Running the Half
For the last year I’ve been running a lot, about 20 miles a week on average. I run because it makes me feel good, reduces stress, gets me outside and keeps me in shape. But I also run because I can, and being that I was never into sports as a kid, its the first time I’m actually OK at an outdoor activity which is also a competitive sport.
This weekend I ran my first half-marathon, and actually my first race period. I’ve never done a 5k or 10k before, I just decided to skip those and go straight to the 13.1 miles.
Monday I ran the Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon. The race started at 7AM, but we had to arrive by 6AM. The night before I couldn’t sleep at all. Partly out of nerves, and partly because Amy wasn’t with me (as she’s 8 months pregnant right now). I knew I could run the distance, as two weeks ago I did a full “dress rehearsal” through Burbank and Glendale, that included much more hills than this run had. As well, Saturday I did four miles of hills in Griffith Park to prep for the hills on the run (I had heard they were brutal. They weren’t).
I arrived at the event at 6AM and waited around, people watching. There are an interesting set of people who run these things it seems. Marathon veterans, kids from local cross-country teams, etc.
The actual event start was anti-climactic. We lined up in the chute and at 7AM the horn sounded and everyone was off. The adrenaline and the pack mentality made me go way faster than my usual pace, so I finished the first three miles in about 26 minutes. To conserve energy I pulled back a but to an 8.5 minute mile and stayed there for most of the race.
A few things came to mind during the race:
- The hills weren’t bad at all. Very gentle and very little grade.
- Goo packets (those flavored glucose things) are horrific for my stomach. They effected my time
- Take water when its given
- You get tunnel vision at some points where you completely loose track of where you are, who you’re running near, etc. It was nice. I zoned out completely from mile 8 to 10.
All in all, the race was great. I came in at 2:04, which was longer than I wanted. I would have had under two hours had the Goo not given me a stomach ache. I felt great at the end, was able to pick up my pace for the final mile and nothing felt better than crossing that finish line. I can understand how this becomes addictive. I like running on weekends as a solitary experience, but the race felt even better because of the people cheering us on, the fellow runners as well as being outside and enjoying the scenery.
It was also funny that this is the first time I ever remember my parents cheering me on for something I was actually enjoying doing. This wasn’t soccer, which I hated. It’s funny that at 30, I finally participated in a sport that I was enjoying and doing well in. I guess you have to start sometime. At least I gave my parents the opportunity to be “sports parents” in their 50s/60s.
My next challenge I suppose is a full marathon. My plan (given I have a baby coming soon, this might change) is to run the Rock and Roll Las Vegas marathon in Vegas on December 6, as part of Team Challenge, which benefits the Chrons & Colitis Foundation. Since half my family is touched by Chrons disease, that seems appropriate. Plus Zappos is sponsoring.
See you in Vegas? Who’s with me?
Thanks for the post. It was a fun read. : )
I married into a family of runners. My father-in-law just ran his first marathon (he’s pushing 50, can’t remember his exact age) and finished in around 3.25 hours. Personally, I’m not sure I could run a quarter marathon in that time.
Not sure if I mentioned the three seconds I saw you in DC, but I’ll be having an Uberbaby in September and am also excited about the whole parenthood thing. Difference in our case is the mama is the runner (she’s turned to swimming while pregnant), not me. I just do code sprints. ; )
Anyways, baby is a girl and will be named Eowyn. Can’t wait to meet her!
For your first half, you rocked it! Congrats!
I’m thinking about coming down for the Long Beach Half in October, you should do it for part of your training for your full.
I’m a fan of Clif products, but everyone is different. Since fueling is must during a full marathon, be sure to test out different brands on your training runs.
Congrats. Good to hear how much fun it was.
I’m a marathon newbie too. Will be running my first 1/2 across Golden Gate Bridge in July. Hope to do a full later this year.
Best of luck with the baby. You’ll probably want to be flexible with the training schedule once the baby arrives (a week of 3am feedings can do a number on the mind and body).
On the other hand, running with a jog-stroller is lots of fun. All you have to do is brace the baby’s neck (there are special pillows for that) and make sure it’s protected from the sun & hydrated. You get a run in, baby falls asleep in no time, and mom appreciates the break. Everyone’s happy.
Congrats on the 13. A full marathon is more like running 3 x 13s tho. If you have any biomechanical problems I’d advise against it.
I royally fucked my legs up doing a marathon but I don’t regret it.
My first and last marathon was Big Sur in ’94. Contrary to my delusions that set in around mile 20, Elle McPherson was not waiting for me at the finish line. Bummer.
I did, however, manage to summon up a sprint after seeing said finish line after cresting that nasty little hill at mile 26 and pass the poofter with the electric blue tights I’d seen at the start and finish at 3:59:59. Not bad for Big Sur I’m told.
If you’re nuts enough to do one anyway, my advice is to pick an epic, scenic marathon so you can draw from the scenery around you when you feel like quitting or walking.
I could have done LA a month or so before but I couldn’t think of an uglier city -barring Vegas- that would be worth the pounding I knew my body would take. Doing Big Sur, I knew I’d have great memories if it was my only marathon.
A few years ago I thought about doing another and was looking at Tahiti. Maybe when I get over this bum hip that’s kept me from running for a year; and medical insurance.