2011 San Francisco 2nd Half Marathon - Race Report

The Good:

• An 8:15am start
• Passing the marathoners as they had already ran half of there race...kind of felt like Pre!
• Runner chicks...nuff said
• Crossing the finish line...and adding my 2nd open Half Mary to the books
• Food in the VIP area
• Post race massage...AWESOME!!!

The Bad:

• The thought of running 13.1 miles
• Waking up at 5:20am
• Averaging a Heart Rate of 185 for the race...is that healthy?
• Every single uphill
• Miles 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13, and .1
• Every single downhill
• Getting chicked by camo and flower skirt girls...it was down to the wire...ok just Mile 11 or so
• Walking around lost trying to find said awesome VIP area after the race...even though I was there before the race
• My SI and hip being done with about 3 miles to go
• Ohh Yeah...and running 13.1 miles

The Ugly:

• Getting a blister on top of a blister
• Having said blister break open mid race (though it actually felt better)...
• Walking to the Bart Station and back to my apartment...had the gangsta limp workin'

Seriously...WHAT WAS I THINKING!?! ;)

In all honesty, even though the race didn't go as planned (though there really wasn't a plan), San Francisco puts on a great event. The organization, the pre and post race festivities, the on-course management, this was a top notch race from start to finish and glad I was able to get out there and run!!!

Make that a Double...

The weekend plans were figured out as I was sitting around with the rest of my coworkers enjoying our last day at the old office. A conversation started to see who would be interested in a long run the following morning. Obviously I was game to try and run a new route, as the nice lake by my house is starting to get that…summer smell.

Mile Markers

The decision was made and we were going to run a Double Dipsea. I had never heard of the Dipsea Trail but I was game...even though I was told there were 700 steps to contest with...I was ready to run/walk/crawl...whatever it took.

Over 3000' of climbing...

The run started at a local elementary school in Mill Valley and from the beginning we started climbing…and climbing…and climbing. Here are a few pictures of the steps within 2 minutes of the run, I was sure were getting those 700 steps out of the way early.

Looking Up

 

Looking Down

After navigating our way up the steps and through a couple neighborhoods, we finally made our way to the “trail” part of the Dipsea Trail. And just like the previous millions stairs we climbed, there were more. We would go down a ton of steps...and roots...and then more steps...and more roots only to head right back up some a few minutes later. This was by far the toughest run I have ever done. I wish I could say that I didn’t walk but I would be just play lying. I was walking up steps left and right...well kind of more straight forward but you get the point.

Amazing View (Pacific Ocean in the distance)

But just like every trail run I have been on around here, there are moments when the views make all the pain and suffering TOTALLY worth it. After winding our way through a couple valleys, down some super steep steps and along some very cool paths, we were greeted with a view of the Pacific Ocean. Absolutely amazing.

Stinson Beach in the distance...we ran to that too

See :)

Now since the Dipsea Trail is a point-to-point trail and we were doing the “Double” Dipsea, we had to head back. I definitely think heading back was easier, if you call running that trail easy, and seem to go by quite a bit faster. I am guessing it is because I was able to mentally prepare myself for the torture I was putting my legs through.

A cool bridge we ran across!

Steps Down...and Up I guess since we ran them both ways :)

The trail is just under 7.5 miles long for a total of 15 miles of up and down stairs, roots and dirt trails and WAY more than 700 stairs especially if you count the thousands of roots along the way. Still it was a very cool run and just the beginning of a long weekend of training.

The Landscape Architect in me LOVES the simplicity of this sign...Very Cool!

Running the trails of Redwood Park...

With the asphalt roads and concrete sidewalks getting rather boring, I have been trying to get out and see what running trails are near my apartment. Now by near, I unfortunately don't be just down the block like back home but close enough to drive and not feel like I am in the car all day.

A couple weekends ago I was feeling pretty recovered...or basically I skipped a few workouts during the week and thought it might be best to go torture myself on a long trail run. Having no idea where to go, I googled 'trail run east bay' and came up with a local race that happened back in February. The website had detailed descriptions of the course, maps, elevations and turn-by-turn directions...basically a perfect fit for a guy who has no idea where anything is around here.

