Rock-n-Roll Marathon

Yesterday, I completed my fourth marathon, the Rock-n-Roll Marathon in San Diego. I would say it was a pretty good race. I had trained hard this time around, using Pfitzinger's 18-week 55 mile schedule. It was a long, hard training plan, but I have Keeper & Chloe to thank for accompanying me on all the training runs. I also have Dr. Nick (and his students) to thank for fixing my back regularly these past 2 months so that I have been injury-free. Except for being sick 2 weeks ago (and missing 3 days of training) I pretty much stuck to the plan religiously. I was confident I could PR this time around, and I did, by exactly 5 minutes. I ran a 4:15. I hope to someday break 4 hours, but a PR is a PR.

Keeper came with me to the start area which I have to say was nice. He helped keep me calm amidst the sea of purple TNT first-time runners (they are a bit overwhelming, to say the least). He took some pre-race pics and we watched the Marine Corp Band march through the start corrals. The beginning of the race was cloudy but very humid. I noticed I was sweating A LOT during the first few miles. My pace was almost a little too fast (especially mile 3, which was all downhill), but overall I would say the first 8 miles felt nice and comfortable. After leaving downtown, the course goes uphill through Balboa Park (on the freeway) out towards Mission Bay. Here, the humidity was gone and the weather was nice. I ran the first half in 2:02 and was feeling good.

Miles 15-19 were hardest for me mentally. The sun had come out and was beating down in full force. I minded the sun, especially because we were mostly running on highways. At every water station from here to the end of the race, I took two cups; one to drink and the other to dump on my head. Miles 20-26 are always the hardest. Pretty much everything from the waist down starts to hurt and it just becomes a game of putting one foot in front of the other and muscling through to the finish. My pace was definitely slower than I would have liked at this point, but the goal becomes to finish in one piece....pace (at least for me) becomes secondary. I did think the course was fun, with all the bands, cheerleaders, and enthusiastic spectators. It almost makes up for running on highways for most of the race. I had heard about all the people dressing up as Elvis for this race and thought it would be corny but it was actually fun. These people are nuts! They have enough energy to dance with every band along the way and wear those long sleeve/pants outfits....I don't know how they did it; it was pretty hot yesterday! Keeper took some funny pictures of people finishing. He saw me at the start, mile 8, and mile 26. I did not see him at the second two places.

I finished in one piece, found Keeper at the "Y" family reunion area, bought some new Crocs, and walked back to the car. The 5+ hour ride back to Phoenix wasn't too bad, especially after lunch at Fuddrucker's. Sometimes you just need a good burger and fries. I am in pain today, but am going back to the doctor tomorrow and hopefully the kinks will get worked out.