Post Boston

I saw the first post about the Boston (Marathon) attack on Facebook and was confused. I immediately tuned into the streaming radio coverage from Boston on my iPad.

First I worried about folks I knew that were out there. Next, I worried about the people affected. Lastly and in the most common way in which we experience empathy, I imagined what it would be like to be there.

The first explosion happened 4:09:52 after the start of the race - had I for some reason been running Boston I thought, I'd be an hour or more from the finish line - but my mom -who is my biggest support in the sport - would just be arriving at the finish line, as she has in each of my last 9 big races.

I couldn't correctly begin to imagine the chaos and fear of being there. Unlike in many other instances of national tragedies, where I can feel complex feelings, in this case, I only felt sad for the entire occurrence - and perhaps it's because I could imagine being there so much more than other situations.

During the day I wondered if the perpetrator was maybe a runner or close to the running community? Who else but a runner - even a bad runner like myself - would know what Boston means to the sport?! Heck, when a runner speaks the word 'Boston' s/he only refers to The Marathon most of the time. Boston to any serious runner (in commitment not necessarily in achievement) at some point has set their sight on qualifying for Boston.

This morning I went for my first run in a couple of weeks.

(My last run was a sunrise run in Maui)

While I was on my run today I thought about the people there. Starting with runners - although we're not all of a same mold, marathoners have characteristics we share and these include:

Passion: Something drives us. Whatever it is, we have an endless supply of it.
Determination: Defeat is unacceptable to us
Realism and Optimism: We know how to gauge danger in a way, but hope to push the limits to the very edge.
We know what it's like to be alone. In order to race a marathon you needed to have trained for miles and miles alone. This means, that marathoners, I believe are thinkers because with or without music at some point you're alone with your thoughts and they carry you for hours.

Each one of us, then has these fascinating traits - mind you, I have learned that your biggest strengths, when magnified is your biggest weakness so at often we're seen as obstinate, dangerous and relentless - but hey! Additionally many of us have either willingly garnered support of friends and family, or reluctantly, but they - them - those around us that come to watch, are lit and somehow energized by any of those components. All of these thoughts compounded means that the area was and was looked upon as full of excitement, hope enthusiasm, passion, determination, optimism, and profoundness and suddenly it was blown away.

I really enjoyed this blog post that talked about the spectators. It's conclusion was right on the money: "One of the many puzzling aspects of yesterday's attacks was the question of what, exactly, the perpetrators thought they'd accomplish by targeting what basically amounts to a celebration of human tenacity. If anything, the tragedy in Boston will further solidify the bond between runner and spectator. And when the Chicago marathon happens this October, I'll show up to run harder, and they'll show up to cheer louder. If anyone thought this attack would discourage the runners or the watchers, they've clearly never been to a marathon."

To best encapsulate my reflections on this event, the articles, news and posts that I have seen, this nails it: "If you're trying to defeat the human spirit, marathoners are the wrong group to target."

Pier to Peak: ✔

Spent 75 real training miles in August, 52 base building miles in July and 27 'getting into some sort of routine' miles in June. A total of 154 miles later I was 'ready' for Pier to Peak in Santa Barbara. In June and up through mid-July, I was still doubting I'd sign up or that I'd be able to train. By mid-July, I said, what the heck and just signed up. 

The race was good, ended up doing quite a bit of walking up there. Kudos to Jake Clinton, race organizer. Some miles were grueling...I'm thinking numbers #9 and #10. In mile 12 I posted my 5th fastest mile of this race...go figure! 

Finished the 2 water bottles I carried w/half gatorade, half water, and got one refilled with water once for a total of a lot of water! (3 Liters)

The race itself was very well organized. I'd like to complain that I never understood the course map...but the truth is, I think I never wanted to understand how exactly it would all work out, I knew the basics; Sterns Wharf to La Cumbre Peak. 4000 feet elevation gain and 13.1 miles was enough knowledge, no need to know the hill grades or elevation gains per mile. To be honest, I didn't look at the temperature either. I was concerned when there was no marine layer to be found at the start, so I never checked the weather. There was plenty of food and drink at the end and I met some great folks along the way. I wouldn't recommend this as a first ever race, but I think it's challenging enough for the spirit. Some races are made for the legs, this one is far more for the heart; not the beating one, but the motivational one. 

After having finished this race I'm left with one lesson: maybe you don't train perfectly for everything, some things you just have to do 'em and get them done. As a perfectionist control freak, this is a tough lesson, but almost liberating. What other mountain do I have to conquer without a memorized course map? 

The more dangerous and almost impossible byproduct of this race is this question: If I can finish this race, what other race can I do that I've been afraid of? 

(DailyMile Training Log: http://bit.ly/R0ehKg)

Just doing it - why not? Pier to Peak

Four years ago I learned of the Pier to Peak half marathon that takes place on Labor Day weekend in Santa Barbara, that gains 3996 feet in elevation, starting at the dolphins by the beach and ending at La Cumbre Peak. Because of my political involvment,one of the highlights of Labor Day is that it marks the unofficial beginning to campaign season. While this tough race seemed appealing it looked as if though it required a lot of heavy training, so I put it on the list of races to run in future years.

