Race Report: 04.27.2013 Leona Divide 50 Mile Trail Race

Perhaps the biggest news to emerge from my first ultramarathon apart from finishing it (yay! 11:46:30) was that there was no big news. None. And for someone who firmly believes that no news is good news this is a good thing. I suppose it pays to expect the worst. It sets a low standard that is easy to surpass and makes you feel as if the race went tremendously well. I expected the race to provide a lot of pain, agony, and misery that my race plan boiled down to this: delay the pain. I expected it to hurt very bad, and the best I could hope for would be for the misery to start as late as possible, preferably after mile 30. But then the most wonderful thing happened when nothing happened. No cramping, no broken spirit, no massive meltdown. None. I managed to run 50 miles and felt pretty good doing so. And did I mention that the weather could be best described as furnace-like? I went into the race feeling very anxious, an anxiety I hadn't experienced since I ran my first marathon eight years ago. But now that it's done I still can't believe that I ran fifty miles and it turned out as well as I could have hoped.

Looking back at the race, granted this is with three weeks of hindsight, I think I just got lucky and made the right choices for that day. I'd go as far to say that the hot weather was instrumental in getting me through the race no worse for wear. The heat made me more conservative, cautious and attentive to my body and its needs. I hydrated like crazy that day so much so that I was worried about hyponatremia. I must have refilled my hydration pack, which holds two liters, at least six times. In fact, in the four miles between aid station #9 and #10 I managed to empty the entire bladder. Surprisingly I didn't have to pee the entire race, which worried me and made me drink more. But in the end I came out alright so I must have been hydrating correctly for the day.

Achieving my goal of delaying the pain meant that I had to listen to my body and stay within myself as I ran, especially in the early miles. "Relax" was the operative word of the day. To ensure that I focused on how I felt, I decided to run without my Garmin. Instead I wore a pretty basic Timex watch I bought  from Target the night before. My Garmin's battery would not have lasted the whole race anyway, but I also thought that by not wearing the Garmin I could focus on how I felt rather than what pace I was running at any particular moment. I focused on my breathing and made sure I wasn't getting out of breath as I ran. I also focused on my stride and cadence. I tend to tense up when I run too fast, so I made sure I didn't do that in those early miles. I didn't even try to pass runners too much. On the Pacific Crest Trail I fell into line with a group of three runners who were moving at a nice, steady clip. I thought about passing them but I worried that it would require me to run too fast and have to navigate the narrow single track trail. Instead I got in line and ran with them down the trail. The gentleman in front of me kept asking if I wanted to pass, but I kept telling him, "No, thanks, I'm fine at this pace." I think he just didn't like having a runner on his heels, which I can relate to.

I still wound up at Aid Station #3 a half hour earlier than planned even with the relaxing I thought I was doing. I panicked for a moment thinking that I had gone out too fast, but I assessed my physical state and I really felt good. The early arrival, though, turned out to be a happy accident. It meant that I had 30 minutes to spare, so instead of running some of the uphill to the next aid station, which I had factored into my race plan, I could just walk. Looking back now, had I tried to run that uphill I probably would have burned out quickly since it was getting hotter. Instead I spared myself the misery. It was still pretty miserable going up that climb, but at least I could take my time.

One smart thing I did at Aid Station #3 was to get an empty water bottle from my drop bag and filled it with water. I actually debated about doing so because I thought the bottle might feel heavy and become too much of a hassle. But knowing that it was only going to get hotter I decided it was better to be safe than sorry. I'm so glad I did. That water bottle saved the day. I didn't really use that bottle to drink, but instead I used it to pour water on my head and neck. I also had a sponge under my cap that I would soak in cold water at the aid stations and when it was starting to feel a little too hot, I would just lightly tap the top of my head and feel that refreshing cool water run down my scalp. The aid stations were really great. Having someone pour cold water over my head revived me over and over again. At Aid Station #5 Kate Martini Freeman was nice enough to put a bunch of ice in my cap. Man, that felt great. If I ever run another hot race again I am going to take every opportunity to pour water on my head and neck. It's a lifesaver.

After Aid Station #4 I implemented my planned intervals on the uphill. I set my watch to beep every 1.5 minutes. I would run for 1.5 minutes and then walk for another 1.5 minutes and so on. I think it worked well. I was able to cover ground faster without exhausting myself too much. That section, even with the incline, is totally runnable, but without the intervals I may have wound up walking more of it than I should. I probably should have done intervals on the last uphill too at mile 43 but by then I was tired and didn't feel like it.

