The Trip started Friday with a long drive from the SF bay area to Santa Barbara. It rained the entire trip, and more rain was called for Saturday. I did my best to get my mind wrapped around the fact that I may be running this thing in a down pour. I don't mind running in the rain , but three plus hours was going to suck. We made it safely the the packet pickup. This was quick and easy, then to the hotel only about 10 min. away. We checked in then off to dinner. We found a place in down town Santa Barbara called . Wonderful meal and excellant service. On to race day, Woke up after what I would consider a normal pre race night sleep (4 hours sleep + 4 hours rolling around). The sky was clear and temps were in the high 50's Perfect. Got to the start line and got right up front. A young lady did a great job with the National Anthem and as they were saying a few closing words I noticed my heart rate moniter stopped working. I wet the contacts with some spit and it started working again and just in time as gun goes off. The first three miles are down hill, I knew with my excitement and the decrease in elevation this part would be fast but I would have to reel my self in quickly. Well this worked perfectly. I kept my mile times within 10-15 seconds of what I was looking for. the next 16 miles went like clockwork. I drank at every aid station and took a gel pack every 45 min. Never felt sloshy. There is a rise at mile 19 and this was my first mile that was over the pace. Mile 21 was about 10 seconds off as well. Not to worry, mile 22 I hit right on the button and tried to get ready for what I knew was comming. Mile 23-24 is a whopper of a hill and as you turn to corner and see this monster a head wind from the ocean hits you in the face as well. I knew I was good on time at this point but I also knew a lot of time could be lost here as well. I decided to do a countdown at this point a little game I play. mile 23 was a 7:29, mile 24 was a 8:14 ouch, but I knew it was down hill from here. Everything was feeling ok at this point, no chance of failure. I was able to throw down a 7:17 and a 7:24 for the last two miles. I could see the stadium and the finish line. The chute was full of people I probably passed twenty people before the finish line. I crossed the finish line and the volenteers bombarded me with a finisher medal, water, and take your timming chip. After I delt with that I walked only a few feet to sit on a bench, looking at my watch and knowing I beat my goal time by more than 2 1/2 minutes and BQ 2012 standard by 7 1/2 thinking this should be enough to get me into the Boston Marathon 2013 I think I wept a little.

Nothing

It took a while to find Gina then we took of pretty quickly knowing we had a long car ride home.


I had a calf injury about five weeks out from this race and missed two key long runs. All things considered I healed in time and even if I had not had the injury, I would not have pushed any harder than I did. This was my second marathon and it went real well


Gina, Thank you so much for supporting me, inspiring me, motivating me. This has been my best year of racing yet. One year ago I had three goals set for 2012, a podium finish, To become an IronMan and to qualify for Boston, and you were with me all the way. I love you.