Two summers later, I began training for the race for a couple of weeks. One day I asked a friend to drive the course with me just to check it out. The road was never ending and we don't in fact know if we ever reached the top or not. I psyched out and scratched it off the list of races to run.

The next summer I vacillated a serious consideration of the race. It was a campaign season, and interesting one since I didn't work on a campaign in the same capacity as previous years, but training would've been hard. I figured I'd make a decision within the first week of August. The decision was simple and it was a definitive NO - since I fractured my shoulder on August 1st. That would leave training and all running out of the question.

This year I posted on Facebook that I was thinking about doing it...Ms. Kristiana said something to the effect of - just do it. I considered it a little longer and on July 29th I finally signed up. While I had spent most of July building a base mileage I started 'training' at the beginning of August. I'll be able to get up to an 11 mile run in by the week before the race, but I don't know where I can work on hills... 

Jude, a friend told me that her and her then- boyfriend ran it and were almost crawling toward the end. But recommended it as worthwhile. A couple of friends mentioned on Facebook that they're doing it for a second, and some even a third time. While it sounds like a grueling race, it must also be rewarding one to finish.

This is the course map:

And here's a video of the race last year.

If it goes well - meaning that I finish, I think I'll be in good timing to train for the SB full in November. The first 2 loops (10 miles) of the full is the same loop that I ran daily for YEARS! The second half of that race is the 'SB half marathon' which I've already run before, so I'd have home court advantage to finally PR.

P2P will be my 7th half marathon, and one that will be plenty challenging, I am anticipating. I'm still really excited about it - it's my nerdy way of celebrating my 28th year. This upcoming year will be one of just doing things! Not in a wreckless manner, but with just enough caution to not be deemed wreckless, but not as measured as my M.O. We'll see how this approach goes.

Runners don't always like to go run...

Let me clear up a misconception. For as excited and disciplined of a crowd as we are - Recreational Runners - we don't always like to go run.

Case in point. My 5:30AM alarm went off, my skylight was pitch dark. My 6:00AM alarm went off and I managed to turn it off. At 7:30AM my sister Facetimed my iPad, and I pretended not to hear it, so she Facetimed my iPhone.


Okay, I was up and contemplated staying in the flannel sheets a little longer on this average winter day. But finally after much consideration, I got my butt in running pants, grabbed a sweatshirt from the clean laundry got my shoes on, and was grudgingly out the door.

Because it was late, I could only do a short run, which means it had to be faster than a longer leisurely run...

It is true that runners love running but the act of having to go on a run: getting out of bed, getting dressed and out the door is a whole different story from time to time. Or am I wrong?

New Year's Resolution 5k

The weather was perfect for one of the larger road races in town. More than a hundred runners were ready for a beachside race.

Because my debit card number had been stolen and recently cancelled, I mailed in our check for my sister's and my registration on Thursday and was assured by the race organizer that it would be received by the time of the race - but it wasn't so with only seven minutes to go before the race start my pukey sister and I reregistered... We got to start on time although my time wasn't impressive to say the least, I'm glad we were out there to start off the year on the right foot!

5k 1/1/2012 - 35:58:5

Cheers to hoping that you started 2012 doing some running, without a hangover or any other hitch.

Location:Santa Barbara

2011- 2 Halves, no fulls, plenty of of 5ks

{EAV:6e225f1fbc9f8912}
2011 was a fun, laid back, mediocre racing year for me, however living in Santa Barbara every year is a great running year!

I'm happy to report there were NO running injuries this year. Yay. While I did break my shoulder and it did put me out for a few months, it was not running related.

2011 Summary

- Logged 350 miles - that's pretty low.
- I ran Ojai 2 Ocean and the Las Vegas half marathon. Loved the first, but not the second.
- Downgraded my Montecito half marathon to a 10k cause it was so unbelievably unorganized!
- Ran a lot more of the nite moves than I have before (4 or 5) then I broke my shoulder and couldn't continue.
- Missed State Street Mile - I want to say because I was sick?
- Sold my Wine Country Half Bib at the last possible minute because I double booked it as the same day as a friend's wedding.
- No PRs.

In 2012 I'm looking for a few things
- Another full marathon
- PR in a full marathon
- I'm considering a 10 mile trail race
- A 5k PR
- No running or other injuries that will put me out for anything longer than an average cold would...

One of the highlight of 2011 was the medal rack my best friend made, so I could display my medals :)


Cheers to hoping that you had as good of a running year as I did if not better!






{EAV:6e225f1fbc9f8912}

Vegas Bound - Rock & Roll 1/2

Before this week, I had run a total of 15 miles since Aug 1st. Well really Sep 17ish. (I fractured my shoulder which derailed training and running the Pier to Peak and the SB 1/2. Last week I ran 5.5 miles because I hardly have time to breathe, right now. After I pulled 2 back to back 12 hour days of just sitting on my comp, I had to get out an run on the sbcc track and had a lot of fun. I'm very impressed I wasn't off kilter more. I feel like I can get to 13 by the time 7 weeks roll around.

Either way I signed up for this big race and booked a place at the Stratosphere cause I could use doing something fun this year. I think this will be great! Yay. It's a night time run on the strip - probably cold but maybe not TOO cold.