28/04/2016
Big Sur International Marathon 2016 – Race Recap
Hello all! Yes, I haven’t posted in quite some time. However, I have still been running. The past five months I have been training for my third full marathon… the Big Sur International Marathon which happened this past Sunday. Going into this race I heard many stories about the hills and the wind and the beauty, so I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. I felt I had the best training for any marathon I have done leading up to this race thanks to my coach, so I was very excited to tackle it. Also, I knew other people running it, so I wasn't going to be alone out there.
A group of us drove up the California coast on Saturday to make it to the expo before it closed. We took Hwy 1, so we were able to preview the course. Normally, I don’t like to do that because the drive seems to take forever, but because of the views, it was amazing (and I was able to see just how Hurricane Point looked before the day of the race). Three days prior to the race, I tweaked my ankle and it was still noticeable on Saturday. It didn't feel like it was getting better, but it also didn't feel like it was getting worse. I told myself at least it's not worse.
Race day arrived and the three of us running took the shuttle bus from Monterey to Big Sur which was an hour long. Somehow I was able to relax and not be nervous at all. We had about an hour to wait once we got to the starting location. It was cold, but luckily they had hot coffee and bagels for runners. Then it was time to line up in our corrals. My friend Jenny, who flew in from FL to run, said she would run with me. This was her 6th marathon, and she averages between 4:30 - 5:20 on her marathon. I knew running with her would keep me at a good pace and I wouldn't worry about my mind taking me to a negative place. Going into the race, I was planning for a sub 5:00 marathon. However, with my ankle and the preview of the course I told myself to enjoy this race but not stress over the time. The plan was to work hard during this race, but not be too serious and focus all on my time where I miss the beauty of it. We lined up at the beginning of the 3rd and last corral
The horn sounded and we were off. The first five miles are said to be all downhill and you have to control yourself so you don't go out too fast. For the most part, that is correct, however I noticed a few uphills already in this "downhill" portion of the race. It was fine. My first thought was to try and bank some time at this part since it was supposed to be downhill. But then decided to keep it conservative. There was much much more race to come. I stayed between 11:00 - 11:30 pace during these miles - right on pace. The temperature was still cool, but I did notice the humidity (which I tend to have problems with in long runs). Around mile four or five my ankle stopped hurting (yay!). I was enjoying the race.
We came out of the tree clearing and the ocean came into view. This is where we were greeted with the first of the headwinds for the day. To say there were strong is an understatement. But, I thought “bring it!” Let's get to work. From miles 5 to 10 there were rolling hills and strong winds. I had to take my hat off a few times because otherwise it was going to blow off my head (and there was no way I was turning around to run after it!). But the view of the coast was amazing! Jenny and I kept talking and motivating each other (as well as have our say on the wind). Even with the winds and the hills I still felt strong. I no longer noticed the humidity because the wind would let us think of anything else. We stayed around 11:30-11:45ish pace (one mile was high 12:00, but we stopped for photos).
At mile 10, you come around a corner and start a descend to the lowest elevation of the race. However, the same time you get a perfect view of that huge climb of Hurricane point that is waiting for you. You also hear the Taiko drums beating in the distance at this point too. We stopped and took some more photos and took our turns at banging a drum! The plan for the huge hill was to walk it. At the beginning of the climb we did run a little, but then realized our walking pace would be the same. I didn't want to put out more effort if I wasn't going to go any faster. That was not going to help me on the second half of the race. So we walked it. The wind gusts picked up, but we pushed forward.
Once at the summit, you see Bixby Bridge in the distance and know that you are almost at the half way point. The next mile is a fast downhill, but I made sure not to blow out my quads on it. This is also the point where a gust of wind nearly made me fall over. In the middle of my stride the wind pushed my one foot into my other leg. I nearly tripped myself due to the wind. However, this is also where you heard the sound of the piano playing in the valley and with the view, it's just magical. He was playing "Don't Cry for me Argentina" from Evita, so I was belting out the song as I crossed the bridge. Yes, there is even evidence of me doing thing since that is where the photographers are waiting to take pictures of you crossing the bridge. We stopped to take a couple photos with the piano man and look back at the top of Hurricane Point. We also made our one and only bathroom stop on the race at this point. My half split was 2:45:41.
After that, it was back to business. The wind had yet to let up at all, in fact it seemed just to get stronger (after the race, we learned this was probably one of the windiest conditions ever on this course in the 31-year history). From what I remembered from the course elevation chart, I thought we had a good amount of time before the next set of hills. I was wrong! It just seemed to be rolling hills. Granted they were shorter, so I concentrated on getting to the top of them since I knew there was a downhill on the other side.
