| Seq |
Race |
Date |
City |
ST |
Finish
Time |
Distance |
Bib |
Overall
Place |
Sex
Place |
Age
Place |
Remarks |
| 287 |
2013 Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon |
05/19/13 |
Cleveland |
OH |
5:36 |
Marathon |
2018 |
|
|
|
Cleveland, Ohio //// My 11th state. |
| 286 |
"Running with Mom" / Mother's Day Marathon |
05/12/13 |
Marina Vista Park |
CA |
7:01 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Hey !!! I have done 104 marathons in the last 365 days. 104 marathons is 2 per week for 52 weeks. Since that is "Double Titanium", I should have 20 Maniac Stars. / / / / / / / / / / Tomorrow, I leave for Cleveland, Ohio. Next Sunday, I'll be running the Cleveland Rite Aid Marathon. I'll also visit the Rock 'n Roll Museum. And, attend an Indians baseball game. Unfortunately, rain is predicted for the entire weekend. So, Boo Hoo. |
| 285 |
"Spring Blast" Marathon |
05/11/13 |
Bolsa Chica State Beach |
|
6:32 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Lots going on in good ole Huntington Beach today, besides the "Spring Blast" Marathon - put on by Rocket Racing. / / / / / Team-In-Training ( T-N-T ) had a marathon, full and a half. / / / / / Mothers Against Drunk Driving ( MADD ) had a walk-a-thon. Kind of fitting with Mother's Day happening tomorrow. 600 participants, raising $114.000 for charity. |
| 284 |
O.C. Marathon |
05/05/13 |
Costa Mesa/Newport |
CA |
5:42 |
Marathon |
279 |
|
|
|
ONE YEAR !!! 104 MARATHONS. / / / / / / / / I now have 104 marathons within a year ( May 6, 2012 -to- May 5, 2013 ). / / / / / / / / / / / This was my 7th consecutive running of the O.C. Marathon ( 2007-2013 ) / / / / / / / / / / SUNDAY MORNING: Arrived at Marathon Lot B at 2:45am. This lot is right next to the Bus Shuttle, and just east of the Finish line. From 3:00 to 4:00am, I took a nap. At 4:15, I boarded the bus. I arrived at the Fashion Square Start Area at 4:30am. / / / / / / / / / / PROS: The 5:30am Start was a major plus. This means that I can finish before 11:30am. / The Bus Shuttle was quick and efficient. This is a must for Point-to-Point marathons. / The Weather was perfect. / The predicted rain never arrived. / / / / / / / / / CONS: The Expo was a big waste of time. / $5 parking for Expo and $10 parking for Marathon. / Poor direction at the Half/Full split. / Traffic on the way back to the 55 Fwy was bumper to bumper for blocks. This was the case both for the Expo on Saturday and the Marathon on Sunday. / / / / / / / / AILMENTS: My mid back ( right side ) tightened during the 2nd half. / / The callous on right foot needs grinding down. / / My lower right shin ( above instep ) tweaked slightly during mile 26. / / My inside left thigh tightened briefly during mile 22. / / My right knee periodically tightened ( above the patella ). / / / / / / / How to avoid the horrenous O.C. Fairgrounds traffic jams: The very best way to escape from the O.C. Fairgrounds is to take Merrimac Way or Fair Drive west to Harbor Blvd. Then take Harbor Blvd south to the 55 Fwy. Get on, and take 55 Fwy north to City of Orange. // Or Take Baker Street east to the 55 Fwy. / / / / / / / Ran segments today with Bethany Schramm, Haywood Crowder and most of the race with Charlie Alewine. |
| 283 |
"Blast the Beach" Marathon |
05/04/13 |
Sunset Beach |
CA |
7:08 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
My 40th marathon of 2013. / / / / / / Kentucky Derby Day. The favorite, "Orb", won the 139 running at Churchill Downs. / / / / / / The infamous Huntington Beach Wind was brutal this morning, coming out of the southeast. / / / / / / After the marathon, I drove over to the O.C. Marathon Expo. / / In the future, to avoid traffic jams and parking problems, I will take Harbor to the 55 Freeway, and park residential off of Harbor and Merrimac. Taking Harbor is a 1,000 times better than using Fair Blvd. / / / / / / Tomorrow is the O.C. Marathon. |
| 282 |
Moses' May Day Celebration |
05/01/13 |
Anaheim Hills / Santa Ana River Trail |
CA |
7:19 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 4th time running the Santa Ana River Trail course. / / When will I learn that this course requires gaiters? The bikepath is 100% asphalt. But many stretches have an alternate dirt path that is preferrable. / / I had to stop 3 times to clean out my shoes. / / / / / / / / Charlie Alewine, Dale Roberts, Haywood Crowder, Moses Christian, Rajan Christian, Karen Vollan, Robert Manon, Dee Christian, Wayne Cottrell were all participants. / / / / / / / / INJURY UPDATE: My right foot problem flared up briefly, but mildly. It appeared during mile 12, but was gone by mile 13. / / This time, it was more the lower tibia than the instep. A possible cause might be the strain on the shin area from power walking. / / / / / / / / This course, 100% along the Santa Ana River Trail - ( The West Loop: Run 1/4 mile past Riverdale Park on the west end, heading toward Huntington Beach and the Pacific Ocean ) and ( East Loop: Run just before Gypsum Canyon on the east end, heading toward the San Bernadino Mountains - Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, and Big Bear ). / / / / / / / / This was my 39th marathon in the first 4 months of 2013. / / I feel somewhat fatigued. I am curious as to how I will do this Sunday at the O.C. Marathon. My plan is to give the O.C. a major effort. If I don't run a sub-6 hour ( at least a 5:55:00 ), I may have to re-evaluate my plans for 2013. / / I already have 103 marathons in a 365 day year. It may not be worth the strain to do that number in a calendar year ( 2013 ). There really is no difference between a "365 Day Year" and a "Calendar Year". |
| 281 |
"Blast Off" Marathon |
04/30/13 |
Santa Monica / Venice |
CA |
7:02 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
ONE YEAR !!! 103 MARATHONS. / / / / / / / / I now have 103 marathons within a year ( May 1, 2012 -to- April 30, 2013 ). / / / / / / / /
This was my 13th time running an official marathon along the beaches of Venice, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and Will Rogers for Rocket Racing Productions. / / This race began just below Crescent Bay Park ( Bay Ave & The Strand ). / / / / / / / / / / / /
INJURY REPORT UPDATE. April 30: The right foot problem ( Instep ) that menaced me 10 days ago is fortunately no longer troublesome. What a relief. I was really worried that it would be a major on-going problem. / / Fortunately, it was never severe. It was intermittent. It was not localized. The tightness tended to move around the top of the foot to just below the tibia. / / My guess is that it was a mild strain or very mild sprain. Could have been caused by the curling and twisting of my right foot while sleeping. // I am 6'3' and my new bed is only 6 feet. Ergo, my feet dangle over the the end of the bed. / / Fortunately, it has totally gone away. / / / / / / / / / /
BOSTON UPDATE: 3 deaths, 264 injured, 17 critical. / / Marathon stopped at 4:09:47 into the race. The race was stopped with 5,742 runners still on the course. 17,584 did cross the finish before the carnage. //// BAA is working on giving finishing times to those who did not cross the finish line. / / / / / / / / / SPORTS PIONEER: For the first time in a major sport, an active player, NBA player Jason Collins, has come out as gay.
|
| 280 |
"Coast to Coast" Marathon |
04/28/13 |
Santa Monica / Venice |
CA |
7:33 |
Marathon |
1872 |
|
|
|
This was my 38th marathon of 2013. Maybe it was a lack of sleep or whatever, but I just didn't have "it" today. / / / / / / / / / / This was my 12th time running The Santa Monica-Venice-Will Rogers course. / / / I truly love running the Santa Monica-Venice course. It is my favorite venue of all the Southern California low-key races. / / / But I just didn't have it today. The last 10 miles felt like the last 10 miles of a 100 Mile Ultra. I just had no "Oomph", no energy. I was totally drained. I had no aches, no pains, no injuries. I was just flat out fatigued. / / / / / / / / GOOD NEWS: The right foot ( instep ) problem from last weekend was not an issue. Fortunately, it was a temporary malady probably resulting from sleeping improperly with my right foot hanging and twisting over the edge of the bed. / / / / / / / / MORE GOOD NEWS: My bruised ribs from 2 separate running injuries are no longer a problem. It took about 3 weeks for the recovery. / / / / / / / / I am scheduled for 3 marathons this coming week, including a more intense O.C. Marathon. / / I will have to be careful not to pack too much into my schedule in my current fatigued physical and mental state. Heaven forbid, I may have to bow out of one of the three marathons in order to aid my recovery and mental state. But maybe not. We'll play it by ear. / / / / / / / / Today ( April 28) is Sovereignty Day in Japan. 61 years ago ( 1952 ), the Post-WWII U.S. Occupation of Japan ended. |
| 279 |
"Running the Trail" Marathon |
04/27/13 |
Central Park, Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
A New Route: Take the 22 Fwy (west) to Goldenwest Blvd. Take Goldenwest (south) to Slater. Take Slater (west) to Edwards. Take Edwards (south) to Central Park St. Take Central Park Street (east) to the "Cathy May Restaurant" parking lot. / / However, after parking for a few minutes, I decided to park on a residential street. This was due to vagrants and other reprobates roaming around the park. / / / / /
This was my 10th time running a Central Park Marathon in Huntington Beach. / / 10 Loops around Central Park ( 2.62 miles per ). / / / / / My right foot ( instep ) wasn't a problem today. It had totally ruined my Salt Lake Marathon last week. / / / / / / Country& Western great George Jones passed away at age 81. I guess that he finally "stopped loving her today", for real this time. / / / / / / /
The 8 marathoners today were hard corp Charlie Alewine veterans ( Myself, Charlie Alewine, Dale Roberts, Steve Hernandez, Jim Grimes, Haywood Crowder, Karen Vollan, and Robert Manon ). / / / / / /
This was an unassisted marathon. So, all runners had to provide their own re-fueling and aid. I do that most of my races anyway. So I was in my normal modus operandi. Ergo, no Gatorade or Gu. But we did get a nice spinner medal for participating. So that was kind of neat. / / / / / / /
Pre-race: Stopped at Goldenwest Blvd & Warner for Pre-race hazelnut java ( Extra Mile Standard Station ). / / / / Post-race, I got a protein-rich turkey burger at Carl's Jr. / / / / / / /
No strain today. Ran a long slow 7:16:00 marathon in my recovery mode. I just wanted to get the miles in. / / / / / / / Next Sunday, I have the Orange County Marathon. So, I want to be well-rested since I plan to run O.C. in 5:45:00. / / / / / / / |
| 278 |
"Can't get Enough" Marathon |
04/19/13 |
Santa Ana River Trail / Anaheim Hills |
CA |
7:02 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
ONE YEAR !!! 102 MARATHONS. / / / / / / / / I now have 102 marathons within a year ( April 21, 2012 -to- April 19, 2013 ). / / / / / / / /
The Santa Ana River Trail runs from Green River and the eastern mountains down to Huntington Beach and the Pacific Ocean in the west. / / / / / /
This was my 3rd time running an official marathon along the Santa Ana River Trail for Charlie Alewine Racing. / / This race began at Yorba Regional Park. / / / / / /
Parked just off of Huxford Lane by the softball fields. Then walked through the equestrian corral over to the Santa Ana River Trail. / / / /
The Usual Suspects: Charlie Alewine, Jim Grimes, Steve Hernandez, Haywood Crowder, Dale Roberts, Robert Manon, and myself. / / / / / /
I located a Starbucks that opens at 4:30am, just off the River trail. Located at Yorba Linda & La Palma. / / / / / /
The RAGNAR RELAY from Huntington Beach to San Diego was being run at the same time that we were on the Santa Ana River Trail. So, we had plenty of company. / / / / / / /
INJURY REPORT. April 19: My right foot bothered me after 4 miles. The top of my foot felt cramped. / / This is the INSTEP of the foot. Probably a strain of the posterior tibial tendon. / / It bothered me, on and off, for the last 22 miles of the marathon. It is more tightness than pain. If I had to call it pain, it would be dull and very mild. It never worsened, and at times completely went away. But I am concerned. / / / / / / /
Although not entirely necessary, I plan to wear trail shoes and gaiters the next time I am on the Santa Ana River Trail. There are stretches where I prefer to run along the dirt path. / / / / / /
LONDON: The London Marathon starts in about 36 hours ( Sunday 1:00am 4/21/13 ). I certainly hope that we don't have a repeat of Boston. / / / / / / |
| 277 |
Back to the Beach |
04/14/13 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
7:06 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
THE Calendar Year 2013 "100 MARATHON" QUEST: 34 marathons down and 66 to go. / / / / On the other hand, I already have 101 marathons for a 365 day year. / / But now, I want to achieve over 100 marathons in a specific Calendar year ( 2013 ). / / / / / In a way, I think today's marathon at Marina Vista was in honor of Annette Funicello, who passed away last weekend. "Back to the Beach" was Annette's last movie in 1987 just prior to her learning that she had Multiple Sclerosis. / / / Former Mouseketeer Annette was basically my age, she was 70 years old, and me approaching 70 in 3 months. So, you might say that we grew up together, in a way. / / / / / I ran a good part of today's marathon with my two running pals, Jim Grimes and Charlie Alewine. / / / / Jim, Charlie and I were surprised that there wasn't a bigger turnout of runners. My wild guess was that since this was April 14th, most people are probably trying to complete their income tax forms, which are due tomorrow. / / / / / / / / / / Tomorrow, April 15th will be the 117th BOSTON MARATHON. Fortunately, I now get Universal Sports. So I will be able to watch the complete Boston Marathon on the telly. / / / / Boston: Shalene Flanagan = 4th female, Kara Goucher = 6th // Jason Hartman = 4th male. / / / / / / / / TWO EXPLOSIONS at Boston Marathon finish line. / / 3 deaths, 176 injured, 17 critical. / / Marathon stopped at 4:09:47 into the race. The race was stopped with 5,742 runners still on the course. 17,584 did cross the finish before the carnage. |
| 276 |
"Beach Run" Marathon |
04/13/13 |
Santa Monica / Venice |
CA |
7:04 |
Marathon |
1900 |
|
|
|
ONE YEAR !!! 101 MARATHONS. / / / / / / / / I now have 101 marathons within a year ( April 14, 2012 -to- April 13, 2013 ). / / / / / / / / This marathon was directed by Mark & Michelle of Rocket Racing productions. / / / The course is one of my favorites, going from Venice to Santa Monica to Pacific Palisades to Will Rogers State Beach. / / / The Start Line is just below "Crescent Bay Park" at Bay Avenue and The Strand. This is about 1/2 mile south of the Santa Monica Pier. / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / The 100 Marathons in a Year Club ( Eight members ): 1. Larry Macon = 157 /////// 2. Jim Simpson = 132 /////// 3. Yolanda Holder = 120 /////// 4. Traviss Willcox = 114 /////// 5. Angela Tortorice = 106 /////// 6. Vincent Ma = 105 /////// 7. Joe Reilly = 103 /////// 8. Steve Hughes = 100 / / / / / / / / / Haywood Crowder and Australia's Trent Morrow will probably join the club at the end of 2013. Haywood is shooting for 101 and Trent is shooting for 160 ( 160, Yikes !!! ). |
| 275 |
"Marina's Birthday" Marathon |
04/12/13 |
Crystal Cove, Newport Beach |
CA |
7:07 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
ONE YEAR !!! 100 MARATHONS !!! / / / / / The Crystal Cove Marathon is personally historic because it is my "100th marathon" in the past 365 days. That is 100 marathons within one year's time. / / / Of course, my current goal for 2013 is to run 100 marathons within the calendar year of 2013. / / / To me, a year is a year. There is no real difference. "A rose is a rose is a rose," so says Gertrude Stein. But somehow, a calendar year such as 2013 just sounds better. / / / / / / / / / /
Running a marathon next to Crystal Cove Park was a totally new venue for me. And what a fantastic venue !! / / / Although not in the Cove Park itself, this course does start just east of the historic Crystal Cove Cottages in Newport Beach. / / / The iconic cottages were built during the 1930s and 1940s as a seaside colony.
The Marathon was in honor of Marina White's 27th birthday. Marina is the assistant to the race director Charlie Alewine. / / / In a way, the marathon had a party atmosphere. One of our aid stations was the Crystal Cove Shake Shack. Rather than Gatorade, however, I grabbed a cup of java instead. / / / / /
The course started at the Crystal Cove Beach parking lot at Reef Point Drive & Pacific Coast Highway. / / We basically ran the Crystal Cove Trail, east to west and back. / / It was a simple out/back loop of 5.5 miles. Doing this 4+ times resulted in the marathon distance of 26.2 miles. / / / / / / / / /
GETTING THERE: ( 18 miles ) - - - 22 Fwy - to - 55 Fwy - to - 73 Fwy - Mac Arthur Blvd - to - Pacific Coast Hwy - to - PCH & Reef Point - turn into - Crystal Cove's Promenade parking lot.- . |
| 274 |
Run the Dove Marathon |
04/07/13 |
Dove Canyon, Rancho Santa Marguerita |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Dove Canyon Marathon #3 ( 2009 / 2012 / 2013 ). / / / / Entire course was run on a hilly and challenging out/back with scenic views of the canyon and the mountains surrounding the Dove Canyon community. / / / / I only run Dove about once a year, if that. I am not a big fan of rugged trail runs with high elevation gains. / / Also, I am especially not a big fan of a course that has signs saying "beware of mountain lions" and "keep going at your own risk". / / But the course has been cut down from a 13.1 loop to a 6.55 loop. / / This means that I don't have to go up high where the mountain lions roam. / / / / This time at Dove Canyon, I power hiked half the course with trekking poles. / / The reason for the power hike was that I certainly do enjoy hiking. / / Another reason is that the use of trekking poles takes stress off of my lower body, and allows me to use my upper body strength. / / Using poles is like running on four legs instead of two. / / / / Today's marathon power-hike was totally therapeutic. / / / / / / / / / / /
22 Fwy East to 55 Fwy South to 5 Fwy South to Oso Parkway East to Antonio Parkway North to Alas de Paz East to Plano Trabuco South to Dove Canyon Drive. 27 miles. / / / / / / / / / / INJURY REPORT: Took a tumble today. Fortunately, no structural damage. Just bloody abrasions on right knee. Also jarred my sore right ribs. I think that I bruised another rib, I also bruised my chest plate. / / / / / / / / / / The Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, dies at 87 years. / / Annette Funicello died at the age of 70. |
| 273 |
Marathon Madness |
04/06/13 |
Bolsa Chica State Beach |
CA |
7:26 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
The Quest for 100: Calendar year 2013 - - - 30 marathons complete, 70 marathons to go. / / / / / / / Ran Sunset Beach - Bolsa Chica - Huntington today with Rocket Racing. / / / / / This is the 3rd that I have run this course with Rocket. However, I have done it well over 30 times with Charlie Alewine. / / / / / / / At mile 22, i hooked up with "Barefoot" Ken Bob Saxton for 2 miles. / / / / / / / Also had some good conversations with Mark and Michelle ( race directors ). We talked about motivational speaker Tony Robbins. But then, Michelle & Mark had to leave for the San Luis Obispo Marathon tomorrow. |
| 272 |
Hoppin' Easter Marathon |
03/31/13 |
Lake Forest Aliso Creek, |
CA |
7:19 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY !!! / / / / / / / My 10th time running the Aliso Creek Bike Trail in Lake Forest. / / / / / 22 Fwy to 55 Fwy to 5 Fwy to EL TORO to PORTOLA to L.A. Fitness Parking lot along the Aliso Creek Bike Trail - - 20 mile trip. / / / / / / / Hardcore veterans at this race: Jim Simpson, Charlie Alewine, Joe Reilly, Steve Hernandez, Haywood Crowder. / / / / / / Today was my 29th marathon for 2013. I only need 71 more marathons to hit the magical "100" mark. / / / I am right on pace for the Century mark. / / / 29 marathons in 3 months plays out to 116 for the calendar year. / / / / / / / Great improvement over yesterday. I felt much stronger than yesterday. / / / My calf problem from yesterday disappeared overnight. / / / I think this validates my opinion that 5 days of rest and egregious inactivity after the Winter-7 ( plus L.A. Marathon ) was a major mistake and extremely detrimental to my recovery. / / / / / / / Today I ran mainly alone. But I did run about 10 miles with Jim Simpson, the career marathon record holder with 1,034 lifetime marathons to date. / / / Jim now leaves for his annual trip to the East Coast for 3 months of marathoning. I won't see him again until the Summer-7 ( June 28 - July 4 ). / / / / / / / 1958 Cy Young Award winner Bob Turley passed away today at the age of 82. Turley enabled the Yanks to defeat the Milwaukee Braves in 1958 World Series. |
| 271 |
Blaze the Canyon |
03/30/13 |
Sycamore Canyon, Riverside |
CA |
7:13 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Tough sledding today. / / After 8 consecutive marathons and 215 miles, I took the next 5 days off with no running. This may have been a major mistake. / / Today, after 5 days of no running, I was quite stiff. I should have at least done a few easy maintenance runs. / / / / / This morning, I ran/walked at a 16:30 pace. But I could feel the strain. / / I ran the last 15 miles with Jim Simpson. Otherwise, I would have slowed down to a 17:30 pace, and made this a total recovery run. / / I felt fine after I crossed the finish line. But 30 minutes later, when I got home and rolled out of my car, my right calf was threatening a total lock up. / / / / / I have another marathon tomorrow at Lake Forest. I plan to take that one as slow as possible in order to work out this stiffness, and bring my right calf back to normal. / / / / / I did not feel this worn out after my previous Sevens. Therefore, I am blaming it on the 5 days rest. / / / / / / / INJURY REPORT: 3 days ago, I injured a couple of ribs on my right side. I believe that they were bruised rather than fractured. It is not that painful, and does not impact on my breathing. But i am concerned. |
| 270 |
Spring Seven, Day Seven |
03/24/13 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
7:43 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Finished !!! / / 8 marathons, in 8 days, in 8 cities, for a total of 210 miles. / / / My "Crazy 8" began last Sunday with the Los Angeles Marathon on St. Patricks Day. It then continued on for 7 more days with Charlie Alewine's Spring Seven. / / / / / / / In total, about 25 runners participated in the Spring-7. But only 11 actually did 7 full marathons for all 7 days. The other 15 runners did either all half marathons or a combination of half and full. / / / / / / / Sally Boles showed up on our last day to win today's marathon with a 3 hour plus performance. / / / / / / / Unlike the Summer-7 and Winter-7, this time around I was much better at sleeping. For the previous 2 Sevens, I averaged 3 hours per day. For the Spring-7, however, I was actually able to get an average of 4 hours for the first 4 days, and 6 hours for the last 3 days. / / / / / / Now, I have to work on the proper calorie intake. Overall, I am sure that I averaged the proper number of calories per day. But I should have spread them out evenly throughout the day, instead of packing them into just a few hours. |
| 269 |
Spring Seven, Day Six |
03/23/13 |
Belmont Shore, Long Beach |
CA |
8:44 |
50 km |
|
|
|
|
Day 6 of the Spring Seven. / / / Yesterday, the top of my right foot locked up at mile 24. This had me slightly worried because it remained cramped for the rest of the day and night. Fortunately, I woke up this morning with the absence of discomfort. / / I concluded that I should tie my running shoes extra loose, and I should have no more problems. / / During the first couple of weeks of Daylight Saving, the sun starts to crack through at about 6:15am. But it doesn't get comfortably light until about 6:30 am. Watching the sun come up while running a marathon along the ocean can be a surreal experience. / / / / / Today was picture day for the Spring Seven. As usual, I missed the photo-shoot. However, I did pick up my Spring Seven Hoodie, which I absolutely love. / / / / I felt inspired today, so I ran a 50K instead of a mere marathon. That may not have been a good idea since I still have one more marathon to run tomorrow. But, what the hell, I wanted to do it. "Go with the Experience." |
| 268 |
Spring Seven, Day Five |
03/21/13 |
Anaheim hills, Yorba Regional Park |
CA |
7:24 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Day 5 of Spring Seven. Each day I seem to get stronger. I have to admit that I was a hurtin pooch on day One, after having run major effort at the L.A. Marathon just 12 hours earlier. / / / This is the 2nd time that I have run the Yorba Regional course along the Santa Ana River trail. I absoulutely love this course. The only negative from my first Yorba marathon was the horrendous wind. But the Gods were with us today, as wind was never a factor. / / / Interestingly, the River Trail maintenance crew reported our course signage to the Anaheim Hills police. Their concern was that it may have been street gang graffitti. Apparently gangs hang out in the park during the night. And i did spy quite a bit of true gang graffitti on the side-walks, Baseball backstop, and restrooms. / / / / / One of my big problems during the Summer, Winter and Spring sevens is to get the proper amount of sleep. I could only average about 3 hours per night during the Summer and Winter Sevens. But I have been hitting 4 to 5 hours for the Spring Seven, with each day getting a little better. By Golly, I think that I am finally getting the knack of this thing. |
| 267 |
Spring Seven, Day Four |
03/21/13 |
Dockweiler Beach / Playa del Rey / Ballona Creek |
CA |
7:19 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Fortunately, I arrived at the race site super early. It was then that I discovered that the southern half of the course was blocked by construction along the bike path. / / This meant that the southern loop from Dockweiler to Manhattan Beach was a "No Go". / No fear, the race director just extended the northern loop to the distance of 3.28 miles ( back and forth, making a 6.55 loop ). We did this "6.55" four times and had a marathon. / / / / / We started at the Dockweiler parking lot just north of Imperial Blvd. / From there we ran through Playa del Rey, north to Marina del Rey and Ballona Creek. Once we hit Ballona Crk, we hooked right. We quickly took a left over the Ballona Bridge, and then ran east along the Ballona Creek Isthmus for about 3/4 of a mile. The east end of the isthmus was the turn-around at the 3.28 mile marker. Having done that, we then ran the 3.28 miles back to the startline at Dockweiler. |
| 266 |
Spring Seven, Day Three |
03/20/13 |
Sunset Beach, Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
From the evidence thus far, it appears that we will probably have at least 25 different competitors for the Spring Seven. It also appears that only 11 or 12 runners are actually doing 7 full-marathons in 7 days. The other runners are either doing all half-marathons, or a combination of halfs and fulls. Some are only participating on one or two days. / / / / / My friend Laura Sohasky joined us on Day 3 for the marathon. I believe that she will also appear on Day 7. / / Deo Javarata is expected to show on Day 6. / / Sally Boles will make her only appearance on Day 7. / / Chris Haines will probably be running only on Day 6. / / / On the otherhand, my pal Jim Tello appears to be doing 7 days of 50K. What a stud !!! / / / / / |
| 265 |
Spring Seven, Day Two |
03/19/13 |
Belmont Shore, Long Beach |
|
7:34 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Day #2 of Spring-7. / / / / Felt much better today than yesterday. / / / / Gastro-intestinal problems are starting to calm down. / / / / No other physical problems. So that's good news. / / / / This series of seven races could be called the "Senior Citizens Parade" with Jim Simpson (71), Haywood Crowder (70), Joe Reilly (69), Jim Grimes (64), Matthew Hamidullah (63), Jon Mahoney (60), and Dale Roberts (58). / / / / / Or it could be called "Tres Jaimes" for Jim Grimes, Jim Simpson, and Jim Tello. / / / / / Or, it called be called the "Couples retreat" for Jon and Sherry Mahoney, along with Chris Jones and Andrea Kooiman. |
| 264 |
Spring Seven, Day One |
03/18/13 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
8:06 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Today was Day One of Charlie Alewine's SPRING SEVEN. I was still recovering from yesterday's major effort at the L.A. Marathon. Therefore, I took it as easy as possible today, and finished with 8:06:45 ( 8/6/45 is Hiroshima day ). / / / / / My gastro-intestinal problems continued from yesterday ( bloating, gas, sour stomach, cramps, diarrhea, etc. / Basically the symptons were very mild, but anticipation of the worse had me slightly uneasy. / Ergo, I was popping Gas-X, Pepto, and Tagamet. / / / / / I am glad to see some of my pals running the Spring Seven: Jim Grimes, Jim Simpson, Dale Roberts and Jerk Langer. // Attempting to run 160 marathons in a year is Trent Morrow, who was also in attendance. // Also running are other pals: Marina White, Steve Hernanzez, Haywood Crowder, Chris Jones, Tony Nguyen, Karen Vollan, Andrea Kooiman, Jim Tello, Cheri & Jon Mahoney, Cassandra Johnson, Matthew Hamidullah, etc. / / / / / Running at a slow, measured pace for 8 hours was a good idea. I definitely feel that I will be very grateful tomorrow when I tackle Day Two. |
| 263 |
Los Angeles Marathon |
03/17/13 |
Los Angeles / Santa Monica |
CA |
6:16 |
Marathon |
17327 |
|
|
|
Happy St. Patrick's Day. / / / / / The 28th running of the L.A. Marathon. / / / / / The 4th consecutive "Stadium to the Sea" - 2010, 11, 12, 13. / / / / / 24,000 marathoners. The 2nd sell-ot ( 2010 & 2013 ). / / / / / My 10th Running ( 1986, 1987, 1990, 2007, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13 ). / / / / / / An amazing 185 legacy runners for the 28th running, a record for marathon legacies. / / / / / 3,000 Students-Run-LA, a great program for at-risk highschool and middle school youths. / / / / / The American record holder ( 2:19), Deena Kastor, 40 yrs, came in 3rd. / / / / / Female winner Alexsandra Duliba from Belarus also won the women's division, and also the gender challenge with a time of 2:26 - winning $50,000. The women have won the challenge 7 times. The men have won 5 times. The women had an 18:35 advantage. / / / / / Erick Mose ( Kenyan, naturally, won the men's marathon in 2:09. / / / / / The weather was absolutely perfect. The race started at Dodger Stadium in the low 50s, and finsished at the Santa Monica Pier ( Ocean & California ) in the high 50s. / / / / / Gastro-intestinal problems, although slight, had me concerned. But I had tablets of Gas-X, Tagamet, and Pepto-Bismol in my fuel belt. I survived until the end of the race. But then hit the porta-potties about 20 minutes after my finish. / / / / / 48 year old Colleen De Reuck finished in 5th place at 2:41. |
| 262 |
Rock the Marina |
03/10/13 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
6:44 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Another Double Weekend in the books. Saturday, running through Santa Monica and Venice Beach / Sunday, running through Long Beach. And the beat goes on. / / / / / / Daylight Saving started this morning ( March 10, 2nd Sunday in March ). Now, It doesn't get light until about 6:30am. / / / / / After I run a marathon in Long Beach ( Marina Vista or Belmont Shore ), I like to go over to 2nd Street for some Java and a Multi-grain Bagel. / / Within a few blocks, there is a Starbucks, a Peet's, a Coffee Bean, and a classic Polly's. / / / / / / Interior lower heel ( both feet ) are callused, and cracking. Could be from my inside heels rubbing on inside of my black running shoes. Anyway, started a vaseline treatment. / / / / / / / Quest for 100: 19 down, 81 to go. |
| 261 |
Beach Jam |
03/09/13 |
Santa Monica/Venice |
CA |
8:14 |
50 km |
1020 |
|
|
|
March Toward 100: 18 marathons down, 82 to go. / / / / / I absolutely love this course that starts at Bay Street & The Beach Strand, next to Crescent Bay Park. / / / / / / / I took new route to Santa Monica Pier. Instead of the 405 Fwy to the 10 Fwy ( 49 miles ), I took the 5 Fwy to the 10 Fwy ( 46 miles ). Not much difference, but the 5 Fwy is only practical in light traffic. / / / / / I had planned to only run the marathon. But it was a gorgeous day at the beach. So I ended up running 36 miles total, and getting credit for the more standard distance of 50K. The other 5 miles were a feebie. / / / / / I ran most of the race with the Great Jim Simpson, who clocked his 1023rd. / / / / / I was also happy to see the gentle giant Jerk Langer form Denmark running the marathon. / / / / / Joing us on the Santa moniuca beachfront must have been 200-300 trainees for the L.A. Marathon that will be run next Sunday. The L.A. Leggers. The L.A. Roadrunners, and a few other groups were out en-mass. / / / / / Rocket Racing Productions. |
| 260 |
"Run Like the Wind" Marathon |
03/03/13 |
Santa Monica / Venice |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
1472 |
|
|
|
The March toward "100". / / / / / This was Marathon #17 for the year 2013. A mere 83 marathons to go for the magical century mark ( 100 marathons in a calendar year ). / / / / / / This was a 49-mile easy drive from old Town Orange to the Santa Monica Pier, which is the western terminus for the "Mother Road", Route 66. From Chicago to the S.M. Pier is 2,448 miles of ripping good fun. / / / / / / Great weather, constantly between 55 to 60 degrees. / / / / / / I ran about 13 miles with my pal Jim Simpson. This was Jim's 1,022th career marathon ( world record ). It was only my 260th lifetime marathon, a number dwarfed by the Simpson Record of 1,022. Not too far behind Jim Simpson is another pal, the Great Larry Macon, at 1,003. / / / / I will probably finish the year with a lifetime total of just over 340 marathons. I am not complaining, just explaining. / / / / / / / Rocket Racing Productions. |
| 259 |
March Madness |
03/02/13 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
7:14 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
The March toward "100". / / / / / This was Marathon #16 for the year 2013. A mere 84 marathons to go for the magical century mark ( 100 marathons in a calendar year ). / / / / / / Yikes !!! My 35th time running the Marina Vista course. / / / / / Right upper shin bothered me. Not sure if it is the tibia or fibia, or both. Not sure if it is knee-related. Only bothered me for first 10 miles, but nothing major. / / / / / Dale Robertson ( Wells Fargo & Death Valley Days ) passed away yesterday. Coincidentally, one of our veteran marathoners is Dale Roberts. / / / / / Bonnie Franklin ( "One Day at a Time" ) passed away. I mention this because she was my age, 69 yrs. Ah, intimations of mortality. |
| 258 |
Rockin' the Trail |
02/24/13 |
Yorba Regional Park, Anaheim Hills |
CA |
7:19 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Day #3 of my Weekend Trifecta. / / / / This was an inaugural run along the Santa Ana River Trail. / / Perfect for running a marathon, a real keeper, except for the horrendous wind that swept down the Canyon from the east. / / / / This race began at Yorba Regional Park. Yorba regional is 3 miles east of Riverdale Park along the River Trail. Riverdale is where we ran the inaugural Honkers Marathon 6 weeks ago (Jan. 13). / / / / Yorba Regional is one of the shortest distances for me to travel for a marathon from Old Town Orange. A 10-mile drive. / 22 Fwy to 55 Fwy to 91 Fwy to Imperial/Hwy 90 Exit to La Palma to Huxford Lane to baseball fields, where parking was plentiful. / / / / Parked, and walked over to the Santa Ana River Trail. / / We lucked out with a brilliant full moon in the wee hours of the morn. / / / / To start, we ran 3.28 miles west to just past Riverdale Park. / / Then returned to Yorba regional, and ran 3.28 miles east towards Gypsum Canyon. / / Times 4 equals 26.2 miles. / / / / The Usual Suspects: Charlie Alewine, Jim Grimes, Jim Simpson, Haywood Crowder, Min Chau, Cyndie Merten, and Karen Vollan. / / / / My right knee surprisingly held up extremely well today. / / / / ACADEMY AWARDS - - Best Picture: "Argo" / / Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis ( ("Lincoln") / / Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings") / / Best Director: Ang Lee ("Life of Pi"). / / Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway ("Les Miserables"). |
| 257 |
Marathon Extravaganza |
02/23/13 |
BOLSA CHICA / / Huntington Beach |
CA |
6:51 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Day #2 of Weekend Trifecta. / / / / / / / This race was a Rocket Racing Production. / / / / / A moderate 17 mile drive from Old Town Orange. This time took Golden West to Warner, instead of Bolsa Chica. This works better for me because the Bolsa Chica/Valley View exit is sometimes blocked. It is 17 miles either route, so what the hell. / / / / / Very cold along the shoreline. Probably 38 with wind chill. Wore 6 layers ( new record ). / / / / / / As with yesterday's marathon, I ran this race with my pal Jim Simpson, who holds the career record for marathons with 1,020. / / Tomorrow, I will also be running with Jim ( Runner Dude ) Simpson. / / / / / Right knee did bother me, but not all of the time. This isn't a major worry, but it is a concern. / / / / / / / Rocket Racing Productions. |
| 256 |
"Rock On" Marathon |
02/22/13 |
Legg Lake, Whittier Narrows ( South El Monte ) |
CA |
6:58 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Day One of another weekend triple. Today Legg Lake. Tomorrow Sunset Beach. Sunday Santa Ana River trail. / / / / / / / 29 mile drive to Legg Lake. Take 22 Fwy to the 5 Fwy to the 605 Fwy to the 60 Fwy to Santa Anita Exit to Lexington, and park. / / / / / / / Quite cold this morning. Probably 40 degrees with wind-chill. Had to wear 5 layers, sweatpants and gloves. / / / / / / / Ran the last 17 or 18 miles with Jim Simpson. / / / / / / / Also running were Charlie Alewine, Haywood Crowder and Karen Vollan. / / / / Legg lake is part of Whittier Narrows, which is in South El Monte. I am not very impressed with El Monte. / / / / / / The terrain was dirt, grass and asphalt. However, if you pick the right paths, you can basically do the entire race on dirt or grass. But wear trail shoes and gaiters, regardless of the route that you choose. / / / / / / This was my 11th time running Legg Lake. Last time was August 26, 2012. / / / / / / The course is rather repetitive, but I don't mind. 12 loops (2.2 miles) around the perimenter of the park, which contains 3 lakes. / / / / / / Right knee did bother me, but not all of the time. / / / / / I did an early start. In running alone in the early morning darkness, I was stalked by a thug-like character on a beat-up bike. He never came within 50 feet, but it was un-nerving nevertheless. I was relieved when Jim Simpson joined me at 4am. Safety in numbers. |
| 255 |
Rock the Park |
02/18/13 |
Central Park, Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:29 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Third Day of the Presidents' Day Weekend Triple. / / / / My goal is to run 100 marathons in 2013. Therefore, I have to pack in a few triples, quads, and sevens in order to make it happen. / / / / Ran today with jim Simpson, who registered his 1,016th marathon today. This is a world record. / / / / Also running today was 70 year old Haywood Crowder, who is also aspiring toward 100 marathons in 2013. / / / / / 22 Fwy to GOLDENWEST Blvd to SLATER to EDWARDS Blvd to INLET to Restaurant Parking lot in Central Park./ / / / / / Right knee did bother me, but not all of the time. |
| 254 |
Rockin' the Path |
02/17/13 |
Aliso Creek, Lake Forest |
CA |
7:42 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
2nd day of the Presidents' Day weekend Triple. / / / / / My 9th time running the Aliso Creek Bike Trail in Lake Forest. / / / / / 22 Fwy to 55 Fwy to 5 fwy to EL TORO to PORTOLA to L.A. Fitness Parking lot along the Aliso Creek Bike Trail. / / / / Hardcore veterans at this race. Charlie Alewine, Joe Reilly, Dale Roberts, Haywood Crowder and Gary Johnson. / / / / / / Right knee did bother me, but not all of the time. |
| 253 |
Hugs and Kisses Marathon |
02/16/13 |
Belmont Shore, Long Beach |
CA |
7:43 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Weekend Triple started today. / / / / / Happy Valentine's/Presidents Day Weekend. / / This is my 7th time running Belmont Shore. This is one of my favorites for small low-key marathons. We get to run from Bayshore all the way to Shoreline Village. / / I think the highlite of this course is getting that magnificent view of the Queen Mary, docked in the Bay in all of her nautical wonderment. / / / / / / / / The "Blade Runner", Oscar Pistorius, was charged today with murdering his girlfriend. / / / / / / / INJURY REPORT: Shades of September 2009. My right knee botherd me in the Patella/tibia/shin area on the right outside edge. / / This happened in late September 2009, and lasted for exactly 2 months. Eventually subsided during the late November 2009 Seattle Marathon ( I bought a patella strap ). |
| 252 |
Run the Marina |
02/10/13 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
|
7:37 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Sunday in the Park with Charlie. / / / Ran with Dr. Jim Grimes ( veterinarian to the stars ), and Jim Simpson ( a world-record 1,013 life-time marathons ) and Larry Macon ( 995 life-time marathons and 157 marathons in 2012 ), and Dale Roberts ( The Marathoning Scientist, and energizing bunny ), and the ever incredible Big Ed Ettinghausen ( "17" challenging 100-milers in 2012). / / Doesn't get much better than that. My gawd! It's running with the Long-distance Hall of Fame. / / / / / / / Today I met Trent Morrow from Australia. His goal is to run 160 marathons in 2013. This would break Larry Macon's extraordinary record of 157 marathons. / / Trent has 17 marathons as of Feb. 10th. So I guess that he is right on pace. But we are only 6 weeks into the year. Can Trent maintain this pace for 46 more weeks. This will be fun to watch. / / To be fair, Trent ( who runs all of his races in a Superman costume ) is quite accomplished, having run Maraton de Sables (250K), Sahara (250K) and South Africa's Comrades Marathon. At 39 years of age and having already run 95 lifetime marathons, he just might be able to pull off a 160 marathon year. / / / / / This is my 34th time running Marina Vista. Yes, it was cold this morning. Marina Vista is Charlie Alewine's absolute favorite marathon venue. And, he gets no argument from me. I'd say that Marina Vista is home to the C.A.R. veteran runners. It's "to die for."/ / / / / Start at 43 degrees, and finish at 49 degrees. I wore 5 layers to start. But had to wear at least my hoodie sweatshirt the entire time. / / / / / Pope Benedict XVI will step down. A Papal abdication hasn't happened since 1414 ( 600 yrs). |
| 251 |
Bayshore Marathon |
02/09/13 |
Belmont Shore, Long Beach |
CA |
7:26 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Very cold. Brrrrrh !!!!!. / / Temp started at 39 degrees ( felt like 33 degrees with wind chill ). Finished at 54 degrees. / / / / / / / I wore 4 layers for the first 22 miles. Long-sleeve Tee, a Hoodie Sweatshirt, a fleece jacket, and a light windbreaker. I also doubled up on my gloves, but my fingers were still cold. / / / / / / / After 4 consecutive weeks of sub-6 hour marathons, I decided to take it nice and easy for this puppy. |
| 250 |
Surf City Marathon |
02/03/13 |
Huntington Beach |
CA |
5:08 |
Marathon |
1227 |
|
|
|
Super Bowl Sunday: Ravens 34 - 49ers 31 / / / / My 7th consecutive Surf City ( 2007 - 2013 ). The temp was 57 at the Start, but 72 at the Finish. I thought that I did drink enough, but apparently not. Resulting dehydration might be what slowed me down at 20 miles. But
I really thought that I drank enough. Okay, live and learn. I was on pace for a sub-5 hours for the first 19 or 20 miles. Then the wheels came off. / / / / / / / Marathon started at 6:30am / / Half marathon started at 7:45am / / / / / / / Full and Half run the same course from miles 8.5 to 16.5 ( 8 miles of crowding ) / / / / / / / My first goal was to reach the Bluff ( 8.5 miles ) before the stampede of the half marathon merger. I accomplished that by reaching the merger at 8:00am with a 1:30:00 ( 10:30 pace ). / / / / / / / My 2nd goal was to reach the half marathon marker by 2:20:00. I almost did that with a 2:22:00. / / / / / / / My 3rd goal was to reach the 20 mile mark at 3:40:00, which would give me a cushion. That turned out to be 3:50:00. Still on a 5 hour pace, but no cushion. / / / / / / / My overall goal was to finish under 5 hours. Unfortunately, I had problems from miles 22-26, and finished with 5:08. / / / / / / / / / / WHAT I LEARNED: I must start taking walk breaks. Often and early. 7 minutes run / 1 minute walk. See how that works. / / / / Drive Home: Calves and hamstrings contracted and locked. Ouch !!! |
| 249 |
Carlsbad Marathon |
01/27/13 |
Carlsbad |
CA |
5:14 |
Marathon |
1561 |
|
|
|
My 6th consecutive Carlsbad Marathon. ( 2008, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13 ). / / / / First half = 2:24, an exact 11 minute pace. / / Second half = 2:50, an exact 13 minute pace. / / Total = 5:14, an exact 12 minute pace. / / / / Weather was absolutely perfect with temps in the mid 50s for the entire race. / / / / I had raging eczema (dermatitis, skin irritations and itch) on my arms and legs. Therefore, I couldn't put on my calf sleeves or arm sleeves, or patella straps. / Fortunately, I had no calf or knee problems. / / / / I slowed down after 15 miles because I have the Surf City Marathon next Sunday, and I want to do well. / / / / After running at an 11 miunute pace for those first 15 miles, the back of my legs were tightening in a major way. I figured that I better ingest 2 packets of salt, a box of raisins, and more water. I figured that I had a deficiency in all of these areas. / / I don't know that the salt, raisins, and water actually worked. But within a mile, I was totally rid of a threatening problem. The empirical evidence,both during and after the marathon, leans toward dehydration and a salt deficiency. I had a similar problem and solution at the Operation Jack Marathon. / / / / 1,450 full marathoners and 7,000 half marathoners. Luckily, the half marys started at 7:45am. This was 1.5 hours after full marys (6:15am ). / / / / Post-race, I walked over to the Westfield Mall for a Subway sandwich - had to pack the protein back into my system. / / / / Bummer: I had to drive 120 miles roundtrip twice. Once for the Saturday Expo; and once for the Sunday race. |
| 248 |
Arizona RnR Marathon |
01/20/13 |
Phoenix |
AZ |
5:34 |
Marathon |
51012 |
|
|
|
Magnificent. I loved every minute, every step, every mile. / / / / This was the 10th running of Arizona RnR. And, it was my 3rd time ( 2011, 2012, 2013 ). / / / / As usual, half marathoners ( 13,300 ) out-numbered full marathoners ( 3,325 ) by a 4:1 ratio. / / / / Ran with many of my pals: Barefoot Todd, Haywood Crowder, Charlie Alewine, Gretchen Hubbe, Michelle Palmer. / / / / Great thrill: coming onto Mile 10 with Camelback Mountain in full view ( "to die for" ). Another thrill: At mile 25 coming onto the Rio Salado Bridge ( Tempe Bridge ). / / / / New Friend: Gretchen Hubbe from Chicago. Ran ( walked )about 2 miles with Gretchen. She was a delight. / / / / Special Thrill: Making the turn at mile 5 ( 7th Ave & Missouri Road ), I could see Mary Coyle's Ice Parlor, where I worked as a teenager back in 1959. / / / / Fun section: Miles 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19. This was a 6 mile 'out&back', in and out of Scottsdale along Indian School Road. A great opportunity to see your fellow marathoners. / / / / I stayed at the Downtown Phoenix Hyatt ($129) on 2nd St and Adams. The Hyatt is across the street from the Expo, and 2 blocks from the start line. I was able to leave my hotel at 7:30am for the 7:50 am start. SWEET!!!! / / / / The train ride from ASU back to the hotel was a straight shot. Also SWEET! / / / / The Lance Armstrong doping confession and the Notre Dame Manti Te'o Hoax dominated the weekend news. |
| 247 |
Honkers Motivational Marathon |
01/13/13 |
Anaheim/Yorba Linda ( River Dale Park ) |
CA |
5:52 |
Marathon |
85 |
|
|
|
Pamela Kane's Inaugural Honkers Marathon. Fan-bloomin-tastic. / / / / / We ran the entire race along the Santa Ana River Trail. / / / / / The course follows the Canadian Geese ( Honkers ) Fly Way. / / / / / Started at 35 degrees. Eventually climbed to 55 degrees. / / / / / Wore 3 layers. T-shirt, Long-sleeve tee, Hoodie sweatshirt. Sweat pants and gloves. I should have left the Hoodie and sweat pants in my car. / / / / / Short 8-mile drive. Took the 22 Fwy to 55 Fwy to 91 Fwy to Lakeview Ave to Riverdale Ave to Deerfield Ave. Parked on Deerfield. Walked over to Riverdale Park, which abuts the Santa Ana River Trail. / / / / / I ran and chatted the entire race with my pal Charlie Alewine. / / / / / Also running the marathon: Pamela Kane, Haywood Crowder, Dennis Mori, Roxana Lewis, Erik Schnautz, Marina White, Silver Rivas, Chris Jones. / / / / / We basically ran a 13.1 mile stretch twice for 26.2 miles. The stretch ran along the Santa Ana River Trail from the 22 Freeway to the 241 Freeway. / / / / / Because of the cold, I didn't drink as much as usual. I probably cut back too much because evidence shows that I was dehydrated. / / / / / / / / / / Start at Riverdale Park in Anaheim. / / / First 13.1 mile Loop ran south past Anaheim Stadium to 22 Fwy. / / / Second Loop ran east past Yorba Regional Park almost to Gypsum Canyon. / / / / / MyBib # was 85 in honor of the 85 marathons that I ran in 2012. / / / / / There were approximately 180 who finished. About 78 full marathoners and about 102 half-marathoners. / / / / / I finished in 3rd place for my Age Group. Yay Me !! The splits were- ( 1st half = 2:50 ) and ( 2nd half = 3:02 ). / / / / There was prize money for the top 3 male and top 3 female runners. / / / The finisher medal is "to die for". / / / Course support and directions are "beyond the call of duty". |
| 246 |
Beach Bonanza |
01/12/13 |
Belmont Shore, Long Beach |
CA |
7:11 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
A pleasant 18.5 mile drive to the beach. / / 22 Fwy to 7th St to Studebaker Ave to 2nd St to Bay Shore Ave to Ocean Blvd to the Bay Shore Bike path. / / / / / / / Extremely cold. Temperature dropped to 36 degrees. But the wind-chill factor was probably at 30 degrees. / / / / Wore 5 layers. T-shirt, long-sleeve tee, hoodie sweatshirt, fleece jacket, light wind-breaker. Also wore double gloves and sweat pants. / / / / / / / I took it super easy today because tomorrow I will be doing the Pamela Kane's inaugural Honkers Marathon in Yorba Linda, along the Santa Ana River trail. / / / There may be a time limit at Honkers. So, I want to be able to break 6 hours with about a 5:45. / / / / / / / Other marathoners: Charlie Alewine, Jim Grimes, Dale Roberts, Chris Haines, Haywood Crowder, Steve Hernandez, Jim Tello, Steve Heizer and Violeta. |
| 245 |
Camarillo Marathon |
01/06/13 |
Camarillo |
CA |
5:48 |
Marathon |
105 |
|
|
|
Second time running Camarillo (2012 & 2013 ). / / / / / This was an 86 mile drive ( 192 round-trip ). The same distance as San Diego, but in the opposite direction. / / / / / 22 Fwy to 5 Fwy to 101 Fwy to Las Posas to Pleasant Valley to Eubanks ( Freedom Park, next to the Camarillo Airport ). / / / / / Parked on Willis Ave, directly across the street from the Start line. / / / / / Major rain until the start. Didn't rain at all during the marathon. We lucked out ///// Start temp was 43 degrees, but comfortable. Just needed a long-sleeve tee. / / Temp never got above 57 degrees. But wind made it feel much colder. / / Camarillo's dirt-sprinklrd, asphalt roads were muddy because of the early rain. Should have worn gaiters. I had to stop twice to clean out my mud-filled shoes. / / / / / Left outside thigh locked up big time during mile 9. Got slightly better during mile 10. Continued to improve on miles 11-13. / / / / / / Wind started blowing at 11:00am during mile 19, and continued for remainder of the race. / / / / / Barefoot Alberto Perusset, Hector Aleman, Haywood Crowder, and Armen Anassian were in attendance. Met new friend Kerry Caldwell. / / Mark and Michelle of Rocket Racing both ran the half-marathon. / / / Not many marathoners. Seemed like 95 full marathoners at the most. Ergo, I had to run the last 10 miles completely alone. / / Total runners - about 350, including a 5K. / / / / / Good that I really studied the course beforehand. Directions were not all that clear. The turn-around on Aviation Dr wasn't even marked. We were forced to play follow the leader, and hoped for the best. / / / / / Absolutely no spectators on the course. / / / / I had 26.70 on my Garmin. 26.50, OK. But 26.70 means that the course was long. / / / / / Huge Benefit: Race morning Bib Pick-up. |
| 244 |
New Year's Day Marathon |
01/01/13 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
7:43: |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
33rd time running the Marina Vista Course in Long Beach. / / / / Start at 43 degrees ( wind-chill at 38 degrees. / / 4 layers. t-shirt, long sleeve tee, hoodie-sweatshirt, light wind-breaker. Also, gloves and sweatpants. / / This was appropriate for the entire 26 miles. I was slightly cold. But better marginally cold then over-heating with too many layers. / / / / / Ran early with race director Charley Alewine and Jim Grimes. / / Charley pulled up lame at mile 24 with a pull in his knee/quad area. But he did "soldier on" to the finish. Hope that he is okay. |
| 243 |
New Year's Eve Marathon |
12/31/12 |
Sunset Beach |
CA |
7:13 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was Marathon #85 for the year of 2012. / / / / Had I known that I would get that many, I would have shot for 100 marathons. But when the year began, I figured on about 40 marathons, no more. But stuff happens. Oh, well! / / / / / / 37 degrees to start at Sunset beach this morning with a wind chill at 33 degrees., Brrrrrh !!!!! Five layers: t-shirt, long sleeve tee, hoodie-sweatshirt, light fleece jacket. Light wind-breaker. Also wore double gloves and sweat-pants. / / This was appropriate for the entire 26 miles. I was slightly cold. But better marginally cold then over-heating with too many layers. / / / / / / / This was my 32nd time running a marathon at Sunset Beach for Charlie Alewine. / / / / / / / My pal Dale Roberts struggled to the finish. It appears that he may have a stress fracture of the right shin. He has been hurting ever since the Winter Seven. Let's hope that he is okay, and won't be on the DL for too long. / / / / / Glad that my plas Rocky Morales ( 3:49 )and Sally Boles ( 3:53 ) ran today. |
| 242 |
Operation Jack Marathon |
12/26/12 |
Dockweiller Beach |
CA |
5:29 |
Marathon |
85 |
|
|
|
3rd running of Op Jack. Number of total finishers slightly decreased from 326 (2011) down to 316 ( this year ). Full marathoners dropped from 104 down to 88. The cause may have been the heavy rain just prior to the start. . / / / / / Race directors Sam and Jake gave me Bib #85 to celebrate my 85 marathons for 2012. / / / / / Obstacles: Hard concrete for most of the course. / Strong headwind when going north. / Lots of sand on bikepath, which got into my shoes. / / / / / Runners that I knew in attendance: Emil, Yolanda, Jake, Sam, Deo, Mitch. / / / / / Operation Jack is a great tour of 7 California beaches: Manhattan, El Porto, El Segundo, Dockweiler, Playa Del Rey, Ballona Creek and Marina Del Rey. / / Except for Manhattan, these beaches are mainly for surfers, bike riders, local joggers, skaters, dog walkers, picnickers, fishermen, and strolling pedestrians. / / These are not popular beaches for sun-bathing to the extent that Manhattan or Santa Monica would be. Yes, there are sun-bathers, but not a whole heck of a lot. / / / / / My time was 5:29. It would have been better had I ingested some salt ( and was better hydrated ) at the start line. I hit a bad patch from miles 11-15 when I was locking up, cramping up, and lacking oomph. / / I popped a salt packet, drank copiously, and ingested 3 shot blocks, and Voila! / / / / / Physical ailments: Cramping during miles 11-14. Probably caused by lack of salt, lack of hydration, lack of shot bloks. / / 2 hours after marathon, I felt slight tightness in lower back ( didn't last long). Probably caused by hard concrete of the course. |
| 241 |
"Naughty and Nice" Marathon |
12/22/12 |
Venice/Santa Monica/Pacific Palisades/Will Rogers |
CA |
6:56 |
Marathon |
225 |
|
|
|
8th time running Santa Monica-Venice for Rocket Racing. / / Since Santa Monica is my old stomping ground from my UCLA days ( 1970s ), I absolutely love running here - Total nostalgia trip. / / / / / / / Santa Monica ( aka, The People's Republic of , , , ) is 'San Francisco South' in my humble opinion because of its liberal attitudes, progressivism and tolerance. / / / / / / / / The temp was 40 degrees ( wind chill 36 ). Brrrh!!!!! / / / / / / / Wore 5 layers. T-shirt, long-sleeve tee, hoodie sweatshirt, fleece jacket, light wind-breaker. Plus, gloves and sweatpants. / / / / / / / The course begins at Bay Avenue, 1/2 mile south of the historic Santa Monica Pier. / / The SM Pier, built in 1909, is a national Landmark, and is protected as such. The Pier is also the western terminus ( "End of the Line" ) for the iconic Mother Road, Highway Route 66 ( Chicago to Santa Monica = 2448 miles ). / / / / / / I stopped for Peet's coffee on Main Street ( between Hollister and Ocean Park ). / / / / / / / / / / / Stupidly, I went out much too fast. I should have slowly warmed up with the bone-chilling cold. As a result, my right upper quad locked up. Had me worried for about 8 miles. But then eased up, and wasn't all that bad for the last 17 miles. / / / / / / / Rocket Racing Productions. |
| 240 |
Winter-7, Day Seven |
12/20/12 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
7:27 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
DAY SEVEN of the WINTER-7 / / / / Total Miles = 183.40 miles. / / / / / / / Started race at 40 degrees ( 34 wind chill ). Brrrh!!!! / / / / / / / (((( 22 Fwy to 7th Street exit. - - - 7th Street to Santiago. - - - Santiago to Colorado. - - - Colorado to Eliot Street. / Park at Marina Vista Park. - - - 17.5 miles )))). / / / / / / / Starbucks Coffee at 7th Street and Park Avenue. / / / / / / / Peet's Coffee at 2nd Street and Covina. / / / / / / / One new marathoner: Ben Gaego. / / / / / / / / / / / Left Knee - patella to tibia - bothered me for about 5 miles. |
| 239 |
Winter-7, Day Six |
12/19/12 |
Belmont Shore, Long Beach |
CA |
7:12 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
DAY SIX of the WINTER-7 / / / / / / / Total Miles = 157.2 miles / / / / / / / / Started race at 39 degrees ( Feels like 34 / wind chill ). Brrrrh!!!! - - 6 layers + sweatpants. / / / / / / / / ((((( 22 Fwy to Studebaker exit - turn left. - - - - Studebaker to 2nd Street. - - - 2nd Street to Bayshore. - - - - Bayshore to Ocean. - - - - Travel = 19 miles ))))). / / / / / / / / Starbucks Coffee at "The Market - Vons" on Ocean Street. / / / / / / / / SIGHT-SEEING. Classic Villa Riviera Hotel ( 1927 )- National Registry of Historic Places ( Ocean Blvd & Shoreline Dr. ). / / / / Veteran's Memorial Pier. / / / / Olympic Pool ( 1932 ). / / / / / / / / / / / Left Knee - patella to tibia - bothered me for about 3 miles. |
| 238 |
Winter-7, Day Five |
12/18/12 |
Laguna Lake, Fullerton |
CA |
7:37 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
DAY FIVE of the WINTER-7 / / / / Total Miles = 131 miles / / / / / / / Started race at 54 degrees ( Light rain )- - 3 layers. / / / / / / / (((( 22 Fwy to 57 Fwy - - - 57 Fwy to 91 Fwy - - - 91 Fwy to Euclid. - - - Euclid to Lakeview. - - - Lakeview to Clarion. - - - Park at Laguna Lake Park. - - - 14.5 miles )))). / / / / / / / Ran with Marina White for about 5 miles. / / / Ran with Jim Grimes for about 4 miles. / / / Ran with Jim Simpson, Larry Macon and Karen Vollan for about 5 miles. |
| 237 |
Winter-7, Day Four |
12/17/12 |
Dockweiler Beach |
CA |
7:13 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
DAY FOUR of the WINTER-7 / / / / Total Miles = 104.8 miles / / / / / / / Started race at 54 degrees ( 50 wind chill ) - - 3 layers. / / / / / / / (((( 22 Fwy to 405 Fwy - - - 405 Fwy to Rosecrans exit. - - - Rosecrans to Bell. - - - Park at Manhattan Beach Armory - - - 37 miles )))). / / / / / / / Two new marathoners showed up today: Laura Sohaskey and Deo Jaravata. / / / / / / / Peet's Coffee at Highland & Manhattan Beach Blvd. / / / / / / |
| 236 |
Winter-7, Day Three |
12/16/12 |
Sunset Beach |
CA |
7:04 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
DAY THREE of the WINTER-7 / / / / Total Miles = 78.6 miles. / / / / / / / Started race at 52 degrees ( 44 wind chill ). Brrrh!!!! - - 4 layers. / / / / / / / (((( 22 Fwy to Bolsa Chica/Valley View exit. - - - Bolsa Chica to Warner. - - - Warner to Sunset Beach. - - - 18 miles )))). / / / / / / / Two new marathoners showed up today: Armen Anassin and Laura Quimet. / / / / / / Starbucks Coffee on Main Street, just up from Huntington Beach Pier. / / / / / / / / / / / Top of right foot. Top tibia-foot connector area. Knotted up. This area felt "lock-up, knotted-up, and strained" for the entire race. But not always that bad. Lessened the more that I ran. |
| 235 |
Winter-7, Day Two |
12/15/12 |
Belmont Shore, Long Beach |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
DAY TWO of the WINTER-7 / / / / Total Miles thus far = 52.4 miles / / / / / / /
Started race at 44 degrees ( 40 wind chill ). Brrrrh!!!! Wore 5 layers. T-shirt, long-sleeve tee, light sweatshirt, fleece jacket, light wind-breaker. / / / / / / /
((((( 22 Fwy to Studebaker exit ( left ) .- - - Studebaker to 2nd Street ( right ). - - - 2nd Street to Bayshore ( left ). - - - Bayshore to Ocean Blvd. - - - 19 miles ))))). / / / / / / /
Three new marathoners showed up today: Jerk Langer, Chris Haines, and Steve Heisler. / / / / / /
Starbucks Coffee at "The Market - Vons" on Ocean Blvd & Mira Mar Ave. / / / / / / / / / / /
Right heel. Dry, hard, cracked skin created a hot-spot. Well-placed on side of heel, so not a big bother. Message sent - must moisturize feet with vaseline to prevent dryness and cracking.