When I got to Aid Station #6 I was very surprised. I felt too good. I usually have a problem with cramping in my calves that I was sure was going to start up around mile 25, but at that point I had no problems. I really expected to be feel like crap, but instead I felt fairly upbeat. This was the point I thought I would consider cutting my leg off so that I would never be tempted to run another race again. I never feel upbeat that far into a run. I usually start becoming pessimistic and negative. I realized during training that it probably had to do with nutrition. Normally I just take Gu and Gatorade, but I noticed on the long training runs that I got really hungry, like I-could-use-a-burger kind of hunger. Unfortunately I hadn't experimented with eating substantial food items during training, but I prided myself in having an iron stomach so I wasn't really worried about any gastrointestinal issues. The boiled potatoes from the Mt. Wilson run were effective I remember, so I ate that at the aid stations in Leona. I also ate bananas, strawberries, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Had someone handed me a burger I would have happily eaten that. What didn't work, though, was my plan to eat Chicken McNuggets. I packed them in my drop bag to eat after mile 16. I tried to eat one as I was hiking up, but I found that it dried up my mouth and I couldn't swallow it. The strenuous hike didn't help. I barely ate one and gave up the plan. I also had packed some leftover fried rice that I had for breakfast in a water bottle. That actually worked, but packing it in a water bottle was too cumbersome. I should contact Nathan about designing a carrier for rice, one with a funnel to pour the rice into your mouth.

So aid station food, Gu and salt tablet every hour, and Gatorade made up my nutrition for the day. Oh, and a couple of PayDay bars. I wasn't starving and my attitude remained positive, so I guess it worked. The fact that I stayed upbeat the entire race was what surprised me the most. Even after mile 42 when we were climbing again in the middle of the day I recall just feeling positive. I suppose it helped that in my mind I knew I was going to finish before 13 hours even if I walked the rest of the way. The climb wasn't easy and it was very hot, but I didn't get down on myself nor even considered stopping for a bit. I just kept telling myself to keep calm and carry on. La la la. About a half mile into the climb I noticed a trio of runners ahead of me walking very slowly. They just looked defeated as if they were on some forced march. I recognized them early on in the run as looking like hardcore runners, almost intimidating to be around, but here they were struggling. And I thought, I could pass them just by walking the pace I was keeping. Now it's probably bad karma to be motivated by the misfortune of others, but whatever gets you through, I say, at that point. So I poured water over my head and trudged ahead. When I looked up I was startled by a runner walking towards me. I was puzzled but in my exhausted haze all I could say was, "Hey!" Only later when I thought about it that I realized that he was walking back to the aid station to drop out. Imagine that, six miles away and he decides to call it a day and walk back. He must have been feeling really awful to drop out when the end was practically in sight and plenty of time left to complete the race. It put into perspective how lucky I was that day. I was sore and tired and my legs felt heavy for sure, but I never thought once about quitting. I kept looking at my bib with Marisela's picture during the race. Before the race I thought I would turn to it throughout the day to motivate me to keep going when things got rough, but instead that day I kept looking at it and saying in surprise, "We're doing it, Marisela!" It was just a great feeling to do this race in honor of Marisela, and to top it off I was also having fun.

Eventually I started passing the runners I had seen earlier. One of them, as I was approaching, decided to sit down on the trail and rest for a while. I offered to pour water on his neck and he gladly accepted. "That feels good," he said. It had been a while since someone has said that to me. I offered to pour more but he said he didn't want to use up my water, so I just walked on ahead. I blame my exhausted haze again, but thinking back now, he could have used that water more than I did at that point. I had plenty of water in that bottle, so I should have poured more over his head. He was probably just being nice. I'm so oblivious at times.

In any event, apart from the hike up feeling really long, the rest of the way was uneventful. I saw a couple more runners taking breaks in the shade. I was startled by one lying under some bushes. I thought for a moment that he had collapsed but he assured me that he was just resting. Eventually I got to a flatter part of the trail with plenty of shade. I ran a little of this portion, but looking back now I probably should and could have run more of it. At that point, though, I just didn't want to do anything stupid, and I kept thinking that the aid station wasn't that far away anyway.

On the way to the finish I bumped into Roxana and Carlos. They were doing great. I was really inspired by Carlos. To think that he had never done a marathon or even a half marathon, and here he was about to finish a 50K race? That's just amazing resolve right there and emblematic of the other great people on the team who made the whole experience just unforgettable.

I don't really remember much from the finish. I knew it was coming up and I wanted to look strong, but then it came up suddenly that it was all a blur. I heard cheering and saw faces but before I knew it I was crossing the finish line. I remember feeling a big sense of relief that I could stop running. I must have had a big smile on my face, and I saw Keira, the race director, and she put the medal on my neck. That feeling of accomplishment never gets old.

