Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Marathon 9 - Check...Surf City!!!




Surf City Marathon - The Recap in Pictures...
and a few words...




This is the line to get into the Expo!  We arrived in Huntington Beach in the late afternoon and the Expo was packed!  We made our way through and picked up my bib and goodies as well as picked up my GU necessities for race day...  Once we made it out of the tented, hot Expo we enjoyed the beach a bit...it was a warm day of 72 degrees!!!


Then on to the EAP meet-up...I had the chance to meet Patrick and Chris.  Both great guys and we chatted things of training, flu, BQ's and such.  Chris actually sold me on a product that he bought at the Expo so we headed back in to browse a bit and to get me one of my own...  I'll let him tell about the exciting product!


J thinks this looks like the cover of an album...We got P-funk on the drums with crazy solos...C-Rock on bass jammin' his blues riffs...and aRDy on tambourine... I can play a mean tambourine...  Band names??

Patrick offered up some great suggestions for pre-race meals, so J and I headed off for dinner and early lights out.  That night I had a dream that I was running the race and at mile 13 I realized that I was running in house slippers.  I saw J on the sideline and told him to go back to the start to get my runner's, that I had forgotten to switch, and to bring them back to me.  He said, 'Aaaahh you're fine.  You're already half done.  Just finish it up.'  Thanks babe.

I woke up after that dream without an alarm going off, looked at my watch and it was 5:15 am.  My alarm was supposed to go off at 5:00!  So I got up, changed super fast, gathered all my stuff together and while lacing up my shoes I noticed the clock on the sidetable...4:25 am.  Oh yeah...Pacific time...deep breath...I had another hour... : )

It was a perfect foggy morning in Huntington Beach.  20,000 runners. 


No signs of the flu.  I felt rested.  I felt strong.  I just knew it was going to be a great run.  I was secretly, well probably not so secretly, hoping for a PR even though I'd had a rough week.  I set out running 9:00/mi and it felt great.  I hit the halfway mark at 2:03.  Felt exceptional about that.  I didn't take pictures during the race but the course is just absolutely spectacular.  The majority of the course is literally along the ocean.  Views of the Pacific and surfers in and out the whole morning.  I was in heaven.  Like clockwork I slowed in the late teen miles and then the last 5 miles I was trying to stay around 11's.  So frustrating.  I felt aerobically very strong, not a problem, but legs just didn't have it in them once again.  Still I finished with a 4:25, my fastest time since Logan back in September!  So that, I was happy about.




The race was extremely well organized and a zillion volunteers that went above and beyond.  I LOVED this race.  The course wasn't completely flat...a few little rollers and one baby hill...which I love having a few little things to shake it up.  The finish area was crazy but great and of course I love my surfboard finisher's medal!

We were lucky to be able to spend an extra day and enjoy some beach time...


We came home to this...


But still thinking about this today...


I now live in Surf City...

but I altitude train 52 weeks a year in Snowville, USA... : )


28 comments:

  1. congrats on the race! It looks beautiful there!

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  2. Oh wow! Talk about two extremes in weather!
    Loved the pics!

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  3. Glad you were happy with your race. How cool to meet up with other bloggers. Love the pictures!

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  4. Woo hoo - nine down; three to go!

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  5. Congrats! Great job!!! And so beautiful!!! I may have to look at doing this one next year. :)
    Erin
    http://seemomrunfar.blogspot.com/

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  6. Dawn and the Doofuses sing the Beach Boys Greatest Hits!

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  7. Congrats! So glad you had a great time (both literally and figuratively) and that you got to hook up with the boys from blogland. Wow, what a contrast in pictures!

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  8. Congrats on number 9! You did great! You'll get that sub-four yet :) Love the pics and a bit jealous of that beautiful beach.

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  9. Looks awesome! Congratulations on a great race! I've said it before and I'll say it again, YOU ARE MY HERO!

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  10. Great pictures and great job! Glad the recent sickness didn't interfere, especially after being exposed to Chris K. That really looks like a tempting destination race right about now.

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  11. YAY!!! Nice race, sounds like all went well despite the mile 20 nemesis but you'll work on that :). Congrats on another great race (I think I need to do that one next year :)).

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  12. Great race! Gosh it looks purdy there...maybe I need to do that one next year...

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  13. loved this.

    kinda liked the photo too. ;)

    I want altitude training.

    got a bed for me?

    Way to go RD!

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  14. Great Report! and awesome run...way to go notching #9!! I think you did great especially after being sick. Howd you get RD on your bib??? amazing pics and sounds like a great event

    D

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  15. Great job. Love the name on the beach picture!

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  16. Great pics! how fun that you all got to meet! I want to do the half there next year!

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  17. 9 down. 3 to go!!!! amazing!

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  18. Congrats on a great race! Surf City treated you well!

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  19. Nice! Glad you had a good race and some SUN!

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  20. What an amazing looking race! I used to live in SD and have some friends that ran this one and loved it too. Might have to be a destination race next year.... :)

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  21. Dawn! We so look like Rockstars in that pick, eh? No pictures of J?! That guy is The Man. Loved that guy. Your pic of the writing in the sand was awesome. If you send me that hi-res image I will print it at work on 13x19" inch Fine Art paper and send it to you. Seriously.

    How is your secret you-know-what product? I'm digging mine. Do you want to review it?

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  22. I am trying to decide where I live even though I altitude train 52 weeks/year, too. That is funny. Great job! Now you are 3/4 of the way there.

    In my training I try to run negative splits to condition my body and get it used to speed at the end. Maybe try starting out slower and slowly increasing your speed. (in your training runs before the race of course) My husband has a strategy of starting in last place so that he is passing people the whole time. :) Just my 2 cents...

    You're awesome!

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  23. Glad you had a good time in HB and hopefully you guys will be back next year...

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  24. Loved hearing about Surf City from all you guys. I might have to pencil that in for next year but I'll likely stick with the half. 9 Marathons down! You are amazing--what an experience. Glad you are feeling better.

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