San Francisco Marathon - Stage 8 of My Journey

My most satisfying run  not because of my finished time and the SFM challenging course, but for the first time I was injury free crossing the finish line.

Time: 5:05:40

My son Time: 3:57:00

For my effort, I received the Finisher Medal, Medal for doing the LA and San Francisco and a Hoodie for doing the 1st half, 2nd Half and Full in consecutive years.

Details to follow:

San Francisco Marathon - Last LSD!!!!!

Last Monday, I ran 15 miles, last LSD before the SFM. .  The run is to find out if I am fully recovered from my injuries and to test the SUPERfeet insole I bought from Sport Chalet.  The orthotic insole is too expensive that  I decided to test  the SUPERfeet.  The guy from Sport Chalet, who is a runner and physical therapist,  helped me find the correct insole.

RESULTS:
1. Except the pain/tightness on my right shoulder, I felt great.
2. Plantar Faciitis - the SUPERfeet insole is fantastic. No pain on my fascia and on my knees.
3. Blood  Pressure Before: 80/70;  HR: 59
4: Blood Pressure 1 hr After: 135/83: HR: 95

SFM GOALS:
1. SFM will be my 8th marathons within a year and will meet the Marathon Maniac requirement for silver membership.

2. Run the First Half in 2:15 - 2:20hrs
3. Run/jog/walk the 2nd Half and cross the finish line under 6 hrs.

San Gabriel River Pathway at 6:30 am. It's a favorite venue of cyclists.  The path is from the San Gabriel mountain to the Ocean at Seal Beach.

Not easy to take pictures while running.   

On target of my goal to finish the SFM First Half in 2:15 - 2:20hrs

End of the LSD.  Few feet from home and a mile from the Path..

San Francisco Marathon Training Update!!!!!

SFM will be the most challenging stage of my Journey and to survive it, I should be strong and free of all the pains that bothered me in my previous races.

I had a good training plan coming to this race (July 29), unfortunately, 2 injuries within 3 weeks didn't help.  LSD of 20 miles is now out(ran 11 miles a week ago and after the ran can't turned my head or raised my right arm above my head). Will do a 16 miles week before the race, though.

My Injuries (Playing racquetball) :
1. Sprained ankle ...... recovered
2. Bruised ribs ........... recovered
3. 1" cut on my chin ... healing
4. Neck and shoulder spasms ... on recovery
5. Dislocated jaw ....... still hurt and 9 images inconclusive(next step will be a visit to an specialist).
6. Plantar Faciitis ........ Cortisone shot on my right foot (felt good) and shoe filler for better arch support.
                                    The foot doctor wants to fit me with custom molded orthotics  but decided to try                                         shoe filler first(orthotics is expensive).

Recovery / Training Program:
1. Spa every morning after workout.
2. Treadmill with gradual increase of incline up to 12".
3. Run 3 times a week with a total distance of 20 miles
4. Next week will run 16 miles.
5. No more racquetball.

After the cortisone shot and a day before my second accident.

My Journey Update

On July 29 at the San Francisco Marathon Finish Line,  My Journey to the Marathon Maniacs silver membership ends. Eight marathons within 365 days can easily be the highlight of my running days and I am glad that I took the Journey.

But .......... after the SFM, there are still 69 days left before the year is up.  Why settle for an apple, if you can have an apple pie?  Just like those professional athletes who don't know when to quit,  I decided to continue  My Journey and added two(2) more events. Good Luck to me.

My Journey  as seen at the Finish Line.

Injuries Update:
1. Cramps - Under control..  Didn't bother me in my last ran.
2. Plantar Fasciitis - soak my feet in ice water after workout. Added 3/16" thick cushion in my shoes.
3. Bruised Ribs - still hurt when I sneeze or cough.
4. Will see doctor on June 28.  Will request for cortisone shots.
5. Graston Technique(GT) sessions next month for plantar fasciitis.

What's Next:
As far as running, don't know what I will be doing after My Journey.  One thing is sure though, I am FADING.

Ojai 2 Ocean Marathon ....... Stage 7 of My Journey Result

This event will be my 7 marathons since October 9, 2011(Long Beach International Bank Marathon).  I was reluctant to join it because the event is geared for young and stronger runners on a mission to set  PR and BQ. The free registration (HM AG 1st place last year) was hard to pass, though. Also,  I believe I can beat the time the course will be opened to traffic. Game plan was to be at Mile 25, 5 hrs from gun start.
 

My race day started at 3:00 am. Dressed up, had light breakfast and drove to the shuttle pick-up station. Took the first bus and arrived at the starting area in Ojai with plenty of time to spare before gun time.  It was dark  Race start was delayed by almost an hour and was worried that course will be opened to traffic as scheduled. 

Twenty minutes after the gun start, 700+ out of 810 runners were out of my sight and the trail from Ojai to Ventura was left to the motivated, brave and slow  runners like me. I enjoyed the scenic view and crossing the bridge. Got familiar with some of the runners and most specially to the sweeper (guy with cowbell).  The sweeper cheers and motivated runners with "looking good, good pace, you can do it".  His main duty though, was to make sure no runner  was left behind.  Saw him at least five times on the trail and responded to his cheers with " Still kicking".