The question I get asked often is whether I would do another ultramarathon. Most likely I will. A 50K sooner rather than later is likely but another 50 miler might be another year or so. But who knows? I want to keep running ultras but I also don't want to get carried away. I do know that I have no intention of running a 100 miler, though. Then again just a year ago I was adamant that I would never run 50 miles. Things can change.

I honestly can't believe that I ran 50 miles. It didn't feel like 50 miles. I thought I would be counting down the miles but instead I forgot about mileage during the run and just thought about getting to the next aid station. I think that perspective helped too. Amazingly, for a race that took me almost 12 hours to complete, I was never bored and it never felt like I had been running all that long. I was disappointed that I wasn't more sore after the race. I always love that soreness after a race because it reminds you of what you had done. That slow walk the day after a race is a badge of honor and I didn't want to miss out. I guess next time I just need to run harder, but running a race like this and not bonking is a great experience. Hopefully I can have the best of both worlds: faster time and no bonking.

Anyway, I'll end this long recap with the song that I was singing to myself during the run. I often sing quietly to myself when I run, and I find that it helps me stay relaxed and calm. Usually it's the last song I had heard and that morning it was Lord Huron's "She Lit a Fire,"which was just ideal. It had a nice, easy tempo, which resembled the running momentum I wanted to maintain, and the imagery the song evoked of traversing over mountains and deserts searching for the girl that got away just seemed to fit the occasion.

Perfect 10

How awesome was Arcade Fire at the Shrine Auditorium on Thursday? They were amazing--in every sense of the word. To think I almost didn't go see them! I was going to get tickets when they went on sale, but then I balked. First it was the price, $45+. I hate paying more than $20 for a show, but I had to admit that Arcade Fire now belong to the masses. Demand is high, and I must pay the price. What really kept me from getting tickets, though, was that I didn't have anyone to go with. I figured I could find someone to go later on, and that I should just get tickets anyway. But what if I can't find anyone, then I'd be stuck with a pretty expensive ticket. In the end, I told myself that seeing them enthrall a sold-out crowd at the Hollywood Bowl was enough. I've experienced the Arcade Fire and I can go without seeing them this time around.

Thankfully, a couple of weeks ago, I found out that a friend had an extra ticket, so I snatched the opportunity. I don't know why I even doubted that I wouldn't be able to find someone to go. It's freakin' Arcade Fire! Their shows are a religious experience, rousing and sublime. I won't go into details about the setlist, but they played a fairly even spread of songs from Funeral, Neon Bible, and The Suburbs. The best numbers continue to be from Funeral, though, but songs like "We Used to Wait" and "No Cars Go" are going to be staples in future shows.

The show was on Thursday, but it heralded a pretty enjoyable weekend. I saw "Waiting for 'Superman'" on Friday and then "Let Me In" on Saturday. Both are very good films, "Superman" more for fostering debate about education and "Let Me In" for beautifully adapting "Let the Right One In" and maintaining its spirit and even adding more to the story. Had I not seen "Let the Right One In" I probably would have been more enamored with "Let Me In." It's just difficult not to compare the two when they're so similar in tone and spirit.

The weekend culminated with the beautiful and fun wedding of Dan and Alice. I put on a suit for the first time in a couple of years and had a great time hanging out with the TNT crew. I danced a little and dusted off my Roger Rabbit, the only dance move I really know, apart from the Running Man, but everyone knows how to do that. Weddings are a lot of work, and Alice did a great job of putting hers together. It was lovely, tasteful and fun. I wish I had eaten more cake, though.


Congrats, Alice and Dan!

LAist Piece

Check out the piece I wrote about Team in Training for the blog LAist.

Scenes from San Jose

I took some photos in San Jose, but they're not all that great. I kept forgetting my camera in the hotel. Thankfully, my friend Jane had hers all the time and she has some great photos. All of these pictures are from her.


This was us exploring the Tech Museum after checking out Bodyworlds 2.


Alice and I copying the ballerina from Bodyworlds 2.


Before the start.


This Farmers' Market went on as scheduled despite sitting next to the course, where it was closed to traffic. Few customers as a result, but business hopefully picked up after the runners ran by.


A brass band.


Jane and I crossed paths on the course.


Hanging out at the lobby after the race.


Here's a bonus shot of my gorgeous ass.

More pictures from the weekend can be found on my Flickr page.

Now That's What I Call My Favorite Weekend, Part Two!

What a fun weekend I just had!

I ran 17 miles on Saturday morning, which puts me in good shape to run the San Diego Rock n' Roll Marathon. I probably won't be as fast as I would like, but at least I might have enough of a foundation to finish strong. I'll try to do 20 miles this coming weekend and then taper a little before then. It's still not guaranteed that I will do it, but again I'm feeling better about tackling it.