|
| 234 |
Winter-7, Day One |
12/14/12 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
7:07 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
DAY ONE of the WINTER-7 / / / /
Total Miles thus far = 26.2 miles. / / / / / / /
Started race at 46 degrees ( 42 wind chill ). Brrrrh!!!! Wore 4 layers. T-shirt, long-sleeve, fleece jacket, light wind-breaker. / / / / / / /
((((( 22 Fwy to 7th Street exit. - - - 7th Street to Santiago. - - - Santiago to Colorado. - - - Colorado to Eliot Street. / Park at Marina Vista Park. Park on Eliot next to picnic table. - - - 17.5 mile driving ))))). / / / / / / /
Marathoners for Day One: Jim Grimes, Charlie Alewine, Dale Roberts, Rocky Morales, Jim Simpson, Larry Macon, Yolanda Holder, Karen Vollan, Andrea Kooiman, Haywood Crowder, Tony Nguyen, Chris Jones, Steve Hernandez, Raul Romero, Jim Tello, and Carlo Pineda. / / / / / / /
Half-marathoners: Marina White (H), Casandra Johnson (H), and Pam Medhurst (H). / / / / / / /
I basically ran this marathon completely solo. Although, I gave constant shout-outs and waves to other runners on this out/back course. I would have run a few miles with Dr. Jim Grimes. Unfortunately, Jim started super-late because of his wife's illness. / / / / / / / Starbucks Coffee at 7th Street & Park Avenue. At mile 20 on this Long Beach course, I always grab a Starbucks. The barista chicks know me well, and my java & multi-grain bagel are always ready to go. / / / / / / / / / / / Ran first 4 days of the Winter-7 with a slight hemorrhoid. No real problem as long as it was medicated. |
| 233 |
Running the Ocean Marathon |
12/09/12 |
Marina Vista/ Long Beach |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
30th time running the Marina Vista Marathon. / / Slow going today. Left inside thigh was locked up a tight for entire marathon. Made for an extremely difficult 26.2 miles. Found that lifting my leg shortened the quad muscles ( contraction ). That did help a lot. This malady is similar to Quadzilla 2010 and Salt Lake 2011, except left leg this time. Tightness alternates from groin area down to knee area. / / / / / / / After the marathon, I explored the local neighborhood. Woodrow Wilson High School, Cal State Long Beach and the Veterans Administration are all there right off of 7th Street. Wilson High School is classic, having been built in 1925 when they really knew how to build a structure. / / / / / I ran about 10 miles with Race Director Charlie Alewine. Also running: Bethany Schramm, Karen Vollan, Steve Hernandez, Jean Ho, Haywood Crowder,Guillermo Rios and Tom Hosner. / / / / / First light is about 6:15am |
| 232 |
Blast the Coast Marathon |
12/08/12 |
BOLSA CHICA / Huntington Beach |
CA |
6:09 |
Marathon |
16 |
|
|
|
This was a Rocket Racing Production. I have run this course 30 times in the past, but for Charlie Alewine. Same course, just different race directors. / / / / Super heavy fog for entire trip. Couldn't see freeway exit signs. Blew right past Bolsa Chica/ Valley View exit. Ended up in Long Beach. So, I just took south PCH to Warner. Took me 21 miles instead of 17 to get to Sunset Beach. / / / / Weather 52/62. Not the usual Huntington Beach wind, which was good. 1st light at about 6:15am. / / / / Lower back tightened when I accelerated my pace. Not bad, but always a worry. / / / / This was a Rocket Racing marathon, not Charlie Alewine. / / / / The only other marathoner that I was familiar with was Rocky Morales, who was the winner. |
| 231 |
Rockin' The Forest Trail |
12/02/12 |
Lake Forest / Aliso Creek |
CA |
6:06 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was the 15th time that I have run the Aliso Creek bike path trail in Lake Forest. / / / / / Ran part of the race with Charlie Alewine and the legendary Larry Macon. / / / / / Weather was fantastic. Started at 57 degrees. Finished at 65 degrees. Slight drizzle for the first few miles, but otherwise clear. / / / / TODAY'S MARATHONERS: Charlie Alewine, Dale Roberts, Larry Macon, Chris Haines, Carol Kamin, Guillermo Rivas, Armen Anassin, et.al. / / / / Lake Forest is tucked up into the Santa Margarita Mountains. / / / / / I really enjoy this venue because the course is a secluded asphalt-paved trail ( bike path ) along the Aliso Creek. Easy on the feet and easy on the eyes. / / / / Lake Forest is a 20.5 mile drive from my home in Old Towne Orange. / / / / 22 Fwy - 55 Fwy - 5 Fwy - El Toro Road - Portola Parkway. / / / / / / / / / / / / Inside left leg started to lock ( ala Salt Lake ) during mile 16. Almost immediately slowed to a walk. Great decision, as my leg quickly recovered. / / / / / Mile 20 - Lower back/hip tightness on the left side. Tended to feel this ailment when I was accelerating, but not during slow jog. |
| 230 |
Gladiator Marathon |
11/25/12 |
Venice/Santa Monica/Pacific Palisades/Will Rogers |
CA |
6:07 |
Marathon |
4170 |
|
|
|
7th time running Santa Monica-Venice for Rocket Racing. / / Since Santa Monica is my old stomping ground from my UCLA days ( 1970s ), I absolutely love running here - Total nostalgia trip./ / Weather was great, starting at 52 deg and finishing at 62 deg. / / There was a intermittent fog during the 48.5 mile drive from Orange to Santa Monica. That is never good. But at least it wasn't the entire route, unlike yesterday. / / / / As is often the case, I was at my strongest after 16 miles. Is it possible that it takes me that long to loosen up? Yikes! / / / / Finishing at a 14 minute pace of 6:07:00 was a bit unusual for me with my low-key marathons. And, possibly not a good idea with so much hard concrete. / / / / Great coffee houses along Main Street, just 2 blocks up from the beach. ( Navy Avenue = Starbucks ). ( Ashland Avenue = Coffee Bean ). ( Hill Avenue = Another Starbucks ). ( Ocean Park Avenue = Peet's Coffee ). Plus, a myriad of local or funky coffee houses. / / I think that this stretch along Main Street is Old Town Santa Monica. / / I am not sure where Santa Monica ends along Main Street, and Venice begins. I'll check. / / / / The southernmost point of this course is a sandy deadend at Catamarran Avenue. This deadend is in Venice, exactly one mile north of Marina Del Rey. / / / / The northernmost point is Will Rogers State Beach. This is just south of iconic Malibu. |
| 229 |
Thanksgiving Weekend Marathon |
11/24/12 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
6:15 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
GO IRISH! / / #1 ranked Notre Dame (12-0) defeated USC (7-5) by a score of 22 to 13, and is now headed for the BCS Championship Game. / / / / Thus far, 71 marathons for the calendar year 2012, with 5 weeks to go. I think that I am on the way to at least 80, maybe 85. / / / / This was my 29th time running the Marina Vista course in Long Beach. / / / / Ran most of the race with my buddy Jim Grimes, at least 15 miles. / / / / At Mile 19, both Jim and I ran into the Starbucks at 7th St & Park Ave for a potty break, a cup of java and a multi-grain bagel ( to go, of course ). Jim got a hot chocolate. / / / / Marina Vista is a 17 mile shot due west on the 22 Freeway/7th Street. // Due to dense fog, this trip was slightly dangerous. / / / / This venue has 4 major attractions: The Colorado Lagoon, Marina Vista Park, Marina Stadium (Inlet/Bay), Marina Boat Harbor. / / / / Marina Vista was the site of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games (water sports competition). / / / / The course is a Lollipop. The TOP of the lollipop is the northern circular section. It is a 1.25 mile loop around Colorado Lagoon. / / The BOTTOM stick of the Lollipop is a southern 'out/back' of 3.12 miles ( 1.56 miles x 2 ). This out/back takes us along Marine Stadium and the Marina itself. / / / / In attendance: Jim Grimes, Haywood Crowder, Steve Hernandez, Karen Vollan, Dan Brendan, Raul Santana, Hector Aleman, Colin McCarthy, and Cassandra Johnson.
|
| 228 |
Thanksgiving Day Marathon |
11/22/12 |
Lake Forest / Aliso Creek |
CA |
6:20 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Thanksgiving Day, 11/22/12. / / This is a watershed date in American History. / / The 49th anniversary of the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, November 22, 1963. / / / / / This was the 14th time that I have run the Aliso Creek bike path trail in Lake Forest. / / / / / Ran most of the race with my pal Jim Grimes. / / / / / Weather was fantastic. Started at 46 degrees. Finished at 63 degrees. / / / / TODAY'S MARATHONERS: Jim Grimes, Rocky Morales, Steve Hernandez, Haywood Crowder, Karen Vollan, Hector Aleman, Raul Santana, Dan Brendan ( noted ultra-marathoner ) and Chavaughn Fuller. / / / / This was the 14th time that I have run the bike path at Lake Forest/Aliso Creek. / / / Lake Forest is tucked up into the Santa Margarita Mountains. / / / Going east toward the mountains is basically all up-hill / / / Going west toward the Pacific Ocean is basically all downhill. / / / / / / / The course runs east and west along the Aliso Creek bike path, which runs parallel to El Toro Blvd. / / / Going east is a climb up to the foothills. / / / It is more fun running west, which is downhill towards the Pacific Ocean. / / / I really enjoy this venue because the course is a secluded asphalt-paved trail ( bike path ) along the Aliso Creek. Easy on the feet and easy on the eyes. / / / / Lake Forest is a 20.5 mile drive from my home in Old Towne Orange. / / / / 22 Fwy - 55 Fwy - 5 Fwy - El Toro Road - Portola Parkway. / / / / / / / |
| 227 |
Guts and Glory Marathon |
11/17/12 |
Venice/Santa Monica/Pacific Palisades/Will Rogers |
CA |
6:32 |
Marathon |
4200 |
|
|
|
This was my 69th marathon for 2012. Thus, matching my age of 69 years. With 6 weeks remaining in the calendar year, I expect to top at least 80 marathons for 2012. Thankfully, that is not my current age (lol). / / / / It was also the 6th time that I have run the Venice-Santa Monica course. This Rocket Racing Production is my absolute favorite course of all the low-key small races in Southern California. Thank you, Mark and Michelle of RRP. / / / /
The course begins 1/2 mile south of the historic Santa Monica Pier at Bay Avenue. / / The SM Pier is a national Landmark, and is protected as such. The Pier is also the western terminus ( "End of the Line" ) for the iconic Highway Route 66 ( Chicago to Santa Monica = 2448 miles ). / / / / / I stopped for Peet's coffee on Main Street ( between Hollister and Ocean Park ). Believe it or not, I prefer Peet's to Starbucks. But Peet's is not that ubiquitous. it is hard to find in Southern Cal. / / / / Weather was great, starting at 60 degrees and finishing at 63 degrees. There was a slight bit of rain, but nothing major. In fact, it was rather refreshing. / / / / The only drawback to the Santa Monica course is the hard concrete of the bike path. I compensate by keeping my feet very close to the ground, and using very short strides. A reduced leg lift translates to reduced pressure on the joints. |
| 226 |
Santa Barbara International Marathon |
11/10/12 |
Goleta/Santa Barbara |
CA |
5:35 |
Marathon |
1125 |
|
|
|
My 4th time running Santa Barbara. I am a legacy ( 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 ). //// Starting at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, I cruised handily thru miles 1-13. But, then there was mile 14, where I came in contact with my first major climb. //// All was well for the next 6 miles after that (miles 15-20). But that was it for the easy running. //// At the beginning of mile 21, we began 3.5 miles of hills, hills, hills ( miles 21,22,23,24 ). //// Mile 24 ( Cliff Drive ) was the most torturous of the lot. This killer hill was straight up for a 1/2 mile. //// The last 2.5 miles ( 24.7 to 26.2 ) were a welcome sight, and the highlight of this marathon. It ran mostly downhill and along the Coast into Santa Barbara City College ( La Playa Stadium ). //// No physical complaints, except for a 1/2 mile stretch along mile 14. Strangely, the back of both knees tightened for 1/2 mile duration. I loosened my patella straps, which were quite loose to begin with. Whatever, all was well at that point. Straps probably weren't the issue, except psychologically. //// Egregiously positive splits. ( 1st half was 2:35 // 2nd half was 3:00 ). //// Officially it was a 6-hour cut-off. But, as in 2010 & 2011, they jumped the gun, and started opening the streets to traffic based on a 5:15 finish. So, at mile 26, I was forced up onto the sidewalk. But, not a big deal. //// A larger than expected group of marathoners at 1375. Last year had only 881 marathoners. Not sure what the reason was to explain the almost 500 runner increase. Although, Santa Barbara made a special invite to 100 NYC marathoners who had their race cancelled last week because of Hurricane Sandy. //// Last Tuesday, Barack Obama was re-elected, defeating Mitt Romney. |
| 225 |
Cruise the Coast Marathon |
11/03/12 |
Manhattan Pier - Ballona Creek / via Playa del Rey |
CA |
6:46 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 11th time trekking 40 miles down the 405 Freeway to Dockweiler State Beach for a marathon. This beach is under the flight path for LAX. / / / / / / The roundtrip of 80 miles barely takes 2 gallons of regular gas in my hybid Lexus. / / / / / / / / This may be my favorite Charlie Alewine venue. We trek from Manhattan Beach, through other beach cities, on to Ballona Creek in Playa del Rey - pure heaven. / / / Running along the ocean is very spiritual for me. Just me and the sea in quiet solitude. Salty air, cool breezes, crashing waves, magnificent vistas. / / / / / / In attendance: Charlie Alewine, Dale Roberts, Haywood Crowder, and Jimmy Estrella. / / / / / / Absolutely love this course except for the herd of cyclists who clog up the rather narrow beach path. / / / / / I began the marathon at 57 degrees, and finished at 63 degrees. Great marathoning weather. / / I wore my green fleece jacket for the first half, and was quite comfortable. / / / / / / Notre Dame, now 9-0, rallied to defeat the Pittsburg Panthers in triple overtime. Go Irish!!! / / / / / Tomorrow's 43rd running of the NYC Marathon has been cancelled due to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. The NYC Marathon began in 1970, running 4 loops through Central Park. |
| 224 |
Halloween Beach Blast |
10/28/12 |
Sunset Beach/ Huntington Beach ( via Bolsa Chica) |
CA |
7:12 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Marathon #66 for 2012. / / Hey! I should have run the Route 66 Marathon today. But alas, it wasn't scheduled for this area, nor this time of year. / / / / / / / Today also marked the 30th time that I have run the Sunset Beach course. / / / / / / / INJURY WATCH: Great News - - My left lower leg ( knee vicinity ) held up well today. I slightly felt it for a couple of minutes during mile 13, and that was all. / / / / / / / Ran some of the race with good pal Jim Grimes. / / / / / / / I started the race at 166 pounds, which is 8 pounds more than is necessary. / / Actually, I prefer to run my marathons at 158 pounds. So, I plan to drop 8 pounds over the next 8 weeks. / / / / / / / I was able to visit with a lot of my pals: Jim Grimes, Charlie Alewine, Haywood Crowder, and Bethany Schramm. / / / / / / / The S.F. Giants swept the World Series 4 games to 0, completing a surprising sweep of Justin Verlander's Detroit Tigers. / / Hey! Serves the Tigers right for sweeping my beloved NY Yankees out of the American League title 4 games to 0 just a week earlier. / / / / / / / #5 Notre Dame defeated #7 Oklahoma, 30 to 13. The Fighting Irish (8-0)are now ranked #3 in the Nation, and are definitely back as a national power. / / / / / / / BIG MISTAKE: Last night, I took a Xanax (anxiety medication). Bad move. I could hardly stay awake for the first 16 miles, and it felt like I was running through quicksand. / / Then at mile 16, it finally wore off ( after 9 hours ) and I was back to normal. / / / / / / / Keeping with tradition, I did grab a Starbucks ( located just up from the H.B. Pier ) at Mile 20. This time it was caffeinated - I had to wake up (2 tablets of Xanax). |
| 223 |
Hercules Marathon: The Final Battle |
10/21/12 |
Venice/Santa Monica/Pacific Palisades/Will Rogers |
CA |
6:56 |
Marathon |
41 |
|
|
|
This was my 65th marathon for 2012, with 10 weeks remaining. / / / / It was also the 5th time that I have run the Venice-Santa Monica course. This is my favorite course of all the low-key small races in Southern California. / / / / / / I had a problem with my left knee area. The area where the patella meets the tibia seemed a bit unstable. The knee itself did not hurt. But the overall knee/shin area felt like it was buckling. / / The outside, lower, left leg, ( lateral area ), is tight. / / / / / / / / Could this be a calf problem, a shin problem, a patella problem, ITB? I don't know. / / / / / Another possibility is that I somehow hyper-extended my knee. / / / / My previous problem ( 2 months ago ) was "above" the knee. The Femur-knee connection area. / / My current problem is "below" the knee. The knee-tibia area. / / / / / / / / / / / / SPECULATION: Over the past 2 days, I have run 53 miles on the hard concrete bikepath of Venice-Santa Monica. This could definitely be the reason for my lower left leg problem. Perhaps I should power-walk courses that are almost entirely concrete. / / / / / / 24 hours after the Hercules Double, my left leg was back to normal. / / / / / / / / / / / / The conclusion of the Hercules Double coincided with the conclusion of the Corona-Santa Monica EC-100. This gave me a great opportunity to mix with my pals, who were finishing the 100 miler. |
| 222 |
Hercules Marathon : The Journey Begins |
10/20/12 |
Venice/Santa Monica/Pacific Palisades/Will Rogers |
CA |
6:51 |
Marathon |
4128 |
|
|
|
Today was the front-end of the Hercules weekend double on one of my most favorite courses. / / / This Santa Monica course is the absolute best of any local, low-key marathon in Southern California. Runners get to cruise a 7 mile stretch from Venice Beach ( on the southern end ) to Will Rogers State Beach( on the northern end ). / / / / / / Today was also the 5th time running a race for Mark & Michelle's Rocket Racing Productions (RRP). / / / Michelle told me that tomorrow's race will be free. At first I thought that this was a gift because I was such a great guy (lol). But then Mark told me that Rocket Racing gives one free race after running 4. Hey! I'll take it no matter what the reason. A freebie is a freebie. Heck, I saved $65. |
| 221 |
Blaze the Coast |
10/14/12 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
6:27 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 63rd marathon for 2012, with 12 weekends remaining. I could easily hit 80 marathons for all of 2012. / / / It was not my intention to run this many marathons in a calendar year. It just happened. / / / / / / / This was my 28th time running the Marina Vista course in Long Beach. / / / / / / / Frustratingly, I still had my head/chest cold hanging on during most of the marathon, but not all that bothersome. / / / Definitely not as bad as last week, which was devastating. / / / But darn, it should have passed by now. After all, today was day 14 of my malady ( 4 days coming and 10 days erupting ). / / Ironically, my last cold, ten weeks ago, totally ended in its 13th day while running the San Francisco Marathon. / / / During the 1st half in SF, the cold was still raging. But during the 2nd half, the cold literally blew away. / / / I can go 2 to 3 years without a cold. But I have now been hit hard twice in the past 10 weeks. Now, what the hell is that all about? / / / / / / Ran most of the race with my buddy Jim Grimes. But it was also great to see Bethany Schramm, Rocky Morales and Dale Roberts. / / / / Jean Ho was acting race director because Charlie Alewine was off running the Boulder 100 Miler. |
| 220 |
Long Beach International Marathon |
10/07/12 |
Long Beach |
CA |
6:14 |
Marathon |
1060 |
|
|
|
"Bad Day at Black Rock" / / / / For the 2nd time in 3 months, I had gone into a major marathon with a horrific cold/flu. Last time was San Francisco on July 29. / / / / This time around, at Long Beach, I contemplated dropping out after Mile 1. My lungs were on fire. My head was badly congested, and beginning to drain. / / I felt as if I was at 14,000 feet altitude, struggling for oxygen. / / / / At Mile 2, I was looking for a convenient point to drop out. / / / / By Mile 3, I decided to run 2 minutes per mile slower so that I wouldn't have to take in as much oxygen. / / / / By Mile 4, I was starting to feel slightly better, which was encouraging. / / Also, the more I drank and lubricated my throat channel, the better I felt. / / / / By Mile 6 & 7, I was starting to realize that I just might be able to nurse my way through the marathon. / / / / Overall, however, I was still feeling wracked by this vicious head/chest cold. / / If I didn't feel better at the half way point, I planned on finishing with the half-marathoners, and just be happy that I made it that far. / / / / At Mile 11, I still felt drained, fatigued, wasted and miserable. Could I actually last another 2 miles? / / / / But alas, during Mile 13, along Marine Stadium, I felt a major change coming over me. I started feeling a bit healthier. // I had made numerous adjustments to deal with my malady, and it was now showing results. / / Also, I was able to slightly increase my speed without burning my lungs. / / / / My guess is that after 13 miles, my throat channel and lungs were reluctantly adjusting to the situation. / / / / The second half was so much better than the first half, but still tough-sledding. / / / / I finished with a time of 6:14:00, and perfectly matched splits of 3:07 and 3:07. |
| 219 |
Autumn Trail Marathon |
09/30/12 |
Aliso Creek, Lake Forest |
CA |
7:06 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Full Harvest Moon. / / / / "61" Marathons for 2012. Matched Roger Maris' "non-steroid" homerun record from 1961. / / / / / / Full harvest moon. / / / / / This was the 13th time that I have run the Aliso Creek bike path trail in Lake Forest. / / / / / Started early with Charlie Alewine and Jim Grimes. Ran quite a bit with them, which is unusual for me. / / / / / / AILMENT: Left leg ( lateral shin, lateral knee, hamstring ). Could this be ITB? Not sure. / / / / Physically, I had instability problems with my left leg from the Upper hamstring down to the shin. This entire region kept locking up - sometimes the hamstring, sometimes the knee, sometimes the shin. // First noticed this problem back on July 22 at Belmont Shore, 10 weeks ago. / / / / I don't know whether it is a shin problem, or a knee problem, or a quad problem, or a hamstring problem. All areas seem affected to a degree. / / But the focal point is the top of the knee, down through the shin, to the top of the foot. / / The knee itself doesn't hurt, but it is definitely part of the equation. / / If I had to pick the most crucial area, it is the SHIN, where it connects to the knee ( tibia to femur ). / / Could it be ITB? / / Each time the problem has flared up, it did improve after a couple of miles. / / Lifting my knee in an exaggerated form does seem to help. / / / / / / / / / Notables in attendance: Jim Grimes, Charlie Alewine, Dale Roberts, Rocky Morales, Ward Sullivan, Steve Heisler, Guillermo Rios, Raul Romero, and Bethany Schramm. |
| 218 |
Fall Classic Marathon |
09/22/12 |
Belmont Shore, Long Beach |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
SIXTY! / / / / / / "60" marathons for 2012. Hey! It's only Sept. 22. / / "60" is a magical number for NY Yankee fans. Babe Ruth hit an amazing 60 homeruns in 1927, a record that lasted until Roger Maris hit "61" in 1961. / / / / This is the 3rd time that I have run the Belmont Shore bike path in Long Beach. / / I have now run it twice for Charlie Alewine racing, and once for Rocket Racing Productions. / / I love this venue. / / / / In truth, I have actually run this same Long Beach bike path far more than 3 times. The bike path is part of the first 10 miles of the Long Beach Intern'l Marathon. / / BTW: Long Beach Int'l is 2 weeks away - Oct. 7. Yes, I'll be there. / / / / Belmont Shore bike path has a 5 foot wide pedestrian path on its ocean side. I wish that all bike paths would show such courtesy towards pedestrians. / / / / The Charlie Alewine course runs from Bay Shore Ave ( off of Ocean Blvd ) to Shoreline Drive near the Queen Mary. / / / / / Historically speaking, at Mile 1 is the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool. This magnificent structure was built for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. / / Next door to the pool is the Belmont Veterans' Memorial Pier. / / / / / Being more specific, today's marathon consisted of a beach run along the Bay Shore bike path from 54th & Ocean to Linden & Ocean, in view of the iconic Queen Mary luxury liner. / / We basically did an out/back loop of 6.55 miles. Do this 4 times, and you have a marathon. / / / / In attendance: Charlie Alewine, Dale Roberts, Chris Haines, Steve hernandez, Laura & Greg Sohaskey, Bethany Schramm, Rosemarie Jeanpierre, Karen Vollan, Heidi Vu. |
| 217 |
Run the Ocean Vista |
09/16/12 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
6:36 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
September 16th. // Happy Mexico Independence Day. // Father Miguel Hildago called for a Mexican Declaration of Independence from Spain on September 16, 1810. / / NOTE: Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day. May 5th celebrates a Benito Juarez victory over the French in 1863. That's all. / / / / / / / / This was my 27th time running the Marina Vista course. Ergo, not a whole lot new to say about this course/ / / / Started super-duper early and ran with Charlie Alewine and Jim Grimes. / / / / Temp was 80 degrees when we started, with major humidity. However, it did cool off at about mile 16, with some nice ocean breezes. / / / / / / / / / Notables in attendance other than the Big Three were Ed Ettinghaussen, Dale Roberts, Steve Hernandez, Haywood Crowder, Andrea Kooiman, and Bethany Schramm. |
| 216 |
Summer Spectacular Marathon |
09/15/12 |
Santa Monica/Pacific Palisades/Venice |
CA |
6:22 |
Marathon |
2100 |
|
|
|
This was the 3rd time that I have run the Santa Monica course for Mark & Michelle of Rocket Racing Productions. And each time, the course and the number of loops have been altered. But no complaints because I enjoy the variety. / / / /
This time around we ran the Northern Loop to Will Rogers State Beach (7.85 miles RT ) three times for 23.6 miles.
And we ran the Southern Loop through Venice Beach just once for 2.6 miles RT. Grand total = 26.2 miles. / / / / / / / / / /
The Northern Loop begins about 1/2 mile below the Santa Monica Pier, and goes north through Pacific Palisades and ending at Will Rogers State Beach. The Southern Loop starts from just below the SM Pier, and goes in a southern direction on through Venice Beach.
/ / / / / / / For the third straight time, I was able to park for free, just one block up from the start line. I park on Bay Street ( north side ). Parking is unrestricted until 11:00am. At 11:00am, I have to move my car because they start the 2 hr chalking beginning after 9:00am. My guess is that I actually have at least until about Noon to re-park. / / / / If necessary, above 3rd street the parking is unlimited free. / / / / / / / / / /
We are currently in the throes of Indian Summer. The starting temp was about 70. But the finish temp was closer to 85 degrees. Unfortunately, the sun glistens off the white reflective sand. And there is absolutely no shade on the wide beaches of Santa Monica. / / / / / / / / / /
Most of the runners at the RRP races are either half marathoners, 10 milers, or even shorter distances. My guess is that 15 marathoners is probably as good as it gets for ye olde 26.2. / / / / / / / / /
So far, the only negatives that I can detect with this course would be the lack of shade, the hard concrete of the bike path, and the many cyclists who often clog the path. Fortunately, the cyclists seem to be somewhat behaved. |
| 215 |
Marathon Madness |
09/09/12 |
Santa Monica/Pacific Palisades/Venice |
CA |
6:24 |
Marathon |
2069 |
|
|
|
This is the 2nd time that I have run the Santa Monica venue for Rocket Racing Productions (RRP). / / / / / / From my humble abode in Old Towne Orange to the Santa Monica Pier is exactly 50 miles. / / BTW: For fans of the historic Route 66, the Santa Monica Pier is the end of the line, or "End of the Trail". / / Yes, I have to endure a 100 mile round trip for this marathon location, but it is more than worth it. / / / / / / This Santa Monica course is the absolute best of any local, low-key marathon in Southern California. Runners get to cruise a 6 mile stretch from Venice Beach ( on the southern end ) to Will Rogers State Beach( on the northern end ). / / / / / / This was a Rocket Racing Production ( RRP ). Since their eviction from Belmont Shore/Long Beach, all of RRP's races are now at the Santa Monica venue. / / / / / / Temps started at 70 uncomfortable degrees and raced up to about 80 degrees by the finish. / / / / / / The course has a northern loop totaling 8 miles. And a southern loop totaling 3.4 miles. / / We do the northern loop twice for 16 miles. We do the southern loop thrice for 10.2 miles. Voila! 26.2 miles. / / / / / / "Santa Monica-Venice-Pacific Palisades" is a beautiful course along the beach bike path, with a continuous view of the Pacific Ocean. The only downside is that the beach bike path is mainly hard concrete. This is a trade-off. You get a great running path with magnificent views. But you also get 100% hard concrete. / / Fortunately, I run close to the ground, not a lot of knee lift, short but rapid strides, and often shuffling. So the pounding on my knees, hips, etc. is actually quite minimal. / / And, yes, cyclists are also a problem. But not as bad as Dockweiler. / / |
| 214 |
Dockweiler Marathon |
09/08/12 |
Manhattan Pier - Ballona Creek / via Playa del Rey |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 10th time trekking 40 miles down the 405 Freeway to Dockweiler State Beach for a marathon. This beach is under the flight path for LAX. / / / / / / The roundtrip of 80 miles barely takes 2 gallons of regular gas in my hybid Lexus. I'm so glad that I got rid of my gas-hog Cadillac El Dorado. / / / / / / In attendance: Charlie Alewine, Dale Roberts, Ed Ettinghaussen, Steve Hernandez, Rosemarie Jeanpierre, Raul Romero, Jessica Montoya, and of course myself. / / / / / / Absolutely love this course except for the herd of cyclists who clog up the rather narrow beach path. / / I have to say that the Dockweiler course has, by far, the most cyclists of any other local beach venue. Also, these Dockweiler/Play del Rey cyclists are by far the rudest, most inconsiderate, most obnoxious, and most downright menacing. / / / / / I began the marathon at 67 degrees, and finished at 80 degrees. This is one of the few times that I have run in short-sleeves. / / / / / / Today was an extremely consistent mix of walk - power walk - shuffle - jog - run. Like a crafty old baseball pitcher, I mixed my pitches. / / / / / As is usually the case, by mile 18 or 19, I got a tremendous second wind, and was able to finish quite strong. |
| 213 |
Quadzilla - Day 4: Labor Day Marathon |
09/03/12 |
Sunset Beach/ Huntington Beach ( via Bolsa Chica) |
CA |
5:49 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Labor Day Weekend - - MONDAY. / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Sunset Beach/Huntington Beach / / / / Today was Day #4 of Charlie Alewine's Labor Day Quadzilla. / / / / My finishing time was a respectable 5:49. I love it when I can come in under 6 hrs, which I normally don't do for the C.A.R. races of Charlie Alewine. / / / / / After 3 days of therapeutic C.A.R. marathons, I felt that it was time to kick it into gear for Day 4. (((((( #1 - Fullerton = 6:57 ///// #2 - Lake Forest = 6:42 ///// #3 - Marina Vista = 6:48 )))))) / / / / / / / / / DAY #4 Sunset Beach - - My first half was at a 2:45 pace. / My second half was at a 3:04 pace. / total = 5:49:00 / / / / / / / BTW: I have now run the Sunset Beach to Huntington venue 29 times. / / / / / / / INSPIRATION: Tony Endorphin Dude was quite impressive as he was inching along the marathon course, suffering with grotesque blisters, slowed down to a snail's pace. But The Dude just doesn't give up. Outstanding! / / / / / / / QUADRICEP: Right inside lower quad - contracted. / / Took about 5 miles to stretch it out. / / / / / / TMI: Hemorrhoidal issue. Actually quite minor. But,... / / / / / DEJA VU. At Mile 1, I started to notice tightness in my right inner quad. This exact same problem hit me during my first Quadzilla back in January 2010. Fortunately, this time it lasted only 5 miles, probably because I handled it so much better with Quad experience. / / / / QUADZILLA DILEMMA. Two problems, sleeping and eating. SLEEP: I averaged barely 3 hours per day. CALORIC INTAKE: Eating ( amount and quality) was very inconsistent. A lot of work needs to be done in both areas. / / / / LEFT PATELLA: After the quad was complete, I felt tightness in left knee. Possibly from concrete of Sunset Bch. |
| 212 |
Quadzilla - Day 3: Run the Marina Marathon |
09/02/12 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
6:48 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Labor Day Weekend - - SUNDAY. / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Marina Vista, Long Beach / / / / Today was Day #3 of Charlie Alewine's Labor Day Quadzilla. / / / / My finishing time was a respectable 6:48. / / / / I ran the first 13 miles with Race Director Charlie Alewine. / / / / For the last 13 miles, I ran totally alone. / / / / This was my third consecutive day breaking the 7-hour mark, so I am pleased. / / / / / / / / This was my 26th time running the Marina Vista-Long Beach course. This is 2nd only to the Sunset Beach course, which I have run 29 times. / / / / / / / / Day One of the Quad had 17 total runners, Full and Half ( Fullerton Trails ). Of those, 16 being full-marathoners. / / / / Day Two of the Quad ( Lake Forest ) had 40 runners, 20 being full-marathoners. / / / / For today's Day Three marathon, run at Marina Vista, there were 36 runners, 20 full-marathoners. These numbers are quite unusual for Charlie Alewine races. But a Quadzilla over a holiday weekend is a big draw. / / / / / / / This venue at Marina Vista has 4 major attractions: The Colorado Lagoon, Marina Vista Park, Marina Stadium (Inlet/Bay), Marina Boat Harbor. / / / / Marina Vista was the site of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games (water sports competition). / / / / / / / As usual, at Mile 19, I ran into the Starbucks at 7th Street & Park Avenue for a cup of java and a multi-grain bagel ( to go, of course ). / / / |
| 211 |
Quadzilla - Day 2: Blazing the Path Marathon |
09/01/12 |
Lake Forest / Aliso Creek |
CA |
6:42 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Labor Day Weekend - - SATURDAY. / / / / / / / / / / / / / Aliso Creek/Lake Forest / Rural bike path / / / / Today was Day #2 of Charlie Alewine's Labor Day Quadzilla. / / / Finishing time was 6:42. I just wanted to get in under 7 hrs, and hopefully beat yesterday's time ( 6:52 ) by 15 minutes. Mission accomplished! / / / Today's marathon was purely a training/recovery marathon. I ran downhills and walked uphills. Tons of walk-breaks. / / / Knock on wood, I am still suffering no physical ailments, at least of the running nature. / / / Unfortunately, I did have a major gastro-intestinal attack that lasted for quite some time. I took 2 capsules of GAS-X ( gas & bloat reducer ), not the recommended one capsule. I also took a Tagamet ( acid reducer). / / / / / / This was the 12th time that I have run the bike path at Lake Forest/Aliso Creek. / / / Lake Forest is tucked up into the Santa Margarita Mountains. / / / Going east toward the mountains is basically all up-hill / / / Going west toward the Pacific Ocean is basically all downhill. / / / / / / / The course runs east and west along the Aliso Creek bike path, which runs parallel to El Toro Blvd. / / / Going east is a climb up to the foothills. / / / It is more fun running west, which is downhill towards the Pacific Ocean. / / / I really enjoy this venue because the course is a secluded asphalt-paved trail ( bike path ) along the Aliso Creek. Easy on the feet and easy on the eyes. / / / / Lake Forest is a 20.5 mile drive from my home in Old Towne Orange. / / / / 22 Fwy - 55 Fwy - 5 Fwy - El Toro Road - Portola Parkway. / / / / / / / Usual suspects: Charlie Alewine, Ed Ettinghaussen, Haywood Crowder, Laura Sohasky, Steve Hernandez, Jessica Montoya, Jean Ho, Tony Endorphin Dude, Chris Jones, Karen Evil Twin, Cyndie Merten, and Adam Godlove. x x x x x Point of Interest: Rick Warren's mega-evangelical Saddleback Church is located in close vicinity. |
| 210 |
Quadzilla - Day 1: Kicking Off Labor Day Marathon |
08/31/12 |
Fullerton Trails / Laguna Lake |
CA |
6:57 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Labor Day Weekend - - FRIDAY. / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Laguna Lake / Fullerton Trails / / / / / Today was Day #1 of Charlie Alewine's Labor Day Quadzilla. / / / Knock on wood, I am no worse for the wear after my first 26.2 miles. / / / I ran the first 15 miles totally by myself - - Just me and my I-pod. / / / / / Miles 16-20, I ran with Larry Macon and Yolanda Holder. / / / / / The last 6 miles, I basically ran alone with a few temporary exceptions. Example: Ran with Tony "The Endorphin Dude" for about a mile so that I could congratulate him on having completed the 100 Mile Endurance run at Run-de-Vous 2 weeks ago. / / / / / I also ran about a mile with Karen "The Evil Twin". / / / / / I saw lots of other pals such as Rocky Morales, Ed Ettinghaussen, Laura Sohasky and Min Chae. / / / / / / / / / / The location was focused on Laguna Lake, which is nestled within the expansive Fullerton trail system (aka, The Fullerton Loop ). / / / We also ran along the Juanita Cooke Trail, and along the Elevated Imperial Spur (dirt trail ). / / / The marathon consisted of 8 loops of 3.28 miles. / / / The terrain was 100% dirt. The course isn't bad, but it does have some broken small rocks, loose dirt, hard dirt, broken dirt, mud, twigs, horse poop, etc. / / / Sun Blok, Trail shoes and gaiters are highly recommended. / / / / / / The course was "Tee" shaped. / / / Laguna Lake served as the pole. / Imperial Spur was the left ( north) end of the cross. / / Juanita Cooke Trail was the right ( south ) end of the cross. / / / |
| 209 |
End of Summer Marathon |
08/26/12 |
Legg Lake, Whittier Narrows (El Monte) |
CA |
6:29 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Number 51 for 2012. / / / / / / Another pleasant 26.2 mile jog through Legg-Lake Park. But it has been a long while, over 2 years, in fact. So, in a way, this was a homecoming. / / / / / / This was my 10th time running Legg Lake. The last time, however, was 27 months ago in May 2010. / / / / / / The course is rather repetitive, but I don't mind. 12 loops (2.2 miles) around the perimenter of the park, which contains 3 lakes. / / / / / / Pleasant weather -- 63 degrees to start. Probably didn't get any higher than 68 degrees. / / / / / / The terrain was dirt, grass and asphalt. However, if you pick the right paths, you can basically do the entire race on dirt or grass. But wear trail shoes and gaiters, regardless of the route that you choose. / / / / / / I ran the last half of the race with my pal Jim Grimes, which made the miles go by rather quickly. / / / / / / Legg Lake is a 29-mile, 4-freeway drive for me ( 22 Fwy-W to 5 Fwy-N to 605 Fwy-N to 60 Fwy-W - - Exit at Santa Anita ). / / / / / / It has been 4 weeks since I had a major competitive marathon ( SF ). And it will be another 6 weeks before my next major competitive marathon ( Chicago ). I am hoping to use these interim, but official, marathons to really sharpen my game. Let's hope. / / / / / / Notable pals also running: Jim Grimes, Rocky Morales, Charlie Alewine, Dale Roberts, Steve Hernandez, Min Chae, Jessica Montoya, and Stacy Berry. / / / / / / Physically, I had a great day. No niggling ailments whatsoever. Knock on wood. / / / / / / / / / / / FLASH: Big News this weekend: Lance Armstrong is scheduled to be stripped of his seven Tour de France titles (1999-2005) because of accusations of doping. / / I would say that 90% of the top cyclists use PEDs. / / Ergo, Lance won on a level playing field - they all cheat. / / Too me, doping is part of the cycling culture, far more than any other sport. It is what it is. / / / / |
| 208 |
Blaze the Beach Marathon |
08/25/12 |
Long Beach ( Marina Vista/ Colorado Lagoon) |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
WOW!!! My 50th marathon for the year 2012, with 14 weeks remaining. / / / This is also the 25th time that I have run the Marina Vista Park course in Long Beach. / / / This is the front end of my weekend double, so I took it nice and easy. I basically ran a mile, walked a mile, ran a mile, etc. / / / As is my wont on these small, local, low-key marathons, I view them as therapeutic, recuperative and experimental training. / / / This venue has 4 major attractions: The Colorado Lagoon, Marina Vista Park, Marina Stadium (Inlet/Bay), Marina Boat Harbor. / / / Marina Vista was the site of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games (water sports competition). / / / As usual, at Mile 19, I ran into the Starbucks at 7th Street & Park Avenue for a cup of java and a multi-grain bagel ( to go, of course ). / / / I also sipped on a Classic Coke during the last few miles - that was my high glycemic power drink. So far, it has given me quite an energy boost - could be all psychological. / / / I also downed 2 cap-gels of Rapid Release Extra Strength Tylenol ( 500mg acetaminophen per at Mile 15 - not sure of how much it helps). / / / With both the Coke and Tylenol, I think that I gave myself a much needed energy boost. If nothing else, it was a psychological boost. C'mon! If I think that it helps - then, in a fashion, it is helping. / / / A good place to visit after the race is Chuck's Coffee Shop, a mile away in Belmont Shore ( no credit cards - Cash Only!!! ). Chuck's is the home of the "Weasel Burger" - which is chili and eggs with round home fries. Located at Termino and Ocean, just south of Belmont Pier. It is a classic 1950s diner ( "Dive"), and an L.A. Landmark. / / / Next door to Chuck's is the Olympic Pool, used for 1932 Olympics. / / / / / / / / |
| 207 |
Summer Showdown Marathon |
08/19/12 |
Santa Monica & Venice Beach & Pacific Palisades |
CA |
6:19 |
Marathon |
3999 |
|
|
|
The "Summer Showdown" was put on by Rocket Racing Productions. Unfortunately, because of permit issues, Mark & Michelle, race directors of RRP, were forced to move out of their Belmont Shore-Long Beach location this past week. / /
But not to worry, RRP is now located along the beach bicycle path in Santa Monica-Venice. / / / / truly liked the old course at Belmont Shore-Long Beach. We were able to run along the beach bike path from Alamitos Bay to the Queen Mary. However, I do believe that the new Santa Monica course is far superior. I just wish that we could still use both courses. Oh well, C'est la vie! / / / / Today I didn't loaf as much as I normally do with small, local marathons. Normally I use these low-key marathons for training/recovery purposes. However, my next major marathon won't be until October 7th in Chicago, seven weeks away. Ergo, I can actually afford to put some effort into these smaller marathons, that I have signed up for over the next 7 weeks. / / / / My goal for today' Marathon was to run between 6:15 and 6:30. Voila! I came in at 6:19. / / / / Santa Monica-Venice is a beautiful course along the beach bike path, with a continuous view of the Pacific Ocean. The only downside is that the beach bike path is mainly hard concrete. This is a trade-off. You get a great running path with magnificent views. But you also get 100% hard concrete. / / Fortunately, I run close to the ground, not a lot of knee lift, short but rapid strides, and often shuffling. So the pounding on my knees, hips, etc. is actually quite minimal. / / / / The Santa Monica course is not terra incognita to me since I lived in SM the entire time I was attending UCLA ( 1970s), and I ran this exact course quite frequently. I would sometimes run from the Santa Monica Pier to the Manhattan Pier, or to the Hermosa Pier, or to Redondo's King Harbor, or Palos Verdes. Of course, I was 40 years younger, and the hard concrete was inconsequential in my naive mind.
