He attended high school 40 miles in the opposite direction (90 from my coworker), yet he also ran at Woodbridge and Mt SAC. It is very possible that we also faced off at track meets because we ran distance track!

Labor Day at Palisades Park

2007-09-03T23:30:00.000-07:00

I don't plan to blog daily about my running experiences, but I really wanted to thank Nike for putting on these free training sessions. It has been a long time since I've run with a group, and breaking into sessions based on pace has quickly shown me what shape I am really in. It doesn't hurt that Nike treats us to freebies including Jamba Juice and, in today's case, salad and sandwiches.

After yesterday's run, I decided to move up to the 3 mile, 9 minute per mile group. Our group ticked off the second mile at an under 8 minute per mile pace. The third mile was a bit of a struggle...but I was still able to finish strong enough to average under 9 minutes per mile for the entire run. At least I know I should target this pace until I can do so without dropping behind. I plan to move into the 5 mile group on Saturday.

Unfortunately, this was the only weekday session I'd be able to attend because of work...core hours end at 6:30pm when each training session is scheduled to begin. I wouldn't have been able to attend today if it weren't for its close proximity to my office and the fact that today was holiday...I was working today.

Pace spikes are from stopping at traffic lights...I should probably stop the timer next time

Once a runner...

2007-09-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

I've never felt, said, or believed that I would always run, but here I am making yet another attempt. This time promises to be slightly different than previous efforts, primarily because this is my first time blogging about it.

I first decided to run twenty years ago, not because I really wanted to, but as a means to an unrelated end...to get in shape for another sport. At that time, I was an incoming high school freshman seeking to avoid general P.E., but seriously wanting to play baseball. A summer worth of training told me I could run, a season of cross-country suggested I could be somewhat competitive...and, the next thing I knew, I skipped baseball for distance track.

A tennis injury between sophomore and junior years threw off my training and I never quite recovered. By high school graduation, I vowed I would never run again, but the correlation of age and weight gain has a tendency to push one not willing to alter his diet to reconsider. For the next sixteen years, I would start for various reasons and stop with similar excuses. I rarely ran more than once a week, never longer than 3 miles, and, at best, only a few months at a time. I tried orbiting my townhouse complex. I tried running on a treadmill at the gym. No matter what I tried, I simply couldn't find the motivation that kept me going every day through high school. It didn't help that my wife hates running.

A year ago, my wife and I moved to the hills above my high school...near the roads and trails I once trained upon. As both of us have become passionate snowboarders, we have been looking for an activity that will help us stay in shape between seasons...and running around our neighborhood seemed like the only thing we could do with any consistency. My wife decided to try. I decided to try harder. Unlike previous attempts, we started running more than once a week...up to every other day.

This year, I have additional motivation from a coworker who, like me, had not run for many years after high school cross-country, but recently returned to the sport with newfound enthusiasm. He has been blogging about his growing passion for trail-running, participation in half and full marathons, and ultras. I personally think he's crazy to run such distances, but I deeply respect his effort...and he has definitely encouraged me to train with more consistency.

This week, my wife gave me a Garmin Forerunner 250, the same GPS watch my coworker uses to chart his progress. Today is the first day I used mine...at a Nike sponsored training run in Brentwood. At the event, I chose to run 3 miles in the ten minute per mile group. Despite temperatures in the high 80's, I found myself comfortably maintaining pace with the leader and finishing even stronger. Here's proof:

My goal now is to run every day, improving to at least three miles every other day, with longer runs on weekends. My best friend from high school (who only just started running last month) convinced my wife and I to enter the Nike Run Hit Remix, so we have only a couple of weeks to get to the point we can survive a five mile run. I figure blogging about my progress should encourage me to push harder. I may not have marathons in my near-future, but at least I'm now considering to make one a longer term goal. Wish me luck!