The most unexpected part was a big chunk of the course falling into the Pacific Ocean a couple of weeks before the race.
Yep. That would be pretty unexpected, I'd say
Epic course fail.
Pete Pfitizinger noted that you keep doing 120 mile weeks hoping it will make it hurt less from Mile 20 to the finish and it never does. I had read that and expected to hurt but I never, in my wildest imagination, expected it to hurt as badly as it did. It wasn't that overall fatigue you get from shorter races. Instead, it was sharp, stabbing pains of knives being twisted in my calves and baseball bats slamming into my quads with every stride. Still, I knew it would hurt and just kept going. More importantly, because I had put in the mileage, I didn't crash and burn and I spent the last six miles passing people rather than being passed.
Short term goal: 17:59 5K
Mid term goal: 2:54:59 marathon
Long term goal: To say I've been a runner half my life. (I started running at age 45).
There is a reason why men don't give birth...
PRs: Boston Marathon, 3:27, April 15th 2013
Cornwall Half-Marathon, 1:35, April 27th 2013
18 marathons, 18 BQs since 2010
Holy cow! Is the course back to normal this year?
Yes, they are running the point-to-point this year.
And since you are speedy, you can still get in if you want through the Boston 2 Big Sur Challenge.
levitation specialist
Holy hell, Jenny, yeah definately unexpected! What did they do, alter route or cancel? They certainly adding have you guys run on the intact portion that remains, did they?
Thanks for the tips AND congrats! The full is nearly half sold out already, and it's only been open for 14 hours! It's the Lincoln National Guard Marathon. Last year, it all sold out by Dec 28th(half and full). But I think the full will be lucky to still have spots left by mid week! I signed up early this morning, about 10 minutes after it opened. This is my only full scheduled for next year. I have a double half Mary(2 halves on consecutive Saturday/Sunday weekend) in Sept I also plan on doing(registration not open yet and that one didn't sell out last year).
I've done all the SR races I could year this past season, time to go long!
LTH....you defianately leave yourself out on the course when you race, don't you? Impressive!
They re-routed the course. The usual course is a point-to-point from Big Sur to Carmel. The landslide occurred around mile 14. So we ended up running out from Carmel 12 miles, and then back. They made up the extra 2 miles by routing us through a state park. It was still a beautiful course, just not the signature point-to-point. The race really did an amazing job pulling over the race that year considering what happened. But I guess it goes to show - be prepared for anything!
I don't know anything about the race you chose, but I am sure you will do great.
Don't call me Buttercup!
I can't believe I am really going to do this! I remember learning about the history of marathon and why it is called what it is. I thought that soldier was crazy! And then watching the summer Olympics in LA in 1984, I thought certainly the marathon was the hardest of all events. How can people really run 26.2 miles?! Well, May 5th, I guess I will have a new appreciation for "crazy" soon enough! So that brings me to ask.....what was the biggest surprise or unexpected part of your first marathon experience?
I can't believe I am really going to do this! I remember learning about the history of marathon and why it is called what it is. I thought that soldier was crazy! And then watching the summer Olympics in LA in 1984, I thought certainly the marathon was the hardest of all events. How can people really run 26.2 miles?!
Well, May 5th, I guess I will have a new appreciation for "crazy" soon enough!
So that brings me to ask.....what was the biggest surprise or unexpected part of your first marathon experience?
I've never run a marathon so I can't answer your question, just wanted to say Congrats for taking such a huge step, and I hope your training goes well! =)
Slow and steady wins the.... wait a second! I've been lied to!
OH-SO-COOL! You will love it, I'm quite certain. Training for and running a marathon is like going through pregnancy and giving birth. Most days you are happy you're doing this, anticipating the big day. Somes days you are tired, or even in pain, and you wonder what the eff went through your mind when you signed up for this. Then, it's your day of glory. The anxiety, the sweat, the realization that all the preparation is finally paying off for you. And a few hours later, you're done and so happy with yourself! You still hurt, of course, and swear you'll never do it again. But then, a few weeks later, the pain has gone away and you catch yourself dreaming about another one. I wish you a great training and deliv.. oops, I mean race!
OH-SO-COOL!
You will love it, I'm quite certain. Training for and running a marathon is like going through pregnancy and giving birth. Most days you are happy you're doing this, anticipating the big day. Somes days you are tired, or even in pain, and you wonder what the eff went through your mind when you signed up for this. Then, it's your day of glory. The anxiety, the sweat, the realization that all the preparation is finally paying off for you. And a few hours later, you're done and so happy with yourself! You still hurt, of course, and swear you'll never do it again. But then, a few weeks later, the pain has gone away and you catch yourself dreaming about another one. I wish you a great training and deliv.. oops, I mean race!
This is the best analogy ever.
~~~~~~~
Traci
I was surprised that I was able to run it just like I had trained. I wasn't really racing it I suppose, but I did have a respectable finish for my age group. Now that I try to hit goals at this distance, I end up with worse finish times. Maybe I should have stopped at the first one.
You're going to love the whole experience.
Congratulations on taking the 1st step. During my first marathon, I found the biggest surprise for me was how much better I felt during the second half of the race than the first half. I didn't feel like I was dogging it during the first half, but the 4 minute negative split says otherwise. Another surprise was how well training went. I never missed a mile of it.
I hope it all goes well for you!!
Have yet to run one, so no advice, but I just wanted to say congrats! How exciting! I look forward to following your training.
"...You have to have faith, to know that you can do what you want to do." -Joseph Nzau