Later that evening the TNT crew met up at Malo's to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and--more specifically--to bid Liza bon voyage as she departs for Ohio later this week. The food wasn't very good, the drinks were good enough and strong, but we had a blast.

I didn't stay out too late because on Sunday we were heading to Disneyland for the second part of Liza's Goodbye festivities. We got through a lot of rides. It wasn't too crowded. In fact, I got on Space Mountain three times. The only good ride we didn't go on was Tower of Terror and that was because some of our crew didn't want to go on it.

My legs are a little sore, but it was worth it. Now, to the week ahead!

Death in the Arroyo!

It's a sensationalistic title, I know, but it is the truth. A dead body was found near the entrance to the trails leading up to JPL, along the golf course. I had just entered the trail when I saw Kate and a cop walking towards me. She told me to turn around and take a detour up Rosemont to Arroyo and get back on the trails from there. I didn't glimpse the body, but a couple of participants did and said that the woman clearly wasn't a homeless person. The cops also reassured Kate that the person wasn't a runner, implying that we shouldn't worry that a crazed maniac was preying on runners out on the trails. Most likely she was just with the wrong person.

All this time that I've run on the trails it has crossed my mind that there are good places there to hide a body. I'm not planning anything, but when you're running for hours at a time these things do cross your mind. There are far more secluded places higher up and I'm sure Angeles Crest is a popular place to dump bodies.

In contrast to this gruesome scene, a few hundred yards away the Rose Bowl was bustling with activity and I'm sure none of them knew what was going on not too far away. The parking lots were packed, but I got there early enough to not have to deal with the traffic. I counted four events taking place in the area. The biggest by far is the Walk for Autism. There were thousands of participants for that event. On the southside an area of the parking lot was being used to collect old electronic gadgets. The lot was also where those attending the Pasadena Showcase House of Design were parking and being shuttled to the event site. A little closer to the Aquatic Center, some sort of Tai-Chi event was also taking place.

Like I said in my last post, this weekend is busy with events, and it's a gorgeous weekend to be outdoors. There's no excuse to stay at home and it's probably too hot to just stew indoors. Get out there and do something!

As for my run today, I wound up running between 13 and 14 miles. The detour around the body added a half a mile to my run. It got hot out there and my time isn't the best. It was a struggle to get up to Elmer and I just felt sluggish the whole time. However, it feels great to run a long one. I may be able to do San Diego in June after all if things move smoothly.

Meat Market

Last night I joined the gorgeous ladies of TNT to attend a bachelor auction in Venice benefiting the Westside triathlon team. I didn't bid on anyone because as much as I wouldn't have minded going out on a date with a couple of the guys, this was a strictly heterosexuals only auction. Regardless I had a great time hooting and hollering. We even had a celebrity sighting. Tim from this season's The Apprentice was there but not up for bid.

Gina and Audrey both landed guys. Audrey will be going on a date with a guy who ran for a position on the city council of Manhattan Beach this week but lost. Handily. He seems like a nice guy. Very tall. Gina bought herself a boy toy who will take her bungee jumping. He was born in the 1980s.

The men were mostly attractive. Some of them, including the ones Gina and Audrey bought, were relative steals. Some guys, for some reason, went for exorbitant prices. One guy, a slimy looking surfer, was snapped up for $700 while earlier a handsome actor with a killer body went for only $70. Women just have no taste in men.

Actually, while there, I wondered how much I would go for. I think I'm worth at least $100. In fact, earlier, while on the stationary bike at the gym, I caught a glimpse of a reflection on a glass door. "Ooh, who's that cute guy?" I wondered. After a couple of seconds I realized I was looking at my reflection. It's got to be a good sign when I would want to do myself.

All in all it seemed like a successful event. Some guys got their egos bruised while others got theirs boosted when women got desperate--or drunk--and bid up some guys much to their surprise.

I had a great time, though, and afterwards even watched turtle racing. It's not as much fun as you would think.

Run. Recover. Repeat.

THE FACTS

Distance: 26.2 miles
Chip Time: 3:54:37
Pace: 8:57/mile
10K Split: 54:44
Half Split: 1:53:17
Place: 1344 overall; 184 age division; 1145 men division


The medal and the crusty salt deposits on my shirt.

THE REPORT

Another L.A. Marathon completed. My third L.A., fourth overall.

I've been putting off submitting a race report because it will mean closing the book on this marathon experience. I was going to write this up last night, but 24 and very funny episodes of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report followed. I was too tired to concentrate by the time I got behind the keyboards, so I just went to bed. Still, I ought to look back at the race while it's fresh in my mind and the soreness is still in my calves. In a few days it will all seem like I never even took a step forward.

