First, the results - I ran 3:24:54 and placed 5th in my age group and 149th overall (out of 4,238). I also qualified for Boston which was an awesome bonus.
Building up to the race I was completely freaked out. I didn't get enough training in (being mommy, working, and trying to fit in hikes and other adventure just aren't conducive to lots of long runs). Luckily my co-worker and his girlfriend were running too, so I had friends at the start. The day began at 3am getting ready and then getting on a bus from Carmel to Big Sur at 3:45. The bus ride was an hour during which I got to hear stories from other runners on their intense training build-up. At 4:45 we were dropped off in Big Sur and told to "avoid the woods" as there was poison oak along the side of the road. I sat on a curb between portapotty posts and just decompressed.
The course was/is TOUGH! I'm OK with hills, in fact I prefer hills to flat, but this race was super windy.
From miles 5-8 I wasn't sure I could push through the wind as it was so hard. Around mile 10 I was finally in the zone, and somehow I just don't remember miles 16-17 at all. My favorite highlights from the course were:- The ocean crashing up against the cliffs off the road
- The birds flying above (although sometimes I was certain vultures were coming for me)
- The grand piano player ON highway 1
- The drummers on the big long hill
- The people
- The everything!
I hope to get into the Big Sur Marathon again!
1 comment:
Fabulous!
Post a Comment