Not much change in temp or humidity today from yesterday; about 68 degrees, 80% humidity, 5mph, overcast; ran dirt road and paved road, finished 10 great progressive miles!!

Fletch:  sorry about the anxiety and stress but I'm sure you both are managing the best you can; take care of you and DW.

Chantilly:  what's the 'local' marathon?  How are you dealing with the neuroma issue?

Dan:  how big is the park?  Are you wearing your cascadias on your hikes?  DW probably would appreciate a pair, LOL!!

San Francisco Marathon Race Report 7/27/2014

We tried something different this year, we signed up for parking ahead of time to guarantee our spot. Our parking lot was about a mile from the race start and as usual we were running a bit behind. Fortunately traffic wasn't bad at 5AM and the instructions on how to get to the lot were clear. It was semi-valet parking, so gave the attendant the key and grabbed our clear check bags and started jogging to the start. Wave 2 was starting as we checked our bags (we were in wave 3) and we scrambled through the fences to join our wave. DS1 and I got separated as I tried to find the 3:35 pacers. Located the 3:55 pacer midway through the wave and then spotted a cluster of pacers near the start???? I had checked my glasses so couldn't read the small signs. Wave started and it took 30-45 seconds to cross the start. Tried to stay contained and work slowly at catching up to the pacers. Fortunately, things weren't expected to be as warm as on Friday and temp was around 60F at the start and overcast. Around mile 3 caught one of the 3:55 pacers. At mile 5 I caught up to the 3:40 pacers. Asked one of them how we were doing on time and he said we were doing fine and then looks at his watch and says "we're a little ahead". We then started the climb to the bridge, the pacers made it look easy and I was conentrating on little steps. About the middle of the bridge I pass the pacers and was steadily picking off runners, you could also feel a bit of the fog at this point and it was nice. As, we got over the bridge and went through the turn around I grabbed some chomps, they turned out to be pomergranite and I tossed them since I can't eat them, but I was past the food at that point and the gatorade, but got a bit of water. The pacers passed me while I was getting water and so as we hit mile 8 I was right behind them. Hit a pretty good head wind on second half of the bridge while passing the pacers. At this point I was still hoping to catch up to the 3:35 pacers. After the bridge is another longish uphill and the 3:40 pacers went by me again. I opened up on the downhill section and passed them again. Felt pretty good at this point and we entered Golden Gate Park. We split off from the first half runners and hit the halfway point in a nice 1:47 (right where I wanted to be). Since, I didn't eat at the turnaround, I was grabbing gatorade at every aide station. Between mile 14-15 got a piece of banana as we went by the first half finish. We made a turn to go around Stowe Lake and think this is where the 3:40 pacers passed me (2 hours in). I knew things were going south quickly and was mad at myself for not bringing some Gu with me to fuel on. At this point I'm just saying to myself, stay ahead of the next pacers and try to stay with the current ones. Some where around mile 19 the 3:45 pacers catch me and now I'm thinking how slow can I go and stay ahead of the 3:50 pacers, except my mind isn't working and I can't do more then whole numbers. At 3 hours, I'm at 21.5 miles and I'm thinking it's going to be close on staying ahead of 3:50. This is about the furtherst I've ever run in my life and thoughts are you can do this, just go a little slower. We going up and down rolling hills and they're shuttling a people through alternate routes so traffic and get through. The uphills are hard, but the downhills are worse 'cuz the muscles in my feet are toast. At mile 24 I feel incredibly slow and then the 2nd half leader goes by. Now I feel even slower. Normally I'm energized by faster runners going by, but not this day. Hit the last aide station and the gatorade is water, take 2 and walk through as I drink - I see a guy throwing up into a trash can. We go buy AT&T Park and I can see the Bay Bridge. A mile to go, at I'm at what I think is just slightly faster then my fast walking pace (I'm wrong). Nearing mile 26 the first 2nd half woman goes by, she's moving fast. I'm trying to speed up, but I've got nothing left. I can hear the announcer telling people to cheer for the winner of the women's 2nd half. Still people are going by and I'm just trudging slowly along. I cross the first sensor and the announcer welcomes me back and then finally the finish line. I immediately start walking and my legs almost buckle look at my watch and it says 26.53 miles in 3:53:43. Grabbed a box(?) of water, blanket, muffin, banana and coconut water. Located a curb and sat down. Finished off the water and half the muffin, felt just incredibly tired. I lay back and almost immediately dozed off. Next thing I know a race official is tapping me on the shoulder, "are you okay?" - I reply, "I'm fine, thanks". There's still some muffin in my mouth and I swallow it and go back to sleep. I wake up 5 minutes later and DS1 is there sitting next to me! After a couple of minutes sitting there we decide to get our bags. While getting bags we hear them announce wife's name and slowly make our way back to the finish. Wife calls, we joined up and started the long walk back to the car...