|
| 206 |
Dos Amigos Marathon |
08/12/12 |
Sunset Beach/ Huntington Beach ( via Bolsa Chica) |
CA |
7:44 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Okay. Another Weekened Double is now in the books. / / / / This was the 28th time that I have run a marathon at Sunset Beach / Huntington Beach ( Bolsa Chica ) / / Heck, I know people who haven't even run 28 marathons, period. / / / / / Today, I ran the first half of the Dos Amigos Marathon with the race director Charlie Alewine. BTW: Today is Charlie's 67th birthday. / / / / During the 2nd half, our good friend Jim Grimes joined us. / / / / Eventually, I let Charlie and Jim go on ahead, as I wanted to slow down to a theraputic crawl. / / / / Also running today's marathon were the Dynamic Duo of Jim Simpson ( 900+ marathons ) and Larry Macon ( 800+ marathons ). / / / / / Any race that has Charlie A., Jim G., Jim S., Larry M., and Joe Reilly is a great race. I love these guys, especially the last one (lol). / / / / / My recent problems with my Left Quad Area, my Left Arch Area and my Left Foot Neuroma have been almost non-existent this entire weekend. / / / / However, I didn't get away scot free. A couple of hours after the marathon, I felt a major tightness in my left shin. / / I do remember feeling a major tweak in that shin during mile 24, but it soon went away. Or, at least I thought that it went away - foolish me. / / / / It was uncomfortably warm at the beach this morning. Even worse, the humidity was almost tropical. As a result, I was quite drained from the get-go. I hate humidity. / / / / / / / 2012 OLYMPIC MEN'S MARATHON - - Winner is Stephen Kiprotich (23yrs) of Uganda in 2:08:01. / / Meb Keflezighi finished 4th and was the only American to finish. / / Ryan Hall ( USA) bailed with a DNF after 9 miles claiming hamstring problems. What a wuss! C'mon, Ryan! It's the Olympics. "Soldier on, Ryan." / / I would have finished no matter what, even if I had to shuffle to the end. |
| 205 |
Victorious Summit Marathon |
08/11/12 |
Dove Canyon, Santa Margarita |
CA |
7:43 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Dove Canyon Marathon #2 ( 2009/2012 ). / / / / Entire course was run on a hilly and challenging out/back route with scenic views of the canyon and the mountains surrounding the Dove Canyon community. / / / / Today's marathon was the front end of my Double Weekend. / / Tomorrow, I will run the back end at Sunset Beach. / / / / On Dec. 26, 2009, I first ran Dove Canyon in Santa Margarita. It has been 32 months since I used this venue for a marathon. / / / / I have not returned to Dove Canyon in almost 3 yrs because I am not a big fan of rugged trail runs with high elevation gains. / / Also, I am especially not a big fan of a course that has signs saying "beware of mountain lions" and "keep going at your own risk". / / But the course has been cut down from a 13.1 loop to a 6.55 loop. / / This means that I don't have to go up high where the mountain lions roam. / / / / This time at Dove Canyon, I power hiked half the course with trekking poles. / / The reason for the power hike was that I certainly do enjoy hiking. / / Another reason is that the use of trekking poles takes stress off of my lower body, and allows me to use my upper body strength. / / This is particularly important while I am trying to allow my left leg ( quad-knee connection area ) to get back into shape. / / / / I think that I have figured out that my left leg problem was caused by weak quadricep muscles. / / So, I have been working hard lately to correct this malady. / / Go to the gym daily. Do quad exercises. Use the elliptical at level 8 intensity. Use the recumbent bike at level 6 intensity. Do the treadmill at level 15 incline. Do hill work. Do high knee lifts. Run on the balls of my feet. Shorten my stride. / / My guess is that the trekking poles will be of great help. Using poles is like running on four legs instead of two. / / / / Today's marathon power-hike was totally therapeutic. / / / P.S. No Quad Prob today. Yeh!! |
| 204 |
Rock the Path Marathon |
08/05/12 |
Lake Forest ( Aliso Creek) |
CA |
8:17 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
The 11th time that I have run the bike path at Lake Forest/Aliso Creek. / / / / Today's marathon was theraputically slow at 8 hr, 17 min. My attention was totally focused on my left leg dilemma ( Figuring out the problem, and finding a solution ). / / / / I had to study & analyze how my left leg would behave after my trouble over the last 3 marathons ( the passed 2 weeks ). / / Today, the problem reared up twice (mile 14 & mile 20). Fortunately both times it was mild and only lasted for that particular mile. / / / / The problem today was a tightness and instability just above and below the left knee. This time, the shin was not so much involved. / / / / I countered this malady by: 1) I lifting my legs more than usual. 2) Landing on the balls of my feet. 3) Continuously altering my gait. / / I also put on a new version of patella strap that I purchased from CVS. I found the CVS strap to be superior to my Pro-Tec version. / / I think the patella strap was a major factor in today's recovery. / / / / I have now run the last 4 marathons with this scary leg problem. The good news is that the leg is not getting worse. In fact, marathon #4 was a much welcomed improvement. / / / / Is this an ITB situation? Or, is it a quad-knee connection problem? Don't know. I will have to check with my trainer. / / / / Ironically, I may have exchanged one problem for another. Due to altering my gait and landing on the balls of my feet, my old neuroma problem returned with a vengeance. / / / / / Next Saturday, I will do a trail marathon at Dove Canyon. But I will be using trekking poles, as I am going to hike the marathon. This should benefit my left leg problem since the trekking poles work the arms and upper body, and give the legs much-needed relief. / / / / / / / OLYMPIC WOMEN'S MARATHON - - Winner is Kiki Gelana of Ethiopia. Shalene Flanagan and Kara Goucher finished 10th and 11th. / / / Usain Bolt won 2nd Olympic Gold (2008 & 2012) in 100 meters (9.63). |
| 203 |
Running the Fullerton Trails Marathon |
08/04/12 |
Laguna Lake, Fullerton |
CA |
6:54 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This is my third time running the Laguna Lake course at the Fullerton Trails Loop. / / This is a race that requires trail shoes and gaiters. / / / / / / / / I was very worried today about my left leg. I have had a problem for the past 3 marathons (the past 2 weeks). / / / / My left leg starts to lock up ( and feel unstable ) from above the knee down through the shin to the top of my foot. At Belmont Shore ( July 22 ) it appeared during mile 17. At San Francisco, it popped up during mile 21 ( July 29 ). And today it popped up during mile 16 ( Aug 4 ). / / / / I don't know whether it is a shin problem, or a knee problem, or a quad problem, or a hamstring problem. All areas seem affected to a degree. / / / / But the focal point is the top of the knee, down through the shin, to the top of the foot. / / The knee itself doesn't hurt, but it is definitely part of the equation. / / / / If I had to pick the most crucial area, it is the SHIN. / / / / Could it be ITB? / / / / Each time the problem has flared up, it did improve after a couple of miles. / / / / Lifting my knee in an exaggerated form does seem to help. / / / / I have another marathon tomorrow. So, I will be extremely careful, and take lots of notes. / / / / / / / / Today's marathon was located at Laguna Lake, which is nestled within the expansive Fullerton trail system (aka, The Fullerton Loop ). / / We also ran along the Juanita Cooke Trail, and along the Elevated Imperial Spur (dirt trail ). / / / / The marathon consisted of 8 loops of 3.28 miles. / / / The terrain was 100% dirt. The course isn't bad, but it does have some broken small rocks, loose dirt, hard dirt, broken dirt, mud, twigs, horse poop, etc. / / / / / / / / / OLYMPICS TODAY: Mo Farah ( GBR ) and Galen Rupp ( USA ) won Gold and Silver in 10,000 meters. // Nicola Spirig ( Switz) won the Women's Triathlon |
| 202 |
San Francisco Marathon |
07/29/12 |
San Francisco |
CA |
5:49 |
Marathon |
20559 |
|
|
|
Marathon #201 for my career. / / Marathon # 44 during 2012 / / My 6th consecutive San Francisco Marathon. 2007-2012 ( 5:40 / 4:55 / 5:13 / 6:24 / 5:47 / 5:49 ). / / / / A 5-day stay in beautiful SF, culminating in a boat ride and exploration of Sausalito Isle on Tuesday. / / / / Marathon day was a Trifecta, 3 major outings. - - I ran the marathon, then went to the Dodger-Giant game at the AT&T Ballpark ( mile 25 of marathon ). Then, that evening, I went out to dinner with friends. / / Normally, I just veg out after a marathon, usually watching the NY Yankees on the TV. But not this time. My Gawd! What got into me? Am I a multi-tasker! BTW: Dodger Clayton Kershaw pitched a 4-0 complete game shutout victory over SF. / / / / This was a tough weekend for me. Sunday was the 12th day of a troubling cold/flu. Just walking the 3 mile round-trip to the Expo on Saturday was a major chore. BTW: Expo is held in seedy part of town, above 80 Fwy. / / / / The entire race was run with temps in the 50s + wind. Ergo, I wore my jacket for over 13 miles. Ah, July in SF - burrrr! / / / / This was also the weekend that kicked off the 30th Summer Olympics (London). Thus far, swimmer Michael Phelps is not the Phelps of 2008. / / / / Next year, the SF Marathon will be 6 wks earlier on June 16th due to America's Cup ( boating in SF ). / / / / This makes me happy because SF will not conflict with the Deseret Marathon in Utah, which is usually run a few days earlier on Pioneer Day July 24. / / / / Went to the Book Passage at the Ferry Bldg, and purchased Ultra-marathoner Scott Jurek's auto-biography "Eat and Run". Highly recommended, great read. / / / / 2012 SF Medal had Golden Gate embossed ( honoring 75th anniv). / / Also, picked up the LA/SF medal for doing both. / / / / Food-wise, I relied on Subway, Taqueria Cancun, The Embarcadero Farmers Market, a variety of pretzels, bananas, yogurt, and nuts. / / / / Stayed at the Galleria Park Hotel (est.,1911) at Sutter & Kearney. |
| 201 |
Ocean Blast Marathon |
07/22/12 |
Belmont Shore, Long Beach |
CA |
7:07 |
Marathon |
200 |
|
|
|
My 200th marathon is now in the books. / / Yes, I now have 200 marathons. That is, 200 marathons that I can remember in detail. / / Yet, in truth, I have actually done more than 200, probably closer to 230. But I can only remember the details of these listed 200. So, only those are officially recorded. / / I chose not to list the marathons that I don't remember the dates for, such as the Pasadena Marathon, the Santa Monica Marathon and others that I did in the 1970s and very early 1980s. / / / / / Physically, I had muscle problems with my left leg from the quads down to the shin. This entire region kept locking up - sometimes the quads, sometimes the knee, somtetimes the shin. This was reminiscent of Salt Lake City 2011. But this time the left leg was the issue, not the right. / / / / I absolutely loved the "Ocean Blast" Marathon, run this morning along the Belmont Shore bike path. We ran from "72nd Street & Ocean Blvd" on the southeastern end of the bike path to the northwestern end of the bike path. The NW end took us to the L.B. Harbor with the Queen Mary in full view. / / This amounted to a total distance of 5 mi. / We did this route until we managed 26.2 mi. / / / / Mark and Michelle of Rocket Racing Productions put on this marathon, and they did a magnificent job. / / I would also like to thank M & M for allowing me to wear Bib #200 in honor of my 200 marathons. / / / / / / / / / / / / / TOUR de FRANCE: In Paris along the Champs-Elysees, Britain's Mark Cavanaugh won the 20th and final stage of the TDF for the unprecedented 4th consecutive year. / / But the overall winner of the 99th TDF, and holding on to the Yellow Jersey, was Britain's Bradley Wiggins. / / / / Since the first Tour de France in 1903, Britain has never had a TDF winner. Another Brit, Chris Froome finished in 2nd place. God Save the Queen! |
| 200 |
Summer Fun Marathon |
07/21/12 |
Sunset Beach/ Huntington Beach ( via Bolsa Chica) |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Today was Marathon #199, and my 42nd marathon of the year. My goal is to run my age with 69 marathons in 2012. / / / This is also my 199th marathon overall ( lifetime ). Yeh, Me! / / / Tomorrow, I will run #200 at Belmont Shore in Long Beach. / / Belmont Shore uses the beach bikepath that starts at the Granada Street bike path entrance at Ocean Blvd. // It then runs northwest until we are within sight of the iconic luxury liner, the Queen Mary. // Then it wends back to the Granada Street entrance. // All in all, it is a great course. But, it is 100% hard concrete. / / / / / Today's marathon in Huntington Beach was also on a bike path, but it was overwhelmingly asphalt ( Thank you God, for small favors ). / / / / / TOUR DE FRANCE - - - - Today was the penultimate day of the TDF. Day 22, Stage 19. / / Bradley Wiggins all but sewed up the TDF championship by winning today's Stage 19 ( Time Trials ). Wiggins is Britain's first Tour de France champion ever. Congrats to the U.K. / / / / / / AURORA SHOOTING: Today's marathon was marred by the tragic shootings at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater. The topic of conversation amongst the runners was the insanity of allowing the purchase of high-powered automatic weapons. Poor Colorado. First Columbine, now Aurora. Being a card-carrying conservative Republican, I believe in "the right to bear arms". That being said, excuse me for now editorializing on behalf of the other side. Try as I might, I don't see the reasoning for allowing high-powered assault weapons in the hands of civilians. C'mon, how much fire power does it take to protect yourself, or to bring down Bambi. Damn it! Aurora, Colorado isn't Afghanistan or Iraq.
|
| 199 |
Run the Park Marathon |
07/14/12 |
Central Park, Huntington Beach |
CA |
6:55 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Marathon #198. I'm getting close to the 2 century mark. / / / / Just got back to California from my utterly fantastic destination marathon at the "Garden City" of Missoula (Montana), and a week in the Treasure State's magnificent Glacier National Park. / / / / / / / Now, I am back in California. Once I landed at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, I headed straight to Huntington Beach for a "Run with Charlie" Marathon. / / / / / / / Today's marathon was my 41st for 2012, and #198 overall. It now appears that San Francisco in 2 weeks will be #200. I wonder if they will give me a bib with the number 200. That would be really cool. / / / / / / / I probably should have made this a rest weekend. But I really love the Central Park venue in Huntington Beach. So, what the hell. / / / / / / / My plan was to merely cruise through with a total recovery marathon of 7:30:00. But I got antsy during the middle miles, and stepped up my pace to an 11-minute pace, from miles 7-13. Definitely not a good idea. But I did pull back drastically during the 2nd half. So, everything actually worked out for the best. / / / / / Good news: My inguinal hernia continues to improve to where I hardly notice. / / / / / / / / / Meanwhile back at the Tour de France, into its 15th Day. Germany's Andre Greipel won Stage 13. This also being his 3rd stage victory of the 2012 Tour. / / Britain's Bradley Wiggins held onto the Yellow Jersey for the 7th straight day. If Wiggins wins the TDF, it will be a first for Great Britain. Go, United Kingdom! / / / / / Factoid de Jour: The State of Montana does not have a Sales Tax. How cool is that? |
| 198 |
Missoula Marathon |
07/08/12 |
Missoula |
MT |
5:34 |
Marathon |
887 |
|
|
|
The 6th Annual Missoula Marathon. / / Runners World, in 2009, labeled it the "Best Overall Marathon" in only its 3rd year. / / Missoula is the "Garden City" of the "Treasure State" of Montana. / / / 1,100 Marathon finishers / 2,500 Half-marathon finishers / 29 Relay Teams / About 3,700 Total Runners / / / The course is basically all up-hill, going east from French Town to Downtown Missoula at the base of the Higgins Avenue Bridge. / / / The first 13 mile stretch is a very slight, but steady incline. / / Miles 14, 15, 16, are steep climbs. - - - Miles 17, 18, 19,20 are almost as steep, but not as bad. / / Miles 21-26 are uphill. Not as mild at first half, but not as steep as 14-20. / / / The high for the day was 98 degrees. Fortunately, I started at 5:00am, and the heat was never a factor. / / / I loved the t-shirt, unusual for me. / / / I really loved the medal that was a 3.5 inch horse-shoe with a runner encapsulated within, and all suspended by a high quality neck strap. / / / Post-Race had the "Trifecta" of Bagels, Bananas and String Cheese. Plus watermelon, pasta salad, fruit pops, etc. - I loved it. / / / Inguinal hernia was not a real problem, but it did worry me. However, it is improving. / / / Altitude was about 3,400 feet. Probably no problem for the young. But being from sea-level and a week shy of 69 years of age, I was bothered. / / / / / Today was Day 9 of the Tour de France. Thibaud Pinot (France) won Stage 8. And, Bradley Wiggins (Britain) wore the Yellow Jersey for the first time in 2012. / / / / / Post-post race - - Spent the following week hiking in Glacier National Park ( about 130 miles northeast of Missoula. / / / Next year, I'll explore Yellowstone after Missoula. |
| 197 |
Summer Seven - Day #7 |
07/04/12 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
7:52 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
DONE! / / / Over, and definitely out of the oven! / / / Hey! Stick a fork in me, I am euphorically done, done, done! / / / Yay, Team! / / / Yay, Maniacs! / / / What a great and happy Fourth of July! / / / The Charlie Alewine Summer Seven ( 7-7-7-184 ) is in the books. / / / 7 Days / 7 Marathons / 7 Venues / 184 Total Miles. / / / Fan-bloom-in-tas-tic! / / /
20 runners survived the Summer Seven to grab a 5-inch Belt Buckle and bragging rights. / / / Dale Roberts said that completing the Summer Seven was more difficult than completing the Rocky Road 100 Miler. / / /
I feel so honored being able to complete this task alongside of such marathoning super greats as Larry Macon, Jim Simpson, Ed Ettinghaussen, and Yolanda Holder. I was in the company of legendary giants. / / /
Congrats to my best running pal Jimmy Grimes for not only completing the Sum-7, but also doing it with some quality finishing times. All of this in spite of being knocked over by a Huntington Beach sanitation truck on Day 4. Hey! How's the ankle, Jim? / / /
Congrats to Marina White, who is one tough and determined chick, a gal who always seems to accomplish what she sets out to do. / / / Thank you Charlie Alewine for giving us all one hell of a week to remember. / / /
Congrats to the San Francisco Gang of Four, led by Endorphin Dude. You guys added a special spark to the seven days. / / /
Fittingly, it all ended where it began a week ago at Marina Vista Park in Long Beach. / / / All of the venues were more than memorable, with a special shout out to the Bay Shore Long Beach venue of Day 5 ( Consensus best venue of Sum-7 ). / / /
Tour de France update: Andre Greipel was the winner of Stage 4. Go, Andre! / / / Sad Note: Andy Griffith passed away at the age of 86 years. |
| 196 |
Summer Seven - Day #6 |
07/03/12 |
Sunset Beach/ Huntington Beach ( via Bolsa Chica) |
CA |
7:59 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
TUESDAY - DAY #6 - - - - 6 days, 6 marathons, 6 venues, 157 total miles. / / / /
Day #6 is a repeat venue, consisting of a beach run from Sunset Beach ( off of Warner & PCH ) down to about 1.25 miles south of the Huntington Pier, a distance of 6.55 mile. Then, back to Sunset Beach. Each out/back is 13.1 miles. Ergo, we do this twice for the marathon. / / / /
If any course had to be repeated, I am glad that it was the Sunset /Huntington Beach venue. Running through Surf City reminds me of my teenage years surfing in Southern California. Back in my "Days of the Surf, 1960-66", there were no short-boards, no wet suits, and not near the crowds of surfers that dot the waves today. It was a much simpler time. / / / /
Concerning my eating routine during the Summer Seven week, I was able to ingest on average 3,000 calories per day ( including what I ate while on the run ). That amount was probably not enough since I was burning up close to 3,000 calories per day running. But I didn't want the unpleasant bloat that comes with excessive calories. / / / /
What I am really enjoying during this Summer Seven is the comraderie of my fellow runners. These aren't just mainstream marathoners. These are the heavy-hitters of the marathoning world. I have never enjoyed chatting up fellow runners as much as I have during these seven days. / / / / As mentioned earlier, I truly love Sunset Beach. But the consensus of opinion on the different venues is that the Bay Shore Long Beach venue ( Day 5 ) was the standout. And, to be perfectly honest, I can't argue with that assessment. / / / / The Tour de France continued on into the 3rd Stage today. The winner of this mountainous stage was none other than the 22-year old sensation Peter Sagan from Czechoslovakia, his 2nd stage win in three days.
|
| 195 |
Summer Seven - Day #5 |
07/02/12 |
Bay Shore Bike Path, Long Beach |
CA |
7:36 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
MONDAY - - - DAY #5 consisted of a beach run along the Bay Shore bike path from 54th & Ocean to Linden & Ocean, in view of the iconic Queen Mary luxury liner. / / / We basically did an out/back loop of 6.55 miles. Do this 4 times, and you have a marathon. / / /
This was my first time at this venue, and I absolutely love it. In truth, I have run this bike path before since it is part of the first 10 miles of the Long Beach Marathon. / / / Interestingly, the Bay Shore bike path has a 4 foot wide pedestrian path on its ocean side. I wish that all bike paths would show such courtesy towards pedestrians. / / /
Tomorrow, we go back to Sunset Beach for a repeat of that particular venue, the venue that we first ran on Day #4. / / /
I am trying to watch as much of the Tour de France as possible, but it is difficult during these packed seven days. I have almost totally shut out the rest of the world during this seven day stretch. I have told my civilian pals to consider me out of town for a week. In a way, I am out of town. I am totally in my zone. / / /
BTW: I complain about having to force down 5,000 calories per day. But TDF cyclists, on average, must force down 12,000 calories per day. That, I could never do. / / / / / The winner of Stage 2 of the Tour de France was sprinter extraordinaire Mark Cavendish from Great Britain, his 21st TDF stage win.
|
| 194 |
Summer Seven - Day #4 |
07/01/12 |
Sunset Beach/ Huntington Beach ( via Bolsa Chica) |
CA |
7:37 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
SUNDAY. - - Sunset Beach / Huntington Beach / / / / /
Day #4 - - 4 days, 4 marathons, 4 venues, 105 total miles. / / / / /
Day #4 consisted of a beach run from Sunset Beach down past the Huntington Beach Pier, and back again to Sunset Beach. Each out/back is 13.1 miles. Ergo, we do this twice for the marathon. / / / / /
Sleep has been a problem. I have run each marathon on 2-3 hours sleep. I am wearing down sleep-wise. It is hard for me to adjust to my new timetable / schedule. Unfortunately, by the time I do adjust, the Summer Seven will have been completed. / / / / /
I am also having trouble eating. By my calculations, I should be ingesting at least 5,000 calories per day. But that is too much for this old soul. Ergo, I am obviously functioning under-fueled. But, it is what it is. / / / /
Tomorrow, we will run on a completely new venue along the Bay Shore bike path in Long Beach. I am familiar with all of the Summer Seven venues , except for Bay Shore Long Beach. But it is coastal, so it has to be fantastic. / / / / /
The Bay Shore bike path is part of the Long beach marathon, held in October. So, I guess that I am not totally unfamiliar. What I remember is 100% hard concrete, and nasty bicyclists.
The winner of the Tour de France Stage 1 was 22 year old rookie Peter Sagan from Checkoslavokia.
|
| 193 |
Summer Seven - Day #3 |
06/30/12 |
Manhattan Pier - Ballona Creek / via Playa del Rey |
CA |
7:58 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
SATURDAY. Manhattan-Ballona Creek / / / / / Day 3. Marathon #3. 79 total miles. / / / / / In the early morning darkness, we had a 3-quarters moon, almost as good as a full moon. It sprayed a lighted path on the ocean's surface leading up to the shore, a surreal experience. / / /
This may be my favorite Charlie Alewine venue. We trek from Manhattan Beach, through other beach cities, on to Ballona Creek in Playa del Rey - pure heaven. / / / Running along the ocean is very spiritual for me. Just me and the sea in quiet solitude. Salty air, cool breezes, crashing waves, magnificent vistas. What’s not to like. / / / / / / / / / /
SUBWAY! SUBWAY sandwiches! R.D. Charlie Alewine had a fantastic food table at the aid station. He warmed the cockles of my Irish heart by having a stack of Subway turkey sandwiches. Yummy, Yum, Yum!. / / / / / / / / / /.
It appears that the muscles attached to my left femur are locking. My left thigh has a slight lock, going from the hip down to my tibia, which also affects the knee. Not serious yet, but I am worried. / /
Otherwise, I am still having problems with my hernia and hip flexors. C'est la vie! / / / / / / / / /
What is the worst aspect of this course? No brainer! Cyclists, arrogant, rude, self-absorbed cyclists. They would just as soon mow you down as look at you. / / / / / / / / /
Flash! Today begins the 2012 Tour de France. Today Saturday is the Prologue. Tomorrow Sunday will be Stage One. / / / / / Prologue winner was Fabian Cancellara. |
| 192 |
Summer Seven - Day #2 |
06/29/12 |
Laguna Lake, Fullerton |
CA |
7:38 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
FRIDAY. Laguna Lake / Fullerton Trails / / / / / Today was Day #2 of the Summer Seven. / / / Knock on wood, I am still no worse for the wear. / / / I ran the first few miles with my pal Steve Hernandez. // The next few miles with my best pal Jim Grimes. // And the later miles with Larry Macon and Jim Simpson. / / / I really enjoyed running with Larry Macon. He is a raconteur of the first order. One of the great conversationalists. I didn't know that he went to Harvard with Al Gore and Tommy Lee Jones. / / /
The location was focused on Laguna Lake, which is nestled within the expansive Fullerton trail system (aka, The Fullerton Loop ). / / / We also ran along the Juanita Cooke Trail, and along the Elevated Imperial Spur (dirt trail ). / / /
The marathon consisted of 8 loops of 3.28 miles. / / / The terrain was 100% dirt. The course isn't bad, but it does have some broken small rocks, loose dirt, hard dirt, broken dirt, mud, twigs, horse poop, etc. / / / Sun Blok, Trail shoes and gaiters are highly recommended. / / /
Tomorrow, we will be running the Manhattan Beach to Ballona Creek course. I will be so glad to get back to the beach. If you do early starts, as I always do, you want that oceanic serenity that comes with the wee small hours running in solitude along the Pacific. / / /
It sure as hell beats running in the morning darkness with coyotes, skunks, spiders, poison oak, broken terrain and other such flora and fauna that you encounter in the pitch dark of a trail run. / / / As mentioned earlier, Laguna Lake is the only trail run of the Summer Seven. / / / Slaughter House Five: What a sight! Jim Simpson (70), Joe Reilly (68), Larry Macon (67), Charlie Alewine (66) and Jim Grimes (63) trucking down Juanita Cooke trail. |
| 191 |
Summer Seven - Day #1 |
06/28/12 |
Long Beach ( Marina Vista/ Colorado Lagoon) |
CA |
7:24 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
THURSDAY: Marina Vista / Colorado Lagoon / / / / / Today was the 1st Day of the Summer Seven. Seven marathons in seven days at seven different venues. / / / Today's marathon was held at Marina Vista in Long Beach, the site of the 1932 Olympics' aquatic competition. / / / Attempting the Seven in Seven this morning were such marathoning superstars as Larry Macon, Jim Simpson, Ed Ettinghausen, Yolanda Holder, Dale Roberts, Marina White, Haywood Crowder, Steve Hernandez, M.G. Montgomery, Chris Jones, Rosemarie Jeanpierre, and my best male running pal Jim Grimes. / / / 20 marathoners finished today's race. I finished 19th with a 7:24:00 ( Way to go, Joe ). But that was great because I promised myself to run all seven marys at 7:30:00, give or take 10 minutes. Mission accomplished. / / / I am not sure if I can complete this undertaking, but I'll give it the old college try. One day at a time, as the saying goes. / / / The only real issues that I had today were an inguinial hernia problem and tight hip-flexors. Both on the left side. Also, my lower back tweaked a few times, but nothing major - not really worried. / / / I actually ended Day 1 in better shape than I entered. The great thing about a 7:23:00 marathon is that you have no wear-and-tear. It is almost instant recovery. / / / I felt surprisingly good upon completion, and ready for Day 2 tomorrow at Laguna Lake, which is nestled within the complex Fullerton Trails. This is the only non-coastal marathon of the seven. It is also the only trail run. Ergo, trail shoes, gaiters and sun-blok are highly recommended. |
| 190 |
Seattle RnR Marathon |
06/23/12 |
Seattle |
WA |
5:40 |
Marathon |
2098 |
|
|
|
Legacy Status: 4th Seattle RnR Marathon (2009, 10, 11, 12). { Full = 3,089 // Half = 14,240 }. /// New course. No longer point-to-point. Used to be from Tukwilla to Seattle's Safeco Ballpark. Used to involve a major morning shuttle out to Tukwilla. That has all changed for the better. /// Current course is a loop, beginning and ending at the Space Needle Center. The course itself is superior to the previous course, which was a great course in itself. The new course has less hills. But, if possible, it probably has even more concrete. Seems like over 3/4 of the race was hard concrete. No matter, I absolutely love, love the new course. And I am so thankful that we don't have to leave 2 hrs earlier from our hotels to do the shuttle thing. /// 49 corrals. My 2nd corral started at 7:00am. 49th started at 8:15am. Yikes! /// The weather was perfect. It was a rainy weekend. But the gods were with us. Race day, the rain did not come down until about 12:30pm. And that was basically an innocuous light drizzle. Thank you Seattle. The 2012 version included the major sights of the previous marys, but with more added. Space Center, 2nd Avenue, Downtown Seattle, Lake Washington, Seward Park, Floating 1-90 Bridge, Mercer Island, I-90 Tunnels, Mariner Stadium/Seahawk Stadium, Alaskan Way Viaduct, Battery Tunnel, Space Needle. /// Ran marathon with my best pal Michelle Palmer. /// Post race, went with Michelle to the Red Robin ( University and Elliot Bay ) for a turkey burger. /// Stayed 5 days at the Crowne Plaza Hotel ( 6th and Seneca). Great location, great hotel. But cost about $1000. Yikes! Mistake: I should have used hotwire for a better deal. /// As usual, I will be back in November to do the Seattle Amica Marathon. I love Seattle. |
| 189 |
Laguna Lake Marathon ( Running w Charlie) |
06/16/12 |
Fullerton Trails Loop, Fullerton |
CA |
6:43:12 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was a new course for Charlie Alewine Racing (C.A.R.). I am proud to say that I designed, measured, charted, and ran numerous test runs for it. / / / The location is focused on Laguna Lake, which is nestled within the expansive Fullerton trail system (aka, The Fullerton Loop ). / / We also ran along the Juanita Cooke Trail, and along the Elevated Imperial Spur (dirt trail ). / / / / The marathon consisted of 8 loops of 3.28 miles. / / / The terrain was 100% dirt. The course isn't bad, but it does have some broken small rocks, loose dirt, hard dirt, broken dirt, mud, twigs, horse poop, etc. / / / Sun Blok, Trail shoes and gaiters are highly recommended. / / / Race Director Charlie Alewine seemed to like the course well enough to include it in his upcoming Summer-7 Extravaganza from June 28-July 4 ( 7 marathons in 7 days ). / / / Physically: My mid-lower back was tight for most of the marathon. Not painful, just tight and worrisome. / / My left side 'inguinal hernia' was also acting up for most of the marathon, also worrisome. / / I had to basically ignore these irritations, and just "keep soldiering on". / / / I finished in an easy-on-the-body 6:43:00. And, was no worse for the wear upon completion. / / / The course was "Tee" shaped. / / / Laguna Lake served as the pole. / Imperial Spur was the left ( north) end of the cross. / / Juanita Cooke Trail was the right ( south ) end of the cross. / / / Also running were Charlie Alewine, Rocky Morales, Dale Roberts, Haywood Crowder & Son. / / / Next Saturday, I have the Seattle RnR Marathon. I am a legacy, having run the previous 3 ( 2009, 2010, 2011 ). / / / After Seattle, I will return the following Thursday to start the Summer-7 ( 7 marathons, 7 days ) for a total of 187 miles( June 28-July 4 ). |
| 188 |
Charlie's Angels Marathon |
06/10/12 |
Sunset Beach |
CA |
7:19 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was the 24th time that I have run this course from Sunset Beach--Bolsa Chica--Huntington Beach. / / / A 17 mile shot down the 22 Freeway-West, exit onto Bolsa Chica, west on Warner, and park at Sunset Beach. / / / / / / / / Great spinner medal with the 3 original Charlie's Angels from the 1970s: Farrar Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jacklyn Smith. / / / / / / / MEDICAL REPORT: Major gastro-intestinal attack today. My first such attack since April 28 at Gage Canal, 6 weeks ago. Today I took a tagamet ( acid ). But I also threw down a Gas-X gel tab ( gas ). I am never sure if my attacks are acid-caused or gas-caused. So, I covered both bases. / / / / / / / / / / Also had an attack of 'Tic Doloroux' (painful facial neuralgia). After almost 20 years, this is the first attack while running. / / / / / / / / / / At mile 11, I had a wicked pinch sensation in my right hamstring. I have had tight hammies before, but never this. Fortunately, it quickly passed. / / / / / / / / / / During the 2nd half, my lower back felt tight. Nothing painful, nor serious. But back issues are always of a concern. / / / / / / / / / / At Mile 22, my right knee was tweaking. So, I tightened my patella strap, and that seemed to take care of the problem. / / / / / / / / / / My recent left lower-shin/ankle problem did not make an appearance today. So, that has to be good news. / / / / / / / / / / HIGHLIGHT: Passing the RV camping area, surfers in their late 50s cheer me on as I pass. Geezer surfers tipping their hat to a geezer marathoner. / / / / Jim Grimes, Rocky Morales, Dale Roberts, Laura Sohasky, Haywood Crowder, Stacy Berry, Fred Reed, Rosemarie Jean-pierre., Barbara Shainberg. |
| 187 |
San Diego RnR Marathon |
06/03/12 |
San Diego |
CA |
5:23 |
Marathon |
2124 |
|
|
|
San Diego RnR Marathon #4 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012) / / / The S.D. Expo ( Convention Center on Harbor Drive ) was great as usual. L.A. can take some lessons. Great guest speakers: Jim Ryun, Rod Dixon, Deena Kastor, and triathlete Wellington. / / Actually got to talk with the great Jim Ryun for a bit. Ryun was first High Schooler to break the 4 minute mile, back in 1964. He has been in the U.S. Congress since 1996. / / / Same course as in 2010 & 2011, but tweaked here and there for the better. At Mile 5, we get a full on view of Padre Stadium, including home plate. / / / Course: Balboa Park to Sea World. Very scenic plus cool breezes. Great running weather. 60 to Start, 66 to finish - plus cloud cover most of the way, plus those cool balmy breezes. / / Seemed to me that it was quite humid - that could be draining. / / Scenic, sure, but my bod didn't take kindly to the 3 miles running on concrete paths in Mission Bay Park. And, the 2.5 miles on Fiesta Island weren't much better. Too much concrete. But the views were well worth the hard surface - so I'll stop complaining. / / / My S.D. time of 5:23:00 was more than satisfactory. Positive splits. First Half = 2:29, which was a 4:58 marathon pace. But Second Half was a 2:54, which was a 5:48 marathon pace. What can I say, I ran out of gas, especially during the last 5 miles. / / / After the race, I took the shuttle bus back to the Sports Arena parking lot, then walked about 1/2 mile back to my motel, the Heritage Inn. / / / Pre-2010, S.D. had only 15,000 runners ( all marathoners ) for the 6:15am start. But for the past 3 marathons, we were 25,000 strong having added an additional 18,000 half-marathoners. With now only 7,000 full-marathoners. - Talk about a San Diego Zoo!!! / / / San Diego also has relay-marathoners. My suggestion is for the half-marathoners to start after the marathoners, at 7:30am. / / / My next major target race will be the Seattle RnR Marathon on Saturday June 23. |
| 186 |
Rock Memorial Day Marathon |
05/28/12 |
Long Beach ( Marina Vista/Colorado Lagoon) |
CA |
6:55 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!! / / / This was my 21st time running Marina Vista in Long Beach. / / / Fantastic! I finally shook off the negative side-affects of my pneumonia vaccination shot. Two days ago at Nanny Goat, I felt as if I was pulling a wagon behind me. But at least now I can float into my Golden Years not worrying about the Big "P". / / / I felt strong today, but no need to strain the grain. A nice leisurely sub-7 hours would be sufficient ( I came in at 6:55:00 ). / / / The location is a 17 mile shot due west on the 22 Freeway/7th Street. / / / This venue has 4 major attractions: The Colorado Lagoon, Marina Vista Park, Marina Stadium (Inlet/Bay), Marina Boat Harbor. / / / Marina Vista was the site of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games (water sports competition) / / / A truly magnificent spring day. Such a great day to be alive. Temps in the 59-70 range for most of the race. Cool breezes. Magnificent cool breezes. / / / Some of my pals running this Memorial Day: Jim Grimes, Charlie Alewine, Yolanda, Chris Haines, Cyndie Merten, Chris Jones, Guillermo Rios, Fred Reed ( 1st place at 4:20:12 ). / / / Next Sunday, I will be running my 4th San Diego Marathon. My goal for San Diego will be a 5:45:00. No need to go any faster. / / / AILMENT: My left lower shin, down near ankle, was extremely tight, even locked, for about 15 miles. Yikes! I am hoping that it was a one-day thing. We'll see. / / / The RD Charlie Alewine actually ran the marathon. Ergo, filling in as RD was the fantastic Jean Ho. Endorphine Dude, fresh off an 88 miler at Nanny Goat, kept Jean company at the tables. / / / Next time, I want to try the java at "The Daily Perk" ( Ximeno & 7th St ). |
| 185 |
Nanny Goat Trail Endurance Runs |
05/26/12 |
Riverside (( The Sexton Horse Ranch )) |
CA |
5:55 |
Marathon |
175 |
|
|
|
I had a physical 3 days ago. My Doctor gave me a pneumonia vaccination shot. Unfortunately, I have been feeling slightly off wire ever since, but nothing major. That is until today. at the Nanny Goat 12/24 hour Endurance Runs. / / / Yikes! I can really feel that pneumonia shot. During the first 2 miles, my lungs were burning ( akin to running in sub-zero temperatures). / / / That sensation passed by mile 3. From that point on, I felt strong, but also weak. My joints were aching far more than usual. My body felt that I had already run 50 miles, instead of 5. / / / Still, I hit the marathon distance of 26.2 in 5:55:00. I was really shocked. My bod was really aching, but I was still able to turn on the jets when I had to. / / / My reaction to pneumonia vaccination shot while running Nanny Goat was similar to the reaction I had at Lost Dutchman, when I accidentally ingested two Tylenol PMs. / / / While running mile 25, I noticed that many of the runners were noshing on cheese-burgers. Hey! I want some of that. What a great way to replace protein. Wisely, however, I waited until I completed the marathon portion of my run ( at the 26.2 mark ). Having done that, I stopped at the B-B-Q table and grabbed a scrumptious burger and a Classic Coke for my remaining miles. Since I planned to stroll the post-marathon miles, this was no problem. Fan-bloomin-tas-tic! / / / Notables in attendance: Charlie Alewine, Dale Roberts, Yolanda, Laura Sohasky, Endorphin Dude, Rosemarie, Rachel Boyd, Barefoot Shacky, Big Ed, L.T. Timmermans, Jean Ho, Fred Woods, Deo Javarta, Greg Hardesky, Cyndie Merten. / / / WEATHER: Not bad. Start at 53 degrees. Finish at 69 degrees. Often had cloud cover.
