The Real Race Report

I'd better write my race report while I can still remember it! SD and I stayed at a small hotel near Union Square, which is where the start was. The room was too small for any amenities, such as a coffee maker, so we went to a 24 hour restaurant a couple of blocks away. Although a Mariott was nearby, their restaurant didn't serve until 6 a.m., and that was too late to eat for a 7 a.m. start! I had a bowl of fresh fruit, one egg and ww toast. I would have preferred oatmeal but that wasn't available.

The weather was supposed to be hot that day--sunny and low 70s;--but of course it was still cool early in the morning. I wore a skirt and singlet, with a jacket over that. My water belt pockets were stuffed with money, energy bar, and gels. I actually had to pin some gels to the belt because I couldn't fit everything into the small pockets.

Also attached to my belt was a tiny "Go Dori" card that my running friend Marcia made, and a pin that I made at the expo that said, "My Power Song is Mom and Dad." That was to remember who I was running for; my parents are going through some tough times physically and they inspire me. I wore my "Find Your Happy Pace" singlet and put a sticker with my name on it in case anybody wanted to shout out encouragement to me. I finished the ensemble with a running hat and sunglasses, even though it was still dark. I learned a thing or two from Disneyland!

At the starting area, I used the portapotty and dropped off my gear bag. The gear bags were stashed onto school buses, a system I'm not used to, and I lost the sticker that said what bus number my gear was on. That made for a search and rescue at the finish, but my family helped me look and we found it without too much lost time.

My plan was to start off with the 5:30 group, then kick it in later in the race for a 5:15 or so finish. Only I couldn't find the pace group, so I just lined up in front of Macy's like they told me to the day before. I missed the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, so I sang it to myself while watching Old Glory wave atop of the St. Francis hotel.

My Garmin had a satellite signal, and my Timex was set for 10 and 1 minute intervals. I also reset the chronograph (stop watch.) As I crossed the starting line, I pressed start on the Garmin, started the stop watch, and started the intervals. Then I looked up to a sea of runners. Holy Crap! I'm in a marathon!

The first couple of miles went quickly, from Union Square down to the water. I didn't really know that area too well. When we got to Fisherman's Wharf I started looking for SD; we had arranged to meet at mile 3. I saw him before he saw me and handed him my jacket. He took my picture and said he would see me at mile 7. I was a couple of minutes behind my 12mm goal, and I wasn't worried. The day was beautiful and I could see the Golden Gate bridge. I thought back to the time a year or so ago when I did a 10 mile run from Fisherman's Wharf and across the Golden Gate and back. It was a nice memory.

This race wouldn't cross the bridge. When we got near it, we turned up a long hill. Before I climbed it, I stopped at the portapotty. I had passed a lot of them but didn't want to wait in line. There were about 5 women ahead of me and I swear I lost 5 minutes waiting. I never did use it--I went around the back and squatted. The only problem was the people climbing the hill could see me! I tried to be discreet and was done before it would have been my turn in line. Sheesh. I should have dropped out of line sooner, because while I was waiting, the 5:15 pace group passed by.

I didn't have much trouble climbing that hill and ran up the entire way. There were a lot of walkers and I had to go around them, but it wasn't bad. I was trying to catch the pace group, but I never saw them again. We continued on, and I lost track of the miles. Back when I took my jacket off, I accidentally stopped my Garmin and didn't realize it until mile 4, so I was a mile off. Good thing I had the chronograph running because I kept checking it at the mile markers to see how I was doing pace wise.

At my next portapotty stop, just before the beach, there were about 4 set up and still a line! I swear I wanted to yell out, "Just pull the crotch to the side and squat!" I mean, what were they doing in there, polishing their nails? One woman came out and announced that there was no toilet paper. The others ahead of me weren't going in and I said I didn't care! I had a PR to catch!

That's where the course headed downhill to the Great Highway and I powered down it, trying to make up for too much lost time. The view was so beautiful--a big expanse of sand and foamy water. The entire course was beautiful, but this was my favorite part.

I never did see SD at mile 7. After mile 12, the half marathon split off and the marathon headed into Golden Gate Park. SD was there and took my picture as I ran. I still felt good, but I was off my 5:15 finish. I still figured I could do 5:25 or better.