I was a meticulous time keeper during the race and logged every mile on my watch. However, I must have been so exhausted on Sunday night that I deleted the record from my watch without realizing it. As a result I don't have split times for every mile. I do remember the gist of it. so we'll go from there.

My game plan was to run an aggressively smart race in the beginning. Rather than push for a negative split I was going to build up a cushion in the early miles which would offset the later miles when my pace was bound to slow. I wasn't going to run 8 minute miles, though, but somewhere between 8:30 and 8:45.

The start of the new course was uphill and certainly less exhilarating than the confetti-riddled start of the old course. They still played "I Love LA," but it didn't have the same impact. For one thing, there were no throngs cheering you on as you crossed the start line. Muhammad Ali wasn't above a scaffold applauding you. And there weren't the majestic high rises and the breathtaking view of thousands of bobbing heads in front of you as you run down Figueroa towards the Staples Center. It almost felt like the start to a small race.

Ventura Boulevard is also narrower than Figueroa, so the start felt even more crowded. I managed to squeeze myself within view of the start line, but even with that it took me almost nine minutes to get to cross the start line. The narrowness of the street also made it impossible to take off running and I had to do a little bit of weaving. I tried to avoid it as much as I could but it's hard not to weave when you come upon a four-person wide group of walkers. To minimize my weaving, I had others clear the way for me by running behind faster runners who were pushing through the crowds. It worked a little because I was able to run the first mile in around 10:25. My goal pace for the marathon was 9 minutes per mile, so already I was running at a deficit, but with 25.2 miles left I wasn't worried about making it up.

Given the fact that there were 25,000 runners/walkers out there, I managed to clear out and start running a good pace by the second mile. This was probably due to the fact that I didn't start in the back like I did the last two years. The downhill that started at mile 1.5 also encouraged everyone to run a little faster. I was able to get through mile 2 in a little over 9 minutes and was moving with greater ease.

The early miles just flew by. Before long I was running past the Hollywood Bowl heading towards Hollywood. The organizers placed hay at the turn towards Highland to catch those who were unable to make the turn. The turn was sharp, but it wasn't that sharp that someone would lose control. They could have been for the bikers, too.

I was amazed to see Jane and Liza by Hollywood and Highland. It seemed like I had just seen them a few minutes before and there they were standing as if they've been there for a long time. I was still feeling great so I threw them some kisses. We were only on Hollywood Boulevard for a short spell, but I wish it could have been longer. The crowds were thick there and it was a great boost to hear their roar. Too bad this wasn't mile 23 when I really needed the boost. Mile 3 came and went. In fact, miles 4, 5, and 6 were a blur. I remember running through Hancock Park but in no time I found myself in Koreatown. I ran my fastest mile at this point, running mile 3 in under 8 minutes and the other miles between 8 and 8:20. I wondered whether I was going out too fast and resolved to slow down and conserve a little bit of energy.

I performed a system check at around mile 7. I felt fine, breathing was good and my heartrate was consistent, but I could feel some tightness already in my calves. My calves have always been the source of marathon problems, but I usually don't feel anything on them until the mileage reached the mid-teens. Here I was only at mile 7. I thought that it might just be my hypochondriac tendencies, but it really was there. I think the standing around and waiting we did, being up since four AM, the warm weather and the downhill played havoc on my calves. I resolved to try and take some of the load off my calves by using my hamstrings more or picking up my legs rather than shuffling. Even, though, they were tight they weren't giving me problems, but I had to ensure they would last a little longer.

Because of the concerns I had that my calves would cramp up earlier than I would like, the idea of building up a cushion took on greater urgency. I wasn't going to push too hard, but if I could run the next few miles under 8:30 without being out of breath it would relieve some stress in the latter stages.

I began feeling the heat at around mile 8. It was probably in the mid to high 70's at that point, which was perfectly pleasant for those not running. I began dumping water on my head at the water stations and ran through open hydrants as much as I could. I normally hate getting wet, but it was a huge relief to do so during the marathon. My only fear was that my shoes would get soaked and I'd have to deal with the possibility of blisters. Thankfully that didn't happen.

After mile 12 I caught up with Sean. I got separated from the team when I stood in line at the port-a-potties. It looked like he had slowed down a little. I didn't want to slow down since the deadline on my calves was ticking away as little twitches began to make themselves palpable. I tried not using my big toe to push off so much since it was the inside part of my calves that was getting tight, but I couldn't keep that up for too long. I just had to get as much out of the calves while I still had time.

At the mile 13 water station, I took a walk break and poured more water on my head. My plan had been to take walk breaks at the water stations thinking that they would be situated in regular intervals. It turned out that some water stations were closer together than others and they were not always just after a mile marker. I ran without a water bottle, which worked out fine, but it meant that my walk breaks were spent taking in fluids rather than focusing on getting my heart rate down.

