California International Marathon - Run

Given my training (see above) I needed to be conservative. Rather than focusing on a great time or a PR I wanted to work on things I could control and experiment a little.

1. Execute a plan
2. Try out regular shoes instead of flats
3. Negative Split
4. Fly in the day before rather than a few days

I also wanted to experiment with real food rather than gels but logistically I couldn't make it work. I supposed there is a reason such things exist.


So back to the execution part, my plan was to run between 7:25 and 7:30 splits into the half, see how I felt and if good, ratchet down the pace for the next ten miles. At 23 miles if I could, I would put the hammer down and finish strong.

Part 1: The gun went off and I felt great. I got on pace right away. I wore gloves for the first 2 miles and then ditched them. It was actually quite difficult running that "slow." I found a Chinese running team who were ticking off splits like clockwork. I tucked in with them through about mile 6. They ran a 7:45 split and I figured it was time for me to do some work myself.

I kept very disciplined and steady. Took a gel at about mile 7.5. I felt relaxed and smooth. Like I could do this all day. The course was so perfect. While a net downhill, it had lots of rolling ups and downs, so as to not grind on one particular muscle group. At mile 8ish I saw an old man wearing a white sweatsuit and tutu dancing to Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off."

Before I knew it I came into the half marathon with a split of 1:37. Exactly where I wanted to be. I took another gel and, feeling great, I began to ratchet down the pace.

Part 2: I can't remember exactly where but at some point you go under the arch marked the "middle miles" which I kind of liked. I love breaking a race up a little bit and this seemed like a great way to do it. With each mile I brought the pace down just a little bit. Somewhere around mile 14 or 15 I did run too fast (something around 6:48) and scolded myself. Going too fast on the downhills was easy to do but I know you end up paying for it later.

Not far ahead of me I saw the back of this older man's shirt that said "I'm 62 and kicking your ass!" or something like that. Above the quote was his name, Pedro. I was quite motivated by his shirt but resister the temptation to chase him down. Damn you Pedro!

At mile 16 or so, I saw a man sitting at the end of his driveway with a big dog on a leash. As I got closer I realized it was not a dog but a goat. I looked over, made eye contact with said goat and then it made a noise at me (what noise do goats make?) Something like maaaa hahahahahahaha. I believe this is a first for me.

My family was standing somewhere between mile 18 and 19 so once I passed 18 I started looking for them. Almost right at 18.5 I saw them on the righthand side of the street. My mom, dad, aunt and 3 cousins with their children were all out there holding signs. I high fived them all and was just so happy. This was the first time my dad had seen me race and I couldn't help but get a little choked up.

I came through miles 19 and 20 with a little extra joyful pep.

At mile 20 I was going to take my third gel (4th at mile 23) but I dropped it. Oops. I decided to go ahead and take my last one and then grab one of the GUs (I hate GU with a passion) off the course at the next station to take at 23. I figured if it upset my stomach, 3 miles wasn't so bad to run.

Miles 21 and 22 went by and I felt fantastic. I had gotten down around 7:10 ish. I began to really capitalize on the downhills and brought the pace into the high 6:40s or so through mile 24.

*Just an interesting note, yes, when I focused on the downhills, keeping my strides efficient, my hands near my hips and relaxed I DID indeed speed up. But without even thinking about when when I tackled the few uphills I FLEW my pace dropped into the mid to low 6s. I really am a goat. It's very interesting.

Part 3: As I had said I had sped up quite a bit through mile 24 but was just starting to suffer a little. I proably should have kept it reigned it a little longer. The thing was, I have never made it to mile 24 without feeling wrecked so I was quite happy. However, I knew the last 2.2 miles were going to be a beeeotch.

I had taken my GU (ew ew ew) and supplemented with some NUUN (yum yum yum) just to be sure I was hydrated and fed. It was starting to get a little warm with the sun right on me.

Around here I saw my friend, the old man in the white sweatsuit and tutu, dancing to Tayler Swift. I thought it was hilarious that he had taken the time to dance two places on the course.
Additionally, I was coming up on no other than Pedro!! I pulled up next to him and told him I loved his shirt. I don't know if he spoke English or not but he just smiled.

He and I ran side by side for quite some time. Around 25..5 miles he began to pull away. I let him at first, as I was struggling, but I thought better of it and reeled him back in.

We came through downtown, the crows ROARING. It was much like Boston. In fact, in my mind BETTER than Boston.

Good ol' Pedro took off and this time I couldn't catch him. Damn you Pedro!

I did everything I could to keep my pace near 7 minute miles. It was a struggle. We passed the capital building, took a left then another left back towards it.

I picked up the pace as best I could and ran through the chute for a shiny new marathon PR and a negative split!!!!!!!!

Here is my feedback on my plan and experiments:

1. Execute a plan: nearly perfect. I think I may have sped up a bit too much around miles 21-24 but overall I did quite well and was very disciplined.
2. Try out regular shoes instead of flats: I dill do this from now on. My feet suffered much less and my legs were a little more insulated. I'll keep flats for HM and less.
3. Negative Split: Hell yes!!! This felt great and a 2' split was about ideal.
4. Fly in the day before rather than a few days: I liked this too.



1. The obvious, a more consistent base build and marathon plan.
2. Get a couple fitness check races in (10K, HM etc)
3. Not drop the gel. Whatdaya gonna do...
4. Run faster :)

At the finish line they handed out this terrible non-alcoholic beer. The fuck? I gathered my bag from gear drop then found a bush at the capital building and dumped it out. Yuck!

I sat on the steps and waiting for my parents. As I was sitting there another woman asked if she could sit down. The looked at me then said, "Oh my gosh I recognize you! I saw you at the half marathon point and you just flew by me. I was so impressed!" We chatted for a bit and then my parents arrived. I wished her well and my dad and I got a photo on the steps of the capital.

They drove me back to my aunts where I took a shower and then mom took me to a couple breweries. How lucky am I?????


1. Training
2. Confidence

I can take this race and build off of it. It helped reassure myself and taught me a lot. It also really opened my eyes to how important it is to find the joy in what you are doing every day. I have attached photos from my training to show this joyous jounry.



AMAZING course. There are so many marathons I would like to run but I would totally do this one again.