Official time 3:53:39, overall 1255/6585, men 1037/4287, 55-59AG 31/228, Age grade 62.49% 577/6585, pace 8:54/mi
Fitbit says ~45,000 steps, 118 floors

Notes: By the time you feel hunger or thirst it's too late. Wasn't ever thirsty, but boy was I hungry. Did get a strawberry/banana gel between mile 17 and 18 - too late to be of any real help. Per mile pace at mile 24 10:01, mile 25 10:22, mile 26 10:58, last 1/2 mile 10:41...Need to work on the fueling thing...

Overall accomplished 2 goals, no real walking (just last aide station) and set new PR - so a good day.

adkkev - sounds like we both are lucky with the weather this week.  Gorgeous here as well.  Nice run.

Ray - Great RR.  Your detailed description puts us right there with you.  Sounds like a beautiful route.  Great job!  Congrats on the PR!

19 runners showed up at 4:45 this morning for the group speed work.  65 degrees and low humidity (or at least lower than it has been).  Total 5 miles, middle 3 as timed pyramid intervals.  This was my fourth week running with this group.  Each week, I'm able to stay a little closer to the front of the pack.  6 miles tomorrow morning will make July my first 100 mile month!

Happy Running!

So far, I've run Mon., Tues.  But yesterday, decided to bike and run.  Took my mtn bike and rode for about 20 minutes, then ran 3.1 miles, got back on bike and rode another 20 minutes.  Dirt road with sandy portions.  Trying to incorporate mtn bike riding into my training plan.  I prefer to do some running in addition to mtn bike riding.  Temps have been cooler in the evenings (60s), still muggy (70-85% humidity) though but the slight breeze helps.  Rest day today.

5.25 miles around town on Wednesday evening ... another beautiful evening for running.

az2mntrail Nice mix-up of workouts, there.

rmcj001 Congratulations on your PR! Sounds like you gave everything you had! That's a hard course to PR on. Race report was very interesting.

adkkev Nice that the weather has improved for your evening runs.

Fletch_NC The way you are going at these group runs.....I think you will have a good HM in the fall. Congratulations on your 102 MPM! Nice to hear that FIL is coming along.

3 miles yesterday

13 miles today.  Still on the track.  It is easier on my foot.

AZ- great job on the monthly miles!!  Way to go.  Glad you are finding more trail areas to run!  I've only been to Philly once, and wasn't a runner back then, so I'm no help either.

Chantilly- hope that foot heals soon!

Fletch- glad to hear FIL is coming along.  Nice new PB on the monthly miles!  And nice you are seeing progress in the speed group. That will pay big dividends on your next 5K.

Ray- great RR and even better race!  Sub-4, you da man!!  And not on an easy course.  You deserve a nice rest.  LOL re: falling asleep with muffin still in your mouth. 

adkkev- yes, the weather has been great here for running also.

4.5 mi Monday, 4.9 today with fartleks.  took T&W off since last week was much longer than usual for me.  110 miles this month for me.  Hope to get in 10-12 tomorrow morning on my 'day off',  (before I finish charts and check on some inpatients!)

Have a great weekend all.