|
| 184 |
Pasadena Marathon |
05/20/12 |
Pasadena |
CA |
5:48 |
Marathon |
1328 |
|
|
|
5th Pasadena ( 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 ). Of course, 2008 was cancelled 2 hours before the start. We were not reimbursed. I did train, pay, got a bib, got a tee, got a medal. So, it counts as my phantom marathon. / / / / 2012: I stayed weekend at the Pasadena Ramada on Colorado Blvd ( 3/4 mile from Start ). / / Saturday afternoon did the Expo at Santa Anita Race Track. Saturday night saw "The Heiress" at the Pasadena Playhouse. Sunday ran Marathon. Monday went to Pasadena Norton Simon Museum. / / Ran an extra 1/4th mile due to misdirection. A course mix-up sent many runners onto the 10K route. I knew something was amiss when my Garmin read 6.4 at the 6 mile marker. I wear 2 Garmins, so I was somewhat bewildered by the extra 3/10 mile ( the other 1/10 was due to tangents). / / During the last 20 miles, I ran with my Pal Jim Grimes. But his Garmin was about 1/4 mile less than mine. Obviously, Jim did not get derailed early on. / / The temperature did climb to 91 degrees. Plus, the humidity was draining. That is tough enough on this old body without having to run an extra 1/4 mile. / / / Lots of Pals: Jim Grimes, Charlie Alewine, Laura Sohasky, Yolanda Holder, Dale Roberts, Rocky Morales, Big Ed, Nadia Ruiz, Steve & Jessica, Emil, James, Spandex Lori, Deo, Moses, Haywood, Min Chae, Ward, Mitch, Violetta, Shelly. / / The heat was extremely enervating. I felt affected right from the start. Ergo, I resigned myself to a time around 5:50:00. With the official timing re-adjustment, I finished at 5:48:00. / / I worry about the life-expectancy of this wonderful marathon. The numbers keep dropping every year. (2009 = 1559). (2010 = 1078). (2011 = 868) ( 2012 = 807). / / Fortunately, the combination of participants just may be enough to keep this race in existence - Marathon (807), Half-marathon (2393), Relay-Mar (6 teams), 10K, 5K, Kid run. / / My finish times ( 2009-2012 ): 5:38, 5:17, 6:03, 5:48. |
| 183 |
Rock Mother's Day Marathon |
05/13/12 |
Manhattan Pier/Ballona Creek / via Playa del Rey |
CA |
7:27 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. / / / This was my 8th marathon at Dockweiler Beach. From my home in Old Towne Orange to Dockweiler Beach is 38 miles. / / / Dockweiler is directly beneath the flight path of L.A. International Airport (LAX). / / / The course runs north from Manhattan Beach thru El Porto Beach, thru El Segundo Beach, thru Dockweiler Beach, thru Playa Del Rey Beach, on to Marina Del Rey, then along the Ballona Creek Jetty. - And then a return back down south ( 6.55 miles ) to Manhattan Pier. The total loop mileage out/back is 13.1 ( 6.55 x 2 = 13.1 ). We do this loop twice for 26.2 miles. / / / Fellow marathoners along for the ride: Jim Grimes, Charlie Alewine, Yolanda Holder, Marina White, Rocky Morales, Steve Hernandez, Jessica Wabbitz and Bethany Schramm. / / / AILMENTS: Left hamstring tight - - Right knee patella - - Left knee patella - - Left back of knee - - Right lower back / iliac crest connection. These ailments were minor, but worrisome. In most cases, the duration was for only 2 or 3 miles. For the knee problems, I temporarily tightened my patella straps, and that seemed to do the trick. / / / I think that I am just fatigued, both physically and mentally. / / / Next Sunday, I will run my 4th Pasadena Marathon. I am expecting a 5:15 finish. If I don't get it, then I will know that I am fatigued from having run 5 marathons in 8 days ( a week ago ). If such is the case, then I will have to bail out on the Summer Seven that I am so looking forward to. I have Missoula, Deseret News, San Francisco and Park City coming in July and August. My fear is that seven marathons in seven days at the Summer-7, ending July 4, may jeopardize my performance in those great marathons. Well, we’ll see.
|
| 182 |
Orange County Marathon |
05/06/12 |
Newport Beach |
CA |
5:27 |
Marathon |
214 |
|
|
|
This was my 5th consecutive time running the O.C. marathon ( 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 ). / / / / / / / If I had to give O.C. a grade for 2012, it would be an "F" grade. / / / / / / / O.C. Marathon started 25 minutes late. 5:55am. Not 5:30 as scheduled. Half Mary started right on time. / / / / / / / 0.C. ran out of post-race goodies for marathoners. If you finished over 5 hours, you didn't get squat. As usual, half-marathoners finished early, and ate everything. / / / / / / / O.C. drastically altered the 2nd half of the course for the worst. The 2nd half was a vast wasteland. / / / / / / / 1st half was fantastic. Heaven forbid, that we disappoint the half marathoners. / / / / / / / As with RnR races, OC is all about the half marathoners. Marathoners are treated like cow dung. / / / / / / / O.C. changed the last mile finish. Normally, I run right past my car at the 26 mile marker. This year, I wasn't sure what the heck we were doing. / / / / / / / I will be back again next year for #6 overall. But OC is not, and never has been, one of my favorites. / / / / / / / On the plus side, I got to run with lots of my pals: Charlie Alewine, Jim Grimes, Dale Roberts, Yolanda Holder, Traviss Willcox, Deo Javarta, Jean Ho, Rocky Morales, etc. / / / / / / / The main attraction of O.C. is the first half where we cruise through Corona del Mar, Balboa Bay, Newport Beach, and Newport Back Bay. I guess that alone is worth the price of admission. / / / / / / / Disabled List of maladies: Left upper femoral area extreme tighness, left ankle spasm/buckle, left arch tightness, mid-back tightness. Except for the back ( miles 14-26 ), these nigglers lasted usually less than a mile. Be thankful for small favors.
|
| 181 |
Rock the Beach Marathon |
05/05/12 |
Sunset Beach - Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO. / / / / This was the 23rd time that I have run this course from Sunset Beach--Bolsa Chica--Huntington Beach. / / / / A 17 mile shot down the 22 Freeway-West, exit onto Bolsa Chica, west on Warner, and park at Sunset Beach. / / / / This was my 4th marathon within seven days. I am training for the Summer 7 in late June. I have to figure out the proper pacing to actually complete 7 marathons in 7 days. / / / / Fortunately, I have recovered extremely well from doing 4 in 7 days. So, I imagine that I can handle 7 in 7. / / / / I did have a slight problem during Mile 20. My left lower hamstring really tightened up. I was alarmed because it was a sensation that I had never encountered before. As a result, while running at a 9:30 pace ( probably not a good idea ), my left leg spasmed and slightly buckled from the back of the knee down thru the calf. But by mile 23, it had worked its way out - Thank You, Lord. / / / / Other than that, I had absolutely no ill-affects. No Gastro-intestinal problem. No neuroma problems. No knee problems. / / / / Although almost insignificant, my lower back was slightly tight during the first 10 miles. Probably nothing, but I always worry where the back is concerned, as do all runners. / / / / My finishing time was 7:16:43. Serendipitously, that just happens to be my birthday. What are the odds? / / / / I absolutely love running along the ocean. I truly enjoy the solitude. But from mile 16 through 19, I had a companion. A local jogger paced me for about 3 miles. He was a big-time Yankee fan like myself. We spent those 3 miles discussing the possible career-ending ACL knee injury to the great Mariano Rivera. |
| 180 |
Running with Moses Marathon |
05/01/12 |
Manhattan Pier - Ballona Creek / via Playa del Rey |
CA |
7:48 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
MAY DAY! MAY DAY! / / / This was my 7th run at Dockweiler Beach. Dockweiler is directly beneath the flight path of L.A. International Airport (LAX). / / / The course goes north from Manhattan Beach thru El Porto Beach thru El Segundo Beach thru Dockweiler beach and on to Playa Del Rey - and then back down south to Manhattan Pier. We do this loop twice. / / /
Unlike most Charlie Alewine marathons, this was held on a Tuesday morning. The reason was to honor Moses Christian, who turned 80 years of age today. Ergo, we have the Running with Moses Marathon. / / /
Having just finished a Double over the weekend, I had no intention of making it a Triple. But the R.D., Charlie Alewine, said the magic word, “Beach”.
No doubt about it. This was truly the “loneliness of the long-distance Runner”. I did a super-early start, which meant that I ran the entire marathon sans companionship. Obviously, this does not bother me in the least.
Running along the ocean is very spiritual for me. Just me and the sea in quiet solitude. Salty air, cool breezes, crashing waves, magnificent vistas. What’s not to like. Temperatures fluctuated between 57-60 degrees. A more than pleasant surprise was frequent light, misty drizzle to go along with the cool sea breezes.
A major negative was that the course was along the bicycle path. This resulted in 90% hard concrete and 10% hard asphalt. / / / Except for Manhattan, these beaches are mainly for surfers, bike riders, local joggers, skaters, dog walkers, picnickers, and strolling pedestrians. / / /
My favorite section was Manhattan Beach. To the west was the wondrous Pacific Ocean. To the east were opulent beach homes along the Strand.
Marathoners in attendance: Moses Christian, Rajan Christian, Kara Randall, Laird Malamed, Ed Ettinghaussen, Yolanda Holder, Steve Hernandez, Laura Sohasky, Dale Roberts. Yikes, on a Tuesday? Doesn’t anyone have a real job?
|
| 179 |
Rock the Marina Marathon |
04/29/12 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach ( Colorado Lagoon ) |
CA |
6:55 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
My 20th time running Marina Vista in Long Beach. / / / / The location is a 17 mile shot due west on the 22 Freeway/7th Street. / / / / This venue has 4 major attractions: The Colorado Lagoon, Marina Vista Park, Marina Stadium (Inlet/Bay), Marina Boat Harbor. / / / / Marina Vista was the site of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games (water sports competition) / / / / A truly magnificent spring day. Such a great day to be alive. Temps in the 57-60 range for most of the race. Cool breezes. / / / / / Once again, I did a super-early start. The temp was 57-60 degrees in the early morn, but wind chill had it at a pleasant 53-55 degrees. By the time that the temp climbed to 70 degrees and the cloud cover disappeared at 10:30am, I was already finished. / / The wind, as is the Long Beach norm, was 'on-shore' - A cool sea-breeze, coming from the Ocean. / / / / / / The course is a Lollipop. The TOP of the lollipop is the northern circular section. It is a 1.25 mile loop around Colorado Lagoon. / / / / The BOTTOM stick of the Lollipop is a southern 'out/back' of 3.12 miles ( 1.56 miles x 2 ). This out/back takes us along Marine Stadium and the Marina itself. / / / / / / My time was 6:55:13, exactly as planned. / / / / / Marathoners in attendance were Jim Grimes, Ward Sullivan, Dale Roberets, Steve hernandez, and Jessica Wabbitz. Otherwise, there were 22 half-marathoners. / / / / / Along about mile 19, I felt a slight tweak in my right knee. As a result, I tightened my patella strap. Haven't done that in a long time. / / / / I also had some slight gastric discomfort, which led me to take a Tagamet. Thankfully, only a fraction as bad as yesterday. |
| 178 |
Run the Canal Trail Marathon |
04/28/12 |
Riverside ( Gage Canal ) |
CA |
6:38 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 4th time running a marathon at Gage Canal in Riverside. / / / This marathon begins at Arlington Sports Park, which is 32 miles from my home in Old Town Orange. The drive is basically a straight shot going east on the 91 Freeway. I pass Corona, and get off at the Van Buren exit. / / / I'm glad that I did an early start because the temperature climbed to 80 degrees by 10:00am. Unfortunately, there is absolutely no shade for 26.2 miles. Fortunately, that is exactly when I finished. / / / Post race, I went to the Van Buren Shopping Center ( 1/2 mile north of the course ). I did some shopping at Albertson's. / / I filled up on protein at the Subway with a low-cal, healthy turkey sub. / / And I had some great java at the Brewin' Cafe. I swear, their coffee is as good as Peet's, and better than Starbucks. Plus it's cheaper. / / / I came to the conclusion that south of the 91 in Riverside is upscale. North of the 91 is low-rent. At least that goes for western Riverside. / / / I ran an extremely comfortable 6:38 marathon this morning. That was smart considering that this was the front end of my weekend double. Tomorrow, I'll be running Marina Vista in Long Beach. / / / While milling around on the northside, I noticed the California Baptist University. Hmmm, quite impressive. / / / Not a lot of runners this morning. But there were a few die-hards like myself: Dr. Jim Grimes, Dale Roberts, Fred Woods, and Jessica "Wabbitz". / / / Sad news for 1950s Yankee fans like myself: Slugging first baseman Bill "Moose" Skowron passed away at age 81 yrs. / / / Today was a 2 tagament day due to unusually bad gastric problems. |
| 177 |
Salt Lake City Marathon |
04/21/12 |
Salt Lake City |
UT |
5:23 |
Marathon |
846 |
|
|
|
This was my 2nd consecutive SLC Marathon (2011, 2012). Because this time I ran with the high altitude in mind, I was able to finish with a comfortable 5:23:00 finish instead of my agonizing 6:09:00 from last year. xxxxxx The SLC course is a U-shape horseshoe. It begins at the Olympic Legacy Bridge at the Univ of Utah. And, it ends at South Temple & 300 West, just north of the Energy Solutions Arena ( home of the Utah Jazz ). This finish is about a ½ mile west of the Mormon Temple. xxxxxxx For me, the best visuals were the last 4 miles running up State Street in full view of the Utah State Capitol, and then onto Temple Square. xxxxxxx ALTITUDE: We began at about 4,900 feet at the University of Utah at the Olympic Legacy Bridge. By the time we finished (just west of Temple Square), the altitude was 4,200. xxxxxxx Unlike the 2011 marathon, this time I respected the altitude, and took it nice and easy during the first half. Then I was able to step it up during the 2nd half. This was all quite encouraging because I do plan to run the Deseret News Marathon (7,500 feet) on July 24, and the Park City Marathon (7,000) on August 18. But at 7,000-7,500 feet, I wasn't sure if I could pull these two high-altitude marathons off. But now I truly believe that I can, provided that I keep respecting the altitude. xxxxxxx There was a lot of concrete along the 2nd half of the course, and that is never a good thing. On the positive side, SLC has the grid system. So, there weren't a lot of turns. That is always a good thing. Another highlight for me was looking at the beautiful snow-capped Wasatch Mts. |
| 176 |
Run with Charlie Marathon |
04/14/12 |
Central Park, Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:29 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 7th time running a Central Park Marathon in Huntington Beach / / / / / / / The 5 marathoners today were hard corp Charlie Alewine veterans ( Myself, Charlie Alewine, Dale Roberts, Marina White, and a newbie to CAR running, Dale Johnson. / / / / / / This was an unassisted marathon. So, all runners had to provide their own re-fueling and aid. I do that most of my races anyway. So I was in my normal modus operandi. Ergo, no Gatorade, bananas or Gu. But we did get a nice spinner medal for participating. So that was kind of neat. / / / / / / / 10 Loops around Central Park ( 2.62 miles per ). / / / / / / / Pre-race: Stopped at Goldenwest Blvd & Warner for Pre-race java ( Extra Mile Standard Station ). I also picked up a classic Coca Cola for mile 22 and a bag of pretzels. / / / / / / / No strain today. Ran a long slow 7:29:00 marathon in my recovery mode. I just wanted to get the miles in. / / / / / / / Next Saturday, I have the Salt Lake City Marathon. So, I want to be well-rested and strong for my run with the Mormons. / / / / / / / During miles 8 and 9, I had a couple of coyotes following me around. Obviously, this made me somewhat nervous. One coyote doesn't really both me. But two coyotes make me think of a more aggressive pack of malevolent canines, which could be a danger. However, with so many jackrabbits in the Park, why would coyotes want to mess with a 6'3" 160 pound human? / / / / Ailment: A hernia on my left side had bothered me from the night before. Fortunately, it kicked back into shape by mile 8. |
| 175 |
Palm Sunday Marathon |
04/01/12 |
Lake Forest ( Aliso Creek) |
CA |
6:56 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was the 10th time that I have run Lake Forest. / / / My finshing time was 6:56:23. I just wanted to get in under 7 hrs. / / / This was purely a training/recovery marathon. I ran downhills and walked uphills. Tons of walk-breaks. / / / My plan worked because the next day, I felt great. It was as if I didn't run a marathon the day before. / / / Started in the darkness of early morn at 43 degrees, with the wind-chill temp at about 38. It was definitely cold for 1st half. But 2nd half got on up to the mid 60s. / / / Discovered a nice shopping area about a half mile west of the course at Trabuco and El Toro. Starbucks, Subway, Chipotle, Stater Bros, Walgreens. / / / The course runs east and west along the Aliso Creek bike path, which runs parallel to El Toro Blvd. / / / Going east is a climb up to the foothills. / / / It is more fun running west, which is downhill towards the Pacific Ocean. / / / Usual suspects: Charlie Alewine, Jim Grimes, Dale Roberts, Haywood Crowder, and Yolanda Holder. / / / Ran the last 4 miles with Yolanda. I noticed that Yolanda was limping, and I wanted to know what that was all about. / / / Physically, I have been out-of-sorts for the past week: Nausea, slight dizzy spells, plumbing problems, strange diarhea, unusually tired, and sleeplessness. Flu?? Who knows? But at Mile 20, I had an major emergency stop in the bushes, which seemed to bring an end to my maladies. / / Upside: I was able to better perfect my emergency skills. / / / Highlite: Dr. Grimes playing April Fool joke on Yolanda ( A bear on the trail). Yola almost cancelled her race (lol). |
| 174 |
Another Beach Run Marathon |
03/31/12 |
Manhattan Pier - Ballona Creek / via Playa del Rey |
CA |
7:32 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 6th running at the Dockweiler Beach venue. Dockweiler is directly beneath the flight path of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). / / / / / / / The course goes north from Manhattan Beach thru El Porto Beach thru El Segundo Beach thru Dockweiler beach and on to Playa Del Rey - and then back down south to Manhattan Pier. We do this loop twice. / / / / / SIX TIMES, I have done this fantastic course along the sea.. / / / / / / / SIX TIMES = 12/24/10 ( 7:24 ) - - - - - 02/21/11 ( 7:24 ) - - - - - 08/28/11 ( 6:48 ) - - - - - 11/19/11 ( 6:58 ) - - - - - 12/17/11 ( 6:44 ) - - - - - 3/31/12 ( 7:32 ) / / / / / / / Starbucks on Manhattan Beach Blvd, up from the Pier, opens everyday at 4:30am. Fantastic, expecially for early start marathoners. / / / / / / / A major negative was that the course was along the bicycle path. This resulted in 90% hard concrete and 10% hard asphalt. / / / / / / / Except for Manhattan, these beaches are mainly for surfers, bike riders, local joggers, skaters, dog walkers, picnickers, and strolling pedestrians. / / / / These are not popular beaches for sun-bathing to the extent that Manhattan or Santa Monica would be. Yes, there are sun-bathers, but not a whole heck of a lot. / / / / In the main, there is a mutual respect, except for the cyclists. Unfortunately, I have often found that some of the cyclists are not willing to share in this concept of mutual respect. Therefore, "Beware of Cyclists". / / / Some of the usual suspects: Charlie Alewine, Rocky Morales, Dale Roberts, Chris Haines, and Rosemarie Jeanpierre. / / / |
| 173 |
Run the Marina Marathon |
03/25/12 |
Marina Vista, Long beach |
CA |
6:48 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
My 19th time running Marina Vista in Long Beach. / / / / This venue has 4 major attractions: The Colorado Lagoon, Marina Vista Park, Marina Stadium (Inlet/Bay), Marina Boat Harbor. / / / / Marina Vista was the site of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games (water sports competition) / / / / A truly magnificent spring day. Such a great day to be alive. Temps in the 50s. Cool breezes. Strong wind at times. / / / / Today's marathon was a trainer for the upcoming Summer Seven (7 marathons, 7 days) coming during 4th of July week. / / / / I expect to run all 7 races at a 6:45 to 7-hour pace (16 min per mi). Ergo, that is what I did today. / / / / Felt great. I can easily do this 7 days in a row. I included everything today: walk shuffle, slow walk, fast walk, power walk, shuffle jog, slow jog, fast jog, easy run, power run, coffee break, etc. By mixing my pitches, I was able to use all of my muscles at different times. / / / / For some reason, today's marathon was extremly euphoric. I just felt great both physically and mentally. / / / / Lots of good people at today's race: Jim Grimes, Rocco Morales, Dale Roberts, Deo Javarata, Steve Hernandez, Jessica Wabbitz, Haywood Crowder, and of course Charlie Alewine. / / / / As usual, at Mile 19, I ran into the Starbucks at 7th Street & Park Avenue for a cup of java and a multi-grain bagel (to go, of course). / / / / I also sipped on a classic coke during the last few miles - that was my high glycemic power drink. So far, it has given me quite an energy boost - could be all psychological. / / / / I also downed 2 extra strength Tylenol at Mile 15 - not sure of how much it helps. / / / / No aches, no pains, no tweaks. |
| 172 |
Runnin' Gage 2 Marathon |
03/23/12 |
Gage Canal, Riverside |
CA |
7:43 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
My 3rd time running Gage Canal (Riverside). While running the course, I came to the conclusion that the residential neighborhoods along the canal are quite upscale. / / / About 3/4 of a mile from the start is the Van Buren Drive-in (3 screens). It is right there on Van Buren & Lincoln. Very retro. Took me back to my childhood in the 1950s. / / / Because the Arlington Sports Park was closed when I arrived, I decided to park next to the Van Buren Drive-in. That meant a 3/4 mile walk to the start. / / / This was a Friday marathon. Only hardcore Maniacs were running this one: Charlie Alewine, Yolanda Holder, Larry Macon, Dale Roberts, Chris Haines and myself. / / / Coming in at 7:43 assured me of last place. But who the heck cares? I am still recovering from numerous hard marathons during the last 5 or 6 weeks - most recently, the Los Angeles Marathon just 5 days ago. / / / Also, I ran Gage 2 on virtually no sleep. Surprised that I didn't fall asleep while running (lol). / / / Had digestive problems during 2nd half. Took a Tagamet. Methinks that the problem is eating solid food during the run. / / / I drank a classic Coca Cola + Tylenol for an energy boost at Mile 22. It did kick it up a few notches. / / / I also found a nice little coffee bistro near the Drive-in. It is called the Daily Brew. / / / Actually the Van Buren Drive-In shopping center area provided for many of my needs. I did some post-race shopping at the Albertson's, loaded up on my protein at the Subway sandwich shop. Then I grabbed the LA Times and some java at the Daily Brew. |
| 171 |
Los Angeles Marathon |
03/18/12 |
Los Angeles to Santa Monica |
CA |
5:15 |
Marathon |
3642 |
|
|
|
#9 L.A. Marathon (1986, 1987, 1990, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). / / / / / / / This was the 3rd running of Frank McCourt's "Stadium to the Sea" marathon course. I truly like this course. But I have now done it three times in a row. Ergo, having "been there, done that", I now don't think that it is worth all of the hassle of shuttling to Dodger Stadium in the morning. And post-race, shuttling back to the Downtown hotels. All of this in order to pull off a point-to-point marathon. / / / / / / I would like to go back to the 2009 course where we started Downtown at 7th and Flower,and ended Downtown at 7th and Flower. / / / / / / / Although the forecast called for cold, wind and rain, that never happened. I would say that the weather conditions were perfect for marathoning with temps in the 40s and 50s. No rain whatsoever. Wind, yes. But only for the last mile along Ocean Blvd, heading for the Finish Line. / / / / / / / I am happy with my finishing time which was 5:15:00. Over 26.60 miles, that proved to be an 11:50 pace. / / / / / / / I started out strong running the first half at 2:29:00, which would be a 4:58:00 marathon. Unfortunately, my 2nd half was not as good, running 2:46:00 for the last 13 miles. / / / / / / / Actually, I was going strong for the first 20 miles. But my left hamstring tightened up at mile 21. So I decided to coast in the last 6 miles. / / / / / / / In hindsight, that was just what the doctor ordered. My body fully recovered by the last 2 miles, and I was able to kick it back into gear for the last mile. / / / / / / This year I stayed at the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel. This is a magnificent old hotel. But the walls are thin. So, there is always the danger of noisy neighbors keeping you up the night before the marathon. Fortunately, that didn't happen this time. |
| 170 |
Run the Canal Marathon |
03/11/12 |
Gage Canal, Riverside |
CA |
5:48 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 2nd running of a marathon at Gage Canal in Riverside. / / / / When I last ran it 18 months ago, we started at Riverside Poly High School on the east end of the course. But today's version began 7 miles west of that Sept 2010 start. / / This time we started just off Van Buren Ave at Arlington Heights Sports Park. / / / /
The course itself was basically the same, consisting of 2 out/backs along the Gage Canal. The out/back was "6.55 miles east, 6.55 miles west" along the well-groomed dirt path adjacent to the Canal. / / / /
I ran extraordinarily even splits. - - - 2:54 for the 1st half. / / 2:54 for the 2nd half - - - . As a result, I finished with a respectable 5:48:00, a 13:15 pace. / / / /
I felt good during the 1st half. But I was definitely flagging during miles 12, 13 and 14. / / At that point, I was figuring on just coasting for the 2nd half at about a 15 min walk/jog pace. / / / / Well, that was the plan. But totally unexpected, I started to come alive during mile 15. In fact, the last 10 miles were my strongest for the entire marathon. / / / /
The surface was soft smooth dirt, and flat. Can't complain about that. Except that soft dirt, often with the consistency of sand, gives no traction -- no lift-off. / / / / This time around, I wore my gaiters, remembering how in 2010 I had to shake dirt out of my shoes more than a few times. / / / /
My fuel for today consisted of a bagel, 2 bananas, 12 Shot Bloks , 2 Chocolate Outrage Gu, 1, Power Bar. / / At Mile 13, I did pop two Tylenol Extra-Strength. Unfortunately, I neglected to bring along a Classic Coke for sipping during the last 2 or 3 miles. / / / / In attendance were the usual suspects: Jim Grimes, Yolanda Holder, Chris Haines, Haywood, Dale Roberts. / / / Hats off to Laura Bailiff, who‘s house is about 30 yards off the marathon course. Laura set up a table of refreshments ( plus bananas ) in front of her house. |
| 169 |
Beachmania Marathon |
03/04/12 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:07 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This is the 22nd time that I have run this course from Sunset Beach--Bolsa Chica--Huntington Beach. / / / Thanks Charlie, for another great marathon & another great Surfer Chick medal. / / / Pleasant, easy-loping training marathon with L. A. Marathon coming up in 2 wks. / / / Ran the 1st half in serene, blissful maritime darkness, fitting for the splendid "loneliness of the long-distance runner" - - Just me and the solitude of the sea. / / / I started in early morning darkness with its soothing solitude, and finished amidst the daytime beach crowd of cyclists and beach-goers. The best of both worlds. / / / The only down-side to this course is the rude, obnoxious cyclists who blow by you without warning. They truly think that they own the boardwalk, and everyone else is a squatter. / / / Temps started at 46 degrees. But with the ocean-chill, it seemed like 42 degrees. / / / Temps were "hotting up" to 76 as I finished. / / / Parked in my usual spot (4th & Pacific), 1/5 mile from the start-line. / / / Finishing time was a pedestrian 7:06:00. But that was by design. So, no worries. / / / My splits were negative: 1st half at 3:49 / 2nd half at 3:18. This, also by design. / / / At Mile 23, I started to sip on a de-fizzed 20oz Coca Cola for my energy re-fueling. Also popped 2 extra strength Tylenol (500 mg per). This seems to really energize me for a strong finish. May be psychological. / / / The beauty of these recovery marathons is that I wake up the next day with no aches, no stiffness, no wear & tear. / / / As usual, at Mile 20, I did sneak off to the Starbucks by the Huntington Beach Pier for a cup of java and a multi-grain bagel ( To Go ). / / / Once again, a lot of pals running: Jim Grimes, Yolanda Holder, Ed Ettinghausen, Sally Boles, Jean Ho, Haywood Crowder, Steve Hernandez, Dale Roberts, Laura Sohasky - - Also, friends Masumi & Richard. / / / 38 runners showed up for the combined races (13 Full/25 Half). Sally Boles won the marathon at 3:34. |
| 168 |
Run the Path Marathon |
02/25/12 |
Lake Forest ( Aliso Creek ) |
CA |
7:22 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This is the 9th time that I have run the Lake Forest/Aliso Creek course. I really enjoy this venue because the course is a secluded asphalt-paved trail ( bike path ) along the Aliso Creek. Easy on the feet and easy on the eyes./ / / / Lake Forest is tucked up into the Santa Margarita Mountains. Going east toward the mountains is basically all up-hill // Going west toward the Pacific Ocean is basically all downhill. / / / / Lake Forest is a 20.5 mile drive from my home in Old Towne Orange. / / / / 22 Fwy - 55 Fwy - 5 Fwy - El Toro Road - Portola Parkway. / / / / My finshing time was 7:22:00, as planned. I just wanted to get in between 7:00 and 7:30 hours, no more, no less. / / / / This was purely a training and recovery marathon. / / / / I totally walked the first half in 4 hours, 5 minutes. / / / / I ran-walked the 2nd half in 3 hours, 17 minutes. / / / / For the last 13 miles, I ran the down hills and walked the up hills. Tons of walk-breaks. / / / / My plan worked because the next day, I felt great. It was as if I didn't run a marathon the day before. / / / / Started in the darkness of early morning with the temp at 48. It was slightly cold for the 1st half. But the 2nd half got up to 66 degress. / / / / Discovered a nice shopping area about a half mile west of the course at Trabuco and El Toro. Starbucks, Subway, Chipotle, Stater Bros, Walgreens. Also noticed that gasoline was $4.50 per gallon. Yikes! / / / / The course runs east and west along the Aliso Creek bike path, which runs parallel to El Toro Blvd. / / / / Going east is a climb up to the foothills. I basically power-walked in this direction. / / / / It is more fun running west, which is downhill towards the Pacific Ocean. / / / / Hung around with my pals for about an hour after the race: Charlie Alewine, Jim Simpson, Dale Roberts, Steve Hernandez, Adam Godlove, and Haywood Crowder. / / / / Saw Lake Forest resident Sally Boles along the course. She was just out for a shakedown run. |
| 167 |
Lost Dutchman Marathon |
02/19/12 |
Gold Canyon to Apache Junction |
AZ |
5:27 |
Marathon |
441 |
|
|
|
#3 Lost Dutchman Marathon in legendary Apache Junction ( 2008, 2010, 2012). ///// This race is one of the hidden treasures of marathondom. //// You start out 7 miles deep into the Sonoran High Desert and finish at the foothills of the Superstition Mountains. Campfires and hot cocoa in the desert prior to the start. / / / / / However, it is becoming more popular. The 2012 race had 527 finishers as opposed to the 2010 race's 441 finishers, and the 2008 race's 338 finishers. / / / / / The weather was a pleasant 48 degrees at the start. The temp did approach about 68 degrees before I finished, but we often had cloud cover. / / / / /
My first half was extremely fast at 2 hours 14 minutes. I was on a 4:28 marthon pace for the first 17 miles. And, expected to finish with a 4:45 to 4:50 time. Unfortunately, my second half was an hour slower at 3 hours 13 minutes. / / / / / The reasons for such an egregiously positive split are as follows: 1) I had a head/chest cold. 2) I had a cough that affected my breathing and oxygen intake. 3) I took cold medicine at mile 13 that destroyed me for the remainder of the marathon. I thought that it was extra-strength Tylenol. But it was Tylenol PM, which was draining rather than re-invigorating. / / / / / I was able to really pour it on for the first 17 miles, often running 9 to 10 minute miles. But when the enervating "cold med" kicked in at mile 18, the last 9 miles became pure torture. / / / / / Had I not taken the cold medicine, I am sure that I would have finished with at least a 4:55:00 time. As it turned out, I finished at 5:27. / / / / / The Saturday prior to the marathon, I visited the extraordinary Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park. / / / / / The Monday after, I scouted the Apache Trail, visited the Apache Trail Museum, and toured the Goldfield Ghost Town at the base of the Superstition Mountains. |
| 166 |
Hugs and Kisses Marathon |
02/12/12 |
Marina Vista, Long beach |
CA |
7:12 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
The back end of my Weekend Double. / / / / / / / Also, the 18th time running the course at Marina Vista in Long Beach. / / / / / / / Marina Vista is the site of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games ( water sports competition ). / / / / / / / This will probably be my last Weekend Double. At this point, running Doubles appears to be counter-intuitive to good race recovery. It is getting to a point where Doubles mentally wear me down as well as physically. / / / / / / / I did add a new weapon to my performance arsenal. This time I used the old method of de-fizzed Coca Cola. During the last 3 miles, I nursed a 20 ounce bottle of Real Coke for energy instead of Shot Bloks or Gu. It seemed to work. / / / / / / / In fact, I added the hi-glycemic Coca Cola to another one of my new weapons, 2 cap-gels of Rapid Release Extra Strength Tylenol ( 500mg acetaminophen per ). / / / / / / / With both the Coke and Tylenol, I think that I gave myself a much needed energy boost. If nothing else, it was a psychological boost. C'mon! If I think that it helps - then, in a fashion, it is helping. / / / / / / / Lots of good people at today's race: Jim Grimes, Jim Simpson, Rocco, Dale Roberts, Sally Boles, Ward Sullivan, Steve Hernandez, Deo, Chuck S., Haywood Crowther, and of course Charlie Alewine. / / / / / / / As usual, at Mile 19, I ran into the Starbucks at 7th Street & Park Avenue for a cup of java and a multi-grain bagel ( to go, of course ). It is a block off the course, but well worth it. When you expect to finish dead last with a 7:12 marathon, you can afford a few wasted minutes. |
| 165 |
Fun in the Sun Marathon |
02/11/12 |
Huntington Beach (Central Park) |
CA |
7:24 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 6th time running a Central Park Marathon in Huntington Beach / / / / / / / The 12 marathoners today were hard corp Charlie Alewine veterans ( Steve H, Dale R. and Marina White, Haywood C., etc.) / / / / / / This was an unassisted marathon. So, all runners had to provide their own re-fueling and aid. I do that most of my races anyway. So I was in my normal modus operandi. / / / / / / / We did get a nice C.A.R. medal. So that was kind of neat. / / / / / / / 10 Loops around Central Park ( 2.62 miles per ). / / / / / / / Pre-race: Stopped at Goldenwest Blvd & Warner for Pre-race java ( Extra Mile Standard Station ) / / / / / / / No strain today. Ran a long slow 7:24:00 marathon in my recovery mode. I just wanted to get the miles in. / / / / / / / Another reason for taking it super easy this morning, is that I am doing a DOUBLE this weekend. Tomorrow, I will run Marina Vista in Long Beach. / / / / / / / I used this marathon to experiment with re-fueling during the race. Today, I did not eat prior to the race. Also, I didn't ingest anything except water for the first 18 miles. Then, at mile 19, I started taking shot bloks every 30 minutes and a power bar during the 26th mile. Not sure if this was good. But I will file my data for future reference. / / / / / / / I took 2 fast-release Extra-strength Tylenol caplets at Mile 20. I think that it was beneficial. / / / / / / / My next sub-5 hour marathon will be the Orange County Marathon on May 6th. I am hoping for a 4:45:00. / / / / / / / Then, on December 2nd at Las Vegas, I am hoping for a 4:30:00. That is the Vegas cut-off, so I want to be as close as possible, so as not to be pulled off the course. / / / / / / / Post-race: Stopped at Goldenwest & Warner's Burger King for a turkey burger in order to pump protein back into my system. |
| 164 |
Surf City Marathon |
02/05/12 |
Huntington Beach |
CA |
4:55 |
Marathon |
1190 |
|
|
|
I ran the first 8 mi surprisingly hard at a 9:50 pace. I was worried that I may have gone out too fast, and would later 'crash and burn'. But I did it anyway. If I crashed in the later miles, then so be it. I wanted this to be a major effort on my part. / / / / / / / Running a 2:17 first half marathon at Surf City bodes well for the Las Vegas Marathon in Dec. / / / / It tells me that I can make the cutoffs for LV with their draconian 4:30 time limit. / / / / I probably can't run a 4:30 marathon. But I can race to the half way mark in the nick of time to join the half marathoners on the Strip. Then I can cruise in for the finish at a nice leisurely pace. / / / / / / / Going into the Surf City marathon, I was dreading the half marathon merger at Mile 9. It is a cross between 5:00pm rush hour traffic and a cattle stampede. / / / / But Saints be praised. Since I was running at a 10 minute pace for the first 10 miles and was well out ahead of the late start half marathoners, I was able to totally avoid the merger. What a godsend! Not only did I elude the Mile 9 crush. but I was able to run miles 10-16 without the usual crowding on Pacific Coast Highway. / / / / / / / I crossed the Finish Line having run the last half mile at a 10:55 pace. Thus having crossed, I slowed down to a slow walk, as is my normal regimen. / / OMG! My calfs, the back of my knees, my hamstrings, my glutes all started to lock up tighter than a drum - and painfully so. So much so, that I was slightly scared, and decided to keep slow walking until my legs could achieve some semblance of normalcy. / / As it turned out, I had to slow walk for 2.5 hours along the beach before I felt good enough to get behind the wheel of my car and drive the 17 miles back to Old Town Orange. Even at that, I had to stop after about 8 miles and do a stretch break. / / / / On the bright side, if you have to do a slow recovery walk for 2.5 hours, what better venue than the beach?
|
| 163 |
Run in the Sun Marathon |
01/29/12 |
Lake Forest/Aliso Creek |
CA |
6:49 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This is the 8th time that I have run the Lake Forest/Aliso Creek course. / / / / / / / / My finshing time was 6:49:43, as planned. I just wanted to get in between 6:45 and 7 hours, no more, no less. / / / / / / / This was purely a training and recovery marathon. I ran the down hills and walked the up hills. Tons of walk-breaks. / / / / / / / My plan worked because the next day, I felt great. It was as if I didn't run a marathon the day before. / / / / / / / Started in the darkness of early morning with the temp at 49 ( wind chill = 40 deg ). It was uncomfortably cold for the 1st half. But the 2nd half got up to 77 degress ( neglected to use sun blok, and got a wee bit pinkish ). / / / / / / / Next week is the Surf City Marathon. There, I will run a 5:45 - at least that's the plan. Probably no faster, no slower. / / / / / / / My target for a sub-5 hour marathon ( 4:55:00 ) is May 6th at the O.C. Marathon in Newport Beach. |
| 162 |
Carlsbad Marathon |
01/22/12 |
Carlsbad |
CA |
5:03 |
Marathon |
1281 |
|
|
|
My 5th consecutive Carlsbad and my best time out of the quintet. / / / / / / / 2008 = 5:13 / / / / 2009 = 5:09 / / / / 2010 = 5:39 / / / / 2011 = 5:54 / / / / 2012 = 5:03 / / / / / / / 1st half = 2:26 and 2nd half = 2:37. / / / / / / / We were outnumbered 6 to 1 with 1,200 full-marathoners and 7,200 half-marathoners. / / / / / Weather was perfect starting at 47 degrees and ending at 60 degrees. No rain. No wind. / / / / / / / Lots of pals in attendance: Emile, Rocco, Yolanda, Sally, Harold, Charlie, Ward, Big Ed, Oskie and SLO Jim. / / / / / / / Pre-race, parked in "my spot" in the Sears parking lot, only 200 yards from the start line. / / / / / / / Post-race, drifted over to Westfield Shopping Plaza for a Sub Sandwich from "Subway" and some java from "Better Buzz Coffee". / / / / / / / Carlsbad is a 57-mile drive down the I-5 Fwy that takes about 45 minutes. / / / / / / / One of California's great coastal towns, located just south of Oceanside, about 30 miles north of San Diego. / / / / / / / Carlsbad is a very scenic race with magnificent views of beach & ocean. The exception being the interior miles 6-15 with the out/back along Palomar Airport Road, which encompass mixed residential-industrial areas. / / / / / / / The first 30 minutes is run in the dark - How cool is that? / / / / / / / I really like the 6:00am start. Carlsbad used to have a 5:30am start back in 2008. / / / / / / / Carlsbad has a lot of out & backs. I love it because I really like being able to see the elite runners, my fellow-runners and pals either coming or going. / / / / / / / The Course: Magnificent, and somwhat ethereal - maritime wonderment. How else can you describe running along the ocean for 13 miles and having ocean views for more than 15 miles? The terrain can be described as minor rolling hills with a couple of challenging climbs. |
| 161 |
Arizona RnR Marathon |
01/15/12 |
Phoenix-Scottsdale-Tempe |
AZ |
5:29 |
Marathon |
1273 |
|
|
|
My 2nd AzRnR. / / / / 20 mins better than last yr. / / / / 2011 = 5:49 // 2012 = 5:29. / / / / / Perfect weather 52 deg at Start - 62 deg at Finish and beautifully overcast. / / / / / Pancake flat course. // Streets were wide. Crowding was never an issue. / / / / / We received plenty of Gu Packets along the way. More important, we also got Mardi Gras Beads - Cool! Reminded me of New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon 2011. / / / / / MAJOR NEGATIVE: Did not like having to drink the water cups from hose filled barrels. That can't be sanitary nor salutary. RnR Competitor should be ashamed of themselves. / / / / / As usual, Full-Mary runners were outnumbered 5 to 1 by Half-Mary runners / / 3,863 marathoners started in Phoenix. 20,000 half marys started 10 mi away in Tempe. We only overlapped during last 2 mi when it didn't really matter. / / / / / Marathon started 30 mins late due to problems on the Metro Light Rail transport. After Las Vegas Debacle, this wasn't a good sign. / / / / / Phoenix Hyatt Regency was 1 block from the Expo and 3 blocks from the Start-line - Perfect! / / / / / Ran all 26.2 mi with my best pal Michelle Palmer. / / / / / New course allowed us to run across the Salt River on the Mill Ave Bridge, which is far more spectacular than last year's Mc Clintock Bridge. / / / / / A major course change was a 6.5 mile Indian School Rd "out/back" loop thru Scottsdale - Mile 12.9 to 19.3. / / / / / After race, Michelle and I went to Chile's Restaurant near ASU. She had a black bean burger and 2 Michelobs. I had a turkey sandwich and 2 Coke Zeros. / / / / / Made a new friend along the way, 50-Stater Tami Harmon. // Lots of other pals: Charlie Alewine, Yolanda Walking Diva, Cadillac Steve, Dale Roberts, Ward Sullivan,and Marathon Mitch. My drive was a pleasant 350 miles from Old Town Orange to 2nd St & Adams in Downtown Phoenix. 5.5 hrs w/o breaks, 6.5 hrs with breaks. |
| 160 |
Camarillo Marathon |
01/08/12 |
Camarillo |
CA |
5:32 |
Marathon |
149 |
|
|
|
Absolutely Brutal! One of the toughest marathons that I have ever run. / / / / 14 of the 26 miles subjected us to gale force winds up to 50 mph. Miles 18-23 were horrific. It was literally 3 steps forward and 1 step backward. And, occasionally it was 1 step forward and 1 step backward. / / / / the wind came out of the east. Obviously, the worst was when it was a 'headwind'. / / / / But even when the wind hit us from the side, it was also horrific. Twice, I was almost blown into the road-side ditch. / / At mile 22, my glasses blew off, and into the side ditch. Absolutely brutal! / / / / Shockingly, I still recorded a time of 5:32:00. That tells me that I could have run a 5:10 sans wind. / / / / / / / Small race: 96 marathoner finishers and 188 half-marathon finishers. / / / / I should have finished first in my division ( 65-69). Unfortunately, the division was 60-69 - No Fair! / / / / Lots of pals in attendance: Yolanda Holder, Jerk Langer, Fast Eddie Hahn, Jay Seashore, Barefoot Todd, Barefoot Alberto. New pal - Susan Kolko from Beverly Hills, who was 3rd place woman. / / / / Lost a minute or more at mile 23 (Pleasant Valley & Euclid ) having to wait for ambulances to pass. / / / / Camarillo is 86 miles from my home in Olde Town Orange - exact same as San Diego. / / / / If it weren't for the brutal gale force wind, I would have really, really liked this marathon. It was well-organized and had that great hometown, provincial flavor. / / / / I was told that the wind was an aberration. If that is the case, I will certainly be back next year. / / / / Big Plus: Bib pick-up morning of race. Unlike Malibu, no need for 172 mile RT Saturday drive to pick-up bib. / / Also, generous 7-hr cutoff. |
| 159 |
New Year's Marathon |
01/01/12 |
Sunset Beach |
CA |
7:13 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Happy New Year from Sunset Beach. / / / / / / / This is the 21st time that I have run this course from Sunset Beach to Bolsa Chica to Huntington Beach. / / / / / / / / / At 1:00am in the morning of New Years Day, I drove 18 miles in dense fog and the threat of drunken drivers to Sunset Beach - Scary! / / / / / / / / / Usually, the early hours at the Beach are a near religious experience for me. But not this morning. The heavy fog took away from the beauty of my mystical early morning. I could barely see 50 feet ahead of me, let alone the ocean. Also, for some reason, all of the strand lights were out. / / / / Temps started at 47 degrees. But with the ocean-chill, it seemed like 40 degrees. / / / Temp was maybe 58 when I finished. But wind-chill was always a factor. Yes, I was borderline cold and jacket worthy most of the race. Not complaining, just explaining./ / / / / / Parking was far more difficult than usual. Instead of parking 0.2 mile away at 4th and Pacific, I had to park 0.4 mile away at 8th and Pacific. / / / / / / / Finishing time was a pedestrian 7:13. But that was by design. So, no worries. / / / / / / / My splits were negative: 1st half @ 3:54 / / 2nd half @ 3:19. This by design also. / / / / / / / Serrendipitously, I ran the first 5 miles with an elfish 61 year old local jogger by the name of Gus, who was just out for a morning exercise. / / / / / / / My left foot neuroma popped up 2 or 3 times, but didn't last long. / / / / About mile 21, I got a groin tweak that I could still feel 6 hours later - but not all that bad. / / / / / / / Once again, a lot of pals running: Jim Grimes, Jerk Langer, Jean Ho, Haywood Crowder, Steve Hernandez, Dale Roberts, Silver Rivas and Min Chae. |
| 158 |
Year End Marathon |
12/31/11 |
Lake Forest / Aliso Creek |
CA |
6:28 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Happy New Year's Eve! / / / / / / / / This is the 7th time that I have run the Lake Forest/Aliso Creek course. / / / / / / / / This is also Day One of Charlie Alewine's New Year's Trifecta. / / / / / / / / / / / / Saturday - New year's Eve ( Marathon #1 ) was run at Lake Forest ( 6:28:00 ). / / / / / Sunday - New Year's Day ( Marathon #2 ) will be run at Sunset Beach. / / / / / Monday January 2 ( Marathon #3 )will be run at Marina Vista. / / / / I am hoping to do all three, but I will take it one day at a time. / / / / / / / / Lake Forest: 48 degrees to start ( wind chill made it more like 40 degrees ). / / But it hotted up to 76 degrees by the finish. Fortunately, the asphalt bike path is well-shaded. / / / / / / / / The course runs east and west along the Alsio Creek bike path, which runs parallel to El Toro Blvd. / / / / Going east is a climb up to the foothills. I basically power-walked in this direction. / / / / It is more fun running west, which is downhill towards the Pacific Ocean. On this segment, I ran instead of walked. / / / / / / / / I was shooting for a 15 minute pace, and basically achieved it by running a 6:28:00, which is about a 14:50 pace. / / / / / / / My left foot neuroma bothered me during mile 4 and mile 9. Otherwise, no problems. / / / / / / / / Lots of pals in attendance: Jim Grimes, Marina White, Sally Boles, Harold Jackson, Chris Haines, Jerk Langer, Dale Roberts, Steve Hernandez, Laura Sohaskey, Jean Ho, Haywood Crowder. |
| 157 |
Operation Jack Marathon |
12/26/11 |
Manhattan to Ballona Creek ( via Playa del Rey ) |
CA |
5:13 |
Marathon |
88 |
|
|
|
Operation Jack, with satellites in Oregon - Texas - Afghanistan, is run for the fight against AUTISM. Kudos to R. D. Sam Felsenfeld. / / / /
Op Jack has a small, hometown-marathon flavor. Last year had 31 marys and 43 half-marys. That quadrupled this year with 104 marys and 222 half-marys. Many of the runners were familiar with each other being from Runner's World and/or Marathon Maniacs. / / / /
For the marathon, we run a 6.55 mile distance 4 times. / / The entire marathon is run completely on a bike path, therefore 70% of the course is hard concrete, 30% on asphalt. / / / /
The concrete Pacific Ocean segment, going north, through Manhattan, El Porto, Dockweiler, Playa del Rey, is the 4.7 mile stretch from 44th St in Manhattan to Ballona Creek in Playa del Rey. So, if you have weak knees, take it easy on this stretch. / / The only advantage to concrete is that you do get great traction, lift-off. But, oh, the knees, the hips, the back. / / / /
The asphalt Ballona Creek segment, going east, is the 1.8 mile stretch going east along the Ballona Creek bike trail to 1/3 mile past PCH/Lincoln, and 1/3 mile just before the Marina Freeway. This run, along the Ballona Creek, is all asphalt, and a lot easier on the joints. / / / /
Operation Jack is a great tour of 7 California beaches: Manhattan, El Porto, El Segundo, Dockweiler, Playa Del Rey, Ballona Creek and Marina Del Rey. Except for Manhattan, these beaches are mainly for surfers, bike riders, local joggers, skaters, dog walkers, picnickers, and strolling pedestrians. / / / /
These are not popular beaches for sun-bathing to the extent that Manhattan or Santa Monica would be. Yes, there are sun-bathers, but not a whole heck of a lot. / / / /
In the main, there is a mutual respect, except for the cyclists. Unfortunately, I have often found that some of the cyclists are not willing to share in this concept of mutual respect. Therefore, "Beware of Cyclists"... |
| 156 |
Deck the Halls Marathon |
12/17/11 |
Manhattan Pier - Ballona Creek /via Playa del Rey |
CA |
6:44 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 5th running at the Dockweiler Beach venue. Dockweiler is directly beneath the flight path of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). / / / / / / / The course goes north from Manhattan Beach to El Porto Beach to El Segundo Beach to Playa Del Rey - and then back down south to Manhattan Pier. We do this loop twice. / / / / / FIVE TIMES, I have done this fantastic course along the sea.. FIVE TIMES = 12/24/10 ( 7:24 ) - - - 02/21/11 ( 7:24 ) - - - - 08/28/11 ( 6:48 ) - - - 11/19/11 ( 6:58 ) - - - 12/17/11 ( 6:44 ) / / / / / Cool 47 deg start / 60 deg finish. / Drizzle rain during 2nd half. / / / / / Ran the 1st third in the darkness & solitude of the early morning. Just me and the sea. // Ran the last 2/3rd in the chaos of beach-goers and rude cyclists. / / / / / / / We ran north from the Manhattan Beach Pier to 1/5 mile beyond The Ballona Creek Bridge that abuts Marina del Rey. This distance measured exactly 6.55 miles. We covered it 4 times for a total of 26.2 miles. / / / / / / / Starbucks on Manhattan Beach Blvd, up from the Pier, opens everyday at 4:30am. Fantastic, expecially for early start marathoners. / / / / / / / Since I have no scheduled marathon until New Year's Eve, I am thinking about running Marina Vista tomorrow for a Double Weekend. Let's see how I feel in the morning. / / / / / / Darn! Woke up Sunday morning and decided against doing Marina Vista for a Double. / / / / / / No matter, I just found a replacement. My next race will be Operation Jack on Dec. 26th. / / / Op Jack basically overlaps the Dockweiler course. So, I will be returning in 9 days to Manhattan Beach.
|
| 155 |
Tucson Holualoa Marathon |
12/11/11 |
Oracle to Catalina (near, but not Tucson) |
AZ |
5:27 |
Marathon |
782 |
|
|
|
Found the course to be deceptive. It was not a continuous downhill. Typical to desert terrain, it was a rolling landscape. For every hill, there was a downhill. - - -
Yes, it was a downhill course - 1,700' drop. We started at 5,000', and dropped to about 3,300'. But that was not my perception while running the course. - - -
This deception was due to the rolling nature of the course. It appeared that I was constantly climbing ascents. The up-hills were very obvious. The down-hills were subtle, and not always perceptible. - - -
The course was not as it appeared to the naked eye. The many up-hills are daunting, and quite apparent. The down-hills are long, but not steep - therefore not that apparent. As a result, it appears that the course is made up of constant up-hills, and not much down-hill. - - -
During the entire race, I commented on how Tucson was promoting a "Big Lie" about the course being fast and mostly downhill. - - -
It was only after I had finished, and had time to reflect back, that I realized that, although not apparent nor obvious at the time, it was actually a down-hill course. - - -
Psychologically - let's face it, running marathons is very mental - the deceptive course confused me and threw me off my game for Tucson 2011. - - - But, I expect that in Tucson 2012, I will fare much better understanding the technical aspect of the course. - - -
5,000' of elevation did limit oxygen intake, thereby negating much of the downhill advantage. This especially affects someone who is 68 years of age. Senior citizen runners only take in about 2/3rds the oxygen that a 20-something runner takes in. - - -
A number of runners complained that they were getting cramps in their hams, quads and calfs that were not familiar to them. My take was that they were not getting enough oxygen to those muscles - ergo, cramping.
