Just Keep Truckin'

The San Francisco half-marathon was better than I expected. I was worried about going the distance, since I hadn't run more than 10 miles and I'm accustomed to running at least 15 miles before a half. I prefer the challenge to be the finish time, not the distance. So I went into this race expecting it to take 3 hours, but was pleasantly surprised to finish in 2:44:05.

I've started training with a coach for the Chicago Marathon and his plan has me running while keeping my heart rate low. That equates to slow, but he claims it will make me a stronger runner. My long runs are by time, rather than distance, and require my HR to stay below 130 bpm. Ha! Actually it's getting easier, but I still run, if you can call it that, around 16-17 minute miles. I started his training plan on July 12.

So on race day I tried to keep my HR down. Not below 130, because I wouldn't have finished the race in time. I ran the second half of the marathon course, which starts at Golden Gate Park. I couldn't find any of the pacers but I saw a slightly overweight man who otherwise looked strong and used him as my rabbit (unbeknownst to him). We ran the first mile just under a 12 mm pace. If I started to lose him, I'd speed up and if I started to pass him, I'd slow down. That strategy worked pretty well and eventually we passed the 3 hour pacer.

I'm pleased to say that the only time I walked was when I had a water cup in my hand. I didn't even have to stop for a portapotty. :-) I plodded through Golden Gate Park and then down Haight Street. I had lost my rabbit by then. A man asked where we were and I told him, adding that it was historic. He said other people were saying that and wondered what was historic about it. Seriously? This guy was around my age. I told him to look it up on Google, but he figured it out when we crossed Ashbury St.

SD was unable to get around much, but I did see him in Haight-Ashbury. That was a pleasant surprise, because I didn't expect to see him at all. It was the only time he saw me during the race, because he couldn't get near the finish line. He took lots of race pictures though.

The route was hillier than I expected, although the killer hill was downhill, between miles 6 and 7. I was tempted to power down it, but remembered how I messed up my knee at Nike doing that and held back. I still had a ways to go.

Around mile 9.5, I caught up with the 2:45 pace group. I couldn't believe it! Knowing that they crossed the starting line before me, I figured if I stayed with them, my finish time would be under 2:45. I was getting fatigued though and struggled to keep up with them. Finally we got to the waterfront and I could see the Bay Bridge. Hurrah! The finish line was just past there. I picked up the pace and headed home and almost ran out of gas. That bridge was farther than it looked. A young woman whom I had given encouragement to earlier passed me and gave me some encouragement. It worked and as I caught up to her, I thanked her.

It was getting late and I still had to check out of the hotel, so I hurried to the finish line. I never did hear them call my name, but I got my medal and a mylar blanket. I kept it so that I'll have something to sit on while waiting for the Chicago Marathon to start. Hopefully I'll remember to pack it. I called SD and he was no where near the finish line, so I waited for him and then we went back to the hotel. I really wanted a nap, but had to settle for a quick shower. Although we asked for a late checkout, all we got was an hour extension.

So that's the San Francisco Half. I'm glad I ran it, although I don't know if I'd do it again, except maybe the first half which runs across the Golden Gate bridge. The race was well organized but the route isn't as pretty as the Big Sur half, and the medal isn't as cool as Nike. It also isn't as large, though, which is an advantage for an urban race. And the weather was good--not too hot. Bunny had lent me her arm warmers which helped during the start and were easy to pull down once I warmed up. Mark Twain once said that the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco!

Next stop: Chicago!