It was at the mile 13 aid station that I ran into Carlos. He tossed a cup of water at my back which startled me, but when I started running the cooling it provided was a welcome relief. Carlos asked me if we were on pace for sub four and I said we were. I was hoping he would run with me for a bit but he said he needed to catch his breath.

I've done four marathons now and I have yet to run with someone the whole way through. I've gotten used to running on my own, but it's good to see a familiar face on the course. I doubt I'd be a great running partner during a race anyway since I get focused and quiet. I figure I'm saving energy by not talking. Still, having a partner there would be a good way to maintain a pace. When I run with FJ and others during our training runs, it definitely helps having others there to help get you through the hard miles. What I've done during races has been to pick out someone who was moving at the pace I was and running next to or behind them. I did that with a guy in a Honda marathon shirt who was running a very steady pace and looked strong. Since I was doing walk breaks, though, I'd lose him, so what wound up happening was that I'd pass him and then he'd pass me when I took a walk break. I think I passed him for good at mile 23, but I was so delirious and in a haze by that point that he probably passed me again without me noticing.

I crossed the halfway mark at under 1:54, marking the first time I've run a marathon half under two hours. It also meant that I had built up a cushion of six minutes and all I had to do was run a 2:05 in the second half and I'd be fine. I kept trying to build a cushion, though. A 2:05 second half was still about 9:30 pace. I'd feel a lot more confident with a cushion that allowed me to run a 10:00 pace in the second half and still come in under four hours, so I pressed ahead.

I don't remember much between miles 14 and 17, but I was still running sub nine minute miles, which made me glad. When I got to Exposition Park, though, I began to feel fatigued and felt myself slowing down and needing longer walk breaks. I had taken my second Clif Shot at mile 15, a mile earlier than I had planned but I felt like I really needed it. Two miles later I felt like I needed another one. I trudged on, though, and blamed my exhaustion on the fact that I was in Trojan territory. Trojans are known to suck the life out of you.

I revived a little when I got on Figueroa because I was on familiar territory. The first few miles of the course used to be here and the crowd thickened a lot more. I saw the convention center and knew that Staples Center and the mile 19 banner weren't too far away. Jimmy and Sarah Jane found me at this point and ran with me. Coach Katie and Greg also came by at this point to urge me on. Good thing they didn't run with me for too long or I would have felt silly having a four-person entourage running with me. Still, the support couldn't have come at a better time. I had slowed down, running above 9 minute miles, and my calves were beginning to rebel. Jimmy sprayed me with something--I told him I didn't care--to help with my cramping. It didn't work since a few second later, a new wave of cramping started up. A Salonpas station was at mile 19, so I stopped for a spray. That might have helped or, as Jimmy said, it could just be a placebo effect. Still, my calves calmed down enough for me to focus on my breathing. My legs felt heavy and I wasn't exhaling as well as I would like, but with Jimmy pacing me I ran mile 20 in just under 9 minutes.

With just 10K left, I told Jimmy I'd be fine on my own. All I had to do was run ten minute miles and I'd still reach the finish line under four hours. I didn't take it for a slam dunk because 10 minute miles are tough when your calves won't cooperate, but the signs were good. The calves, though cramping, weren't locking up. I really thought they'd be spasming and locking up by mile 20. Mile 21 was completed at over 9 minutes, around 9:25, but still under 10 minutes.

Mile 22, though, was a tough one. It had the steep climb on the Olympic Boulevard bridge towards Boyle Heights. And the fact that we were running through mostly industrial areas with fewer crowds made it a tough mile. I made it up the bridge strongly, passing many people on it, but I was still exhausted. I had envisioned prior to the race to finishing the last 10K strongly, but I only had enough energy to keep moving. Rather than focusing on the fact that I still/only had 4 miles left, I shifted to focusing on every mile marker. Mile 22 was completed in just under 10:30.

For me, mile 23 was the toughest mile. We were still on a subtle incline, but regardless of how subtle it was I felt it every small degree of it. I kept hoping the mile marker was coming soon, but it was nowhere in sight. As we reached Boyle Heights, the community was cheering us on, but I had tuned much of it out. My thoughts were on the mile marker and how I was sure they had misplaced it. As I turned Whittier Blvd. I finally saw it. I crossed mile 23 with a split of over 10:30, my longest mile. I told myself I'd take no more walk breaks after this. Take a good swig of Gatorade, pour another cup of water over your head, and don't stop running until you reach the finish line.