I stayed at the El Conquistador Resort Hotel. A super easy shuttle to and from the race. |
| 154 |
Seattle Amica Marathon |
11/27/11 |
Seattle |
WA |
5:14 |
Marathon |
19089 |
|
|
|
This was Seattle Thanksgiving Marathon #3 for me, my best thus far. (( 2009 = 5:32 /// 2010 = 5:45 /// 2011 = 5:14 )) / / / / / / / Saturday ( day before) I ran the Seattle 5K. Very beneficial as a warm-up, also got me in the groove for what was to come. / / / / / / / Sunday's Marathon had Pacific Northwest conditions. Temp in 40s / High winds / Rained the entire race. / / / / / / / The weather, however, only brought out the postcard beauty of the course, especially Lake Washington. / / / / / / / Stayed at the host hotel Westin. The Expo was on the 4th floor. / / / / / / / I took the Early Start at 7:15. Much better than waiting until 8:15. No crowding. / / / / / / / Getting to the start line was a piece of cake. Left the Westin Hotel at 6:40am / Got to start line at 7:00am / Started at 7:15am. Easy as pie. / / / / / / / The 1st 17 miles were basically flat and fast. / / Miles 18-24 were brutally hilly. / / Miles 25-26 were basically downhill or flat. / / / / / / / Rain was steady but light and drizzly. Temp of 47-56 was ideal for running. High winds were problematic at the beginning and at the end. / / / / / / / THE COURSE: Miles 1-3 were south down 5th Avenue // Miles 3-8 were east on I-90 Expressway (including the Tunnel and Floating Bridge ) // Miles 8-16 were south from the Bridge to Seward Park and then back to Bridge // Miles 16-26 were north from Bridge to finish at Memorial Stadium. / / / / Finish was into Stadium and across Leon Brigham football field. Cool! / / / / / / / Recovery was in a cavernous hall. Bagels, bananas, fruit cups, chocolate milk, Jamba Juice - Well done! / / / / / / / The mile walk back to Westin was uncomfortable because I had cooled down and the temp had dropped to 47 degrees. Wearing only long-sleeve Tee, light wind-breaker, and a thin poncho was not enuf. Okay for the race, but not post-race. / / / / / / / HIGHLIGHT: Running across Lake Washington upon the Floating Bridge to Mercer Island - An ethereal sensation. x x x x x |
| 153 |
Beachfest Marathon |
11/19/11 |
Manhattan Beach - Dockweiler Beach -Playa Del Rey |
CA |
6:58 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 4th running at Dockweiler. Cool 55 deg start / 60 deg finish. / / /
Ran the 1st third in the darkness & solitude of the early morning. Just me and the sea. // Ran the last 2/3rd in the chaos of beach-goers and rude cyclists. / / /
We basically ran north from the Manhattan Beach Pier to 1/5 mile beyond The Ballona Creek Bridge that abuts Marina del Rey. This distance measured exactly 6.55 miles. We covered it 4 times for a total of 26.2 miles. / / /
An egregiously, pedestrian marathon with a time of 6:58:00. Obviously a therapeutic marathon with the goal of recovery. I ran 3 hard marathons during the previous weekends ( Chicago- 5:18 / NYC- 5:27 / Santa Barbara- 5:51 ), and the ensuing fatigue had to be addressed. Ergo, I ran/walked totally within myself at Dockweiler. / / /
I have Seattle coming up this Thanksgiving weekend on Sunday, and I want to do well. Speaking of Seattle, the weather is currently 28 degrees and snowing. I hope it warms up within the next week. / / /
Dockweiler is a beautiful course along the ocean through the beaches of Manhattan, El Porto, El Segundo, Dockweiler, Playa del Rey, and Marina del Rey. / / /
The only true downside was that the course was along the bicycle path. The cyclists are too many in numbers, and they are extremely rude. They feel that they own the road, and nobody else is allowed. / / / This Saturday morning crew of cyclists were worse than most. Some were actually yelling at the runners while extending obscene digital gestures. / / /
Bike path for 26.2 miles equals 90% hard concrete and 10% hard asphalt. That has to make for some tough-sledding.
|
| 152 |
Santa Barbara International Marathon |
11/12/11 |
Santa Barbara |
CA |
5:51 |
Marathon |
806 |
|
|
|
Race started at Dos Pueblos H.S. and looped around the bucolic splendor of Goleta. / / /
My Gawd! What was I thinking? Ran 1st half in 2:30. Did "death march" 2nd half in 3:21. My finish was 5:51. / / / Had I paced myself, I would have easily run a 5:40 or better. / / / Having run a hard-fought 5:27 in NYC the week prior, I should have paced myself easy this weekend. / / /
This was the 3rd running of the S.B. Marathon. Unfortunately the participant numbers are dropping:
// 2009 = 1685 //
// 2010 = 998 //
// 2011 = 881 // .
Explanation: In 2009, SBIM was just a marathon. But 2010 & 2011 had the addition of the half marathon. Given the option of either, almost half of the potential marathoners opted for the half. / / /
Besides my egregiously moronic positive splits, there was that killer hill running the entire length of mile 24 ( Cliff Drive ). Added to that, there was no signage along mile 20 ( Modoc Rd ). Myself and 10 other runners came to a fork and went a mile out of our way. Erase that excess time, and I really had a 5:38 finish. / / /
When I crossed the finish line, I was surprised to find not much in the way of goodies. But, at least there was water and bananas. Last year, there wasn't even water. / / /
Something has to be done about the course. It is 24 miles of running through the hinterlands, and a mere 2 miles of running along the coast. C'mon! S.B. is America's Riviera. Prove it by letting us see it. / / /
Great weather, starting at about 50 degrees. Temps probably did not get higher than the low 60s. Rain was predicted, but did not happen. / / / I do like the finish on the track of S.B. City College. Makes me feel like an Olympian. / / / This year, the Expo was held at the Earl Warren Showgrounds ( Las Positas & La Calle ). The Expo was small scale as usual, but at least we got to see another part of Santa Barbara.
/ / / Post race, went to The Habit for a double char cheese burger. Yummy! |
| 151 |
New York City Marathon |
11/06/11 |
New York City ( 5 Boroughs ) |
NY |
5:27 |
Marathon |
10160 |
|
|
|
I have now run 6 NYCs: 1980-1983-1985-1987-2009-2011. /// Every time is as if it is the first time. I am always in total awe. Each time more so than the previous. /// The Marathon, with 47.500 running through Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan, is the greatest marathon in the world. /// I am proud of my time of 5:27:00. NYC is a tough course, the toughest and hilliest of the 5 Majors. /// Director Mary Wittenberg and Mayor Bloomberg have proposed running a 2-day/2-marathon Weekend that would accommodate 100,000 applicants. Currently, the NYC Marathon has a $340 million benefit for the city. A double could bring in $700 million. /// My 5:27 was great considering that I actually ran 26.75 miles (extra .55 mile) due to my avoiding other runners. Also, lots of hills, especially the Verrazano and Queensboro bridges. /// Elbow to elbow for all 26 miles. I was constantly being bumped and jostled. The petite female runners suffered more than most. /// This was a 12-hour marathon. I left the Hotel Pennsylvania at 5am. Didn't get back until 5pm. The logistics of moving and organizing 47,500 runners is mind-boggling and time-consuming. Took almost 5 hrs to get from hotel to start line. And I had an early start at 9:40am. The last corral didn't start until almost 11:00am - poor bastards. Upon finishing, took me over one hour to get from finish line to my gear bag. /// All that being said, NYC is the greatest marathon in the world. The course running through all 5 boroughs is to die for. I'll be back next year for my 7th NYC, the lottery and the gods be willing. /// Smokin' Joe Frazier (67 yrs) died during the marathon weekend. The 2011 marathon was dedicated in memoriam to 9-time champ Grete Waitz (57yrs). |
| 150 |
Run the Beachfront Marathon |
10/30/11 |
Sunset Beach/ Huntington Beach ( via Bolsa Chica) |
CA |
6:45 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Thanks Charlie for the great new Surfer Chick medal. / / / / / Pleasant, easy-loping training marathon with NYC coming up next Sunday. Ran the first half in maritime darkness, fitting for the splendid loneliness of the long-distance runner. Just me and the solitude of the sea. / / / Ran the second half in the festive daylight of diverse beach-goers. / / / / / 1st Half = 3:30 // 2nd Half = 3:15 // Total = 6:45 / / / / / Today I did a walk-run rigor. A lot of walking, but also some bodacious segments at up to a 9:30 per mile pace. / / / / / Ailment = Left Foot: lateral tendonitis, pseudo plantar faciitis, and neuroma of 4th/5th metatarsals. / / / / / Main gripe = cyclists who think they own the beach path. / / / / /
Ran with a plethora of maniacal friends. / / Dr. Jim Grimes (Injured heel limited Jim to the half). // Stacy Berry (Jim's running companion. Ran her first marathon since O.C. May 1st). // Marina White (Volunteer Duty at Mile 4 aid station). // Dale Roberts (Ubiquitous. At every Charlie marathon. But will run NYC next Sunday). // Ward Sullivan (looking good in calf sleeves, knee straps and arm sleeves). // Min Chae (Gave good tips on getting to NYC start line). // Chris Haines (Probably the best ultra-runner of our crew). / / / / / Wore my low-mileage Trance 7 Brooks, that I have not worn in 2 years. I have 7 pairs. So they should hold me for at least a year. / / / / / The wild card entry St Louis Cardinals won the World Series over Texas. Boo! |
| 149 |
Rockin' Lake Forest |
10/23/11 |
Lake Forest / Aliso Creek |
CA |
6:17 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 6th time running a marathon at Lake Forest / Aliso Creek. I really enjoy this venue because the course is a secluded asphalt-paved trail ( bike path ) along the Aliso Creek. Easy on the feet and easy on the eyes. It is also the home base of Sally Boles, who designed this course. Today was also Sally's birthday. No, I don't know how old? / / / / / / / Lake Forest is tucked up into the Santa Margarita Mountains. Going east toward the mountains is basically all up-hill //// Going west toward the Pacific Ocean is basically all downhill. / / / / / / / Lake Forest is a 20.5 mile drive from my home in Old Towne Orange. / / / / / / / 22 Fwy - 55 Fwy - 5 Fwy - El Toro Road - Portola Parkway. / / / / / / / My goal for today was to run a 6:15 to 6:25 marathon. I ended up running a controlled 6:17:00 at a 14:20 pace. / / / / / / / 1st Half = 3:27 ( 15:50 pace ) / / / / / / / 2nd Half = 2:50 ( 13:00 pace ) / / / / / / / // Finish = 6:17 at an overall 14:20 pace. / / / / / / / In 2 weeks, I will run the New York City Marathon, where I hope to run a 5:15, or better. I feel confident. / / / / / / / / My revised strategy now calls for all of my training marathons to be 6:20 or lower. In that way, I can still get in some speed work, but also have good recovery abilty. / / / / / / / The usual suspects were in attendance today: Jim Grimes, Harold Jackson, Sally Boles, Dale Roberts, Chris Haines, Stacy Berry. |
| 148 |
Chicago Marathon |
10/09/11 |
Chicago ( 29 Neighborhoods ) |
IL |
5:18 |
Marathon |
32175 |
|
|
|
Chicago is a 2 newspaper town. Tribune and Sun-Times give great coverage both before & aft. Got my name in Tribune. Guess that 5:18 (12:10 pace) is good for a 68 yr old. //// Women's 2001 USA World Cup soccer team ( Hope Solo, Abby Wambach, et. al.) ran marathon as a relay ( wimps?? ). //// 36,000 harriers crossed finish line. Way too crowded. We were elbow to elbow for first 24 miles. They should cap the race at 30,000 instead of 45,000. //// Kenyan won the men's marathon. Russian won the women's. For Liliya Shobukhova it was a trifecta, having won in 09/10/11. //// 1.7 million spectators. So much for the 'Loneliness of the Long-distance Runner'. I-Pod was useless - too much ambient noise. //// A deluge of free beer at finish line. Grabbed one thinking it was an energy drink. But the splendiferous alcohol fragrance alerted me to the mistake, and prevented my first sip of ale since 1969. //// Went to Expo on Saturday at Mc Cormick Convention Center. Chi has best expo in existence. //// At Expo, hung out with my gals from "Marathon and Beyond". Picked up some old copies from 1990s that profiled marathons in Chicago, New Orleans, Bataan Death March New Mexico, Detroit Free Press, Portland. //// Bought greatest Chicago T-shirt ever - "Wrigley Field Mile 8 Run Chicago". //// All 45,000 slots for 2011 Chicago Marathon filled within 31 days. //// Russian gal ran a 2:18 for her 3rd Chicago in a row. That should made Liliya Shobukhova the #1 female in the world. //// 35 year old North Carolina firefighter died just 500 yards from the finish. //// Amber Miller, 39 weeks prego, got permission from her doctor to run half of the Marathon. She did that, but cautiously walk/ran to finish line. Then went to hospital. Baby popped out at 10pm. Does she get two medals?
|
| 147 |
More Marina Madness Marathon |
09/25/11 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach ( Colorado Lagoon ) |
CA |
6:13 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
For the 17th time, I am back to beautiful Marina Vista in Long Beach. One of my favorite Alewine venues, the site of the 1932 Olympic Games ( water sports ). The course is flat and scenic. / / / / It has been 2 weeks since my last marathon. From now on, I would like to do only 2 or 3 marathons per month, preferably 2. I want to get back to the way I used to train, before my Tumultuous Tumble on May 2, 2010. / / / / My goal for today was to run a 5:45 to 5:55 marathon. Yeah, Right! I ended up running a controlled 6:13:00 at a 14:15 pace. ( 1st Half = 3:18 // 2nd Half = 2:55 // Finish = 6:13 ). / / / / In 2 weeks, I will have Chicago, where I hope to run a 5:15. I feel confident. / / / / My revised strategy now calls for all of my training marathons to be 6:20 or lower. In that way, I can still get in some speed work, but also have good recovery abilty. / / / / I hope to run my remaining 2011 "quality" Marathons ( Chicago, NYC, Seattle, Tucson, Texas ) at 5:15 to 5:30. This would be a 12:00 to 12:30 minute pace. / / / / At Mile 20, I did stop at Starbucks for my traditional java-to-go. What the heck, if Dean Karnasses can do it, so can I. Besides, marathons are to be enjoyed. / / / / A good place to visit after the race is Chuck's Coffee Shop, next door in Belmont Shore ( no credit cards - Cash Only!!! ). Chuck's is the home of the "Weasel Burger" - which is chili and eggs with round home fries. Located at Termino and Ocean, just south of Belmont Pier. It is a classic 1950s diner ( "Dive"), and an L.A. Landmark. / / / / Next door to Chuck's is the Olympic Pool, used for 1932 Olympics. / / / / Ran today's marathon with my pals Dr. Jim Grimes and his assistant Tracy Vasquez.
|
| 146 |
Patriot's Day Marathon |
09/11/11 |
Sunset Beach/Huntington Beach ( via Bolsa Chica) |
CA |
5:45 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Today is the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Ergo, the marathon was labeled the " Patriots' Day Marathon " . My intention is currently to run all of my marathons under 6 hours. So, for the 2nd straight week I did exactly that, clocking in at 5:45:00, which is a 13:10 pace. / / / / / / /
Sunset Beach is my absolute favorite of all the Charlie Alewine venues. It is such a delight to run along the Pacific Coast from Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach. I usually start in the early morning darkness with its soothing solitude, and finish amidst the daytime beach crowd of cyclists and peds. It is the best of both worlds. / / / / / / /
I have come to the conclusion that long, slow distance only makes for long, slow runners. My splits were ( 1st half = 2:48 ) and ( 2nd Half = 2:57 ). Had I desired, I could have run a 5:30:00. But I didn't so desire. / / / / / / /
Prior to my "Tumultuous Tumble" in May 2010, after completing the O.C. Marathon , I ran most of my marathons between 4:50-5:10. Since my Tumble, I have been running my marathons between 5:50-6:10. Yikes! That is an extra hour. That is totally unacceptable. So, I am going back to my old style of training, pre-T.T. No more 7+ hour training marathons. / / / / / /
Physically, I felt fantastic. No real problems, not even minor ones. For the first time in quite awhile, I did not have to tighten my patella straps. My recent issue with my lateral left foot was slightly there, but no worries. / / / / / /
I have one more marathon ( Marina Vista on 9/25 ) before I venture off to the Chicago Marathon on 10/9. Now that I am getting in the habit of sub-sixs, I expect a 5:15:00 in Chicago. Last year I ran a 5:29:00 in Chi-Town. |
| 145 |
Run the Marina Marathon |
09/04/11 |
Marina Vista/Long Beach |
CA |
7:34 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Marathon Double #32 & #33 for 2011 is now in the books. I shouldn't be running Doubles. It can't be good for recovery. I can't realistically expect to qualify for Las Vegas if I am going to be so reckless. / / / / TYLENOL: Prior to going to the marathon, I took a couple of time-release 8-hour Tylenol. At least, I thought that was what I took. Turns out I took Tylenol-PM. Needless to say, I was a zombie for the first 13 miles. //// It was like running through quicksand. It took me 4 hours of really tough-sledding to run that 1st half. / / / / Fortunately, by mile 11 or 12, I started to throw off the affects of being drugged by Diphenhydramine HCI 50 mg. Surprising, my 2nd half was a major improvement, doing it in an easy 3 hours. / / / / TAKING A FALL: I was running on an asphalt trail along Long Beach's Marine Stadium, when I tripped over some object and went flying. //// I had visions of broken ribs, a broken elbow and cracked wrist. In fact, that is exactly what would have happened based on how I hit the ground. But, by serendipity, I was vaulted into a lone bushy private garden on the side of the road for a wet and soft landing. The garden had recently been irrigated. //// So my landing was super soft into a bed of mud. I was covered with mud galore for the remainder of the race. But that has to be far better than being soaked with blood and fractures. I wore my mud proudly for the remainder of the marathon. I love mud. / / / / Podiatry: For the second consecutive day, I started the marathon with a worrisome left foot. For Sunday's marathon, I again wore a metarsal pad. All was okay for the first 17 or 18 miles. But then I started to feel the pressure of the pad. As a result, I took out the pad, and quickly felt much better. To be honest, I don't think that the pad actually was helping. As I said, I really don't have a problem while actually running. It is when I am not running that I notice the metatarsal ailment. |
| 144 |
Run Into Fall Marathon |
09/03/11 |
Lake Forest / Aliso Creek |
CA |
5:57 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 5th time running a marathon at Lake Forest / Aliso Creek. I really enjoy this venue because the course is a secluded asphalt-paved trail along the Aliso Creek. Easy on the feet and easy on the eyes. / / / / / / / / / / Going east toward the mountains is basically all up-hill //// Going west toward the Pacific Ocean is basically all downhill. / / / / / / / / / / / /
I started the marathon with a worrisome left foot. I have had neuroma problems for almost 20 years. But my recent episode has me worried. //// It felt like a cramp along the 5th metatarsal, and it has been on-going for 3 days. //// Usually, I get a short duration attack, and that is it - - but not this time. The duration of this problem is the worry. //// I first noticed the cramp, on the lateral side of my foot, 2 days ago on Thursday morning. It is a slight dull ache - more like a cramp or a pinch. It is not all that painful, just worrisome. / / / / / / / / / / / /
Ironically, I ran 4 miles on it Thursday afternoon w/o having a problem. Perhaps the running actually massages the metarsal area. / / / / / / / / / For today's marathon, I wore a metarsal pad, and it did the trick. Thankfully, I had no problems today. But I am not sure if it was the pad or if I just had a good day. / / / / / / / / / /
For the first time in almost a year and a half, I ran a Charlie Alewine marathon in under 6 hours. Today I clocked a 5:57:00. My last Charlie Alewine sub-6 was April 4, 2010 with a 5:54:00 - 17 months ago. / / / / / / / / / / / /
AILMENTS: Mile 6 = Right inside lower thigh //// Mile 8 = Right inside mid-thigh //// Mile 10 = slight left foot neuroma //// Mile 19 = Left achilles extreme tightness //// Mile 20 = cinched up left patella strap //// Mile 22 = cinched up right patella strap. |
| 143 |
Run Along the Beach Marathon |
08/28/11 |
Manhattan Beach - Dockweiler Beach -Playa Del Rey |
CA |
6:48 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Dockweiler Beach: Warm 70 deg to start / 73 deg at finish. / / / / / This is my 3rd time running this course. The first 2 times, I ran a 7:24:00. But this was a super easy and non-draining 6:48:00. / / / / Negative splits: 1st half = 3:30 / / 2nd half = 3:18. / / / / My earlier runs (Dec. 24, 2010 and Feb. 21, 2011) were tough-sledding all the way. / / / / From Dockweiler Beach off of Imperial, we ran north 2.70 miles to Playa del Rey and back. Then we ran 3.85 miles south to the Manhattan Beach Pier and back. Basically, we ran from from the M. B. Pier to Dockweiler to the Ballona Creek Bridge (1/5 mile past the bridge) that abuts Marina Del Rey. This distance measured exactly 6.55 miles. We covered it 4 times for a total of 26.2 miles. / / / / Beautiful course along the ocean through the beaches of Manhattan, El Porto, El Segundo, Dockweiler, Playa del Rey, and Marina del Rey. / / / / One major downside was that the course was along the bicycle path. This resulted in 90% hard concrete and 10% hard asphalt. Worse still, the bicyclists were out in all their glory endangering the lives of all others. / / / / My time was a satisfying 6:48:00, which is 36 minutes better than the last 2 times I did this venue. / / / / Ailments: // Mile 5 - right knee ( center patella ). // Mile 10 - Inside lower thigh started to lock ( shades of Quadzilla ). // Mile 15 - Left knee ( very slight ). // Mile 17 & 19 - Mid-back region tightened ( slight ). // Mile 20 - left hip flexor slightly tight. // For both knee problems, I tightened my patella straps, and all was well almost instantly. The back problem came twice but didn't last long. / / / / After 2 marathons w/o, I put my calf sleeves back on. This time no calf redness, nor blotchy calf swelling. / / / / For the past 4 days , I was super worried about a hyper-extended right knee. But it went away. |
| 142 |
Race the Marina Marathon / Dos Amigos |
08/14/11 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
7:18 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Today was totally an experimental marathon. I had been thinking that walking actually tires me out more than running. The only upside to walking is that I don't need any recovery time. But during the marathon itself, walking makes me stiffer and tighter than does running. I also feel that walking is much harder on my quads than is running. / / / / / / / First 13 miles = 4 hours / / / Second 13 miles = 3:18. / / / / / / / / I walked the first 13 miles, and it really knocked me for a loop. / / / I ran/walked the last 13 miles, and felt much better. / / / / / / / The problem with walking leisurely for the first half is that it is more work than had I ran. I think that my body gets locked into a slow-mode, and basically locked up. / / / As soon as I started running at mile 14, I loosened up, got my speed back, and felt good. / / / / / Lesson to be learned is "Long slow distance makes for long slow runners and stiff bodies." - - - But, and this is a big But. Slow walking means almost instant recovery. There is no sense or feeling the next day that you had run a marathon the day previous. It is truly a long, long training run with absolutely no wear and tear. / / / / / / / For the past 2 marathons, I removed my compression-calf sleeves. Possibly resolving a problem: No Calf redness, and blotchy calf swelling. Could it be mere coincidence? Possibly. / / / / |
| 141 |
Run the Forest Marathon |
08/07/11 |
Aliso Creek / Lake Forest |
CA |
6:56 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 4th time running at Aliso Creek in Lake Forest. Running down a secluded bike-trail along the Aliso Creek. This is the home base of fellow runner Sally Boles. / / / The course runs along the Aliso Creek bike path, which travels parallel to and in-between the Aliso Creek Trail and El Toro Blvd. / / / The marathon began next to the intersection of Portola Pkwy and El Toro Rd. / / / Basically, we ran 1.64 miles "EAST" of the start point, and then 1.64 miles back to the start point for a total of 3.275 miles. Next we ran 1.64 miles "WEST" of the start point, and then 1.64 miles back to the start point for a total of 3.275 miles. Put both sections together and you have one full loop of 6.55 miles. Do this 4 times, and you have a marathon. / / / This Lake Forest marathon was an experimental, recovery marathon after last weeks great effort at San Francisco. / / / I ran 6:56:00 intentionally. That was my goal, to barely break 7 hours. / / / Also, I experimented with eating on the run. I ate very lightly. I did not take anything until Mile 18. Then I took in 2 shot bloks every 20 minutes. I did this 5 times for a total of 10 shot bloks, or 330 calories. At mile 23, I switched over to munching on a Power Bar every 10 minutes for a total of 240 calories. I also nursed a banana for about an hour for another 130 calories. So, I ate very lightly, a mere total of 800 clories. I think that this was the right thing to do, and that it worked out well.
/ / / I did find a Starbucks not too far off course. It was located off Portola Parkway & Glen Ranch Road. Next door was a Wahoo's. The Starbuckian java was for the run, providing liquid sustenance. Wahoo's, on the otherhand, was for the post-race ( replenish that protein within 30 minutes). Indeed, I found that a high-protein burrito is the best thing for re-building muscle. / / / This week, I removed my compression-calf sleeves. Possibly resolving a problem: No Calf blotchy calf redness |
| 140 |
San Francisco Marathon |
07/31/11 |
San Francisco |
CA |
5:47:00 |
Marathon |
2392 |
|
|
|
S.F. #5 ( 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 ). ///// Supposedly, SF is the 13th largest marathon in the U.S. I'll have to check that out. Stayed at the Hyatt Regency @ the Embarcadero for the 5th straight year. But next year I might try the historic Palace Hotel ( 1876 ). ///// Possibly my biggest highlite was the magnificent medal. As usual SF awarded coaster-size medals, but this year with Haight-Ashbury embossed on the front. ///// What can be better than running past the Ferry Bldg, along the Esplanade (miles 1-5), checking Fisherman's Wharf, charging up Fort Mason, crossing over the Golden Gate Bridge (miles 6-10), touring through Golden Gate Park (miles 12-19), invading historic Haight-Ashbury, challenging the Mission District, approaching Giants Baseball Stadium, and finishing under the Bay Bridge? What a way to see the City. Haight-Ashbury (mile 20), Mission District (mile 21), Giants Baseball Park (mile 24), and the Bay Bridge (mile 26). I love San Francisco. ///// As usual, one of my highlite was seeing Java House at Mile 26. I kept thinking, I will cross the finish line and grab a cup of java. ///// The weather was fantastic as usual with 50+ degrees at the start, and low 60s at the end. These temps are basically identical each year. Bonus for this year - no wind on GG Bridge. Plus it was overcast for most of the race. ///// I still have a problem with the complex merging and splitting and merging with the half marathoners. ///// But this marathon ranks right up there with the best that we have to offer. ///// Hats off to the Motorcycle "Outlaw" Gang that provides traffic control each year. ///// Ran the entire marathon with my best running pal Michelle Palmer. Both of us were very pleaesed with our 5:47:00 finishing time. That is a nice easy 13:00 minute pace. It is far below my 2008 pace of 4:55:00, but I am pleased none the less. //// All in all, I felt great during the race. But my mid-back was tight for at least half of the run. |
| 139 |
The Coto Marathon |
07/24/11 |
Coto de Caza ( Rancho Santa Marguerita) |
CA |
7:42 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
I was supposed to run the Deseret Morning News Marathon this weekend in Salt Lake City. But I felt that I wasn't up to the 7,500 feet of altitude, nor the desired ( but unofficial ) cut-off of about 5:30. Therefore, I ran the Coto de Caza Marathon instead. Next year for sure I will do Deseret. / / / / / This was a recuperative training marathon, setting me up for the San Francisco Marathon next week ( July 31 ). / / / / / I ran today's marathon in Coto de Caza super easy with almost perfectly matching splits. ( My first half was 3:51:30. My second half was 3:50:30 ). My finish was 7:42:00. My pace was 17:40 per mile. I even stopped for a cup of java and multi-grain bagel at Starbucks along about mile 15. / / / / / All that I wanted to do today was to cover the 26.2 miles in under 7 hours, 45 minutes. And that was basically what I did. The huge bonus of a recovery marathon like this is that my body has absolutely no wear and tear. / / / / / During today's marathon, I was continuously thinking of the Tour de France, a spectacle that I have been watching for the last 3 weeks. / / / / / Today was also the 21st and final Stage of the Tour de France as the cyclists rode triumphantly into Paris along the Champs-Elysees. Cadel Evans is this year's winner. But the 21st and last stage is mainly for the sprinters, and for the 3rd year in a row, Mark Cavendish was the victor. / / / / / I learn a lot about running from watching cyclists. That is why I included the TDF in my race report. I learn about strategy, physicality and psychologly. I learn about athletic nutrition, athletic psychology, about strategy, about pacing, about recovery, and so much more. The cyclists of the tour are all extraordinary athletes in what is probably the toughest endurance athletic event in the world, an event that goes on for a brutal 21 days. |
| 138 |
Run the Beach Marathon |
07/17/11 |
Sunset Beach/ Bolsa Chica Beach/ Huntington Beach |
CA |
6:58 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
All that I wanted to accomplish today was to come in just under 7 hours, which I did. Mission accomplished. / / / / / / / I had an egregious positive split today - - 1st Half = 3:08 (14:30 pace ) / 2nd Half = 3:50 (17:30 pace ). This was obviously the wrong approach, but I was conducting an experiment. / / My findings point toward the simple fact that a even pace for all 26.2 miles to achieve a sub 7-hours is far superior to running the 1st half much faster than the second half for a sub 7-hours. The best way to come in under 7 hours is to run a steady 16 minute pace. / / / / / / / Next week ( July 24 ) at Cota de Caza, I will take it easy with an even paced 7:30:00 recuperative marathon. This should put me in great shape for San Francisco on July 31st. / / / / / / / My right calf that had been bothering me for the past 2 weeks was A-OK today - never flared up at all. / / / / / / / My problem for over a year tends to be extremely tight quads. I think that I will pay for a personal trainer, and see if that can't be corrected. / / / / / / / Ever since the Seattle Marathon, 3 weeks ago, I have been having gastro-intestinal issues. / / Post race today, 6 hours after I finished, I had another violent stomach attack, my first in 10 days. This time, I took some Tagamet, and miraculously my ailment passed within 10 minutes of taking the tablet. / / Was it the Tagamet? Could have been a coincidence. But Tagamet may be the solution. Let's hope. But, if it is not a coincidence and the Tagamet is for real, then I may be just having massive indigestion and bloating probably caused my excess gas. And I will just keep the Tagamet handy to counter extreme gas or acid buildup. To be honest, I am not sure what's going on. / / / / / / / Tour de France Stage 14 winner = Jelle Vanendert ( Belgium ). Stage 15 winner = Mark Cavendish ( Britain ). |
| 137 |
Stars & Stripes Marathon |
07/03/11 |
Aliso Creek / Lake Forest |
CA |
7:11 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
"Born to Run" and 'Run until you drop" / / / / / / / Everything was going according to plan for 20 miles at Lake Forest. I was feeling really good about my running and my upcoming challenge at the Deseret Morning News Marathon in 3 weeks. / / / / / / / Then, the wheels started to come off. At mile 21, I started to feel bloated. By mile 22, I had a slight stomach ache. By mile 23, I had a major stomach ache. By mile 24, my stomach and back were all cramped up in pain. By mile 25, my entire lower torso was wracked with pain ( stomach, back, rib cage). By mile 26, I thought that I was dying. The pain was so severe that I actually went into a numb state that allowed me to finish the marathon. / / / / / / / After I crossed the finish line, I picked up my medal and headed for the Emergency room at St. Joseph's Hospital. Good news! At least I didn't DNF. / / / / / / / After a day in the hospital, the diagnosis was that I had a violent reaction to the meds that I was taking ( for last week's attack of Diverticulitis at the Seattle marathon ). / / / / / / Surprisingly, my Cat-Scan showed that I didn't actually have Diverticulitis last week. Ergo, I was taking those killer meds for no good reason. / / / / / / My Doc said that my Seattle malady was probably due to dehydration, but it gave off the symptoms of Diverticulitis. / / / / / / / Moral of the story: Stay well-hydrated. Don't trust the Doc's first diagnosis. Make a list of meds that you may be allergic to. And, keep marathoning until you drop. / / / / / / BTW: Running with this pain was worse than last year when I ran a marathon with a broken collar bone and 6 cracked ribs. Had today's race been a 50K, I would not have been able to finish. I am still shocked that I was able to get in my 26th mile. / / / / / / / Slight strain - right calf. / / / / / Tour de France Stage 1 winner = Philippe Gilbert ( Belgium ). Stage 2 (time trial) winner = Team Garmin( Thor Hushovd). |
| 136 |
Seattle RnR Marathon |
06/25/11 |
Seattle |
WA |
5:57 |
Marathon |
3087 |
|
|
|
My 3rd Seattle RnR ( 2009, 2010, 2011 ). I have done all three. I am a legacy. / / / The race started in Tukwilla, 8 miles south of Seattle. Then, finished at Quest Center (Mariner Stadium/Seahawk Stadium ) / / / My finishing time = 5:57:00. Yeh, Me! I broke 6 hours. / / / 1st half = 2:56 - - - 2nd half = 3:01 / / / This was my first sub-6 hour since the L.A. Marathon (5:58:00) on March 20. It has been 3 months. Yikes! / / / Ran with my best running pal Michelle Palmer and another pal Angela Cassidy. / / / Perfect weather: Start at 51 degrees - - - Finish in low 60s - - - overcast and cool breezes. / / / Michelle and I were able to wait comfortably in the Tukwilla Starbucks until the start. / / / What a magnificent marathon. Seattle literally closed the major thoroughfares to traffic. We were able to run through the I-90 tunnel, through the Battery Tunnel, over the I-90 Lake Washington "Floating" Bridge, atop Highway 99 ( Alaska Way Viaduct & Aurora Way ), and the streets of Seattle and Tukwila. All of this on a Saturday morning. AMAZING! / / / But, expect concrete, concrete, concrete. It's a concrete jungle out there. Probably 80%. / / / And, the vistas were spectacular: Seward Park, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Safeco Park, Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Lake Union, the Finish Line in view of the Mariner/Seahawk Stadiums at Quest Complex -- It was all great. / / / 19,611 total runners for the Full & half. But only 3,528 in the fULL. Women outnumbered the men by 2:1. / / / Seattle Gay Pride Parade followed the next day, energized by NYC's new Gay Marriage Law. |
| 135 |
Rockin' with Dad Marathon |
06/19/11 |
Marina Vista Long Beach (Colorado Lagoon) |
CA |
6:49 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
"Run, Rabbit, Run". I know that I should cut back on my running. But, I need the fix. / / / Of course, I think that I should limit myself to just one or two marathons per month. / / / I truly think that I have to take some time off. I need recovery time. Can I do it? Well, I am going to give it a try. / / / Today's marathon started out okay with a 3:06 1st half. For 13 miles, I was feeling good about my running. But then the wheels came off big time. My 2nd half was a brutal 3:43. / / / My right inside quad locked up for miles 13, 14, 15, 16. This was similar to Salt Lake City 2 months ago, but not near as bad. / / / At SLC, I had to limp for about 6 miles. Thankfully, no limping today. / / / I just didn't have any oompf during the 2nd half. The result = 6:49:30 finish. / / / 6:49 was the very best that I could have done today. Ergo, I am worried about next week's Seattle Marathon ( a Major League marathon ). / / / Fortunately, Seattle allows over 7 hours to complete. But by all rights, I should be running Seattle in under 5:30:00, not under 7 hours. / / / Injury Report: inside, lower, right quad. Similar to Salt Lake 2011 and Quadzilla 2010 - - but mild and totally diasappeared after 4 miles. / / / Injury Report: Inside right knee where femur meets the tibia. Very mild. Only lasted a few minutes. Tightening my patella strap seemed to do the trick. / / / Injury Report: Left rear hip/back area. Not severe, but worrisome. / / / In hindsight, I should have taken this marathon at a much slower training pace, perhaps 7:30:00, or even close to 8 hours. My goal should have been to just get in the miles with as little wear and tear as possible. / / / Next Saturday = Seattle RnR. I would love to break 6 hours, if it comes easy. But my true goal at the out-set will be a recuperative 6:30 to 6:45. / / / There is really no need to go any faster. The cut-off was 7 hours, so why should I strain myself when I can stop and smell the roses. |
| 134 |
Beach Madness Marathon |
06/12/11 |
Sunset Beach/ Bolsa Chica Beach/ Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:02 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
The Loneliness of the Long-distance Runner" - - You have to love it !!! / / / / / / Yes, another pleasant day at the beach, running alongside of the Pacific Ocean. In this case, Sunset Beach, Bolsa Chica Beach and Huntington Beach. / / / / / / / I truly love the solitude of beach running. It is nature's healing power at its best. / / / / / / / I basically did a walk/run regimen today for an overall pace of 16 minutes per mile. / / / / / / / The end result of a 7:02:00 doesn't look that great. But it sure as heck is better than anything approaching 8 hours. Everything is relative. / / / / / / No injuries, no aches, no pains. And that was definitely my goal, not a fast time. / / / / / / As usual, at Mile 20, I did sneak off to the Starbucks by the Huntington Beach Pier for a cup of java and a multi-grain bagel ( To Go ). / / / / / / A few miles earlier, I stopped for a Coke Zero. That was probably a bad idea. I won't be doing that anymore. / / / / / / / For 26 miles, I noshed on bagels, bananas and pretzels - My guess is that I overdid it . / / / / / / / I have decided that all of my "minor league" marathons should be at least a 16 minute pace or faster. Training at a 17/18 minute pace has proven to be a bad idea. Long Slow Distance = stagnation, and worse. It just trains me to be a long-slow runner. / / / / / / / Keeping that in mind, my goal next week at Marina Vista, a minor league marathon, will be a finishing time of 6:30 to 6:45. I think that we are talking about a pace between 15:00 and 15:30 minutes per mile. / / / / / / / In 2 weeks, I will be running Seattle RnR, which is a "major league" marathon. I am looking for a sub 6-hour ( between 5:45 & 5:55). / / / / / / / It looks like I may only have 3 "major league" marathons this summer: Seattle (6/25), Deseret (7/25) and San Francsco (7/31). / / / / / / Current worry: Right knee/ inside/ where patella meets tibia. |
| 133 |
Nanny Goat Trail Run |
05/28/11 |
Riverside ( ( The Sexton Horse Ranch ) ) |
CA |
7:29 |
50 km |
65 |
|
|
|
What a great day! This Nanny Goat Run is a real keeper. / / My goal was to run a 50K, but focus on running a quality marathon within that distance. / / I reached the marathon point of 26.2 at a respectable time of 5:59:25 ( i.e., 13:40 min/mile ). I was very pleased to have broken 6 hours. So that made me happy. / / After I passed 26.2, I slowed down and finished the 50K at 7:29:30. Those last 5 miles took me 90 minutes for a blazing 18 min/mile pace. I looked upon it as an extended cool-down. / / The race was held in Riverside at the Sexton Horse Ranch. / / This was a quick 33 mile trip from my home in Old Towne Orange. / / Basically, we ran a mile loop around the ranch. Most of the loop was in and around the ranch. But about a third was along the closed-off Cleveland Street. This allowed for an out/back, and an opportunity to see my pals. / / All runners were allowed to camp from Friday afternoon until Sunday. / / Saturday afternoon there was a hamburger B-B-Q, and Sunday morning there was a pancake Breakfast. This was especially good news for those going for the 100-mile buckle. / / The temperature climbed to about 80 degrees. So, it was necessary to slop on tons of the Sun-Blok - and later, to re-apply. / / The course was a horse trail. So, it was necessary to wear gaiters. Although, only about 1/4 of the runners actually wore them. / / This was a fantastic group of runners and friends who were running as many miles as they wished. I felt like I was at a Marathon Maniac reunion. / / I chose to run a 50K (31 loops) / / Timing was done by a wrist card (chip). Every mile, I would swipe my wrist over a plate and my name and mileage would pop up on a screen in real time. / / The food was great ultra/trail fare: Coffee, Coke, Gatorade, Donuts, bagels, Cookeis. Hard Candy, P&J Sandwiches, etc. / / I thought that I drank enough water during the race. Obviously, I didn't as my scale (4 lb loss) and seeing the color of dark apple juice proved otherwise. |
| 132 |
Newport Trails Marathon |
05/22/11 |
Irvine to Newport Beach ( ( Newport Back Bay ) ) |
CA |
7:58 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
A new course on the Charlie Alewine Marathon circuit. But, I am sure that I am going to like it for future races - Hey! It's the beach. / / / / Also, the Start is only 10 miles from home (Old Towne Orange). / / / / I wasn't entirely unfamiliar with this course because the Orange County Marathons of 2009 & 2010 also ran the eastern edge of Newport's Back Bay. / / / / The course location for today's marathon was the Newport Upper Bay (BackBay) - - the Ecological Reserve, the Nature Preserve, and the Newport Dunes Aquatic Park. / / / / We started in the city of Irvine at a Synagogue (Michelson & Harvard). This site is located between the San Joachim Marsh to the west, and the San Joachim Golf Gourse to the east. We then ran south through the Newport BackBay towards the Pacific Ocean. The trail started just west of the Synagogue parking lot, with easy access. / / / / We ran 6.55 miles south to PCH & Jamboree in Newport Beach ( next to Fashion Island), and then back to the Irvine Synagogue for a total of 13.1 miles. We did this twice for the marathon total of 26.2 miles. / / / / I was more tired than usual today. I finished in 7:58:00. But I basically walked in the last 2 miles. I was totally shot. Reason: I put in an extremely tough week of 70 miles. Plus, I ran them much harder than usual. My average for 45 of those miles was a 12 minute pace, but some were at a 9:30 pace. Ergo, I was extremely fatigued for today's marathon. |
| 131 |
Pasadena Marathon |
05/15/11 |
Pasadena |
CA |
6:03 |
Marathon |
729 |
|
|
|
My 3rd Pasadena in a row ( 2009, 2010, 2011 ) - I'm a Legacy. And for the 3rd straight year - RAIN! / / / / 3 major out/backs. I love these out/backs because I get to see my pals running to and fro. / / / / Ran the entire race with my pal Dr. Jim Grimes. Also, for most of the course we had a new pal running along with us by the name of Angela Cassidy. / / / / Spent most of the race saying hello to Maniacs and friends such as Tony, Nick, Charlie, Rocco, Renee, Yolanda, Big Ed, Harold Jackson, Howard, Emil, James, and the list goes on. This is probably the most social marathon that I have ever run. So much for the "Lonliness of the Long Distance Runner". / / / / I do question the elevation chart, which had the last few miles basically flat. No way was that true. / / / / I worry about the life-expectancy of this wonderful marathon. The numbers keep dropping every year. (2009 = 1559). (2010 = 1078). (2011 = 868). / / / / There were 2450 half marathoners, which is not a lot. But there is a Bike race component. So the combination of participants just may be enough to keep this race in existence. But I have my doubts. / / / / Terrific medal with a classic design. / / / / The t-shirt was one of the best that I have received. This Tee I will actually wear. / / / / The marathon began and ended at Pasadena City College on Colorado Blvd. Getting to the start is a 41 mile drive from Orange ( via the 22 & 5 & 110 freeways ). Getting back home is a 45 mile drive ( via the 210 & 57 & 22 freeways ). / / / / GREAT MEDAL: Frontside had 2 cyclists and 3 runners with the Pasadena City Hall as a backdrop. Flip-side had a depiction of the Colorado Street Bridge, also known as "Suicide Bridge". / / / / I love the finish at PCC because my Starbucks is only a block away from the Finish area. Yeh! Starbucks! |
| 130 |
Rockin' the Beach Marathon |
05/08/11 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach ( ( Colorado Lagoon ) ) |
CA |
7:26 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
V-E Day May 8, 1945. Victory in Europe, 61 years ago today. Yikes! How the time does fly. / / / / / / / Yes, and today is also Mother's Day 2011. Hi, Mom. / / / / / / / Now, back to May 8th, 2011. This day found me at one of my favorite venues at Marina Vista in Long Beach. How did I do? Well, slow, but at least it was well under 8 hours. / / / / / / / It probably didn't help that I ran 6 hard miles on the treadmill just prior to running this marathon. / / / / / / /Next week I have the Pasadena Marathon where I plan to get back closer to 6 hours, or under. We'll see. x x x x x x x x x This past week I joined S.C.A.R. ( Sports Conditioning and Rehabilatation). It is basically a health club, but also provides physical therapy, etc. I hope to add cross-training to my training program. Treadmill, cycling, elliptical, etc. I am hoping that this will help me cope with my stiffness and lack of flexibilty issues. |
| 129 |
O.C. (Newport) Marathon |
05/01/11 |
Newport to Costa Mesa ( ( via the Back Bay ) ) |
CA |
6:28 |
Marathon |
294 |
|
|
|
O.C. Marathon # 3 / / / NUMBERS: There were almost 12,000 half marathoners, but only 1,657 full marathoners. We were out-numbered by 8:1. / / / / I clocked a pedestrian 6:28:00 Finish. Slow, I know, but who the heck cares. The cut-off was 7 hours, so why should I strain myself when I can stop and smell the roses and have an enjoyable easy marathon experience. / / / / My first half was a 2:58, but my second half was a 3:30. The reason being that I did a lot of socializing with fellow runners during the last 8 miles. / / / / The up-side to a slow marathon is that the next day I have no wear & tear. Fact is that I am going to save myself for the marathons where I have to hussle buns to make the cut-off such as Las Vegas 2011 where the cut-off is a draconian 4:30:00. / / / / Fantastic maritime course (at least for the first 12 miles or so). / / / / Started at Fashion Island in Newport. By Mile 2, we were in totally up-scale Corona Del Mar. Then on to Balboa Island at mile 5. After that, miles 6,7,8 had us running by Newport Bay. Moving north, Miles 10-12 saw us running along the Upper Newport"s Back Bay. / / / / Well, that was it for the great nautical views. Yikes! By Mile 16 we were zigging and zagging through the South Coast Plaza Shopping Center (What the heck was that all about - and no signage). / / / / After 20 miles: Pleasing me, but not many others, Miles 21,22,23 took us onto my my favorite training route along the Santa Ana River Trail. / / / / The final miles of 24,25,26 had us headed for the Finish at the O.C. Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. / / / / The weather was not all that kind. Temps got to the low 80s plus we were hindered by the Santa Ana winds. / / / / The course was basically flat except for the freeway crossings at mile 13 (the 73), at mile 14 (the 405) and at mile 15 (the 55). Oh, and unpleasantly there were inclines at mile 24 and 25 just when you don't need them. But the last mile was basically flat, so what the heck. |
| 128 |
Running the Coto Trails Marathon |
04/23/11 |
Coto de Caza (Horse trails) |
CA |
7:56:52 |
Marathon |
163 |
|
|
|
In my fatigued state, I probably should have taken this weekend off. But I love Coto de Caza, and if I take it slow and easy, there should be no problem. xxxxx My quads were super tight. This probably is an after-affect from having run SLC last week at nearly 5,000 feet elevation. xxxx My right quad did slightly buckle during mile 6. I feared that I would have a repeat of last week, but at mile 6, not 16 (10 miles earlier). Fortunately, I recovered for the remaining 20 miles. xxxxx My heel problem from the L.A. Marathon seems to now be gone. That is quite a relief because it had me worried for about a month. xxxxx I ran just under 8 hours today, and that was the best that I could do on this particular day. xxxxx Next week, I have Orange County, and I should be back to normal by then. I expect to be back under 6 hours for that race. Let's hope. |
| 127 |
Salt Lake City Marathon |
04/16/11 |
Salt Lake City |
UT |
6:07 |
Marathon |
1622 |
|
|
|
The course is a U-shape horseshoe. It begins at the Olympic Legacy Bridge at the U of Utah. It ends just west of Temple Square at The Gateway. For me, the best visual was running up State Street for 3 miles in full view of the Utah State Capitol. xxxxx I should have run a 5:30:00 at SLC. But tragedy struck from miles 17-22, and I had to shuffle and limp for those 6 miles. The end result was a 6:07:00 finish. xxxxx The altitude got to me. We began at about 4,700 feet at U of Utah. By the time I finished next to the Olympic Legacy Plaza at The Gateway (outdoor mall), the altitude was 4,900. That was too much thin air for my 67 year old lungs. I just wasn't getting enough oxygen to my muscles. xxxxx Though fatigued from lack of oxygen, I did quite well for the first 16 miles. But the wheels came off from miles 17-22. My right quad totally locked up, which also affected my right knee, my hamstring and gluts. Darn! With 10 miles to go, I wasn't sure that I could run another mile let alone finish. Therefore, I slowed down to a limping walk from mile 17-19 and a limping run from miles 18-22. Fortunately, I was able to pick it up somewhat for the last 4 miles, and finish at a respectable 14 minute pace per mile. xxxxx This was all quite disturbing because I had hoped to run the Park City Marathon in August. But at 7,000 feet, I don't know how I can pull that off. Of course there is St. George in October, which would be a doable 2,700 feet. But the St. G. lottery could be an obstacle there. xxxxx Make no mistake. I absolutely loved the SLC Marathon. And I will definitely be back in 2012. I'll just have to run each mile 1/2 minute slower than normal. xxxxx There was a lot of concrete, and that is never a good thing. On the positive side, SLC has the grid system. So, there weren't a lot of turns. That is always a good thing. Another highlite for me was looking at the beautiful snow-capped Wasatch Mts. Did I mention that it snowed in SLC 2 days before the race? |
| 126 |
Rock the Ocean Marathon |
04/03/11 |
Sunset Beach/Bolsa Chica Beach/Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:47 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Running along the Pacific Ocean from Sunset Beach, through Bolsa Chica, and down to Huntington Beach. I just love this course. / / / / Since I always start in the dark, and usually alone, it is basically just me and the ocean. This solitude truly makes me enjoy the "lonliness of the long-distance runner". / / / / I ran/walked a 7:47:00 this week according to plan. That was a 17:50 per mile pace. I know that is an extremely pedestrian pace, but it is totally necessary for what I want to accomplish. / / / / Initially, I was trying to train at a 19-20 minute pace for my next 100-miler. But that seems to be just too slow. Therefore, I am now training at a 17-18 minute pace. / / / / I stopped along the way twice. Once for a Coke Zero at the 7-Eleven. And once at Starbucks for a cup of java and a multi-grained bagel. / / / / I also stopped for a few minutes at the H.B. Pier to watch the surfers. / / / / My right foot problem seems to be cured. At least I hope so. I am now thinking that I probably just had a bone bruise on the inside of my right heel. / / / / I stopped using the heel cups because they would slide sideways and only cause more problems in both feet by adding pressure in the wrong places. / / / / Tomorrow, I plan to take out my motion control inserts, and go back to my old style of running shoes. / / / / In 2 more weeks, I will be running the Salt Lake City Marathon. That will definitely be a destination-marathon. I plan to be gone for 10 days. While in Utah, before the marathon, I'll be exploring Zion National Park. After the marathon, I plan to spend a few days in Park City to visit my cousin. I have never been to Park City. So, I want to see what all of the hoopla is about. |
| 125 |
Seaside Marathon |
03/27/11 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach (Colorado Lagoon) |
CA |
7:52 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
My goal was to finish in about 8hrs, 15mins. I wanted my pace to be about 19 minutes per mile. But that was not to be. Instead, I ran/walked a 7:52:00 marathon. Which only proves that it is not easy to run/walk at an extreme slow pace. It was much easier when I was recovering from my 67-miler. Ergo, I guess that I am getting stronger. /// It rained most of the time, but not heavy. After last week's deluge at the L.A. Marathon, today was a day in paradise. /// Today's marathon accomplished what I wanted it to accomplish. I was able to train for my next 100 miler by practicing 18 minute miles. But even better, I maintained fitness without any wear & tear on my running body. /// Due to my right foot problem from last week, I used a motion-control insert in both shoes. It seemed to work since I had no problem with my right foot. But I was slightly uncomfortable trying to get used to the inserts. But I can live with discomfort, which is far superior to having an injury. / / / / / The jury is still out on what my right foot problem was. Possibilities are: 1.. Mild Plantar Fasciitis. 2.. Heel spur. 3.. Tarsal-Tunnel syndrome. 4.. Bone bruise. 5.. Muscle strain. 6.. Psychosomatic. 7.. Serendipity |
