Notes
Santa Cruz half marathon. Gorgeous day, fantabulous beateous course. Wind seemed to often be a strong headwind, but the sun shining more than compensated. A little muddy on the trail section (peaceful beautiful section watching waves crashing in isolated area, running alone), but was probably worse for later runners. Hillier than expected, but inclines were mostly short. Amazing miracle that the legs after of a week of hissy fits responded and ran well. But that is how it works, right?! Definitely played games with my confidence! I wondered if this magic would occur, but didn't really believe it until it was happening.
I pushed very hard to maintain my pace, but in the last mile for some reason I wasn't willing to enter the next level of pain to challenge a woman who passed me. My finishing kick caught me up to 1 second behind her! But then by chip time, I was still 4 second back, so I would have had to really kill it to get 5 seconds ahead of her kick!
Amazing to actually be in the top 3, sure it is a small race with not many fast women, but still satisfying!! Finally have a race that represents all the hard track work lately.
GREAT to see the long lost Liat at the race, such a neat person. And full circle, she was the one to drag me into my first races of Bridge to Bridge and Bay to Breakers in 2006.
Started out too fast despite best efforts not to (mile 1 = 6:10). Realized the error of my ways and backed off, not worrying about place and slipped into a far third. I started to see woman #2 at around mile 9, and she was fading, so I passed her not long after. Kept #2 with the help of a guy with a great pace; we took turns surging, unaware of the lady behind me until she zoomed past in the last mile, when I was trying but failing to kick. I finally got some hootspa the last 1/4 mile or so and roared into the finish!
LOVED hearing my dad and Toffer cheering at the finish and finishing the last few steps on the sand. FUN, WONDERFUL DAY!