I lied. I took another walk break at mile 24 and then psyched myself up by tellling myself that I was now underneath the 210 freeway heading back to the Rose Bowl. This will soon be over. The downhill on the 6th Street bridge was a welcome relief. I was looking forward to running on the bridge and enjoying the view of downtown. But I was too tired to appreciate anything. I saw downtown and rather than be swept away by the view I marveled at how far it looked. But having completed mile 24 in just under 9:30, I was delighted to find out that I could run the last 2.2 miles in a pace over 11 minutes and still come in under four hours. Mile 25 was a blur, but I remember passing a lot of people, which was a small victory. I was passing more than being passed. Other times it was the opposite. Exhaustion, though, was taking over and the only thing I could focus on was the desire to stop running. I tried to slow my breathing to no avail. I tried to get a song stuck in my head, but that too failed. I don't remember what time I ran mile 25, but I think I just came in under 10 minutes. The calves were on the verge of locking up, but with only a mile left, I knew I'd make it.



I focused on running the last 1.2 miles. I wasn't going to check my watch until I crossed the finish line. Push, push, push. This will soon be over. You can stop running in ten minutes. These were the thoughts in my head. I knew the mile 26 marker was in front of our hotel, so I fixed my gaze on the banner and watched it get closer and closer. The crowds got thicker and as I got closer I could hear the roar. I saw the crowd in my periphery and heard the applause, but I was still focused on the finish. I crossed the mile 26 banner and made the turn on Flower. More cheers. I was startled by a photographer as I made the turn. When I saw the yellow finish line I was struck at how far it still seemed. The night before it looked so close, but from the middle of Flower it still looked a half mile away.

I kept running. I passed a few more runners. It felt like I was moving at a good pace and my legs felt looser than I can remember since mile 15. There wasn't a crowd of people crossing the finish line at this point and as I approached the finish line I only saw two people ahead of me. I passed one last person, a runner who was being helped across the finish line.

Then it was over. I stopped my watch and saw the time. 3:54. I ran the last 1.2 miles in 10:24.

THOUGHTS

I tried to play down my goal of running under four hours. I told people it was my goal but I avoided making a big deal out of it. I was worried that if I made a big deal about it that I was only setting myself up for a letdown if I didn't get there. Still, it became a primary focus the last two weeks leading up to the race. Even though I was supposed to be tapering, I felt like I couldn't miss a running day. I tried to control it, but I still found myself increasing the treadmill speed to 7.5 mph. Crossing the finish line was no longer enough. I had to do it under four hours.

As soon as I crossed the finish line, though, I was surprised to find how unenthused I was. Maybe it was because I was deliriously tired, but I thought that if I made my goal of running four hours it would be like completing my first marathon. I sobbed no less than three times after crossing the finish of my first L.A. Marathon. I was sure it was going to be the same rush of emotion.

Now, though, I think the lack of a reaction is the realization that as good an accomplishment, a four hour marathon is not a life-affirming feat. It wasn't going to solve the things in my life that need to be fixed. It is, however, a reminder that I am stronger than I think. I'm kind of disappointed that the marathon no longer serves as a life-affirming symbol for me. Now it's a challenge, hobby, a pasttime, a game, like a hard sudoku puzzle that I will continue to tackle and improve on. I guess there really is nothing like your first time.

So what's next? I'm thinking this might be my last LA for a while, but never say never. I'm hoping to do San Diego in June and something in the fall. I'll put my name in for Chicago and NYC, but Portland and Las Vegas are also possible. I'll try to do more speed training and hopefully PR again.

Two years ago I ran my first marathon. I finished it in 4:54 after thinking I could easily do it under 4:30. On Sunday I beat that time by an hour. To put it in perspective, when I crossed the finish line on Sunday, I was still at mile 21 two years ago. I can't imagine shaving off another hour in two years, but I can give it a try.

For now, though, I'll savor the pleasant soreness in my calves while it lasts. In a couple of days it will go away and I will no longer have the physical sensation of having run 26.2 miles. That is, until the next one.


Toenails still in place.

MARATHON WATCH 2007: 1 Day...

One day! I'm now feeling the rush of anticipation shooting through my finger tips. By this time tomorrow I should know whether or not I broke the four hour barrier.

I still haven't packed yet. I have everything that I need in terms of supplies, but it's just a matter of packing them all up. I plan on checking in at the Sheraton by 4pm, getting settled and heading down for the pasta party. I'm fairly calm but the excitement is running through me, so I doubt I'll sleep well at all tonight. I slept well last night, so I should be OK with only a few hours of sleep tonight. I'll wake up at 4am, shower, eat a little something, listen to music, and head down with the Team to the start line. I'm predicting that it will be a mad house tomorrow. It's a new course with new headaches. Transportation will probably be a bitch. Good thing I'm running it.