At mile 13 my split time of 2:30:00 was on target but no allowance for rest or walking. Worst, my foot problems (Metatarsalgia - pain on the foot ball;  Plantar Fasciitis) started to bother me.  These problems forced me to walk a lot at the Orange County Marathon held last June 3. Started counted my strides, cycle of 100.  100 strides with more weight on my right foot, then switched to my left feet for the next cycle. It didn't ease the pain but it didn't get worst.  This method plus the gradual downhill  kept me running. Runners will pass me and once they switched to walk mode, I will pass them. It's a back and forth scenario and I got familiar with runners footsteps who are about to pass and back/behind of runners ahead of me.There was also stretch  of trail that  I didn't see anyone ahead.

When I entered the street portion of the course, Mile 21 to Mile 24, the service personnel were in position to remove the traffic barriers and cones. I took it as a personal challenge and kept on running, looking for runners to pace me or to pass. At  Mile 24, about 200 feet ahead of me was a familiar back/behind.  She is young and pretty( finally saw her face at the post race area).  Caught up and paced with her till we reached  Mile 25 where she was met by her cheerleader friends to cheers and motivate her.  She waved them off. Also, I sensed that she need her space so I turned on my after burner and took off. Mile 25 to the Finish was the beach front trail/pathway/promenade lane.  Have to share the lane with the public(tourists, dog walkers, cyclists, trikes, beach bums, surfers,etc), but they were nice and kept out of the way.

Another familiar runner. Almost caught up with her at the finish line

Made it! The oldest 2012 O2O Marathon runner.

Photo Update - 06/11/2012

The Bridge

The Finish Line

The other Activities.

See you Next Year

Ojai to Ocean Marathon ..... Stage 7 of My Journey

The 2nd Annual Ojai 2 Ocean Marathon and Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, June 3, 2012. Starting in beautiful Ojai near Nordhoff High School, the marathon course begins at 700 ft. altitude and gradually descends to sea-level finishing near the historic Ventura Pier. Lot of beautiful mountain and ocean scenery. The course is a fast, USATF certified Boston Marathon Qualifier.

 Ojai is a vibrant place with so much natural beauty that it gained fame decades ago when the area was photographed to represent Shangri-La in the 1939 movie, The Lost Horizon.

 

Finish Line in Ventura City,  half mile from this Wooden Pier

Training:

So far, I only logged 47 miles since the OC Marathon(May 6).  My LSD was a back to back 10 miles.  Also, I was able to squeeze 8 miles of rolling hills ran while bonding with grandchildren at Walnut Creek.  The nasty uphill and downhill will surely help me on the June 3 race.  

Ice water foot bath after workout,  ice pack on my knees and 20 minutes spa after workout are some of the stuff I been subjecting my body to keep it loose and ready for my next Journey.

 

OC Marathon .... Stage 6 of My Journey... Result

Race day started at 3:30 am when the alarm clock woke me up.  Everything been ready before I went to bed so by 4:00 am, my wife and I were on 405S freeway heading towards OC Fair, Costa Mesa.  Arrived at the OC fair parking lot by 5:00 am, grabbed my breakfast bag(cereal and banana), hydration belt, told my wife to lock the car and go back to sleep.

A shuttle bus took runners to Newport Beach Fashion Island where the race started. The OC marathon passes through 4 cities( Newport Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana and Costa Mesa).  Went to my assigned coral and stayed behind  the 5 hr Pacer.  The race started at around 6:00 am, 30 minutes late. I ran with my group until the HM runners caught up with us.  Got carried away by the fast HM runners that I caught up with the 4:55 hr pacer. Ran with my new group up to Mile13 where I had to stop to check what causing the pain at the bottom of my right foot( point #9 ........ no wonder my shoulder also hurt, tight and as if I was carrying 10 kilos sack of rice. The wonder of Internet ..... instant expert). 





At first, I thought the cushion of my Brooks Pure Flow shoes moved and causing the pressure.  The cushion was in placed but the point where it hurt was swollen, same also on my left foot.  Blisters , one of the  dreaded runner injuries came to mind. Sprayed the areas with "Kool N Fit Sport conditioning Fluid".  Resumed running and was able to catch the 4:55 pacer,  stayed with the group up to Mile 19  where I had to stop again to check and spray my foot.  No skin breakout but the pain was getting intense. and started to limp.  I was already on a  walk mode when the 5 hr pacer caught up with me. Pride and stubbornness took over me and I kept up with them up to Mile 22 where pain and poor stability have taken control.

Walked for 3.5 miles where  the 5:10 hr pacer passed me, but as a consolation to my bruise ego, I passed a 4:10 hr pacer who I think  also got injured. Kudos to him though for carrying the pacer banner up to the finish line.

During the 3.5 miles walked, my body got used to the pain and I was able to adjust the landing of my foot and strides that I was able to jog the last .75 mile.  Crossed the finish line fresh and with smile. 

Split Times:
5Km:      34:40     Pace: 11:10
10Km:    1:10:18  Pace: 11:19
7.5 Mi:    1:2557  Pace: 11:28
 Half:       2:29:17 Pace:11:24
20 Mi:     3:48:14 Pace:11:28
26.2 Mi:  5:14:07 Pace:11:59

Your OK if you can smile and look fresh after 26.2 miles