Then around mile 15 my knee started to hurt. Good thing I had a plan. My knee hadn't hurt since Grandma's Marathon in June 06, but I brought a couple of 8-hour Tylenol just in case. I took them and waited for them to do their magic. I was still doing my run/walk breaks and walked through the water stops. But I didn't dawdle.

Back on the Great Highway, I saw the 5:30 pacer. Oh no! I caught up with her and then realized that she probably crossed the start line after me, so if I stayed with her I would be slower than 5:30. I tried to run ahead and that's where I ran out of steam. I started talking to a woman who said she was turning 50 the next day and was trying to do sub 5 hours. She looked good, but she wasn't going to meet that goal. She suggested we run together and cross the finish together. I looked at her skeptically--I didn't think I could keep up with her! We chatted for a little while and then I needed a walking break. She kept on going, but I asked her name. Florene Quan. I don't normally print people's names, but if she ever Google's herself, maybe she'll come here. I should have told her about my blog.

At one point, I passed her and she was struggling. I looked her up in the results though, and she finished in 5:57. Good job, Florene!

A lot of people were struggling, including me. I asked for ice at the First Aid tent, but they said I had to sit down. I made that mistake at Grandma's, I wasn't going to do that again! "I can't sit", I told the nurse, and kept on walking.

At Lake Merced, I was pretty much just power-walking. I saw one woman puking and briefly considered walking over and helping her. I'm ashamed to say I just kept on going. Later though I shared my sport drink with another woman. She wanted water and there wasn't a water station in sight. There wasn't any shade and I was anxious to get away from the lake. It seemed like forever.

Finally, the lake was behind me and I was back on the Great Highway--the west side, which means the finish line was in front of me. I had at least 3 miles to go, but except for the fatigue, I felt fine. I knew I would finish and best my Twin Cities Marathon time. I tried to run, but couldn't, so I continued to power walk. The Team in Training coaches saw the determination on my face and shouted out encouragement.

This is where it really got tough. I'm happy to say, however, that I never had doubts. No wondering why I was doing this, what was I trying to prove, etc. I just dug deep. I thought of my mother recovering from knee replacement surgery and tried to ignore my own knee pain. At the expo the day before, I picked up some elastic bracelets with inspirational sayings. Each had a power word printed on it, such as "guts", "determination", "teamwork." There were several and I had all of them on my wrist! Teamwork made me think of my running group. We trained together and supported each other and I realized that they were my team. Even though it wasn't a traditional sports team, they are my teammates and that was a nice realization.

I passed a music station and thought about my power song. What song gives me energy? Well, duh! I didn't know the words, so I just hummed it until I got to the chorus. Then I belted out, "Babeee we were bo-orn to runnnnnn!" I was hoping to get some of the others to join in, but they just looked at me like I was delirious. No matter; it got me moving. :-)


"Three more stop lights to the finish line," a TnT coach shouted. I couldn't see it, but could see the traffic lights, so I gritted my teeth and started running. I ran straight to the finish. Just before I crossed, I saw SD, my sister Deni and her husband R. I was so happy to see them and smiled and waved. Deni did the half marathon and she and R. stayed till I finished my race, which I was so grateful for.

As I crossed the finish mat, a smiling tuxedoed gentleman was holding a be-ribboned blue box out to me. The best things come in small packages! I was overcome and touched my hand to my heart and even started to bow! Hel-lo. I think it was because he was Asian; I'm used to dealing with the Japanese business associates of SDs and forget that there are people who look just like them but are as American as a California roll.

Someone handed me a blue Tiffany bag to hold my little box in. Then I got a mylar blanket, a bagel and a banana. I headed over to have my finisher's picture taken and while standing in line asked the Dad of the girl who cut in front of me to put my necklace on me. My hands were full and I needed it on for my picture. Then I hooked up with my family. I eyed the nearby ocean, wanting to soak my legs in it but it seemed like too far to walk.



As always, I want to thank SD for his love and support. Also my sister and bro-in-law. Deni finished her half in 3:09:16; she walked it with her friend Laura, who also walked the Rock N Roll marathon in San Diego with her last June. Good job ladies!

I've been wearing my finishers medal ever since, along with one of the elastic bracelets--the one with the word "Victory" printed on it. :-)