I had breakfast today at Heirloom with the gorgeous ladies of TNT. I had my oatmeal, part of my plan to ensure that I have no problems tomorrow morning with the toilet. I haven't started hydrating yet. I'll stop by the store on my way to the hotel and pick up a big jug of water and some breakfast items.

Folks keep asking if I'm ready. Of course I am. I've done the training. I'm as ready as I'll ever be. What I can't predict is how it will go and other factors I can't control. I'm worried about the weather. It was already in the mid 70's at 10:30AM today with no clouds, so I'm guessing it will be the same tomorrow. I guess it's more incentive for me to finish faster to avoid the warmest part of the day. It won't be ideal running weather, but we'll all have to manage. Pouring water over my head is always a good option.

I'm hoping it will just be a good running day tomorrow. I've had runs I expected to be rough ones either because I was tired or didn't get enough sleep but they turned out to be excellent efforts. I've also had runs where I felt like crap for no reason. Here's hoping that it's the former rather than the latter tomorrow.

I've avoided using the N word all through my post, but I'll admit it now. I'm nervous. It's a good kind of nervous, a natural nervousness. I'll be OK tomorrow. It's the anticipation that is so tough. It doesn't help that I keep on visualizing how I want to finish tomorrow. I want to finish strong. We'll give it a good effort and we'll see how it goes.

I really ought to start packing. I won't bring my laptop to the hotel so don't expect any entries until Monday, at the earliest. You can track my progress on the LA Marathon website. I'm bib #21680.

Wish me luck!

MARATHON WATCH 2007: 5 Days...

Last night our little Team and quite a few supporters met up at Dave and Buster's in Arcadia to celebrate the season and the races we're about to complete. There's nothing like a couple of hours with the good people of TNT to make you feel like a million bucks. As Dr. Smith pointed out last night, TNT must have a built in "scum filter" that only allows the good-hearted to join. If you're looking for "What's Right With Southern California," you only need to come out on a Saturday morning at the Rose Bowl to witness that there are good people here in LA. We can be obnoxious as we pretty much hog the running path on Saturdays, pushing other runners who seem to fear our numbers off to the middle road, but we do mean well. Although, admittedly, I do think some bad apples got in, but I won't identify them by name. They know who they are!

When I first joined TNT I thought I wouldn't be able to stand all the gooey goodness and positive vibes emanating from the other participants. I can be a Grinch, but boy, did TNT melt my cold, cold heart. I still find it hard to be upbeat and rah-rah at 7AM on a Saturday, but I find the goodness around me to be refreshing. Who needs Prozac when you have TNT? I never give up anything for Lent, but driving today I thought about doing more of something. So I decided I will dole out more hugs.

Hugs for everyone!

No running today. Rest.

MARATHON WATCH 2007: 6 Days...

The Dow fell 416 points today! I guess I'll be postponing that retirement after all.

Money is always on the back of my mind these days--how to keep it, how to make it, how to spend it. For a while there I was worried I was going to have to put in more than I expected towards my fundraising. With a week left until final funds I was still $800 short of my minimum. My goal was to get within $200 of the minimum and pay the rest as if I was covering my registration and hotel. Thanks to the generosity of friends, though, I was able to make my minimum and even exceed it.

As part of Team in Training, I find fundraising to be the toughest aspect, moreso than twenty mile runs. It's also why I'm a part of the program. I have to remind myself that TNT is not simply a social group (but it can be), it's a group of people working together to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fulfill its mission. With that said, though, it's still tough to ask your friends and family to donate, especially if you're like me, someone who doesn't like to ask others for things. If I want something, I get it myself. Heck, if they'd let me, I would fry my own burgers at Burger King.

So, I have to chastise myself often for neglecting the important part of TNT and getting caught up in the camaraderie and good times. We are there to fight cancer--and have fun doing so. If I do the math, though, after attending various fundraisers, donating directly to someone's efforts, buying fundraising shirts, etc, I've probably put in hundreds of dollars towards the cause. Too bad I can't claim all of those as tax deductions. I'm not complaining. Quite the opposite. I wish I had more money to contribute not just to LLS but to other organizations I care about. Maybe some day I'll be rich enough to have a building at UCLA named after me. But if the Dow keeps falling like it did today, I doubt it will be any time soon.

With regards to running, I'm taking the day off. I skipped the gym today and instead got my haircut and met a friend for lunch. I've got a massage scheduled later and then it's off to Dave and Buster's for the SGV Send-off Dinner.

It's quite fitting that the song playing while I write this is LCD Soundsystem's "All My Friends" from his/their upcoming album, Sound of Silver, with its bouncy chorus declaring "if I could see all my friends tonight." Well, tonight, I am!