Not sure this elevation map does ANY justice on exactly how steep some of these sections were.

I had rode past the entrance to Redwood Park on "My Favorite Loop" ride a few times and when I found the trail run online, I knew this was where I was going to go. I loaded up with a few gels, a camera and my directions and was off for a 20K or about 12.5 miles. This was going to be my longest run in basically forever and throw in the difficulty of trails, I knew it was going to be tough.

Nice clear path after a super steep climb to start off...but I am starting to understand
no mater what sport you are doing here, it is uphill. I am just waiting to swim uphill next.

Another Amazing View



Cool Cover Trail



Loved this part.

Stream Trail- 3 miles home
West Ridge Trail- 6 miles home
Only one way to go...

 

Some single track trails...was definitely worried about Poison Oak but
pretty hard to tell with all the other plants. 



I really enjoyed the run. I might have been a bit overzealous when I picked the 20k loop as I was struggling quite a bit near the end but I made it back to my car in one piece. And with any trail run will come a bath for my legs in rubbing alcohol to make sure I do not get another case of Poison Oak. 

The smell is intoxicating...I should probably start
marketing it as a body wash, Axe has nothing on me :) 

I do feel like I am finally getting some running legs under me and though I can't say that I love running, once I get out there no matter how hard it gets, I am really starting to enjoy running...though it could definitely use a touch or sounds of my peeps from the northwest to make it even better.

Bloomsday 2010- Race Report

Ohh Bloomsday!!! How I forget how much you hurt.

The plan for this race was to run hard, run fast and do whatever I could to try and beat last years time...weather it by 1 second or 1 minute, I really didn't care.

Leading up to the race, I had many people tell me how easy it was going to be because of all the training I have been doing. It can be hard to explain but once again just because this race is shorter, doesn't mean it is easy AT ALL!!! Yes if I needed to, I could have run the course one, two or maybe even three times(ok lets not get too crazy) but when the effort is increased and you are running with your heart wanting to jump out of your chest...it really doesn't matter if it is 100 yards or 100 miles, it all hurts just in a different way.

I am not going to lie, going into Bloomsday I really didn't feel like I was faster than last year. I knew I was in much better shape but faster...not so much. My base training is leaps and bounds ahead of last year but speed work isn't really in the cards when you are training for Ironman.

After looking up last years time and doing a little math...I was going to have to run sub 6:19/mile to beat my time. Well I guess I would have only had to run one mile just one second under that pace and in all reality that would have been perfect.

After a short warmup, getting spoiled with the gear drop for 2nd seed, I found myself one person from the front of the pack. Now this was probably not the smartest idea since I barely qualified last year but it was still pretty freakin' cool standing up front with some amazingly fast runners.

When the gun went off it was time to kick it in high gear and see what this body could do for the next 40 something minutes. After forgetting to start my watch when I crossed the timing mats, I had to rely on my buddy Rob for our Mile 1 split...it was at this point he says 5:45...it was at this point I said...HOLY $%&#!!!

This was way to fast but knowing the first 1.5 miles are down hill I knew it couldn't hurt to bank at least a few seconds for Doomsday Hill. Mile 2 flew by at 5:55 and it was at this point, I wasn't sure if the wheels could hang on for the next 5.5 miles.

Heading up Doomsday Hill...Hurts So Good!!!

Photo by Josh Burdick

I was soon slapped back into reality with a few miles in the high 6:20's and low 6:30's but found a groove and ran my last mile in 6:15 and finished with a new PR for Bloomsday of 46:32...a whole 36 seconds faster than last year. Even though the speed work is all but none existent, my overall endurance is better and I was able to push the entire race and finish strong.

Another successful Bloomsday in the books and I guess I just set the bar that much higher for next year :)

Until next time...

BLOOMSDAY 2010

1:00:51

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56:29

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50:43

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47:08

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??:??

THE JOURNEY!!!

The journey to 2nd seed has been long and did not happened over night. It takes hard work and determination. Now the question is...can I stay there?