| 124 |
Los Angeles "Stadium to the Sea" Marathon |
03/20/11 |
L.A. Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica Pier |
CA |
5:58 |
Marathon |
1366 |
|
|
|
#8 L.A. Marathon (1986, 1987, 1990, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). // The start of 2nd "Stadium to the Sea" was delayed for 2nd year in a row. This time by 25 min due to winds knocking down the mile marker balloons. // This year we ran through Chinatown and Little Tokyo in lieu of circling Dodger Stadium. // I did break 6 hrs, coming in at 5:58. But I did have my doubts. 1st half have was a sluggish 3:05. But 2nd half was a negative split of 2:53. // It was cold with temps in low 50s. But the wind chill was in high 40s. // It was windy. At times 25 mph, but getting as high as 60 mph. // It rained, bringing 2.3 inches over the course. // Between miles 20-22, we encountered flooded streets. // 300 runners were treated for hypothermia, and 30 were hospitalized. // The toughest part of the course was from the Finish-line to the Gear-chek to the downtown busses. That was at least a mile walk through wind, rain and cold. Plus, we had to plough through a gauntlet of umbrella-wielding spectators. // My right foot bothered me from mile 7 thru mile 26. I had a pinch sensation on the inside (next to heel) of my right foot. // The faster I ran, the better my foot felt and the warmer I felt. Both might explain my much faster 2nd half. // I absolutely love the "Stadium to the Sea" course. It is to die for. // I think that the organization was spectacular. But I do have one major gripe. The Gear-Pickup was a mess, just like last year. The Pods were un-manned. We had to dig into the boxes of bags until we hit pay dirt. It took me almost 15 min. Others took much longer. // I got a kick out of the American sumo wrestling champ Kelly Gneiting who finished after almost 10 hrs weighing in at the finish with a Guinness record of 396 pounds. // Big Thrill: Prior to the race, I was able to stay warm sitting in the Dodger Stadium bleachers. // Ethiopians won both the men's and women's division. Markos Geneti set a new record at 2:06. He also won the $100,000 Battle of the Sexes. |
| 123 |
Rock the Trail Marathon |
03/13/11 |
Schabarum Regional Park / Rowland Heights |
CA |
8:30 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my first time running on this trail. The Schabarum Regional Wilderness Park venue that we used seems to be where Orange County meets L.A. County. The Park seems to belong to La Habra Hts, Rowland Hts, Hacienda Hts, Puente Hills, and Whittier. To be honest, I don't know what the true location is, and who truly claims it. Take your pick. My best guess would be a 3-way tie between Hacienda, La Habra and Rowland Heights. ////////// My 8:30:43 was 8 minutes faster than last week. I am proud of this finishing time because the course was quite rugged and hilly as compared to last week's flat-as-a-pancake Sunset Beach course. I believe that the total elevation gain was 4,000 feet. //////// My 8:30 time was exactly according to plan. It was part of my training for my next attempt to complete a 100 Miler. It also allowed my body to recover, but also maintain conditioning. Ergo, it is a winning strategy all the way around. Boring? Possibly. Necessary? Absolutely. /////// Next week, I have the Los Angeles Marathon. I hope to record a respectable 5:45 to 5:55 in running from the Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Sea. |
| 122 |
Return to the Beach |
03/06/11 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach |
CA |
8:38 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Extremely pedestrian time, just under 20 mins/mile. Total = 8 hrs, 38 mins, 15 secs. But that is exactly what I had to accomplish - no faster, no slower. Advantage: No wear & tear on the body. ///// My current goal is to complete a 100 mile race by next year. Therefore, I have to discipline myself to train at a 100-mile race pace, which would be 20 mins/mile. So, after last week's exhausting 67-miler at Coto de Caza, today's marathon was a much-needed recovery run. Plus, it was a training run for my next attempt at 100 miles. Mastering the 20-min pace is imperative in order to beat the deadline/cutoff for most official 100 milers. So it is a positive that today's marathon at Sunset Beach was at a 19:47 per mile pace. ///// Conditions couldn't have been better: flat course, great weather, great comraderie, and fantastic ocean views. ///// I was made aware that I ran 67 miles last weekend because I had general stiffness throughout my musculo-skeletal structure. Fortunately, I did not have any specific ailment. It seemed that each running muscle in my body took its turn working itself out. ///// Besides training for a 100-mile race completion, I also have some important marathons coming up. In fact, I have Los Angeles in 2 weeks. My goal there would be to run a 5:45:00 marathon - very doable. ///// Today I ran 2 miles with the legendary Jim Simpson. /// Also, Dr. Jim Grimes, another pal, ran the half winning a 3rd place trophy. /// To my surprise, the Barefoot Boys (Todd & Ken-Bob) were also running. /// And the ubiquitous Big Ed was there running back/back marathons. /// And my very special friend Michelle Palmer did the half marathon option. So, I was able to root her across the finish line. Michelle and I will both be doing Los Angeles in two weeks. ///// All in all, a great day at the Beach. |
| 121 |
Rocky Road Endurance Runs ( 100 miles/50 miles ) |
02/26/11 |
Coto de Caza |
CA |
23:20 |
67 mi |
114 |
|
|
|
My 67-mile run on the Coto de Caza horse-trails were brutal. Trails were on broken ground that were horribly muddy and sloshy from the rain. Add to that 12 hours of the total darkness (6;00p Saturday night to 6:00am Sunday morning). Plus arctic temps. So cold that I had to chip ice off of my car windows before I could leave Coto Sports Park after the race. That took about ten minutes. xxxxx I could have run 100 miles, which was my original intention. But that would have weakened me for my up-coming marathons. Therefore, I settled for running my age. 67 years = 67 miles. xxxxx We started at 6:00am on Saturday in the cold rain. But by Saturday night, and on through Sunday morning, we were subjected to brutal cold at 31 degrees (26 degrees wind-chill). xxxxx We had rain at the start on Saturday, then mildly intermittant for the remainder of the weekend. Shockingly, we got some hail early Sunday morning. The extremely muddy, slippery course was bad enough in daylight. But in the darkness of night - Ugh!. xxxxx Total elevation increase = 8,000 feet xxxxx Great marathon food: Fig Newtons, pretzels, bagels, boiled potatoes, PBJ sandwiches, bananas, chicken soup, crackers, cookies, M&Ms, candies, Coca Cola, hot coffee, Hammer Gel. I probably should have eaten half of what I actually did eat. xxxxx 150 registered. probably 135 showed. That was pretty good considering the bone-chillin' cold and rain. xxxxx I was on the trails for 23 hours and 20 minutes. Therefore, it was not a surprise that my 20-hour Garmin 310-XT died at 19 hours and my 24-hour I-Pod died at 23 hours. I had a back-up Garmin, but not a back-up I-Pod. xxxxx I did learn something. Next time I run over 50 miles, don't drive home alone - very dangerous. Almost like being under the influence. I had difficulty staying in my lane. Scary!
|
| 120 |
Presidents' Day Marathon |
02/21/11 |
Manhattan Beach to Marina Del Rey |
CA |
7:24 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Dockweiller Beach: Cold 43 degrees to start / 60 degree at finish. xxxxxx This is my second time running this course. Both times, I ran a 7:24:00. But this was a super easy, non-draining 7:24. My earlier run (Dec. 24, 2010) was tough-sledding all the way. xxxxxx We basically ran north from the Manhattan Beach Pier to The Ballona Creek Bridge that abuts Marina del Rey. This distance measured exactly 6.55 miles. We covered it 4 times for a total of 26.2 miles. /// Beautiful course along the ocean through the beaches of Manhattan, El Porto, El Segundo, Dockweiler, Playa del Rey, and Marina del Rey. /// The only downside was that the course was along the bicycle path. This resulted in 90% hard concrete and 10% hard asphalt. Worse still, the bicyclists were out in all their glory endangering the lives of all others. /// My time was an extremely pedestrian 7:24:00, but it was super easy. That is good since I have the Rocky Road 100 miler coming up in 5 days at Coto de Caza. xxxxxxx Ailments: Mile #8 - mid-metatarsal neuroma (mild). lasted barely a mile. No other problems. |
| 119 |
New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon |
02/13/11 |
New Orleans |
LA |
5:37 |
Marathon |
4099 |
|
|
|
"Laissez les bon temps roulez." It is New Orleans. It is Mardi Gras Time in the Big Easy. Let the good times roll. // About 3,100 marathoners and 14,000 half-marathoners. All runners (full & half) started at 7:00am. Thankfully, because of wave starts, I was in Corral #1 // I ran 5:37:20 on this flat course. But I should have run 5:50:00 for health reasons. // Great course, lousy terrain. The roads are old and in ill-repair ( bumpy, rough, potholes). I think the bumpy surface was the cause of my middle back tightening for the last half of the race. // Perfect weather. Start at 39 deg. Finish at 57 deg. // Magnificent Course featuring a grand tour of "The Crescent City" - - - The Garden District / Charles Avenue with its classic homes / Audubon Park, just south of Loyola and Tulane Universities / The French Quarter (Vieux Carre) / Treme, the Creole District / Esplanade Avenue. Beautiful architecture. Classic Southern homes / The fairgrounds / City Park / Lakeshore Drive & Lake Pontchartrain. / The last 8 miles (19-26, basically on Marconi Dr, were in the fantastic oak tree-ladened City Park - - - // City Park is bordered by Bayou St. John to the east and the levies to the west. // Finished at Tad Gormley Stadium in City Park, next to N. O. Museum of Art. // Mardi Gras (purple-yellow-green) beads attached to medal - Fantastic. // Absolutely love The Crescent City // Took the Friedrich Ave shuttle back to St. Charles Avenue/Downtown, a short walk to my hotel, the Marriot, at 555 Canal Street // Mayor Mitch Landrieu ran the half for the 2nd consecutive year. // The next day, I did the grand tour of the New Orleans World War II Museum - to die for. // Then I spent a few days in Baton Rouge researching Huey Long. |
| 118 |
Surf City Marathon |
02/06/11 |
Huntington Beach |
CA |
5:49 |
Marathon |
1809 |
|
|
|
# 4 Surf City / / / I arrived at the beach lots at 4:00 am so as to avoid traffic problems, and I easily entered the Beach Blvd parking lot, and was able to park as close to the start line as legally allowed. Once parked, I took a long nap. // The marathon went well for me since I accomplished my goal of breaking 6 hours with a 5:49:53. The first 3 miles were a breeze since it was flat as a pancake along that particular portion of Pacific Coast Highway. // But the next 13 miles, beginning with mile 4, were another story. Miles 4 through 16 were hilly, with Mile 4 and Mile 9 being extremely challenging. // Hills and slight inclines aside, I did enjoy the 7-mile inland portion of the marathon (miles 4-10). It definitely helped being able to run through Central Park for about 3 miles. // Fortunately, the last 10 miles of the marathon, along the beach bike path (17-26), were as flat as a pancake. But, by then I was worn out from the 13 miles of rolling hills on the inland section (7 miles of hills) and the PCH section (6 miles of rolling hills). My lack of proper pacing really came back to haunt me. // I averaged a 12:50 pace for the first half, but a pedestrian 13:50 for the second half. My 1st half was 2:48:00, but my 2nd half was 3:01:00. Obviously, I did not pace myself as judiciously as I should have. // I don't know what I was thinking when I said that Surf City was a flat course. I should have finished in a comfortable 5:55:00, which was my original goal. Oh well, you live, you learn. // The last 10 miles were great in that they were along the scenic beach bike path. Great ocean views and flat as a pancake. But the bike path also proved to be a curse. Surf City shuts down auto traffic on the highway, but they do not shut down bike traffic on the bike path. We had to share the path with skateboarders, cyclists, dog-walkers and other pedestrians. // 2009 saw barely 1,000 marathoners. But 2011 has seen the throng swell to 2,500. That's 1,500 too many. |
| 117 |
Run in the Sun Marathon |
01/30/11 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach (Colorado Lagoon) |
CA |
6:58 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Location: The Marina Vista section of Long Beach. To the west is Belmont Shores. To the east is CSLB, the Veterans Hospital and Leisure World. ///// I have run this course countless times. ///// The course is as easy as it gets. It is flat. The only incline is on Appian Way over the Alamitos Bay Bridge, and that is extremely brief. After crossing the Bridge, the course continues along the eastern rim of Naples Island. ///// The course is a 4.4 mile "to & fro" loop from Colorado Lagoon to the Naples Island section of the Marina. We do this loop 6 times. ///// The course is all on asphalt, mostly soft asphalt. So you can get good traction. But the running surface is not hard on the musculo-skeletal structure. ///// Plus, the course has great views of Marina Vista Park, the Colorado Lagoon, Marine Stadium, Naples Island, and the Long Beach Marina. ///// The Marine Stadium section of Alamitos Bay is where the water sports of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics were held. ///// I suggest, whenever possible, running along Paoli Way instead of Appian Way. That way you avoid steep camber and traffic. ///// I also love this course because there is a Starbucks (7th & Park) just a short block off course. ///// Health-wise, I am more than pleased. My left knee tweaked for a couple of miles, but no biggie. It seems that tightening my patella strap always seems to solve the problem. ///// I just took it nice and easy today in preparation for a more competive effort next week at Surf City (Super Bowl Sunday). |
| 116 |
Carlsbad Marathon |
01/23/11 |
Carlsbad |
CA |
5:54:00 |
Marathon |
1365 |
|
|
|
Carlsbad #4 (2008-2011). /// A 57-mile drive down the I-5 Fwy. One of California's great coastal towns, located just south of Oceanside, about 30 miles north of San Diego. /// Carlsbad is a very scenic race with magnificent views of beach & ocean. The exception being the interior miles 6-15 with the out/back along Palomar Airport Road, which encompass mixed residential-industrial areas. /// Carlsbad is deceptively hilly ( not steep, just long-lasting), especially Mile 9 (killer hill) and Miles 19-24 (rollers). Fortunately, the last mile or two are downhill. /// The weather was great for the 1st half (low = 42 degrees). Unfortunately, it starting "hotting up" in the 2nd half as the temp hit 80. /// Shock! Where were the church-ladies? If they were there, I didn't see them. /// As I do every year, I parked in the Sears lot, which was about 100 yards from the start line. I was able to sit in my warm car until 5 minutes before the gun. /// The first 30 minutes was run in the dark - How cool is that? /// I really like the 6:00am start. But I do miss the old 5:30am start, which was much more to my liking. /// The cut-off was a strict 6 hours. Ergo, I had to focus on keeping a 13:30 pace. I couldn't afford any distractions such as potty-stops, chit-chatting , or niggling injuries. No worries, I Gallo-ran to a 5:54:00 finish. /// Carlsbad has a lot of out & backs. Many runners complain about out/backs, but not me. I love them because I really enjoy being able to see my fellow-runners coming and going. /// About 1,000 marathoners, and a whopping 7,000 half marathoners. /// No real aches or pains. //// For the first time in 30 years, I ran with a companion for the entire 26 miles. Yes, it was my gal-pal, Michelle Palmer. It worked well because the miles and the time just flew by. However, I can't think of any other runner besides Michelle with whom I could have accomplished this. |
| 115 |
Arizona RnR Marathon |
01/16/11 |
Phoenix-Scottsdale-Tempe |
AZ |
5:49 |
Marathon |
2501 |
|
|
|
Friday, I drove 370 miles to the Hyatt in our nation's 5th largest city - Phoenix. Saturday, I walked 100 yards to the Convo Center (2nd & Adams) for the Expo. xxx Sunday, I jogged one mile west to Washington & 14th Ave for Corral #1 and the 7:40 start. xxx The race began to Bruce Springsteen wailing "Running on Empty". xxx The first 17 miles took us north and then east through Phoenix. xxx Miles 18-21 took us south through Scottsdale. xxx Miles 22-26 took us south to ASU's Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe for the finish. xxx I finished, grabbed my medal, and headed for the light-rail at Rural & Apache (which zoomed me the 10 miles back to the Hyatt ). xxx Most of the runners complained that the course was boring except possibly for up-scale Scottsdale. However, I absolutely loved it. Having lived in Phoenix from 1955-1960, this marathon was an nostalgic grand tour of my childhood haunts. Also, running east on Camelback Road offered a magnificent view of the Camelback Hills and Mountain. xxx The weather was pleasant (Lo-47/Hi-70). The course was pancake-flat. The only possible incline was crossing the bridge over the Salt River at Mile 24. The streets were wide. And c'mon, this is a desert town, it is what it is. Greater Phoenix is a great big sprawl, all spread out with low people density. xxx I finished in 5:49:00 (my goal was sub-6-hours). No injuries, no aches, no pains. Plus, I happily ran miles 12-16 with my lawyer pal Michelle Palmer. xxx The Arizona Republic gave major coverage to the race in Monday's edition. XXX Half marathoners outnumbered us 4:1 (20,000 to 5,000). There were two separate non-overlapping courses and two separate starting times. I never saw a half marathoner. xxx Josh Cox won this marathon, as he did in Las Vegas 6-weeks ago. Tempe native Sally Meyerhoff won the women's division. Kara Goucher finished 2nd in the half-marathon. Yolanda Holder & Larry Macon also finished. |
| 114 |
Rocky Road Preview 50K |
01/08/11 |
Coto de Caza ( Horse Trails ) |
CA |
9:42:24 |
50 km |
|
|
|
|
A pleasant 31 miles, running in the pre-dawn darkness along the well-maintained horse trails of Cota de Caza ( gaiters & night-light required). Pleasant, but a cold 39 degrees. xxxx My time of 9:42:00 was egregiously slow. This occurred for three good reasons. REASON #1 - I have Arizona RnR coming up next Sunday. I definitely want to do well there. //// REASON #2= I was worried about my right inner thigh, and decided to pamper it. The thigh problem first surfaced last week during Mile 25 at Marina Vista. Also, the very next night, I woke up with the same inner right thigh locked (vice-like) in a major muscle cramp. //// REASON #3 - This was a therapeutic, experimental, recovery run. xxxx Shockingly, my notorious left quad/hip area was the best that it has been in 8 months. But, I did have other medical worries. WORRY #1 = The right inner thigh muscle was tight for 5 miles (miles 24-28). Fortunately, it was o.k. for last 3 miles 29-31. //// WORRY #2 = MY left foot neuroma really acted up today. This can be quite painful. Strangely, it seems to pop up every 4th or 5th marathon. //// WORRY #3 = One of my left inguinal hernias was irritated today. Nothing serious, but I was concerned. //// WORRY #4 = My left knee bothered me for about 3 miles. But nothing major, and it did pass. xxxx Although, I had a series of physical maladies during this 31-MILER, there was no post-race wear-and-tear. This is the upside to LSD (long slow distance). XXXX Last week, I had a minor slash on my right foot. Today I had a very minor slash on my left foot. It seems to be a crack from dry skin. Solution = Vaseline. XXXX I had my new re-built I-pod with me. It didn't die. Almost 10 hours of running needs tunes. |
| 113 |
Kickin' Off The New Year Marathon |
01/02/11 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach ( Colorado Lagoon) |
CA |
7:23 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Marina Vista was my first race for 2011. ///// This was a recuperative, experimental, recovery run. ///// My next major outing will be Arizona RnR on January 16th. Until then, all of my races will be LSD (long-slow-distance). ///// My left hamstring stung me at about mile 17. It was a sharp tweak, but did not appear to be serious. It came and went for the next 4 miles. Thankfully, it did not reappear during the last 5 miles. ///// My left side inguinal hernia did flare up a couple of times, but nothing serious. ///// My left, lower rib cage continues to be problematic, but it is improving. ///// My right inside thigh tweaked suspiciously during mile 26. I immediately went into a slow-walk mode to the finish line as a precautionary measure. ///// My major problem today was general upper leg tightness: hip-flexors, quads and hammies. ///// My 7:23:00 was extremely pedestrain. It seemed to take as much effort as one of my 5:45:00 marathons. Must be psychological. ///// It may be that I rise to the level of my competition. If I am only shooting for a 7:30 marathon, that seems to take as much effort as when I shoot for a 5:45:00 marathon. As Yogi Berra once said in a famous malaprop, "Marathoning is 90% mental, the other half is physical." ///// The positive side to my slow, grinding 7:30 marathons is that I basically have no wear-and-tear that is perceptible the next day. ///// My I-pod jinx continues. Today it froze on me at mile 6. That does it. From now on, I will bring 2 I-pods with me as a back-up. I already bring 2 Garmins. |
| 112 |
End of the Year Marathon |
12/31/10 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach (Bolsa Chica) |
CA |
7:30 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This New Year’s Eve morning was a delight as I ran 26.2 miles along the Pacific Ocean through Sunset Beach-Bolsa Chica-Huntington Beach. /// In so doing, I finished my 58th marathon for 2010. XXXXX In keeping with my training regimen, today’s marathon was LSD (long-slow-distance). No wear-and-tear, just LSD keeping myself in marathon shape. /// According to plan, I ran a 7:30:00 marathon. First Half = 3:47:00 and Second Half = 3:42:00 for a negative split. XXXXX Brrrrrh! Yes, it was cold. With the wind-chill, the temp along the ocean was about 27-28 degrees. Officially, the temp was listed as 30 degrees - Bone-chilling. I had 3 layers, but that wasn't enough. I doubled up on my gloves, but that wasn't enough either. XXXXX I ran the entire marathon with an annoying foot problem. The ball of my right foot had a superficial gash of about an inch. Normally not that serious, but when you drop that foot down 26,000 times, it ain't pretty. XXXXX My lower left ribcage was hurting. Not as bad as last spring/summer, but still bothersome. XXXXX During the first 10 miles, my left inguinal hernia erupted. XXXXX I didn't sleep last night, and it really caught up with me. By mile 18, I was half falling asleep. /// Now, I am having second thoughts about my upcoming 100 miler on Feb. 26 since I will be running from early Saturday morning until late Sunday afternoon. If I don't get some solid sleep the night before, I will be dead in the water, or road-kill. XXXXX My I-pod battery died on me for the second time in a month. Ergo, 26 miles with no tunes. I am addicted. Got to have my tunes. XXXXX I officially ended the calendar year with a mere 58 marathons. I really wanted 60 to match Babe Ruth's 60 homeruns in 1927. However, I did do 59 marathons over a year's time ( 365 days ). But that still isn't 60. I am too broken down to ever try again. I imagine that 30 will probably be the best that I can d0 in 2011. |
| 111 |
Christmas in Coto Marathon |
12/26/10 |
Coto de Caza ( Horse Trails ) |
CA |
7:07 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
THE WALL: Recently (last few months), the 18-20 mile "Wall" has been a good thing for me. It is not the dreaded brick wall that is the bane of most runners. Rather, for me, it has been a benovolent transforming wall. In fact, my best miles lately have been the last 6 or 7 of the marathon. Why is this? Heck if I know. It is probably a mental thing. As Yogi Berra once said, in one of his malapropos, "Marathoning is 90% mental, the other half is physical." ///// THEORY: I run the first 18 miles of my recovery marathons at a very slow recuperative pace. Although this is fantastic as far as 'wear-and-tear' is concerned, I think that it is a lot of hard work. Listen, it ain't easy purposely running slow. Someone once said that " Long-slow-distance makes for long-slow -runners. ///// KNEE STRAPS: I have been using Pro-Tec patella knee straps for over a year now, with much success. But I have found that I am cinching them tighter recently. Today, my right knee needed 3 adjustments. Justifiably frustrated, I took off my Pro-Tec strap, and replaced it with my just-purchased CVS Futuro Knee Strap at mile 20. Voila! Problem solved. Hello CVS Futuro! Goodbye Pro-Tec! ///// HIP-FLEXORS: After 4 weeks of taking it super easy in my marathons, ye olde hip-flexors are finally on the mend. Obviously, rest-recuperation-recovery are the 3 R's. I am still concerned about the flexors, but not as much. ///// PARKING: The parking area at Coto Sports Park was barricaded when I arrived at Coto de Caza. Ergo, I was forced to park 1.25 miles away at the Plaza Antonio shopping center. No worries! That actually worked out okay because I parked in front of the Plaza Starbucks. Need I say more? ///// COTO: Coto de Caza is Spanish for 'game preserve' (coterie of game animals) |
| 110 |
Christmas Eve Marathon |
12/24/10 |
Dockweiler State Beach |
CA |
7:24 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This is #56 for 2010. I think that I am frazzled. I should end up with 58 for the year. Okay, but in 2011, I plan on less quantity and more quality. /// Today's marathon was another Charlie Alewine directed race, but a totally new venue. We basically ran north from the Manhattan Beach Pier to The Ballona Creek Bridge that abuts Marina del Rey. This distance measured exactly 6.55 miles. We covered it 4 times for a total of 26.2 miles. /// Beautiful course along the ocean through the beaches of Manhattan, El Porto, El Segundo, Dockweiler, Playa del Rey, and Marina del Rey. /// The only downside was that the course was along the bicycle path. This resulted in 90% hard concrete and 10% hard asphalt. /// My time was an extremely pedestrian 7:24:00, and that was tough-sledding the entire way. This was 15 minutes slower than last week, and I don't understand why I was so fatigued. I haven't run hard since Las Vegas 4 weeks ago. So, I should have been in much better fiddle than I was. /// Both knees had ever so slight twinges that were extremely brief in duration. In both cases, I just cinched up my patella straps even tighter than usual. Both hip-flexors were slightly tight, nothing major. /// THEORY #1 - I wonder if when I decide to run a slow-therapeutic marathon of 7+ hours, I mentally adjust to being slow and cumbersome in what should be an easy marathon. And, as a result, this supposed easy marathon becomes as difficult as if I was running a quality race of 5+ hours. /// THEORY #2 - I ran today's marathon on absolutely no sleep for 36 hours. I finally came home and slept for 12 hours straight (unheard of for me). |
| 109 |
Santa's Marathon |
12/19/10 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach (Colorado Lagoon) |
CA |
7:09 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
I didn't run last week as I am trying to recover from almost 60 marathons in 2010. Needless to say, a week without a marathon gave me twinges of withdrawal. /// Today, I had planned to take it super-easy. I targeted a 7:15:00- therapeutic, recovery marathon. I actually ran 7:09 recovery marathon. Okay, not much faster, but still very recuperative. /// THE POSITIVES: Marina Vista is probably the flattest course that I have ever run, or close to it. This gave me a great opportunity, provided that I didn't extend myself, to get in my miles without wear & tear. /// THE NEGATIVES: Weather in the mid 50s for entire race. Rained the entire time. The cold, wind and rain reminded me of "Soak City" ( Surf City ) back in 2008. /// THE UP-SIDE: Good thing about the bad weather is that I get to test out different forms of rain gear, always looking for the most unobtrusive. /// Hip flexors bothered me intermittently, both left and right ( mostly left ). No worse than usual, but I am always concerned. Left foot neuroma acted up during last 5 miles. /// My recent problems with both knees, my right calf and my left shoulder were not issues today. Also, I have not had a problem with my left lower calf/ankle area for the past few marathons - Yeh! /// The rain killed my I-pod. I guess that they aren't waterproof. Darn! /// During today's marathon, I did not push myself, not even once. As it turned out, my strategy was successful because post-race, I did not feel like I had just run a marathon. |
| 108 |
Las Vegas RnR Marathon |
12/05/10 |
Las Vegas |
NV |
5:56 |
Marathon |
5029 |
|
|
|
Saturday morning, I had an easy 4 hour drive from Old Town Orange to the MGM SIGNATURE Hotel. xxx After a wee bit of parking confusion, I checked in, then walked north on LV Blvd up to the Sands Expo & Convo Center ( abuts the Venetian Hotel ) to get my Bib & Chip. Then I took in the sights of Las Vegas. Sunday morning, I had a pleasant walk to Start Corral #2 (across from Mandalay Bay Casino). xxx At 7:01 am, the race was started for Corral #2 ( Corral #32 was at 7:45 am ). The first 7 miles were flat or a slight decline. Unfortunately, the remaining 19 miles were rather hilly. Mile 14 was akin to Mt. Everest. xxx The 1st half, run entirely on the Vegas Strip, was clocked at 2:45. But the 2nd half, run westward into the Vegas hinterlands, was a positive split clocked at 3:11. The grand total being 5:56:00, which was okay since all I wanted to do was break 6 hours. xxx As with most Rock 'n Roll events, this was a race more for the half-marathoners. They ran entirely on the Vegas Strip with a generous time cut-off of 4 hours. Marathoners, on the other hand, were only allowed 5 & 1/2 hours. Also, 50% of the full-marathon course was off the Strip into the West Las Vegas wilds. xxx Had I not been in Corral #2 (giving me a 40 minute head-start), I would have been pulled off the course at the Mandalay divide and forced to merge with the halfers and run another half mile to the Half-marathon Finish Line - YIKES! xxx I neglected to bring my Shot Bloks. But fortunately, the course had ample supplies of GU, which I had never used before. Not only did GU work out, but GU will now replace Shot Bloks as my major source of sustenance, with my favorite being chocolate. xxx I finished the marathon alongside of Yolanda Holder, who set the women's world record of 101 marathons in one year at Las Vegas. After the race, Yolanda and all of her fans ( Maniacs galore ) celebrated in Mandalay Hotel Rm 24235. |
| 107 |
Seattle Amica Marathon |
11/28/10 |
Seattle |
WA |
5:45 |
Marathon |
19191 |
|
|
|
This was the 40th running of the Seattle Marathon during Thanksgiving weekend. xx The weather was fantastic. Started at 37 degrees, and the temp barely got over 40 degrees. But there was no wind-chill factor. We were very lucky. 5 days earlier, Seattle had a major snow storm. xxxx The race began near the Space Needle, and finished back again at the Space Center. xxxx The course had 15 miles ( 4 thru 19) of postcard beauty along Lake Washington, including a 4 mile out/back over the Floating Bridge to Mercer Island. xxxx The first 19 miles were basically flat. The last 7 miles were brutally hilly. xxxx The last 1/5th mile was an Olympian-like finish onto the track at Memorial Stadium. xxxx This is an absolutely beautiful course. The race started at the Experimental Music Project ( Space Center ), and then continued south along 5th Avenue for a couple of miles through cozy downtown Seattle. Then we boarded the I-90 and down through the I-90 Tunnel for a couple of miles total. At Mile 4.5, we hiked onto the I-90 Floating Bridge heading for a roundtrip to Lake Mercer for another 4 miles. Then another 4 miles going north along Lake Washington to pastoral Seward Park. After looping around Seward Park for 2 miles, we were back onto Lake Washington Blvd heading south for about about 6 miles to Madison Park at Mile 20. By Mile 23, we were running alongside the Botanical Gardens toward Lake Union. By Mile 25 at the I-5, we could see the Space Needle off in the distance. Mile 26 was at 5th Avenue and Harrison, only a few hundred yards from the Memorial Stadium and the finish. xxxx My time was 5:45:00. I ran the first 20 miles at a 12:30 pace, but the last 6 miles were at a 14:30 pace ( hills, hills, hills ). Mile 20 and 21 were the most brutal hill-wise. Mile 22 had a welcome downhill. The remaining miles were hilly, but not brutal. xxxx Negative: probably too much concrete in Seattle. Negative: Right knee ( not the left ) tweaked during mile 23, 24 & 25. |
| 106 |
Mayflower Marathon |
11/20/10 |
Aliso Creek, Lake Forest |
CA |
6:57 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
The location was Aliso Creek in Lake Forest. Running down a secluded bike-trail along the Aliso Creek is a long-distance runner's dream. And, I do mean isolated. In almost 7 hours of running, I did not see one cyclist. xxxxx It rained lightly the entire time that I was on the course. That was good because it enabled me to test out my rain-gear and strategies for next Sunday. Seattle is coming up and the only shock would be if rain wasn't expected. Currently, it is in the low 20s and snowing in Seattle. xxxx This Lake Forest marathon was an experimental, recovery marathon. I ran 6:57:00 intentionally. That was my goal, to barely break 7 hours. xxxxx Also, I experimented with eating on the run. I took in only real food: bagels, bananas, raisins and pretzels. No Shot bloks, no Gu, no Gel, no Powerade. xxxxxx I never once pushed myself. I always ran within myself. I walked all inclines. I ran all declines. I continuously altered my stride and pace. I Ran, I jogged, I race-walked, I power-walked, I fast-walked, I shuffled. xxxxxx I did find a Starbucks not too far off course. It was located off Portola Parkway & Glen Ranch Road. Next door was a Wahoo's. The Starbuckian java and multi-grain bagel was for the run, providing liquid and carbohydrate sustenance. Wahoo's, on the otherhand, was for the post-race ( replenish that protein within 30 minutes). Indeed, I found that a high-protein burrito is the best thing for re-building muscle. xxxx Physically, my left, lower outside knee tweaked slightly during mile 22, but totally recovered by mile 23 after I tightened my patella knee strap, and that seemed to do the trick. Last week at the Malibu marathon, my knee tweaked at mile 24. And the tweak continued for the remaining 3 miles and during the post-race walk-around. |
| 105 |
Malibu International Marathon |
11/14/10 |
Camarillo to Zuma Beach ( Malibu) |
CA |
5:53 |
Marathon |
458 |
|
|
|
I am proud of my 5:53:00 Finish. It was almost exactly the same time as last week's S.B. Marathon (5:54:00). But this was a hard-fought 5:53:00. In my estimation, Malibu is tougher than Palos Verdes when you blend in the wind-hill factor. xxxxx I absolutely love this little marathon. Agreed, it is definitely bare-bones and no frills. And, don't expect spectators to cheer you on. But that is a plus for me with this type of race. xxxxx The Malibu Marathon is a true test of endurance. Just you and the course - - and what a course it is. xxxxx The first 8.5 miles are windless, flat and straight ahead alongside the celery fields and farmlands. Miles 8.5 to 15.5 were a virtual wind-tunnel. xxxxx Occasionally, we were shoved by a tail-wind that could actually pick you up and propel you forward. But the majority of the wind was head-wind - - 3 steps forward and 1 step backward. xxxxx Miles 8.5 to 25 were hills, hills, hills - - the equal of Palos Verdes. xxxxx But like manna from heaven, mile 26 was actually down-hill - - a great way to finish a race. xxxxx The scenery was 'to die for'. Running with the Pacific Ocean off your right shoulder was definitely worth the price of admission. xxxxx The finish line was just south of Trancas Road in cozy Zuma Beach. xxxxx After finishing, a runner could actually wade into the Pacific Ocean to cool down the weary bones and muscles. In fact, instead of t-shirts, finishers received a beach towel. xxxxx As with the 2009 race, Malibu 2010 was replete with Maniacs. The Finish Line was like a class re-union. xxxxx Did anything bother me? Yes. 1) The Sunday cyclists often raced by just too close for comfort, never shouting out a warning. But, what else is new? 2) The Expo was not really an expo. It was a pick-up your bib in a parking lot situation. Normally I wouldn't mind. But it was mandatory and it was a 150 mile round-trip. xxxxx O.K, one physical worry. The last 3 miles, left knee ( outside, lower) was tweaked. |
| 104 |
Santa Barbara International Marathon |
11/06/10 |
Goleta to Santa Barbara |
CA |
5:54 |
Marathon |
928 |
|
|
|
This was my 2nd running of the SBIM, which makes me a legacy. xxxxx The race started at Los Pueblos H.S., and looped around the bucolic splendor of Goleta -- probably not necessary. xxxxx Unfortunately, the majority of the race was rolling hills, often steep. xxxxx After 23 miles, we hit Cliff Drive, a 170-foot climb up Mile 24. After you tackled the climb, if you survived, it was downhill to the finish and a spectacular view of the Harbor, the Pacific and the coastal mountains. xxxxx Evidence that I was beaten up by the hills were my splits. First half = 2:50 (13 min pace). Second half = 3:04 (14 min pace). xxxxx My 5:54 was just ahead of the 6 hour cut-off. Even still, they had run out of water at the finish -- Not good. xxxxx The race was twice delayed, with no explanation given. xxxxx BTW: The Expo was nothing to write home about, unless you like to complain xxxxx Tough sledding. Santa Barbara is one hilly race. I compare it to Palos Verdes - - continuous rolling hills for the first 24 miles. Mile 24 was a killer. The entire mile was up, up, up. xxxxx Only the last 2 miles is what you would expect from Santa Barbara. That was the only time that we ran along the Coast. I have to admit that inland Santa Barbara and Goleta are a bucolic, rustic wonder. But I don't need 24 miles of it. xxxxx The best part about the SBIM is the last 2 miles, which are down-hill and along the ocean and a dazzling finish on the track of La Playa Stadium at S.B. City College. xxxxx In my humble opinion, it was silly to have a point-to-point run, given that the first 10 miles was a loop around Goleta. Personally, this would have been okay if the loop was at the end, around coastal, magnificent Santa Barbara. xxxxx There were 998 full marathoners. I was 952 out of 998 - - at least I wasn't last. xxxxx There were also about 2,300 half marathoners and about 80 marathon relay teams. xxxxx Musculature and skeletally speaking, this was my best race of 2010. xxxxx |
| 103 |
Paul Piplani Memorial Marathon II |
10/31/10 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach (Bolsa Chica) |
CA |
6:33 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Another therapeutic recovery marathon at a leisurely 6:33:00 - 15 min/mile pace. My splits were not exactly even: 1st half 3:13 // 2nd half 3:20 xxxxxxxxx The beauty of these recovery marathons is that I wake up the next day with no aches, no stiffness, no wear & tear. xxxxxxxxxx Next week, I have Santa Barbara and Santa Clarita. I hope to run both of those races an hour faster than I did this morning. xxxxxxxxx I ran today with good pals: Jim Grimes, Big Ed Ettinhaussen, and Ward Sullivan ( 1st place winner). xxxxxxxxx The weather was fantastic. And, what's not to love about running along the beach for 26.2 miles. xxxxxxxx I did sip on Coke Zero from miles 6 thru 10. I wanted to check its affect on my running. My conclusion is that the carbonation has an adverse effect. I think that it reduces the amount of oxygen going to my running muscles. It makes for some tough-sledding. xxxxxxxxxx After Mile 19, I did make a slight detour to the Starbucks ( up from H.B. Pier ) for some java and a bagel. This was a good idea because it made Mile 20 very relaxing and recuperative. xxxxxxx Physically, I was aware of my hip-thigh area during the early miles, but nothing of consequence. Each week is better than the last. xxxxxxxxx While running, I bumped into friends Richard and Masumi Oberlin, who were doing a long 18 mile training run for their up-coming Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 12. |
| 102 |
Runnin' with Sally Boles Marathon |
10/23/10 |
Aliso Creek, Lake Forest |
CA |
6:42 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
A fantastic day of comaraderie with my marathoning maniac pals: Sally ( Birthday girl ) Boles, Yolanda the Walking Diva, Jim Grimes, Ward Sullivan, Debbie Alewine, Van Barbre and Roxanne. xxxxx The marathon venue of Lake Forest was new to all of us except for Sally, who designed the course. Lake Forest is part of the Saddleback foothills region of the Santa Ana Mts. xxxxx The course runs along the Aliso Creek bike path, which travels parallel to and in-between the Aliso Creek Trail and El Toro Blvd. xxxxx The marathon began next to the intersection of Portola Pkwy and El Toro Rd. Basically, we ran an out/back loop from Normandale Road ( Lake Forest ) to within 1/5 mile of Ridgeline Road ( Portola Hills). We did this 6-mile loop 4 times, plus a 2.2 mile add-on at the end for a grand total of 26.2 xxxxx I ran an extremely easy 6:42:43 today, and that was more than satisfactory. My goal was to have a therapeutic-recovery run under 7 hours -- Mission accomplished. xxxxx The overall winner was Sally Boles herself. Since it was her b-day and her course, it was only fitting. xxxxx Sally brought treats for everyone. I especially liked the hi-protein Odwalla Chocolate Protein Shake -- I actually had two. Dr. Sally also dispensed important advice on getting protein into our system within 30 minutes of a hard work-out. With this advice, I whole-heartedly concur. xxxxx Next week, I will run another easy marathon at Sunset Beach. Then on Saturday Nov. 6, I am hoping to clock a 5:15 at the Santa Barbara Marathon. xxxxx Point of Interest: Rick Warren's mega-evangelical Saddleback Church is located in close proximity to the Start Line. |
| 101 |
Long Beach International Marathon |
10/17/10 |
Long Beach |
CA |
5:45 |
Marathon |
18138 |
|
|
|
#100 marathon now officially in the books. Yeh, Me! xxxxxxxxxx Decent time of 5:45:00. I am proud of this time since I ran a 5:29 last week in Chicago. xxxxxxxxx My 27th marathon on the comeback trail since my Tumultuous Tumble on May 2nd. I can definitely say that I am back to my pre-accident form. No more 6 hours plus and 7 hours plus marathons for this kid.xxxxxxxxxx If I work on recovery and re-build more strength, I should be able to get back to my 4:50 to 5:15 range. xxxxxxxxxx Long Beach is a great Course. It takes us by the Queen Mary, along the beaches, along Marine Stadium, and through CSULB. xxxxxxxxxx Unfortunately, Long Beach International Marathon falls on the same day as the Chicago Marathon in both 2011 and 2012. So, this will be it for Long Beach until 2013. That is a shame because I really, really like the L.B. Marathon. However, Chicago is Chicago, and it can't be denied. xxxxxxxx L.B. announced that it had 24,000 participants with 6,000 Full marathoners and 11,500 halvers. ///// WRONG! Truth: Full = 3,800 and Half = 9,850. xxxxxxxxxx #1 high-lite = Running on the boardwalk (bike path) along the magnificent Pacific Ocean. ///// #2 High-lite = Running through the campus of Long Beach State University with howling cheering students doing their thing. xxxxxxxxxx I really enjoyed watching the 2,000 cyclists take off at 6:00am. They were going to cover the same course as the runners, but with the aid of two wheels, and probably a Lance Armstrong cocktail ( chuckle). xxxxxxxxx I took an early start at 6:15am. That enabled me to avoid any merger with half marathoners and an over-crowded course. |
| 100 |
Chicago Marathon |
10/10/10 |
Chicago |
IL |
5:29 |
Marathon |
14655 |
|
|
|
Chicago is one of the 5 Majors. Therefore, I didn't mind spending a grand total of $1,600 for air, hotel, registration and other fees. xxxxxxxxxx My finish at 5:29:00 was my best performance in almost 8 months. I actually finished 16 minutes faster than my Chicago 2009 time of 5:46:00. Of course, neither was as good as my 5:05 in 2008. xxxxxxxxxx Hopefully, I am back to my pre-May 2, 2010 standard (date of my Tumultuous Tumble after the O.C. Marathon). Physically, I felt great during the entire run. Occasionally, I became aware of slightly tight hip-flexors - but nothing serious. xxxxxxxxxx Weather continues to be a problem for the Chicago Marathon. 3 out of the last 4 years, the temps have been in the upper 80s. Last year was the exception with an arctic temp of 29 degrees at the start line. Today's temp was 86. I suggest that they move the race back to the end of October where it used to be. xxxxxxxxxx Chicago has a reputation of being flat as a pancake. Not true. Yes, it is predominantly flat. But every bridge and overpass represents a climb. Plus, we have that dreaded climb at the finish as we approach Columbus in Grant Park, short but steep. I am not complaining, just explaining. xxxxxxxxx The Chicago start line is extremely easy to get too, unlike New York which takes hours of shuttling and waiting. xxxxxxxxxx 45,000 people registered. 38,000 started. 36,000 finished. xxxxxxxxxx This year I stayed at the Palmer House, located at Monroe and Wabash. It is only a block away from the Chicago Art Institute and the Marathon start line. xxxxxxxxx Shocking! The mens race was won by a "Kenyan" and the women's race was won by a "Russian". In fact, they were both repeat winners from 2009. |
| 99 |
Life's a Beach Marathon |
10/02/10 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach ( Bolsa Chica ) |
CA |
6:33 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Interesting marathon, at least from my viewpoint. xxxxx Today I finished with a 6:33:00 time, which is an even 15 min/mile pace. xxxxx The 1st half was 3:09. Unfortunately, the 2nd half was a much slower 3:24. Obviously, an egregious positive split with a 15 minute differential -- not good, not good at all. I don't have an explanation for the split. But, it is not like it hasn't happened before. xxxxx For the 1st 14 miles, I was cookin'. I was having my best performance since my Tumultuous Tumble on May 2nd. However, miles 15 thru 20 were surprisingly tough-sledding. Fortunately, I did get a 2nd wind for miles 21 thru 26, which weren't all that bad. xxxxx My left foot neuroma bothered me slightly from mile 18 until the finish. That seems to happen about every 4th marathon. Oh well, just live with the pain and keep soldiering on. xxxxx I started early ( 2:00am ) with the temp at 67 degrees and humid. I am not used to sweating profusely in the supposed cool of the early morning darkness. xxxxx Physically, this had to be my best day in 5 months. Problems with my quad-pelvic area were minimal. I think that all I have to do now is to rebuild my leg strength. 5 months of slow cautious running has made me a slow runner. What do they say? -- "Long slow distance running makes for long slow distance runners." xxxxx Final thought: Perhaps stopping for a Coke Zero at Mile 10 was not a good idea. I think that it goes against proper race nutrition. The carbonation probably affects my oxygen in-take -- might explain my mile 14-20 droop. xxxxx This was my 60th marathon within the last 54 weeks. |
| 98 |
Run Into Autumn Marathon |
09/26/10 |
Gage Canal, Riverside |
CA |
6:39 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my first time running at this rustic venue. It runs by Sexton Ranch, the route of the classic Nanny Goat 12/24 Hour Race, which was held last May. /// Today's Start Line was at Riverside's Poly High School, located at Central Avenue and Victoria, about a mile east of the 91-Fwy. /// The race started at 2:00am due to predicted temperatures of 110 degrees for Riverside. But, even at 2:00am in the supposed cool of the morn, the temp was already over 70 degrees. //// The marathon was run almost entirely upon the well-groomed dirt path adjacent to the Gage Canal. Therefore, the surface was soft smooth dirt, and basically flat. Can't complain about that, can I? Except that soft dirt, often with the consistency of sand, gives no traction -- no lift-off. /// I am sure that this bucolic course was very scenic. But running the first 20 miles in darkness deprived me of that benefit. /// I had an over-fed skunk follow me for about 100 yards. Fortunately there was a fence between us. When the skunk found an opening, I quickly reversed directions. //// My left hip-flexor bothered me during miles 3-9 and miles 19-26. I say hip-flexor because that is what I think has been my quad-pelvic problem for the last 4 months. At least, that is this week's theory. //// Shelli Sexton, who is also an organizer of the Nanny Goat 12/24 Hour, was kind enough to set up an aid station at her ranch. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate her aid station. But no worries, it was the thought that counted. //// This new marathon location is the furthest I have had to travel for a Charlie Alewine race, at 38 miles. /// Today's time was 6:38 at a 15:10 pace, which is fine with me. Afterall, I have to conserve and recover for the Chicago Marathon, which is in 2 weeks. //// Today's turn-out was rather sparse. That can probably be attributed to the extreme heat. Let's face it, not everybody is willing to start at 2:00am. /// Oh, shock upon shocks, no Starbucks along the course - woe is me. |
| 97 |
HSM-Vision Blind Marathon |
09/19/10 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach (Bolsa Chica) |
CA |
6:32 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
The Bolsa Chica area is one of my favorite venues for marathoning. xxxxxxxxxx Sunday morning was the back-end of my weekend Double. I thought that I had sworn off doubles, but I guess not. Could I possibly be addicted to marathons? Am I a miles-o-holic? Do ya think? xxxxxxxxx Great weather: cool, foggy and misty. Well, maybe the fog wasn't so great, especially in the pre-dawn darkness. xxxxxxxxxx Just 3 more weeks until the Chicago Marathon (10/10/10). So I had better take it easy for the next 21 days. xxxxxxxxxx 6:32:00 finish. I had negative splits once again -- 1st half = 3:20:00 // 2nd half = 3:12:00. Overall, a bit slower than yesterday's performance. But then again, it was my second marathon this weekend. xxxxxxxxxx Yes, of course, at mile 20 the Huntington Beach Starbucks had my java ready and waiting as I made a slight detour just up from the H.B. Pier. xxxxxxxxxx Physically, left thigh/hip was tight for the first half, but not bad for the 2nd half. My left bottom foot seemed strained ( area of the 1st metatarsal ) for the 1st half, but basically was okay for the 2nd half. |
| 96 |
Oktoberfest Marathon |
09/18/10 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach ( Colorado Lagoon) |
CA |
6:27 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Oktoberfest was my 57th marathon within one year ( 365 days). Streak Sept. 19, 2009 to Sept. 18, 2010. xxxxxxxxxx Today's marathon was the front-end of my weekend Double. xxxxxxxxxx Nice pleasant run along the Marina Vista in Long Beach. Colorado Lagoon down to Naples Island & Alamitos Bay and back ( 6 times). xxxxxxxxxx Started early, in the dark. Weather was cool plus fog , mist and drizzle -- loved it. xxxxxxxxxx I was happy with my time of 6:27. It seems that I am showing improvement, even though at a glacial pace. xxxxxxx Physically, I was also pleased. It seems that my main problem is that I have to re-build the strength in my legs after having pampered my body over the past 4 months. xxxxxxxx Hit Starbucks at mile 13 at 7th Street & Park. Absolutely love my java and multi-grain bagel. I can now run at a pretty good clip while balancing and sipping my cup of joe. |
| 95 |
Runnin' with Nadia Marathon |
09/11/10 |
Coto de Casa ( Horse Trails ) |
CA |
6:37 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
I love this course along the horse trails of Coto de Caza in the foothills and canyons of the Santa Ana Mountains. But it ain't easy, pardner. Hills, hills, and more hills. Over 2,400 feet of elevation. Also, the dirt trail often has the consistency of sand. Ergo, no traction, no lift-off. ////////// I was very happy with my performance this morning. My finishing time was 6:37:00. If it had been run on a flat course and on paved roads (i.e., Chicago Marathon ), my time would have translated to a 6:10:00 or 6:15 marathon. ////////// Physically: (1) My back was stiff during miles 23 & 24 - middle back area, dead center. (2) Lower pelvic region was stiff, but what else is new? (3) I did feel slight twinges in my left calf for a couple of miles. (4) I felt a slight twinge in my right knee during mile 2. //////// The negative about the Coto de Caza horse trails - No Starbucks. ////////// Only 4 more weeks until Chicago. The cutoff in Chicago is a generous 6.5 hours. Based on this mornings run, I have no worries about a time cut-off in Chi-Town since I am positive that I can at least finish within 6 hours. |
| 94 |
Labor Day Marathon |
09/06/10 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach ( Bolsa Chica ) |
CA |
6:41 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
My best marathon in 4 months ( since my TT -Tumultuous Tumble). Yes, I know, I ran much faster at San Francisco on July 25th. But physically, both during and after, this marathon today was my best performance since May 2nd. ////////// I could have easily done better than the 6:41:00 that I registered. But I was more than pleased with my finishing time since it presented no significant strain on the body. Post race, it didn't even feel like I had run 26.2 miles - Fantastic. ////////// The first 3 miles had me slightly worried with my left ankle starting to almost hurt. But by mile 4, all was well. Also, my right mid-back area was tight for miles 13-20. Otherwise, I was back to pre-TT standards. ////////// Now, I will have to rebuild my strength, which has suffered due to the caution I have exercised since last May 2nd at the O.C. Marathon. ///////// I felt unusually strong during the last six miles. Unexpectedly, my best mile was my last at 12:30 minutes. ////////// Yes, I did stop off at Huntington Pier for a cup of java and multi-grain bagel at Starbucks ( To Go). |
| 93 |
