Palos Verdes Half Marathon

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...

...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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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?

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.