From 6 to 200 MPH

Monday, June 13, 2011

Long Beach Marathon - Training

Today's run is the start of my 2nd full marathon training.  My goal is to run the 26.2 miles without bonking/stopping/walking.  

My training program will be:
            a. Pace range of 10:30 to 12 minute per miles.
            b. 2 - 15 miles run at 10:30 pace
            c. 2 - 18 miles run at 10:45 pace
            d. 1 - 20 miles run at 11:00 pace
            e. 1 - 26 miles run at 12:00 pace (September 11)

6/13/2011
           Distance:  12 miles
           Time:        2:03:26
            Pace:       10:17


Long Beach Marathon
October 9, 2011

Long Beach Marathon
October 2010
Time: 4:42:49

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Ojai 2 Ocean Half Marathon - A fun Run

This is the inaugural run of Ojai 2 Ocean Marathon and Half Marathon,  limited to 600 total participants.

It's a no frills event but full of fun:
   1. Bib Pick Up - No health expo, pictured I.D not required and no freebies except 2 packets of chewable stuff. Out of there in 2 minutes with my bib#, timing chip & shirt.

    2. Start Line (Half Marathon) - Stay on the trail, go south by about 1/4 mile and you will find     a surf board planted on the sand with Start painted on it.  No banner, no cones, no balloons.
 
    3. Hydration Stations - I left the comment(s)  to the expert(s).  I always run with my hydration     belt.

    4. Finish Line - Look at the picture: You can't get simpler than this.  


My Perspective of the Race -  Fun started at 5:15am.  I left the hotel on foot(still dark) and walked toward the fairground where I thought the HM starts. My bad, had to turnaround when told the start line was near the historic pier. Together with a couple, a female runner and her companion on a bike,  we got a simple direction from the event staff near the pier.  Stay on the trail,  keep walking till you find a surf board with Start painted on it. After walking 1/2 mile, we reached the start line. That was fun and a good  warm up. 

The race started on time. The trail was crowded with runners and had to run slowly for almost a mile. At the bike trail the crowd thin out and now on my normal HM pace.  As usual, I look for  a  pacer and stayed with him/her till I lost them and had to look for another one.  Majority of the participants are young men and women, serious runners and from the look of their appearance,  lead a healthy and active lifestyle. At age 69, I thought I was the oldest participant(the results listed another participant at age 72).

At mile 6, I was still running strong and at paced to set a PR. On the 2nd loop, the crowd really thin out and  there were times, I can not see a  runner ahead of me. At mile 10, this is where I usually get tired, I found a pacer that motivated me to run behind her all the way to the finish line. 


Almost there!!

Crossed the finish line strong and when I looked at my Garmin watch I was shocked.  I finally reached my ultimate goal ----- to finish the 1/2 marathon under 2 hrs.  Unbelievable, awesome, it's a miracle were  the words that can described my feelings.  Unfortunately, a further looked at my Garmin watch, the course distance is only 12.62 miles. Short by about 1/2 mile

     Official Time :            1:56:54
    Overall Place :             95/268
    AG(65/74)      :             1st Place

It's a PR for me even if I add a conservative time of 5 minutes to my official time to run the other 1/2 mile.

I had fun at the race and above all, my wife and I enjoyed our weekend in Ventura.