Run the Trails Marathon |
09/04/10 |
Arroyo Trabuco, Las Flores |
CA |
7:05 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Now it is official. 56 marathons within one year. September 5, 2009 ( #1 ) to September 4, 2010 ( #56 ). ////////// Beautiful pastoral course located in McNeil Regional Wilderness Park. ////////// I didn't encounter past nemeseses this time around. None of the usual suspects: mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, rattlesnakes, skunks, nor poison oak. ////////// Running this trail is still risky healthwise because I constantly run the risk of a tumble from the extremely technical terrain. At best, a sprained ankle is always a possibility. ///////// I was more than happy with my time of 7:05 on this very rugged trail. I could have broken 7 hours, probably a 6:45, but I didn't want to stretch myself too much with the Chicago Marathon coming up in 5 weeks. ////////// Physical woes: (1) Lateral left hip tight. (2) Anterior lower pelvic area tight. (3) Hamstrings tight when going up-hill. (4) I did notice a slight sprain-like sensation on the outside of my left ankle --- nothing major, but a concern just the same. On the positive side, my quads were nowhere near as tight as they have been for the past 4 months. ////////// At mile 19. I did stop for a cup of java and a multi-grain bagel at the Starbucks located at Oso Pkwy & Antonio Pkwy ( To Go, of course). Luckily, there is a shopping plaza just about 50 yards off this wilderness course --- From the wilderness to civlization in about 60 seconds time. It pays to know and study the course for all possibilities. |
| 92 |
"End of Summer" Marathon |
08/28/10 |
Central Park, Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:16 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
55 marathons within one year, with one week to go. September 5, 2009 ( #1 ) to August 28, 2010 ( #55 ). ////////// Today's marathon, #55, was at Central Park in Huntington Beach. This beautiful park is about 2.5 miles inland along Goldenwest Blvd, which runs from the Park to the surf and sand of H.B. ////////// This morning, I decided to achieve a half-way decent time of 7:16:30. Decent, at least, for a wounded old warrior who is being extremely tentative for the next six weeks until the Chicago Marathon on October 10th. xxxxxxxxxx The race this morning was held entirely within the confines of Central Park. For me, it was a nostalgic marathon since I was able to return to Central Park after a 8-month hiatus from that venue. xxxxxxxxxx I learned a few things today. #1 - My upper legs feel better when I am running, rather than when I am walking. I think that the knee-lift of running is easier on the quads than straight leg walking. ///// #2 - I am thinking that some deep massage might be what I need to loosen up muscle fibers that have adhered together into a tightened knot. Also, stretching the quads might not be a bad idea. ///// The down-side to Central Park is -- No Starbucks along the course. |
| 91 |
Marina Oceanfront Marathon |
08/21/10 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach ( Colorado Lagoon) |
CA |
7:58 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Another experimental marathon. I am trying my darndest to keep marathoning, but also recuperate at the same time. Today was a mix of running, jogging, walking, shuffling. No real physical problem per se. Just extremely tight upper legs, front and back. But equal tightness in both thighs. Strangely, that is a comfort. ////////// I wasn't as strong as I had hoped today. This was probably due to my "Double" last weekend. It also could be due to a lack of sleep -- This was also the first week of school. I teach Political Science at a local college. ////////// I have the Chicago Marathon in seven weeks. And my goal is to do a quality performace in Chi-Town. If I can run Chicago in 5:45:00, I will be one happy camper. That is my goal. ////////// My new avatar is "Jo Jo Starbucks". I lived up to my name by making two Starbucks breaks today. At Mile 14 and Mile 22, I went off course to Park & 7th Street. It costs me some time, but heck, I still broke 8 hours ( chuckle, chuckle). |
| 90 |
Dos Amigos Marathon |
08/15/10 |
Sunset Beach/Huntington Beach ( Bolsa Chica ) |
USA |
8:14 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was the back-end of my Weekend Double. xxxxxxxx Today's marathon was an experiment in recovery. I fast-ran, slow-ran, fast-walked, slow-walked, shuffled and took two breaks. My first break (Mile 13) was for a Coke Zero at Warner & PCH. My second break ( Mile 19 ) was for a Starbucks at the Huntington Pier. I always ran within myself, never pushing. My result was 8:14:20. But that is more than okay since today was an experimental marathon. xxxxxxxxxx As always, I thoroughly enjoyed this race, which is run entirely on the beachfront between Sunset Beach and Huntington Beach. xxxxxxxxxx No real physical complaints today. I had general stiffness of the quads, hammies and glutes. So, what else is new? ////////// Oh! When I got in my car to depart from Sunset Beach, I had a dead battery. Fortunately, a surfer came to my rescue with some jumper cables. |
| 89 |
Runnin' Arroyo Marathon |
08/14/10 |
Las Flores / RanchoSanta Margarita |
USA |
7:58 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
"Runnin' the Arroyo" is my first marathon as a 10-Star Titanium Marathon Maniac. This weekend I will be running a Double. I will be clocking #53 and #54 within a 53-week window. xxxxxxxxxx The "Runnin' the Arroyo" Marathon was the front-end of my Double. And tomorrow, I will be running the Dos Amigos Marathon from Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach. xxxxxxxxxx This morning was like revisiting the scene of the crime. It was my return to the 'lion-country safari' at the Arroyo-Trabuco Canyon of the O'Neill Regional Wilderness Park in southeast Orange County. Lest I remind you, I am still wary of doing trail runs since my "Joe v. Lion" escapade 4 weeks ago. xxxxxxxxxx Fortunately, my fear of meeting up with another mountain lion ( as I did last month ) was overridden by the absolute beauty of this course, run entirely through the Los Flores Wilderness. xxxxxxxxxx The terrain is extremely technical with about 70% extremely narrow single-track strewn over with embedded rocks, roots, broken ground, and of course, 32 creek crossings. The elevation is 2400 feet, which actually isn't all that bad for a trail run. xxxxxxxxxx Because this was part one of my Weekend Double, I took it as easy as possible. My time was a very leisurely 7 hours, 58 minutes. I basically hiked/ran through 32 creek crossings, deep canyons, rocky hills, and jungle-like canopy. xxxxxxxx The only critters that I encountered were lizards, rabbits and deer. Thankfully, no lions, bobcats, rattlesnakes or coyotes made an appearance. Although I did hear a lot of very strange, eery noises in the bush, especially just before sunrise. Oh, I did brush by what appeard to be poison oak. But I think that my calf sleeves and gaiters protected me. |
| 88 |
Rockin' the Coto Marathon |
08/08/10 |
Coto de Caza ( Horse Trails ) |
CA |
7:21 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
TITANIUM STATUS --- 52 marathons in 52 weeks equals TEN Marathon Maniac Stars. xxxxxxxx The horse-trails of Coto de Caza is where it all came together. And now I am in the rarified air of Larry "The Lawyer" Macon & Yolanda "Walking Diva" Holder. Obviously, I am not in their league, not even close. But I am somewhere in the ballpark ( bleachers maybe? ). xxxxxxxx I had good company today in reaching my goal. Running with me were two of my fellow 10-Star Maniacs ( Yolanda and Big Ed). Also, I was relieved that the only animals that I met up with this time were horses and lizzards -- No mountain lions this time around. xxxxxxxx Okay, I was somewhat disappointed with my 7:21:00 finishing time. But a lot of that was due to the 2,400 feet in elevation gain. Also, the trail was extremely soft dirt allowing for basically zero traction. And of course, I am still in recovery from my injuries. xxxxxxx Physically, both quads gave me problems today, mainly being tight and stiff. Surprisingly, however, the right quad was the most problematic. xxxxxxxx Now that I have my 10-Star Maniac Status, I plan to cut back and allow myself to recover from a year of having really extended this 67-year old body. xxxxxxxx My New Goals: I would like to prepare for my first 100 miler in February. And I would like to start getting serious about the 50-State Club. |
| 87 |
"Run the Beach" Marathon |
07/31/10 |
Sunset Beach/Huntington Beach ( Bolsa Chica ) |
CA |
8:01 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Today, July 31st marks my penultimate marathon in my quest for the Big-52. Yes, Marathon #51 in 51 weeks. /////// Next week, I should lock in #52 on the horse trails of Coto de Caza. Then I will be crowned with my Titanium 10-Star Maniac status. //////// Today's course from Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach was super fantastic -- I love it, I love it. It's run entirely on the bike path, alongside of sandy beaches and the Pacific Ocean. How bloody cool is that? /////// No surprise, I am still recovering from last week's major endeavor at the San Francisco Marathon. Ergo, I took it nice and easy today, sliding in at a blazing 8:01:27. //////// Injury Status: Left foot neuroma really acted up this morning. Why? I absolutely don't know. Kind of surprised the heck out of me. On the bright side, at least it took my mind off my stiff hip-pelvis-thigh area//////// By mile 26. both quads were as tight as a drum. Not hurting, just super tight. Probably D.O.M.S. from running hard at San Francisco last week. /////// Yep! The hip-pelvis area was mighty stiff today, pardner. But it is slowly improving, if at only a glacial pace. //////// For the next 10 weeks, I will take all of my marathons super-easy, at least until October 10th when I will venture to Chicago to put on a dazzling display of pure speed (lol). I will also try to put forth a maximum effort a week later at the Long Beach Marathon (Oct. 17th) xxxxxxxx As is my habit, when I can get away with it, I stopped at mile 19 for a cup of java & a bagel at the Starbucks just up from the Huntington Pier. |
| 86 |
San Franciso Marathon |
07/25/10 |
San Francisco |
CA |
6:24 |
Marathon |
20015 |
|
|
|
My 4th consecutive S.F. Marathon (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010). I keep loving this marathon more and more each year. Embarcadero, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, Mission District, Giant's Ballpark, Bay Bridge - - I love it. //////// TWINKLING TITANIUM: S.F. was my 50th marathon within 50 weeks -- only 2 more to go and VOILA. I feel those 10 Marathon Maniac Stars a burning brightly. //////// On the down side, my finishing time of 6:24:00 was 90 minutes slower than my 4:55:00 in S.F. 2008. But on the up-side, my time was the best that I have recorded in my 12 marathons since my Tumultuous Tumble on May 2nd. My splits were dead-even - - 3:12:00 first half and 3:12:00 second half. //////// INJURY REPORT: As with San Diego and Seattle, I went into S.F. not knowing what to expect. The chance that my left leg could collapse on me was extremely daunting. I was not sure that I could get as far as 4 or 5 miles since I had to run at a much quickened pace, and wouldn't be able to relax and pamper my injuries. //////// Fortunately, my left leg did not blow up. In fact, both thighs were equal as far as tightness and discomfort. My quads never locked up and my gait never was impaired. And, for the first time in 3 months, I had no problem with my lower left calf/ankle buckling. //////// I truly now think that all I have to do for the next few monts is to gradually recover from having stressed out my thighs and hamstrings with too much racing over the past year. In fact, I think that I should be back to normal in time for the Chicago Marathon on October 10th ( 4:55 in Chi-Town is a possibility ). //////// Identical to last year, the weather was fantastic with 50+ degrees at the start, and low 60s at the end. Plus it was overcast for most of the race. //////// I still have a problem with the complex merging and splitting and re-merging with the half marathoners in Golden Gate Park. //////// |
| 85 |
Cadillac Steve Arroyo Trail Marathon |
07/18/10 |
Las Flores / Rancho Santa Margarita |
CA |
8:17 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
A very interesting trail run through the O'Neill Regional Wilderness Park in Las Flores. Las Flores is in the Saddleback area between Coto de Caza and Mission Viejo. /////// At mile 20, I encountered a mountain lion 20 feet in front of me. I showed no fear, made myself look large, and ran straight toward the menacing feline. To my extreme relief, the lion darted into the bushes and disappeared. Only after I gained confidence that the lion was not going to circle around for an attack, did I then allowed myself to be scared - petrified is more like it. /////// Otherwise, Arroyo Trabuco is a great course. It is extraordinarily scenic with much to look at in the way of flora and fauna. Almost surreal were the canopy tunnels that were at once mysterious and scary, but also fascinating. Twice I had deer jump out on the course -- probably fleeing the Lion King. ///// Weatherwise, it was hot -- at least the low 90s. /////// My 8:17:48 was egregiously pedestrian. But that is fine with me since I was in no hurry, and it was run totally on rugged trails, much of it single-track. /////// The course was a 6.55 out/back from the Santa Margarita Water District parking lot to just before the Tejiras Creek Golf Club, all run along the Trabuco & Tejiras Creeks and the O'Neill Canyon. We did this loop 4 times. /////// The course contained 32 water-crossing. Since I waded through them all, my feet were consistently wet. /////// Due to my blistering 19-minute per mile pace, I feel that I am in fair shape, although not great, for next Sunday's San Francisco Marathon (July 25). At S.F., I will be shooting for a 5:45:00 finish since the cut-off is 6 hours. |
| 84 |
Rockin' the O.C. Marathon |
07/10/10 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:50 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This is Marathon #48 within 48 weeks. I am smelling those 10 Titanium Maniac Stars a-burning bright. //////// Another extremely pedestrian performance with a Finish Time of 7:50:00. But that is what I have to do if I want to keep racing, but also recovering at the same time. /////// I really took it easy this time. Not only did I make my usual stop for a Starbucks at Mile 19 (Huntington Pier), but I also made a quickie stop at Mile 14 for a Coke Zero. Listen! If I am going to be in constant motion for almost 8-hours, I want a few lovely beverages to go with it. /////// Medical update: Right now, I have extremely tight Quads due to running 48 marathons in 48 weeks, not all of them that judiciously. /////// I really had a great time this morning. I absolutely love the Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach route. The weather was fantastic, and no wind for a change. Oh, and yes, those darn bicyclists who share the course with us are still a pain in the backside. BTW: I am loving watching the Tour de France on T.V., but I can't stand the wan-na-bees on the boardwalk. |
| 83 |
July 4th Marathon |
07/04/10 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
7:59 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was the back-end of my July 4th Weekend Double. /////// Super slow at an egregiously pedestrian pace of 18:15 per mile for a Finish of 7:59:30. /////// My slow pace was by design. I did not want any wear and tear on ye olde body as I want to gain strength for the San Francisco Marathon in 3 weeks. /////// Helping me to stay in a relaxed mode, I once again detoured to 7th Street & Park Avenue for my Starbucks coffee and a multi-grain bagel. /////// The course was from Colorado Lagoon down south to Naples Island & The Marina and back. We did this 4.4 mile loop six times. ////// This was #46 within 44 weeks. I am only 6 marathons away from getting my 10th Maniac Titanium Stars. I'd say that the odds are now 95% in favor of me attaining my goal by the end of August. ////// I think that I will put my ITB STRAP on the shelf for awhile. I don't think that it is helping with my spasmodic left leg-calf-ankle buckling. ////// Next marathon. I'll experiment with my brand new Hamstring/Quad STRAP. Who knows? It might actually help. |
| 82 |
Stars & Stripes Marathon |
07/03/10 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:31 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was #45 in 44 weeks. I can smell the Ten Titanium Maniac Stars in the air. I am just too close to quit now. /////// Sunset Beach is one of my favorite courses, run totally along the beachfront from Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach and back to Sunset Beach. We do this loop twice. /////// The only real down-side to this course is the rude, obnoxious cyclists who blow by you without warning. They truly think that they own the boardwalk, and everybody else is a squatter. /////// I am taking it super easy for the next three weeks in preparation for a good performance at the San Francisco Marathon on July 25th. /////// As has become my habit in slow races, I stopped at mile 20 and detoured at the Huntington Pier for a Starbucks & multi-grain bagel. Yes, I drank and ate on the run. /////// Now, after 9 weeks, I can finally see some major improvement in my overall injury situation. /////// I could have easily run today's course in a much faster time, but why? My 7:31:42 was super easy with not much wear and tear on the body. /////// What I am dealing with now is mainly general fatigue in both quads, but nothing that specific. /////// I probably shouldn't since I am still in my recovery mode, but I plan to run the July 4th Marathon tomorrow at Marina Vista in Long Beach. This will be my first Double since last April. /////// For the first time, I wore a ITB STRAP on my left thigh. I don't know that it really helped, but it didn't hurt. My left thigh did feel the best in 9 weeks, but I will have to wait and see if it was because of the STRAP. |
| 81 |
Seattle RnR Marathon |
06/26/10 |
Tukwila to Seattle |
WA |
6:46 |
Marathon |
3068 |
|
|
|
Seattle RnR Marathon #2 ( 2009- 2010 ). I am a legacy having run all of the Seattle RnRs ( all 2 of them ). Fantastic weather ( low 53 / high 66 / overcast ). /////// What a magnificent marathon. We were able to run through the I-90 tunnel, through the Battery Tunnel, over the !-90 Floating Bridge, atop Highway 99 ( Alaska Way Viaduct & Aurora Way ), and the streets of Seattle and Tukwila. /////// I plan on doing this beautiful experience in perpetuity. Seward Park, Lake Washington, the Floating Bridge, Mercer Island, Safeco Park, Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Lake Union, the Battery Tunnel, the Alaskan Viaduct, the Finish Line in view of the Mariner/Seahawk Stadiums at Quest Complex -- It is all great. /////// RnR really knows how to put on a marathon. /////// 28,000 signed up, but only 21,000 finished ( 4,100 full marathoners and 17,000 half marathoners. Half Marathoners greatly outnumbered full marathoners 4 to 1. Women out-numbered the men 3 to 1. /////// My next RnR will be Las Vegas RnR on December 5th. Then Arizona RnR in January, 2011 and New Orleans RnR in February 2011. //////// This was my best performance since my Tumultuous Tumble 8 weeks ago. I ran a super easy 6:46:00. For the first time in almost 2 months, I did not hit a 3-mile bad patch from mile 17 until mile 20 - what a relief! I was just as strong at the finish as I was througout the race. Yes, I was aware of my weak quadriceps, but not hindered. Perhaps I will get my 10 Titanium Maniac Stars afterall. Seattle was #44 in 43 weeks. |
| 80 |
Rockin' the Marina Marathon #2 |
06/19/10 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
7:24 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Another extremely pedestrian marathon performance with a time of 7:24. I just have no upper leg strength. Plus, my muscles in my left thigh keep tightening on me. //////// I am getting frustrated. After 7 weeks, I should be back to normal. But my left thigh is still extremely problematic. In fact, I thought that I was "done for" during miles 17,18 and 19. My left trochanter femoral area was tight as a vice. Scared the heck out of me. //////// I have encountered a 'bad patch' like this in almost every race since the accident of May 2. Fortunately, as in the other races, I felt much better from mile 20 until the finish. //////// Please forgive me, but I am about to throw in the towel on getting my 10 Titanium Maniac stars. //////// Right now, I plan to run the Seattle Marathon next Saturday. But after Seattle, I will take a month off for recuperation. Hopefully, I will be set to return on July 25th for the San Francisco Marathon. Due to S.F.'s strict time limits, I have to be in much better shape than I have been for the past 7 weeks. //////// I think that my recovery has been impeded because I continue to run a marathon per week -- Do ya think? //////// I have ruled out 'inguinal hernia' and now I am sadly leaning toward femoral sfx. Please, let me be wrong and make it only a strained muscle that hasn't had a chance to recover. //////// Other than my 3-mile bad patch, I truly enjoyed today's marathon. Yes, I did stop after 13 miles for my regular Starbuck's coffee and multi-grain bagel at 7th Street and Park. |
| 79 |
Rockin' the Marina Marathon #1 |
06/12/10 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
7:11 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
I really enjoy this course along the Long Beach neighborhoods, parks and Marina. During one stretch, we get to run a 1.5 mile out/back down Appian Way in full view of the Long Beach Marina. Entire course = 6 loops (4.37 miles). Straight and flat. //////// I am still recovering from my traumatic fall on May 2nd, albeit very slowly. But I do continue to improve each week. //////// My finish-time was a pedestrian 16:27 minute/mile pace for a total time of 7:11:00. I ran/walked very tentatively trying to protect my injured left thigh. Also, if I go too fast, it aggravates my broken shoulder ( arm swing ). //////// Overall, I am still weakened from the trauma of my 'Tumultuous Tumble' 6 weeks ago. The tumble sapped me of a lot of lower-body strength that I must regain. When you are 66 years old, you recovery very slowly. //////// Since I wasn't going after any speed records today, I did stop at 7th St. & Park for a multi-grain bagel and a Starbucks coffee, which I drank and ate on the run. //////// I think that I may have either a minor hernia or a femoral stress fracture or possibly an enduring strained muscle. None of which sounds good, but I guess that I would opt for the muscle strain if I have a choice. I feel a 'hot spot' in my upper, inner left thigh/pelvic area. It doesn't restrict my running, but it does concern me. //////// To be honest, the odds are still 70/30 against my getting 10 Titanium Maniac Stars. I guess that I will take it one week at a time, and hope for the best. |
| 78 |
San Diego RnR Marathon |
06/06/10 |
San Diego |
CA |
6:47 |
Marathon |
3165 |
|
|
|
San Diego RnR Marathon #3 (2008, 2009, 2010) /////// The S.D. Expo was great as usual. L.A. can take some lessons. America's #1 marathoner Ryan Hall (Stanford grad) spoke - quite impressive. /////// New course: Balboa Park to Sea World. Very scenic plus cool breezes. /////// Scenic, sure, but I didn't appreciate the 3 miles running on concrete paths in Mission Bay Park. And, the 5 miles on Fiesta Island weren't much better. Too much concrete. /////// Still recovering from the Tumultuous Tumble on May 2nd. But I scored a new post-tumble PR by over an hour. My S.D. time of 6:47:00 is much better than last week's 7:52:00 at Sunset Beach. My goal was to beat the S.D. cutoff of 7 hours, which I did. /////// From miles 16 thru 20, I was truly worried that my legs were going to give-out, and I just might have to DNF. Ergo, I was extremely tentative for miles 16 until the very end. ////// After the race, I had to walk over a mile back to my motel, the Heritage Inn, across from the Sea World finish -- Tough-sledding. ////// I think that I may have to take some time off since my left shin, both quads and both hamstrings are suffering from general soreness and fatigue. /////// I think that the odds are now 70/30 against my getting 10 Titanium Maniac Stars. Next week at Long Beach's Marina Vista should tell the tale. /////// Normally S.D. has only 15,000 runners for the 6:15am start. But this morning we were 30,000 strong having added an additional 15,000 half-marathoners. Talk about a San Diego Zoo!!! /////// San Diego also has relay-marathoners. My suggestion is for the half-marathoners to start after the marathoners, at 7:30am. /////// My next major target race is the Seattle RnR. Ergo, in the next 3 weeks, I will be pampering ye olde bod. |
| 77 |
Memorial Day Beachfront Marathon |
05/31/10 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach |
CA |
7:52 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This Memorial Day's run along Sunset & Huntington Beach is one of my favorite courses. Only negative would be the rude, inconsiderate bicyclists who never warn you that they are blowing by. ////// This is my third marathon since the "tumultuous tumble". I am still in a weakened state. Both quads are as tight as a drum and are really worrying me. ////// After 10 miles, I took a quick course detour at the H.B. Pier for a Starbucks, which I drank on the run. ////// Definitely tough-sledding at the beach today, but still a 35 minute improvement over my last marathon. ////// Today's 7:52:00 was an 18 minute pace. Realistically, I will have to improve on that if I want to complete next week's San Diego Marathon. ////// San Diego RnR does have a "soft" 7 hour cut-off. However, if I get into an early corral, I can probably skate by with a 7:25 ( 17 minute pace). /////// MEDICAL REPORT: My broken clavicle is healing nicely. The collarbone and 6 fractured ribs still cause pain on the run, but they aren't the reason for my slowness. ////// Ironically, I went into today's marathon worried about my left quad ( muscle & femur), but the right quad was actually more of a problem - Go figure. In general, both quads are fatigued and desperately in need of more recovery time. Those tight thighs are causing me to tack on an extra 2 hours to my marathon time. |
| 76 |
Going Bananas Marathon |
05/16/10 |
Legg Lake/Whittier-Narrows |
CA |
8:27 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was my 2nd marathon on the comeback trail after my "bizarre tumble" following my completion of the Orange County Marathon on May 2nd. ////// I am still recovering from my injuries. Broken clavicle, rib contusions, and a severely locked up left thigh. The thigh is not the most painful, but it is the most worrisome and the most draining during the run. ////// From this point on, I will refer to last week's marathon and today's marathon as my "theraputic" marathons. In both cases, I just wanted to get in 26.2 injury-free miles as easy as possible and maintain my conditioning. Ergo, my 8:27:30 is something to be proud of. It isn't easy forcing one's self to slow down to a snail's pace for 8+ hours. Just try it. However, when you are running with an arm-sling, it serves as a good reminder to slow down. ////// Legg Lake is a scenic 12 loops at 2.2 miles around 3 lakes. I ran ( walked ) the first 6 or 7 miles with my pal Troy Lesovsky. ////// My next couple of marathons will also be theraputic as I try to rehabilatate my body for the San Diego Marathon on June 6th and Seattle RnR on June 26th. ////// This was my 39th marathon within 37 weeks. I am still on target for my 10th Maniac Star come July 25th at the S.F. Marathon. //////////// POSTSCRIPT: Updated report = 6 cracked ribs, broken clavicle, and possible stress fracture of the left femur. |
| 75 |
Escape from Ayala Park Marathon |
05/08/10 |
Chino |
CA |
8:51 |
Marathon |
5 |
|
|
|
Another warm day at Ayala Park in the city of Chino ( 83 degrees ), just like last year. ////// I had originally planned on running 50 miles today. But due to the circumstances of last week, I was lucky to complete the marathon. In fact, I had my doubts about even that during the 2nd mile when my left quad locked up. After that, I took it one mile at a time. ////// A very boring course. 14.5 loops ( 1.8 miles each ) around the park perimeter. Mercifully, I could better handle the repetition this year because of my I-pod. ////// Too much concrete. But whenever possible, I chose the adjoining grass routes. Not much traction with the soft grass, but easy on the body. ////// For me, this marathon was a true test of grit, a test of character. ////// 6 days ago, I broke my left clavicle ( collarbone ) and severely bruised and fractured my left rib cage ( 6 fractures and contusions ) after having successfully completed the O.C. Marathon. ////// Therefore, this was my toughest marathon. For the past 6 days, the rib cage pain has over-riden the shoulder pain. But for some reason, my entire body was unusually fatigued, probably from the trauma and pain-killers of the past week. ////// For obvious, painful reasons, my finishing time at Ayala Park was literally a pedestrian 8 hours, 51 minutes, 20 seconds. Yes, I basically walked the entire 26.2 miles. But I did break the 9-hour barrier ( chuckle ). ////// Everything hurt: My broken collarbone, my severely bruised left rib cage, and my left inner quadricep ( this began with a pinch-like tweak last Sunday at mile 23 during the O.C. marathon ). ////// The thigh has me worried. It could be an adductor muscle pull. ////// My biggest worry is that the left adductor might put me on the sidelines for awhile. Sadly, I think that the odds are against my running Palos Verdes next Saturday. |
| 74 |
Orange County (Newport) Marathon |
05/02/10 |
Newport to Costa Mesa |
CA |
5:36 |
Marathon |
777 |
|
|
|
#2 Orange County (Newport) Marathon (2009 & 2010). ////// I finished in 5:36 at a 12:50 pace. That was close to last year's 5:34. So I am consistent. ////// I don't like running the first half with the hordes of half-marathoners. Too crowded. The 2nd half was much more enjoyable. ////// Yes, there are hills, especially at Mile 10, Mile 15 and Mile 24-25. ////// Extremely scenic: Corona Del Mar to Balboa Marina to Newport Back Bay to Santa Ana River Trail to Costa Mesa Fairgrounds. ////// Weather was a bit warmish, but not bad. Cool breezes during second half were very refreshing. ////// Post race situation was ridiculous. We were give a small croissant and a protein bar. Then we were led into the Market Place ( obviously so we could spend more money) -- ridiculous. ////// Marathon went without much incident. However, at about mile 23, I felt a sharp twinge on my inside left quad. I hope that it was nothing serious. ////// Walking back to my car, I tripped over a barricade-extension and cracked a few of my left ribs, wracked my shoulder and wrenched my neck. ////// I have a 50-miler coming up next Saturday at Ayala Park, so I am worried. /////////// Irony: recently I had been worried about my right thigh, ever since the Quadzilla. But it was the left thigh that had the sharp tweak, and possible muscle pull or stess fracture. |
| 73 |
Rocky Road 50 Miler |
04/24/10 |
Coto de Caza |
CA |
12:59 |
50 mi |
102 |
|
|
|
Tough sledding in Coto de Caza. ////// High = 76 degrees & Low 49 degrees. ////// Total elevation increase = 6,000 feet ////// First 45 miles were on horse trails. Soft terrain. But lots of climbs. Plus lots of horse poop and lizards. ////// But last 5 miles ( 46-50 ) were on one of the most treacherous mountain trails that I have ever encountered. Absolutely brutal. Steep climbs and drops. Narrow single track of broken ground. Much of the course was covered over with bush and weeds. ////// 50 miles is an excuse to eat, eat, eat. 6 bagels, 6 bananas, 4 power bars, pretzels, and tons of Shot Bloks. ///// Worked hard at taking in salt packets, potassium, and hydration ( 13 -- 20 ounce bottles ). And, that wasn't enough. ////// Schockingly, my strongest miles were 46-50. I really powered those treacherous hills as I was trying to get the job done before the sun set. My incentive: I didn't want to be caught on those wicked mountain trails in the dark. ///// Used my brand new Garmin Forerunner 310-XT since I needed the advantage of 20 hours of battery power. I really love the new features offered by the 310-XT such as the buzzer. Also, it tells what the overall pace of the total mile will be, not the current momentary pace. ////// For the first time ever, I used an I-Pod. It was great for the first 20 miles. But really bored me for the last 30 miles. |
| 72 |
Camp Pendleton Hard Corps Marathon |
04/17/10 |
Camp Pendleton, Oceanside |
CA |
5:43 |
Marathon |
1356 |
|
|
|
Camp Pendleton Hard Corps #2 ( 2009, 2010 ). /////// Since I have now run all of these marathons, I guess that I am a Legacy Runner. /////// The last 6 miles are straight up, no flats, no downhills -- just up and up and up. /////// The entire course was rolling hills until the 20 mile mark -- then all up-hill. /////// Last year I got 2nd place in my AG. This year I got 3rd place in my AG. /////// The entire marathon was run on the Marine Base, which is as large as a small city. /////// Great ocean-views, albeit 1/2 mile to a mile away. /////// Last year we had 370 runners. But I doubt that we had even 320 this year. I believe the actual number was 319. That is a 50 runner drop after the inaugural -- not a good sign. BTW: 131 military runners and 188 civilian runners. /////// The Marines cornered a rattlesnake on the course, and killed it dead, dead. /////// I ran the entire marathon at an extremely consistent 13 minute pace, finishing at 5:43:00. /////// This was about 20 minutes slower than last year. But I still have the cold/flu. Plus I might be somewhat fatigued having run 35 marathons in the last 33 weeks. /////// Ailment-wise, just the usual suspects. Tight inside right quad for the first half. And spasmatic ankle for the 2nd half. /////// Semper Fi, Baby. |
| 71 |
Marina's Long Beach Marathon |
04/11/10 |
Long Beach - Marina Vista |
CA |
6:29 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Back-end of my weekend double. The Flu is still taking a toll, but I had a better day today than yesterday. ///// My pace was extremely pedestrian ( 6:30:43), but I am in a weakened state due to the flu bug. //// Physically, my right thigh has been problematic for the past 2 days, from top to bottom. Nothing major, but a concern nonetheless. ///// Took it extremely easy today. I even stopped along mile 14 ( Park Ave. & 7th Street ) for a Starbucks and a bagel. Consumed both while on the run, ala Dean Karnases. I considered it to be one of the perks for those who don't care about a slow finishing times. ///// 6 loops of 4.37 miles along a lake and the Vista Marina -- very nice.. ///// A good turn-out today with about 30 runners. //// First time in ages that I didn't get the ankle spasm -- perhaps I was going too slow and relaxed (lol). |
| 70 |
Kelly's Lakefront Marathon |
04/10/10 |
Legg Lake / Whittier-Narrows |
CA |
6:36 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This was the front-end of my weekend double. Therefore, I knew that I had to take it easy. ///// But 6:36 was a lot slower than I wanted. Unfortunately, on this day, that was all that I could muster. ///// Tough-sledding for the entire marathon. ///// The flu bug really knocked me for a loop. Every muscle in my body was aching. Add to that some major lower G.I. problems. And it was all I could do to maintain a 15:00 minute pace for this 26.2 miler. ///// Other than that, I still enjoyed my run at Legg Lake. 12 loops (2.2 miles per loop) = 26.2 miles. //// BTW: I just bought a Garmin Forerunner 310-XT with 20 hours battery time. I figure I'll need it when I do the Rocky Road 50 miler in 2 weeks. //// Periodically, I did get the left ankle muscle spasm. |
| 69 |
Easter Marathon |
04/04/10 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach |
CA |
5:54 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Sunset Beach Marathon #4 ////// This was my 4th time running this magnificent course. I absolutely love this course. ////// We ran 6.55 miles south along the bike path from Sunset Beach past the Bolsa Chica wetlands down to 1.3 miles past Huntington Pier --- then back to the start. We did this twice. Two loops equals the marathon. Ocean views all the way. ////// An added bonus was the appearance of the Great Larry Macon ( 600+ marathons), who finished in 6:20:00. Unfortunately, even though it was an out/back course, I must have missed seeing him. But it was still an honor knowing that he was on the course. ////// No niggling ailments this time, except for the left ankle buckle-spasm at mile 26. My left lower abdomen was no problem -- Yeh! ////// What a great way to spend Easter morning. |
| 68 |
Los Angeles "Stadium to the Sea" Marathon |
03/21/10 |
L.A. Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica Pier |
CA |
5:37 |
Marathon |
5203 |
|
|
|
#7 L.A. Marathon (1986,87,90,07,08,09,10). ////// This was the 25th Anniversary run. ////// This run was fantastic because I got to run with 4 members of the Fitzsimmons Clan. ////// New point to point route from the "Stadium to the Sea" --- Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica Pier. ////// Very scenic route taking in Downtown, Hollywierd, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Santa Monica. ////// Expo was not to my liking. Outdoors and too hot. Much too crowded. ////// T-shirts were all the same size regardless of what you ordered. The men's were too big and the women's were too small. ////// Crowding was not to my liking. Too many runners on narrow streets for entire 26.2 miles. ////// Shuttling was not to my liking. L.A. traffic lived up to its negative rep. ////// But, all in all, a good experience. I will absolutely return next year, and the years after that. I plan to do L.A. in perpetuity. ////// The last 3 miles of the 2010 version, via scenic San Vincente Blvd, was fantastic with a fast downhill and a wonderous finish on Ocean Blvd terminating at the Santa Monica Pier. ////// 25,000 runners in a sold out race. ////// Temps to start were a pleasant 56 degrees, but not so pleasant 78% humidity. No ailments, except for stomach cramps during last 3 miles. Fortunately, the explosion from those cramps didn't come until after I finished. ////// Still have a minor muscle strain in lower left abdomen. ////// This was my 31st marathon in 29 weeks --- on my way to Titanium and 10 Maniac Stars. |
| 67 |
Brandi Cowan Trail Marathon |
03/14/10 |
Coto de Caza, Rancho Santa Marguerita |
CA |
6:42 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Beautiful scenery, but extremely rugged trail run in Coto de Caza. //// Coto de Caza is in the Saddleback Valley of Orange County with a background of the Santa Ana Moutains. ///// Almost 6,000 feet in elevation. Rugged terrain, and some wicked single tracks. //// But the views were to die for. Plus many of the homes were absolutely breath-taking. Reminded me of ante-bellum Southern mansions. /// Started in the dark, which was kind of scary. Besides the broken ground, I did worry about the mountain lion warnings. Enter at your own risk, the signs said. /// No ailments to complain about. My left lower abdomen twitch is improving each week. Could still be a minor hernia. |
| 66 |
Deo Birthday 45K |
03/07/10 |
Legg Lake, Whittier-Narrows |
CA |
6:41 |
45 km |
|
|
|
|
28 wonderful miles watching the sun come up on a cool, beautiful morning. /// A 45K to celebrate Deo Javarata's 45th birthday. //// Good turn-out. Possibly 30 runners /// Legg Lake was damp and at times muddy with post-rain conditions. Definitely should have worn gaiters. I improvised by using my two bandanas on my shoes instead of my neck. //// I ran the first 17 miles with Troy Lesovsky. //// 13 loops around the perimeter of the park. // Lower abdomen muscle strain/tweak continued ( lower left side). Darn, could it be a hernia? |
| 65 |
Georgie Girl's Marathon |
02/28/10 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach |
CA |
6:21 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Sunset Beach Marathon #3. ////// I earned my 8th Maniac star ( Platinum ) today. 28 marathons in 26 weeks. How cool is that? ///// Today's marathon was the back-end to my Weekend Double. ///// I absolutely love this course. We ran south from Sunset Beach down 1.5 miles past Huntington Beach pier. ////// I just love watching the sun come up and watching all of the people enjoy the surf, sand and strand. ///// Unfortunately high tide was a lot higher than normal and large stretches of the Strand were awash in the flowing sludge of surf and sand. At times it felt like I was on a trail run rather than a road race. //// Apparently the extreme high tide was a result of the 8.8 Chilean Earthquake. ///// But no matter. This is one of my favorite venues. //// My Garmin went dead on me. So I had to resort to using my retro stop watch. //// No niggling physical problems this time around, except for muscle soreness in the waist area. But not as bad as yesterday. //// I expect to get my 10th Maniac star in late August or early September. 52 marathons in 52 weeks will make me Titanium, Baby. |
| 64 |
Splendiferous Marathon |
02/27/10 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
6:29 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Beautiful course along the Marina Vista Marina. //// This neighborhood is an extremely attractive section of Long Beach. //// Unfortunately it rained for at least half the marathon with a couple of major downpours. Also, the wind was quite brutal during the first third of the marathon. ///// All that aside, I really enjoyed myself because I love the location. ///// This is the front end of my weekend double. So I took it easy running at a 14:50 pace. ///// Got a Starbucks while running Mile 8 ( Park Ave & 7th Street ). I told you that I was taking it easy. //// My left ankle spasm/buckle problem hit me briefly at miles 8, 19 and 23. It never collapses. But I worry just the same.//// My waist area felt a lot of muscle strain. Possibly my fuel belt was too tight. At least I hope that was the reason. |
| 63 |
Pasadena Marathon |
02/21/10 |
Pasadena |
CA |
5:17 |
Marathon |
938 |
|
|
|
#2 Pasadena Marathon (2009 & 2010). At this early stage, I guess that I am a Legacy Runner (lol). ////// I really love the Pasadena Marathon. But only 1078 marathoners this year compared to 1559 last year. ///// Rain threatened, but never happened. Start at 51 degrees, finish at 67 degrees. ///// You just can't beat running through the bucolic residential neighborhoods of Pasadena. //// 3 major out/backs. I love these out/backs because I get to see my pals running to and fro. ////// I think that I am recovering from the Octozilla of last December. Each week, I have steadily improved my finish times. Pasadena was getting close to the times that I had been running last year. I finished today at 5:17. ///// No ailments this time around, except for a tight muscle tweak in my left mid-abdomen area. //// My left ankle/shin area slightly buckled at miles 17 & 21. But nothing to panic about. ///// Pasadena is not a fast course. lots and lots of hills. |
| 62 |
Lost Dutchman Marathon |
02/14/10 |
Gold Canyon to Apache Junction |
AZ |
5:21 |
Marathon |
424 |
|
|
|
#2 Lost Dutchman (2008 & 2010)//// This race is one of the hidden treasures of marathondom. //// You start out 7 miles deep into the Sonoran Desert and finish at the foothills of the Superstition Mountains. ////// However, it is becoming more popular. The 2010 race had 471 finishers as opposed to the 2008 race's 338 finishers. /////// The weather was a pleasant 48 degrees at the start. But the temp did approach 80 degrees before I finished. ////// Running the first 7 miles through the Sonoran Desert was an almost surreal experience. ///// Stayed at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort as did most of the out-of-towners. ////// The course is extremely challenging. It seems that the second half is just one continuous climb toward the Superstition Mts. ///// No real physical problems except that my lower left calf/ankle area tended to spasm/buckle after mile 20. It never truly buckled, but I was worried none the same. This has been a concern since NYC last November. ///// I went to the Reanaissance Festival the day before (very nice outing). //// I will definitely be back again next year. |
| 61 |
Surf City Marathon |
02/07/10 |
Huntington Beach |
CA |
5:33 |
Marathon |
282 |
|
|
|
Surf City #3 (2008-2010). ////// Great course that includes Miles 1-16 running along PCH,on to Central Park, and back to PCH. Miles 17-26 consisted of running along the Huntington Beach bike path to Bolsa Chica, the edge of Sunset Beach, and then back to the Huntington Pier and the finish line. ///// Absolutely gorgeous day at the beach with cool balmy breezes thrown in. High 63 & low of 45 degrees. ////// 6:30am start, 75 minutes ahead of half marathoners. ////// About 2,300 marathoners - keeps expanding every year. ///// Right inside quad flared up from miles 3-10. Nothing serious, but scary nonetheless. ///// They finally got rid of the ridiculous out/back loop at mile 25. Now we head straight to the finish line after mile 20. ///// Almost 12,000 half marathoners to jostle us between mile 9 to mile 16. ///// 1/3 of the women seem to wear tights down to knee or calf. But no men in tights. Why is that? ///// Saw lots of my pals on the many out&backs. |
| 60 |
Carlsbad Marathon |
01/24/10 |
Carlsbad |
CA |
5:39 |
Marathon |
1359 |
|
|
|
Carlsbad #3 (2008-2010). ////// What a fantastic beach town. I just love it. Carlsbad is a very scenic race with magnificent views of the ocean. But it is also extremely hilly, especially Mile 9 and Miles 19-24. ///// The weather was great with a low of 41 degrees and a high of 60 degrees. Parked in the Sears lot, which is only a few yards from the Start Line. //// The first 30 minutes is run in the dark - How cool is that? ///// I really like the 6:00am start. ///// I am still recovering from my Octozilla. So I Gallo-ran to a 5:39 finish. At least I didn't go over 6 hours. I hate it when that happens. ///// Carlsbad has a lot of out & backs. I love it because I really like being able to see my fellow-runners either coming or going. ////// About 1,194 marathoners, and a whopping 7,105 half marathoners. ///// No aches or pains, just overall stiffness and fatigue. ////// Check that - I did have a slight twinge in my outside right ankle. Probably nothing, but I do get concerned. |
| 59 |
"MLK Birthday" Marathon |
01/18/10 |
Central Park, Huntington Beach |
CA |
6:15 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Pleasant little marathon in Huntington Beach's Central Park. ////// Temps were fantastic beginning with low 50s and edging up to high 50s. Light rain intermittantly for the entire race. But the wind was strong at times. ///// My fast-food salt packets got soaked and were rendered unusable -- lesson learned. ///// No real physical problems except for general stiffness as I am still in my recovery stage after 8 marathons in 16 days at the end of December. I did have some slight left ankle spasm-type buckling, but nothing major. ///// Ten 2.6 mile loops.I did take it easy, Gallo-running to a 6:15 finish. ///// Next week Carlsbad. I am hoping that the rain will pass by then. |
| 58 |
"Brandi Runs Again" Marathon |
01/10/10 |
Legg Lake, Whittier Narrows |
CA |
6:19 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Nice, pleasant Sunday morning marathon at Legg Lake in Whittier-Narrows. ///// 12 loops around the Park (2.2 miles). I Gallo-ran to a 6:19 finish. ///// Still recovering from last week's Quadzilla, so I took it nice and easy. Gallo-ran to a 6:19 finish. ///// Nice to see Rocco and Rachael from the RW Forum. ///// No injuries to complain about this time -- just general fatigue from the having run 8 marathons in 16 days at the end of December. ///// I did have some slight left lower calf spasm-type buckling, but nothing major. ///// I am hoping to be at almost full-strength in 2 weeks at Carlsbad. One can hope, can't one? //// My body seems to be quite fatigued. Obviously I have been running too many marathons. I will have to cut back and allow my body more recovery time. /// Shooting for a sub-5:00:00 is much more fun than 6:00:00-plus marathons. |
| 57 |
"New Year's Resolution" Marathon |
01/03/10 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
6:58 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Quadzilla #4. ///// I really love this run along Marina Vista in Long Beach. ////// I wasn't sure that I could even run one mile today, let alone 26.2 because of my wounded right quad. I took it just one mile at a time and hoped for the best. ////// Marina Vista - Six (4.2 mile)loops. I Gallo-walked to a pedestrian 6:58 Finish. //// I did it, I did it. Yeh me. 4 marathons in 4 days at 4 different venues. /// Because of my right quad, I had to take it easy today. As a result, my quad did not bother me until mile 20. ///// I basically Gallo-walked this marathon in 6:58, far more walking than running. /// Weather was about 46 degrees to start, but did get up to 80 degrees. ///// If this wasn't the end of my Quadzilla, I would have sat out this marathon due to my ailing right quadricep. But I couldn't pass up finishing a Quadzilla. ///// This was also my 8th marathon in 16 days (an Octozilla). |
| 56 |
"Breaking in the New Year" Marathon |
01/02/10 |
Whittier Narrows, Legg Lake |
CA |
6:49 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Quadzilla #3. ///// Closest that I have ever come to a DNF. I thought for sure that I was out of it at Mile 10 due to a ferociously locked up right quad. ///// Legg Lake - Twelve (2.2 mile) loops. I Gallo-walked to a pedestrian 6:49 Finish. ////// I earned my 7th Maniac Star having completed 13 marathons in 12 weeks. ///// This was the toughest marathon that I have ever run. My right quad locked up something fierce at Mile 10. I had to walk the last 16 miles. I have never had a DNF, and I wasn't about to register a DNF here. But I have to say, my last 16 miles were agony. ///// I hope that I can recover over-night because Quadzilla #4 is tomorrow morning. I'd say the odds are 50/50 that I will be at the start line tomorrow. If I am, it will be a long slow race, probably 7 hours. |
| 55 |
"Kicking Off The New Year" Marathon |
01/01/10 |
Central Park, Huntington Beach |
CA |
6:32 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Quadzilla #2. ////// Central Park - Ten (2.6 mile) loops. //// I am halfway through my Quadzilla. ////// Ten 2.6 mile loops. I did take it easy, Gallo-walking to a 6:32 finish. //// I earned my 6th Maniac Star having completed 3 Doubles within 16 days. ///// Excellent weather starting at 43 degrees and getting up to about 62 degrees. ///// Great turnout this morning - perhaps 35 runners. //// I Gallo-ran at a 15 minute pace. Tomorrow, I will probably be even slower -- perhaps a 15:30 pace. //// At Mile 22, I started to notice tightness in my right inner quad. It didn't hurt, but I should be aware of it with 2 more marathons to complete my Quadzilla. |
| 54 |
"Year End" Marathon |
12/31/09 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach |
CA |
6:12 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
SUNSET BEACH MARATHON #2 /////// Quadzilla #1. ///// We refer to this venue as the Bolsa Chica course. But more accurately, it starts in Sunset Beach and then goes south 1.5 miles below the Huntington Beach Pier. ///// Beachfront/Bikepath - Two (13.1 mile) Out/Back Loops. //// First of 4 consecutive marathons in 4 days. ///// Entire race was along the beachfront, from Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach. ///// Great weather -- low of 48 and high in low 60s. ///// I Gallo-ran in a time of 6 hours 12 minutes. I have to conserve my strength for the remaing 3 marathons in the Quadzilla. ///// Large turnout of about 40 runners. This may be a record for a Charlie Alewine race. ///// Today, I Gallo-ran at a 14:00 minute pace. Tomorrow, I will probably be closer to 15:00 minutes. |
| 53 |
Big Cat Challenge Marathon |
12/27/09 |
Central Park, Huntington Beach |
CA |
6:02 |
Marathon |
42 |
|
|
|
This was a 12-hour race, put on by Bob and Jenn English, in which you could do any distance you wished. Since I did the Dove Canyon Marathon yesterday, I decided to limit myself to a mere marathon today. ///// The race had a nice comfortable small town appeal. ///// The venue was at Huntington Beach's Central Park. //// The course was basically a 2 mile loop around the Park, which we did 13 times. ///// The terrain was a mix of asphalt and dirt. ///// The weather was perfect starting at 39 degrees and getting possibly up to 58 degrees. ///// The race was scheduled for 7:00am, but we didn't get going until about 7:35am. I hate it when that happens. ///// I think that we had only 50 runners participating, many going for a 50k, 50 miles or 60 miles. ///// Because this was the back-end of my double, I Gallo-Ran to an easy 6:03 finish. ///// Knock on wood, my shin was A-Ok again today. That is a major relief for this Marathon Maniac. |
| 52 |
"Partridge in a Pear Tree" Marathon |
12/26/09 |
Dove Canyon, Santa Margarita |
CA |
6:38 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Joyous trail marathon on the Belle View Trail through Dove Canyon and into the Caspar Wilderness Park. ////// Two (13.1 mile) Out/Back Loops. ///// As we entered Wilderness, we were warned to watch out for mountain lions -- Not exactly what I wanted to hear. ///// Elevation gain = 3,200 feet. ///// Temps: Start = 40 degrees --- Finish = 59 degrees. ////// Possibly 15 runners, perhaps 10 were doing the full marathon. ///// I went into the marathon worried about my shin. But fortunately, it did not bother me at all. I just hope that it doesn't flare up again tomorrow. ///// I really enjoyed todays run with its beautiful vistas. |
| 51 |
Santa's Marathon |
12/20/09 |
Legg Lake/ Whittier-Narrows |
CA |
6:03 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Well, another great Charlie Alewine marathon is in the record books. Today’s edition was at Legg Lake Park in Whittier-Narrows. //////
I am not sure about the numbers, but it looks like at least 20 runners made an appearance. My guess is: 10 marathoners and 10 half marathoners. //////
From the Runner's World Forum, we had quite a group: Rocco, Renee, Vixen, Billy, Emil, James and I.E. Jeff. Plus we had a number of non-forumite Maniacs including Yolanda, The Walking Diva. //// I woke up in the morning with a tight lower right shin. It bothered me intermittently throughout the marathon. Nothing serious, not painful. But I do worry that I may have developed one of those onerous shin splint problems.