I passed mile 15 and noted this is where I hit the wall at my first marathon. But I felt good at that point. Then when I passed mile 16, I again noted that is where I hit the wall on my second marathon... still I kept going. Around mile 17-18, I noticed slight cramping around my shin. It was more noticeable going up the hills and/or walk up hills. So, I concentrated on the downhills where I could get a little relief. Then it stopped for awhile.
At this point when approaching the bigger hills at the back end of the course, I would pick a spot to start walking, and then have a spot towards the top of the hill (but not quite the top) to start running again. Then the downhills were cruising. At times Jenny told me we were going at a 10:40 pace, I was feeling good at that point so I went with it. I knew that I would get some recoveries when the next incline would be, because I planned on walking parts of it. So I used the downhills to my advantage. Anytime I felt like it was getting too tough, I would just look out at the ocean and tell myself how lucky I was to be able to experience this view here.
Between miles 20 - 23, it was getting harder. My legs were feeling hammered, and I was looking forward to being done, but I never felt like I hit the wall. A couple times Jenny would get ahead of me on the hills (even when walking), but I pushed myself to catch up to her before the top of the hills. The last "cut off" point was at mile 21.5. Everyone had to make it here before noon. When we passed it was right before 11:30, so there was no chance of being picked up off the course due to time. This also gave me an insight of what my finish time could be. I knew at the half way point that sub 5 was not in the picture, so I just concentrated on doing my best and enjoying the race. I was hoping that I could at least get in before 5:30 - which would still be a 15-minute PR. That pacer had yet to pass us, so I felt good.
Mile 23 was a lie! They said there would be strawberries! There were no more strawberries left for us! :( I was so looking forward to strawberries. But I decided not to dwell on it, because there was only 3 miles left. Plus, there was a FREE HUG lady, that I got a hug from, and that really boosted my mood. Less than a 5K to go! At this point we started moving into a wooded area again that blocked some of the gusting winds, so that was great. The road became more and more slanted and I had to find a spot where my hips didn't hurt. Tough, but still getting through it. Somewhere along this point the 5:30 pacer passed us. At first I was disappointed, but in checking my watch, we were still on pace to finish before 5:30, so I think the pacer was going faster. She started probably 1-2 minutes behind us as well.
Since mile 14 or 15 we kept leap frogging Jeff Galloway and his wife. As we got towards the end around mile 24, I was determined to finish before him. :) I was getting excited about the finish being so close. I was tried, this was tough, but I was going to get through it. Then mile 25 hit, and I saw that last hill. I said a few choice four letter words for it, but went at it. I was mad at the fact it was right here. I always want to run the last mile or two of a race without stopping to walk, but this one was brutal, so I did walk it. However, right at the crest, I put it into overdrive and just let loose until the finish line. Jenny and I passed the 5:30 pacer again, Jeff Galloway was behind us and we could hear the announcer at the finish line before we came around the last curve. Once we made that last turn I saw the finish line... it was the best thing ever! Then I hear our other friend on the sidelines cheering as we came to the finish line. After I crossed the finish, I stopped my watch. When I saw it was 5:28 I started crying, I was so happy to have made it in under 5:30. Yes, it wasn't my "goal time", but considering the course and the conditions, I was thrilled with this time. It was by far the hardest race I've ever done, but also the most rewarding.
Funny thing is even with all the warnings of how hard the course is, and how windy it could be, somehow I still underestimated it. I figured that if all these people are saying how wonderful and amazing this race it, it cannot be as difficult as everyone says that it is. But I was wrong. It IS that tough, it's just worth all the hard work you put into it. So I'm happy to have survived this race and proud of how well I did with it.
My official finish time was 5:28:38. That includes photo stops, playing the Taiko drums, a bathroom stop, and walking parts of the course. After I synced my Garmin, my "Moving Time" says 5:22:10. Not bad. Not bad at all.
I would not have gotten through this tough race if it were not for the support of a lot of people. First my husband and two boys who supported me during the months of training. They are the reason I push myself to the next limit. Another big thank you goes out to my coach, Larry Blaylock. He made me stronger both physically and mentally and because of that I was ready to take on the challenge of this course. My fellow training partners – those who came out on my shorter runs, and those who kept me company on my long runs. And thanks to Jenny for running the race with me – having a friend to run next to during this race was amazing. So far my favorite marathon! It was brutal, but it was worth it!
Because of all the support I was able to PR by 16 minutes and 13 seconds! So thank you very much!
And with that, my Big Sur is in the books! :)
