I started with a pace plan in mind. The plan was to run slow initially and then increase my speed in the second half of the course. I noticed, pretty early into the run, that I was running too fast and forced myself to slow down. I missed the pacers due to stopping helping the lady who fell down, (see course description) and was pretty much on my own at this stage. It seems that quite a few people were running on a predetermined pace and I followed them for a while. Miles 2 through 5 were along Historic Highway 101 and it was mostly flat or downhill - which helped keeping my pace were I wanted to. Then, turning into Palomar Airport Road - was a whole new story. This road is fairly hilly (compared with the coastal road) and people started to slow down. I felt that the my training along the hills around my home came in pretty handy now. I managed to keep a similar pace, by keeping short strides and keeping my HR under control. The course was designed such the on Palomar Airport Road - runners run out and back, so I could see people on their way back to the coastal road. So, when I was somewhere between mile 6 and 7, I saw the leaders on their way back. There were 3 of them. They were running incredibly fast and were hitting mile 12 or so at that time. Everyone on the course was cheering for them. I was monitoring my pace constantly and noticed that I was running faster than I planned on, but since it felt good, I did not want to slow too much. Every time I noticed that my pace was going below 10:00min/mile I slowed back and corrected it. Then, back on the coastal road, we merged and ran along side with the 1/2 marathon people - it was mile 14 for us and around mile 6 for them. All of a sudden, the road was packed with people. Some of them were walking, some were running but the most noticeable fact was that it was quiet. Almost nobody was talking. The only thing I could hear was the shoes hitting the ground. Then, at mile 15 we split again and the road was fairly clear. I was concerned with miles 17 through 20 based on my training experience. I was afraid to hit "the wall" and that I will have no choice but start walking - as many people around me were doing. Also, from mile 17 and on, I started seeing EMS crews busy on the course. It did not give me a good feeling - to say the least. I kept on going. Mile 18 was the turn around point and I knew that from this point on, there will be no more U turns and that this is a straight 8.2 miles run to the finish line. Although most of it was still with an incline, I kept on running. I monitored the time and pace. I knew that my time was pretty good with respect to the goal I've set and started focusing on my third goal - keep on running. Then mile 21 came by. This was the hardest part of the race for me. I felt that I was about to drop on the ground. At this stage, the 1/2 marathon and full marathon courses merged again and everybody was on their way back to the finish line. Most people were walking at this stage - whether full or half marathon participants. I kept on running, remembering some of the good advice and preparation that I got from some of you guys here on BT and stuck with my plan. I used my mantra and focused on things that I had prepared up front to think of during those hard points of the race. It really worked - as before I noticed, it was already mile 23. At this point, I knew: I made it. I just kept running. I was drinking water at every aid station and thanked the volunteers with a big smile. At mile 24 I ran slower than before but I did not really care. I just wanted to get to the finish line. I was imagining in my head how would it feel. I was passing quite a bit of people who were just walking slowly. I felt a great sense of accomplishment. Mile 26 approached, I could see the mile marker but not the finish line. I could not figure out where was the turn to it. I just followed the crowd and there it was the finish line. Huge sign and actually two finish lines - one for the marathon and one for the 1/2 marathon finishers. I saw my family waiting and cheering. I passed by, waived to them and crossed the finish line. That was it! I made it! I turned around to see that it was all real. For moments afterward, I was not convinced that I really did it. It was time to move on...

Notes about my nutrition plan: I knew that this was on the major keys to success. So, I did not take any shortcuts nor made any changes to it. I took my sport beans (and even GU) on time, I took my Enduralyte pills every hour no matter where I was on the course. Orange slices that were handed out on mile 23 were a great addition to the overall plan.

Nothing on race day.

A fellow runner told me to stretch a lot and avoid sitting for as much as I can. So, I stretched and walked. Got a goody bag and a plate with salad, pasta and some bread catered by Pat Oscar. I kept on walking and standing for as much as I could. I met with my family and answered all their questions. I was looking to see friends and other BT members - but had no luck. Then, headed to the my car and drove home.


My fitness level? my training?


Great race, well organized with plenty of volunteers which did a great job all over the course.
With that said, I would like to thank the volunteers, my fellow BT members for the inspires, advice, and support. And to my family who was behind me all the time while training, before, during and after the race!