|
| 50 |
Season's Greetings Marathon |
12/19/09 |
Marina Vista, Long Beach |
CA |
5:33 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
I earned my 5th maniac star today, having completed 26 marathons so far ths year. ////// This marathon was part one of my Weekend Double. ////// Extremely pleasant race at Marina Vista in Long Beach. ///// Weather was about 57 degrees at the start , but eventually got up into the high 70's. /// Course was almost all asphalt. The course was basically on roads that had not been closed off to traffic. So we had to e careful. ////// We ran 6 out/back loops, measuring 4.4 miles each. //////A major negative being the camber. But fortunately, the race was an out & back. So we were able to run on the camber in both directions creating somewhat of a balance. ////// No hills. The course couldn't be any flatter. ////// Scenic views of golf courses, parks and the Marina. ////// Lots of Maniacs. Sally Bowles and her Dad -- Maniac cousins Jessica & Jeanette --- Marina White ---- and others. ///// I ran the first half with Guerin, a collegue from Fullerton College. I had planned to run a very conservative first half, but that was not to be as I had to keep up with Guerin. I did slack off drastically during the 2nd half. So I should be okay for Sunday's marathon. /////This was another Charlie Alewine production. |
| 49 |
Santa Barbara International Marathon |
12/06/09 |
Goleta to Santa Barbara |
CA |
5:18 |
Marathon |
1716 |
|
|
|
Inaugural. ///// This was a special marathon for me because my girlfriend's daughter and her fiancee joined me, although they did the relay // The race was point-to-point -- Goleta to Santa Barbara City College. Lots of hills, especially at Mile 21 and Mile 24. But the rest of the course was pretty much rolling hills. Last 1.5 miles, however, were a much welcomed downhill. ///// Great weather, starting at about 46 degrees. Temps probably did not get higher than the upper 50s.///// Very scenic. What's not to love about Santa Barbara (the American Riviera). ///// Race was somewhat similar to last months inaugural Malibu, except no wind this time. ////// About 2,500 runners (1,700 full marathoners and 800 relay-marathoners). This was my first time running alongside of relay-teams (200 teams). /// Post-race, Caitlin, Joe and Mom took me to a nice restaurant on the Marina. Normally I just do the bagel & banana thing, but today was special. |
| 48 |
Seattle Marathon |
11/29/09 |
Seattle |
WA |
5:32 |
Marathon |
1963 |
|
|
|
Thanksgiving Sunday: Absolutely beautiful Marathon course. The first 2 miles were urban as we ran south on 5th Avenue through the heart of Seattle down to Safeco Park (Mariners) and Quest Field (Seahawks). ///// The last 24 miles were basically a bucolic run that included the Floating Bridge (I-90) over to Mercer Island, Lake Washington, Seward Park, Husky Stadium, Lake Union, and everywhere gorgeous parks and hillsides were abundant. ////// Weather was perfect, between 45-48 degrees, and no rain. /// The finish was in Memorial Stadium, next to the Space Needle. We were allowed to run across the football field to the finish line. How cool is that? /////// Lots of Maniacs in attendance;afterall, this is Seattle. //// 2,229 finishers. /// I wore a compression strap just below my right patella (knee cap). For the first time in 2 months, I did not have any knee issues. ///////////////// Postscript: The Pro-Tec Patella Strap was a godsend. After 2 months of continuous knee irritation, my knee was finally back to normal because of the strap. In future marathons, I would be pain-free. |
| 47 |
Pre-Thanksgiving Marathon |
11/22/09 |
South El Monte / Whittier-Narrows |
CA |
5:53 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Another pleasant 26.2 mile jog through Legg-Lake Park. ///// 12 loops (2.2 miles) around the perimenter of the park, which contains 3 lakes. //// Perfect weather -- 48 degrees to start. Probably didn't get any higher than 65 degrees. //// Once again, hats off to Charlie Alewine for putting on these marathons for Maniacs who just can't get enough. //// 5 marathon finishers and 4 half-marathon finishers. //// Saw some new faces as Vixen and Rocco, both from the Runner's World Forum, decided to join us. //// The terrain was dirt, grass and asphalt. However, if you pick the right paths, you can basically to the entire race on dirt or grass. But wear trail shoes and gaiters. //// My right knee didn't act up until Mile 10. Not bad, just tight until Mile 14. After that I only had intermittent tightness. Overall, I was pleased at the way my knee held up. //// I took it slow and easy as I ran 4 minutes, and walked 1 minute. I just wanted this as a training run. Next week, I have the Seattle marathon. /// This was my 23rd marathon for the year. I only need 3 more, and I am a 5-star Maniac. |
| 46 |
Malibu International Marathon |
11/15/09 |
Camarillo/Malibu |
|
5:45 |
Marathon |
286 |
|
|
|
Inaugural Marathon. //// Absolutely loved the entire experience, except for the ferocious wind. //// This will be an annual event for me each November. //// About 1,000 total runners -- 332 Full & 600+ Half //// Hills that rival Big Sur and Palos Verdes //// Ferocious wind from miles 9 thru 18 //// Temps started to climb after Mile 9, possibly to mid-70s, but no shade. ///// The last 18 miles along the beautiful Malibu Coast -- absolutely gorgeous //// Lots of Maniacs in attendance. //// I finished first in my age group (65-69). The thrill of this accomplishment was somewhat muted by the fact that I was probably the oldest runner in Attendance. /////
Some marathoner finishers ran into the surf and allowed the cool ocean water to tame their sore muscles -- Ah, only in Malibu. /////////// Post-race: Hung out with Maniacs right there at the beautiful Malibu Beach -- Fantastic! ///// My right knee-shin was tight for first half, then eased up. |
| 45 |
New York City Marathon |
11/01/09 |
New York City |
NY |
5:39 |
Marathon |
39684 |
|
|
|
#5 NYC Marathon for me ////// 44,000 runners. Not like the 10-12,000 in some of my earlier New Yorks of 1980, 83, 85 and 87. ////// Great organization - Great weather - Greatest course on the earth - I love New York!!!!!! /////// This is definitely an endurance event. I started from my hotel at 5:30am, took the subway, took the Staten Island Ferry, took the Wadsworth Shuttle, did the long walk to the Green Area, and started at 10:00am --- Getting to the start line is more difficult than the actual marathon. But I absolutely loved every bit of it. ////// 95% of the Ferry pasengers were runners, but there were some civilians. What a great experience! ///// Post-race, we got to ride the Subway free of charge. How cool is that? ///// Normally, I count down the miles. But not this time. I didn't want the race to end. I enjoyed every mile in every neighblorhood, and wanted the experience to last as long as possible. ///// Left calf kept locking up during last 1/3 of the marathon. //// My right knee-shin was tight for first half, then eased up. |
| 44 |
Christopher Columbus Marathon |
10/17/09 |
Whittier Narrows / South El Monte |
CA |
5:53 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
A Saturday Marathon at Legg Lake Park (Whittier Narrows). /////// I took it nice and easy since I just got back from runnng the Chicago Marathon last Sunday. Also, I have the NYC Marathon coming up in 2 weeks. /////// Warm weather peaking at 93 degrees, but it didn't seem to bother me. Plenty of shade in the Park /////// We did 8 loops of the Park weaving around 3 lakes. Each loop was 3.2 miles. /////// I believe that there were 9 or 10 runners in total. /////// Other than being somewhat fatigued and stiff, I had no problems. /////// Usual suspects were present: Yolanda, Jeanette, Deo and Silver. /////// Oh, we also had to share the Park with a number of high school cross-country teams in what looked like a major competition. /////// Once again, my thanks to race director Charlie Alewine for providing us Maniacs with a steady fix of marathons. ///// My right knee-shin was tight intermittently for first half, then eased up. |
| 43 |
Chicago Marathon |
10/11/09 |
Chicago |
IL |
5:46 |
Marathon |
10619 |
|
|
|
#2 Chicago (2008-2009) ////// Brrrrh!!!!!! Chicago low (29 degrees) and Chicago High (44 degrees) with start temp at 31 degrees. Fortunately there was no wind or rain. ////////// Because of my age (66yrs), I think that I preferred last year's 87 degree temps to the cold of 2009. I justed couldn't get loose, I never really warmed up. ///////// All that aside, I absolutely love the Chicago Marathon. ///////// Their Expo is the best going, probably only rivaled by Boston. //////// The course is to die for. My gawd! You get to see all of the best of Chicago, that toddling Town. How can you beat Grant Park, Lincoln Park, Old Town, ChinaTown, Comiskey Park, Michigan Avenue and Soldier Field. ///////// 45,000 signed up -- 34,000 ran -- 33,000 finished ////////// Shocking! The mens race was won by a Kenyan and the women's race was won by a Russian. /////// 2 potty breaks cost Deena Kastor 5 minutes and the female victory. ///// My right knee-shin was mildly tight intermittently at the beginning, then eased up. |
| 42 |
El Dorado Park Marathon |
10/03/09 |
El Dorado Park, Long Beach |
CA |
5:56:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
A beautiful day in a very beautiful park. Long Beach has much to be proud of in El Dorado Park. ///// Small race with only about 6 marathoners. But, as usual, Marathon Maniacs showed up for this small, but rewarding race. ///// 7 loops around the park. Each loop was 3.64 miles. ///// The weather was the best in weeks. Probably in the low 70s. Thank goodness, just 2 days ago the weather in Long Beach climbed above 90 degrees. ///// Once again, I would like to thank Charlie Alewine, our race director, for putting on another memorable event. I ran the first half with Yolanda the Walking Diva. ///// For perhaps the first time, I actually had legitimate negative splits. My second half was 10 minutes faster than the first half. ///// As usual, Jeanette Quintana, an ubiquitous Maniac, was also at the start line. ///// I just wanted to come in under 6 hours to stay respectable since I have Chicago coming up next weekend. ///////////////////// My right knee-shin was mildly tight intermittently for a few miles,then eased up. /// My Knee-shin problem began after a 20 mile training run last week. Didn't bother me until I had finished the training run. |
| 41 |
Central Park Marathon |
09/20/09 |
Huntington Beach |
CA |
5:54:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Central Park Marathon completed my weekend Double. //// 10 loops around the Park and into an adjoining residential neighborhood. Each loop was approximately 2.6 miles. The weather was sunny, but not all that bad. //// I thought that I would have a better finishing time. But I guess that I am still fatigued from yesterday's marathon. //// My only problem with these city park marathons is trying to keep from getting lost. ///// This was another small marathon with just under 10 runners. But, of course, most were Maniacs -- so that was great. |
| 40 |
Oktoberfest Marathon |
09/19/09 |
Fountain Valley |
CA |
5:47:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Part one of my weekend Double. //// Another enjoyable small marathon put on by Charlie Alewine. //// Less than 10 marathoners, but a great group replete with Maniacs. //// The venue was Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley. //// The course was 7 loops of 3.8 miles. //// The weather was probably in the low 80s, so I really loaded up with the sun block, and reapplied after the halfway mark. //// The heat didn't bother me. //// The course was flat and easy to navigate. Not a lot more to say since an urban park is pretty much generic. But running the perimeter of a park is always enjoyable. //// I took it easy coasting in at 5:47:00 since I have another marathon tomorrow morning. |
| 39 |
Crazy Monday Labor Day Marathon |
09/07/09 |
Huntington Beach |
CA |
5:31 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Nice little marathon at Huntington Central Park. ///// 8 loops around a very scenic park. ///// This concludes my Labor Day Weekend triple, although the second race was only a half marathon at Disneyland. ///// Only about 12 runners or so. But lots of Maniacs. ///// This was another race put on by Charlie Alewine. Charlie is a god-sent for us Maniacs. ///// BTW: Unlike Saturday's marathon, I did not get sunburned this time due to an ocean of sun-block, applied twice. |
| 38 |
Beachfront Marathon |
09/05/09 |
Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach |
CA |
5:49 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Sunset Beach Marathon #1 ////// Pleasant marathon completely along the Huntington Beach boardwalk. ///// Unfortunately, the boardwalk was either hard asphalt or concrete. But still extremely enjoyable. ///// We ran two loops going south from Warner & PCH (near Sunset Beach) to Beach & PCH (about a mile south of the Huntington Pier). ///// Another Charlie Alewine marathon with possibly 25-30 in attendance. Lots of Maniacs including "Yolanda the Walking Diva." ///// This was leg one of my Labor Day Weekend Triple. Tomorrow I do the Disney Half, and on Monday I do the Crazy Monday Marathon. Total mileage for the weekend will be 66, which just happens to be my age. How cool is that? /////
BTW: In spite of an ocean of sunblock, I still got sun-burned. Next time I better "re-apply" at the half-way point. |
| 37 |
3 Amigos Legg Lake Marathon |
08/15/09 |
South El Monte |
CA |
5:15 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Nice little marathon at Legg Lake Park (Whittier Narrows). //// Perhaps 20 runners, mostly Maniacs. //// Course was a figure-8 through and around the Park. //// Had to pay close attention to the route, or else you went astray. //// Extremely enjoyable. //// Much thanks to Charlie Alewine for putting on these small marathons for the Maniacs, and the soon-to-be Maniacs. ///////
I planned to race-walk the course with Yolanda. But I started to run during Mile 2. //// My first 20 miles were great, but the last 6 had me reverting back to race-walking. //// I was shooting for a 5:40:00 marathon, but actually finished in 5:15:45. //// Made a lot of rookie mistakes: Went out too fast -- Did not drink enough -- Not enough salt -- Drank gatorade, which I am not used to. //// Oh well, live and learn. |
| 36 |
San Francisco Marathon |
07/26/09 |
San Francisco |
CA |
5:13:00 |
Marathon |
3004 |
|
|
|
#3 S.F. Marathon (2007-2009) ///// I absolutely love this marathon. /// However, I wish that they would make up their minds where they want the Expo. Each year it gets moved further and further away from the start line & my hotel, the Hyatt-Embarcadero. This year it was a 2-mile hike to 7th Street in SOMA between a couple of freeways. ///// The weather was fantastic as usual with 50+ degrees at the start, and low 60s at the end. Plus it was overcast for most of the race. //// I still have a problem with the complex merging and splitting and merging with the half marathoners. //// But this marathon ranks right up there with the best that we have to offer. //// Hats off to the Motorcycle "Outlaw" Gang that provides traffic control each year. |
| 35 |
Seattle RnR Marathon |
06/27/09 |
Tukwila to Seattle |
WA |
5:27 |
Marathon |
6063 |
|
|
|
I love Seattle. What a great Inaugural. Great Expo, Fantastic Course, Magnificent Vistas. //// Expect hills, hills, hills. Also, expect concrete, concrete, concrete. It's a concrete jungle out there. //// Other than that, this is a keeper. //// Fantastic views of Lake Washington, Mt. Rainer, a bald eagle at Mile 6, and the great city of Seattle. //// We got to run on the I-90 Floating Bridge, through the I-90 Tunnel, The Aurora Road (Hwy 99), and the Alaskan Way Viaduct (also Hwy 99). //// Surprise steep hill at Mile 25, but then a great downhill to the Finish. //// 5,600 marathon finishers. //// 70% of the runners were women. Supposedly this is because women tend to "plan" and this race sold out months ago. //// This is a must for everyone's Maniac Calendar. I already signed up for next year at the bargain rate of $50. |
| 34 |
San Diego RnR Marathon |
05/31/09 |
San Diego |
CA |
5:09 |
Marathon |
3285 |
|
|
|
#2 San Diego Marathon (2008-2009), ///// My 5th marathon in the month of May. ///// A great San Diego weekend. ///// Excellent marathon as usual. The Expo is one of the better ones. Lots of guest speakers such as Dean Karnasses, Bart Yasso, Ryan Hall and Frank Shorter. Definitely better than the Los Angeles Expo. ///// The weather was perfect temperature-wise, but the humidity had to have been in the 80% range. ///// The 163 Fwy (major camber) was a thrill as usual. ///// This was also my 6th marathon in 5 weeks. ///// The course has hills, but so what. It is a great marathon. |
| 33 |
Los Angeles Marathon |
05/25/09 |
Los Angels |
CA |
5:05 |
Marathon |
545 |
|
|
|
#6 Los Angeles (1986, 87, 90, 07, 08, 09) //// First ever Memorial Day L.A. Marathon. /// Surprisingly for May 25th, we had great weather. 59 degrees at the start and 62 degrees when the winner crossed finish line. It was a bit humid at 71%. Ergo, hydrate, hydrate,hydrate. /// I love the new course (downtown to downtown). 1st half = downhill. 2nd half = uphill. Actually, we reverted back to the 1996-2006 course. /// Well run, well organized. /// Next year, the race is supposed to go back to the 1st Sunday in March. /// Frank McCourt would like the route to run from Dodger Stadium to the Pacific Ocean, either Santa Monica or Will Rogers State Beach. /// McCourt's goal is for the L.A. Marathon to rival NYC, Chicago and Boston. |
| 32 |
Ayala Park Marathon |
05/09/09 |
Chino |
CA |
5:42:00 |
Marathon |
15 |
|
|
|
I am obviously not recovered from last week's Double. Ergo, Ayala Park was tough sledding. //// Pleasant little race in the City of Chino. We did 14.5 loops around Ayala Park. Yes, it did get quite boring. The temps must have been in the mid to upper 80s. The course was flat, but we were forced to run mainly on concrete. That is never a good situation. However, it was possible to run on the adjoining soft ( but slow ) grass. This sacrifices time, but is great for the knees. ////// I really liked this well-organized marathon. I would do it again. |
| 31 |
Orange County (Newport) Marathon |
05/03/09 |
Newport |
CA |
5:34:30 |
Marathon |
513 |
|
|
|
New and much improved course. First half was sensational with Corona Del Mar, Balboa Bay and the Newport Back Bay. 2nd half included the Santa Ana River Trail. Finished at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Generally flat with some rollers. But major hills at miles 10, 15, and 25. Beautiful views during first half. // This completed my Marathon Double for the weekend // I am now a 4-star Maniac |
| 30 |
Palos Verdes Marathon |
05/02/09 |
San Pedro/P.V |
CA |
5:56:00 |
Marathon |
130 |
|
|
|
Palos Verdes #2. ///// Beautiful day. Beautiful vistas plus the Pacific Ocean. But P.V. is extremely hilly and tough. //// Small race, less than 300. Nice hometown feel. //// I took it slow and easy today because tomorrow I hope to complete my first Double at the O.C. Marathon |
| 29 |
Camp Pendleton Hard Corps Marathon |
04/25/09 |
Camp Pendleton, Oceanside |
CA |
5:26:00 |
Marathon |
297 |
|
|
|
Camp Pendleton Hard Corps #1, Inaugural. //// Small & intimate with 370 marathoners. //// Hills, and plenty of them. Strong wind. 15 miles of concrete. //// Finished 2nd in my Age Group. //// I tried to take it easy because next week I will attempt a Double at P.V. and O.C. ///// I really loved the fact that we were running on the Marine Base. Semper Fi, Baby. / / / / / It was at this marathon that I encountered a lawyer by the name of Michelle Palmer and her two companions. I would encounter Michelle in future marathons. But it wouldn't be until Arizona RnR in January 2011 that we became constant running companions. |
| 28 |
Pasadena Redux Marathon |
03/22/09 |
Pasadena |
CA |
5:38:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
#1 Pasadena. /////// Wow! This marathon was some tough-sledding. I am not allowing myself a good enough recovery period. Now I am paying the price. //// Inaugural. Tough-sledding today. Rain, wind, cold and hills.
Beautiful course. I love the Rose Bowl Brookshire Park. I think that I am fatigued. I was uncommonly slow today. I may have to cut back on my race schedule. //////// Postscript: I purchased calf compression sleeves at the Expo. Good move, since my calf problems will basically disappear for my future marathons. |
| 27 |
Orange Curtain 50K |
02/21/09 |
Cerritos |
CA |
6:33:00 |
50 km |
|
|
|
|
My first official Ultra. What took me so long? I can't wait to do another one. //// We ran along the San Gabriel River from Cerritos to Long Beach. We did the same 10K loop 5 times, rather boring. The upside was that the course is basically flat, unlike a trail Ultra. //// I definitely should think about investing in an I-pod. /////// My right calf locked up at Mile 28, and stayed that way for the last 3 miles. /// Right knee (inside) was tender at Mile 27, and for last 4 miles |
| 26 |
Surf City Marathon |
02/01/09 |
Huntington Beach |
CA |
5:12:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Surf City #2. ///// Most of the race had a great ocean view. Loved running on the boardwalk for the last 10 miles, although the pavement was not forgiving on the knees. Flat course, great weather, but I was fatigued from running Carlsbad the previous week. ///// My left foot neuroma was severe after Mile 16. Also, top of right foot was sore for the last 10 miles. In the future, I will have to really loosen up my shoes to take off the pressure. |
| 25 |
Carlsbad Marathon |
01/25/09 |
Carlsbad |
CA |
5:09:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
#2 Carlsbad (2008-2009). ///// The coastal portion was amazing. But the steep camber of the inland route was a disaster on my ankles, and who knows what else. //// My left upper calf locked up ferociously at Mile 16. It was high enough not to affect my stride, but it sure did hurt for the last 10 miles. //// The continuous rolling hills bothered many runners. Fortunately, I train on hills, so no worries on that score. |
| 24 |
Chicago Marathon |
10/12/08 |
Chicago |
IL |
5:05:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Nothing beats a true urban marathon in one of America's great cities. After NYC, my 2nd favorite race. Chicago definitely has the best Expo of all that I have attended. //// Well over 30,000 runners made for very crowded conditions, but then again that is part of the greatness of Chicago. The course is flat and fast, and I should have easily broken 5 hours, but I didn't. The reason being that I came into the race fatigued. |
| 23 |
San Francisco Marathon |
08/03/08 |
San Francisco |
CA |
4:55:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
#2 San Francisco Marathon (2007-2008) ////// Golden Gate Bridge. Golden Gate Park. Haight-Ashbury. What's not to love. After NYC and Chicago, my 3rd favorite race. I ran this race with my daughter-in-law (her first). //// Surprisingly, my highlite was seeing Java House at Mile 26. I kept thinking, I will cross the finish line and grab a cup of java. |
| 22 |
San Diego Marathon |
06/01/08 |
|
|
5:05:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
S.D. #1. ///// The 163 Freeway played havoc with its camber. Got to meet lots of Maniacs and RW Forumites from Southern California. The obvious draw is being able to run through one of America's great cities. Plus, they had a top-notch Expo, almost as good as Chicago. //// I love finishing the race at the Marine Corp Recruit Depot. Marathon Day is the only time that civilians are allowed on the Graduation Parade Ground. ///// Top of my left foot was very tender and sore for the last 16 miles. My shoes were probably too tight. |
| 21 |
Los Angeles Marathon |
03/02/08 |
|
|
5:14:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Los Angeles #5. //// Temps in the 80s, just like last year. Why we have to run the last 6 miles into East L.A. and back is far beyond my pay grade to understand. The entire race reminded me of one huge block party as we ran through many ethnic neighborhoods. Not one of my favorite urban marathons. But it is L.A., so I will be back every year. |
| 20 |
Lost Dutchman Marathon |
02/17/08 |
Apache Junction |
AZ |
4:52:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
#1 Lost Dutchman Marathon. ///// Campfires and hot cocoa in the desert prior to the start. Fantastic! Only 338 marathoners, but a great group. I don't think that you can beat running the first seven miles through the desert as the sun is coming up. The day before, I drove and viewed the 60 mile Apache Trail ( great outing ). //// Of course on race day, we got to run from 7 miles deep in the Desert to eventually HWY 88, which is the Apache Trail at the foothills of the Superstition Mts. |
| 19 |
Surf City Marathon |
02/03/08 |
Huntington Beach |
CA |
5:30:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Surf City #1. // Cold, Rain, and Wind. This 2008 race will forevermore be known as "Soak City".
The conditions were tough, but I truly loved the last 10 miles running along the boardwalk (or bike path) adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. // I love this course. Much better than Carlsbad. Obviously, I love the continuous ocean view. But I also liked the 7 mile dip inland into Central Park (miles 3-9). That was fan-tas-tic! // There is no denying that it would have been much better had we not had the storm. Rain, wind and cold can really sap a runner. I had to wear a poncho for 20 miles. Probably the wind was the most troublesome. It wreaked havoc on my poor plastic poncho. That's why I dumped it at mile 20. But what the heck, at least we didn't have a killer heat wave that messed up Chicago 2007. Such are the breaks. // I do wish that the Race Committee would ban the strollers. A woman ran right up onto my trailing-leg, in what could have been a major disaster. She didn't even apologize. All she said was, "I have a right to be here." // I had read about the trauma caused by the merger of full-marathoners and the half-marathons between miles 9-16. Well, it was as miserable as advertised. I felt like a marathoning cowboy trying to cut through a herd of cattle. And the walkers.... Oy Vey! Why do they have to walk 3 and 4 abreast down the middle of the road? // The advantage of a small marathon (1,050 runners) is negated by having to merge with 8,400 half-marathoners for 7 miles. At least we were able to shake them at mile 16. |
| 18 |
Carlsbad Marathon |
01/20/08 |
Carlsbad |
CA |
5:13:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Carlsbad #1. ///// I thought that the rolling inclines would never end. Yuk! But the ocean views during the first half were well worth the price of admission. Loved the 6:30am start. They even had a 5:30am start for the slow runners or walkers. I will definitely be back next year, and the next, etc. |
| 17 |
Long Beach Marathon |
10/14/07 |
Long Beach |
|
5:15:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
I didn't like the 10 miles of running on concrete. Although the concrete bike path had the best views of the entire marathon (The Pacific ocean). My eyes liked it, but my knees were not so happy. Enjoyable race. Unfortunately, Long Beach falls on the same day as the Chicago Marathon next year and the year after. So, this may be my last Long Beach for a few years. ///// Top of right foot was very tender and sore after the 6th mile. My shoes were probably too tight. |
| 16 |
San Francisco Marathon |
07/29/07 |
|
|
5:30:00 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
S.F. #1. ///// What can be better than running over the Golden Gate Bridge (miles 6-10) and through Golden Gate Park (miles 12-19)? What a way to see the City. We ran through Haight-Ashbury (mile 20), the Mission District (mile 21), and by the Giants Baseball Park (mile 24), and eventually the Bay Bridge (mile 26). I love San Francisco. |
| 15 |
Los Angeles Marathon |
03/04/07 |
Los Angeles |
CA |
5:40 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Los Angeles #4. //// The first 1.5 miles are uphill on a very narrow road. I felt like a sardine trying to work my way out of the can. /// Temperature was in the mid-80s -- not exactly marathon weather. /// Mile 19 was only a block away from the Downtown Finish line, but we still had to make a 7 mile round-trip out to Boyle Heights in East L.A. and back. //// My advice: go back to the old route of 1996, or even the older route of 1986. |
| 14 |
Kilauea Marathon |
07/27/96 |
|
HI |
|
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Should be called "Killer" Marathon. Talk about a National Geographic-style race. We traversed thru volcanic ash, volcanic lava rock, elephant grass, paved roads, back trails, you name it. /// It was hot, it was tough-sledding all the way. //// Slashed my leg nastily on the lava rock --- blood everywhere. ////This marathon took me an hour longer than usual. / / / / / / / / / /
Official course description: The lava-trail course starts in the desert surrounding the volcano and climbs through rain forests to the summit. Not an easy course, so even good runners wind up walking a lot of the race. The time limit is a generous 8 hours. It is suggested that runners tack on an extra 30 minutes or an hour to their normal finishing times - the course is that tough. |
| 13 |
Los Angeles Marathon |
03/04/90 |
|
|
3:55 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Los Angeles #3. //// Race still begins and ends at the L.A. Coliseum. Mayor Bradley and Mohammad Ali announced the start. How cool is that? /// This is a great marathon running through L.A.'s many diverse neighborhoods including Hollywood. ////// My girlfriend Michele and her 3 children came to the race with me. They loved it. Normally, I don't have any family or friends at my races. ////// I was captured on T.V. approaching the finish line. Yeh, Me! |
| 12 |
New York City Marathon |
10/25/87 |
New York City // My Hometown |
NY |
3:50 |
Marathon |
3951 |
|
|
|
NYC #4. ///// I actually ran this race in 3:50:46. But back then, there was no "chip". Everything was gun time. Gun Time = 4:04:46. //// The thrill of coming off the Queensboro Bridge (Mile 16) and emerging onto 1st Avenue to the thunderous roar of the crowd is "to die for." |
| 11 |
Los Angeles Marathon |
03/09/87 |
|
|
3:35 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Los Angeles #2. My Gawd! They did follow up. Perhaps this will be an annual event. //// Start and finish at L.A. Coliseum. //// Loved the Expo. Not all marathons have an Expo. NYC did, but that is it for my past experiences. //// I wish that we could actually run through the tunnel and into the Coliseum for the Finish. /// I acually did this in a race back in the 1970s.
|
| 10 |
Yonkers Marathon |
04/21/86 |
Yonkers // NYC's Backyard |
NY |
3:06 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
All timing in 1986 was by the gun. No chip timing in the old days. My stop watch had a 3:06:00 finishing time. Unfortunately, my gun time was about 3:14:00. That is just the way it was in the old days. We didn't complain because we didn't know any better. I was on fire for this marathon. I ran with my speedy cousin, but soon left him in the dust. I have to say that this was my best marathon during the 30 year period of 1980 to 2010. My time of 3:06 was extremely pleasing because Yonkers is hills, hills, hills. it is considered to be one of the toughest marathons in existence. xxxxxxxxxx This was the 50th running of the Yonkers Marathon. //// Yes. Hills, hills, hills. //// But, I really loved this marathon, probably because I love everything about New York. As I already mentioned, I ran with my cousin Artie and some of his friends from the Rockland County Road Runners and some of my friends from the New York Road Runners Club. I ran most of the race with the eventual 1st Place Female finisher. At the end, I pulled away from her. Hey! Had I been a chick, I would have won. |
| 9 |
Los Angeles Marathon |
03/10/86 |
|
|
3:20 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
THE VERY FIRST L.A. MARATHON -- ONLY 8,000 Runners. ///// Los Angeles #1. //// I think that I ran this in at least a 3:20:00, if not faster. This is the FIRST. This is the Inaugural. I was present at the creation. Fantastic. /// This was the best course for L.A. -- begin at the Coliseum, end at the Coliseum // I absolutely loved this race, and was hoping that it wasn't going to be a "one-shot" deal. Would they follow up again in 1987? //// |
| 8 |
New York City Marathon |
10/27/85 |
New York City // My Hometown |
NY |
3:33 |
Marathon |
4338 |
|
|
|
NYC #3. ///// I luv NYC.//// Ran this race with two of my cousins. //// Running through the 5 boroughs of NYC is absolute Nirvana for me. //// NYC is the greatest marathon known to man. //// I was greeted at the Finish Line by a third, but non running, cousin (Mary). That was nice. It is great running in your hometown. |
| 7 |
New York City Marathon |
10/23/83 |
New York City // My Hometown |
NY |
3:22 |
Marathon |
1989 |
|
|
|
NYC #2. ///// My favorite marathon of all time. I can still say that in 2008. /// Staten Island to Brooklyn to Queens to Manhattan to The Bronx to Manhattan to Central Park. It doesn't get much better than that. I ran with my cousin Artie Reilly and some of his running club pals, which made this marathon even more memorable. Artie and I stayed at the Empire Hotel just off Columbus Circle the night before. Sunday morning, we caught the bus shuttle at the NY Public Library destined for Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano Bridge. The 3-hour wait at the Start Village was an anthropological study of the running culture. The 100 foot, outdoor, urinal troth definitely made for a lasting memory. |
| 6 |
Pasadena YMCA Rose Bowl Marathon |
11/21/82 |
Pasadena |
CA |
3:42 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
I ran this marathon in the Fall of 1982. //// This was the 7th running of the Pasadena Rose Bowl Marathon. / / / / / This was an ancient version of the current Pasadena Marathon, in which I have run all 4 ( 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 ). / / / / / I just now entered onto my career list this 30 year old marathon because I just found the data for that race. / / I do not record my past marathons unless I can remember the date, exact location, and approximate finishing time. / / / / / Ironically, while cleaning out my house over the weekend, I found my 3 decade-old finishing t-shirt in pristine condition. On it was all the data that I needed. But most important, it had the exact Date. Without a date, I will not record a past marathon. |
| 5 |
Jordache Los Angeles Marathon |
03/29/81 |
Hollywood Bowl to Will Rogers State Beach |
CA |
3:50 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This should be the route for the L.A. Marathon. Hollywood Bowl to Will Rogers State Beach. //// The first 10 miles were flat and easy. The last 16 miles were hills, hills, hills as we traversed along Sunset Blvd past UCLA, through Brentwood, and the Santa Monica Mountains, and down to the beach. / / / / / / / / / / Below is is a comment from a fellow runner: "On March 29, 1981 a race with the wonderful name "$100,000 Jordache-Los Angeles Pro-Am Marathon" with 5000 runners started at the Hollywood Bowl and went along Sunset to the beach. Whoever planned that one obviously didn't care about a flat course..."
|
| 4 |
New York City Marathon |
10/26/80 |
New York City // My Hometown |
NY |
3:39 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
NYC #1. ///// The greatest marathon ever created. //// This was my first true "Urban" Marathon. Running through a great city is much better than running through farmlands and sparsely populated residential or industrial areas. //// I would like to run NYC every year from now on. /// This has to be the greatest thrill of my running career. / / / / / / / I no doubt ran faster than 3:49. But, back then everything was gun time. Had we had chip timing, I probably had a 3:30 or better. |
| 3 |
Palos Verdes Marathon |
06/14/80 |
Palos Verdes |
CA |
3:45 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
Palos Verdes #1. ///// My 2nd marathon in 6 days. //// very scenic with great ocean views. //// But extremely hilly --- definitely the equal of Big Sur. It was hot, but this is June, so you can expect that in Palos Verdes. //// We started at Palos Verdes High and finished at Rolling Hills High School. ////////// Postscript: Too bad that the Marathon Maniacs wasn't in existence in 1980. I would have qualified with my 2 in one week. |
| 2 |
Leatherneck Marathon |
06/08/80 |
El Toro |
CA |
3:25 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
As best that I can recollect, I ran this in about 3:25:00, or faster. //// Hot, hot, hot. //// Running through Tustin was not anything to write home about. //// The temps were hovering around 90 degrees - Ouch! ///// I did enjoy running through a humongous airport hanger. If nothing else, it helped us to cool off. ///// Ran again with my buddy Fred Smits. Next weekend, on Saturday, Fred and I will be running the Palos Verdes Marathon. That will be 2 marathons in one week. |
| 1 |
Hidden Valley Marathon |
02/15/80 |
Hidden Hills, San Fernando Valley |
CA |
3:30 |
Marathon |
|
|
|
|
This marathon was held in the San Fernando Valley, just north of the Santa Monica Mountains. ///// Trying to recall, I imagine that I ran this marathon in about 3 hours and 30 minutes. Boring, boring, boring. //// If you like the wide-open spaces, farmlands, horse trails --- then this is the race for you. //// I enjoyed the fact that it was a marathon, but I would have preferred a different location. ///// Ran the entire marathon with my pal Fred Smits. His wife and kids met us about every 6 miles with refreshments. That was good since there really weren't many aid stations to speak of. And, all that you could get at the stations was a cup of water. /////// In 1980, there weren't a lot of marathons in existence, let alone aid to marathoners. Gatorade, Shot-Bloks, and Gu were to come much, much later. |
|
